Royalty Shmoyalty

Oi Vay.

I’ll be the first to admit to loving a good fairy tale, and that (yes) princess-stories are still one of my favorite genres. . . but for crying out loud: what is the big sparkly pirouetting deal with England’s Royalty?

These days EVERYONE loves William and Kate. They’re ranking American celebrities equivalent with actual admirable talented celebrities, not to mention the de rigeur movie stars and pop stars of the day. They don’t even get relegated to the one-name combos  that most celeb couples tend to score (i.e. Bennifer, Tomkat, Brangelina,etc.). Maybe that’s because “Killiam”, “Williate”, and “Wate” all sound utterly ridiculous, but it seems more likely that they are accorded greater respect than their commoner celebrity counterparts due to their royal bloodlines. However pedantic and out-dated this may be, people still want to look like them and stalk them and BE them to an unhealthy degree. Frankly, the whole thing is kind of getting out of hand.

ABC posted a video about girls who actually making a living off of looking like Princess Kate, which just boggles the mind! Seriously, watch the video, these girls are full-time Kate-posers . . . as their job! It’s almost worse than all the rampant memeology, Bieber Fever, and other tweeny crazes I can think of, because somehow people who love the Romantic Royal Duo seem to feel superior to other obsessed trenders. They are viewed as a whole different class of fan. . . a classier class. But reality seems to indicate that they actually take fandom to about the same level…

Preliminary Problem: Smarmy Royal Fans

(via Bieber and Middleton)

To try to figure out what is, as some might say, “the BFD”, I went to my favorite search engine (everyone’s really) and began my exploration with a flurried series of clicks. My favorite source was a veritable king’s ransom of information. I think I could stomach it because every posting seemed to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek with a little snarky wit thrown in for seasoning! Still, even when entertaining, the things that make Royal news stories these days . . . 

Discovery #1: Royals Receive Too Much

Serious Attention For

Doing Unimportant Things

 

via

In light of the fact that the day this was posted as News was the same day that six people were gunned down at a temple in Wisconson . . . well, I’m a little less than interested in Harry’s Sandwich Habits. . . or anything about him really. Although I did hear on the radio the other day that he’s recently become an aspiring Reggae DJ. . . which gave me a good chuckle. Can you just picture it? “What’re we going to do for the Queen Mum’s birthday this year? Oh, I know, we shall throw an Islander party and give Harry a chance to use his new skillz.” I know, I know. It’s not the Royals’ fault that they are the subject of attention, but I do wish the world would at the very least report on the quirky or newsworthy facets of these people!

Then there is the whole issue I have with the Royalty-can-get-away-with-anything attitude. Just because you were born into a certain family does not place you beyond the reach of politesse.

Discovery #2: Royals can be Royally Rude

via

The Queen’s look says it all for me. Eek. How do you not realize when in the Public Eye that you can’t really insult the elderly. I guess a few of the Royals have earned themselves a reputation. Now, granted, if I was under constant scrutiny, I’d probably get called rude and all sorts of other unflattering adjectives. But for people who cling to tradition like it’s their lifesblood . . . or their inheritance . . . well, you’d think they might have mastered the “Thought Bubble” by now. Particularly at public functions.

So, royal status gets used to justify rudeness . . . which is quite simply obnoxious. BUT, on the flip side, what’s with the pretentious posturing these people spend their time obsessing over?

Discovery #3: Royal Rules and Regulations

I just don’t understand the royal propensity for fostering a fascination with the Snooty. Check out the blogpost from the Royalist below that details the Hierarchy of the Princess Curtsey. These people need to have a hobby other than their status.

Discovery #4: Royal Riches

RenderAttempted Simplicity

More Than a Little Ludicrous

When I put all of the ridiculous posturing aside and consider the source of my frustration, I think I also find it obnoxious that any people should have so much money. I know, I’m just jealous. Hey, I never said this was a purely logical dislike of Their Royalnesses. If I’m being 100% honest, I just think that anybody who could inherit 10 million pounds might irk me. I think Will and Kate’s attempts to be seen as super normal and down-to-earth (as if they were normal-income) might just be a little like rubbing it in.

Get real. Anybody whose 30th birthday tubing-session is reported upon by multiple news sources just isn’t normal. The luxury of royalty and the consequential novel treatment of everything surrounding The Royals is fairly abnormal.

Solution #1: Stop pretending.

 Make Royal Life Interesting

Instead of working so hard for the humble-perfection we’re-so-normal-even-though-our-clothes-cost-more-than-your-house image, I sort of wish they would act a little more like other obnoxiously rich celebrities who don’t earn their fortunes. Like Paris Hilton. Okay, maybe not really. How to put this. The Royals need to stop strategically pretending to be just-another-citizen when they are clearly living lives that are not typical. It confuses the public reaction and creates this image of perfected normalcy, depicting them as some sort of saintly order instead of just another wealthy family. I would rather The Royals capitalize on their status, if only to show that they are actually human underneath all of the polish. I mean, if you’re in the public eye, and your family has been under a microscope for generations upon generations, then, well, shoot. Rock it. Play into all the silly fanfare, but don’t take yourself too darn seriously. I know, I know. It seems like I am asking for them to be simultaneously less conspicuous and more showy. You’re probably thinking “Make up your mind, Cakey!” Let me give you an example of what I mean.

Word on the street (see below) is that there’s about to be a toasty little royal relic auction. . .

If I were Prince Charles, maybe I’d start regular Toast Auctions to benefit charities. If nothing else, I’d pay a call to 83 year old Rosemarie Smith, because if she’s been housing a piece of toast for 31 years out of misguided nostalgia . . . well, she’s earned a little attention, don’t you think?

Solution #2: Be Funny,

or at least Creative

Royalty should use their firm seat in the public eye to take as many ridiculously fun pictures as possible. Prince Charles almost got it in a recent photo with the Dalai Lama. . . but maybe he should lose the matchy-matchy dalai-lama tie?

(also, any HP nerds out there see the name of the photographer and chuckle with me?)

I would play up a few of the more ridiculous traditions as much as possible. For example, this summer there was an induction ceremony into the “Order of the Garter” . . . which has all sorts of interesting “importance”, and is (apparently) super-duper exclusive. 

Perhaps capitalize on the antiquated-yet-feted tradition by de-mystifying the ridiculous society and hosting a royal lingerie-exchange?

Solution #3: Stop Taking The

Royal Self so Seriously

I know England has this reputation for being all we-don’t-hug-we’re-uber-proper-and-British, and maybe the population preoccupation with the Royal Tradition is part of their national identity, but it might be nice if the Expectation for Royal Treatment was knocked down a peg or two.

I especially like when Justin Bieber can make some less-than-glorious comments about William’s less-than-glorious hair, and the result is getting SLAMMED by British media. I mean, come on. I’m not the biggest Bieber-fan, but EVERYBODY makes fun of Bieber’s hair, don’t they? He can finally make a comment on someone else’s for a change and it’s treated as a “national affront” (according to an online article by US weekly, which, admittedly, isn’t the most reliable source…)! I mean, who knows? Maybe Bieber was just trying to offer some helpful advice on hair-regrowth medications.

(Side note: why and how would this 18 year old hair diva know about this with such detail? Have we found out the secret behind the coveted Bieber swoop? Your guess is as good as mine.)

What it all boils down to? Being born royal does not negate the simple fact that you were born merely human. Ridiculously rich, ridiculously popular, and even sometimes ridiculously bizarre, but human. Somehow The British Royal Family holds this seat of both national and international importance, a status which strikes me as outlandish when compared to the actual achievements visible in their lives.

People are doing incredible things with their lives in this world. Doctors are researching cures. Counselors are helping people deal with horrible grief and loss. Soldiers are giving sweat and blood to protect freedom. Small non-profits are seeking social justice. Foster parents are spending their days serving broken families. Teachers are tearing their hair out over how to help that one kid who is everybody’s headache. And these are just the people that I witness in my small sphere of interaction. Everyday people consistently demonstrate heroic qualities that are never noted by the public eye.  When viewed in contrast to these quiet community benefactors, The Royals are mere celebrities, cleverly window-dressed and masquerading as pseudo-political philanthropists as they bask in the limelight which bathes the minutia of every part of their intentionally public daily lives.

Maybe it’s not The Royals that bother me so much as the royal treatment . . . I guess it’s clear I’m American, huh?

Chinese Dumplings

Once upon a time, when I lived in France, I studied with a girl from China named Wenxuan.

(Say “oo-en-shh-won” really fast and you’ve got it.) 

One day, Wenxuan agreed to teach myself (and two other friends from class) how to make true Chinese Dumplings. . . So we gathered in the little quintessential southern French kitchen, and began the process. I took copious notes . . . and a few pictures!

A Recipe For Chinese Dumplings

A Note on Dumpling Filler or “Stuffing”: It’s really a matter of taste! You can make stuffing out of whatever suites your taste: beef, fish, pork, chicken, even sweet things . . . basically the only rule is that the dumpling filling must be chopped very finely.

The mixtures that we tried:

Stuffing #1:    Pork, Black Mushrooms,  1 egg, Chopped Leeks, Salt, Sesame Oil

Stuffing #2: Fish (cod or tuna, I believe), Corn, Leeks, egg yolk, some Sesame Oil  (As a whole, the fish filling was less sticky, less delicious and, ultimately, more watery) 

Making the Dough:

Ingredients: All purpose flour and Water.

***There are no real measurements in this recipe, just keep adding and mixing and kneading! I know, this is ridiculously frustrating, but it’s just the way Wenxuan did it! I would start with two cups of flower, if you’re feeling stuck . . .

Directions:

1.) Pour flower into a bowl.

2.) Make a hole in the middle of the pile of flour and fill with Tepid water

3.) Knead FOREVER: you’re trying for a very supple, hard, smooth dough

4.) Add water as needed, it’s good to keep a little cup on hand!

5.) When you have a good dough consistency, leave in a round and let sit for 30 minutes.

6.) Get out a flat cutting board (wooden if possible) and a knife.

7.) Role dough out into a long snake like roll.

8.) Put flour on the board and slice the dough-snake into more manageable pieces (see below!). Using the palm, press them down into flatter rounds. Then, using a rolling pin, roll out thin rounds in desired size. We did about 3 inch rounds. Make sure the edges aren’t too thick.

9.) Put as much stuffing as you would like in the center of the round and fold in that wonderful flowery way of the Chinese Dumpling (sometimes called “potstickers”)!

(My pathetic attempt at explaining how to fold: First fold the circle it in half over the filling, creating a half circle with a pillow-full of whatever you’ve put inside – a little like a canolli that you seal off. Then pleat the edges twice on each side, starting from both of the ends and forming the two pleats inward toward the middle of the dumpling! It’s hard to explain, and it took us a little while to figure it out, even with a helper. The good news is:  I’m sure there are some pretty boss tutorials out there somewhere, if you feel like you need to youtube search to give you a hand!)

10.) Tip: Get a finger-bowl of water and use to help stick the edges of the dough together.

11.) When all is prepared, dumplings can be frozen or immediately cooked… Also, there are multiple ways to fold dumplings . . . Wenxuan was awesome at it and showed off a little after much encouragement!

12.) If preparing the dumplings immediately, you must bring a large pot of water to a boil (kind of like you would for Ravioli!).

13.) Add dumplings to hot water, stirring as they are added to avoid sticking.

14.) When the water comes to a boil, add some cold water and continue stirring. Repeat this step 2-3 times. Before removing all dumplings from the water, test one to make sure the dumplings are well cooked.

15.) Serve warm (sauce optional) and Enjoy!

The Bridal Olympics

Everybody’s talking about the Olympics, and for good reason. They are the pinnacle of athletic excellence and the gold (medal) standard for achievement in the world of sports. So, I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised when my future sister-in-law’s maid of honor told me that the chosen theme for the impending Bridal Shower was

“The Bridal Olympics”


When I arrived home two days before my future relative’s bridal extravaganza, I discovered I was unexpectedly in charge of a few elements of the lovely (and impending) bridal shower.

The whirlwind preparations commenced with some flag-making!

Just call me a modern-day Betsy Ross.

Once I got over the fact that I had to make 10 flags out of paper, and that those flags were (tragically) not of the three-color variety, this was actually kind of fun. We made each table a different country that had some meaning or significance for the bride, and her maid of honor explained the significance as a way of tying the theme to our lovely bride-to-be…

Second Job? Thematic food.

With 54 RSVP-ed as coming, I realized we were going to need some more food at this shin-dig. My amazing mother whipped up some Spanakopita (Kind of reminiscent of greek lasagna, if you don’t know it! Think lots of filo dough, spinach and cheese. . . ), which was so good that I didn’t even get a picture of it before it was wolfed down! I will ask her to share her recipe someday, I’m sure. I also threw together a couscous salad with feta, onion, tomatoes, and a little olive oil, just to keep the filling-foods accounted for. My friend John put together this gorgeous salad while I was doing some dessert finishings. The Mostly-Greek food theme was freaking me out a little because a lot of people don’t love those strong flavors, SOOOO, we figured that Greek Salad is pretty tasty and straightforward, and we wound up using this great online recipe for greek dressing which was a nice touch.

I also bulk-bought Tortilla and Pita chips, and we put together some Olympic Ring Dips!

Here’s how we did it:

Blue: Sour Cream, Chives, a few drops of blue food coloring, and a pinch of onion or garlic powder (optional)

Black: (recipe found online) Black beans, red onion, tomato, cilantro, cumin, a little salt

Red: My Mom’s homemade salsa, which is just so good!

Yellow: Cheddar cheese and Beer . . . You just food process shredded cheddar and throw some beer (we just use whatever’s handy) in the mix until it’s at a good spreading consistency. . . It’s shocking how good this is, especially considering it’s so simple!

Green: Good old-fashioned guacamole (Avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro, etc.)

If I had to do it over again, I think I would triple the amount of Guacamole, because that was the first one gone, and so tasty! But I would still make all the same dips. People just raved, and they were really quite easy.

Friends brought 5 different kinds of homemade hummus (and some baba ghanoush, I think) , cut veggies and Greek Dolmades (Grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs). The hummus was sensational, although I’m glad we had pita chips to go with it, and not just the veggies, they had some strong flavors, and the pita chips gave them a little balance, in addition to making the snacky-food a little heartier for our hungrier guests!

Our Olympic Torch Cupcakes were not too terribly tricky, although I wish I’d made the frosting a little more in advance! We made about 100 of these by cooking cake batter in store-bought ice cream cones. Once the chocolate cake was cooled, I set to work piping swirls of yellow frosting onto the top, which we then sprinkled with some red sprinkles to try to make them more “fire-like”. The piping took a little time, but these were very tasty, so worth the effort. I would probably do the piping on-site next time, since some of our icing got a little smushed in transit.

My Dad, being the wonderful, kind, giving, inventive genius that he is, drilled large holes into a box, which we then covered with tinfoil, so that these lovely cupcakes could stay upright as long as they did. (Although, I’m sure you notice the ones in front that were squished through a tragic punch-bowl maneuvering incident!)

The Gold-Medal Awards were actually quite simple, and probably more suited to the younger guests, but who can say no to blonde oreos (from Wegmans, no less) and fruit roll-ups? These were really tasty, and looked pretty cute, too!

Pool-Cake was fun to decorate! The idea is one that I saw on Pinterest, and did my best to copy from the creative blogger who made it, with the inadvertent variations that always happen when trying to emulate someone else’s creativity without their resources! You can put this decoration onto any cake that you bake in a square pan, but I used a 9″x13″ one. I used Cool whip, died blue, for the water, smarties (because we couldn’t find candy necklaces) for the lane-seperators, white chocolate for the diving boards, m&ms for the swimp caps, and little pretzel bits for arms and legs. The last touch was just adding the rescue buoys (using peach gummies with red frosting) and the flags, which you can’t see in this picture.  

The final sweet treat I added to the shower menu was chocolate covered pretzels! I love chocolate covered pretzels, and, to be honest, I think most people agree with me. So, since purchasing chocolate wafers of the right color was an option, it made sense to dip pretzels into them and create yet another Olympic Ring themed dessert. 

Job #3? Collecting Sage Council for the Bride-To-Be

The challenge? Make it look cute, and somehow connect to this Olympian theme.

The Solution? Making a cute little flag garland!

Guests each picked a triangle of colored paper and wrote their advice onto it. Then, while the games were afoot, an amazingly helpful friend attached the triangles to some grosgrain ribbon hanging from the windows for other guests (and the bride) to admire until the Bride took it home with her! I did my best to set it up in as user-friendly a way as possible:

Job #4: It was time for some Balloons!

We didn’t want anyone to miss the entrance, so these little floaters worked as eye-catchers, both on the road-side and the entrance to the building!

A Job for Somebody Else:

Favors!

My Mom bagged chocolate coins with a little note and some patriotic ribbon to send everyone home with a sweet little reminder of the wedding festivities to come!

A Job for Somebody Else:

Bridal Attire!

The Maid of Honor swathed her sister in a toga and an artsy sister-of-the-groom made the lovely grape-leaf wreath to go around the Bride’s head. My only contribution was the gauzy white ribbon hanging in streamers from the “laurel wreath”. . . because sometimes things just can’t be too bridal!

 

So, there you have it.

By no means perfection, but definitely a much feted, uniquely decorated, and immensely enjoyed Bridal Olympics!

Any other Olympic sized adventures out there? Unlikely theme-parties?

Kids With Causes

Endangered Species:

Olivia Binfield is both talented and adorable, it’s almost too much to handle! I love that she uses her poetic prowess for good!

Edurelief:

Capucine is an adorable French child (who is no longer a child probably, since this has been out for a while), but she uses her YouTube popularity for good, raising money through selling ADORABLE tshirts . . . and all the proceeds go to Edurelief, who provides schoolbooks to kids in Mongolia.

I bought this one: 

My Heart = Melty

Private . . . Ear?

I was going through some old files today, and found this sassy snippet of a story starter, which I wrote to a dear friend while I was off galavanting the globe and she was taking a creative writing class and needed to get her creative juices flowing. . . After reading it over, I decided it was strange and silly enough to merit sharing! At the end, I threw down a challenge, and I am leaving it there in all its unedited glory. If anyone feels like writing the next part, feel free . . .

It was a quiet day when it all began; a Thursday, just past four o’clock, if it matters. I had just finished filing the papers on my last case and was looking forward to some madeleines I’d splurged on at the Market this morning when he strode into my office. Fairly unassuming, as Frenchmen go, his hood was pulled low over his eyes and all I could see in the rainy gloom was a grisled jaw-line. I’d never understood what it meant to have “hooded eyes” before. Now I knew. He didn’t give me any time to linger over this discovery, though. Oh, no. Hood-Man spoke right up.

“Excusez-moi, ‘demoiselle, mais…j’ai une problème. C’est impératif que je parle avec le détective de cet établissement! C’est une question de vie ou mort!”

Life and death, huh? Sounded urgent. . . Sounded right up my alley. Little did this man know, there was no other détective here. I was no secretary. Oh no, he was going to deal with me and me alone. This man needed my help. Who am I, you ask? My name is Genevieve Martin. And I am a Private Ear.

(Insert Theme Music Here…)

The Private Ear business started with me. As the world’s only Private Ear Detective, I possess a unique and subtly hones skill set. I hear things. I listen.  Its downright shocking the things people say when they don’t expect someone (namely, me) to be listening. For those who doubt the legitimacy of my methods, I will let my successful career speak for itself. Lots of people try to make it as Private Eye, but business goes bust because they look in all the wrong places. If I’ve learned one thing as a professional, its that eyes usually confuse the issue. Par contre, I find that the Private Ear business is eerily successful. Nobody ever really thinks I might be listening. I give them a tasty little eye-full and, in return, I usually get a useful earful. Nobody looks past the surface.

But enough with the chit-chat . . . Back to Hood Man.

So there he stood, my new client, looking more assuming by the minute. Speaking of assumptions, I hate when people think I’m the secretary just because I sit out front and take care of my own business. It reeeeeallly hate it. So, I stretched out in my best imitation of my cat, Ringling, and slowly eased from the chair. When I stood my full five feet, seven inches (ten, if you counted my heels), I put two deliberate hands on the desk and leaned a little forward.

“There’s only one boss in this joint, doll, and you’re looking right at her, capiche? Now, what seems to be the problem?”

Hood-Man shook off his hood. Normal people would’ve been stunned. Not this girl. Oh no, Privatearing is a lifestyle and I, I don’t get shocked by looking. It was none other than Jean-Claude Juppé, the well-known son of former French Prime Minister, Alain Juppé. Unlike his father, Jean-Claude was easy on the eyes. Also unlike his poised father, J-C seemed less inclined to guise emotion. Living up to his well-known reputation as one of Hollywood’s finest Soap Stars, Jean-Claude looked at me turbulently.

“Pardon, Miss, but I was told that this was where I could find a … a serious detective. Forgive me, but it is a matter of some delicacy…and urgency.”

He looked at me skeptically, his romantically accented politeness doing nothing to disguise the doubt brooding (yes, brooding) within. I knew what he saw. His long-lashed eyes (was he wearing mascara?) took in just under six feet of intentionally accentuated woman. My long, mocha-colored hair was newly bronzed from my recent work on the Côte d’Ivoir and it curled indulgently down past my shoulders. I followed Jean-Claude’s gaze as his eyes took in my flawlessly poised expression, accented subtly, but unquestionably by a creamy powder and the lustrous contents of my vanity table. From neck to thigh I was covered in an artful mix of rosy pink and sensual black lace. And from thigh down, it was all me, right up until you reached the black lace ribbon that spiraled from mid-calf down to meet my three inch pink stilettos. I knew what he saw…not because I’d memorized myself before leaving. I don’t hold with narcissism. Unfortunately, my interior designer feels differently. I know exactly what he saw, because I live in a room that is lined with full length mirrors. That’s right; I had an outfit to make youthful starlets drool and an office to inspire envy in any hair-dresser alive.

But since I know what Jean-Claude saw, I also know what he was thinking. So I said it…just to save him the time.

“I know what you’re thinking, J-C, and you can hold it right there. You came here because you heard there was a private ear, right? An innovative new take on the detective business. Well, before you walk back out that door thinking I’m just some wannabee in Dior and lace, let me just tell you something. I may look like some fashion-absorbed secretarial company figurehead, but you’d better take a long moment to think about why that might be intentional. If I was an arresting somber woman in a tan trench coat with a magnifying glass, don’t you think people would notice? Don’t be as superficial as the perps that I deal with and think that this is all there is to me, doll. You have no idea what people will say when they think you’re not deep enough to listen. You have no idea. This is what makes me the Private Ear. This is the innovative take you were looking for. So, if you want to walk out: walk out. Be my guest, doll. But you’ll be giving yourself one bitch of a handicap.”

And with that, he was hooked. He gave me the “up-down” one more time and then nodded tersely. Just one little move, but he was mine.

-*-*-*-

            He only said it once, but I got everything down. Two days ago, J-C went into Marseille with the usual Paris-in-the-Fall, Aix-in-the-Summer crowd. They were heading to La Note Bleue for some overpriced café and some of the world’s best brioche. Apparently the buttery bread wasn’t enough for the Days of Our Lives crowd and they did a little bar hopping post-café. It wasn’t until the hangover had cleared the next day that they realized J-C’s cousin, Benjamin Frédérick had disappeared. Thinking it was all accidental, J-C and his friends waited for the missing group member… to no avail. Returning home to Aix to await contact, J-C discovered that his other three cousins (Florence, Laurence and Lydie) were also goners. Almost 24 long hours ticked by until the letter arrived.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, IS TO WRITE THE NEXT LEG OF THIS STORY (AND WHEN I SAY LEG, I DO MEAN A SCANDALOUSLY REVEALED UPPER THIGH). I’M LEAVING YOU ONLY WITH THE NAMES “NANINE” AND “DAMARIS” (BOTH GIRLS) TO USE.  SO, IF YOU HAVE THE INCLINATION, GO FOR IT.  WORK THE FULL 9 YARDS OF CLASSIC DETECTIVE STORY BUT ADD AN OUTLANDISH AMOUNT OF SPICE: LITTLE SEXY TRENCH COAT (WITH NOTHING UNDERNEATH?), CIGARETTES THAT COME IN LONG HOLDERS, HATS WHOSE BRIMS TILT OVER YOUR EYE, SMOKE AND MIRRORS, YOU GET THE PICTURE…

Shades of Humour. . .

Innuendo, anyone?

Allright, maybe it’s because I work with teenagers, but I tend to find inappropriate innuendo in some unlikely places. Hey, what can I say? A well-placed “that’s what she said” is sometimes just really funny. There’s even a group on facebook for people like me. . .  I’ll admit, finding innuendo can turn completely innocent things dirty without the slightest provocation. It’s not always warranted, and sometimes it’s just a huge a reach and you should just not go there . . . but THIS?!

This just had to be intentional…

My alma mater, a Christian Liberal Arts College, features this poster proudly on the second floor of the beautiful Ken Olsen Science Center. The irony is just too wonderful. But, hey, as an environmentalist slogan, this actually has great potential . . .

Gordon College; Where “The Goal is ‘O'”.

Drops in the Bucket 2012

After taking a glance at Lesley Carter‘s unbelievably impressive 2012 Bucket List (and picking my jaw back up off the floor after reading what she accomplished last year. . . ) I decided that a little bucket listing of my own might be in order for this year, especially since summer is upon us, and it’s bucket list tackle time! Now, mine probably seems pretty tame compared to a lot of bucket lists. . . no extreme sports or far-flung travels. . . but I promise, it’s only on the list if it’s going to take some extra effort!

My List 2012

1.) Get my Masters Degree

2.) Paint the Staircase Hallway in my Apartment

3.) Can or Preserve Something

4.) Run a 5k

5.) Successfully Grow/Maintain a Garden

6.) Paint my Scary-Moldy Bathroom

7.) Go Berry Picking

8.) Learn How to Mow the Lawn

9.) Get Back into a Regular Gym Routine

10.) Dance at my Brother’s Wedding

11.) Throw a Theme Party

12.) Have a Pic-Nic in my Back Yard

13.) Become an AUNT!

14.) Make a Roommate Memory Box

15.) See a Pixar Movie in the Theater

16.) See All My Living Grandparents

17.) Take a Zumba Class

18.) Get a Tattoo

19.) Organize My Closet-less Bedroom so It Doesn’t Look Cluttered

20.) Submit Something For Publication OR Read 5 of the “Classics” I’ve Never Read

21.) Clean Out The Attic and Get Rid of Excess Junk

22.) Paint Faces at a Carnival

23.) Sew a Banner

24.) Paint a Picture

25.) Bikini Wax

26.) Go Camping

27.) Learn How to Use My Sewing Machine

28.) Make a T-Shirt Quilt

29.) Learn How to Mix at Least 10 New Cocktails

30.) Make My Own Jewelry Out of Vintage Lace

31.) Learn How to Knit or Crochet

32.) Start Composting

33.) Paint My Own Set of Interactive Food Plates

34.) Make a Beautiful Family Tree with Birds

35.) Fancify a Shirt or Dress With My Own Special Touch

36.) Plant a Tree

37.) Make A Button Portrait

38.) Paint My Dresser

39.) Explore Some New Places (Vague, I know, but it encompasses everything from driving around Greater Boston to Maybe seeing the West Coast)

40.) Volunteer at My Church (or a Local Food Pantry!)

Wow. . . I keep thinking of more. . . I guess I will stick with these forty (!) for now. Here’s hoping I am up for it all! I’ll do my best to keep everyone posted on the progress by making each goal into a post! Yay! Thanks for the inspiration, Lesley!