What?

Blogging is such an interesting form of communication with the world.  Some people use it to communicate with family and friends who live far away, others use it as a way to earn income, while still others use it as a way to track projects or hold themselves accountable.  I started this blog in 2008 before I really started using Facebook.  A lot of my early posts are now what I would most likely do as a status update or shared link on Facebook. I don't think they justify a full blog post. I don't quite know what my blogging should look like now.

While I was in the Peace Corps, I created a new blog to keep in touch with family and friends.  I didn't want to spam people with e-mail updates of what I was doing and I wanted a good way to share photos. In some ways I regret using a blog as my means of communication.  First, I think using a blog as a way to communicate made me feel even more alone.  People didn't write back as they might with an e-mail and I don't think I encouraged people to leave comments enough. The other reason I regret using the blog to communicate was that our blogs were heavily monitored by the Peace Corps and we were told we could only share positive experiences on our blogs if they were public.  This means I didn't really blog about a lot of my experiences and it also means that my friends and family (and anyone else reading) didn't really get an accurate portrayal of my service.  In hindsight, I wish I had just written an e-newsletter about my service instead.

Now that I have finished my service, I find I do still want to write and I have come back to this blog. However, I find myself at a bit of a loss when it comes to what exactly I want to write about. I am still trying to figure out what I want my blog to focus on.  In the mean time. I guess a little snapshot of what I have been up to will suffice.

Chicago Activities

Since my previous posting in August, I spent a week in Chicago having a reunion with some of my amazing cousins.  The weekend involved lots of yummy food, seeing Ira Glass speak at the opening weekend showing of "Sleepwalk with Me," and miniature golf. I also spent three and a half weeks in NYC work on a temporary job collecting samples of waste and recycling at transfer stations. As September ended, I found myself back in Seattle and back on the job hunt.  This is where I feel like things sort of stall.  I have had some phone interviews, but nothing has turned into anything.  While I do feel frustrated, I think more than anything I feel embarrassed.  At my age, all my friends seems to have a major successes or life changing events occurring that seems to make my existence pitiful at best.  I cheer on the new babies, promotions, new homes and loves found, but another part of me is so conscious about my own lacking that it makes it hard to be around people.  I hope in the coming months that things will change.

fUNEMPLOYMENT

One of my friends works on political campaigns and throughout the years has found herself unemployed between campaigns a few times. As I face my first time being unemployed in ten years, she introduced me to the concept of f-UN-employment; the idea that you accept your time without a job to be a time when you allow yourself to have fun between job hunting and networking.  It is actually a hard thing to do because being unemployed I feel like every free moment should be spent looking at job postings, tweaking my resume and trying to network.

I have taken decided to spend my "fun" time doing projects with clear attainable goals so I can feel like I am making progress doing things.  I completed by first small project today.  I painted my childhood dollhouse with the hope that next time my niece visits she'll want to play with it.  The original dollhouse was just plain wood like the shingles, but I thought it might be nice to have it match my parents' house so it will be even more special for her.  Without further ado, voila!

The Elusive Box

A little over a month ago I moved back to the U.S. after finishing my 27 months in the Peace Corps.  I have spent the last month getting acclimated back to stateside life and hunting for jobs.  I have also spent time trying to go through stuff I left in my parents' basement and figure out what I need and what I no longer want.  The good thing about coming back and looking at stuff again is that it gives me a fresh perspective on what I don't need.

The funny thing about Peace Corps is that although the application process takes forever (it was over a year for me), you really don't get much time between finding out when are where you're going.  I basically knew I would be invited in a particular window, but then I only had five weeks between when I found out and when I was leaving.  In that five weeks I had to quit my job, sell my car, pack up and move out of my apartment, not to mention buying supplies for the next 27 months and saying goodbye to all my friends and family.  In short, I was a wreck for five weeks and most my memories of that time period are a blur of feeling sick to my stomach and crying a lot. 

This being said I don't have very specific memories of packing, plus I moved everything from my apartment to various spaces in my parents' house.  I know I also got rid of a fair amount of stuff, but there are some things I thought I kept and just haven't been able to find.  I found all the stuff I need which is lovely, but there have just been odds and ends that I can't find. I find myself in the limbo of hunting for a job and an elusive box which may or may not have a mustard yellow purse in it and one fabulous blue and white striped blouse.

Paris

I've been doing some spring cleaning and sorting and compiled a few photos from my trip to Paris last month.  Please enjoy a few shots of the Lourve, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe. It was a lovely trip. 

Mapping It Out

I have always loved maps, both old and new.  Today I found myself marveling at all the creative things that people do with maps, both traditional and modern.  From t-shirt designs to jewelry, from art to tablecloths, I love them all!

United Shirt of America on Threadless

River Thames Brass Cuff Bracelet from Jezebel Charms on Etsy

Colorful US Map Print by Lazy Daisy on Etsy

Map of Canada Pillow Cover by Nicole Tarasick on Etsy

1901 Antique City Map of Stockholm by bananastrudel on Etsy

Vintage California Tablecloth from VINTAGE DYETOPIA on Etsy

Perhaps someday I'll have a crazy map themed room!

All images in this post belong to their owners.

Music

I used to post about new music on this blog, but being in Romania means that I am hopelessly out-of-date when it comes to music.  Thus, rather than try to showcase new music, I thought I would post a few songs that I am currently addicted to.

I think Somebody That I Used Know by Gotye resonates with me so much these days because of the undertones of frustration that echo through both vocal parts.  I love singing along to this song at the top of my voice after frustrating days in the classroom teaching.

I am sucker for pretty vocals and Flaws by Bastille fills that void for me.  The live performance is also especially impressive when you see the group playing their knees as drums.  Love it!

I recently watched the documentary Still Bill about Bill Withers, which is an amazing portrait of a beautifully complex and thoughtful musician.  I have always Bill Withers, but after watching this film I love his music even more and Lean on Me is one of my favorites.

Tilting

I have recently become addicted to TiltShift Maker, a free online tool which lets you edit photos so that they look like miniatures.  Below are a couple photos from travels last year edited with this fabulous and free tool!  I am still very much a beginner at it, but it's very fun to play with and see how to tweak the focus on the images.

Mosque in Istanbul

Boats on the Bosporus

Athens

Germany

Romania

Intuition

Today I was doing one of my favorite Baron Baptiste yoga videos when I was struck by one of the things he said.  Normally, I tune out most of what is said and just focus on my breathing and movement.  I have done this DVD at least a hundred times and probably could do the routine without it, but I like the background music and the pace of the routine.  Anyway, today I was struck by one of the queues; "to move intuitively" until you find enough stretch and challenge without doing damage.  This is one of the things I love about yoga; that if you pay attention to your body you can make micro-adjustments to intuitively find muscles that need stretching and work others that need strengthening.  

I began to think about how I wish life worked like that.  That I could intuitively know which direction to move in my life for my own benefit.  I am sure that there are hundred, if not thousands, of self-help books and workshops that claim to teach people how to do this, but what if you could physically feel when you are making the right decision?  Perhaps, some people can, but alas, I am not one of them.

In six months, I will finish my Peace Corps service and I wish I knew how to move intuitively forward in the right direction.

On Letters and Things

In some respects I have old fashioned taste.  While I embrace the ways in which technology lets us communicate quickly and efficiently, I still love the old fashioned art of letter writing.  I love the feel of good paper and seeing ink on the page.  When I open a letter, I imagine the writer sitting down and thinking of me as they wrote. This fills me with joy.

 

When I have time, I love to make cards for friends and family by hand.  However, I admit that I don't do this as often as I would like, but I am usually glad when I take the time to do this.  Usually I opt for a collage technique.  Recently, I've enjoyed using scraps from an old wallpaper sample book my mom gave me. 

When I don't have time to make a card I love using cards from small letterpresses.  As we enter the new year, I've been thinking about stocking up for the upcoming birthdays and weddings in 2012.  Esty offers some lovely options.  Here are some of my favorites.

Berry Birthday from Smock.

"Congratulations on tying the knot" by Leland Manufactory

Cupcake Wrapper Letterpress Birthday Card from FINE DAY PRESS

Special Occasions Letterpress Variety Pack from ilee

I wish you all a letter-filled and joyous 2012.

All Etsy images from their respective owners.

Packing up

I am not a great packer.  I aspire to be one of those people who flits away for a weekend and can produce stunning outfits from a tiny piece of luggage.  I am not that girl.  I have read articles about how to pack, the types of luggage to buy and how to fold clothing correctly but to no avail.  Most of the time I end up with a too heavy bag and nothing to wear.  While this problem is a combination of luggage and clothing; I think having the right suitcase can help lead to accurate packing.  Over the past year and half in Romania, I've been traveling a far bit and I can admit I have become a bit better at packing.  However, I am still lacking the right luggage.

This summer I went to Germany.  I brought the one rolling suitcase that I own which in the States has always fit in the overhead bins, but I discovered in Europe the bins are smaller. Thus it rendered my carry-on not that.  I have now found myself in the market for a smaller suitcase that will actually fit in smaller overhead bins.  I also am the kind of girl that will fill space if I have it, so limiting the size is a must for my success. 

I was recently inspired but an advert for The Container Store and have been looking around to see what my options are.  Here is some luggage that is currently inspiring me: 

Sherpani Meridian LE Wheeled Luggage 22" from REI $175

Orla Kiely Travel Set from Garnet Hill $138 - $305

Rolling Tote from The Container Store - $169

A la Carte Bagg from The Container Store - $69 (this is made to stack on the Rolling Tote above)

All images from their respective owners.

Hidden Work Spaces

Growing up, I was obsessed with the Brambly Hedge book series by Jill Barklem.  I loved the elaborate and tiny illustrations of the mice homes.  My favorite story was The Secret Staircase, a story about two mice children finding the abandoned royal hall of the hedge they inhabited.  The children find the key to a secret door that leads them on an adventure.  It's not an uncommon theme for children's books, but this was before I was capable of reading about Narnia and long before Harry Potter was created.

As an adult, my love for the secret spaces had translated into a love of hidden away work spaces and convertible furniture.  I love the idea of being able to hide the television or computer when they are not in use.  Also, I know that my desk always tend to be organized chaos and I like being able to hide my piles of paper away when they are not in use.  Recently, I've seen a lot of people converting old wardrobes, dressers and entertainment units into work spaces and I love this idea!

  

I love the cheerful bright pattern inside this one!

An idea for a pattern on the outside!

To be honest, I don't like color or pattern here, but the idea is clever.

Or a giant, unused(?) closet can be transformed into an oasis.

images from their respective owners

Birthday Calendars

My grandmother had a birthday calendar in her hallway; with 11 children and an ever increasing number of grandchildren it was necessary. The concept of the birthday calendar is simple; it's a year-less calendar with days so you can just pen in the birthdays. My grandmother's calendar featured Monet's impressionist paintings that were perfect for a year-less calender, adding to its timeless, dreamy quality. 

I've been searching for one for a number of years and I finally feel like I am getting close to the right one.  The challenge is to find images that you will enjoy year after year.  Long live the birthday calendar!

 Birthday Calendar from Linda & Harriett

letterpress birthday calendar by larkpress on Etsy

Time Flies Birthday Calendar from ModCloth

images from their respective owners

Pillows!

I love this video for "Is There a Ghost" by Band of Horses and it made me contemplate great bed linens.  I have always been a fan of cheerful bed linens.  I always think it's a great place to play with patterns and colors in a room, plus you can make your bed and throw on a plain duvet and no one needs to know what is underneath.  Here are some of my current favorites for a colorful and summery bed.

 Woodland Organic Sheet Set from Pottery Barn

Everyday Percale Bedding from Garnet Hill

I Heart Trees Percale paired with French Dot Percale, both from Garnet Hill

Flecked Stripes Sheet Set from Anthropologie

images from their respective owners

Autumnal Closet

It's July, but it feels like October.  We've been having rain, wind and clouds aplenty.  I don't mind this as long as I have a good book, a blanket and endless cups of tea and coffee.  

As it felt like fall, I started thinking of more fall fashion.  Here are some goodies I recently saw online that I thought could be layered for cooler weather.  I love a sweet dress paired with leggings and boots.

  Souvenir dress from J. Crew

Rib-knit long open cardigan from Banana Republic

 I also love this whole outfit from J. Crew, but especially the Pouch pocket cardigan

Blues and Golds and Everything Goes

Marimekko Linens from Crate and Barrel.

Harvested Honey Coat from Anthropologie.

This is Something New

The original concept for this blog was a play by play of my life. The idea was to post often with reports of what I had been doing like, "This is what I did over the weekend..." Kind of lame, I know, but it was my way of dipping my toe is the blogosphere. Unfortunately, I didn't do a great job of keeping up with the blog, but I did create a sort of digital scrapbook of things I was enjoying. My main problem was that I felt I wasn't really doing enough in my life. I had the job, the apartment, the car, the occasional trip, family and friends, but I always felt that something was missing.

I felt like something was holding me back from being fully engaged in my life and committing to where I was. I watched friends get married, buy houses, going to graduate school and have babies, but my life seemed static. However, it's hard to want to make a change if your life is comfortable. I am fortunate enough to have great family and friends, but this made the idea of making a big change even harder. Finally, about a year and a half ago I decided that pursue one dream that I had always had.

I had always dreamed of living abroad and joining the Peace Corps. I decided to apply and spent the next 6 months doing paperwork and having interviews with no concept of my chances of getting in. Over a year and a half after originally applying I got accepted for a post teaching English in Romania. When I got accepted I was completely at a loss. I evaluated all the things I loved in my life and almost declined. However, I thought about all the milestones my friends had passed and the feelings that I had when I watched them doing exciting things. Therefore, I came to the decision that I could not decline this opportunity. Therefore, I have a new blog: Mo-Mania.

High Line

Over the weekend I visited some of my dear friends in New York. The weekend was full of many great experiences. I watched one of my closest friends get ordained at a rabbi, met a friend's new baby, basked in the sun in Central Park, and went on a historic scavenger hunt in the financial district. One of best places that I visited was High Line. A garden park on the West Side of Manhattan that sits on an old elevated train platform. You can read about the history of the park here.

Only a portion of the park is finished at this time, but it is well worth a trip. I plan to make another visit on my next trip to the city to see the new section that is due to open in 2011.

Lovely things

Spring is in the air and I am inspired by bright colors and interesting designs. Below are a few things I am currently loving.

The ultimate cardigan
I may own this beauty in 2 colors already, but I can't help coveting even more! The sweater has some cashmere in it too, so it's warm and soft.
GAP ($49)

Chains Indoor-Outdoor Rug
Cost Plus World Market ($39 to $479 depending on size)

Vera Neumann Scenic Mugs
Anthropologie ($8 each)