music: hanni el khatib

Hanni El Khatib is on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic on Friday! Will you be listening? I've had "Penny" stuck in my head for days if not weeks. If you haven't heard it, check it out. It's produced by the same guy who does The Black Keys' albums, so you know it'll be that perfect balance of catchy and awesome.

(if the video above doesn't work, click here)

today

(i only buy running shoes on sale. because of that, they're usually a really great combination of pink and hideous)

Today was one of those hard days. I stumbled upon something I made a year ago, when this whole crazy journey began. I forced myself to chuckle aloud at my former naivete, but all I could feel was this deep ache in my gut. The ache has certainly dulled over the past year, but I still can't help but feel it. And honestly? I wanted to wallow in self-pity a little. I wish this could be easy and I wish I never had to experience any of this. I miss being naive and optimistic. 

I wanted to throw away what I found, so that I would never stumble upon it in the future and have it hurt me again. But then again, if this all works out, I would be throwing away something important and valuable. If it doesn't work out, this thing is useless. I guess I still have a little more hope than I realized, because I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it.

Thank goodness for exercise, endorphins, and sunshine. This evening's run is much-needed and will be much appreciated.

recipes: chopped salad & easy healthy chicken

I don't know what to say or think about what happened in Boston yesterday. My feelings change by the minute; from despairing when I think of how Newtown was only in December and now it's April and yet another horrific act of inhumanity has ruined more lives.....to feeling hope and inspiration from all the reminders that the good, empathetic, compassionate people far outnumber the cruel and terrible ones. All I can do is try to be an example of hope, love, and empathy in honor of the innocent people who were hurt or killed yesterday. Sending my love and support to Boston.

The Husband and I are quite experienced with making compromises with each other, especially when it comes to food. I'm the ex-vegetarian health food freak who won't cook meat and is disgusted by anything greasy (except fish and chips. those are the best). He's the fancy cook who loves a good steak and thinks fat is a wonderful source of flavor in a dish. Both positions are valid, but since my POV has a more positive impact on our waistlines, we generally eat meatless, one-pot meals loaded with vegetables and healthy legumes. 

(mise en place for veggie stir fry)

Every so often, we decide to indulge with a meat entree for dinner, and one of our favorite easy, healthy, weeknight meal options is chicken with a honey-beer glaze and a wannabe tabbouli chopped salad. Click through for the recipes!

free download: stripes and scrolls

  

   

I created some nursery art for my cousin's wife, and thought the background design was something versatile and fun. I saved it in a couple different colors for anyone to use as a basis for some easy art. Fill in the blank spot with a quotation, recipe, photo, silhouette, anything! Click through the link to see and download the backgrounds. I am too lazy to set up any sort of file hosting thing, so right click and save the image (hi-res, roughly 2MB each).

how to stop biting your nails

I'm 27 years old and I just stopped biting my nails in the past month. I know, I'm embarrassed that it went on this long, too. I've tried to stop biting my nails many times before, but it never lasted more than a day or so. The no-bite bitter nail formulas at the local drug store? They didn't even phase me. For some (weird) reason, the taste didn't bother me enough to deter me from biting. 

Until I found Bareille No Bite Pro Growth. 

This stuff is incredibly bitter and it really works. I tapped my fingernail on my lip absentmindedly and even that caused the bitter flavor to completely invade my mouth. This stuff does not mess around, and I highly recommend it for the most stubborn nail biters. The taste is so incredibly terrible that even raising my hand to my mouth would make me shudder in remembrance of the first (and only) time I tried to bite my nails with this stuff on.

After going two (TWO!) weeks without biting my nails, I rewarded myself with my first-ever manicure. The pretty nail polish helped me to continue not biting my nails. Once the polish started to chip, I started putting the Bareille stuff on again.

This is probably the most boring thing I have ever written, but I really can't express how grown up I feel now that I have abolished such a gross habit. My next goal: to figure out how to apply nail polish myself without the end result looking like I did it while completely hammered.

roger ebert

(a photo of an old polaroid, east beach, sb)

Roger Ebert passed away today at the age of 70. I remember when 70 seemed like an incredibly old age to me, but now....well, it doesn't seem like nearly enough time. When Roger was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2007, he made one of the most poignant comments I have ever heard about death.

"I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear.

I hope to be spared as much pain as possible on the approach path. I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter. You can’t say it wasn’t interesting. My lifetime’s memories are what I have brought home from the trip. I will require them for eternity no more than that little souvenir of the Eiffel Tower I brought home from Paris."

Rest in peace.

PS. Roger Ebert's loving relationship with his wife is seriously one of the most beautiful things ever. This picture is breathtaking.

(source)

lemons and lemonade

(los angeles, ca)

"What looks like a loss may be the very event which is subsequently responsible for helping to produce the major achievement of your life."

-Srully D. Blotnick

quick link: masako miki

Masako Miki is an artist from Osaka, Japan who now lives in Berkeley, CA. I am in love with her offbeat, mixed media creations. 

(always together, source)

Her latest exhibition in Oakland just ended, but check out her website for any upcoming events.

quick link: bring your feminist self to work

(this photo has nothing to do with this post. but isn't my kitty adorable?)

I'm not feeling the slightest bit inspired to write anything lately, so check out Bring Your Feminist Self to Work (Every) Day, a really interesting article about being a feminist in a male-dominated professional space. 

First and foremost, you have to overcome your own inevitable sense of “imposter syndrome,” take up space, and speak up. When I’m at a meeting in an intimidating place with what I perceive to be lots of smart, successful people, especially if the room is mostly populated by men, I force myself to say something at least once. It doesn't have to be right away (sometimes I gain courage by listening and observing first), but I can’t leave the room without contributing something. That’s not just for my own advancement; it also helps the team get used to hearing women’s voices and perspectives, in general.

The above concept really stood out for me - the idea of making sure, as a women, to say / contribute something, especially when the environment seems intimidating. Not only is this good for being recognized professionally, this also helps others get used to hearing a woman voice her perspectives and opinions in a male-dominated professional environment. I have taken this to heart and have forced myself to speak up regularly at round-table meetings at my job. It's been less than three weeks and I already see a significant shift in how I feel about my own agency in my job, and how some of my colleagues perceive me and my contributions. People who used to act like they didn't find me particularly important or valuable are taking the time to engage with me on professional and personal levels. All that from less than three weeks of trying to get over my own sense of intimidation.

Feminism for the win (again).

music: jake bugg

I have deep love for folk-like indie music. There's not a single Avett Brothers song I dislike. I also listen to KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic program a ton - I have had to drive a lot for work lately, and streaming their program is much better than listening to my same old music over and over. Their live sessions at the studio are almost always excellent (PS. Cold War Kids are live on today's show).

(I sound like an embarrassing mother, but seriously. what an adorable little boy.)

Jake Bugg was on KCRW's live show back in February, and it was seriously one of the best live sessions I've seen in a long time. He's an 18 year old British kid, but don't let his youth fool you. His music sounds like Bob Dylan, but Jake's voice is a different kind of unique. Seriously, I can't even do it justice - just listen / watch the live session here.

And if you have Spotify, Jake Bugg did a live session for them that is available for streaming. I find it far superior to his EP.