tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24427092707871683762024-03-05T22:42:07.230-05:00Betsy TransatlanticallyBetsy Transatlanticallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953626122327472245noreply@blogger.comBlogger1216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-9680186168863440082015-12-28T22:47:00.000-05:002015-12-28T22:47:31.412-05:00Thank You And GoodnightForgive me; it's been more than three months since my last post.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I actually wasn't going to write anything to formally put Betsy Transatlantically to bed, but some friends on Instagram (hey there, <a href="http://www.theladyokieblog.com/">Amanda</a> and <a href="http://loandbholddc.blogspot.com/">Laurel</a>!) pointed out that <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-q9hlIws8-/?taken-by=btransatlantic">it would be rude not to</a>, so here we go.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I explained to my sister over Thanksgiving, I'm closing this blog because, after <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/2015/09/gratitude-forgiveness-and-humility.html">my last post about arrogance and humility</a>, everything I sat down to write felt incredibly self-indulgent. The past five and half years of blogging haven't been free of narcissism, of course, but I also put a lot of effort into being part of a larger blogging community and that, in a way, tempered my navel-gazing. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to have built relationships with so many of you over the years, but I can't maintain them through blogging anymore, either here or, as you might have noticed, on your blogs. That our friendships continue to flourish elsewhere online (and, occasionally, in person) helps me recognize the future of Betsy Transatlantically as not much more than a vanity project.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sarah, who knows that I love writing, suggested that I could do so without an audience. But another reason I love blogging besides the community aspect is because publishing my words demands more of them - and of me - than simply putting pen to paper. Drafting and editing posts for Betsy Transatlantically has encouraged me to work through my thoughts on all sorts of topics, and the knowledge that they'll be out in the public domain makes me hold myself to a higher standard of exposition.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over the past three months, I have at times felt compelled to find a way to keep writing online without being a blogger. I can't do that here; it would be too easy to fall back into old habits. So this is goodbye for Betsy Transatlantically. I might start up a new site eventually and, somehow, I'll let you know if I do. But for now - thank you. Thank you to you, dear readers, and a thank you to this blog as well for all that it's taught me.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-79876075104628255232015-09-24T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-28T22:11:26.766-05:00Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Humility<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-DEOITgubJPDPY2GhlJIIFgCcgmYvkWbCdvma1uE17s_A2Roo__FFHKPbPvb1LWiC5Fahd3qVyzT4OuKLzUjTgZcNcDJWPk7E2867ReKSG2Xm4OwrwFYXDuKVnqzrfjgtp85CV4Ej3E/s1600/calligraphy+shofar.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-DEOITgubJPDPY2GhlJIIFgCcgmYvkWbCdvma1uE17s_A2Roo__FFHKPbPvb1LWiC5Fahd3qVyzT4OuKLzUjTgZcNcDJWPk7E2867ReKSG2Xm4OwrwFYXDuKVnqzrfjgtp85CV4Ej3E/s640/calligraphy+shofar.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">via</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At one point during Rosh Hashanah services, our rabbi asked us to hold in our minds a moment from the past year for which we were grateful. Gratitude, after all, is one of the most pure expressions of faith; it requires recognizing that something wonderful happened to/for us because of someone else without insisting that we deserved the wonderful thing.<br />
<br />
Nine days later, at Kol Nidre, the service on the evening that Yom Kippur begins, the rabbi talked about what it really means to atone. Asking for forgiveness, she said, has three components: the "I'm sorry," the "it's my fault," and the "here's how I'm going to fix it."<br />
<br />
I'm good at saying "thank you." I'm good at saying "I'm sorry." But too often I think that I earn the good things that happen to me and too often I refuse to acknowledge that the things for which I apologize are truly caused by me and me alone.<br />
<br />
You know what both faults come down to? Arrogance.<br />
<br />
During the High Holy Days, we thank God for everything He has given us despite our faults and we apologize to our friends and family for hurts we provoked despite their love. Our prayers remind us of our humility, both before God and before our fellow man.<br />
<br />
And you know what I'm not good at? Humility.<br />
<br />
Before the High Holy Days, Sixth & I, my synagogue, asked what we're going to welcome in with the new year. I wrote down "patience," "generosity of spirit," and "benefit of the doubt." I know we hear what we want or need to hear in sermons, but I swear the rabbis were speaking directly to me at Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur, for each of those things is rooted in humility. When Rabbi Shira told a story about how fear and control often go hand in hand, when Rabbi Miller talked about accepting the unknown of Plan B when Plan A fails, when we prostrated ourselves during the Aleinu and beat our fists against our breasts during the Al Chet - when I prayed and when I listened, I understood the direction I needed to take when I left the synagogue.<br />
<br />
So there you have it, dear readers: my new year's resolution. May I take responsibility for both my arrogance and my humility in 5776, and may I go to High Holy Day services next September much lighter of the former and much richer in the latter.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-72383947224048508142015-09-15T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-08T09:04:45.964-05:00Bake Off Bake Along: Frangipane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdocUmWQnw5QV8EsTuOqr5JwHC7pxUlvZQceTUFkpQ5xmuds61vy29TPAmCuKhiw5f7fhO6LDKCEmbcGg9nb_fcSaruMh5zR0nLoqFsK3ZrHrjXWOxKDvLtTbUWQWqDZBdrXy6hIdnjZI/s1600/bake%252Boff%252Bbake%252Balong.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdocUmWQnw5QV8EsTuOqr5JwHC7pxUlvZQceTUFkpQ5xmuds61vy29TPAmCuKhiw5f7fhO6LDKCEmbcGg9nb_fcSaruMh5zR0nLoqFsK3ZrHrjXWOxKDvLtTbUWQWqDZBdrXy6hIdnjZI/s1600/bake%252Boff%252Bbake%252Balong.png" /></a></div>
With the ongoing renovations to our building and the related logistical hopscotch that we're playing - it's too stressful for Charlie to stay in our apartment with construction crews coming in and out, so he and I are spending large chunks of the week with my parents in the 'burbs while Jon holds down the fort in DC - I haven't been able to do much cooking. This past weekend, though, the three of us camped out at home, and I got my fill of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/7jYAfNws0x/" target="_blank">braising</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/7k3n97Qs3K/" target="_blank">breakfasting</a>, and, happily, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/7mEpfaQsxK/" target="_blank">baking</a>.<br />
<br />
That's right, dear readers: I'm back in the competition for the Bake Off Bake Along hosted by <a href="http://rhymeandribbons.com/" target="_blank">Amanda</a> and <a href="http://www.thisparticularblog.com/" target="_blank">Ala</a>! This week's signature challenge, the frangipane, was perfect for Rosh Hashanah, a Jewish holiday when we eat apples and honey to welcome the sweet new year on which we embark. I used <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/apple-frangipane-tart.html" target="_blank">a Williams Sonoma recipe</a> but made mine with phyllo dough (as I couldn't find any puff pastry at the supermarket and didn't want to use pie crust) and was delighted with the resulting light and flaky tart.<br />
<br />
May your year be as sweet! Shana tovah - have a wonderful new year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yBGHHzTMbtCafp4EtBQBPI0zB-ASS0lDFKrEtteBHc0WSDtdXZorthT8ys7acSc-Y2J9Uli-KzjmRwoV2fKvzvWYkqdxaipzaB3JeAimRJwwW1OxT-TqfuyisSvB2lXQgeOL8mwL71w/s1600/frangipane+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yBGHHzTMbtCafp4EtBQBPI0zB-ASS0lDFKrEtteBHc0WSDtdXZorthT8ys7acSc-Y2J9Uli-KzjmRwoV2fKvzvWYkqdxaipzaB3JeAimRJwwW1OxT-TqfuyisSvB2lXQgeOL8mwL71w/s640/frangipane+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FsQpZBNuiqXB7pfWyU7AtJJFt2fnsT-BNX1hFpyuFXqWuE9wsDHUqYEhotDnMEcjmIyTtHKhQk2pMFpPULmMRAtg__Y4FbQ3JdB6po29TSkwdqfsx3zdVb1jJXQDcXJJ5i5P6FY8ylQ/s1600/frangipane+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FsQpZBNuiqXB7pfWyU7AtJJFt2fnsT-BNX1hFpyuFXqWuE9wsDHUqYEhotDnMEcjmIyTtHKhQk2pMFpPULmMRAtg__Y4FbQ3JdB6po29TSkwdqfsx3zdVb1jJXQDcXJJ5i5P6FY8ylQ/s640/frangipane+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2Wy1GCfSyE4qXImkg0fMbFptKTVvZlZrVEugGmlAexLysVK6IKNF6w46uVfqsa0PKE9Wov12bao2zpvaNi698W28-8lA6vVxN1uJ-p2NfJZ48URTbcW9DPVhPeFXF7j9iAaMiBgMIkc/s1600/frangipane+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2Wy1GCfSyE4qXImkg0fMbFptKTVvZlZrVEugGmlAexLysVK6IKNF6w46uVfqsa0PKE9Wov12bao2zpvaNi698W28-8lA6vVxN1uJ-p2NfJZ48URTbcW9DPVhPeFXF7j9iAaMiBgMIkc/s640/frangipane+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuETbquRe7YqfCUDufZNsUeYalfbzsVNY5rlg1QxcVvdZ_KEw6ObYB91sbnFxcnFHy8bqFjBA-ESSFP31McW021vrx4Qby3DJx1fdsgoECo6ER7x6SwiwBqcAWOcWEruLiAhTE0TGI5VU/s1600/frangipane+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuETbquRe7YqfCUDufZNsUeYalfbzsVNY5rlg1QxcVvdZ_KEw6ObYB91sbnFxcnFHy8bqFjBA-ESSFP31McW021vrx4Qby3DJx1fdsgoECo6ER7x6SwiwBqcAWOcWEruLiAhTE0TGI5VU/s640/frangipane+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpGSYBthNoGnP759g260ukVQgCVnBJlzANBeuiKubAKM7zRV7h53q-XKLhCGutePbMt9WN7wzV4utR_hInEjORO2S5bfB_7c_B0BZxujpHGyA4HyOz6kep0OA1cMCdREDc6DC2kOyXw0/s1600/frangipane+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpGSYBthNoGnP759g260ukVQgCVnBJlzANBeuiKubAKM7zRV7h53q-XKLhCGutePbMt9WN7wzV4utR_hInEjORO2S5bfB_7c_B0BZxujpHGyA4HyOz6kep0OA1cMCdREDc6DC2kOyXw0/s640/frangipane+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-31310172355636829582015-09-10T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-15T08:43:25.823-05:00Jon's America VII (The County Ag Fair)<i>Thanks for your thoughts and love on <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/2015/09/sunday-meditation.html" target="_blank">my last post</a>, dear readers; they're a real comfort. There's been a lot going on for me recently, and Jon offered to write another guest post for the blog so we can finish off the week on a lighter note. With that... take it away, Jon!</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlGzSTJcYG2G0ZKSyc9Ofr0irfEIIVDuBQN4WhpZtxmLKiWPUTNlTCCarA6RBFAnlVKCzq6PO_iyh3rusucTab9253s0Wmi4qoDPztFiFWDz2FhXBaJJm4Mi3QwLhNOvVs5fSmrwqOtc/s1600/IMG_1213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlGzSTJcYG2G0ZKSyc9Ofr0irfEIIVDuBQN4WhpZtxmLKiWPUTNlTCCarA6RBFAnlVKCzq6PO_iyh3rusucTab9253s0Wmi4qoDPztFiFWDz2FhXBaJJm4Mi3QwLhNOvVs5fSmrwqOtc/s640/IMG_1213.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A few weeks ago, I was able to tick off another quintessentially American experience off my extensive list of things I need to do in this great land before I can be considered one of you – a county fair (next up, visit Taco Bell). To be fair (hah), county fairs aren’t necessarily as “American” an experience as many of you might think. I grew up in a rural country called Suffolk, and visiting the Suffolk County Fair every year – the “Suffolk Show” - was a staple of my childhood. While my mum forced us to go watch the sheep shearing competition, all I wanted to do there was clamber over the tractors. That’s all I want to do now, really, but I have this wife and this job and this urban thing going on, and I’ve somehow persuaded some people that I’m an adult with a diverse range of interests and talents so I can't.<br />
<br />
But I digress. The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair was everything I hoped it would be, even though it’s not one of the most rural fair experiences to be had. Whereas my Suffolk memories involve horses showjumping in a soggy field, this new world has pigs racing for cheese doodles in front of a baying mob! The Nascar-themed pig racing, complete with strong biblical overtones (really), was only bested when the announcer revealed that, for the final race, they’d be racing Vietnamese pot-bellied micropigs! Having super-cute animals race doesn’t diminish the thrill of competition, it only adds a new and adorable element to this already compelling sport.<br />
<br />
But what about the food, you ask? What stick-based treats did I manage to ingest? To be honest, that was the only mild disappointment of the day – there was a surprising lack of ingenuity when it came to getting the most outlandish food possible stuck on wood. Across the country, the Idaho fair had recently taken place and I’d been staring wide-eyed at pictures of Hilary Clinton pretending to enjoy pork on a stick. I made up for it with deep fried cheddar cheese balls that arrived still floating in grease. Betsy tried half of one and couldn’t keep it down. I made it through about half the box, more on principle than anything else.<br />
<br />
The fairground section was great – along with doing my whole “look, you can see the rust flakes” routine while on the top of the ferris wheel with Betsy, I witnessed my first Drown the Clown attraction. For those of you who’ve yet to experience this, it consists of a guy in makeup sitting above a pool of water, and you have to hit a metal plate with a ball to dunk him in. Your incentive to do so is that he taunts you, and this one guy in particular was brutal. Nasty, barbed comments flew from him aimed the participants’ worst insecurities – weight, age, appearance… every “ism” that would collectively enrage Jezebel was screamed at anyone stepping up to play. Things got pretty dicey with a stocky bald guy, and I think the collective cheer that went but when he finally dunked the clown was tinged with relief that he wouldn’t then to go round the back and administer his own style of “payback” on the antagonizer.<br />
<br />
Betsy at this point would want to me to be fair (again, hah), so I shall also say that much of the experience was charming as well as entertaining. The old boys who maintain and proudly demonstrate the vintage farming machinery they had there were great, especially the elderly gentleman who printed us a free postcard on the old school printing press he had up and running! The areas selling livestock, often overlooked by the crowds, were fascinating to witness, and it’s comforting to know that there’s still a small-scale farming industry in this part of the states. Also, funnel cakes are delicious, and mostly make up for the deep-fried cheddar balls – the powdered sugar grease cancels out the savory cheesy grease very nicely. All in all, a great day out!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjI64_tsSrm1TlUEmMLmDfp8PEhRyO_Eby06-cYhEO3JI_igsXqj58rhmodDKLFA_6l6pi3by10SHD3L4SnD_uyLMXcPOXv14KGPE5gWL_zBKYnbfIp0YFkkijzvrquOAkwkS5Q5iCzsg/s1600/IMG_1199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjI64_tsSrm1TlUEmMLmDfp8PEhRyO_Eby06-cYhEO3JI_igsXqj58rhmodDKLFA_6l6pi3by10SHD3L4SnD_uyLMXcPOXv14KGPE5gWL_zBKYnbfIp0YFkkijzvrquOAkwkS5Q5iCzsg/s640/IMG_1199.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7i5ktChfKXbMkMc6Oyle9kseQeYkc6Fm2oueChJjIX3MBHBQaBtIgs86hEDZfvEQJ3dW9bUGkb2Xg-F7USpLCMngGG7FJgK5l6DvgcFsWToUBtRApeDV_nXJScmBzHEzE9qoExPWpfww/s1600/IMG_1196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7i5ktChfKXbMkMc6Oyle9kseQeYkc6Fm2oueChJjIX3MBHBQaBtIgs86hEDZfvEQJ3dW9bUGkb2Xg-F7USpLCMngGG7FJgK5l6DvgcFsWToUBtRApeDV_nXJScmBzHEzE9qoExPWpfww/s640/IMG_1196.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHFbxlGpdCJpHyr57TQf8pBJ99vqICUag7VPF-e4Nzju5nkTQhfVA3dvgg_MAquXfDzHh3fKfE4FMJdJs7mBoyyvVRK47ocJe_ynyW6OOEHgog7PckwYFa-_VpfEb3KrbHLcx0OGmcOg/s1600/IMG_1205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHFbxlGpdCJpHyr57TQf8pBJ99vqICUag7VPF-e4Nzju5nkTQhfVA3dvgg_MAquXfDzHh3fKfE4FMJdJs7mBoyyvVRK47ocJe_ynyW6OOEHgog7PckwYFa-_VpfEb3KrbHLcx0OGmcOg/s640/IMG_1205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tMVqY1W_jDd3MT2rHapqE-v7VQpc6gsEEsUnaqkpfWRh3L5WKt_c0AMUwSc079RCcsRJAejYn63Qj_rG3OAopyA72jKY8vBbIKWszF9M6we6OJ6iGNzhuaaowz3JKkq6zqm-hnS0f1I/s1600/mc+ag+fair+owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tMVqY1W_jDd3MT2rHapqE-v7VQpc6gsEEsUnaqkpfWRh3L5WKt_c0AMUwSc079RCcsRJAejYn63Qj_rG3OAopyA72jKY8vBbIKWszF9M6we6OJ6iGNzhuaaowz3JKkq6zqm-hnS0f1I/s640/mc+ag+fair+owl.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNBbt6dv6PTohHqu3GqxhcOQV35B-qlm-tWZPVm1QUC2ta9uOEtvKt0k3N39lUD9a5wGGKhJj7iBBN0KGo0GmdmHqW9GCTc5-KQUKQ7cOmeBRNJf6mEHoRDBS26MwNB9ysg5Q7HYjhIM/s1600/IMG_1251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNBbt6dv6PTohHqu3GqxhcOQV35B-qlm-tWZPVm1QUC2ta9uOEtvKt0k3N39lUD9a5wGGKhJj7iBBN0KGo0GmdmHqW9GCTc5-KQUKQ7cOmeBRNJf6mEHoRDBS26MwNB9ysg5Q7HYjhIM/s640/IMG_1251.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduzaAud37jlLb03rXlWco_WqZkP9llP2fw0ZXumfsxpv0OSLva9ye7ieVmCMDU6yRq8r0nMqIvkzqfsw_YehD3OJkEj1RW6cYq5jJDvp39Y80bKLC-CDpiCrc6SC_d6OWGbNnjHYWvnc/s1600/IMG_1242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduzaAud37jlLb03rXlWco_WqZkP9llP2fw0ZXumfsxpv0OSLva9ye7ieVmCMDU6yRq8r0nMqIvkzqfsw_YehD3OJkEj1RW6cYq5jJDvp39Y80bKLC-CDpiCrc6SC_d6OWGbNnjHYWvnc/s640/IMG_1242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbocXDEW-XMUFpmdQ2sSKJMS9ES678QiZHJ59tXQ6jOsdCs25GWMKoeDkFMzlmGlHt8-5sZViGkhjw4FpMhWWAczZlXMZnPGA0p2dIQJ0hoO1mhmaBZRlbFM2yIbT_6iSOi-DdKv0Bm7s/s1600/mc+ag+fair+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbocXDEW-XMUFpmdQ2sSKJMS9ES678QiZHJ59tXQ6jOsdCs25GWMKoeDkFMzlmGlHt8-5sZViGkhjw4FpMhWWAczZlXMZnPGA0p2dIQJ0hoO1mhmaBZRlbFM2yIbT_6iSOi-DdKv0Bm7s/s640/mc+ag+fair+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6804McUQO5l0kcJ3mrc3U9fRxFb5mSImocV_mGM6S7cNx_ReZDY37GRHKxSxKTjJY5ph_0NTryqdf_ca2Ci5LQmwW1b3ix0BbLJCbAd1HQEtfQaFYcmILuWNLZ1NQVXGSF7-LRLMRz8/s1600/IMG_1227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6804McUQO5l0kcJ3mrc3U9fRxFb5mSImocV_mGM6S7cNx_ReZDY37GRHKxSxKTjJY5ph_0NTryqdf_ca2Ci5LQmwW1b3ix0BbLJCbAd1HQEtfQaFYcmILuWNLZ1NQVXGSF7-LRLMRz8/s640/IMG_1227.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4O0sichVjaOdCYt9WepHIha-ArSwXP8SLR6VPtWQArOVCfSv1x6Nkr1ogMYmefF4_IDqY6T97fD7TJVGsducjeXGhB22XuA6t9D8v3-1psXUGnBn9dROAoFyhc6XGpfUhCYu0Huex2Do/s1600/mc+ag+fair+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4O0sichVjaOdCYt9WepHIha-ArSwXP8SLR6VPtWQArOVCfSv1x6Nkr1ogMYmefF4_IDqY6T97fD7TJVGsducjeXGhB22XuA6t9D8v3-1psXUGnBn9dROAoFyhc6XGpfUhCYu0Huex2Do/s640/mc+ag+fair+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiYzRDTmfMSwD30TUuhY-fpQ1mAxuuPb8uXW7ZImR8O9GFNUuKEpDwiB33Of5fszDDVAqW15FQu6VK0r2B2P6zLRy4iuJ0q0S2oFrXKTNrZozc9AjlxSbzwArX7xbpLp2PlpBfE1V7xs/s1600/IMG_1290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiYzRDTmfMSwD30TUuhY-fpQ1mAxuuPb8uXW7ZImR8O9GFNUuKEpDwiB33Of5fszDDVAqW15FQu6VK0r2B2P6zLRy4iuJ0q0S2oFrXKTNrZozc9AjlxSbzwArX7xbpLp2PlpBfE1V7xs/s640/IMG_1290.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnZOicdEFdeMhNlN0Hzyjqu6hAc1y1Ugo-8QDj7fsFlpdo7CUG3y1DLLS95Ap315sl73LG-oEb1cJTkOuhNQuktK25LQbH_bF4fxbal9E_Ehehyj8PgVXzZRp6gcTH_otdLyT_gvayn8/s1600/mc+ag+fair+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnZOicdEFdeMhNlN0Hzyjqu6hAc1y1Ugo-8QDj7fsFlpdo7CUG3y1DLLS95Ap315sl73LG-oEb1cJTkOuhNQuktK25LQbH_bF4fxbal9E_Ehehyj8PgVXzZRp6gcTH_otdLyT_gvayn8/s640/mc+ag+fair+pig.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-38vbOkrjElWiy9KwPL180h-MQEmYwQZP7t7b2zA9AeGhnP9Xw_PqXa1HnEdEw-lkxtfHII7dok6b3C5OHmm7jnrm751WR9GXbcc6qUILPx2yltLlcPpARmvQkedEZGbsioX4-7JseY/s1600/IMG_1311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-38vbOkrjElWiy9KwPL180h-MQEmYwQZP7t7b2zA9AeGhnP9Xw_PqXa1HnEdEw-lkxtfHII7dok6b3C5OHmm7jnrm751WR9GXbcc6qUILPx2yltLlcPpARmvQkedEZGbsioX4-7JseY/s640/IMG_1311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6HuCx22pMQgRzU1oIY6TC62amwAezxd7OAXFvi1Cvo-lagvXRzEvUKH77M6_XbNVpwrULBgmkROqTG9drHYrlNZ7Pdg617rudrVgHA29RdVmtjTyptBTXwiS7IvAy1LmgZnGEj_iMjM/s1600/mc+ag+fair+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6HuCx22pMQgRzU1oIY6TC62amwAezxd7OAXFvi1Cvo-lagvXRzEvUKH77M6_XbNVpwrULBgmkROqTG9drHYrlNZ7Pdg617rudrVgHA29RdVmtjTyptBTXwiS7IvAy1LmgZnGEj_iMjM/s640/mc+ag+fair+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0DvRW3582n1r8Jbks0_nudZ1WcjhI1u7t9_ZPNuc_3evhrngz0p_sbjqI1jyUyCA99l5UPeRDYjgo8C6Y5vQYx7D5P0jHZnPB4C9OJ8NJPXkK0Xq3RG8PbaWoV4emJgr6JC3MzR9rh8/s1600/mc+ag+fair+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0DvRW3582n1r8Jbks0_nudZ1WcjhI1u7t9_ZPNuc_3evhrngz0p_sbjqI1jyUyCA99l5UPeRDYjgo8C6Y5vQYx7D5P0jHZnPB4C9OJ8NJPXkK0Xq3RG8PbaWoV4emJgr6JC3MzR9rh8/s640/mc+ag+fair+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jaFLvDdXrZgAiYX0LWUnG1gJKvinYMJwiMRVlromiaPcZL1GYfwER4IaLdUOt9wN4diZR8kcgQnMcBKrF1RlJ8eQ5kJjMWRP5sur1y8uoj9f2dHi_2UEWzYwLd8kzAs174UGl8lQhyphenhyphen0/s1600/mc+ag+fair+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jaFLvDdXrZgAiYX0LWUnG1gJKvinYMJwiMRVlromiaPcZL1GYfwER4IaLdUOt9wN4diZR8kcgQnMcBKrF1RlJ8eQ5kJjMWRP5sur1y8uoj9f2dHi_2UEWzYwLd8kzAs174UGl8lQhyphenhyphen0/s640/mc+ag+fair+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttVbMLkjImTmt4sCLm1KYoS2Lii29RjH-zT8jQYLOiOCjIXshUn1uabNg_5Gd0exdU19BR59PRvxAEe0tgrRGp0-dShcjY91RbufY4HKjJJWelOVNFYj1TklhR4qDrD1m1epLsp-zcZo/s1600/mc+ag+fair+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttVbMLkjImTmt4sCLm1KYoS2Lii29RjH-zT8jQYLOiOCjIXshUn1uabNg_5Gd0exdU19BR59PRvxAEe0tgrRGp0-dShcjY91RbufY4HKjJJWelOVNFYj1TklhR4qDrD1m1epLsp-zcZo/s640/mc+ag+fair+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIChb3GzIohWofhxThk32ll8OM9mCQxgQdSO88qc_scKVOeLy5ZM1IE6Xwf_MF8tjtCr7BygLe2pOH9h7LkmE3WPj-DZP0jlRUzH0YS14j6t088waYyOzj5nwtZ-EGO_IclhDTZ7x4tM/s1600/mc+ag+fair+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIChb3GzIohWofhxThk32ll8OM9mCQxgQdSO88qc_scKVOeLy5ZM1IE6Xwf_MF8tjtCr7BygLe2pOH9h7LkmE3WPj-DZP0jlRUzH0YS14j6t088waYyOzj5nwtZ-EGO_IclhDTZ7x4tM/s640/mc+ag+fair+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzVG-xPD6nVA08Ky3FO_63rL3Cf6kr9JJ5bjRbbko85TzkTsXoEyIwk84mdf_mUm50SkneV1mq7FrWd9j0KqScTscDMzpUdXv3nyuKfOn52wAXW_hObyafBVK8tVnDv2Wacu2E_JaYTI/s1600/mc+ag+fair+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzVG-xPD6nVA08Ky3FO_63rL3Cf6kr9JJ5bjRbbko85TzkTsXoEyIwk84mdf_mUm50SkneV1mq7FrWd9j0KqScTscDMzpUdXv3nyuKfOn52wAXW_hObyafBVK8tVnDv2Wacu2E_JaYTI/s640/mc+ag+fair+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-19004905999172337082015-09-06T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-08T19:38:18.293-05:00Sunday MeditationA friend of mine is dying.<br />
<br />
I didn't know until I saw something worrying from a mutual friend on Facebook that made me send an urgent message. "Is he ill?" The answer, devastatingly, was yes; very.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t6kJjIdQyt1hhP5sYN8n_5Ft9ujaGKHBAefIPXpQpmG9paysx8SewkEY6vd64j5DD-G6kqi8iD1gFxhHBs-PunKPcq8vCRbJifPejyuUMVpdFlLTJHujV1pOQ038ML8NyGydiQe1Z94/s1600/meditation+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t6kJjIdQyt1hhP5sYN8n_5Ft9ujaGKHBAefIPXpQpmG9paysx8SewkEY6vd64j5DD-G6kqi8iD1gFxhHBs-PunKPcq8vCRbJifPejyuUMVpdFlLTJHujV1pOQ038ML8NyGydiQe1Z94/s640/meditation+1.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
Near the end of my run this morning, I noticed a small sign by the steps of the meetinghouse around the corner from Nana and Pappy's that read:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
All Saints Episcopal Church</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
service 8am</div>
<br />
I thought of my friend, a choirmaster devoted to the Anglican liturgy, and crept through the open door. I slipped into a seat at the back just as the second reading began and closed my eyes, letting the rhythms of the scripture wash over me. I stood with the small congregation as they chanted the Apostle's Creed and bowed my head during the prayers of intercession. When I opened my mouth to join in singing the doxology, I found tears streaming down my face.<br />
<br />
After the service, the priest welcomed me and introduced myself. He glanced at my wet cheeks and red nose and took my hand. "Can I offer you comfort?" he asked. I smiled at him shakily and replied that I had found all the comfort I needed in the service.<br />
<br />
As I walked back home, though, I wondered: how often do we need to hear that? And how often should we be the ones offering it? More than we admit for both, I think.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1IR8Q9lZLbGO_YonooZadGRLX9pbM5FqfXjNnBB0iZ8vY14JSvNRdVNX1FJ1HS1TRl2UiiRmklX2yd2jqXvTmRd5W251dihMfzjzmNRf0mkbZoFDekGOBw7a3jyICvVTO48rsLricd0/s1600/sunday+meditation+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1IR8Q9lZLbGO_YonooZadGRLX9pbM5FqfXjNnBB0iZ8vY14JSvNRdVNX1FJ1HS1TRl2UiiRmklX2yd2jqXvTmRd5W251dihMfzjzmNRf0mkbZoFDekGOBw7a3jyICvVTO48rsLricd0/s640/sunday+meditation+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-52341112051941161692015-09-04T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-08T20:58:49.720-05:00Connecticut Bound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggANq_iuqQ1McqSGpXEjwpWoAwTpZO7MUbfK0dtJBeduTYn7FM66uwrERYdynppEobYIJABLpQhkgttF4j3tIT4wBl_QTF83GtZNv5MMMJUyle0YhX81s5D3H7kAWTuNjfxDWexHhhBmY/s1600/ct+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggANq_iuqQ1McqSGpXEjwpWoAwTpZO7MUbfK0dtJBeduTYn7FM66uwrERYdynppEobYIJABLpQhkgttF4j3tIT4wBl_QTF83GtZNv5MMMJUyle0YhX81s5D3H7kAWTuNjfxDWexHhhBmY/s640/ct+1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Jon and I are heading up to my grandparents' place in Connecticut this weekend, and I'm so looking forward to getting away. We've been on exciting day trips through the summer, but we haven't gone for a real vacation since <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/2015/06/lets-go-shenando.html" target="_blank">the Shenandoah Valley over Memorial Day weekend</a> - a few days in Litchfield County sounds like bliss.<br />
<br />
I actually haven't been there since <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/tsytransatlantically.com/2012/07/a-new-england-summer_24.html" target="_blank">summer 2012</a>, when <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/tsytransatlantically.com/2012/07/weekend-in-numbers-connecticut.html" target="_blank">Sarah and I spent a weekend in Connecticut</a> with our grandparents, but I'm eager to make the most of the house and of the uninterrupted time with Nana and Pappy. Jon's been up before - we stayed there the first time he came to visit me in the States, and I have really special memories of him meeting my grandparents and getting to know my family better on that trip.<br />
<br />
If only we could go for a whole two weeks, like we did when when I was younger! But alas, adulting is hard, and a long weekend will have to be enough. Can you believe the weather we'll be getting? I'm definitely packing my bathing suit and my running kit. I predict 90% of the weekend will be spent outdoors! (Jon's happy about the sun not just because it means pool time and long walks, but because it also means I won't drag him antiquing.) We'll spend a bit of time in Litchfield so we can share some <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/the-fourth" target="_blank">more Revolutionary War history</a> and I might bring him to Washington Depot, where I first discovered the Redwall series at the gorgeous Gunn Memorial Library. Nana and Pappy will also be taking us to a camber music concert one night, which will be lovely! Ah, I can feel the work week melting away even as I type.<br />
<br />
Jon and I are both packing our bags this morning and we'll set off after work in just a few hours. Side note: creating a Polyvore board of what you're packing is an excellent way to realize you have, in fact, overpacked! Here's what's in my bag for the weekend: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZgSnGuhWiBT3OLB-wzAJv3FPjTxw5c_C7xDXMZgp0Kzbh_1DIrIcad_s2WlrYJT762KfJlFQS_vfQfqQsh7jiA_epePNz0ndr_uhoF1OPG08xI9Kb5rR9kRbuw-6aK-0tXvff4OUxpU/s1600/ct+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZgSnGuhWiBT3OLB-wzAJv3FPjTxw5c_C7xDXMZgp0Kzbh_1DIrIcad_s2WlrYJT762KfJlFQS_vfQfqQsh7jiA_epePNz0ndr_uhoF1OPG08xI9Kb5rR9kRbuw-6aK-0tXvff4OUxpU/s640/ct+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-10619419931638692652015-08-28T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-08T19:47:46.133-05:00eShakti Elephants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjue5wxLcG1bF5OGUNhzro5khX-b_UG8lHjjYgryGQyV9rWWTqo6vk1Kr4NFyLk5wJpSP3PM1kX0j-D2ml83cg-_7uAa1bItiu_KsmmaULakCy-KibI3bLpvGLHgLeHULT-_Z-HyCFowI/s1600/elephants+.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjue5wxLcG1bF5OGUNhzro5khX-b_UG8lHjjYgryGQyV9rWWTqo6vk1Kr4NFyLk5wJpSP3PM1kX0j-D2ml83cg-_7uAa1bItiu_KsmmaULakCy-KibI3bLpvGLHgLeHULT-_Z-HyCFowI/s640/elephants+.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
My birthday is tomorrow, dear readers! And, <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/tsytransatlantically.com/2014/08/a-birthday-feast.html" target="_blank">like last year</a>, I'm celebrating by throwing myself a party. This year, though, Jon is here and we have even more to celebrate - we're hosting a triple bash for our wedding anniversary, my birthday, and his first full year as a legal alien in the United States. (Three more weeks until we toast to that last one officially!) We've got about 30 people coming over for drinks and food on the patio behind our building, and I'm so excited to gather so many of our local friends in one place for an evening.<br />
<br />
One of the special things about tomorrow is that we really are celebrating with people we - both of us - love. It's so hard to move to a new city, let alone a new country, but Jon has really made DC his own. He's put down roots, he's developed friendships independent of me, and he feels at home here in his world, not just in mine. It's such a joy to see and to be able to share.<br />
<br />
Another sign that Jon's comfortable in Washington: he understood that we couldn't just do one grocery store run for everything we'll be serving! When you plan coordinated trips to Costco, Safeway, and the farmers' market, you know you know your town.<br />
<br />
Of course, the party isn't just an excuse to celebrate with friends and food. I've been thinking about what I might wear for the occasion for weeks now, and when <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog//frock-fridays-a-festive-fourth" target="_blank">I got to choose a dress from eShakti</a> back in July I looked for a dress in their collection that I could wear for the occasion. This paisley/elephant printed one is so fun - I wanted spaghetti straps and a lower-cut neckline because I'm quite fond of my shoulders, but I love that the midi length keeps the dress garden-worthy. It's fully lined, which is a nice touch, though I have to admit that I'm not crazy about how the skirt is attached to the bodice of the dress - it's gathered rather than pleated, which can make me look like I have more of a tummy than I really do from some angles. Happily, my mom was quickly and easily able to sew darts in under the bust to give the shape a little more structure. And you know how I feel about a dress that has pockets! <br />
<br />
Fair warning, party guests: there will almost certainly be some Costco chocolate sheet cake-fueled twirling in this dress tomorrow night!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzRSxUV21CslvvSfBss-GBzfSFo9bTFmvmRNyFvSIFbADrzcC4-lQb25ORk9b5OZ7Go3E4010i323SY1H8fzuKcDCJLmvGpsbjwS0Gjlqq4SIkKgisL_BLkGp4wgfaZHBQNsT-V3JNmQ/s1600/elephants+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzRSxUV21CslvvSfBss-GBzfSFo9bTFmvmRNyFvSIFbADrzcC4-lQb25ORk9b5OZ7Go3E4010i323SY1H8fzuKcDCJLmvGpsbjwS0Gjlqq4SIkKgisL_BLkGp4wgfaZHBQNsT-V3JNmQ/s640/elephants+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35hyphenhyphenEv4EgaiCnYVARGz-IXdQStvFoEADnyFw-cEG8iZdGIMYePp0eOIQTSrA7JRjdaOOeemgx2nFtu3kcetKomVw3abzSZs2T2La5M1ttKnYdlS8HSGFcJQdXxrDhFN3dFPVD2Bx0Kls/s1600/elephants+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35hyphenhyphenEv4EgaiCnYVARGz-IXdQStvFoEADnyFw-cEG8iZdGIMYePp0eOIQTSrA7JRjdaOOeemgx2nFtu3kcetKomVw3abzSZs2T2La5M1ttKnYdlS8HSGFcJQdXxrDhFN3dFPVD2Bx0Kls/s640/elephants+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM9A1JTr_WvSmEoyvbj4X7JjKgkqr1GHlsmknztuuN1XByBIMFcuZ-EH03lYcWfE8T3YuJf6r50NG3o45pw6_b7ffEenoluNtdsFMOt4PgCC80bc1HL7K7PL6T_LgrYKdDrYGqrn2LAY/s1600/elephants+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM9A1JTr_WvSmEoyvbj4X7JjKgkqr1GHlsmknztuuN1XByBIMFcuZ-EH03lYcWfE8T3YuJf6r50NG3o45pw6_b7ffEenoluNtdsFMOt4PgCC80bc1HL7K7PL6T_LgrYKdDrYGqrn2LAY/s640/elephants+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-40089948528852504642015-08-26T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-07T23:53:22.381-05:00Unfollowing Brands, Following PeopleThere are a lot of posts and programs out there that tell you how to grow your following on your blog, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Most of those talk about creating and curating your personal brand, so that everyone who sees something of yours will know that it came from you without even looking at the account handle. And, of course, a lot of people who listen to this advice want to monetize their social media presence.<br />
<br />
First of all, let me say: if that's what you're trying to do, rock on. Get it, girl. <a href="http://jezebel.com/what-the-hustle-looks-like-on-etsy-in-2015-1726192097" target="_blank">Hustle, as they say</a>. (<a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/tsytransatlanticallycom/2014/11/its-not-you-its-me-hustle-edition" target="_blank">I don't say that.</a> But it is said.)<br />
<br />
Second, I'll absolutely admit that I'm probably not your target audience if that is what you're trying to do, so you probably won't care about what comes third.<br />
<br />
But here's what comes third: I just had an urge to go through everyone I follow on Instagram, and I ended up unfollowing everyone whose accounts I don't enjoy looking at or engaging with. Without agenda, almost everyone I unfollowed was either actually a brand or a person who has made an effort branding herself (or, in rare instances, himself). If I read a handle and couldn't think of a single personal thing about the account holder, I unfollowed that account.<br />
<br />
I unfollowed accounts whose Instagrams look like they belong in magazine editorials.<br />
<br />
I unfollowed accounts that don't post any "real life" photos.<br />
<br />
I unfollowed accounts who make a overwhelming effort to grow their followings or satisfy sponsors.<br />
<br />
Of course there are some exceptions to this. I still follow a few actual companies I love, companies that have great customer service both offline and on, like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/roomandboard/" target="_blank">Room and Board</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rugs_usa/" target="_blank">Rugs USA</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/craneandcanopy/" target="_blank">Crane & Canopy</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/boden_clothing/" target="_blank">Boden</a>. And I still follow some internet friends who are also entrepreneurs and make a living online and by advertising online, like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/miloandmolly/" target="_blank">Kristen</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rowhouse14/" target="_blank">Heidi</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/laurenwerkheiserphotography/" target="_blank">Lauren</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mflynnpete/" target="_blank">Megan</a>. But people - not social media managers, but private individuals - who commercialize themselves and filter out everything human... those are the ones who were unfollowed the fastest.<br />
<br />
I don't care what your grid looks like. I don't care that your lighting isn't always perfect. I don't care that you only edit photos in Instagram and found out that people edit photos for Instagram in multiple apps before posting them to Instagram by reading one of those "how I edit photos for Instagram" blog posts.<br />
<br />
I care that I know your dog twitches in his sleep because you posted that silly video of him chasing rabbits in his dreams. I care about the beef stew that you posted even though it looked disgusting because, in the caption, you explained that it's your boyfriend's favorite meal. I care that sometimes you take a photo of your shoes because they're cute and they make you happy, not because you're angling for a free pair or fulfilling a sponsorship agreement.<br />
<br />
I care that your selfies are usually face-on, your eyes smiling straight into mine instead of staring demurely at some invisible point on the floor just under your left shoulder. That's the relationship I want with the people I spend time with online. The one where you're you, sharing yourself. Not your brand.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-59997714274216298722015-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-07T23:50:29.485-05:00Old Buildings, Radiators, and Getting With The Times<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3BaYVl6lvL56S5nsJB-4kSAMfuk9IM_bfT3oTff3CB7wSxa2wGIDrqO3C9mZPqOp5viI_gkTiksqqSaXGcnhOZZx0aAKLICnB1hipnlgo13Ai25ayYHxO9qvZ50zbyZN9XQjT0d08Kc/s1600/radiators+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3BaYVl6lvL56S5nsJB-4kSAMfuk9IM_bfT3oTff3CB7wSxa2wGIDrqO3C9mZPqOp5viI_gkTiksqqSaXGcnhOZZx0aAKLICnB1hipnlgo13Ai25ayYHxO9qvZ50zbyZN9XQjT0d08Kc/s640/radiators+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">panorama of our living room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We live in a pretty old building - well, old by American standards, anyway - and we enjoy some amazing pre-war features in our apartment. All the units are spacious, with high ceilings, wide sash windows, practically noise-proof walls, and plenty of closet space. (You don't find those things in new apartment buildings, and definitely not under rent control!) My favorite feature of our home, though, is the radiators. They give our rooms so much character, and I just love the look of them!<br />
<br />
Of course, the radiators mean that there's no central heat or air, which is why we have a window unit in the bedroom and another in the living room, and it's a good thing, on the whole, that our building's management is putting HVAC systems in every apartment in our building. I mean, I'm glad from a creature comforts point of view because modernity is awesome and it will be nice to have an extra few inches of space along the walls especially in the hallway off the kitchen and next to the sink in the bathroom. But aesthetically I'll be melancholy once the work is done and the radiators are removed. I've been preparing to miss them for weeks, ever since I asked if we could keep them just for decoration and management said no.<br />
<br />
When management called me yesterday to say they'd moved up the timeline for the work - they'll start next week instead of later in September - I took to Pinterest and Apartment Therapy in a bout of masochistic pre-nostalgia for how great spaces with old-fashioned radiators can look. Aren't these gorgeous? Le sigh...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETRf70P5uFqliQTkCPmV0ep1SsY45AW_RTdGSFBtFq3gbBBkqF6TBTNKsUj51Q1YyRAb-vK3H8wr3uAKeBOlyFeem6UlPjhNyC-GWMorGSAZEliCKaVnaNvBIUZtIs9cz-kWBz3nH-E8/s1600/radiators+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETRf70P5uFqliQTkCPmV0ep1SsY45AW_RTdGSFBtFq3gbBBkqF6TBTNKsUj51Q1YyRAb-vK3H8wr3uAKeBOlyFeem6UlPjhNyC-GWMorGSAZEliCKaVnaNvBIUZtIs9cz-kWBz3nH-E8/s640/radiators+2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/miles-antenas-lightfilled-coastal-home-house-tour-200211#_" target="_blank">via </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrywFvAX2J4Zxpxo9UC0cAZZt1ZGqaClq24rDvcZwLPRwPomQP5c3EHGmsx4o5D-awzgswlnL8BouDBWtX5gshoFHQZdYltNDrx-LNSHoUlPmue92Lp5rEcDMRP1tu7lx3YCaFnwSL_vk/s1600/radiators+3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrywFvAX2J4Zxpxo9UC0cAZZt1ZGqaClq24rDvcZwLPRwPomQP5c3EHGmsx4o5D-awzgswlnL8BouDBWtX5gshoFHQZdYltNDrx-LNSHoUlPmue92Lp5rEcDMRP1tu7lx3YCaFnwSL_vk/s640/radiators+3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/miles-antenas-lightfilled-coastal-home-house-tour-200211#_" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/2014/03/nate-berkus-in-my-dining-room.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP6NiKXoJbbUJYQhBGv-ihB_mysWJlsAlo86boKYQBX_ryvwpTc9XmS8JXi0cEwMBpu1Dn0cr-CHkeUcuuvGdUoNqkgEDBa1lo_ft8DWRNNBzZHo8MqkORCwRnAQxWnn6m-cNkZ_7ff4/s640/radiators+4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/2014/03/nate-berkus-in-my-dining-room.html" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3-rgP5ZopsRvO2Cbf0SR_FIn6JB245xGoORJAPubpbD7_xC-at7Zq-4T1z_H2dhTaVtJVT0WtK-yQmcylf-76SOh03DU-0wsfO9D64Hn8X2-CxfyVnjHYJXh3kSMJhb2_zHWRmf6_U8/s1600/radiators+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3-rgP5ZopsRvO2Cbf0SR_FIn6JB245xGoORJAPubpbD7_xC-at7Zq-4T1z_H2dhTaVtJVT0WtK-yQmcylf-76SOh03DU-0wsfO9D64Hn8X2-CxfyVnjHYJXh3kSMJhb2_zHWRmf6_U8/s640/radiators+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/abigail-aherns-dark-and-dramatic-east-london-home-house-tour-205371#_" target="_blank">via</a> / <a href="http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/2014/01/my-completed-gallery-wall.html" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc45e8G6wp3scPYlVq5jTXbGsjOqpgXfR-JszwPqBT_A_6hlg17tIsZd2FRNT-_x8H4yCuiPXglLMdVDdU-zkVsPAIEcDbDdRIUO0fklBQfTxDs6bew9DVOmadERAWKy3zD9Nf8Doybk/s1600/radiators+6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc45e8G6wp3scPYlVq5jTXbGsjOqpgXfR-JszwPqBT_A_6hlg17tIsZd2FRNT-_x8H4yCuiPXglLMdVDdU-zkVsPAIEcDbDdRIUO0fklBQfTxDs6bew9DVOmadERAWKy3zD9Nf8Doybk/s640/radiators+6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/greathomesanddestinations/staple-gun-decorating-in-fort-greene-brooklyn.html" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-62087182598116788012015-08-23T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-07T23:45:42.314-05:00Two Years Out Of Seven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistXNQedyBUmi8uQKo2TpUg-IrWWugBQV1ln7ADnYwXtP0QSfPp12PO7fctXYlo0dFUhU8fS7w1E07MLhi_s_N0WwIB7s36FSvAUbm-uQiiYokHQrIe71Uwgqfd4cBS_p8wdADFxad4O4/s1600/love+needlepoint.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistXNQedyBUmi8uQKo2TpUg-IrWWugBQV1ln7ADnYwXtP0QSfPp12PO7fctXYlo0dFUhU8fS7w1E07MLhi_s_N0WwIB7s36FSvAUbm-uQiiYokHQrIe71Uwgqfd4cBS_p8wdADFxad4O4/s640/love+needlepoint.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The other day, Jon and I were chatting with another couple - neighbors-turned-friends, which is awesome - and they asked how long we'd been together. We had trouble doing the math, mostly because the answer seemed incredible in the literal sense of the word. It's crazy to think that it's been nearly seven years. We've been in love for a quarter of our lives.<br />
<br />
So, in some ways, two years of marriage doesn't seem like a big deal. What's two out of seven? But then I remember <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/tsytransatlantically.com/2014/08/thoughts-on-august.html" target="_blank">what we dealt with to get here</a>: 38 months apart over 72, five missed birthdays, a long distance engagement, wedding planning from opposite sides of the Atlantic, one visa and one green card... and more. <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/tsytransatlantically.com/2015/01/were-together.html" target="_blank">A lot of it was hard.</a><br />
<br />
A lot of it has also been easy, from reunions at airports to bringing each other coffee in the morning and a glass of water before bed. We take walks with Charlie and kiss each other goodbye when our commutes part ways. He buys me the light Babybel because they're only one Weight Watchers PointsPlus each and I buy him the real thing because they taste better. We light candles at dinner for no special reason other than that we're together. <br />
<br />
So we will celebrate these two years tomorrow, the second anniversary of our wedding. And we'll celebrate them today, too. After all, every day is something to celebrate. Not everything will be easy - hard happens all the time, even if not of the sort that we've been through so far - but I'm so lucky to have Jon alongside me no matter what we face. There's no one I'd rather do life with.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-12523550744303849262015-08-21T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-07T23:43:40.105-05:00Stella and Dot Everytime/EverywhereOne piece of jewelry I own gets more compliments than any other: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/4O6Fbwws7-/" target="_blank">my blue, green, and gold Maldives necklace from Stella & Dot</a>. A few years ago, my friend Catie hosted a trunk show for Stella & Dot at her mother’s gorgeous home in DC, and my mom and I both walked out with fabulous items we still wear over and over again - that necklace was one of my best purchases of the year, no question.<br />
<br />
Catie is now a stylist for Stella & Dot, and I’m thrilled to be hosting a trunk show for her on the blog today. (Well, today and for the next three weeks, just in case you need a minute to check your jewelry stash to see what you’re missing and desperately need!) Half of what they offer, designed by creatives from companies like Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, and Coach, is $50 and under, so you can find jewelry and accessories that fit every budget. The new fall range, like all the others I’ve seen from Stella & Dot, mixes edgy and contemporary pieces with more classic and delicate ones; perfect for whatever mood or situation you find yourself in. Many of the pieces themselves are versatile and can be worn multiple ways!<br />
<br />
I chose <a href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/whats-new/new-arrivals/belle-necklace" target="_blank">the Belle necklace</a> to add to my collection, and I love that I can wear it with professional attire, out for a night on the town, or with more casual daytime outfits. It's a perfect birthday present to myself for this last year of my 20s, and the other pieces I have my eye on are just as dynamic. Which is your favorite?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEPZZp8C3H56vJRLQsRySK12SZaSOd_D-YymIVYQLXjpJYKK2R53SrZsIGwckLiuy7nM5ZjzRhFynMd_Ouy9FmJntoD5yKF9Pfd5_mMOh_YLDQ_hvPAbxl3ljvKrhC0Cea-HA1JcFRZs/s1600/s%2526d+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEPZZp8C3H56vJRLQsRySK12SZaSOd_D-YymIVYQLXjpJYKK2R53SrZsIGwckLiuy7nM5ZjzRhFynMd_Ouy9FmJntoD5yKF9Pfd5_mMOh_YLDQ_hvPAbxl3ljvKrhC0Cea-HA1JcFRZs/s640/s%2526d+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRzSpUU3kk7O3pEPtaB_4o9lWep3h9u0WgjRlbFqRVDsZkRjiHZ_RMzyAUEfsj6dBOrFYm7TXK5CIvrP59XReW-RpdB-jvZ6eSBGUHC-OYBfN2FzHuqXqzFYo8L39Cn3T6h3sbsf9wEU/s1600/s%2526d+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRzSpUU3kk7O3pEPtaB_4o9lWep3h9u0WgjRlbFqRVDsZkRjiHZ_RMzyAUEfsj6dBOrFYm7TXK5CIvrP59XReW-RpdB-jvZ6eSBGUHC-OYBfN2FzHuqXqzFYo8L39Cn3T6h3sbsf9wEU/s640/s%2526d+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRVm5rIJGXmICjEl0aiAd4PzYD0NpxyF1MwNZVNAOb69EUOqYSjhs4mF1STa-CrCdo-4GLnt-75QkbmFQ8ChfhsUKusBtcqEfwPgznbu71QAe_240esBSvvfFneGuAMHTlUT3qSljjAo/s1600/s%2526d+3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRVm5rIJGXmICjEl0aiAd4PzYD0NpxyF1MwNZVNAOb69EUOqYSjhs4mF1STa-CrCdo-4GLnt-75QkbmFQ8ChfhsUKusBtcqEfwPgznbu71QAe_240esBSvvfFneGuAMHTlUT3qSljjAo/s640/s%2526d+3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZZW6ZIFmNPoLaYf5-99mGUM4JM2g8xe0dEheiLzg7BP6X0u-5jsEp7djhHzU4aE9WHUCk2JnRpIEgLnoe6Wjol-zFq0nj7KgLJwcweHl1W8azq-Wn0bZ4NJr-Gt9ZO8zegdQB_WUVks/s1600/s%2526d+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZZW6ZIFmNPoLaYf5-99mGUM4JM2g8xe0dEheiLzg7BP6X0u-5jsEp7djhHzU4aE9WHUCk2JnRpIEgLnoe6Wjol-zFq0nj7KgLJwcweHl1W8azq-Wn0bZ4NJr-Gt9ZO8zegdQB_WUVks/s640/s%2526d+4.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/union-square-scarf-black-cream-tribal-geo" href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/union-square-scarf-black-cream-tribal-geo" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Union Square Scarf </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;">/ </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/the-hudson-tote-large-black-cream-clean-stripe" href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/the-hudson-tote-large-black-cream-clean-stripe" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Hudson Tote</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/deja-vu-pearl-studs?color=gold" href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/deja-vu-pearl-studs?color=gold" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Déjà Vu Gold Studs</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.oasis-stores.com/supersoft-dress/dresses/oasis/fcp-product/5423023" href="http://www.oasis-stores.com/supersoft-dress/dresses/oasis/fcp-product/5423023" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">dress</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.dsw.com/shoe/nine+west+sacco+flat+sandal?prodId=325524&activeCategory=102486&category=cat20034&activeCats=cat10006,cat20034" href="http://www.dsw.com/shoe/nine+west+sacco+flat+sandal?prodId=325524&activeCategory=102486&category=cat20034&activeCats=cat10006,cat20034" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">shoes</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/utopia-statement-necklace" href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/utopia-statement-necklace" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Utopia Statement Necklace</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/deja-vu-stone-studs-lapis" href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/deja-vu-stone-studs-lapis" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Déjà Vu Stone Studs</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/avalon-tote-black-perf" href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/avalon-tote-black-perf" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Avalon Tote</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://shopmrsh.com/products/Alexander_Wang_T/Cropped_Boxy_Shirt_White/" href="http://shopmrsh.com/products/Alexander_Wang_T/Cropped_Boxy_Shirt_White/" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">top</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/595700" href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/595700" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;">skirt</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/product/1180215" href="https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/product/1180215" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">shoes</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DLEujB_zqsN7U0rBBR9ZW7FWabfEFWw5QZDDpdHE9QOk1o8SB1ib3szueafIsFS5_hJLvDrdB6qrBcj4kgUYJ10eZ7coLURXrGUr49MT_baLfFNwmKyWEtgiHRhcdTQuE_b7HZW_sQA/s1600/s%2526d+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DLEujB_zqsN7U0rBBR9ZW7FWabfEFWw5QZDDpdHE9QOk1o8SB1ib3szueafIsFS5_hJLvDrdB6qrBcj4kgUYJ10eZ7coLURXrGUr49MT_baLfFNwmKyWEtgiHRhcdTQuE_b7HZW_sQA/s640/s%2526d+5.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/lighting-necklace" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Lightning Necklace</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/pave-triangle-ear-jacket?color=gold" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Pavé Triangle Ear Jacket</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/lightning-ring" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Lightning Ring</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> /</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/the-waverly-petite-black-perf" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Waverly Petite bag</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://www.farfetch.com/shopping/item11069936.aspx" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">top</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://us.riverisland.com/women/jeans/straight--slim-jeans/dark-wash-stevie-straight-jeans-672332" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">jeans</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://www.zappos.com/nine-west-whataday-black-black-fabric?zlfid=124" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">shoes</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/aria-drop-earrings" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Aria earrings</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/aria-cuff" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stella & Dot Aria cuff</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://us.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?searchTermScope=3&searchType=ALL&viewAllFlag=false&beginIndex=1&langId=-1&productId=20425143&pageSize=20&searchTerm=TS10X13IBLE&catalogId=33060&DM_PersistentCookieCreated=true&productIdentifierproduct=product&geoip=search&x=25&searchTermOperator=LIKE&sort_field=Relevance&y=11&storeId=13052&qubitRefinements=siteId%3DTopShopUS" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">dress</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://www.toryburch.com/shelley-105mm-sandal-patent-calf-%7C-141-%7C-sandal/888736595737.html" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">shoes</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://m.sephora.com/product/P397401?om_mmc=aff-linkshare-redirect-Hy3bqNL2jtQ&c3ch=Linkshare&c3nid=Hy3bqNL2jtQ&affid=Hy3bqNL2jtQ-J7pRAnYyeSvnwXXTE2To0Q&ranEAID=Hy3bqNL2jtQ&ranMID=2417&ranSiteID=Hy3bqNL2jtQ-J7pRAnYyeSvnwXXTE2To0Q&ranLinkID=10-1" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">eyelashes</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a href="http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/bobbi-brown-old-hollywood-ink-liner?ID=913203&PartnerID=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc=LINKSHARE-_-4-_-37-_-MP437&LinkshareID=Hy3bqNL2jtQ-QiDf9XZKTg8zQzg8j46ptA" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">eyeliner</a></div>
<br />
By the way, if you order $50 (excluding tax) worth of pieces from this trunk show, you get 50% off one of the trunk show exclusive items - this month's theme for the options is tropical and includes these earrings, this necklace, a scarf, a beauty bag, and a tunic. Have fun!<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I received the Belle necklace as compensation for this post and might receive further compensation if you purchase anything from Stella & Dot via Catie (though, as always, all opinions are my own).</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-77341598912249309942015-08-20T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-07T23:28:54.935-05:00Cotton On To You<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGgHU5O6DCzT7A8cUvF-EwdrCKHm6JgcEAz76b9fYu3DkmqJl0RKZUcippoNvWIu9C6bIQEMzgYUVH7igGKfPx3-qthVezVDlEFnsybthy7cA7eI4Hcyme4-F4OQE2xXnFn90ku6fBY4/s1600/cotton+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGgHU5O6DCzT7A8cUvF-EwdrCKHm6JgcEAz76b9fYu3DkmqJl0RKZUcippoNvWIu9C6bIQEMzgYUVH7igGKfPx3-qthVezVDlEFnsybthy7cA7eI4Hcyme4-F4OQE2xXnFn90ku6fBY4/s640/cotton+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20.16px; text-align: start;">our bedroom when we were switching out the rugs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our second wedding anniversary is on Monday next week, and I took advantage of the traditional gift of cotton as an opportunity to shop for a new duvet. So romantic, right? But you see, dear readers, we're not just getting a new duvet cover; we're getting a new duvet cover and a new duvet, both king-sized upgrades from the queen set we have now, and they are not everyday purchases! (I needed a strong excuse to convince Jon we should spend the money, and our anniversary fit the bill perfectly.)<br />
<br />
Charlie, of course, was the other excuse I used. We have a queen-sized bed and Jon and I both like to have the covers bunched around us, which would be fine if we were the only ones ever on the bed. Obviously, we're not.<br />
<br />
We've actually done a really good job of training Charlie not to get on the bed while we're sleeping. He'll cuddle with us up there as we prepare to go to sleep, but as soon as I say, "Okay, I'm turning the light off!" he jumps off and curls up on his own bed. He also knows he's allowed up when I start stirring in the morning - around 6am if I've gone to bed at a decent hour and/or the sun rises early - but he has to be invited. And then, of course, once we've gone out for our first walk of the day, the bed is free game for him. It took a good few months to train him (and ourselves to be strict) on this, but we've done it!<br />
<br />
Sharing a queen-sized duvet between two people and a 70lbs dog, while doable, is not ideal, and so we're buying a new set of cover, shams, and duvet.<br />
<br />
Here are the aesthetic guidelines each of us proposed:<br />
<br />
Jon: solid or striped, no big geometrical patterns or florals if any kind<br />
Betsy: piping or center square ribbon if solid, small geometrical patterns, no stripes<br />
Charlie: no light fabrics without a dark pattern<br />
<br />
Jon and I ended up compromising on the stripes thing by moving a rag rug that had been in my childhood bedroom for a decade into our bedroom in the apartment. We looked at a lot of less-obtrusive geometric patterns, but decided they all clashed with the paintings on our walls. Ultimately, then, the only option was a solid dark duvet cover - exactly what Jon and Charlie had been lobbying for all along! I'd say that the boys win again, but I'm very pleased with what we found and the sale price at which we found it.<br />
<br />
Speaking of sale prices, I want to applaud Overstock.com for their amazing customer service in helping me buy a duvet. They went above and beyond in answering my questions, understanding my budget, and really making my experience more personal, which is hard to do on a website like that. The duvet was ordered today, so hopefully you'll see the set on the bed soon after our actual anniversary on the 24th!<br />
<br />
In the meantime, though, these were some of the finalists that I considered as possible options that Jon wouldn't dismiss out of hand. (He did for most of them. Oops.) Any catch your eye? I'd love them all, but these boys...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxcvHP0R5kv_WiJ7aZKFlSl_9j3f0Ztkq1yAqQSZUAgvTNn2sdXRCcIYgeIO3GWvpWc_7i9VDT7OaQYCh3ZXmTCONm9k25153EgyGSePckWR3KYSFZMuJ3LYkFOKbJ1e9_giL4BC7D9k/s1600/cotton+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxcvHP0R5kv_WiJ7aZKFlSl_9j3f0Ztkq1yAqQSZUAgvTNn2sdXRCcIYgeIO3GWvpWc_7i9VDT7OaQYCh3ZXmTCONm9k25153EgyGSePckWR3KYSFZMuJ3LYkFOKbJ1e9_giL4BC7D9k/s640/cotton+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.westelm.com/products/organic-bristol-matelasse-duvet-cover-shams-blue-stone-b1473/" href="http://www.westelm.com/products/organic-bristol-matelasse-duvet-cover-shams-blue-stone-b1473/" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">1</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-chevron-herringbone-duvet-set/-/A-15745048" href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-chevron-herringbone-duvet-set/-/A-15745048" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">2</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.overstock.com/Bedding-Bath/Chic-Home-Angevin-Pintuck-Color-Block-7-piece-Duvet-Cover-Set/10340564/product.html" href="http://www.overstock.com/Bedding-Bath/Chic-Home-Angevin-Pintuck-Color-Block-7-piece-Duvet-Cover-Set/10340564/product.html" id="yui_3_17_2_7_1449410051894_5173" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/o/pom-pom-at-home-blair-linen-duvet-cover-sham/4154803" href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/o/pom-pom-at-home-blair-linen-duvet-cover-sham/4154803" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">4</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.thecompanystore.com/legends-savoy-woven-cotton-duvet-cover/dv01-ps.html?cgid=cs-duvet-covers-solid&start=18" href="http://www.thecompanystore.com/legends-savoy-woven-cotton-duvet-cover/dv01-ps.html?cgid=cs-duvet-covers-solid&start=18" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">5</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.craneandcanopy.com/products/the-cora-green-duvet-set" href="http://www.craneandcanopy.com/products/the-cora-green-duvet-set" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">6</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/nasoni-duvet-covers-and-pillow-shams/f61273" href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/nasoni-duvet-covers-and-pillow-shams/f61273" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">7</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px;"> / </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/skye-duvet-sham/" href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/skye-duvet-sham/" id="yui_3_17_2_7_1449410051894_5161" style="background-color: white; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">8</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-68903645120744172652015-08-18T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-07T23:24:23.631-05:00Bake Off Bake Along: Biscotti<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsApVKu4eVgs8PoIskxXDW_M_-A0DD8aELqv_yIPflFZ0PFQJ4KqNTFhTkpQegvNFBlWCzEHMMr0lNvVVpiRihffR4GC1T1k9JJyCK8Gh6yFxRAfM7idtnrs9DRgMGbVVL6bGxesWH3Vo/s1600/bake%252Boff%252Bbake%252Balong.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsApVKu4eVgs8PoIskxXDW_M_-A0DD8aELqv_yIPflFZ0PFQJ4KqNTFhTkpQegvNFBlWCzEHMMr0lNvVVpiRihffR4GC1T1k9JJyCK8Gh6yFxRAfM7idtnrs9DRgMGbVVL6bGxesWH3Vo/s1600/bake%252Boff%252Bbake%252Balong.png" /></a></div>
<br />
We're on week two of the Great British Bake Off, and the theme is cookies - sorry, biscuits, since the show is set in England! The three challenges were biscotti, arlettes, and a biscuit box made of biscuits.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/bake-off-bake-along-madeira-cake" target="_blank">As before</a>, I went for the classic choice with a little twist: gingerbread biscotti. I last made <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2014/12/gingerbread-biscotti/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitchen's recipe</a> in the winter, when the biscotti were delicious dunked in hot chocolate, but I thought they'd also make a fab summer treat served with ice cream and grilled peaches. And, dear readers, they were!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xSfYoXA1ILO-Xx2Yzn1P-JCG5bR8M9gg6NAhg2nZJ1nliC08OBMJt4kg0zGKcd0e7NydYByVQEkI8HzCtEJS_PcG6ytyoH2QoRG8eGikAJ5s8KVTomt8IUjx-e7NwnAR7ztzOpjrqgo/s1600/biscotti+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xSfYoXA1ILO-Xx2Yzn1P-JCG5bR8M9gg6NAhg2nZJ1nliC08OBMJt4kg0zGKcd0e7NydYByVQEkI8HzCtEJS_PcG6ytyoH2QoRG8eGikAJ5s8KVTomt8IUjx-e7NwnAR7ztzOpjrqgo/s640/biscotti+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR0FYPSK0nDy5l-khw3t5fUwpy1i_TNHBJ8kD_5muDONxcDutA8pMHmKD8VF_cjmoAgb342Z-VRpEvdz5lDObVrZ4s8NORLPypgHZ5BlhcymTl4CmU4t8FlgGwSdsueCwjh32oy4bHKA/s1600/biscotti+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR0FYPSK0nDy5l-khw3t5fUwpy1i_TNHBJ8kD_5muDONxcDutA8pMHmKD8VF_cjmoAgb342Z-VRpEvdz5lDObVrZ4s8NORLPypgHZ5BlhcymTl4CmU4t8FlgGwSdsueCwjh32oy4bHKA/s640/biscotti+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56oBUa7EJ5a7xKD3aZnCFA19tOnJycIJOpFoIKzfCl_luZaeC-7Qbw3wjx0Awj_bAYVP8D1qkQJm5_S8cmuZgfAHBtdvOG5uREXYk2gFMk7r6R1BOjIL6O_k8UcC4DxD39TKz1AqSm2o/s1600/biscotti+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56oBUa7EJ5a7xKD3aZnCFA19tOnJycIJOpFoIKzfCl_luZaeC-7Qbw3wjx0Awj_bAYVP8D1qkQJm5_S8cmuZgfAHBtdvOG5uREXYk2gFMk7r6R1BOjIL6O_k8UcC4DxD39TKz1AqSm2o/s640/biscotti+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvb_NXTcu4uZaiCKTUBZpYTiEs1iAN1E2pLr5SB6VZUjH2Nrstio3s0cUZJ-OajjRoxitjkaOWp0cpsfWe9lyjeZDXuwPdifxZK77v1OoCp3fyr2lszRf3MTUb9ryPeQGKPKbq1HaKPo/s1600/biscotti+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvb_NXTcu4uZaiCKTUBZpYTiEs1iAN1E2pLr5SB6VZUjH2Nrstio3s0cUZJ-OajjRoxitjkaOWp0cpsfWe9lyjeZDXuwPdifxZK77v1OoCp3fyr2lszRf3MTUb9ryPeQGKPKbq1HaKPo/s640/biscotti+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjWlYMyhBVBHPxnrxEWTcibNfUassKmanx4qP1k0yTMGmGBZZ-urN21R-SSKrL7bfGs_anioo35mOlpepPRqo3BywB1FB0LaA1R-8naDsl7CxDWw_UVGkumrAYLaKbf7Qtt9n31uqyqg/s1600/biscotti+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjWlYMyhBVBHPxnrxEWTcibNfUassKmanx4qP1k0yTMGmGBZZ-urN21R-SSKrL7bfGs_anioo35mOlpepPRqo3BywB1FB0LaA1R-8naDsl7CxDWw_UVGkumrAYLaKbf7Qtt9n31uqyqg/s640/biscotti+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhOUsaztsn5KgZVlzuMlLNcCoLQ1Bo7ij6Kid0TRkeeCU64SNX7TCE1-vDCVU6gx6HyaIdlJAaH2uCVLMIFCRau1T6-eYfDpQJ5K-nv98mFlUPR-AX-hPt7mhyphenhyphenLKkW-uk2naZUXuBnNI/s1600/biscotti+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhOUsaztsn5KgZVlzuMlLNcCoLQ1Bo7ij6Kid0TRkeeCU64SNX7TCE1-vDCVU6gx6HyaIdlJAaH2uCVLMIFCRau1T6-eYfDpQJ5K-nv98mFlUPR-AX-hPt7mhyphenhyphenLKkW-uk2naZUXuBnNI/s640/biscotti+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcbutBrWuwqvQsSJ8zdVoGEMiptk9CLCzKa8TDq4cPE5X8RlC48RCIfSrEIyzsa460g3IUEsga08vpxendGvoYdvp3JrW0Lx0tm3am8Q2FZNAGrJIhuWm3xcjbevrpaKRxuqTzKDhdeE/s1600/biscotti+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcbutBrWuwqvQsSJ8zdVoGEMiptk9CLCzKa8TDq4cPE5X8RlC48RCIfSrEIyzsa460g3IUEsga08vpxendGvoYdvp3JrW0Lx0tm3am8Q2FZNAGrJIhuWm3xcjbevrpaKRxuqTzKDhdeE/s640/biscotti+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5iocENkOi2r9mF_k5HaVe2LcfYdlE_UzSRBM2A_vV8jxfoQz8QU5VzK9_Ju_Cgs7V1s2qpjfr25f3zw1PBZ8S-LXbeoBkbIP1KUa-D7yU7M5Te02IkimEZd27SybDdA0-nSM1z98oHc/s1600/biscotti+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5iocENkOi2r9mF_k5HaVe2LcfYdlE_UzSRBM2A_vV8jxfoQz8QU5VzK9_Ju_Cgs7V1s2qpjfr25f3zw1PBZ8S-LXbeoBkbIP1KUa-D7yU7M5Te02IkimEZd27SybDdA0-nSM1z98oHc/s640/biscotti+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-73225956952484264922015-08-17T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T22:08:53.560-05:00Minimalism on the OffensiveWhen we feel stuck, emotionally, we hope that making tangible adjustments in our lives will cause internal shifts. We get new jobs, we end relationships, we move to other cities or even countries - often, we make the biggest quantifiable changes when we feel we need massive qualitative change.<br />
<br />
So I get the concept that emptying our homes will open up more space in our lives for ideas, experiences, and creativity. I do. But I don’t agree with the premise that this is the essential way to live.<br />
<br />
That’s why the cult of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up frustrates me. I don’t reject the theory of the KonMarie method - that everything in your home should bring you joy - but I think that it’s way too easy for a strict reading of the book to go irreparably overboard in trying to create room for happiness.<br />
<br />
As the recent New York Times article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/style/lets-celebrate-the-art-of-clutter.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Let's Celebrate The Art of Clutter</a> points out, "The stuff we accumulate works the same way our body weight does. Each of us has a set point to which we invariably return. Each of us has been allotted a certain tolerance, if not a need, for stuff; each of us is gaited to carry a certain amount of weight in possessions." Many of the most vocal proponents of domestic minimalism that I follow online have also historically been the most visible proponents of consumerism, either curated or spontaneous, and I can't help but imagine that the hundreds of dollars' worth of things donated or trashed will be re-spent as soon as the magic of purging fades.<br />
<br />
Of course, a central tenant of Marie Kondo's philosophy is that your entire way of life will be transformed once you've conquered your home with her method, but I just don't think that'll be the case for most of us who are active in blogging and social media - not when trends change so quickly, new belongings are so cheap, and, to be quite honest, our attention spans are so short.<br />
<br />
I also wonder what negative effects this organization, taken to extremes, has on our relationships and our social lives. I've seen tweets boasting of bare cupboards, explaining that a childless couple needs no more than two of each dining item. Instagrams display more empty walls than books or photographs on shelves; memorabilia is photographed and stored on a hard drive for reference (and then disposed of) rather than kept within eyesight for unproductive enjoyment. But what if you want to entertain? What if you want to bond with someone over a text you read in college, a picture of a place you've visited, a collection you've spent years amassing? As <a href="https://twitter.com/GesciM" target="_blank">Gesci</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/runlolarun" target="_blank">Lola</a> have eloquently discussed on Twitter, the ephemera of these memories are irreplaceable.<br />
<br />
Yes, Marie Kondo argues that anything that brings you joy should be kept but, from what I've seen shared online, we're having a hard time defining that. She writes, "If you can say without a doubt ‘I really like this!' no matter what anyone else says, and if you like yourself for having it, then ignore what other people think." However, I'm afraid that many of us have a hard time ignoring what other people think in favor of simply liking ourselves, which is why we're reading a self-help book, and a method that lends itself to black-and-white interpretations makes it easier not to have to choose between the two. Perhaps not accidentally, this has become yet another way of proving to the world how committed we are to finding our true selves according to others' standards.<br />
<br />
And there is a reason this book is shelved in the Self-Help rather than the Home section of bookstores: it's not about changing our spaces so much as it is about changing ourselves. <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/marie-kondo-and-the-tidying-up-trend-1424970535" target="_blank">A Wall Street Journal piece exploring the trend of tidying up</a> quotes a publisher specializing in self-help books: "There’s a dreamy quality to it,” she said. “It’s a book that promises something that is almost beyond imagination. It’s magic.” That result of that promise isn't tangible, but the means are, and all you have to do is live minimally. The next step, of course, is more difficult. Once you've emptied your home of objects, you should fill it with the abstract. "Go ahead," <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/style/lets-celebrate-the-art-of-clutter.html" target="_blank">suggests the unabashed accumulator writing in the New York Times</a>, "call me materialistic. I’ll just wonder what you think you are made of." <br />
<br />
We want the magic that Marie Kondo promises so badly, and I understand why. I see the appeal of Kondoing your home as a way of tidying your soul, and I also realize that there are thousands of people (probably less active on social media and therefore less publicly visible) following her philosophy who don't take it to the absolute limit. (As <a href="http://www.racked.com/2015/5/18/8607043/marie-kondo-konmari-cleaning-tidying-advice" target="_blank">a commenter on a Racked.com post noted</a>, "I didn’t find it painful to decide to part with stuff as long as I had plenty of leeway to keep things, too.") But I'm afraid that we'll spend so much energy being proud of ourselves for not having much that we'll come to define ourselves by what we don't possess rather than by what we do.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-61839541272374462052015-08-16T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T22:04:34.120-05:00Open City at the National CathedralFor the past few weekends, Jon and Charlie and I have gone up to the old Herb Cottage at the National Cathedral, where <a href="http://www.opencitydc.com/at-the-national-cathedral-2/" target="_blank">an outpost</a> of <a href="http://www.opencitydc.com/" target="_blank">Open City</a>, one of Northwest DC's favorite restaurants, <a href="http://wtop.com/news/2014/12/now-open-the-national-cathedrals-first-caf/slide/1/" target="_blank">opened late last year</a>. From the comments on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/6UmB2FiBgk/" target="_blank">my Instagram of the cafe when I held the We The People DC handle</a>, a lot of Washingtonians don't know it's there - and that's got to change, because it's fantastic, with a delicious mini-menu and amazing ambiance! Plus, <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/open-city-at-the-national-cathedral" target="_blank">it's always a joy to walk around the Close</a> and, if it's your thing, to stop into the Cathedral for a moment of reflection. If you go early on a Sunday morning, you'll catch the sunrise from the highest spot in Washington (and entry into the Cathedral will be free). It really is magical:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3LpnZeNpUt391m-RgJIVatNsI0nL6uNDkQdYn5LFN46gqfsma3HVt0ypVCCDI6zz6_FAg7Pu44ygHYbCsi0gm274-7SyGCFNCvh5ZSrx7MO3K0gG4V0NuLOQ1zmxGcRck_xuVvdaydA/s1600/open+city+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3LpnZeNpUt391m-RgJIVatNsI0nL6uNDkQdYn5LFN46gqfsma3HVt0ypVCCDI6zz6_FAg7Pu44ygHYbCsi0gm274-7SyGCFNCvh5ZSrx7MO3K0gG4V0NuLOQ1zmxGcRck_xuVvdaydA/s640/open+city+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjfdy9-Su9kOBqQb361XIMV5edItF9zvFVnX4oGcaDYm7eTq6eG-cWDpRYo-AQYcVBuKb1fWk3TgkCItryrynZQq9RwFF48o3wU1QranPQWNkTKPD0dRmYpTpTpZC0Hslz9-t8vAzd8g/s1600/open+city+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjfdy9-Su9kOBqQb361XIMV5edItF9zvFVnX4oGcaDYm7eTq6eG-cWDpRYo-AQYcVBuKb1fWk3TgkCItryrynZQq9RwFF48o3wU1QranPQWNkTKPD0dRmYpTpTpZC0Hslz9-t8vAzd8g/s640/open+city+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrGG60dTQA6INmoScz2ocVCkqrtGOlGas_xjHLm3Pl0fNBQRDFrc-kBou68-_4nIPF6I66ACzrG6c5-fHKuoZAm3nL6FPF8cAtx6RhyrASBkURiSArSAcY1mvh5LTDX8cDjgqa-u4-L4/s1600/open+city+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrGG60dTQA6INmoScz2ocVCkqrtGOlGas_xjHLm3Pl0fNBQRDFrc-kBou68-_4nIPF6I66ACzrG6c5-fHKuoZAm3nL6FPF8cAtx6RhyrASBkURiSArSAcY1mvh5LTDX8cDjgqa-u4-L4/s640/open+city+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ayWFmzfDLH9RtQu3HS3o68eryEYQXoB20eGI5-27l7bRl0GhugT6wRoLOeZfJdhyphenhyphenzfscgqdIxRAsWCU8aqEg99lhKNk9ufImKqLnkcw6Rlxt33tfHQjuW3gbmLz_jGq_E_NHjHamW28/s1600/open+city+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ayWFmzfDLH9RtQu3HS3o68eryEYQXoB20eGI5-27l7bRl0GhugT6wRoLOeZfJdhyphenhyphenzfscgqdIxRAsWCU8aqEg99lhKNk9ufImKqLnkcw6Rlxt33tfHQjuW3gbmLz_jGq_E_NHjHamW28/s640/open+city+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8sDsChrfDhjZQwxm5nNiq6oj0ltjMDK8DhjGDIgSxWC1fRkQeWNtZRco9AG3rLOLpg01NSvbBir0CiKnVC1-WiMo0600WClk2Hd_SLiQbxZf_Orh7aZW99zrWkBasTkn04OV8tn3BhQ/s1600/open+city+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8sDsChrfDhjZQwxm5nNiq6oj0ltjMDK8DhjGDIgSxWC1fRkQeWNtZRco9AG3rLOLpg01NSvbBir0CiKnVC1-WiMo0600WClk2Hd_SLiQbxZf_Orh7aZW99zrWkBasTkn04OV8tn3BhQ/s640/open+city+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-SseXD58rvnQ3gLd_ipsIC3pIWTtv5fFkv9GE4fLvLVLvouh_ef4O9dVfF9xEBczA9dvGzVr0XsQwyG5uuil6tQWS3PDdRMu4oa3KX_wZ56MD12syHc29cVJLIQ79czvKXytrRpxxxc/s1600/open+city+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-SseXD58rvnQ3gLd_ipsIC3pIWTtv5fFkv9GE4fLvLVLvouh_ef4O9dVfF9xEBczA9dvGzVr0XsQwyG5uuil6tQWS3PDdRMu4oa3KX_wZ56MD12syHc29cVJLIQ79czvKXytrRpxxxc/s640/open+city+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFnkOL-T6TS1fmJcVmlmYCqXS5Bvtgc-U-c8hqJwVVHq5cDP-2i8MnTj8UzOjl9QXTgDbwWirbXis-VVGSCmwHJPeGkBVxpEoBYlYNI-Idz241dHD253cw2iPR-rO0bmmR_Ms-mU6YJE/s1600/open+city+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFnkOL-T6TS1fmJcVmlmYCqXS5Bvtgc-U-c8hqJwVVHq5cDP-2i8MnTj8UzOjl9QXTgDbwWirbXis-VVGSCmwHJPeGkBVxpEoBYlYNI-Idz241dHD253cw2iPR-rO0bmmR_Ms-mU6YJE/s640/open+city+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1Bf3GJGEZyI8i2aWc_jV-5J3upHrxpx5H4mBqygz54GMJAn9MJ53d792dR1awFKkPWeT8S29uKtXG6AvHytYwUS0iT6vAhB_5RVne3DxzH3a-rmU3n-L-xcUxhug0Gcez9gRaHc0GiA/s1600/open+city+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1Bf3GJGEZyI8i2aWc_jV-5J3upHrxpx5H4mBqygz54GMJAn9MJ53d792dR1awFKkPWeT8S29uKtXG6AvHytYwUS0iT6vAhB_5RVne3DxzH3a-rmU3n-L-xcUxhug0Gcez9gRaHc0GiA/s640/open+city+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_j3zHT8ctjXDQnn6oPQo1K1ZAke06QqNoyBIJjtVI00FthHGnlwZNVvGyKlLDC-nFlwtGA0Rmkc_LttWL3rdox9bk1Fz8E79_93cJtQXwq2l-Y9NLXGKOaW-ZnzmIi3vckm5gY0AC5E/s1600/open+city+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_j3zHT8ctjXDQnn6oPQo1K1ZAke06QqNoyBIJjtVI00FthHGnlwZNVvGyKlLDC-nFlwtGA0Rmkc_LttWL3rdox9bk1Fz8E79_93cJtQXwq2l-Y9NLXGKOaW-ZnzmIi3vckm5gY0AC5E/s640/open+city+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t5RaNglXqw8qonDWoa3Tkpr1sTXv9quSkLgPz38W8ebr-13m_XD0n14TD74xlTp25IottzQIoC0TL43eBv6ONSmR_On8_b3AAM45uc3tnWkSdzjkPLHpsnPadsYh6VRmRhGOO7K2GN4/s1600/open+city+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t5RaNglXqw8qonDWoa3Tkpr1sTXv9quSkLgPz38W8ebr-13m_XD0n14TD74xlTp25IottzQIoC0TL43eBv6ONSmR_On8_b3AAM45uc3tnWkSdzjkPLHpsnPadsYh6VRmRhGOO7K2GN4/s640/open+city+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sAybD67dAa4p7F60DnWX7dOtF8H5lfwfhMQR6Z75MUeJyKXDfSelbi3qOJjSD66R0XMO3iyEJ28ehUKeLecuY7w4rPij3bOymIuIxeQFXGUZWGbhYxrlZkj2yBRNGab0PgTC8HcLO3k/s1600/open+city+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sAybD67dAa4p7F60DnWX7dOtF8H5lfwfhMQR6Z75MUeJyKXDfSelbi3qOJjSD66R0XMO3iyEJ28ehUKeLecuY7w4rPij3bOymIuIxeQFXGUZWGbhYxrlZkj2yBRNGab0PgTC8HcLO3k/s640/open+city+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-30670583981162663042015-08-14T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T21:56:21.710-05:00A Not-So-Frock FridayRemember a few weeks ago, when <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/frock-fridays-drawstring-dresses" target="_blank">I was all excited about buying a drawstring dress from Loft</a> using some credit (and a birthday gift card) I'd received? Well, dear readers, I was excited - so much so that I went to four different stores over the last month to find even one of them in my size.<br />
<br />
I failed. And I had to use the money in-store, so purchasing online wasn't an option.<br />
<br />
So, instead, I bought two linen tops, one short-sleeved and one sleeveless, and I've been wearing both nonstop since I got them. When I sorted out my shirt drawer earlier in the summer, I realized I had to trash quite a few tees and tanks that were either more stained or more holey than I'd wanted to admit, so I'm actually counting these as "need" rather than "want" purchases to replace the ones I threw out.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0Ji-KBKRcIMrmeRwlJ8oN29iADdPlONJJ2a0UhossJ-bSj-bJDiBuiPbZrad23wpoRJ4OFLjbVfMfS1UPF874h2MJub528oYmfGlfWJMkYV-Gmc8M4FtuKpci-ARZw7Ax3bOKvTo3VY/s1600/loft+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0Ji-KBKRcIMrmeRwlJ8oN29iADdPlONJJ2a0UhossJ-bSj-bJDiBuiPbZrad23wpoRJ4OFLjbVfMfS1UPF874h2MJub528oYmfGlfWJMkYV-Gmc8M4FtuKpci-ARZw7Ax3bOKvTo3VY/s640/loft+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.loft.com/slouchy-linen-tee/371541?skuId=18815740&defaultColor=&colorExplode=false&catid=&priceSort=DESC" target="_blank">white top</a> / <a href="http://www.loft.com/sleeveless-linen-tee/358775?skuId=18724332&defaultColor=&colorExplode=false&catid=&priceSort=DESC" target="_blank">pink top</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I do still have $20 left, so I might run into another Loft or three before the end of the month (when my gift card expires) to pick up something a bit more frivolous. If I were responsible, I'd get a plain white button-down, but I'll definitely skim the sale racks for dresses!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-80284241893859807952015-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T21:52:52.899-05:00Bake Off Bake Along: Madeira Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rhymeandribbons.com/2015/08/madeira-cake.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG8YmjiOZKhui4mqhE7sDO8-RgxHWdVV0oZU0TU2192RTRZ6V6t13mlLzJbpSz3GwmJ-dbSHmhCb4RE9DUQ0NtOuBdKSoEG-hiseFSt5sMSLkPw1DkLtxQTVnWvkDMH5_K8j4Y3dBSGM/s1600/bake%252Boff%252Bbake%252Balong.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's how I described <a href="http://thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Great British Bake Off</a> to my colleagues when I presented them with half a Madeira cake yesterday morning: it's a baking contest and it's incredibly competitive, but it's also twee and old-fashioned while being self-aware of how hip it actually is.<br />
<br />
From the GBBO website:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Great British Bake Off is the ultimate baking battle where passionate amateur baking fans compete to be crowned the UK’s Best Amateur Baker. Over the course of 10 hour-long episodes, the series follows the trials and tribulations of the competitors, young and old, from every background and every corner of Britain, as they attempt to prove their baking prowess. Each week the bakers tackle a different baking skill, which become progressively more difficult as the competition unfolds.<br />It's tremendously fun watching, if you can tune into the BBC by legal means (ahem... or otherwise)!</blockquote>
In every episode, the bakers have three challenges: signature, technical, and showstopper. Lots of fans are baking along with the show, and <a href="http://rhymeandribbons.com/" target="_blank">Amanda</a> and <a href="http://www.thisparticularblog.com/" target="_blank">Ala</a>, to show their deep and abiding love for GBBO, are hosting a bloggers' Bake Off Bake Along for the duration of the show - and of course I wanted in! As my baking skills (and tastes) are more classic than creative, I suspect I'll most often be making the signature recipe in each episode. Last week, that was the traditional Madeira cake.<br />
<br />
It must be admitted that, while my Madeira cake was delicious, it probably wouldn't advance me to the next round of the competition. I used the BBC recipe and it didn't rise nearly as much as it should have or sport that gorgeous tectonic crack down the middle that you should see on loaf cakes. But it was yummy - especially when topped with blackberry coulis (made from the blackberries I picked on Sunday) and homemade lemon curd!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/zingy_citrus_madeira_11462" target="_blank">Madeira Cake - as per the BBC</a><br />
makes 12 slices; 6 Weight Watchers pointsplus per slice<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3118/blackberry-coulis" target="_blank">Blackberry Coulis - as per the BBC</a><br />
makes 12 servings; 1 Weight Watchers pointsplus per teaspoon<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2007/09/layered-lemon-love/" target="_blank">Lemon Curd - as per Smitten Kitchen</a><br />
makes about 2 cups; 1 Weight Watchers pointsplus per teaspoon<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQOFx_EiqkJq8bqwRca1wkyM4NejsYnNdgUDDgKjSoVagKS8jVWMi2HhyyqX0e6BBf2TJLTn1ovTBgweUD3wykBqbr9VmnmXiBcD6sCJUVbiu-r99pQSTzIt8npNEiiRppko2lbjzIBw/s1600/amdeira+cake+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQOFx_EiqkJq8bqwRca1wkyM4NejsYnNdgUDDgKjSoVagKS8jVWMi2HhyyqX0e6BBf2TJLTn1ovTBgweUD3wykBqbr9VmnmXiBcD6sCJUVbiu-r99pQSTzIt8npNEiiRppko2lbjzIBw/s640/amdeira+cake+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSIJy_TtsmB8zBbMJS_mBvwg0HS076P8OdKk5fwOhCOTuD5CPWlt4Bvf6aCkdoTHCaLHQoUg2GEGfU43VchXvsQFzdQQlbAzeE7hoK-yoxhRQsGE0nbf5D5Il83bQM_RPCtTmDr_FoLc/s1600/madeira+cake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSIJy_TtsmB8zBbMJS_mBvwg0HS076P8OdKk5fwOhCOTuD5CPWlt4Bvf6aCkdoTHCaLHQoUg2GEGfU43VchXvsQFzdQQlbAzeE7hoK-yoxhRQsGE0nbf5D5Il83bQM_RPCtTmDr_FoLc/s640/madeira+cake+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8grqiUwLgqK6937DikQdiZtIK9rCr_z3lreVhFTh9Mzo1JC3naK8G03LstPQHgO3yOBEHpiWgld8avVE0W0gAN6Jo5Qdx3GPgaGjiAUWekbUXb5SNADrDmv9V1rzP2MXQBMWxQPQwRY/s1600/madeira+cake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8grqiUwLgqK6937DikQdiZtIK9rCr_z3lreVhFTh9Mzo1JC3naK8G03LstPQHgO3yOBEHpiWgld8avVE0W0gAN6Jo5Qdx3GPgaGjiAUWekbUXb5SNADrDmv9V1rzP2MXQBMWxQPQwRY/s640/madeira+cake+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-89221852943527857142015-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T21:53:05.689-05:00Peaches and Blackberries, Oh My!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjKCWb_6jop8sTDxzuNe6JrKJftSECJbzMq2ZvqqoZKzPe4-whA2AgpJg8cXU8D-5XIMxFUvbsEaIUYgbdpc6fURnd-K0YHGFE6I0vm-4ABDgwYUssxJGW7sJZR2oll217X3DXWQswRc/s1600/Homestead+Farms+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjKCWb_6jop8sTDxzuNe6JrKJftSECJbzMq2ZvqqoZKzPe4-whA2AgpJg8cXU8D-5XIMxFUvbsEaIUYgbdpc6fURnd-K0YHGFE6I0vm-4ABDgwYUssxJGW7sJZR2oll217X3DXWQswRc/s640/Homestead+Farms+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/tsytransatlantically.com/2014/07/peach-picking.html" target="_blank">I last went peach picking in August 2013</a>, but Mom keeps Homestead Farms and the other pick-it-yourself places in the Maryland exurbs in business every summer. She and her friends drive out River Road about twice a month between May and September, and come home laden with bushels of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and, eventually, apples.<br />
<br />
After making those two <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/6CzIPXQs6H/" target="_blank">peach clafoutis</a> with fruit from last weekend's farmers' market, I jumped at the chance to go picking with Mom yesterday. We were told they only had peaches ready for us, but we were delighted to find the blackberry vines heavy as well.<br />
<br />
Between us, Mom and I came home with nearly 40 pounds of peaches, a flat of blackberries, armfuls of tomatoes from the seconds box, and bags of zucchini, eggplant, and yellow squash for ratatouille. It was a gorgeous morning, and the perfect way to round out an August weekend after <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/6IBfoNQs9z/" target="_blank">a day at the beach</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcOmfz2bjDuwiGuGQkw8Gcf2qkkom07zLCE8Gs6ziLmyMHr0XWGijkDRuazOOOZJtaWR1kDbiRD5Xyyg102MVjt-BswNvT6qJVrFf4q0e6UddKPcBT8JgywZYv94lCzHLaMLACBqvD5I/s1600/Homestead+Farms+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcOmfz2bjDuwiGuGQkw8Gcf2qkkom07zLCE8Gs6ziLmyMHr0XWGijkDRuazOOOZJtaWR1kDbiRD5Xyyg102MVjt-BswNvT6qJVrFf4q0e6UddKPcBT8JgywZYv94lCzHLaMLACBqvD5I/s640/Homestead+Farms+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqk17u1USPXhO0-iWYlp_QKLvFiQ7gh3MyJDoIagu_0UQ2pY22veccLU89pVR8uK3ZqiypYwsBhpM6YoI8QwUTz8HiOHo8S9xLy5DKFMVC4NWcIj1CL_Ky7dzA5C-OfGf4dJsVz1iKvU/s1600/Homestead+Farms+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqk17u1USPXhO0-iWYlp_QKLvFiQ7gh3MyJDoIagu_0UQ2pY22veccLU89pVR8uK3ZqiypYwsBhpM6YoI8QwUTz8HiOHo8S9xLy5DKFMVC4NWcIj1CL_Ky7dzA5C-OfGf4dJsVz1iKvU/s640/Homestead+Farms+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN8ULzVKRcmDvkuWE3dmPV8iTaMfdqQ7-DAvT8_qE7Pdh44B1CjlPSkJUi6EjD4wH3Xp0QUSnODSQJqelsHq9-8QHYP2f_l5Sc9ftyH10imG9BOr3-0QOUt9nazrRZbbVpy8ELIjzauY/s1600/Homestead+Farms+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN8ULzVKRcmDvkuWE3dmPV8iTaMfdqQ7-DAvT8_qE7Pdh44B1CjlPSkJUi6EjD4wH3Xp0QUSnODSQJqelsHq9-8QHYP2f_l5Sc9ftyH10imG9BOr3-0QOUt9nazrRZbbVpy8ELIjzauY/s640/Homestead+Farms+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCMd8UYVeZ_UYFNYgHZAtC08iMog2YVBxvWBr7CYWg-LoDwSw4N4eAskkN86BEru-pKx9cQutT6a6vLsMbZs0ri6s8Ct0oxApzrz3z-7JYfMr28pAotuUa-_F_ze5TTb3qA10RMdZBVI/s1600/Homestead+Farms+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCMd8UYVeZ_UYFNYgHZAtC08iMog2YVBxvWBr7CYWg-LoDwSw4N4eAskkN86BEru-pKx9cQutT6a6vLsMbZs0ri6s8Ct0oxApzrz3z-7JYfMr28pAotuUa-_F_ze5TTb3qA10RMdZBVI/s640/Homestead+Farms+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2moOtZ-_Bo0CkbYrUlN4pSXxMa2iGQGmNM-HbJfTIBr5P2oExC_XBeuPkZEy1g_VKsrpUFEX7weHR1Om3aSE1YiPgMGVJzQqLrJZfKB7oy1fgJOFROo-h3XACwttjiPy1Q5NfGDySsE/s1600/Homestead+Farms+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2moOtZ-_Bo0CkbYrUlN4pSXxMa2iGQGmNM-HbJfTIBr5P2oExC_XBeuPkZEy1g_VKsrpUFEX7weHR1Om3aSE1YiPgMGVJzQqLrJZfKB7oy1fgJOFROo-h3XACwttjiPy1Q5NfGDySsE/s640/Homestead+Farms+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QXt_8lqMLqHpmUfZeCQ_dFaY0mNr1mI2wC2r0geitAfpuTlSCGYKP1C4Ytt2tx5WdEx4ZA36oSaIjzWlSMe3YD_do0dJqmjsfg7t-Ex1Z477_jDQ0W7qgLyUK0P-b7yRGqFyzWf26i8/s1600/Homestead+Farms+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QXt_8lqMLqHpmUfZeCQ_dFaY0mNr1mI2wC2r0geitAfpuTlSCGYKP1C4Ytt2tx5WdEx4ZA36oSaIjzWlSMe3YD_do0dJqmjsfg7t-Ex1Z477_jDQ0W7qgLyUK0P-b7yRGqFyzWf26i8/s640/Homestead+Farms+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz8XKfMys8zvdVjsAyaFIEOxxYasCwsED1mp6UdR1MYYpD7PnZT1BKT9mt3tsc_3R6OJNZkMxwREp5RoEoWTjLJvJprmBbGin4dYOsMfQBwD3hCgDJOVTNVMgIwfmdxTXQASy17SG0I8/s1600/Homestead+Farms+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz8XKfMys8zvdVjsAyaFIEOxxYasCwsED1mp6UdR1MYYpD7PnZT1BKT9mt3tsc_3R6OJNZkMxwREp5RoEoWTjLJvJprmBbGin4dYOsMfQBwD3hCgDJOVTNVMgIwfmdxTXQASy17SG0I8/s640/Homestead+Farms+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZAnjWBwq00i-yirpmjYOP2DK3RZiwMkCbmPn057a1MeZarvlibzQuAKvUQYd0zBKDEoFrTneVyNXjHt-F1UBeBEip6288l8ssBnYql3U1DKu5JrYkVwradiTzC1cWONHLvM6IOp8cEo/s1600/Homestead+Farms+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZAnjWBwq00i-yirpmjYOP2DK3RZiwMkCbmPn057a1MeZarvlibzQuAKvUQYd0zBKDEoFrTneVyNXjHt-F1UBeBEip6288l8ssBnYql3U1DKu5JrYkVwradiTzC1cWONHLvM6IOp8cEo/s640/Homestead+Farms+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiP_HpT67RJowonS3VcesW2zZyMlV1YHwmm81YoUadj1XnTEoiJotZVXbUtmFzEXD46M4iO9w4tLG1n-10892r_caB4_YwcOnEFExKcFevatF4SFVNJ_XkAVh7XUnuDqg8dQLjWwsOtro/s1600/Homestead+Farms+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiP_HpT67RJowonS3VcesW2zZyMlV1YHwmm81YoUadj1XnTEoiJotZVXbUtmFzEXD46M4iO9w4tLG1n-10892r_caB4_YwcOnEFExKcFevatF4SFVNJ_XkAVh7XUnuDqg8dQLjWwsOtro/s640/Homestead+Farms+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn1HDhwwQd-IxZlWfKN7MmeMrHKOrPgNw3ZZhqQenB9ajqdJXGShg7hvcqqahjVfq7APxXake07-xdkcirF_EmGLwdW3PzU4gYvTOqaKZJGfofbDlmymyuwIjPDvYVEm4Zr33WA-zau4/s1600/Homestead+Farms+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn1HDhwwQd-IxZlWfKN7MmeMrHKOrPgNw3ZZhqQenB9ajqdJXGShg7hvcqqahjVfq7APxXake07-xdkcirF_EmGLwdW3PzU4gYvTOqaKZJGfofbDlmymyuwIjPDvYVEm4Zr33WA-zau4/s640/Homestead+Farms+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKREpHIZ7EK2mPdNAMQ8nxXshwscWa2ZC5FE7zYMwR2vYciekNv__on3Kv4lNJEc5VlJA41V2ORJ1UZ9gxjuwS2KPL1cFlathd8MDuVpwvyrsiB7Fh4P0LElSbXtwYnMuq_WJXzwoawBQ/s1600/Homestead+Farms+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKREpHIZ7EK2mPdNAMQ8nxXshwscWa2ZC5FE7zYMwR2vYciekNv__on3Kv4lNJEc5VlJA41V2ORJ1UZ9gxjuwS2KPL1cFlathd8MDuVpwvyrsiB7Fh4P0LElSbXtwYnMuq_WJXzwoawBQ/s640/Homestead+Farms+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFlIHpyOHevrryZSh5IcOi_SqOhwilsBOA5ZCmPrPJ2TiLwItWj11AWlYcz57QPSZgOpcUjkz0IgqlhcHsEAOayM6NvULkK4J3w2lJ2TUroIOlC4dLsT9LMXo4R6IGmNj5WmxN9dLs4Q/s1600/Homestead+Farms+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFlIHpyOHevrryZSh5IcOi_SqOhwilsBOA5ZCmPrPJ2TiLwItWj11AWlYcz57QPSZgOpcUjkz0IgqlhcHsEAOayM6NvULkK4J3w2lJ2TUroIOlC4dLsT9LMXo4R6IGmNj5WmxN9dLs4Q/s640/Homestead+Farms+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-22553900167696135792015-08-09T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T15:06:42.813-05:00Social Media Anonymous<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yh3Bz4Fe6Dbsnsufj6MHZc8xL0eHdfaM797D-XKqlFhqLVEbEvsZ6Efy_tCcYA3Hf0FVNN0kHPPqAPmRMwyYbMx60tUiRXm2Uy_d_Pdd4w99OXdFiNGFArvjDCeJiadSEqrIUaMysLY/s1600/social+media.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yh3Bz4Fe6Dbsnsufj6MHZc8xL0eHdfaM797D-XKqlFhqLVEbEvsZ6Efy_tCcYA3Hf0FVNN0kHPPqAPmRMwyYbMx60tUiRXm2Uy_d_Pdd4w99OXdFiNGFArvjDCeJiadSEqrIUaMysLY/s640/social+media.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">via <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/cartoons" target="_blank">The New Yorker</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
My phone had been dying over the last few weeks. I took it to the Verizon store, where I was told it was a glitch in the new iOS, and then I took it back a few days later, at which point I was told that only the Apple store could help me. Fast forward past two missed Genius Bar appointments to Wednesday, when I finally managed to make it to the Apple store when I was supposed to, and the woman there informed me that I needed a new phone, was two months past warranty, and would have to contact my insurance provider.<br />
<br />
And then my phone well and truly died.<br />
<br />
My new phone arrived in the mid-afternoon on Thursday. I was without a phone for a total of 24 hours. Dear readers, you can imagine how bereft I was. No, that’s not the right word. Here’s what it was: I had fierce FOMO.<br />
<br />
It’s funny, because I knew that anyone from my real life who needed to get in touch with me would, and that if it took longer for me to respond – because I couldn’t check my email anytime from anywhere or because they were going through Jon – it wouldn’t be the end of the world. The people I know in real life would wait, and they wouldn’t really wonder why I wasn’t replying instantaneously.<br />
<br />
My FOMO was entirely social media-based. While there are very few scenarios in which I’d miss anything crucial by not having Instagram and Twitter at my fingertips while on the go, I knew that my feeds would move too quickly in my day without a phone for me to ever catch up. What if someone was sharing something that everyone else would see except me? And then everyone else would move on to the next thing, and I wouldn’t even know that I’d missed it? How would I know to miss what I didn’t know I’d missed?<br />
<br />
Yes. It’s absurd.<br />
<br />
Has someone started a Social Media Anonymous group in the DC area? I might need to go to a meeting. Perhaps Faceook knows where I can find one…Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-86235586647060330882015-08-07T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T15:04:25.144-05:00Frock Fridays: YellowThere are a few colors I know I can never wear: orange, anything with too much of an orange tint (as opposed to blue, <a href="http://stylecaster.com/cool-warm-skin-undertones/" target="_blank">because I'm cool-toned</a>), and yellow.<br />
<br />
Well, I'm delighted to report that yellow can now come off that list! It might just be due to the peak tan I've reached this summer - with my trusty bottle of SPF 30 always by my side - but I tried on a yellow dress at <a href="http://www.currentboutique.com/" target="_blank">Current Boutique</a>, a consignment shop on 14th Street in DC, and absolutely fell in love.<br />
<br />
But, you know, I don't look good in yellow, so I put the dress back on the rack and walked out of the store. Then I walked back in, took the dress off the rack, and asked the woman behind the counter if she could hold it for me until the end of the day. I promised to call if I decided not to buy it.<br />
<br />
Unsurprisingly, I returned before closing, Jon in tow. I tried the dress on again and did a little twirl for him, expecting him to tell me that the color wasn't quite right. (He has a good eye for these things after years of selling jewelry.) But his only comment was, "That's nice. You should get it. Can you take off the flower thing at the waist?"<br />
<br />
With that ringing endorsement, dear readers, plus the fact that it cost $25, how could I not buy the dress? So I did. Not sure yet if I will be keeping the flower at the waist, though...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-QZWo2hpB0QMpzfzTkJoqfeRj9anW9FuPTxHdwS2rQI4McMHBEEzkO-xB09_wilplPG1tdjCJYhyphenhyphen5if2FSalzK0o69XO054W_fLUGjk7p9AQv42ZNDcLwJ1pGhk0Ay6v_jCv10y1kNY/s1600/yellow+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-QZWo2hpB0QMpzfzTkJoqfeRj9anW9FuPTxHdwS2rQI4McMHBEEzkO-xB09_wilplPG1tdjCJYhyphenhyphen5if2FSalzK0o69XO054W_fLUGjk7p9AQv42ZNDcLwJ1pGhk0Ay6v_jCv10y1kNY/s640/yellow+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsZJB5chb52_PkrFwosbOaE59-Pzp03IS2qdiiEObPFVvp6KcD6Qn_JjkEzzftehcn5tYXqRXuJ5rg8eHww7DzE3kFGtarTlfJzTt4-E8NqoP8oTcr0y51eRnBHe7ZbO5iH8Ia5DRh3A/s1600/yellow+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsZJB5chb52_PkrFwosbOaE59-Pzp03IS2qdiiEObPFVvp6KcD6Qn_JjkEzzftehcn5tYXqRXuJ5rg8eHww7DzE3kFGtarTlfJzTt4-E8NqoP8oTcr0y51eRnBHe7ZbO5iH8Ia5DRh3A/s640/yellow+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeFGSEC2ClWmpqgeH976U55C5iTudXOiEQxdPRGso7NwnxrAPTAl1i8VN6_D4PjdGXIJoBHe_XKJaDRZ3K6xTHzvk7gSjIl-lF5dzWPPZ6PeAp8IVTZhI1cuCL0r_FFnHuS2HUXVlUlk/s1600/yellow+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeFGSEC2ClWmpqgeH976U55C5iTudXOiEQxdPRGso7NwnxrAPTAl1i8VN6_D4PjdGXIJoBHe_XKJaDRZ3K6xTHzvk7gSjIl-lF5dzWPPZ6PeAp8IVTZhI1cuCL0r_FFnHuS2HUXVlUlk/s640/yellow+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxPkH9p6K_1U9lJpLJPaEg0EzS1r4zVcx2kj1dfd3ffT2AblQhtiFKKRZBK-h-uuf__cCeNCOT_Bw4YkrqIEpdwGMVGJJWoI_6uZwvLZaRplAWuYBydBUnXIHLDAu7a4kdyjB9Xbb6-U/s1600/yellow+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxPkH9p6K_1U9lJpLJPaEg0EzS1r4zVcx2kj1dfd3ffT2AblQhtiFKKRZBK-h-uuf__cCeNCOT_Bw4YkrqIEpdwGMVGJJWoI_6uZwvLZaRplAWuYBydBUnXIHLDAu7a4kdyjB9Xbb6-U/s640/yellow+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-25751141567139694502015-08-04T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T09:09:10.217-05:00Zucchini Lasagna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkWwNI9SsC3wWUxR5DdVZb5j-j1BINecWB9uWQoFcGAd-gENCuyITd7RbPoMWBbZLU-uepKy3B3ZZWYfxNG0i3FXo0Aco9mnJUMyobTbhUucXmN-BEmKXkAWor5ZMzS3cdi-EDA5gUys/s1600/zicchini+lasagna+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkWwNI9SsC3wWUxR5DdVZb5j-j1BINecWB9uWQoFcGAd-gENCuyITd7RbPoMWBbZLU-uepKy3B3ZZWYfxNG0i3FXo0Aco9mnJUMyobTbhUucXmN-BEmKXkAWor5ZMzS3cdi-EDA5gUys/s640/zicchini+lasagna+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Over the last few months, Jon's evening shifts have been opportunities for me to make super healthy dinners - dinners that Jon would feel were a punishment if he had to eat them. He's not anti-health by any means, but he's definitely a meat/starch/veggie guy and most Pinterest-worthy or Weight Watchers-inspired recipes send him scowling to the hills. Any pasta-based meal where the carbs are replaced by zucchini, therefore, is definitely off the menu when we're eating together.<br />
<br />
So, the other night, I took advantage of one of Jon's night shifts to try my hand at zucchini lasagna using <a href="http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017523-zucchini-parmesan" target="_blank">this New York Times recipe</a> as a starting point and working with what I had in the fridge and pantry. (After <a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/flatbread-lasagne-pizza" target="_blank">the lasagna pizza</a> I made a few weeks ago, it was time for something closer to the real deal!) The dish made four portions; I only had one helping on my own that night, so Jon and I ended up sharing another two the next night and I'm delighted to say he loved it. And then the last serving was used as the base for a brunch of baked eggs with crusty bread. It was delish, both on its own and repurposed! I'lll definitely be making this again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPNRroe8v2H8WqMLpk63nqHBPLKgVUYVSEmcmZWgbOquVy6sGx5Bh7QJsCtmpnun5D2VWVs4dN-dyimAorjMof3Zd6kMnyeTlBNZvEJvsSfQ7fsfRZtz5PaHTg9DSP5HXLSJWeUMcy5s/s1600/zucchini+lasagna+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPNRroe8v2H8WqMLpk63nqHBPLKgVUYVSEmcmZWgbOquVy6sGx5Bh7QJsCtmpnun5D2VWVs4dN-dyimAorjMof3Zd6kMnyeTlBNZvEJvsSfQ7fsfRZtz5PaHTg9DSP5HXLSJWeUMcy5s/s640/zucchini+lasagna+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h3>
Zucchini Lasagna</h3>
serves 4<br />
(I've altered the recipe slightly from what I made in terms of quantities and order of layers, which you'll realize when you see the photo of my finished dish at the bottom. Learn from my experimenting!)<br />
<br />
1 onion, diced<br />
3 tbs minced garlic<br />
1 tbs red chili flakes<br />
28 oz can of tomato paste<br />
dried herbs, mixed<br />
2 huge or 4 medium zucchini<br />
6 links pre-cooked chicken sausage (I used al fresco's roasted pepper and asiago)<br />
8 oz crumbled feta or goat cheese<br />
olive oil<br />
salt and pepper<br />
<br />
Heat oven to 450°. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper. Trim ends off zucchini and fillet into lengthwise slices, about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Season on both sides with salt and pepper and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Arrange zucchini slices on baking sheets in one layer and roast for 12 minutes, until lightly browned and easily pierced with a knife. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 375°.<br />
<br />
While the zucchini is roasting, sautée the diced onions in a deep pan over medium high heat with a little olive oil. After 5 minutes, once the onions have softened and started becoming translucent, add the garlic and cook for another two minutes, stirring frequently so the onions and garlic don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Add the chili flakes and mix with the onion/garlic, and then add the tomato paste, combining well. Add herbs as desired and continue to stir for another 5 minutes.<br />
<br />
Let the zucchini cool once it's out of the oven; turn the heat off on the sautée pan. Slice the chicken sausage into rounds and set aside.<br />
<br />
Oil the bottom of a casserole dish. Spread a layer of tomato sauce on the bottom, about 1/3 of the mixture. Top with a layer of zucchini (half of the slices you have), then a layer of chicken sausage (half of the slices you have), then a layer of crumbled cheese (1/3 of what you have). Repeat the sauce/zucchini/sausage/cheese layering a second time, then top with a last layer of sauce and the remaining cheese. Drizzle on some more olive oil. Bake at 375° for about 35 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden, and then serve and enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6GBY7B6XY1djzl5ggZYp1jCM3GF-aSMAQ7kgQ-Sk519f4E5xqIqYNpujhKTcZA77JFpzjcPklZEQiwF-Ia0MtfcXtDjlCwheUlsrIBBEQ5Tg7I0kD1MH84nRZOBN3lt_GENhav6AeVA/s1600/zucchini+lasagna+3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6GBY7B6XY1djzl5ggZYp1jCM3GF-aSMAQ7kgQ-Sk519f4E5xqIqYNpujhKTcZA77JFpzjcPklZEQiwF-Ia0MtfcXtDjlCwheUlsrIBBEQ5Tg7I0kD1MH84nRZOBN3lt_GENhav6AeVA/s640/zucchini+lasagna+3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-69893709918254990902015-08-02T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-06T09:03:16.908-05:00Summer in the Bishop's Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N9bdXTbjtsVCMmM-VJfmJD1jwP7qCWhb7h7enZzGwT541inTuAJTQFku3C0Yy2Y9ODY75RT8J-n_RVnotKmIPbTHAfKB6wxF6ZdSsBT4jzfrMZaFub1g1JIJ5tbI9prqi868xOsCHI4/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N9bdXTbjtsVCMmM-VJfmJD1jwP7qCWhb7h7enZzGwT541inTuAJTQFku3C0Yy2Y9ODY75RT8J-n_RVnotKmIPbTHAfKB6wxF6ZdSsBT4jzfrMZaFub1g1JIJ5tbI9prqi868xOsCHI4/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
During the school year, I head up Mount Saint Alban to the Cathedral pretty regularly - for evensong when I need to think or pray, or when I want to do a hill run, or when I know the Bishop's Garden will be particularly beautiful. Sometimes I take Charlie for a wander around the Close just because I'm feeling nostalgic about my childhood, and I was last there around graduation time, when I drove up after dinner one night in early June. I sat on the East Terrace, my school at my back and the Cathedral in front of me and the waning moon bright in the sky, and just wallowed in seasonal melancholy. It was lovely.<br />
<br />
Jon and Charlie and I drove up last Saturday morning to take advantage of the gorgeous day and to get some of Charlie's energy out. (We were planning on spending a few hours later in the day at the pool and so wanted to leave Charlie napping at home while we were gone. A tired dog is a happy dog, you know.) Out first stop was the newish Open City outpost in what used to be the Herb Cottage for coffee and a Nutella waffle and then, fueled up, we explored the Bishop's Garden in all its summer splendor. Such a beautiful morning!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWcPzfoUNFIoKvo_9WWEew-HzJgddvXolubhaX37gGouGbq2NR_lxwKslkng0OdflL8mfXB3L4ZGNPxHO4kSQtIe7QJK9o0KO8hyphenhyphenR15vagS2-kI2YgFFkKe2cuWduZfU07qrpPGYf0E8/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWcPzfoUNFIoKvo_9WWEew-HzJgddvXolubhaX37gGouGbq2NR_lxwKslkng0OdflL8mfXB3L4ZGNPxHO4kSQtIe7QJK9o0KO8hyphenhyphenR15vagS2-kI2YgFFkKe2cuWduZfU07qrpPGYf0E8/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCzHIfm0Mkm-4BlWzgHiMxibyaerNKCtM7dbzsag7YSusU0vux8SD_lWqbdiv6TR5FF_J5gX-5JnBR1iYnq-DcK2LybC8XaHUFG9LdalWu7YTsO-MHTyn0rXzcp_d9HgFcBF3-Xl4qW4/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCzHIfm0Mkm-4BlWzgHiMxibyaerNKCtM7dbzsag7YSusU0vux8SD_lWqbdiv6TR5FF_J5gX-5JnBR1iYnq-DcK2LybC8XaHUFG9LdalWu7YTsO-MHTyn0rXzcp_d9HgFcBF3-Xl4qW4/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJ-2VJdYQh1xqGb_W1wlRQwd5jYlkOYLDtEuB6_ijrxWqSrNIXmcOx8eqzsg9GEXIoG65jLXDpEYkX3CiDqZaXpFFA_ArlaCenRVWc6ntCOci8N6Dn25hfBkXbb1RzaT7jlYFoEKjTv0/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJ-2VJdYQh1xqGb_W1wlRQwd5jYlkOYLDtEuB6_ijrxWqSrNIXmcOx8eqzsg9GEXIoG65jLXDpEYkX3CiDqZaXpFFA_ArlaCenRVWc6ntCOci8N6Dn25hfBkXbb1RzaT7jlYFoEKjTv0/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JDGTArzXdSNX6UmmywASAhlSF2FfliJb9zupFOoRlV443aqyiEx6wmLgpRXfECygs5Zl9YDzHYoVYb1f6QSLHYDsiP5Vou0GV8RNobAUOT45fYp9GxtwRCZIL3KWVs3fA0mqFL_D32c/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JDGTArzXdSNX6UmmywASAhlSF2FfliJb9zupFOoRlV443aqyiEx6wmLgpRXfECygs5Zl9YDzHYoVYb1f6QSLHYDsiP5Vou0GV8RNobAUOT45fYp9GxtwRCZIL3KWVs3fA0mqFL_D32c/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7Xt4rR6fWmblEOqdI3ydFWlMZHDOxt4w04gq9NTvxHRk9rFtOjB5XKX3-jrcYt-6GWiVdr_xNoCP0IcwaoyzFUT-X-rmtp7nibudPp1uI0w6pga4mQuRjx7NKuGrUeHFg1jWflbLN_8/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7Xt4rR6fWmblEOqdI3ydFWlMZHDOxt4w04gq9NTvxHRk9rFtOjB5XKX3-jrcYt-6GWiVdr_xNoCP0IcwaoyzFUT-X-rmtp7nibudPp1uI0w6pga4mQuRjx7NKuGrUeHFg1jWflbLN_8/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwRvvvfnDYqmKHLYmBhMXCsybZTXFmKjiuiTcT3AqbqzgThjvfPrJZ7xhvzKdSoMI2V8yryQ0wN9ireeCUPHU_RA6qsc8LJ6COLuvCcNeq5PFGSK9q6Kwk7bT439pfMo9riQtl2bZmLo/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwRvvvfnDYqmKHLYmBhMXCsybZTXFmKjiuiTcT3AqbqzgThjvfPrJZ7xhvzKdSoMI2V8yryQ0wN9ireeCUPHU_RA6qsc8LJ6COLuvCcNeq5PFGSK9q6Kwk7bT439pfMo9riQtl2bZmLo/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRqkjlAOCse7oLanLSUT6AWMg-G6VIeq5k50nCKAlXFrOUwbBcNfm_W0cpv3EyisLL0d7Xkmj4rvkeoweImud94W6BG4o0GBGdd3x2ehkrxTk8pq4QBeAhGXObF9Upvxz_MQYHn_eoSo/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRqkjlAOCse7oLanLSUT6AWMg-G6VIeq5k50nCKAlXFrOUwbBcNfm_W0cpv3EyisLL0d7Xkmj4rvkeoweImud94W6BG4o0GBGdd3x2ehkrxTk8pq4QBeAhGXObF9Upvxz_MQYHn_eoSo/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI55YzlVbNgDfKdpAGZuTVgIIAz8LALqxN7bA1CmHzxUcpR7F3Qg8sAwz_y9psuOGaB2AAAx2jYw1ptEOHnSjcbkC0J2e8W5DJFh_YlqhebZeNCb17mavIJg_SjizJL16ovsAnr27O_3o/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI55YzlVbNgDfKdpAGZuTVgIIAz8LALqxN7bA1CmHzxUcpR7F3Qg8sAwz_y9psuOGaB2AAAx2jYw1ptEOHnSjcbkC0J2e8W5DJFh_YlqhebZeNCb17mavIJg_SjizJL16ovsAnr27O_3o/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJ3d_-s7GYP1qRsIx2g1A50Q8U2elOBEpq0HKLFwYvIeKcMnOIJO20x-HH6Nt6wd37Tos-SpVQJ0u0PRjTt95vqn6AcIcUv3y_o0lWm7jFQS23A3gixsh9hlUevX3an2_X1_Z1iVkZ9Q/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJ3d_-s7GYP1qRsIx2g1A50Q8U2elOBEpq0HKLFwYvIeKcMnOIJO20x-HH6Nt6wd37Tos-SpVQJ0u0PRjTt95vqn6AcIcUv3y_o0lWm7jFQS23A3gixsh9hlUevX3an2_X1_Z1iVkZ9Q/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4x6jZpLrMhmguS_w_24jr3_T_t27KLxckUd3mf9cGkZgjeAlxiunx97uUUB6fCVSVw-AZ1_G74Cp3u0joEEXOqQKIuNaJhyphenhyphenb1Q2spzs7QpPNiTkqwXaAjJkPmmeLSeqf7E76ek9nrDI/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4x6jZpLrMhmguS_w_24jr3_T_t27KLxckUd3mf9cGkZgjeAlxiunx97uUUB6fCVSVw-AZ1_G74Cp3u0joEEXOqQKIuNaJhyphenhyphenb1Q2spzs7QpPNiTkqwXaAjJkPmmeLSeqf7E76ek9nrDI/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhpXIRTU89iIRnPrGBxv1ykZH4rT2PmTTzH4lDYsAstcQv3qpnH46XdTRXUgXtmGW7FFvvYXdqTEB1bb9mhqXvZVrkfap-veoV_88vmaJpJn6QZk3h7rGE1hAFzxOOASnB4_9YZ80jrw/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhpXIRTU89iIRnPrGBxv1ykZH4rT2PmTTzH4lDYsAstcQv3qpnH46XdTRXUgXtmGW7FFvvYXdqTEB1bb9mhqXvZVrkfap-veoV_88vmaJpJn6QZk3h7rGE1hAFzxOOASnB4_9YZ80jrw/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm50eH5ttPHzdIHq6o3t6h0k7b2ydz6wEdl7is5gyV1LgAIQV29V7MmvCNBbccpIOqHMUGLvTi9Gh5p0oEw13lcq48fYsDE7E8IMvPnnlkRUrhyphenhyphenDEAK0paKcgHd_mfQPtTMhQayv1SNw/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm50eH5ttPHzdIHq6o3t6h0k7b2ydz6wEdl7is5gyV1LgAIQV29V7MmvCNBbccpIOqHMUGLvTi9Gh5p0oEw13lcq48fYsDE7E8IMvPnnlkRUrhyphenhyphenDEAK0paKcgHd_mfQPtTMhQayv1SNw/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHmLCySVHCoP0OqE_YN6zxhLy8a8P48sRzXGBiXZcsyrgty4qJeVpge8cjWCnFe9_BlGVNIGgu44ow2Sqm4xbQVNeJV6m_RoX6NDo3_ZUxsPZuITiNxPgZR6WQAnRSUqOIW_dCYrmCcI/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHmLCySVHCoP0OqE_YN6zxhLy8a8P48sRzXGBiXZcsyrgty4qJeVpge8cjWCnFe9_BlGVNIGgu44ow2Sqm4xbQVNeJV6m_RoX6NDo3_ZUxsPZuITiNxPgZR6WQAnRSUqOIW_dCYrmCcI/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcn6AjUpiwqqk-d3eJckhE9FmRzW8LKju0LCOm85tokA-If10F3-Jvfrx4PYcwgAvoUh_M9tKoVL5fgA0lf8MSMtDinEMvufKzmzRXTMlwRz8JFclbaNquIj6JtyNbvf5m5zxVZ_JKYVw/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcn6AjUpiwqqk-d3eJckhE9FmRzW8LKju0LCOm85tokA-If10F3-Jvfrx4PYcwgAvoUh_M9tKoVL5fgA0lf8MSMtDinEMvufKzmzRXTMlwRz8JFclbaNquIj6JtyNbvf5m5zxVZ_JKYVw/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4IboU1qA-Yg0XFWxYX3dnRd7U-fDRhKjGyTNhMInbDTIwhe_d6cKYOZ5h1dZbbnVaDh0H1t8oM_Kjvfv7TTKmOpaWvNsLvJ6oJO2WAgeT0ExcvTQZH2f5P-ITdPq63NHy6XQXC1QjLM/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4IboU1qA-Yg0XFWxYX3dnRd7U-fDRhKjGyTNhMInbDTIwhe_d6cKYOZ5h1dZbbnVaDh0H1t8oM_Kjvfv7TTKmOpaWvNsLvJ6oJO2WAgeT0ExcvTQZH2f5P-ITdPq63NHy6XQXC1QjLM/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk_FRNTFzRuKb-PvgELyQVXcFQdPtaWpxMTfMVkxVNUfkGUIUElbAciwyno0rKixTZLTJHcAuywShGozs0XqSCDV50SRgUcY3r9qSyc1CppMDXvAPaTRpq3pkkhozHKArNgybSmkRuvk/s1600/bishop%2527s+garden+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk_FRNTFzRuKb-PvgELyQVXcFQdPtaWpxMTfMVkxVNUfkGUIUElbAciwyno0rKixTZLTJHcAuywShGozs0XqSCDV50SRgUcY3r9qSyc1CppMDXvAPaTRpq3pkkhozHKArNgybSmkRuvk/s640/bishop%2527s+garden+17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-10283185611817898582015-07-28T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-05T12:16:41.124-05:00Jon's America VI (The Fourth of July)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBEl536MBvYDxKCnhqx6_4FGiruc5tWYwkk54OLn06QAQxvXAVbf54PgaxQLK0MSq6exAGM1FezA9GxZCVVDfmAMOHM488936Y3P0YOtlHSeBmnPZfVoBOdlnJVdP-Z6-YTe1HOYUtDg/s1600/fourth+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBEl536MBvYDxKCnhqx6_4FGiruc5tWYwkk54OLn06QAQxvXAVbf54PgaxQLK0MSq6exAGM1FezA9GxZCVVDfmAMOHM488936Y3P0YOtlHSeBmnPZfVoBOdlnJVdP-Z6-YTe1HOYUtDg/s640/fourth+1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A few weeks ago, my good friend Alex arrived in DC from the UK to experience the 4th July festivities with us; this was actually my first exposure to such an unabashed display of pure American-ness (not that such sentiments are usually abashed), and as such Betsy asked me to write my observations on the topic. <br />
<br />
Naturally, upon learning that this holiday was coming up, my first reaction was to find a group of British people and huddle together with them for protection against the coming storm. Happily, such sanctuary was available with some English friends down in Charlottesville, who were having a patriotic BBQ party. Honestly, I was a little disappointed that the Americans they’d invited were such awesome, interesting and friendly people – I was fully geared up for dudes in eagle-emblazoned tank tops yelling “yeah, suck it Limeys!” while holding a lit roman candle in one hand while chugging a Miller Lite with the other.<br />
<br />
That said, we were not going to be denied fireworks, so we set off to the town display. Plans went awry, as they are wont to do, and en route we temporarily ended up crashing someone’s party. “Hey Australians, get some beer!”, shouted the guy who (I think) was our host, and chucked some Buds at us. We liked him, and saw no reason to make him think we weren’t also formerly browbeaten subjects of the British monarchy. After a short time, we pressed onwards towards the fireworks, our small group having become an unruly drunken mob – an unruly drunken mob with a plan… eschewing the official viewing area, we snuck over a busy road, up a steep embankment and on to municipal golf course. Lying in the grass less than a hundred yards behind the launching area, under cover of darkness, I couldn’t have asked for a better view of a spectacular display. Fireworks for me are inevitably associated with the 5th of November - gunpowder, treason, and plot - so watching them on a hypothermia-free evening felt mildly unsettling but pleasantly refreshing.<br />
<br />
USA weekend continued the next day when we went to see the Nats take on the Giants – Alex had never been to a baseball game, and they were giving away FREE bobbleheads! I like watching baseball – I approve of the way that very few people there seem to care too much about what’s going on. Sure, it’s nice when someone whacks the ball, but in the meantime there’s beer and loads of food, and LOOK! LOOK AT THE FUNNY PRESIDENTS RUNNING AROUND AND FALLING OVER! Sometimes, such shenanigans are interrupted by sports, and I know later on in the season people will start taking this seriously (and I’ll pretend to). But for now, if you lose the game then, hey, there’s always another one tomorrow. <br />
<br />
But that’s not all the America we did. As the baseball was on, the US women’s football team was kicking arse and taking names in the World Cup final – and they were showing it on the jumbotron in the stadium. England having crashed out miserably to an own goal against Japan in the semi, this chastened slightly, but I dug deep and found it within myself to support you guys. It was a magnificent performance, and being in a packed stadium shouting U.S.A! with everyone else (while Alex looked on slightly alarmed), it felt good to have another nation to root for in life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpyKBf8wnRftroUKnm054oYW1y2FAzkL9cjvEq74wGtvNFaPps0donAEGJMIYGAcc4zZREl_NIa4St7bWY2nOdx9QdIQFTRcT0NHtbKtyn2JHyy70OPLk7xtNHbBP1UavNM4XujLM1aA/s1600/fourth+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpyKBf8wnRftroUKnm054oYW1y2FAzkL9cjvEq74wGtvNFaPps0donAEGJMIYGAcc4zZREl_NIa4St7bWY2nOdx9QdIQFTRcT0NHtbKtyn2JHyy70OPLk7xtNHbBP1UavNM4XujLM1aA/s640/fourth+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBGQ2ZimqfJNn_dvUT1TsqnD59CxPa2NW8QjO8f1RCfO9POEfSVloTu1omVBmAfTPUT9ULg8ffcK2jbYhS7DEHU9gSC6iIWQ6rZ6Ve7lU7Ur3d4GrQsihFqL8mB5_Pxa5PVZAH_OrFtw/s1600/fourth+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBGQ2ZimqfJNn_dvUT1TsqnD59CxPa2NW8QjO8f1RCfO9POEfSVloTu1omVBmAfTPUT9ULg8ffcK2jbYhS7DEHU9gSC6iIWQ6rZ6Ve7lU7Ur3d4GrQsihFqL8mB5_Pxa5PVZAH_OrFtw/s640/fourth+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWUxIE5E5IlmCyfNwmI219WPDz9kHzDmkv4_Eo5Y3fZ-a3nkpCrpjuKUcLjEYISG3_YGtooaQToApwv8r3f3E-T521tE6sE_geT3OF2ijIR12G2Sfl9Wq3C2S_KDIm5BSyv8S441Xy2I/s1600/fourth+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWUxIE5E5IlmCyfNwmI219WPDz9kHzDmkv4_Eo5Y3fZ-a3nkpCrpjuKUcLjEYISG3_YGtooaQToApwv8r3f3E-T521tE6sE_geT3OF2ijIR12G2Sfl9Wq3C2S_KDIm5BSyv8S441Xy2I/s640/fourth+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-35225973670190379882015-07-26T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-05T12:14:31.683-05:00Sunday Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6oVDg1GwNuyDfreofbLKq23RKA_ZPwZkO-C1QjfCXZ0ywe7uuVmgn5fioc_tMxxVPDqHG4mI3z_FIvoo8crqmdeagUJ1zRl291Hk5jYax8WwuLF9_Sc6NSpYBXCnd2yXANF0TtxX00Y/s1600/sunday+thoughts.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6oVDg1GwNuyDfreofbLKq23RKA_ZPwZkO-C1QjfCXZ0ywe7uuVmgn5fioc_tMxxVPDqHG4mI3z_FIvoo8crqmdeagUJ1zRl291Hk5jYax8WwuLF9_Sc6NSpYBXCnd2yXANF0TtxX00Y/s640/sunday+thoughts.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Over the last few weeks, I've drafted a couple of blog posts - mostly just in my head, but also in a growing chain of emails to myself of quotations from relevant pieces from around the web - about some lifestyle choices that, in attaining cult-like followings, seem to have consumed every corner of the internet I visit.<br />
<br />
"Every corner of the internet I visit" is an interesting phrase, though. We self-select the communities in which we participate based on how we self-identify (or how we want to self-identify), and what we read and hear from the echo chambers of our communities can overwhelm everything else to the point that it becomes hard to imagine that there is anything else. <br />
<br />
I've been thinking about that recently as Jon and I have embarked on tangled conversations about misogyny on Reddit and in gaming. He sent me <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/07/reddit_as_feminist_utopia_what_the_front_page_of_the_internet_looks_like.single.html" target="_blank">an article</a> the other day that summed up his thoughts as a redditor and, interestingly, the last paragraph can serve to support both his participation in and my hesitation about the website:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In my experience, Reddit is just a microcosm of humanity. It’s a generally tech-savvy and scientifically inclined sliver of humanity, sure, but a much more diverse group of people than you might think. Any other Reddit user could write a completely different piece than mine, detailing his exploits on various subreddits that I've never even heard of. Just like any group of people, some of them are immature, insecure bullies. Some of them are people I would never want to associate with in reality or on the anonymous Internet. But most people IRL are great, and most of Reddit—or at least, most of my Reddit—is, too.</blockquote>
It's easy to forget that, just as this writer has "her" Reddit and Jon has "his," I have "my" blogworld, a strange bubble in which every lifestyle decision becomes not just one to make for yourself but one to defend to others. It's easy to forget that many of the trends I can't seen to escape online, amplified by groupthink, probably haven't even been noticed by my offline communities. It's easy to forget that even oft-maligned Millennials, with our self-absorption and exceptionalism and hunger for recognition, don't participate in the exact sort of navel-gazing that's the hallmark of the blogging community that I (and many of you, dear readers) choose to belong to.<br />
<br />
This isn't subtle at all, but I know I should keep perspective on the things that get me worked up around here and I just wanted to share my thoughts on it. After all, I can't be the only one who needs the reminder?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442709270787168376.post-63775722805022416432015-07-24T08:00:00.000-04:002015-12-05T12:11:53.470-05:00Frock Fridays: Tank Dresses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURTtR0nkU_6Zbqn5CC_yaiGJ-XvGrwNLBpegxWM85h2VN5aIQOWxpmPqqnzA9GCkLHjPv9iEp16lxlC7jln2YiG2sRmIs66ETs_WyjJuA9aRhEs_kdaJv-dqQ6hcIA-LF3P45ZgKEiYc/s1600/tank+dresses+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURTtR0nkU_6Zbqn5CC_yaiGJ-XvGrwNLBpegxWM85h2VN5aIQOWxpmPqqnzA9GCkLHjPv9iEp16lxlC7jln2YiG2sRmIs66ETs_WyjJuA9aRhEs_kdaJv-dqQ6hcIA-LF3P45ZgKEiYc/s640/tank+dresses+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39cJ3T5c9tapiBWS4txcjm_pQeEmfMkgDkbYEySLuDNekJsbNWeJOyrzD3vFvFL0rmHe9BeQUUPk6j-cZ_JfEseMjKD6Ndvq9JzwJPsrrW0DNe5KH_maUyJXyiX_G8jdSyjuQBxt5_0E/s1600/tank+dresses+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39cJ3T5c9tapiBWS4txcjm_pQeEmfMkgDkbYEySLuDNekJsbNWeJOyrzD3vFvFL0rmHe9BeQUUPk6j-cZ_JfEseMjKD6Ndvq9JzwJPsrrW0DNe5KH_maUyJXyiX_G8jdSyjuQBxt5_0E/s640/tank+dresses+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOawUTcoIBgqEDVR7GFYP_577sO_d7_krPIBE8qpzh6sm8Ut8PlF8GThiWanZS0rMkO8NfyX30AiEX2oJGJLylS4I7JXnxw1gBGNG0ryF7rxcjAOpQGZ3eUhoZFbaE1CD553JykGwBUvE/s1600/tank+dresses+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOawUTcoIBgqEDVR7GFYP_577sO_d7_krPIBE8qpzh6sm8Ut8PlF8GThiWanZS0rMkO8NfyX30AiEX2oJGJLylS4I7JXnxw1gBGNG0ryF7rxcjAOpQGZ3eUhoZFbaE1CD553JykGwBUvE/s640/tank+dresses+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS9s2W_nl7cj07gZwKe33EGCGNDXiQVr46T_zY_sWlscI4OS1NuyoLmQwgW-75is4Sa9k0I6OKB21bRBulQpaJxP84RCrcCSqDWjJ2XBHv7_9nZCe5b7emA75cIU4VvhMvAWbTw1NxEA/s1600/tank+dresses+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS9s2W_nl7cj07gZwKe33EGCGNDXiQVr46T_zY_sWlscI4OS1NuyoLmQwgW-75is4Sa9k0I6OKB21bRBulQpaJxP84RCrcCSqDWjJ2XBHv7_9nZCe5b7emA75cIU4VvhMvAWbTw1NxEA/s640/tank+dresses+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Can I get a hallelujah for structured tank dresses, dear readers? They're perfect for summer in DC - fitted enough for the office, relaxed enough to not feel constraining, and light enough for the walk to and from the metro. Plus, they're so easy to dress up or down! (<a href="http://www.betsytransatlantically.com/blog/frock-fridays-drawstring-dresses" target="_blank">You might notice I demand this from most of my everyday dresses...</a>) I hate the feeling on my arms of layering sweaters or blazers over short sleeves, so it's an added bonus that I can just throw something over my sleeveless dresses without discomfort once I get to my super air conditioned office.<br />
<br />
This tank dress is from J Crew, and I have it in two colors: black, shown here, and navy. I totally agree with <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/dear-j-crew-what-happened-to-us-we-used-to-be-so-close-1432661954" target="_blank">everyone's disappointment in and frustration with J Crew</a>, but these dresses really have been stalwarts in my closet since I bought them early last summer. Unlike a lot of other contemporary "classic" J Crew pieces, they were reasonably priced - if I remember correctly, they were on the sale rack for $40 each - and they've held up remarkably well despite how often I wear them. Along with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/4XL_EOQs5c/" target="_blank">the brilliant blue Cynthia Rowley tank dress from Marshall's</a> that you see on my Instagram all the time, these two pieces are in heavy rotation during the workweek. Today I'm wearing the black one with David Yurman bracelets, an old belt from Anthropologie, and Nine West wedges bought last summer.<br />
<br />
I don't think I can justify buying any new tank dresses until the ones I have die, especially since I'm still planning on stopping by Loft to use that credit I have, but I do love these ones from Old Navy! They're all under $30 - with most less than $20 - so maybe they'll make their way into your closets...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEd4ADk79CD3DsiGFMpSmaxxwoI94J60MXXaLOKtHcMgpSjr2-gKgjwH134FKOhNyTY9oBU9AisSpaCHWHp790qTIrzm7tmCJUtyZ-bfhfrndGymdeQ7jUXqeQSNL6tXqsYQ98yc_yLQ/s1600/tank+dresses+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEd4ADk79CD3DsiGFMpSmaxxwoI94J60MXXaLOKtHcMgpSjr2-gKgjwH134FKOhNyTY9oBU9AisSpaCHWHp790qTIrzm7tmCJUtyZ-bfhfrndGymdeQ7jUXqeQSNL6tXqsYQ98yc_yLQ/s640/tank+dresses+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0