book talk: mongolian feminism

So, I am almost finished with this book, which I picked up at the library partially for it's cool cover image, and partially for its intriguing title. I am always interested in powerful women, and this book seemed to promise an encouraging tale of women in power, doing great things, rescuing an empire.

Of course, history is never as neat and tidy as we'd like to imagine, and this book offered less "women-as-heroes" moments than I'd expected. Also, it really highlights the deeply engrained patriarchal tendencies of men, even in a society established to be so egalitarian as Genghis Khan's empire seemed to be. (Genghis Khan: Mongolia's first feminist? Pretty cool.)

The overarching story is less about one generation of women (as the title might imply) and more about important women rising to power, holding power, staging revolutions and just being general bad-asses over the course of several generations. That kind of consistency has a lasting effect, and this book is ultimately encouraging in a wholly un-glamorous, un-hollywood, but totally real way.

Valentine's Day!

We were greeted with quietly falling snow this Valentine's Day, which as it so happens, is my very favorite holiday.

Truth be told, I never had a date on Valentine's Day until I met Jake. Isn't that funny? But, it's always been my favorite holiday for a few reasons:

1. My birthday is only a few days away. (and it's my mom's birthday today!)
2. There is chocolate everywhere!
3. The official colors of the day are pink and red, two of my favs:)

My celebration of the day will involve only a few special tweaks to our normal routine. I'm meeting my mom to get our hair done together, and then I'll probably finish grading some papers before getting dinner started. For a couple of years now, I've gotten a special, super easy Valentine's Dinner routine: herbed rack of lamb and roasted vegetables to throw in the oven, some fancy little store-bought macarons,

 and champagne, bien sur!

Simple, and just special enough for a snowy Tuesday night. :) I might even sit down and make out a few cards, carrying on my own little "galentine's tradition." Maybe I'll even go crazy and craft cards of my own design, like these, or these. Maybe not.



But whether you run about town gathering supplies, or plan a magical winter outing, or just have a blind date with a book, I do wish you the very best day. Know that you are special, unique person with a purpose: to love and be loved.

Here is a romantic song to set the tone, which my friend, Jamica, and I decided is one of the best love songs ever! (She and her hubs have a lyric from it engraved in their wedding bands, and I walked down the aisle to it.) Hope you enjoy:)

personality by color

First of all, I am obsessed with any and all personality tests/quizzes/finders. Second of all, it was only natural that I fell head over heels for this one from Paper Source. If you follow the link, it will take you to a larger image of the colorscope. Which colors are your favorites? Mine are peacock and strawberry.

Audubon Birds

great blue heron

blue birds

flamingo

Aren't these prints breathtaking? 

As you can see, I've been a bit bird-obsessed these days. Maybe it's all the migrators, floating and swirling in the sky over the freeway as I drive to school. Maybe it's their hollow bones and bright plumage. Birds are just cool.

Hope your week is cool and swirling by nicely so far!

underwater dreamin'

Jason DeCaires Taylor is an underwater sculptor who combines his knowledge as an underwater photographer, conservationist and scuba diver to create these dreamy installations.

Over time, the pieces become man-made coral reefs! The longer they exist, the more coral grows on them and the more beautiful they become. 

Here's to a beautiful and dreamy weekend!

in stitches

Check out these amazing embroidered portraits!

saturday snapshot

It's thick and hot outside today. Inside the library, the air-conditioning is buzzing, low and comforting. I'm hungry for lunch, and my friend, Jess, brought up the idea of a tomato sandwich. Now, hypothetical ruby fruits sparkle in my mind.

But first, to Paris!

I discovered a new blog, Prete Moi Paris, and have been reminded why I slide into francophilia so easily and so often. 

These images from a fashion show are from the line Basil Soda. I would wear each one of them, I think. They're so romantic, so interesting in their combo of throw-back and po-mo sensibilities. 

 Well, as usual, my automatic-free-association of most things with food and drink kicked in. I wanted to know if basil sodas existed (I had a feeling yes), and if so, how I could make one. And then drink it. Bon Appetit never fails with a classic-sounding recipe.  

Then again, the Detroit Free Press offered up this cherry version, which puts a distinctly Mitten spin on the drink. 

Decisions, decisions. 

Happy weekend, friends! Hope you are staying cool, dreamy and hydrated:)

dreamy illustrations

How fantastical are these illustrations?! They caught my eye this afternoon, and I just had to share...I feel like I want to read a children's book filled with pictures just like these. 

my cousin's band

My cousin is the lead singer. Sounds good, no?

a new (old) skill

So, on Monday, when I went to create that weirdly delicious summer salad I told you about, I ran into a snag. I don't know how I've gotten by so long without knowing how to hard boil eggs, but somehow, I have. 

I had to call my Grandma, who will turn 87 years-old on Saturday. She is my go-to contact with all basic cooking questions, like how to make a white sauce, or how long to roast a particular kind of meat, and at what temperature. And here is what she told me:

1. cover the eggs with water
2. bring the water to a boil
3. turn the heat down to medium and simmer eggs for 10 min.
4. immediately dump the eggs into a bowl of cold water and let them cool
5. ta-da! hard-boiled eggs. 

I feel smarter, and even a little more grown-up for knowing this. If you knew it already, good for you. If you didn't, now you know;)

thoughtful street art

Here's what I think: I really think that eco-street-artist Anna Garforth is the bees' knees...

Image source

...and I bet the bees think so, too. Check out those leaves! Wow.

whoa...

Found this via Juxtapose.

Found this mesmerizing.

Thought I'd share.



what do you think?