Happy New Years

When I first moved to New York and I was totally broke, sometimes I would buy Vogue instead of dinner. I felt it fed me more.

“He was like the flesh and blood equivalent of a DKNY dress.

You know it’s not your style, but it’s right there, so you try it on anyway.”

It was the greatest sensation of existence:

not to trust,

but to know.

"You're the strangest person I ever met,

she said & I said you too & we decided

we'd know each other a longtime"

Sometimes the world fails to see my witty, fabulous personality upon first glance. But this semester presented itself with some wonderful new ladies who are just as quirky as me. For various reasons, but mostly because of my love for them, I've decided to give them their own post.

First up, Ally Flick

She's just the bee's knees, and was the first to request a special spot on my blog. She recently informed me that she's read my blog all the way back to the beginning. I love her laugh, and the smile she always brings to our room.

Next is Jessica Chiodini. I've never had a real stalker...until I met Jessica. Our class schedule is such that see her quite a few times every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. At first it was a little weird, but now I love it. She listens to my radio show every week, and discovered my blog before I told her. She has fabulous style, and a very impressive Pinterest account. She doesn't get tired of me telling her how much I love her, and is going to do

great things for AGD.

Finally, Emily Hagen. Ladies (and probably not gentleman), meet my new roommate. She's an Art History major, and (after a year!) is now an AGD. She has, and I quote "devilish good looks" and has a knack for ruining all my pick up lines.

Story People

Tonights guest artist concert featured percussionist Nathan Daughtrey. He performed 4 short songs, each based off Story People, which he composed himself.

Story People was created by Brian Andreas. It started out as an internet experiment called the Hall of Whispers, where he asked people to share about their experience of being alive. Soon he had over 4,000 stories. Brian knew he had to do something with these stories, so he turned them into art.

The first song I heard tonight was inspired by 'Unheard Music':

Anyways, it was beautiful.

The Chain by Ingrid Michaelson

My goal for winter break is to start recording a few pieces. Thought I'd give a little sneak peak of one of them!

Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours

Dear Readers,

I don't have time to write you tonight, as I've spent my time writing an opinion essay on Reading Aloud to Children (much less enjoyable..). So instead I give you this: It's a letter Ludwig van Beethoven wrote to his immortal beloved. It was discovered after his death, to an unknown recipient.

The Third Letter

Good morning, on July 7 Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all - Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men - At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection? My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved. ever thine ever mine ever ours

My friends all say...

That I'm a huge fan of scarfs and belts! So I wanted to share a few helpful hints for how to wear them them this fall. Enjoy!

The old wives tale tells us it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding, but these couples have come up with a creative way to have a special moment together and still not break the rules.

Cute as a button!

Thanksgiving break is under way, and I'm thankful for the ability to craft!

It's said that distance makes the heart grow fonder... and the month away at school has definitely made me appreciate my mother's craft supplies more!

Hannah and I decided to temporarily delete our Facebook accounts for the week so that we can really focus on our time at home. It's given me so much more time to accomplish fun projects, instead of wasting time on silly websites.

The first project of the week was these bracelets. I simply Googled "how to crochet a chain" and voila! I put a button on one end, and a loop on the other. Hello Christmas presents!

"You do not alter Vera to fit you, you alter yourself to fit Vera"

Hello readers!

The week started out with meeting Jen Meyer at Mr. and Mrs. She owns her own wedding planning company in Kansas City, and let me come talk to her about her business. She also agreed to let me spend some time at her store this winter when I'm home from break! I fell in love with her spunky style and fabulous use of color (Michael Buble music sealed the deal!).

It reminded me that my Pinterest "wedding ideas" board keeps growing, yet I've failed to keep my readers up to date. I've always loved the Vera Wang dresses more than any others. They look so "bridal", and it's everything I would want in a dress: "Big, Church, Fememine, Over-the-top". She's the first designer that comes to mind. She's used in every wedding movie, from 27 dresses to Bride Wars.

Someone has been leaving me lovely gifts in the Chapter Room this week!

Can't wait to find out who my Fall '11 Rose Sister is!

All I Ever Wanted - The Airborne Toxic Event

Where there is tea, there is hope

I have a fabulous mother who always remembers the finer things in life. On my first day home she had a tea party in my honor, at which 20 people were in attendance.

I also have a wonderful God-mother who always remembers my favorite things. This tea is literally heaven in a cup. It makes everything better. I highly suggest buying some!

P&P

Nutella Meringues

Nutella Meringues
Yields 15 to 20 meringues (depends on how big you make them)

3 large egg whites, at room temperature
a pinch of cream of tartar
a pinch of salt
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon, granulated sugar
1/4 cup Nutella

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Make sure you have one oven rack in the bottom third of your oven and one in the upper third of your oven.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Set up a double boiler (a pot with another pot on top or a heat-proof bowl on top) and put the Nutella in the top of the double boiler. Warm the Nutella through and then set aside while you make the meringue. (You could warm the Nutella in a microwave but I don’t own one so you’re on your own if you do use one.) Let the Nutella cool as you make the meringue.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, place the egg whites. Beat on medium-high speed until they are completely foamy.

Add the cream of tartar and the salt and continue whipping at medium-high speed until when you lift the whisk attachment, soft peaks form. This should take a few minutes.

Once you have reached the soft peak stage, increase the speed to high and begin adding the sugar a few spoonfuls at a time (this should take a few minutes).

Once all the sugar is in, the meringue should be very thick (almost stiff) and when you left the whisk firm peaks should remain.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and drop in all the Nutella. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the Nutella into the meringue three or four times. You’re aiming for a swirled effect so don’t overmix. This will also help avoid deflating the meringue.

Using two spoons, drop the meringue onto the parchment-lined baking sheets in large dollops.

Place in the oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, immediately lower the heat to 200 degrees F. and rotate the trays. Bake for an hour.

After an hour, check the meringues. If they are completely dried out then turn the oven off and leave the meringues in the oven for a few hours to cool with the oven. If the meringues still look a bit “wet”, then continue baking for another 20 minutes or so. Either way, once fully baked, turn off the oven and leave the meringues in there for a few hours.

When you remove the meringues from the oven they should be completely dry and cool and will sound hollow when you tap the bottoms.

The meringues will keep in an airtight container for a week.

Enjoy!

Piano Midterm = annihilated

My sticky note to remind me about the test tomorrow keeps falling off the wall.

No matter how many times I put it back up there.

Proof that I shouldn't take that class?

Yes.

I attended my first 'Stitch n Bitch' last night, and I loved it! A few AGDs were there, as well as our advisor, Madeline. Lots of laughing, as well as extremely therapeutic. Something about the rhythm of knitting is quite calming...

Anyways, this is the project I'm currently working on. I've decided to use a burnt red yarn, so it's perfect for fall. Not much free time to work on it this week, but at least I have a crafty project!

Allow me to introduce...

PEYTON!!!

This is the newest roomdog, and she's just as cute as can be!

It was a last minute swap that put her as Mallory's roommate, but boy am I glad this came about!

She loves to get ice cream with me, and devoutly listens to my radio show. She also has a fabulous laugh!

Family!

Welcome Fall 2011!

I'm so excited to welcome our new AGD babies! My child's name is Ellen (in front of me) and she is just as cute as can be. We have a big party for all the new girls on Bid Night where we sing to them, dress them up and invite lots of boys to come meet them. It's such a fun night, and this is us right before hand.

Snatched up two of these last weekend from Bath & BodyWorks in Columbia. Gave one to my AGD kid, Ellen, and put one in our dorm room!

Jessi Arrington: Wearing nothing new | Video on TED.com

This embodies everything I'm trying to learn in my life. Enjoy!

Lifelong roommates?

Sometimes the NCR isn't that great, but I really enjoyed this article on marriage.

As my college friends start getting married, I'm realizing the full effects our culture has had on this sacrament.

The poem 'On Marriage' by Khalil Gibran has become extremely popular for most out-of-church weddings. Here's a small section:

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow

In other words...

How to Have a Difficult Marriage

1. Love one another, but make not a bond of love.
2. Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
3. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
4. Stand together yet not too near together.

You actually expect a marriage like this to last??

I want my marriage to be the exact opposite!

My mother laughs and says that when I was in 8th grade we had to have a whole class on courtship. Now that the twins have reached that age, she just let's me tell them all the horrible things guys do to my friends in college and lets that serve as a "don't do this" lesson.

-Not paying for dates

-Letting you pay for dates

-Not returning phone calls/text messages

-Kissing other girls

-Telling you what other girls they find attractive

-Not introducing you to their parents

-Letting you drive them around

-Being rude

-No manners

Sound ridiculous? The list goes on and on...

Go read the whole article here.