Radiator Tunes

Slow-Cooker Cranberry Glazed Ribs

2012-02-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm usually not much of a meat eater. I owe this fact largely to Michael Pollan and Jonathan Safran Foer whose books have challenged the way I always thought (or more accurately, failed to think) about the meat I was eating. The reasons I maintain as much of a vegetarian diet as possible are far and vast, from my health to that of the animals providing meat, from the environment to my own wallet. But sometimes I do crave something thick and meaty. In such rare cases, I try to make the most of my carnivorous meals and choose my meat as ethically and wisely as possible.

Recently Mike was dreaming of devouring a nice rack of ribs and he got me in the mood for some as well. I had come across an interesting recipe for cranberry barbecue ribs just a few weeks before and decided this would be the perfect way to prepare an indulgent and meaty meal. Better yet, I came up with a way to do it all in the slow cooker, leaving me with very little clean up and even less prep work.

Six hours of low heat in the crock pot made the meat tender enough to just fall right off the bone by dinnertime. The interesting combination of sweet cranberry and tomato-y barbecue made these ribs even more decadent and delectable, though maybe not the healthiest of meals.

I wasn't too precise with my measurements when throwing everything in the slow cooker, but this recipe is highly adaptable and easy to alter to your particular taste. If you don't have enough cranberry sauce on hand, strawberry jelly or blueberry jam would both make for delicious substitutions. Play around with whatever flavors you like and enjoy every last bite off the bone of these ribs!

Slow-Cooker Cranberry Glazed Ribs

Ingredients

1 rack pork ribs
3 cloves garlics, minced
3/4 cup jarred cranberry sauce
1/2 cup strawberry jelly
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cut ribs to fit in slow cooker (I cut the rack into multiple two- to three-bone sections).

2. Place ribs in bottom of slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients on top of ribs

3. Cook on low setting for 6 hours. Enjoy!

The Virtue of Pets for Live-In Couples

2012-02-11T07:43:00.000-05:00

Attempt #1 at a Finazzo Family Christmas Photo

While taking my dog Louie on one of her late night walks, I found myself feeling an unmistakeable inkling of what I like to call happiness. It's not that happiness is a necessarily unusual emotion for me to experience, but barreling through the 30 degree weather after my first 8-hour work day for many months just after the excitement and leisure of the holiday season ends isn't exactly a recipe for happiness. There were plenty of factors that could have easily contributed to my joy. The bliss of newlyweddedness, my recent meditation practice, and having just begun to read a jewel of a Haruki Murakami novel were all potential factors. But the present company seemed a pretty good reason to feel in good spirits too and I attributed the burden of my cheerfulness to her, or more accurately, to what Louie has done for my marriage.

Mike and I were never a dysfunctional or volatile couple, but when we first moved in together, the transition wasn't without its fair share of challenges. Not only was I working my first full time job back then, I was doing so for minimum wage with AmeriCorps. And this was also my first time truly living on my own with rent to pay, bills due, and a whole host of chores to finish at the end of the day. Navigating the world of independent adulthood is a transition in itself, but doing so with a significant other can be a stressful and trying experience. I watched in horror as my free time was drastically diminished and I felt the true burden of housework like I never did when living in a dorm or at my parents' house. Though it was great to live with Mike, there were times in those first few months when our roles as roommates far overshadowed those as boyfriend and girlfriend.

It was exciting to be around one another so often, but difficult to achieve a working balance between our other relationships, our personal time, and the time we shared with one another. I felt guilty when I was at home but not physically with Mike, when I just wanted to read by myself or watch a chic flick in which he would have no interest. I imagined that I was the one doing all the housework (which I wasn't) without a bit of help from him, because that's often how it felt. And having our finances wrapped up required some adjustment as well on account of the fact that we have very different attitudes toward and tendencies regarding money.

Don't get me wrong, we loved living together and our roles as live-in boyfriend and girlfriend gradually became easier once we figured out one another's expectations, quirks, and responsibilities. But I don't think we have ever been as happy as when we found ourselves owners of an adorable runt of a tuxedo cat and a rowdy pit-boxer puppy made of pure love and solid muscle.

Digby came first when we thought we couldn't afford to buy a dog. He was the very smallest kitten on offer for adoption at the Petsmart and, though we had a tough time deciding between all the adorable and tiny cats napping behind the glass, we were certain we had made the right choice once we brought him home. Though the little guy hid beneath our futon and behind a shelf lined with DVDs for the first few days, he gradually emerged and began to make himself at home in our laps, in our bed, and on our laptop keyboards (there's something about the warmth of a computer that he finds so appealing). I was never a cat owner previously and I think I played a little more roughly than I should have with young Digby because I was so accustomed to interacting with rowdy puppies. Digby has grown into a one and a half year old crybaby, a whiner who loved nothing more than to be held but would just as often purr in your arms as attack your hands with his itty bitty teeth and piercing claws. He loved to play in a more violent way than most cats, but I loved him just the same, though I think Mike, despite being a self-proclaimed cat person, has become much less fond of Digby's ways than myself.

Despite Mike's reservations regarding the cat, introducing a feline into our home was a good thing. Digby offered a place to direct our attention, a cute and cuddly plaything to take care of and foster together. It was, in some ways, a trial run for parenthood, but also a bonding experience of sorts. I think our relationship improved after Digby's entrance into our family. Though time itself could explain the general upward trend in our relationship's quality, Digby was a project of sorts in which we were both invested that strengthened our connection, offering us something positive to focus on rather than all those little aggravations that can develop into big arguments when you have too much free time on your hands and too little with which to concern yourself. And of course, owning a cat together was sort of emblematic of our commitment to one another (even if we were already engaged) because if we split up, then one of us would have to give up Digby and that just wasn't happening.

When Digby was just under a year old, Mike and I got married and decided it was due time to get a dog. We felt bad for the cat, away from his owners during our week-long honeymoon and then having his world altered by the introduction of this new rambunctious animal in his home. But Louie very quickly became a part of the family that even the cat grew to love (and fear too).

At first, I wasn't entirely sold on Louie given that she was still a six month old puppy with plenty of training and attention requirements that we may or may not have been able to meet. She also had some pit bull in her which was a little cause for worry given that we didn't know her history. At six months, she could have been inculcated with the beginnings of a fighting mentality if her early days had been spent in the hands of the wrong owner. Luckily we discovered that she was the friendliest pup we could possibly have chosen. Louie's musculature and solidity belied a sweet and playful nature towards both humans and canines that we quickly grew to love. Though she required two hours of walking a day, constant playtime, and thorough training efforts at first, these doggie duties were ones we enjoyed. In fact, we playfully bickered over them, vying for the best Louie chores. Our division of pet-related labor was so equitably split that I couldn't possibly argue that I was doing everything as I so often had previously. We each wanted to be the one to spend an hour walking Louie, procuring her affection by divvying out her daily dose of kibble, or releasing her from the confines of her cage in the morning with a barrage of wet kisses and a violently waging tail. The responsibilities that came with having a dog were fun to us and so we split them quite fairly with little argument or resentment (although I did begrudge Mike a bit when Louie started acting up on walks with me but not with him, a clearly demonstration in my eyes that Mike was her preferred walker).

Beyond feeling good about our equitable division of dog owning responsibilities, Louie required even more attention that Digby, once again displaced our focus from the small things that, without canine or feline distractions, could have erupted into greater disruptions for reasons too silly and petty to understand. Mike often says that having a dog is more work than having a child and, though we can't speak to the amount of labor required in raising a baby, we were happy to expend any amount of effort required to be excellent dog owners. Louie makes us happy, and we love nothing more than to make her happy in return. We lavish toys and attention on her, improving the lives and temperaments of everyone involved. Though I don't think she singlehandedly improved our relationship (a series of increasingly improved job situations for me and Mike's newfound comedy habit definitely helped with our own personal happinesses), Louie's presence joined us in a strong commitment to providing our dog with a great life. She was a common hobby, a shared interest, a source of laughter and conversation, and even a source of entertainment. To put it quite plainly, Louie was the best thing that happened to me and Mike, our sanity, and the state of our relationship.

A more authentic and chaotic family portrait attempt

And this is what was running through my head after my first full day on a new job in the dead of winter when the world lies dormant for months lie until spring, when the festivity and fun of the holidays have ended, and the trees are bare, and the world feels dismal and dreary. I was quite happy and not just because of a good first day. It was a larger and more general happiness, one that had become a steady undercurrent in my life, rather than an occasional pattern popping up every now and then.

Pet ownership is a rewarding experience in itself - no animal-lover will argue with that. But doing it with a significant other is even more gratifying, for it lends a larger sense of purpose, commitment, joy, and love to already positive and strong relationships. True, there are days when the last thing I want to do is take my dog for a walk in the below-freezing winter night and Mike still gets on my nerves from time to time. Adopting a dog won't solve your relationship issues and often time is the best avenue to identifying solutions to these problems in the world of love. But adding an animal to the home you share with a live-in significant other can do wonders for a relationship that you thought couldn't get any better. Digby, Louie, Mike, and I are living proof.

Chocolate Cinnamon Pots de Creme

2012-02-08T08:42:00.075-05:00

It's a rare night that I don't crave a little bit of chocolate after dinner. But it's an even rarer event that I actually proceed to prepare a chocolatey dessert. I was recently feeling unusually ambitious and decided to finally give Martha Stewart's Chocolate Pots de Creme recipe a try. I'd been salivating over the photo of her smooth and dainty teacups of chocolate custard topped with fresh whipped cream for quite some time.

Though my pots de creme didn't turn out quite as pretty, I amped up the dish by switching out the espresso powder for a little bit of cinnamon - reminiscent of the flavors found in mexican hot chocolate - and a topping of peanut butter whipped cream. The subtle warmth of the cinnamon makes for an interesting flavor combination and will fill your whole kitchen with the most temptingly delicious aroma while baking.

Of course you can never go wrong with the chocolate-peanut butter combination. And your extra peanut butter whipped cream is great for topping hot chocolate or as a dip for all sorts of sweets (Oreos, brownies, and chocolate chip cookies are all made even more scrumptious with a a little spread of peanut butter whipped cream on top!).

Though the two small pots of fluffy chocolate custard may not look very substantial, they're rich and filling. All the heavy cream in these gorgeous desserts quickly adds up, but using the individual custard cups serve as an excellent portion control measure.

These are an elegant but super simple dessert to make. Though the recipe recommends letting the custards cool on wire racks for one hour and then refrigerating them for another four, I enjoyed them at room temperature after an hour-long cooling and they were perfectly delightful. And the recipe which follows is for just two custards but it can easily be increased to four or more for a dinner party.

Cinnamon Chocolate Pots de Creme
adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine, February 2012

Ingredients

3/4 cups heavy creams
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 ounces (1/4 cup) bittersweet chocolate (70%), finely chopped
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp sugar
Coarse salt
1 Tbsp peanut butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bring 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cream, the cinnamon, and vanilla to a simmer; pour over chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Let sit for three minutes (this is important so you don't get scrambled eggs in the next step!); whisk until smooth.
2. In another medium bowl, whisk together egg yolk, sugar, and a pinch of coarse salt; add warm chocolate mixture in a slow stream, whisking constantly. Strain custard through a fine sieve into a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Let cool completely, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
3. Place 2 teacups in the center of a baking dish. Divide custard between cups, and fill pan with enough boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the teacups. Cover tightly with foil; poke several holes in the foil. Bake until custard is set around edges but wobbly in the center, about 25 minutes.
4. Remove cups from water bath, and let custards cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days. Before serving, whisk remaining 2 tablespoons cream to soft peaks, folding in melted peanut butter just before serving. Dollop peanut butter whipped cream over pots de creme.

The Sounds of February

2012-02-05T08:01:00.019-05:00

I posted a random selection of songs that I was crazy about during the month of January, but I still had more songs to share, so here's my February collection of tunes and videos I currently dig.

J.D. McPherson "North Side Gal" - J.D. McPherson is one of the most unique modern artists, primarily because his sound is so reminiscent of early rock'n'roll with touches of doo wop. Though his musical aesthetic is definitely influenced by the likes of Buddy Holly, Elvis, and Chuck Berry, McPherson puts his own stamp on this tried and true musical sound that is sure to get your feet tapping.

Damien Rice "Wild and Free" (skip to about 1:45 to bypass Damien's guitar tuning and get to the music) - I was ecstatic to find some new (at least to me) Damien Rice songs. His music is reminiscent of, or maybe more accurately a precursor to, that of The Swell Season and Mumford & Sons. Though Rice has released a few excellent albums, it's been quite a while since I've heard anything new from him so the simple and gorgeous "Wild and Free" was quite a treat to find!

Damien Rice and Melanie Laurent "Everything You're Not Supposed to Be" from Laurent's album En T'Attendant - I adored Laurent when I first saw her opposite Ewan McGregor in last year's Beginners. And just like McGregor, Laurent has quite a set of pipes. Some of the songs off her 2011 debut album were produced by Damien Rice and he performed alongside Melanie on "Everything You're Not Supposed to Be." Though the sound is definitely a departure from the typical Rice tune, I really enjoy this lovely and refreshing duet. It makes me think of warm spring days and sunny skies which is always a nice treat around this time of year.

Ingrid Michaelson "Can't Help Falling in Love" - Since it's February, the month of Valentine's Day, I thought it'd be fitting to end this one with a love song. Though I had heard Ingrid Michaelson's version of "Can't Help Falling in Love" many years ago, it wasn't until I saw the trailer for Like Crazy that I really fell for this song. Come to find out, a lot of people are also crazy about this song as Ingrid's version is listed before Elvis' when YouTube suggests videos from the song title. I've long been a fan of Ingrid's vocals and I think this stripped down cover highlights her talent better than nearly any other songs of hers.

Vaclav and Lena

2012-02-02T08:30:00.092-05:00

Haley Tanner's debut novel Vaclav and Lena is a particular brand of boy meets girl story that was a true delight to read. Vaclav and Lena are both Russian immigrant children living in the same Brooklyn neighborhood. They meet when placed in the same elementary school ESL class. On a trip to Coney Island, an outing that marks their first real foray into friendship, the two find themselves unable to board a single ride on account of their short stature.

But a quick trip to the sideshow is within their budget and bars no restrictions on short or young patrons. Vaclav and Lena are transfixed by the magic show and spend the rest of their afternoons perfecting their magic act at Vaclav's house until his mother sends Lena home after dinner. Vaclav the Magnificent and his assistant the Lovely Lena anxiously await the day they can take their own act to the boardwalk at Coney Island.

Lena's is a heartbreaking story. She never knew her parents and so lives with her aunt, a woman who works as a stripper and only agreed to take custody of her niece for the monthly check Lena's presence brings in. Vaclav's mother Rasia takes pity on the poor girl, doing her best to care for the motherless girl. But when her desire to do right for Lena leads Rasia to take matters into her own hands, Vaclav's mother's actions put an untimely end to her son's relationship with the young girl. Nine year old Vaclav is unable to comprehend why his mother would make such a decision that serves to remove Lena from his life. But after a seven year separation, the two childhood friends find themselves reunited under sensitive circumstances.

Though the true crux of Tanner's story is Vaclav and Lena's reunion, it isn't until the final 70 pages of the book that we are even introduced to their teenaged selves. But this late placement is far from detrimental to the book as it allows readers an opportunity to really get to know both Vaclav and Lena. Tanner narrates with an authentic voice, describing with alarming clarity the unique situation in which these immigrant children find themselves. Though Lena has lived in the United States for as long as she can remember, her exposure to the English language has been rather minimal, wrecking havoc in her school life and loading an overwhelming degree of anxiety upon young Lena's shoulders. Quiet and subdued, Lena often follows behind Vaclav and remains practically invisible among groups of adults, so frightened is she of speaking incorrectly and embarrassing herself.

Though Vaclav has picked up on the English language more readily than Lena, his is still an outsider among most of his peers. In fact, before Lena's entrance into his life, Vaclav had no friends to speak of. For both Lena and Vaclav, magic offers a welcome respite from the real world and all the fear, misunderstandings, and confusion it brings. Though this magic act is the source of their tight bond, it is a worrisome hobby in the eyes of Rasia who imagines that Vaclav and Lena's performance will only end with the two subject to further ridicule and embarrassment.

Tanner's novel is as unforgettable as Vaclav and Lena are to one another during their teenaged years apart. Unpretentious and honest, Vaclav and Lena was a fairly simple story, both in narrative style and structure but completely affecting nonetheless. Tanner's no frills writing, paired with a unique imagination, delivers a stand out debut novel that I highly encourage readers of all sorts to try.

***While seeking out more information about Haley Tanner, I found this piece from the New York Times about Tanner and her husband who was diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma just months before they met. The article provides some brief background and the video clip is pretty moving as well. The piece offers some interesting insight to Tanner after completing her novel.

Homemade Granola Bars

2012-01-30T10:44:00.002-05:00

Granola is one of my very favorite breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snack foods. It plays an extremely versatile role in my diet and I love to mix up both store-bought and homemade varieties with different dried fruits, seeds and nuts, and healthy additions such as wheat germ and ground flax seed.

But sometimes a bowl of crumbly granola just isn't convenient when I'm at work or need a snack on the go. For one thing, I find granola much more satisfying when enjoyed in a bowl of milk. And for another, it's quite a messy snack to enjoy when attempting to maintain a professional appearance. Thus I decided to make granola bars, full of the same wholesome flavors and healthy ingredients as my beloved granola but much more easily edible!

Just like when making granola, this recipe is highly adaptable. I actually came up with my own version by scoping out tons of granola bar recipes from all over the internet and each one is completely different, but I'm sure they all yield highly delicious products. So feel free to mix up the following recipe, whether you'd like to switch out the dried fruit and nuts included with other varieties or would rather skip the peanut butter and apple butter entirely. Whatever changes you make, just try to keep to the wet-dry balance as much as possible - add a little more honey or butter if you remove the peanut butter or include a few more cranberries if you decide to steer clear of the golden raisins.

Homemade Granola Bars

Ingredients

4 cups oats
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup chopped cashews
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup apple butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare 9 by 13 inch pan with butter or line with wax or parchment paper.

2. Combine oats, pumpkin seeds, cashews, almonds, cinnamon, salt, dried cranberries, and golden raisins in a large bowl.

3. Over medium heat, warm brown sugar, butter, honey, peanut butter, and apple butter until sugar dissolves and butter is completely melted. Lower heat as needed to prevent burning and stir occasionally to fully incorporate.

4. Pour melted warm ingredients over dry ingredients, making sure to fully coat all the dry ingredients.

5. Transfer granola bar mixture to prepared baking pan. Pressly the bars firmly down, ensuring that the mixture fills all corners of the pan.

6. Bake for 35 minutes until bars are golden brown and fragrant.

7. Allow the bars to cool in the pan for 20 minutes. If used, grab the ends of the waxed or parchment paper to turn out the granola. Cut into bars of desired size. Enjoy!

The New Kings of Nonfiction

2012-01-27T08:30:00.073-05:00

Though I've recently started listening to a lot of public radio, I'm fairly unfamiliar with Ira Glass and This American Life. In fact, I've never heard a single minute of the award winning program that Glass hosts and produces, nor do I have the slightest idea what he looks like or why he is so widely beloved at the moment. But when I picked up The New Kings of Nonfiction and saw his name listed as editor of the collection, I figured it was about time I discovered what all the fuss was about.

The book is an assortment of nonfictional stories compiled by Mr. Glass himself. At first I requested it from my library assuming it would appeal to my newfound taste for essays. But in the introduction, Ira explicitly states that the pieces included therein are not essays at all, but rather true stories that are authentically, intelligently, and memorably told. The New Kings of Nonfiction is a testament to those modern writers who have mastered that delicate balance of skills required in any journalistic endeavor. Among them he includes Chuck Klosterman (a personal favorite of mine), David Foster Wallace, Bill Buford, Lawrence Weschler, Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Savage, Michael Pollan, Susan Orlean, and many others.

Glass offers a selection of intriguing stories that present some larger truths in the telling of single events or encounters. The writers don't always adhere to the standard rules of journalism, many of them allowing their own voices, thoughts, impressions, and emotions to become part and parcel of their final pieces. Others infuse their writing with a sense of humor and level of personality that many nonfiction writers consider anathema to the medium. But after reading all of these stories and digesting the central tenets of Glass's introduction, it becomes clear that such a style of writing imparts immeasurable strengths to a writer's nonfiction pieces, rather than detracting from them. Glass makes explicit the basic facets of great storytelling by carefully selecting a diverse collection of well-told stories.

Apart from demonstrating Ira's aptness for story selection, The New Kings of Nonfiction offers some intriguing, entertaining, and memorable reading. A piece on Lois Weisberg, one of Chicago's most well-connected and socially productive Renaissance women, unexpectedly but nonetheless aptly offers commentary on the pros of affirmative action. The first story included profiles a teenager who engaged in white collar stock market crime and ultimately speaks volumes about our nation's economics and the at-times dangerous reach of technology. The lessons to be learned from each of the stories in Glass' collection are often surprising and always significant.

Each story highlighted in this volume, though maybe not concerned with topics I would normally consider to be of interest, proved compelling and educational. Glass' collection gave me pause to reflect upon my feelings toward nonfiction storytelling. In all honesty, I almost returned the book without reading a single story after I finished the introduction, so adverse was I to the notion of nonfictional stories. Few among the array of topics considered, from the stock market to soccer, sounded the least bit appealing. But I decided to give the first story a try, and then the second, and so on until I found myself converted.

I enjoy learning and reading is one of the primary venues through which I aim to educate myself. But these appeared, at first, to be arduous profiles of people, circumstances, and the like which had no relevance to me. Though I would still argue that most of the topics are far from relevant to my everyday life, the pieces within The New Kings of Nonfiction were entertaining rather than arduous and not completely irrelevant in theme. The factual nature of these stories makes them compelling in themselves, and my impulse to continue reading was only enhanced by the quality of the writing.

For the endlessly interested individual, the type of person who finds anything and everything about the world we live in to be a source of excitement, Ira Glass' The New Kings of Nonfiction is a no-brainer. But even to those of us who may be harder to convince, this nonfiction collection offers a captivating look at just a select few of the vast number of subjects about which and from which we can learn. And for those who love the written word, as a creative medium, a personal outlet, or a source of leisurely entertainment, Glass' compilation is a wellspring of inspiration proving that good writing can transform just about any old topic into the stuff of a brilliant composition.

Coconut Thumbprint Cookies with Caramel and Sea Salt

2012-01-24T09:32:00.032-05:00

Though sea salt and caramel has been all the rage lately, I was one of the last few to indulge in this sweet and salty combination. I'm not one for coffee, so salted caramel macchiatos were out of the question and I like my chocolates pure and simple, so salted caramel truffles weren't really tempting me either. But then I saw these incredible cookies in the latest issue of Martha Stewart living. Coconut Thumbprints with Salted Caramel. I love caramel and I am a huge of macaroons, so this seemed the perfect combination of two delightful sweets. And with a little bit of sea salt on hand, I figured I better go all the way and add the requisite saltiness on top so I could see for myself what all the fuss is about.

As usual, Martha's recipe does require a bit more work and attention to detail than seems necessary - but once you finish off these cookies with a little sprinkle of sea salt, every last minute will be totally worth it!

The dough is simple and whisk-licking delicious (I probably ate about 4 cookies worth of dough before I even prepared my baking sheets)! Just butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla, coated in egg wash and coconut. Melted caramel and heavy cream makes the perfect filling for the cookies' thumbprint indentation and the tiny taste of sea salt really makes the caramel pop. Melting the caramel was surprisingly simple - it was forming the cookies and maintaining their shape when doused in a beaten egg and rolled through shredded coconut that proved the most challenging aspects of this recipe. I found it easiest to periodically wash my hands and clean as much excess coconut and dough from my hands between each rolling as possible. Adding a little water to the dough helped a bit as well.

The finished product is dainty and scrumptious. I was tempted to eat the cookies sans caramel because they looked so tasty after emerging from the oven. Luckily the caramel, once spooned into the little thumbprints, hardens up fairly quickly, so by the time you've finished salting the final cookie, the first one is ready to eat. Just don't wait too long to sprinkle your salt on since the caramel will harden pretty quickly!

These cookies are light, flavorful, and buttery. I was a little mislead in imagining they would taste like macaroons. There is great coconut flavor but these were much less dense than a traditional macaroon. Both the saltiness and the sweetness will keep you coming back for more, but these adorable cookies aren't heavy enough to weight you down after eating a few. And don't be alarmed by the 3 sticks of butter the recipe calls for - it yields a hefty 54 cookies. I halved the recipe myself (which was a good idea given how labor-intensive cookie-dough-shaping proved to be) and was much more pleased to be using a mere one and a half sticks of butter for my 25 cookies.

Coconut Thumbprint Cookies with Salted Caramel

from February 2012 issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine

Ingredients

3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
12 ounces sweetened flaked coconut
44 small soft caramel candies (12 ounces)
6 Tbsp heavy cream
Large flakey sea salt, such as Maldon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, then beat in vanilla. With mixer on low, gradually add flour and 1/2 teaspoon table salt, and beat to combine. Press dough together in plastic wrap, then roll into 1 1/4 inch balls. Dip each ball in beaten egg, and roll in coconut. Place balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, and press an indentation into each with your thumb. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove sheets from oven, and re-press indentations. Bake cookies until golden, 9 to 10 minutes more. Let cool on wire racks. Repeat with remaining dough.
2. Place caramels and heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the caramels are melted and mixture is smooth, 4 to 6 minutes. Spoon into indentations in cookies, and sprinkle with sea salt. Rewarm caramel if it hardens before all cookies are filled. (Store in airtight containers for up to 2 days.)

The Summer of the Bear

2012-01-21T07:43:00.138-05:00

Bella Pollen's The Summer of the Bear was an absolutely incredible novel. I read all 430 pages in a matter of three days, so enraptured was I with the story Pollen beautifully wove out of the tragic suicide of Nicky Fleming, an English diplomat stationed with his wife Letitia and three children, Georgie, Alba, and Jamie, in Berlin.

Nicky's sudden death sends Letty and her children to the Hebrides, the sparsely populated Scottish islands where Letty grew up. Though she imagines a return to her childhood home and favored relaxation spot will help heal the wounds of widowhood, Letty realizes that her decision was rather brash and potentially at odds with the wishes of her grieving children. Nonetheless, Letty wallows in grief at her seaside home, damaging her relationship with her children in the process. But thorough investigations from the British Embassy into Nicky's death force Letty to question the circumstances of and motives behind her husband's suicide. As Letty grows more suspicious of the man she thought she knew so well, she further distances herself from the children who hold the greatest potential as sources of both happiness and truth about Nicky.

For teenaged Georgie, the Fleming's stint in the Hebrides is simply transitory as she hopes to attend college in London and enter the world of dating and intimacy. A classic middle child, difficult and stubborn Alba incessantly picks upon both of her siblings. No one is spared her harsh criticism and biting sarcasm, until Georgie crafts a deal with Alba that she cannot refuse, one that protects Jamie from Alba's meanness for an entire month. And young Jamie stumbles through the world of fatherlessness, lost in his imagination and inability to process the death of Nicky. So confused is Jamie by the euphemisms employed by family and friends to protect the youngest Fleming child from the reality of his father's death that he begins to question whether his father truly is dead, if he can return from heaven, and what elaborate mission has kept Nicky from his family for so long. But all of the children demonstrate a great fondness for their late father, from the imaginative stories he told his children to the fascinating way he had of making them each feel like his special favorite, Nicky was a very attentive and present father despite his high-powered political post.

The entire story is situated against the tense backdrop of the Cold War, the bleak environment of Scotland's northernmost islands, and the mystery of a grizzly bear who has supposedly inhabited the island. Though there have been numerous sightings by island natives prior to the Fleming's arrival, it is Jamie who continues to hold out hope that the grizzly is still prowling the land long after the rest of the Hebrideans reason that the bear must have perished. And the cast of island characters are themselves a wellspring of great intrigue, each one presented with their own unique story and all of them devout believers of island legends that frame the Flemings' story.

Jamie's imaginative and colorful theories about the fate of both his father and the bear are juxtaposed with the unapologetically realistic portrayal of an insensitive Cold War era investigation into the lives of a grieving family. The Summer of the Bear seamlessly transitions through the various Fleming family members' anguish; from Jamie's immersion into a fantasy world built upon reticence and denial to Georgie's desire to break free from the bonds of her sorrowful family, from Alba's hardened facade which requires constant reminders to be maintained to Letty's anger as the facts reveal Nicky to have been an incomprehensibly different man from the one she knew. Pollen demonstrates an enviable talent for storytelling and construction, for balancing the stuff of childlike imagination and more mature and weighty content.

What's even more, Pollen's novel isn't heavy or daunting. Though the story itself is far from lighthearted, the narrative is engaging and as easy to navigate as a bestselling beach read. Pollen has a way with words, crafting the most tantalizingly apt descriptions in her own mellifluous but intricate style. The world of the Hebrides and the Fleming family tragedy is one that Pollen quickly reels readers into almost without their knowledge. I found myself completely hooked by the time I reached page 10 and surprised to see that I had made it nearly a quarter of the way through in a single sitting.

The Summer of the Bear is not to be missed and I imagine that Pollen will continue to be source of great fiction in the future. This novel reminded me a lot of the Barbara Kingsolver's The Lacuna and I can easily see Pollen finding her place amongst writers of Kingsolver's distinction. I only wish that I could get my hands on one of Pollen's four prior novels, especially Hunting Unicorns which was a bestseller, so as to spoil myself with another spectacular read by one of my new favorites Ms. Bella Pollen.

January Tunes

2012-01-19T08:51:00.030-05:00

Here are just a few lovely songs/videos that have been helping me get through the January cold lately. Hope you find something in here to love!

Feist "The Bad in Each Other" from Metals - Feist's latest release has certainly delivered the same mournful melodies that I've come to love from this talented lady! "The Bad in Each Other" is a bit more upbeat and I love this live version from Jools Holland.

Wilco "The Good Part" from War on War B Side - I am quite the Wilco fan but there last few releases have been a bit disappointing to me. While recently scouring YouTube, I've come across a few B-sides and demos that have re-instilled my love for the Chicago-based band. "The Good Part" is the most catchy of the bunch and easily my favorite Wilco song of the moment.

Dan Mangan "Pine for the Cedars" from Nice, Nice, Very Nice - I've posted about Dan Mangan recently but had to share yet another one of my favorite tunes from this Canadian singer-songwriter. "Pine for the Cedars" is a simply beautiful song and I love the Mumford & Sons-esque build up he's got going on (sorry I am not better versed in musical terminology to more aptly describe the beautiful compositional elements of Mangan's and Mumford's music!).

Mumford & Sons "Ghosts That We Knew" - New Mumford & Sons! Need I say more?

Blind Sight

2012-01-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

The last week of December offered me an unusual wealth of free time that I occupied primarily with eating, sleeping, and reading. There were plenty of prize-winning novels in my pile from the library, but it was Blind Sight, Meg Howrey's debut novel, that proved the most entertaining and left the most lasting impression upon me heading into 2012.

Howrey's narrative structure is completely unique and compelling from the get-go. We find ourselves privy to the musings of Luke, a teenager heading into his final summer before senior year. The beginning of each chapter is composed of Luke's attempts at college essays and other written ramblings, followed by a third person narrative closing out each chapter. I'm pretty sure this is one of the only books I've ever encountered that offered both types of perspectives on a central character without the use of multiple narrators. But Howrey's narrative ingenuity is just the beginning of Blind Sight's many virtues.

Luke is considered an accident among his family, the first male descendant in twelve generations which have followed a very distinct pattern when it comes to producing offspring. The youngest of three children, Luke's mother Sara is all New Age, taking each of her children on ritualistic pilgrimages on the cusp of their thirteenth birthdays, prohibiting any entertainment that promotes violence, and encouraging meditation, natural healing, and the like among her progeny. Luke's sisters Aurora and Pearl are positive figures in his life, providing him with a firm handle on how to talk to women and an unusual level of knowledge regarding menstruation. And they all live with Nana, Sara's widowed mother who is a devout Christian and prays for her grandchildren on a daily basis. As the sole male in his family's sea of women, Luke was brought up in a way largely different from that of his male friends.

Though Luke's family is obviously outfitted to provide some comic relief (though I probably identified with Sara a bit more than Howrey intended), the real story pertains to the long-missing family member, Luke's father Anthony Boyle, better known as the actor Mark Franco. Luke's mother shared one night with Anthony/Mark after Aurora and Pearl's father divorced her and left the family. Anthony/Mark met Luke just once when he was a newborn. When he became famous, however, Sara was so far removed from celebrity culture and popular entertainment that she barely knew who Mark Franco was, let alone came across his well-known face and recognized Anthony Boyle, Luke's father.

When Anthony/Mark contacts Sara in the hopes of meeting with his now-teenaged son, plans are made so that Luke can spend the summer with his father in Los Angeles. Though the relationship is at first strained by lack of familiarity between the two and the vast number of years spent apart, a unique rapport develops between father and son as they travel around the country for Anthony/Mark's various acting gigs and publicity stints, to visit Luke's paternal grandmother, to relax in Hawaii, and to camp in Sequoia National Park.

Blind Sight is part family saga, part coming of age story. Humorous situations are devised, undercutting some of the heavier aspects of Luke's written ramblings and his at-times difficult relationships with various family members. Luke and his father attempt to forge a father-son bond against the backdrop of a Hollywood career and exorbitant vacations, a completely alternate reality for Luke whose Delaware upbringing prized mindfulness, simplicity, and the renunciation of material goods. Though Howrey's story is largely that of Luke negotiating his newfound role in his father's life, all that he learned and valued via the female household in which he was raised begins to come into question too.

Though the situation itself isn't entirely unique (I believe I've read a story or two about absent parents, at least one containing a famous or remarkably rich father), Howrey creates an extremely relevant, relatable, and engaging story out of this basic construct. For a first-time novelist, Howrey's ability to narrate as an authentic and sympathetic teenaged boy is truly remarkable and her storytelling was entirely enrapturing throughout. I was quite pleased to find a book that I could read for two hour stretches at a time (since I finally had the opportunity to do so!) without growing bored or simply logging pages until reaching the final one.

I love to read and make as much time to do so as possible. Each book I begin with the hope that it will instantly grab my attention, keep me hooked through the last page, and stay on mind even after I finish. I'm constantly seeking the next novel that will stand apart from the others, and Blind Sight stood up to the test. Reading Bling Sight was a delightful experience, one that I didn't want to end (save for the ten books waiting to be opened as soon as I finished). Though the book wasn't exactly as profound as those I place among my very favorites (Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and Nicole Krauss' The History of Love for instance), the experience of reading Blind Sight was very much like that of reading those books that have become my favorites for the first time.

Dan Mangan

2012-01-14T09:52:00.002-05:00

Canadian musician Dan Mangan is quickly becoming one of my new favorite artists (and not just because he reminds me of a charming Seth Rogen). With soaring compositions reminiscent of Mumford and Sons and melodies comparable to those of Josh Ritter, Mangan's sound could be described as polished folk, indie singer-songwriter, or alternative acoustic rock. His songs quickly get stuck in my head in the best way possible and I have yet to hear a single song of his that I dislike.

I'm pretty new to Mangan's whole catalogue, but I was glad to see that my local library carried both of his CDs. I'm still waiting for Mangan's most recent album, Oh Fortune, to come in, but I'm loving the songs off his debut release, Nice, Nice, Very Nice. Here are just a few of my favorite tracks from that album, and there is plenty more to listen to on his website. Enjoy!

We The Animals

2012-01-11T10:35:00.000-05:00

Justin Torres' We The Animals is the story of three sons, the children of a tempestuous couple whose violent bond only solidifies that of their three offspring. Torres' novel is short and a relatively easy read, but its seeming simplicity belies a story ripe with beautiful imagery and a startling narrative voice.

Told from the perspective of the youngest unnamed brother, We The Animals is about a brotherhood marked by loyalty, a sense of adventure, and sometimes even a hint of desperation. Torres depicts their escapades and the settings in which they take place with starkly arresting description despite offering limited detail. His storytelling style is truly unique and makes for quite an engaging read, especially in his ability to recreate a sense of the unlimited magic of childhood. This band of brothers seeks respite from their parents' tumultuous love affair in the woods and around the neighborhood, demonstrating a degree of imagination, ingenuity, and good old trouble that marks fewer and fewer childhoods these days, irregardless of whether children come from happy or dysfunctional homes.

Though the three boys may not always feel safe in the violent company of Paps or that of their alcoholic Ma, the family life's is not completely devoid of all displays of love, happiness, and childlike joy. Torres offers a very realistic picture of both the highs and the lows experienced by a family borne of an unhealthy relationship. Married as teenagers after the birth of their first son Manny, Ma and Paps had two more boys in quick succession and constantly struggle to provide their family with some semblance of stability despite their limited education and experience. But between stints working graveyard shifts, tumultuous fights to which their children bear witness, and scrapping together whatever money they can find to make ends meet, the two manage to provide their sons with thrilling midnight outings and impractical but unforgettable adventures.

The relationship between these three brothers, forced to protect one another in the face of their family's problems and the taint of their father's Hispanic blood which separates them from the rest of the neighborhood kids, ultimately proves rather tenuous when the youngest, our narrator, develops differently from the rest in a highly fundamental way. Fear, jealousy, and misunderstanding all try the strength of their brotherhood in the end, quite unexpectedly turning this tale into one of moral questions and the value of common blood.

Although Torres' We The Animals was a novel I finished in a single sitting, its impact was much deeper and long lasting. Torres' novel is entirely unassuming and absolutely refreshing to read. And while his title at first appears to be a description of the animal nature of the brothers, ravaging the neighborhood and running wild together, it ultimately takes on more profound meaning in regards to how we treat one another, a theme that Torres subtly but beautifully introduces.

Martha Stewart Vegetable Enchiladas

2012-01-08T08:13:00.000-05:00

Life's been hectic around here lately what with the holiday season, school, and job switching. In light of all this busyness, it has been pretty rare for Mike and I to sit down to dinner together during the week, both because we're on different schedules and because I don't have the time or energy to prepare a full on meal. In an effort to subvert at least one of the reasons why we've had trouble having dinner, I decided to make some freeze-able meals, things that can be made ahead of time and pulled out for a quick defrost whenever Mike and I find ourselves together, hungry, and in the mood for a healthy meal.

Martha Stewart was my go-to on this one and I found plenty of recipes on her site that are freezer-friendly. One of the most pleasing dishes I made was her Vegetable Enchiladas. Stuffed with corn, spinach, and beans, these enchiladas are healthful and filling but not too heavy. Though the recipe calls for 3 cups of cheese, you could easily downsize it to 2 for a less calorie-intensive dish. And topped with some sliced avocado or served alongside some simple grilled chicken, this is a satisfying and versatile meal to eat any day of the week.

Martha's photo of the enchiladas (below) is much more appetizing than mine (which I opted not to post on account of their unappetizingness), mostly because I forgot to capture the baked enchiladas before divvying them up to freeze. Though these are pretty messy and they're not the prettiest of dishes, they're flavorful and simple to make and come highly recommended for busy people in need of a freezer-friendly meal solutions.

Vegetable Enchilada Recipe

Ingredients

- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for baking dishes
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium vegetable broth
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 3 cups grated pepper Jack cheese (12 ounces)
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 box (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 box (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels, thawed
- 6 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
- 16 corn tortillas (6-inch)

Directions

Make sauce: In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add 1 teaspoon cumin, flour, and tomato paste; cook, whisking, 1 minute. Whisk in broth and 3/4 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook until slightly thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
Make filling: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups cheese, beans, spinach, corn, scallion whites, and remaining 1 teaspoon cumin; season with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil two 8-inch square baking dishes; set aside. Stack tortillas, and wrap in damp paper towels; microwave on high for 1 minute. Or stack and wrap in aluminum foil, and heat in oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Top each tortilla with a heaping 1/3 cup of filling; roll up tightly and arrange, seam side down, in prepared baking dishes.
Dividing evenly, sprinkle enchiladas with remaining 1 cup cheese, and top with sauce. Bake, uncovered, until hot and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes; serve garnished with scallion greens.

Our Idiot Brother

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

As 2011 came to a close, my movie buff husband Mike asked me about my favorite films of the year. We saw plenty of good, even great, ones in the past 12 months and more than a handful of duds, but there were a select few that certainly stood out from the rest. 50/50, Super 8, and Win Win were films that I look forward to revisiting again and again in years to come. And Our Idiot Brother also easily made it into my top 5 and was, in fact, my favorite comedy of the year.

So many of the blockbuster comedies that come out these days just don't appeal to my strange sense of humor I guess. The Hangover and Bridesmaids, for instance, were movies that plenty of people I knew (and thought I shared similar tastes with) recommended, but I didn't find them extremely memorable or hilariously entertaining. Some of the popular comedies these days are just too outrageous for my taste, but Our Idiot Brother was just right. There were definitely wacky situations and over-the-top characters, but these rather unrealistic elements crafted for laughs never felt forced to me, largely because of the sincerity and authenticity of the movie as a whole.

Our Idiot Brother stars Paul Rudd as Ned, the unconditionally loving hippie brother of Miranda, Natalie, and Liz. Ned's sisters are portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, and Emily Mortimer while Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Kathryn Hahn, and T.J. Miller are also included in this winning cast.

Though Ned's path in life is definitely unconventional, he is a sweet and endearing character who lives by a generous and loving set of ideals. After getting out of jail for selling marijuana to a police officer (a situation which is pretty indicative of his naive nature), Ned is forced to return to his mother's house since his ex-girlfriend bars him from the organic farm where he lived, worked, and grew the pot that got him into trouble in the first place.

The only brother in a close family of four children, Ned tries to find support, as well as temporary housing and employment, from each of his sisters. Liz is married to a pretentious documentarian who forces his son to engage in an array of non-violent, multicultural hobbies in lieu of learning karate. Straight-laced Miranda is trying to move up in the world of journalism while Natalie lives with her long-term girlfriend and four other twenty-somethings while trying her hand at stand-up comedy. Each of the siblings have distinct personalities which are at odds with, if not mildly disdainful of, Ned's happy-go-lucky nature and hippie sensibility. Ned's reliance on his sisters proves burdensome and problematic for the girls in different ways. But to someone as unequivocally loyal as Ned, there is no question in his mind that he should be able to turn to his family in times of need.

The ensuing comedic drama is ultimately a heartwarming, grounded story despite Ned's unbelievable idiocy, contrived for maximum humor and theatrics. Our Idiot Brother has all the requisite elements of a quality comedy without overdoing it. One-liners and short conversations provide humor as well as larger situations and plot features. But there are also lessons learned, messages about family, human nature, and kindness. And despite its rather small budget, this film is satisfying enough to please mainstream and more unconventional audiences alike. Paul Rudd is a pretty endearing guy in any role, but I'd say that his portrayal of Ned in Our Idiot Brother is one of his most delightful and winning characters.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

2012-01-02T09:18:00.000-05:00

My cousin Andrea recommended Muriel Barbery's novel The Elegance of the Hedgehog to me and, having just finished the book, I couldn't be happier to have received her suggestion. Barbery's novel is a delightful and satisfying read full of unassuming depth. The story itself is told from the point of view of its two main characters, Renee, a Parisian concierge who painstakingly attempts to hide her high taste for art and culture as well as her intelligence behind a facade of soap operas and grumpiness, and Paloma, a twelve year old occupant in Renee's building who is both wise and intelligent beyond her years despite the debilitating impact of a family that fails to understand her and her own efforts to mask her true intellect.

Though the two lead distinctly separate lives for the majority of the book, Renee and Paloma are strikingly similar characters, kindred souls separated by 40-some years, social status, and five apartment floors. With Renee, readers are introduced to a world of great literature, feline companionship, and musings on the gross disparities between the moral character, intellectual capacity, and acquired wealth of members of Paris' highest and lowest classes. Though Renee finds solace in her bi-weekly tea with Manuela, the apartments' Portuguese cleaning lady, her preoccupation with art and culture finds an outlet in a new and discerning tenant on the fourth floor.

Paloma's story begins with her vow to burn her family's apartment and commit suicide on her thirteenth birthday. Driven by despair at the lack of beauty and perfect movement in the world, Paloma records profound thoughts and movements of the world in an effort to make certain that there is nothing worth living for. Though her narrative seems a morbid one, it is actually full of insight and humor, the deliberations of a child with excesses of wisdom and intelligence on the cusp of her teen years. Similar to Renee, Paloma's vast mental capacity is the primary source of her struggles in life but also a most crucial aspect of survival and escape.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog is a quirky book, amusing and engaging, littered with philosophical ponderings, subtle literary references, a dose of social satire, and the heartbreaking reality of life behind a facade. Barbery brings a remarkably unique voice to the table and spins a simple but elegant tale, not unlike the elegance of the very animal from which this book takes its name.

The only reservation I have with Barbery's novel is that it was over all too soon. I will admit it was a bit slow to start - I was extremely interested from the get-go but felt that Barbery made readers wait quite a bit before the story began to develop. Once things are truly happening for Renee and Paloma, however, I was sad to reach the last page and put this one down. Within The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery constructs a marvelous Parisian tale that proves entertaining, thought-provoking, and bittersweet.

2011: A Year in Review

2011-12-31T10:55:00.002-05:00

Before I begin, I must confess that this post is a gratuitous attempt to encourage readers to revisit (or maybe visit for the first time) some of my favorite bits and pieces from Radiator Tunes throughout the past year. I was inspired by Olivia's 2010 review on Everyday Musings (as so often seems to be the case on this blog) but, as I emulated her blog-centric summary of an entire year, I found myself truly enjoying the process of revisiting the past 12 months' posts, surveying my progress as a blogger, and reminding myself of all I have experienced in a single year.

Sometimes I worry that my blog is a futile attempt at reaching out to others or making my stamp on the world. Though I may not always achieve these goals of impacting others, blogging offers me a method of capturing my life at different points in time, immortalizing the particular thoughts and feelings that I have at particular times so I can revisit, and maybe even re-experience, them later. Even if no one else reads this entire post or gains anything by it, the process of constructing it was a productive and empowering way to end 2011 for me as a blogger, aspiring writer, and explorer of the world.

January

Mike and I gorged ourselves on addictive Barbecue Venison Meatballs and delicious Chai Latte Brownies. I learned all about Farm Together Now, a book profiling sustainable agriculture projects across the country, when one of it's authors, Daniel Tucker, spoke in Baltimore. Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood was added to my list of favorite fiction and I became more familiar with Margret Atwood too.

February

I experimented with peanut butter and chocolate in hot, sip-able forms. My Easy Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate and Hot Cocoa with Peanut Butter Whipped Cream were recreated all winter long. More chocolate was consumed on World Nutella Day, February 5th, a holiday I discovered for the first time in 2011 and have every intention of celebrating on an annual basis!

I finally followed Sarah's recommendation and got around to reading Tracy Kidder's book Mountains Beyond Mountains which documents the unbelievably inspiring story of tireless Dr. Paul Farmer whose mission is to fundamentally transform the world through his medical knowledge and generosity.

Mike and I watched (and loved) Spooner, a delightful and quirky little girl-meets-boy film and we also traveled to New York City where we saw Louie C.K. at Caroline's on Broadway and ate the most delicious Nutella-topped donuts. February was a month of gorgeous sunsets too - if only I wasn't trying to capture them on my commute home!

March

March was a month of learning, social justice, books galore! The 8th marked International Women's Day, a fitting time to spread the message of Alta Gracia, a clothing factory whose employees earn uncommonly livable wages and whose standards are some of the highest in the industry.

I learned how to make vegetable stock from kitchen scraps, an unbelievably economical and easy recipe from which thousands of dishes can be made, though my efforts to create red velvet donuts were slightly less successful. Mike and I took our first trip to Dangerously Delicious, Baltimore's very own pie shop where we got dessert for our wedding just a few months later.

Reading material included Pat Croce's I Feel Great and You Will Too!, Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals, Kristin Kimball's The Dirty Life, and Half the Sky by husband-wife duo Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

Florence and the Machine earned honors as one of my new favorite bands and the incredible zero-waste family inspired a few changes my own household, like vermicomposting!

April

They say that April showers bring May flowers, but I was too impatient and shared some of my favorite floral photography a month early. Photographers Wolfgang Tillmans and Gary Winogrand were also paid plenty of due respect for their art, as well as my favorite Ansel Adams on Earth Day. In other realms of art and culture, Mike and I saw two excellent movies, Win Win and I Love You Phillip Morris, plus my old favorite The Boys Are Back.

I discovered Breast Cancer Action, an awesome California-based non-profit that forces corporations and the American people to recognize the carcinogenic nature of our lifestyles. Gnudi made for some happy eating, followed up by delicious dump cake.

May

May was a huge month in my life, but not so much for Radiator Tunes. Mike and I got married on the 15th of May atop Federal Hill in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Our ceremony took place beneath beautiful blue skies, though the rain later poured down during our reception at the American Visionary Art Museum. Final wedding preparations and settling down from all the excitement took up most of my time, leaving little for innovative blogging.

I did, however, manage to get in some gardening, a little bit of ogling over other wonderful weddings, a lengthy meditation on the world inspired by John Lennon and Eve Ensler, and some musical inspiration to kick off our road trip honeymoon.

June

By June, Mike and I were road tripping through New England (posts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 about the honeymoon here!) and welcoming our new dog Louie into our small family! E. F. Schumacher's Small is Beautiful, Brianna Carp's The Girl's Guide to Homelessness, and Making It: Radical Home-Ec for a Post-Consumer World were awesome reading material too!

July

July was a celebratory month, starting off with the Fourth and some delicious mixed berry cup-pies, followed by a Christmas in July feast, and ending it all with a one-year blog anniversary. I drank oodles of mint tea from fresh mint leaves, finally made some kale chips, and ate oh-so-well thanks to the mid-summer farmer's market. Sarah and I took a delightful trip to Cylburn Arboretum which has quickly become one of my very favorite places in Baltimore City.

August

Meditation became a hallmark of my days by the end of summer, tons of fresh vegetables were harvested from the garden, and the yearnings for fall began with some Pumpkin Challah Bread and a Pumpkin Flatbread.

The end of the month was time for a lovely and relaxing vacation to Deep Creek Lake with the family where I lost myself in David Nicholls' novel One Day and Torsten Kroll's Callisto, kayaked as often as I pleased, and soaked up the last days of summer.

September

I tortured myself watching the trailer for the film Like Crazy over and over, had an awesome time getting all decked out for an 80's cover band concert, consumed more and more pumpkin treats, made the most of my foray into the world of professional dogwalking, and loved reading Amy Waldman's 9/11 novel The Submission.

October

The arrival of fall was ripe with excitement around here, as well as birthday celebrations, and reservations about Racing for the Cure. I found myself moved by the stories shared on We Are the 99 Percent's Tumblr account and completely absorbed by Warren St. John's account of a refugee soccer team in the book Outcasts United. Spaghetti squash and Nutella-covered pecan pie were on the menu all month long!

November

GIVERS provided the soundtrack to my month while I spent much of my time tackling Murakami's incredibly visionary novel 1Q84. I finally saw Like Crazy come November to a mostly positive response. I learned all about Upcycling and went on a bit of a rant about the inability of so many people to think in upcycling, reducing, reusing, and recycling terms. Thanksgiving was a wonderful day of feasting, family, and more positive thoughts, one from which I recovered with healthful fruit smoothies.

December

The last month of the year was chock full of holiday goodness. From craft projects for the home, like this Baby Sock Advent Calendar and a wreath made of ornaments, to generous gift ideas, Christmas was in full swing. I checked out the lights on 34th Street with my mom and sister for the first time in years, listened to Christmas tunes galore, and re-watched some of my favorite holiday films, including The Family Stone.

I also became a huge fan of Bill McKibben and tried out some amazing new recipes, including these Brown-Sugar Glazed Carrots, Apple Butter Brownies, and Chai Concentrate.

First They Killed My Father

2011-12-29T09:20:00.189-05:00

Like Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, Loung Ung's memoir First They Killed My Father is the kind of book that leaves an indelible mark on each and every one of its readers, a book which contains a story too horrific to believe but too terrible to be a product of mere imagination. I first learned of Loung Ung when Mary Pipher made note of Ung's other book, Lucky Child, which my library did not have in stock. I'm so glad that I decided to give Ung's other work a try, for as difficult as First They Killed My Father was to read, it is a story that, as the San Francisco Chronicle says, "those who have suffered cannot afford to forget and those who have been spared cannot afford to ignore."

Ung's story is of Pol Pot's takeover of Cambodia which initiated a brutal genocide from 1975 through the end of the decade. When Pot's Khmer Rouge army invaded Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital and the Ung family's city of of residence, Luoung, her six siblings, and her parents were forced to flee to the country's rural villages. The Ung family was initially lucky; though Luong's Pa was a high ranking official of the Lon Nol government, he saved his life by successfully lying about his prior position with the government that the Khmer Rouge had overthrown. Their luck didn't last for long, however, as the family was soon sent to work fourteen hour days at a labor camp, living in near-starvation and laboring under hostile conditions and brutal heat. Things only grew worse from there as the various members of the Ung family were separated, sent to other camps, and some were never seen again.

The Ung family struggle is not atypical of that suffered by the vast majority of Cambodians during the mid to late 1970s. What is incredibly remarkable about Luong's story in particular, however, is that she was a mere six years old when the Khmer Rouge forced her family to flee the city. All of the suffering, the horrific scenes she witnessed, and the brutality she experienced are expressed in her book with impressive clarity and extraordinary detail through the eyes of a young girl. Luong's decision to share her story from the perspective of her younger self makes this story truly riveting. As Luong details the violence and murders to which she bore witness, it is impossible to forget just how young she was - a mere child - when all of these experiences took place. Though the horrors of the Khmer Rouge are affecting no matter what age their victims, these events became exponentially more harrowing when seen through a child's eyes.

Luong's story is one that needs to be shared and, fortunately, is incredibly captivating from the first page. As she introduces you to her beloved Pa, her graceful Ma, and the wide array of personalities belonging to each of her six siblings, it is easy to imagine the privileged childhood she would have otherwise led. Luong came from a rowdy but loving home, one whose memories she cherishes all the more for how brief her time in its warmth and joy. Luong's fondness for her Phnom Penh childhood is easily impressed upon readers, as is the devastation she felt when she realized she would never seen her old home in her native city again.

Ung's book is also a rarity in that she outlines the political conflicts underlying the Khmer Rouge takeover with great clarity and simplicity. Luong offers enough background to provide readers with an understanding of how the Khmer Rouge came to power without causing undue confusion or offering excessive detail. After all, her story isn't about the politics behind this episode of Cambodian brutality but the way in which it was experienced by the people, the deep mark it left on the families, communities, and individuals of a country torn by unbelievable violence, devastation, and genocide.

And though I don't believe Luong attempts to do so, she paints herself as quite a remarkable and uniquely heroic child. Her demonstrations of bravery and courage, traits that are barely formative in most six-year-old children, force readers to play out their own hypothetical reactions to the multiple situations in which Luong finds herself. From stealing away to visit her family after she is relocated to a new camp to independently traveling to a jail with the express purpose of watching a Khmer Rouge soldier's murder after the army's downfall, it is hard to imagine most children of her age making the kinds of decisions which Luong chooses again and again. Her narrative is equally marked by a constant childlike hopefulness, for Luong places deep faith in the strength of her family's love to carry each of them through this genocide so they can be together when it's all over. The unique character of the story's narrator is one of the book's most compelling assets and, I'm convinced, one of the reasons why Luong was able to endure.

First They Killed My Father is easily one of the most important books I ever have and ever will read. Ung shares a tragedy that far too few people know about, a story of Cambodian genocide that eradicated 20% of an entire nation's population. Over 2 million individuals, out of a population of 7 million, lost their lives at the hands of the Khmer Rouge army. Luong sheds light on the forces that created such a horrific episode in Cambodia's history as well as the daily reality of a Cambodian living during this time. Her story is hard to tear yourself away from, impossible to ignore, and undeniably difficult to endure. While I don't know that I have ever cried as much while reading a single book, no amount of sadness is worth skipping Ung's First They Killed My Father. Luong's book tells a remarkably hopeful story in the face of absolutely harrowing circumstances, a story that desperately needs to be shared and never to be ignored.

Real Simple's Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots

2011-12-27T10:36:00.042-05:00

Growing up I was never a fan of carrots. In fact, I abhorred these vegetables so much that my mother stopped pushing me to eat them because she couldn't stand the gagging sounds I made whenever I tried to force a carrot down. I first came around to carrots in liquid form. Carrot juice quickly gave way to delicious carrot ginger soup. And now I'm finally entering new territory eating carrots in their original solid, though cooked, form.

For my birthday this year, Mike took me out to dinner at a restaurant that I am easily convinced is one of Baltimore's very best, The Dogwood. Located in the trendy Hampden neighborhood, The Dogwood specializes in local, seasonal, simple meals and they're a social enterprise of sorts, providing a culinary training program to interested persons hoping to better their life situation. This is the sort of restaurant that I can support all around. And their food is absolutely delicious too! I ordered a cherry-duck dish that came with carrots amongst a few other veggies. I anticipated sharing the carrots with Mike, but I ended up eating the majority of them myself. Soft but not mushy, sweet and flavorful without being too carroty, these were the most unimaginably delicious carrots I had ever tasted. I wasn't sure exactly how they had been prepared, but when I saw a recipe for Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots in Real Simple magazine a few months later, I knew I had to give it a try in the hopes of recreating a side dish even half as delicious as the one I enjoyed at The Dogwood.

I've copy and pasted Real Simple's recipe below, but I did make a few alterations of my own. I skipped on the pecans, primarily because I didn't have any on hand, and used baby carrots instead of their larger counterparts, once again because that was what I had on hand. They were still super delicious and this cut down on my cooking time a bit too. Though they weren't an exact replica of The Dogwood's now infamous carrots, they were as close as I think I can ever get in my own kitchen. I thought them just a little too carroty for my taste, but I imagine if I had cooked them just a bit longer, that would have been all it took to solve this problem. Mike told me they were "to-die-for," though I can't be sure if this was simply because they were that good or if this was more a product of his enthusiasm for something new and exciting for dinner. Nonetheless, this recipe provides an unquestionably innovative and tasty way to try your carrots that even I, a long-time-carrot-hater, would recommend. And who doesn't love a little sugar with their veggies?

Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots With Rosemary and Pecans

Instructions

1/2 cup pecan halves

3 pounds carrots—peeled, cut into 2-inch lengths, and halved lengthwise if large

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

kosher salt and black pepper

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in oven, tossing once, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool, then roughly chop.

2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the carrots, brown sugar, butter, rosemary, cayenne, ½ cup water, 1½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the carrots begin to soften, 8 to 10 minutes. Uncover the saucepan and cook, stirring often, until the carrots are tender and the liquid has thickened, 10 to 15 minutes more.

3. Discard the rosemary and toss the carrots with the lemon juice and pecans.

Tip

The pecans can be toasted up to 2 days in advance; keep at room temperature, covered. The carrots can be peeled, cut, and combined with the butter, rosemary, cayenne, salt, and pepper up to 2 days in advance; refrigerate, covered, then transfer to a large saucepan, add the water and sugar, and proceed with the recipe.

Happy Holiday Tunes

2011-12-25T09:17:00.000-05:00

Just a few songs and videos to spread the Christmas cheer. Hope you have a lovely holiday!

From the first time I heard Michael Buble's version of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" I was pretty smitten. He transforms this poppy Christmas tune into a beautiful holiday ballad.

Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is a true classic that I will never tire of hearing around this time of year!

Florence and the Machine's cover of "Last Christmas" is quite a find. I've always loved the original version by Wham! but Florence's unique vocals on this version fit perfectly with her slow down of a song all about holiday heartbreak.

I've always loved Coldplay's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and Conan O'Brien fans will love this version of the holiday standard performed by Chris Martin with a little help from Mr. O'Brien himself.

Celebrating the Holidays 34th Street Style!

2011-12-24T08:18:00.001-05:00

During the holiday season, 34th Street in the Hampden neighborhood in Baltimore is quite a sight to see! All the rowhomes on the 700 block of the street go all out with holiday decorations and people come from all over the greater Baltimore area to check it out. My mom, sister, and I decided to head over to 34th Street just a few days before Christmas this year.

Though the traffic was crazy, the rain poured down on us, there was no candy provided as my mother had promised, and the decorative spectacle not as lengthy as expected (it was quite a short block!), we still had a great time. Here are just a few shots from our adventure!

"Santa Define Naughty." Dog-lover that I am, I thought this one was pretty cute.

A few of the houses donned spray-painted, recycled bicycle parts assembled in
the shape of snowmen and such.

I dug the Peace House scheme.

Note the train suspended from the porch roof!

Under the shelter of a porch awning, I attempted to capture an entire side of the decorated 34th Street.

The Family Stone

2011-12-23T09:06:00.002-05:00

Most people who know even a little bit about me understand that I am a Christmas fanatic. I'm a sucker for this time of year and nearly all that it entails - the decorations, the joyful giving, the baking of cookies, the warm and delicious foods. And there are certain movies that ring especially true for me in their portrayal of the less tangible gifts of the holiday season, like family and kindness. One such film that has come to be a true favorite over the years is The Family Stone.

I first remember watching this movie with Mike, my little sister Leanne, and our friend Evan a few years ago. I had little to no inclination to watch it then, thinking I had seen it before and been unimpressed. I either was entirely mistaken or must have fallen asleep when I truly saw it for the very first time, but I was absolutely hooked after this viewing. It's become one of those movies that I watch again and again all throughout the year, rivaling Love Actually as one of my personal modern holiday favorites.

The Family Stone is essentially a family drama set around the holidays. All the assorted siblings and their array of significant others come home to celebrate Christmas with Mom and Dad (portrayed by Diane Keaton and Craig T. Nelson) in their idyllic holiday home. Everett Stone (played by Dermot Mulroney) brings home his uptight girlfriend Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker), a woman who is immediately subject to intense judgment from the Stone family and completely out of place in their warm, open, and chaotic family dynamic. With Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, Tyrone Giordano, and Elizabeth Reaser rounding out the cast of Stone siblings, this movie boasts quite an impressive roster.

Despite some of the unmasked immaturity and hostility (most of it on the part of Rachel McAdam's delightfully spiteful character Amy) running rampant among this group of siblings, I think that what makes me so endeared to this film is the portrayal of the family within. I wish all my holiday gatherings could be as chaotic and hectic but loving and cozy as this one. I want to have the type of family with traditions rich and simple, relationships open and challenging, love unconditional and tough. It makes me yearn for a huge family housed in a snug corner of snowy New England come Christmastime.

Maybe I'm making too much out of a Hollywood film, but I love the feelings that The Family Stone evokes for me. It's got a touch of jolly holiday spirit that I can indulge in all year through, but it also brings out a sense of nostalgia, comfort, and home in me like few films can. I would love to further elaborate on the plot, but I feel like there are too many little side story lines to cover and the major ones contain too many aspects I just wouldn't want to spoil. It's ultimately a heartwarming and hilarious family melodrama that just happens to be set against the backdrop of my very favorite time of year. It satisfies all of my major motion picture desires and my holiday ones too.

Does anyone else remember this movie? Mike seems to think it was a colossal failure. Even if it didn't do so well at the box office, I'd love to know that other people out there have discovered this gem of a film and enjoy watching it during the holidays year after year!

At Home Tea Blends

2011-12-21T08:59:00.000-05:00

As the temperatures take a turn for the colder, I invariably turn to warmer drinks to ward off the chill. Though hot cocoa (especially this Red Velvet Cocoa) is a deliciously indulgent hot drink for the holidays, I find it a bit safer for my waste line and general health to sip on some tea.

Tea bags are great - all the work has been done for you, from the mixing of flavors to the prep work and clean up. And most days, I take the lazy route and grab a bag I've purchased from my favorite local coffee place where they carry Montana Gold teas (my personal favorite is Lemon Mint). But I've also found a great health food store in the past few years that carries nearly any health food product you could imagine, including the stuff to make my own tea. For anyone in the Baltimore, Gambrills, Forest Hill, or Columbia, MD area, you've got to head over to David's Natural Market. Though I've only been to the Columbia store and can't speak to the merchandise carried at the others, they've got everything from fresh organic produce to healthy snacks and desserts, earth-friendly beauty products, your typical health food store goods, and loose herbs and spices. I usually head straight to the back where I can find all the supplies for my teas sold in bulk (plus bulk nuts, granolas, grains, and more).

So these tea recipes are mostly based off of some of my favorite teas that I've bought and recreated, as well as some that were purely fashioned out of my own imagination. Once you find a place that carries all the various herbs, spices, and leaves you need, making the tea is pretty simple. If you have a reusable infuser for loose tea leaves, then you're set. If you can't get your hands on one (or don't feel like cleaning one out after nearly every use), then you can fashion a tea bag out of a coffee filter. Simply fold it in half and sew a square, leaving one side open to insert the leaves, then sew the final side shut after filling. Ta-da! An at-home tea bag featuring your own homemade tea!

There's definitely a lot of room for adaptation and variation when it comes to making tea. I love the essence of lavender, so I use lots of it in comparison to my other ingredients - if you don't like it so much, it is perfectly fine to lessen it's presence. Some people like really minty teas with peppermint or spearmint included in the mix, but I use just a hint for a subtle minty aftertaste. Feel free to experiment with these recipes and try out your own. It's really not too difficult if you know what you like and what you're going for. Warm teas with spicier flavors (think cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, etc.) are likely going to use a different blend than your chamomiles, herbal infusions, or mint teas. And then you can always simply add to pre-made teas. Say you've got some loose green tea leaves and want to add a citrusy component - some lemon peel included in the mix could be just the thing to enhance it. Using herbs grown in your own garden and dried in your very own oven make this gift even more personal and thoughtful too!

Don't be afraid to see what you can come up with. And if you create something delicious, please do share it with me! These also make great gifts, so sharing your creations with tea-loving friends is never a bad idea, especially when the holidays come around again. Plus, the leaves are so inexpensive that you can't afford not to give at-home tea-mixing a shot!

Gift Wrapping the Eco-Friendly Way

2011-12-19T09:22:00.000-05:00

Last year I posted about eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas and this holiday season I'm ready with round two! These ideas utilize plenty of easily recyclable items making them great on both the environment and your wallet. And there's nothing like wrapping some gifts to get you in the holiday spirit!

From Martha Stewart Whole Living: Use old greeting cards, cardboard boxes, and the like to make gift tags. Personalize your tags with your own messages, stamps, and stickers.

From Martha Stewart Whole Living: Recycle old magazines to make these festive and colorful bows!

From Simple Mom: Bring out your inner artist and decorate simple white paper to wrap up a gift. You can really take this idea in any direction you please, and save yourself some money and paper by skipping the gift tag and including your "To" and "From" right on the wrapping.

From Gaiam Life: Maps make for a unique wrap and one that can be easily personalized as well. Choose a map of one of your recipient's favorite travel destinations or somewhere they'll be heading soon. To make it a perfectly themed present, give your travel-loving-recipient something they can put to good use on their trip, such as a guide book, luggage accessories, or a good book to read en route.

From Eco-Artware.com: Transform old cereal boxes into these adorable cardboard gift boxes by following this simple tutorial from eco-artware.com. These gift boxes look professionally made but are so simple and affordable - and the blank cardboard makes them a great canvas for personalizing too!

From Care2: Cloth makes for one-of-a-kind gift wrap that is an additional present all by itself. Local thrift stores and flea markets are great sources for fancy, colorful scarves and tapestries to use in lieu of wrapping paper. Teach yourself the traditional Japanese wrapping method known as furoshiki and pass the skill along to your recipient so they can reuse the gift wrap fabric for someone on their list. Care2 has a YouTube furoshiki tutorial that is easy to follow and provides beautiful and environmentally-friendly results.

From Martha Stewart Whole Living: The inside of a bag of potato chips rarely sees the light of day. With just a good rinse, however, that bag can become a great material for statement-making gift wrap. Simply wash with soap and water, air dry, and get wrapping! And if you're not a chip-lover but you like this look, recycled aluminum foil is another great material for this project.

From Botanical Paperworks: Purchase your holiday greeting cards from Botanical Paperworks' extensive collection and they'll get a second life once the holidays are over. All of this company's paper products are seeded and ready to plant in the warmer months. From herbs to flowers, these plantable cards can yield a plentiful garden at the end of their run, rather than finding their way into the garbage.

Happy wrapping!

Give Generously with Microloans

2011-12-16T09:06:00.055-05:00

If you read my post about Bill McKibben's Hundred Dollar Holiday, then you probably have a good idea of some of my misgivings about Christmas and what it has become. I love the holiday and all the cheer and decorations and festivities, but these have gotten out of control in some respects and completely separated from their more humble and well-intentioned beginnings. McKibben's book challenges readers to spend less during the holidays in an effort to get back to the more essential meaning and messages of Christmas. Though the ideas I have to offer in this blog post aren't necessarily going to decrease your spending this holiday season, they are much more aligned with the kind of generosity and reductions in consumerism of which Christmas is in need.

I first gave a microloan gift to my mother for her birthday earlier this year. Though I had heard of microloans before and was fond of the concept, I was always a little worried about what people would think of upon receiving them. Microloan projects essentially allow people to donate small sums of money to people in less developed nations to start up small businesses and sustainable projects. The money is paid back to the original lender over time, and most of the microloan organizations then allow the lender to select another project to loan to or to keep the money in full. Though it may not seem like much to lend $25 to a woman struggling to start her own company, these donations can be crucial in helping helping get on their feet and make an independent and fruitful life for themselves. And my mother seemed to really appreciate the gift. She enjoyed looking through all the projects available for funding and reading the life stories of these people for whom she had the power to offer help.

Givology, Kiva, GlobalGiving, Accion, FINCA, and GiveCorps are just a few of the organizations out there that help you supply microloans to entrepreneurs. These websites are largely easy to navigate as they list projects by type. You can seek out projects that seem of interest to you by sector or read through the biographies of potential borrowers to find a story that has special meaning for you. And it's easy to give gift certificates to people on your Christmas list who may feel better directing your $25 to a borrower in need (if not multiple borrowers over time) than accepting another item they don't particularly have to have.

During the holidays time and money are usually in short supply. The rush to find gifts for everyone on your list and the challenge to keep spending as low as possible makes it a more stressful time than it should be while distancing the holiday from its true origins. Microloan gift certificates are a nice reminder of the importance of generosity as well as gratitude. When searching the potential projects, it is incredible to see how much a small sum of money can do to change an individual's entire life in another nation. These projects help to put the holidays in better perspective and, after a short browse through any of these sites, hopefully some of your standard gift ideas will become a thing of the past as a more generous, selfless, and feel-good gift option replaces them.

Homemade Gingerbread Ornaments

2011-12-14T09:27:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite things about the holidays are the scents of Christmas. The freshness of a pine tree, the warmth of cinnamon, the delicious aroma of cookies in the oven. There's so much to love about this time of year, and scent is just one of many things I could list.

But to me, scent makes it real. I can look at images of Christmas decorations all day through the summer, I can turn the AC up real high and bundle up in a sweater to make myself believe it's almost December 25th, but until I have a tree in place and can smell all the sweet scents of the season, I can never fully fool myself.

That's why I really wanted to go this particular ornament project. I love to make homemade ornaments and I love the look of gingerbread but most of all, I love that these beautiful decorations for your tree (or really anywhere in your house) are so fragrant. With a whole cup of cinnamon in the dough, how could they not smell like Christmas?

The original plan I retrieved from Martha Stewart but I made a few changes along the way, so this is my adapted how-to guide for Gingerbread Ornaments. And though she used a paper template and traced her shapes out with a knife, I prefer to use cookie cutters for ease and because they provide a wide variety of holiday-centric shapes so your ornaments don't all have to look exactly alike.

Merry Ornament-Making!

Gingerbread Ornaments

Materials

1 cup ground cinnamon, plus more for rolling
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup glue
Cookie cutters
1 drinking straw
Extra glue for decorating (optional)
Glitter for decorating (optional)
Ribbon

Instructions

1. To prepare the dough, mix the cinnamon and applesauce in a medium-sized bowl. Then add the glue and stir until combined. The dough mixture should be moist and a bit lumpy.

2. Allow the dough to sit for one hour.

3. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

4. Spread cinnamon over a flat work surface, as yo would flour when rolling out sugar cookies. Remove dough from the bowl and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. If it becomes to dry or difficult to roll, spray a little water until desired pliability is achieved. If the dough is too wet or sticks to rolling pin, use more cinnamon.

5. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters as desired. For each shape, poke a hole near the top with a straw to create an opening to string a ribbon for hanging.

6. Bake in 200 degree oven about 2 hours or until completely dry, flipping ornaments once mid-way through.

Chai Concentrate

2011-12-12T09:51:00.000-05:00

Chai tea lattes. A warm and spicy favorite when the weather turns cold. A delicious creamy, iced treat in the summer. Perfectly blended at your favorite local coffee shop. Not so easy to recreate in your own home.

Not anymore. Though I've created an authentic chai tea in my own kitchen before (see here for the recipe), it can be a time-consuming process and most people don't want to go through the effort that authentic chai tea entails.

That's where this post comes in. Chai tea concentrate. All you do is prepare the mix, which stores in the fridge for 6 months, and add two heaping teaspoons of the stuff to a nice hot cup of black tea. Mix and enjoy.

I originally saw this recipe on Shirin, Handmade, just after Christmas 2011. I thought it was a great gift idea, not only for the biggest tea-lover on your list but for yourself. You only have to put forth a little effort up front (and trust me, that effort is extremely minimal!) and then you (or a friend) have 6 months of inexpensive and quick chai tea lattes ready in the same amount of time it takes to prepare a mug of steaming hot tea. Plus, it can be fun to find and decorate recycled glass jars for packaging. Check out Shirin's post for some more cute packaging ideas (and a great homemade barbecue sauce recipe too!).

Chai Tea Concentrate

recipe slightly adapted from Shirin, Handmade

Ingredients

1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp ground cardamom (this can be hard to find/expensive so simply add 1/2 tsp more nutmeg and cinnamon if you can't get your hands on some cardamom)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp whole fennel seeds
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Directions
1. Combine all ingredients and mix!
2. Enjoy 2 heaping teaspoons of the chai concentrate mixed in with your favorite black tea!

Unbelievable Apple Butter Brownies & Pumpkin Bars

2011-12-10T11:00:00.044-05:00

Just wanted to link up to recipes for a few of the most delicious treats in which I've recently indulged!

I bought a huge jar of apple butter that I didn't want to go to waste, but I was in the mood for something chocolatey and rich. A quick search yielded an incredible Apple Butter Brownie recipe from Steph Chows that is pretty much to-die-for. I'm a sucker for brownie batter and was a little bit worried when this batter didn't taste quite as sweet as the ones I'm used to. When the brownies were nice and cool, however, they were perfectly sugary and fudgy too (which may just be because I doubled the amount of chocolate chips from 1/2 cup to 1 cup). The apple flavor is pretty much indiscernable once these treats are baked, so don't let the combination of apples and chocolate turn you off. Though these are a slightly healthier version of the traditional brownie, what you sacrifice in artery-clogging ingredients you more than make up for in taste. And they're a delicious departure from Christmas cookies if you need something to take to a holiday party or to give as a gift too!

I also whipped up a batch of Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars (minus the cream cheese) from Chocolate-Covered Katie. I wanted to make some pumpkin treats to give as Christmas presents but decided to try something other than the old standby which my friends all got a taste of last year, delicious Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate and Cranberries. These pumpkin bars were pretty phenomenal and a nice departure from the expected - not quite a pumpkin bread nor a pumpkin cookie, they're a dense and tasty pumpkin brownie of sorts. I'm sure they would be scrumptious with a cream cheese frosting, but I liked them so much on their own and thought it easier to distribute them icing-free that I opted for a plain old pumpkin bar. One note, however, is that you should probably double this recipe as a single batch of this batter barely covered my pan - I quickly whipped up another one to add in.

Much as I love the classic Christmas cookie, this holiday season I was definitely in the mood for something new, especially since I made eight batches of cookies around this time last year! These brownies and pumpkin bars are easy to gift, plenty delicious, and even a little bit healthier than your typical holiday treat. Happy baking!

Holiday Decor That's Good For You, Your Wallet, and Mother Earth!

2011-12-08T09:18:00.000-05:00

Decorating your home for the holidays does not have to do damage to the environment or your wallet. Using found items, small touches, and natural elements are some surefire ways to bring the holidays to your home without wrecking havoc.

Thrift stores are one of my favorite spots for holiday finds. A lot of these places keep holiday decor on their shelves year round and sell these items at an affordable price. It's also easy to find basics at the local thrift shop that a little bit of red spray paint or gold glitter can transform into a stunning holiday piece. Candleholders, pots, vases, teacups - these items may not look like much on a shelf at Goodwill but, with a little imagination and crafting, they can easily find their place among your favorite holiday decorations. Vintage Christmas items, such as tablerunners and placemats, are also wonderful finds that reduce production and add tons of character and charm to your home.

I love to use natural elements to decorate for the holidays. They're lovely to look at but also are renewable, affordable, and easy on the environment. Collecting pinecones from your own backyard is a simple start to plenty of decorating projects.

I like Martha Stewart Whole Living's idea of using sugar to decorate pinecones for a snowy look. Hang them on the tree, from the mantle, or by the window to make your home just a bit more festive.

The website also suggests using dried orange slices to spruce up your holiday decor. This citrus project is super simple and, once again, better for the environment, your wallet, and your decorating scheme than going to the store to buy pre-packaged, manufactured decorations.

Crunchy Domestic Goddess suggests making your own Christmas tree ornaments. But instead of using your typical store-bought glass bulb ornament, try an old lightbulb. You can paint nearly anything your choose on these reused bulbs and give them second life season after season.

Another great idea from Martha. Collect fallen tree branches, gather them in a pretty vase or pot, and adorn them as you wish. This simple and affordable element makes a big statement and is really versatile. You could decorate the branches with Christmas wishes as Martha suggests or glittery ornaments, natural elements, homemade garland, paper snowflakes, or whatever else you can dream up.

It's sweater season and there's no better way to reuse old holiday sweaters, flannels, and the like than by transforming them into festive stockings. If you aren't ready to part with any of your own holiday gear, This Old House recommends these sweater stockings from VivaTera.

I'm a huge fan of anything homemade to spice up the house around the holidays and these tissue paper snowflakes are a simple and fast project that can find uses all over the home and reuse a popular holiday item that most people have on hand. What more could you expect from a holiday project? Last year I used double-sided tape to hang these on the wall and strung them from the doorframe in my living room.

For more ideas, I always recommend checking out A Greener Christmas by Sheherazade Goldsmith. I posted about this book last year and am still using plenty of the ideas contained therein to decorate and gift this Christmas. It is quite easily one of the best holiday crafting books around, made even better by the fact that it centers around eco-friendly, homemade, and affordable projects.

Hundred Dollar Holiday

2011-12-06T07:36:00.000-05:00

I picked up Bill McKibben's Hundred Dollar Holiday after fruitlessly searching the library shelves for another book from his extensive list of titles. A majority of his written work focuses on simplifying our lives, fighting our materialist inclinations, and remaining conscious and critical of our changing consumer culture. Hundred Dollar Holiday is really no different, but McKibben makes the case that simplifying and cheapening our Christmastime celebrations can infuse more joy and cheer into the most wonderful time of year in addition to all the other 364 days of it.

McKibben's challenge is to spend less than one hundred dollars on holiday expenses, including gifts and decorations. Though the hundred dollar amount is rather arbitrary, the goal of utilizing a limit to holiday spending is to challenge our notions that Christmas is a time for buying. In creatively skirting the inclination to spend countless hours scouring the mall for gifts that our intended recipients don't need, and maybe don't even want, McKibben believes that we will be better able to retain, if not rediscover, what Christmas should be all about.

His book starts off with a brief history of Christmas, its past as a time of drunken revelry, and then the transformation of this holiday into the family-centric feast it has become today. The stories and traditions that have become commonplace to Christmas are clarified in meaning and origin - in fact, some were created right out of thin air with the intent of altering the dangers of Christmas culture, a culture that has now gone quite awry.

Though the holidays are a time of high stress, hustle, and bustle, McKibben argues that this isn't too drastically different from our day to day lives throughout the rest of the year. And this is part of the trouble with the current state of Christmas. We live in a culture where we are assaulted with things, with the notion that we need things to make us happy, and with the ability to acquire these things in less time than ever. This immediacy and materialism are so commonplace that the joy of giving and receiving gifts come Christmastime has severely diminished. We feel stressed for time and, in an effort to make up for what we lack in hours and minutes, we spend all our money, often on things we truly don't need. We focus so solely upon the requisite gift-giving that we miss out on valuable traditions that provide a little more meaning and substance to this time of year.

While midway through Hundred Dollar Holiday, I was thinking about some of these issues and predicted what McKibben later revealed - that most people actually don't like to receive gifts because of the associated hassle. Where to put one more kitchen appliance, where to store one more sweater, how to incorporate a new piece into the current living room design? I prefer to give gifts rather than receive them as I've become increasingly less thrilled with material goods, and I love making gifts by hand whenever I can. But even I sometimes worry that my homemade treats and novelties will quickly find their way to the trash or will be felt as more of a burden than a present. Gift exchange has become a part of the hassle that so many people hate about the holiday season, but Christmas should not be the time to stress and worry. McKibben argues, and I strongly agree, that the holidays should be a time of peace, togetherness, and relaxation. We need to reconfigure the way that we think about the holidays in order to maximize the joy of the season.

This book doesn't completely revile holiday traditions or gift-giving. In fact, McKibben upholds a majority of the most sacred and age-old conventions associated with Christmas. But he makes sure to elucidate the meaning of these traditions to his family and community, to infuse the season with the original spirit in which it was founded. By associating the holiday with its real beginnings, rather than toy store sales and shopping malls, McKibben hopes to regain a sense of Christmas cheer that can't be bought or sold.

Though there is definitely a religious strain to McKibben's grand idea, there is plenty of value to be found in this holiday challenge for even the most secular celebrator. I think we all can appreciate time over money and that is an essential aspect of McKibben's success in meeting this challenge. Rather than buying things that hold minimal significance, he suggests making things by hand or offering coupons to be exchanged for time spent with a loved one. Homemade goodies demonstrate a lot of effort and kindness, more so than a store-bought scarf. And coupons for a movie date or simply time out of a busy schedule to spend with the recipient are thoughtful and likely more lasting gifts than anything that could be purchased.

Hundred Dollar Holiday advocates a new kind of Christmas and, holiday lover that I am, I like the challenge of regaining a sense of why we celebrate at this time of year. I take a more secular view of the whole holiday, remaining cognizant of its religious origins while more actively applying the messages and meanings that it has come to represent. But McKibben's book offers a strategic plan for remaining true to the core of Christmas no matter where you lie along the religiosity spectrum. His ultimate goal is to create a movement to reverse the trends toward a consumer Christmas that have found their way out of the holidays and into our daily lives. His book is all about lifestyle changes that can start at Christmas but don't necessarily have to end there. And though I have definitely exceeded his $100 limit given that I came to his book a little late in the holiday shopping season, his essential message still rings strong and true and I can't wait to suggest its initiatives to my friends and families during this and many more holiday seasons.

***If you want to learn more methods to reduce your holiday consumption or if you'd like to pledge to do so, check out The Center for the New American Dream's 2011 Simplify the Holidays Challenge!

Guest Post: Giving Things a Second Chance

2011-12-04T15:02:00.000-05:00

Hi! I'm Zoe! I'm a UK based blogger and I write my little green blog: Life of a Vegetarian Girl! As Laura and I both have a passion for recycling and reusing, we thought we'd share some of our favourite items on each others blogs.
Over the past few years I have really begun to think of the impact my lifestyle has on the world. I loved throw away fashion, discarded things that were perfectly good and all of my items had to be shiny and brand new. I'm not quite sure what started this shift, but I really started to think about what I was buying and how much I was wasting. I really wasn't happy with what I was doing and wanted to make more of an effort to recycling, reuse and buy pre-loved.
This new ethos in my life has bought me much joy in many ways. I am now a true believer that 'one mans trash is another mans treasure'. I love thrift stores and charity shop, I shop for the majority of my clothes at them. I love rummaging, getting a bargain and wearing items unique to everybody elses. The dress I am wearing on the left is pre-loved and is among many pre-loved dresses which I adore. I love inheriting and buying items which have a history to them, this makes them so much more interesting and one of the things that brings me the greatest joy is knowing that I am having less impact in the world.

Pictured right is my living room set. When I moved into my new apartment, I only bought two things new. A table and chairs and a mattress, everything else was second hand, inlcuding my bed frame, all my bedroom furniture and my living room set. The sofa and chair were given by my flat mates Dad, the table by his Gran and the throws and pillows were from my Grandmother. Even my Christmas Tree this year is a lone off my Gran. I love my living room, it's comfortable and didn't cost me a penny. It also shows how supportive friends and family can be when you're moving out, my furniture completely reflects this kind of kindness. There are also items I would love to inherit in the future, like my Mum's Welsh Dresser, which was once my Gran's, and is an item I would love to be passed on for generations.

I am such a big lover of recycling and reusing that even my Cat is pre-loved! All my life if we have ever had pets, we have always have rescue animals. This may not strictly be recycling and reusing but by adopting an animal from a shelter you are giving them a second chance and are supporting animal welfare.

This cheeky chappy is Oscar and I have been his proud owner for 3 years. It was a bit of a struggle at first, as Oscar is very timid and was not used to living in a house but now I wouldn't be without him. He is by far my favourite pre-loved item!

As for up-cycling, I am also a big fan although I haven't got round to any of my own projects, I do have plans for the future for some re-fashion of old clothes, such as old band t-shirts I have with holes but beautiful pictures on, however I am unsure of how to approach these.

I really hope you have enjoyed my take on recycling and reusing. I hope this will encourage more people to buy or inherit second-hand rather than buying brand new. I would also like to thank Laura for letting me post over here!

Christmas Ornament Wreath

2011-12-03T09:15:00.001-05:00

Around this time last year I was in the full swing of the season. My house was decorated and I was baking up cookies like a machine. But as the holidays loomed ever closer, I was seeing more and more posts around the blogosphere with holiday decorating ideas that I couldn't help but fall in love with. And so, shortly after December 25th, I took it upon myself to get a head start on Christmas 2011. There were too many beautiful craft projects I wanted to get to before Christmas rolled around this year.

The one I had most been hoping to get to was a wreath of Christmas ornaments. I guess it ultimately worked out for the best - since I started this project post-Christmas I was able to use ornaments right off the tree and replace them with more homemade ornaments come this holiday season. I found a simple tutorial on Eddie Ross's site that actually required little more than a wire hanger, Christmas ornaments, and hot glue. I couldn't believe how simple this project was - and it makes a huge holiday impact!

Though I don't have step by step photos to guide you through the process, I'll give you a brief rundown of the method I used, and you can always reference Eddie's post for more detailed instructions.

First of all, I needed to get my hand on a pliable wire hanger. The first one I tried was nearly impossible to reshape, but I got lucky with the next one I used. Simply unwind the top of the hanger where the two ends meet and reshape the metal into a large circular shape.

Then get your ornaments ready to string onto the wire. (Eddie suggests gluing the top of the ornaments in place at this stage in the game to ensure that none of them fall off, but I didn't have any troubles with this, so I saved all my hot glue sticks up for the final placement.) I suggest playing around with them a bit before applying glue anywhere on the wreath. Get a feel for how the different sizes and colors will look together, and how they'll fit next to one another. I used a variety of sizes and textures but kept all my ornaments in the red and gold color families. I had to reorder my ornaments a few times in my search for the best order for maximal color and texture variety.

The most difficult part of this process is seeing how everything will ultimately fit together. Unless your ornaments are all uniform in size, it will be hard to imagine exactly how they will group together until you've applied the glue. But while you're trying to arrange the ornaments and apply hot glue, the other ornaments on the wreath are likely to slide and clank around. Don't be worried - I promise that it gets easier as more ornaments are glued into place. Just be mindful that it may be a bit frustrating to get the ornaments looking exactly how you want. I suggest doing a bit of hot glue to get everything in order, then going back for touch-ups once everything is fairly well-positioned. I also kept a few small ornaments handy to glue into any holes that popped up. This was more the result of luck than good planning, but I suggest you do the same as your liable to get a few sparse spots next to some that look pretty abundant.

To tie up your loose ends, I suggest twisting the wire back together and either using the hook for hanging or folding it into itself. I also think ribbon is crucial for hiding twisted wire - plus it makes for easier hanging. All in all, not a difficult project and fairly self-explanatory. There's plenty of room for creativity with this one, from the colors and textures of your ornaments to the sizes and shapes. Though I imagine classic round balls are the easiest to arrange, you can find such a wide array of ornament shapes nowadays that I encourage you to try something new with a not-so-traditional ornament.

Good luck and happy decorating!

Baby Sock Advent Calendar

2011-12-01T10:17:00.032-05:00

I've become quite the fan of advent calendars over the years. I think this may be partially due to the fact that I'm a chocoholic and love finding ways to deliver one or more chocolates to myself with minimal guilt throughout the holiday season. Last year, I made an advent calendar out of a 24 muffin tin and kept mini Reese's peanut butter cup hidden in each muffin slot. This year, I first had the idea of using mini-stockings to make an advent calendar on a string but when my original vision proved too expensive, I swapped out stockings for kids' socks in Christmas colors. And I think this is going to become a new tradition for me - creating a new advent calendar each holiday season.

The Baby Sock Advent Calendar could not be more simple or affordable to make. All you really need are 25 holiday themed baby socks (although a blue snowflake scheme could be beautiful too), 25 clothespins, and a rope or sturdy string of some sort. I decorated the tops of my clothespins with numbers for each day leading up to Christmas but you could number each sock individually if you'd like. And if you're having trouble finding socks (most of the ones I came across in the baby department had "Baby's First Christmas" written all over them), stop in your nearest dollar store - that's where I was able to find most of the socks you see in these pictures.

The process itself is exceedingly simple. Just hang the string wherever you please, attach the socks using the clothespins, and pop an advent treat in each sock to be removed on the appropriate date (mine will probably be filled with Tootsie Rolls this year). It's super simple to install and remove at the end of the season, and it is a truly versatile project because all the different materials can be personalized however you'd prefer. Experiment with different sizes, styles, and colors of string, paint your clothespins or keep them plain but adorned with festive numbers, and think outside the box when it comes to your sock scheme.

I kept my socks pretty traditional, sticking to reds, greens, and whites. I didn't spruce up the clothespins themselves too much, but I did glue 1.5 square inch pieces of shimmery silver cardstock to the top of each clothespin. Then I found festive numbers, both from stickers I had in stock and cut outs from old magazines, to label each cardstock-topped clothespin. These were used to attach the socks to some holiday-themed ribbon I had lying around and ta-da, an advent calendar to call my own.

Any other advent calendar ideas I should keep in mind for next Christmas?

Monthly Recap

2011-11-30T08:51:00.049-05:00

I haven't had the time or photos to compose a weekly recap for nearly a month now so I feel as though most of my recent posts have been fairly impersonal. With Thanksgiving this month, however, I had a few free days to relax and catch up on capturing the goings on in my life. Here are just a few shots from November!

Brussels sprouts were consumed with gusto this month, especially these ones that I roasted with grapes for Thanksgiving dinner.

I did a little reorganizing in the kitchen one morning and put all the leftover mason jars from our wedding to good use displaying colorful grains, pastas, and beans.

Digby. my quirky cat, basking in the November sunshine.

Started decorating for Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving passed. My little sister gave me this adorable wooden Christmas tree after traveling to Germany last winter.

I definitely sneaked this trio of glittery gold trees, a gift received from my mom last Christmas, out of the basement a bit sooner than the rest of our decor this year. They're subtle and festive enough decorate with before the season truly starts.

The one thing I have been able to find the time to do recently, however, is to read. I recently picked up Bill McKibben's collection of essays entitled The Bill McKibben Reader and was particularly moved by a few of his articles in the 'Community' section which focused on religion. I don't consider myself a religious person as I don't adhere to any doctrine, nor do I attend church regularly or engage in any other traditional religious practices. Reading these essays, however, made me realize that my mentality and actions are more aligned with the wonderful principles of Christianity than are those of so many other Americans who claim to be Christian.

I'm not trying to downplay the kind hearts or good intentions of so many people in this country, nor do I think that I am a model citizen and faultless person - not at all. But McKibben seamlessly links caring for the environment, reducing our consumer-driven mentality, and generously giving to the downtrodden in our society with the religious principles that motivated Jesus and are the central tenets of his teachings. Even though some of the most liberal people who devote their lives to these causes are not necessarily religious individuals, it is interesting to note how the messages of Christianity are so often convoluted and misinterpreted so as to serve our own interests as consumers and individuals.

I tried to compose a few essays on the subject but found myself repeatedly frustrated with my inability to succinctly summarize the wisdom and insight McKibben brings to this topic. Instead I've added links to the articles below so as to let the man speak for himself. But my frustration went beyond my mere limitations as a writer. If only more people were to read McKibben's words, if only more people would take to heart what he says, if only more Christians and followers of other religious creeds would truly question their beliefs and probe through what they are taught until they find those essential meanings on which their doctrine was originally founded. I know plenty of great Christians and plenty of great atheists and agnostics - it isn't necessarily an issue between the religious and the non-religious, but rather one that stems back to individual and societal mentalities. McKibben seems to believe, and I would heartily agree, that we have lost touch with the true meaning of Jesus' word. If we were still, as a primarily Christian nation, true followers of this religion, climate change, inequality, and consumption would not be such large social problems overflowing our plate.

There is little more I can say that McKibben doesn't cover himself, so please read The Christian Paradox and/or Will Evangelicals Help Save the World? for yourselves, and if you like what you find, I highly recommend The Bill McKibben Reader. I hope your November has been a delicious, eye-opening, inspiring, and festive one and that you become a Bill McKibben fan and tell all your friends too!

The Dew Breaker

2011-11-28T09:01:00.002-05:00

After a bout of reading uninspiring novels and dull nonfiction, I decided that I needed to find a reliable source for future book recommendations to restore my faith and interest in the written word. Lists of prizewinning writing seemed like a good bet and has proven to be thus far. I discovered Edwidge Danticat's novel The Dew Breaker because it was a finalist in the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.

The story opens with in the modern day. A Haitian sculptor named Ka travels with her father to deliver one of her pieces, inspired by her dad, to a famous actress of Haitian descent. When Ka's father is nowhere to be found when she wakes up one morning in a hotel enroute, she frantically tries to recover him. He returns soon enough, but when she discovers why he left, and what he did with the sculpture of which he was the subject, Ka finally begins to uncover long-hidden pieces of her father's story from back home in Haiti that make her question what type of man he actually is.

The novel progresses with each chapter devoted to a new narrator, so that it almost reads like a series of short stories. At first, it doesn't actually appear that the novel is centered entirely around Ka's father, but by the time the final chapter unfolds, there is no doubt to who this novel belongs. A seemingly quiet, gentle, and good-natured person to Ka, the multitude of others whose lives her father has touched in dark and painful ways reveals a troubled and previously impenetrable side of this man.

Danticat's unique style of character development is unlike nearly any novel I've ever read. With each chapter I found myself guessing how the new story could possibly relate to the one to which I had initially been introduced. The Dew Breaker speaks to events both personal and political, to the ties to family and country, to the sometimes opposing sides of ourselves that we may want to hide or forget about completely. Blending experiences of 1960s Haitian upheaval and immigrant life in New York City today, Danticat creates a story that is highly emotional but remains grounded in very terrible and tangible realities. The Dew Breaker is easy to become absorbed in and hard to ignore. I'm curious to see what other novels are among the ranks of this one in the National Book Critics Circle Award as my efforts to find fiction among the lists of prize winners and finalists has proven quite successful thus far.

Spinach and Cheese Puff

2011-11-26T10:24:00.050-05:00

Around this time of year, I find myself in an unusual food funk. The harvests of the season are some of my favorite foods of all - butternut squash, cranberries, and sweet potatoes. But in an effort to enjoy these seasonal delights, I find myself resorting to the same dishes over and over again. They're tried and true recipes that are emblematic of the holiday season to me, so I eat them in full force during this time of year. But by indulging in traditional seasonal fare, like stuffing, roasted brussels sprouts, and mashed sweet potatoes, I stifle my culinary creativity.

So I took to Martha Stewart to find some new seasonal favorites. I wanted to bring something new to the Thanksgiving table this year (though I ended up making Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grape like last year on account of family requests) and find a few side dishes that diverged from my favorites that I resort to time and time again. Though her Sweet Potato Cannelloni was a beautiful and intriguing side dish option, I found the flavor to be rather dull and my ability to recreate the gorgeous rolls of thinly sliced sweet potato shown in the photograph accompanying her recipe severely lacking. Needless to say, this dish was not the one I was searching for.

But I did come across a brilliant, simple, healthy, and elegant side that is perfect for any time of year. The Spinach and Cheese Puff looked almost like an indulgent spinach dip at first sight, which was what drew me in. I'm a big fan of spinach as it is, but when I saw that this recipe included delicious Gruyere cheese and was so easy to prepare, I quickly made up my mind to give this one a try.

With just frozen spinach, Gruyere cheese, half and half, and eggs, this puff could not be more simple to make. I had the greatest difficulty with the cheese. During a stop at Trader Joe's I couldn't find a single bit of Gruyere, so I substituted Havarti to much delight. But grating cheese can definitely be a struggle, so I borrowed a tip learned from hours of devotedly watching the Food Network and stuck my Havarti in the freezer for about 10 to 15 minutes before grating.

The tasty spinach and rich cheese provide all the flavor you need, while the eggs and half and half keep this dish light and fluffy. And a sprinkling of cheese on top creates the most subtle of golden crusts. This is the kind of dish I could eat by itself as a meal, alongside a smorgasbord of other vegetable dishes, or even served alongside some fresh tomato slices and Italian bread. And the ease with which it can be prepared makes this puff perfect for entertaining or busy weeknight meals. This has become a new staple in my kitchen, one that is healthy but rich, simple but impressive, and versatile enough to never grow old.

Find the original recipe on Martha Stewart's site here.

Reduce, Reuse, and when all else fails Recycle

2011-11-25T09:36:00.000-05:00

Maybe this post will seem a bit redundant given that I reviewed a book on upcycling just last week. But while walking my dog Louie the other morning, I passed a dumpster belonging to the nearby apartment complex and saw a whole living room of furniture sitting out awaiting a landfill. The pieces all looked to be in decent shape - or at least, it appeared they were quite usable before being thrown outside to be taken away. A simple suede couch was standing on its side, an armrest broken most likely from the trip to the dumpster. There was a floral print armchair turned upside down that could have easily been slipcovered and made to fit any room.

It just seemed such a waste to me that these and other pieces of furniture were immediately sent to the trash when their owner was done with them, rather than donated to a store that would distribute them to people in need or given to someone who could use them, or at least creatively improve them if they needed updates. Or see if there is some way you could reuse these items for your own good. Storing an old table in the basement may prove useful during a redecorating stint or if the need for a workspace arises. It may not always be reasonable or feasible to hold on to these large items when you no longer have a need for them, though sometimes doing so comes in handy later on.

But at the very least, there are a whole host of alternatives to the landfill that are beneficial to others in ways that far exceed the good that comes from environmentally responsible practices. Seek out the local Goodwill or secondhand store, post an ad on Craigslist, email your friends and family to see if anyone could make use of your hand-me-downs, or distribute a flyer on a college campus because there are likely to be student apartments in need of affordable furnishings. Mike and I found a new sofa on Craigslist for a mere $250, including an armchair that is now in my sister's college apartment. We weren't completely crazy about the sofa's back pillows - they were a little too short and fat for our tastes - but it wasn't difficult for me to reuse the stuffing to create tall, thin pillows that were perfectly comfortable. Simple creativity and minimal skills can make all the difference.

Once Mike and I threw out our air conditioning unit. My mom was helping me to take it out of the bedroom window when the weather turned cold, and due to a miscommunication, we dropped the air conditioner out of a second story window. Our trash men will take nearly anything we leave out there, so we put the AC unit out a few days early, awaiting pick up. Before trash morning came, however, the air conditioner was gone. Someone came up the alley and found an old AC unit that they knew they could use, whether in an effort to make repairs or to gather scrap metal. Regardless of that unit's ultimate fate, I realized that nearly anything I try to get rid of can be used by someone else. And now I always try to do my best to re-allocate my used goods as effectively as possible. Sometimes simply putting them out in the alley prior to trash day will suffice, other times a quick donation to Goodwill works, and there's always the possibility of passing it along to a friend or sibling after a few phone calls.

I just hate to think of the volume of potentially useful items that have entered our landfills already. If we can change our mode of thinking, maybe we cam stem the tide of this trend. When you can no longer use an item for its original purpose, wait a few days or week and think of potential reuses. If none come to you, attempt to recycle it through your social network or within your community. And then if all else fails, head to the trash. But if you follow these few steps vigilantly, I'd surmise that few to none of your old goods will be added to a trash heap, which is good for you, your community, and the whole environment.

And for more ideas about how to reuse and recycle smaller items, check out my post on Danny Seo's book Upcycling, pick up a copy of the book for yourself, or stop by his blog Daily Danny.

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T09:33:00.009-05:00

I posted about Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals a while back but he makes a few noteworthy points regarding the Thanksgiving holiday in the conclusion to his book that I think are worth considering.

First of all, Thanksgiving is kind of the ultimate holiday - it encompasses all the varied values, beliefs, and ideals that other holidays celebrate on an individual basis. Foer suggests that each particular holiday encourages celebrants to be thankful for something in particular, whereas Thanksgiving allows us to demonstrate thanks for anything and everything. I like the ambitious nature of the holiday and the flexibility with which we can all relate it to our individual lives.

Foer also advocates Thanksgiving not so much as an American holiday but one that celebrates cherished American ideals. No, I'm not talking about consumerism, excess, and commercialization but rather freedom, family, love, community. Though I value being an American and living in a country ripe with opportunity, there are times when my patriotism wanes and my faith in our realization of democracy grows weak. But Thanksgiving gives us all a gentle reminder of the foundational values that unite and guide us all. And sometimes all I need is that friendly shove to reinstall my fondness for what makes us American.

Finally, Foer recognizes Thanksgiving as the one meal a year that "we try most earnestly to get right. It holds the hope of being a good meal, whose ingredients, efforts, setting, and consuming are expressions of the best in us. More than any other meal, it is about good eating and good thinking." Thanksgiving is a meal full of hard work, good intentions, and a deliciously comforting payoff. No matter who gathers round your dinner table the rest of the year or how long and hard you labor to feed yourself and your loved ones, Thanksgiving is the meal to top them all. I like that, in addition to providing necessary sustenance in the form of foodstuffs, this meal can also offer a healthy dose of cheer, camaraderie, optimism, gratitude, and generosity.

In the context of the book, Foer can't help but relate the holiday and it's central source of protein, the turkey, to his cause. And, while I agree with a majority of his maxims and can't argue against his logic, that discussion is for another time and another post. In fact, if you want to read more about it, you can check out my review of the book from earlier this year. Though these words of Foer's are a bit removed from their original context, they've stuck with me enough to warrant sharing and they still ring clear and true.

I want to encourage any and all of my readers out there to cherish this holiday for what it's really worth. Thanksgiving is the one time of the year, more than any other, when we really do see the best in others (I think even more so than Christmastime). There is so much for each and every one of us who are sitting down before a computer and reading this post to be thankful for, no matter what struggles may fall heavy on our shoulders in our normal day to day lives. I like how idyllic Thanksgiving is - how we can focus on all that is good for one night of feasting, immerse ourselves in food comas to help block out the bad. But in forcing us to acknowledge all that we have, Thanksgiving also makes it possible to recognize what others lack. Like your neighbor who has no family with whom to spend the holidays, or the turkey whose life was defined by the cruelty of a factory farming operation, or strangers on the other side of the world who could only dream of a feast as abundant as the one on your Thanksgiving table.

In giving thanks this Thursday, I hope you also take the time to recognize those who have less for which to be grateful. If we could all commit a few acts of kindness and self-sacrifice, maybe we could afford others just a little bit more to rejoice in on Thanksgiving Day. And ultimately, I think that's what it's all about - rejoicing in all that we have and rejoicing in all that we give to others.

1Q84

2011-11-21T09:13:00.013-05:00

You know the kind of book that is so good you never want it to end, but at the same time, so compelling you just can't finish it fast enough? The kind of book that transports you to a completely new world you never want to escape but fills you with anticipation at the thought of discovering the secrets held on the final page. 1Q84 was just that kind of novel for me. Haruki Murakami took me to an exciting fictitious place I never wanted to leave, whether because I had to go to work, sleep, eat, attend to social obligations, or engage in just abut anything else that would take me out of the story in which I was totally wrapped up. The wonderful thing about Murakami's most recent book is that, clocking in at 925 pages, I oftentimes felt like I never would reach the last page and have to leave the world of Murakami's imagination.

1Q84 is a fascinating blend of Murakami's incomparable literary style, elements of science fiction, and the never-too-distant fear of Big Brother, a concept made popular by George Orwell's iconic and similarly titled novel 1984. It is definitely a darker novel than most of Murakami's other fiction, however, with elements including religious occultism, murder, child sexual abuse, and painful loneliness. Humor and love, of course, have their places, but the overall tone of the story is a bit of a departure from what some of this author's fans have probably come to expect.

1Q84 follows the both Aomame, a 30 year old fitness instructor, and Tengo, also 30 years old, a mathematics teacher and wannabe novelist. Their two stories are obviously fated to be intertwined, though the full extent of their past connection and fated future involvement is revealed little by little in an enticing, page-turning fashion.

Aomame is a serious woman, one who takes good care of herself, performs her work dutifully, and has little time or concern for socializing with others. On the side, she performs jobs of a heavy, criminal nature for an elderly client of hers from the gym where she is employed. After the completion of one such task, she notices strange changes in her life and the world in which she finds herself. She begins to question whether she's even in the same world as that in which she spent her previous 30 years. To differentiate this unintelligible new place from the world she knew in the year 1984, she refers to it as 1Q84.

Tengo finds himself thrown into a situation that is of questionable legality as well. Though he has yet to write a prize-winning piece of fiction, or one that's even been published, his high-powered editor Komatsu recognizes and values Tengo's talent and keeps him in close touch. In fact, Komatsu has Tengo screen potential pieces for a new talent fiction award. When Tengo comes across an unusually fantastic novella entitled Air Chrysalis, he immediately takes it straight to his editor. Though the writing itself is desperately in need of thorough revision, the story contained therein is an imaginative tale unlike anything that has ever crossed Tengo's or Komatsu's desks. Better yet, the novella's author is a 17 year old girl. With his finely honed instincts, Komatsu knows this piece of fiction has what it takes to win prizes and become a bestseller - that is, after he can convince Tengo to ghostwrite a revision.

Air Chrysalis' author, Fuka-Eri, is a remarkable character as well, an unusual girl who never utters more than a single sentence at a time and fails to end her questions with the inflection typically indicative of a query. Her mannerisms and personality are distinctively odd but compellingly so, while revelations from her background offer a continual flow of surprises. As she comes to know Tengo, he can't help but find himself compelled to rewrite this strange girl's work and figure out what exactly it is that has shaped her into the peculiar person she is.

It's hard to review a book like this - its very length guarantees that 1Q84 contains a multitude of plot elements that beg to be shared, but the joy that any reader is bound to feel upon uncovering them for his- or herself makes it entirely ridiculous for me to consider sharing them here. But any fan of Murakami's work is undoubtedly familiar with his talent for story construction, his penchant for seamlessly blending fantasy and reality, and his patient method of guiding readers to uncovering the mysteries he creates. His work is quite a treat to read and 1Q84 is no different.

For such a long novel, 1Q84 rarely failed to keep me engaged and excited. There was a span of about 100 pages toward the end that dragged a bit, though this may be more owing to the intermittent nature of my reading opportunities rather than any faults of Murakami's. At this point, I was mostly concerned with figuring the story out and full of anticipation for the seemingly elusive conclusion. And I am happy to report (without giving any specifics away!) that the ending was satisfying and well-suited to the nature of the entire book.

I highly recommend this novel, but if you don't think you can devote the amount of time necessary to completing a 925 page book, save this one for a break during the holidays. I thoroughly enjoyed it but think I would have even more so if my reading had not been so choppy. In the meantime, pick up any of Murakami's other books because they are all truly fantastic. If you're interested, I've reviewed a few of his other works already including Norwegian Wood, South of the Border, West of the Sun, and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.

Immersion Blender Morning Smoothie

2011-11-18T08:59:00.000-05:00

I'm a big fan of fresh, homemade smoothies and juices, but pretty lazy when it comes to making them myself. I love a rejuvenating and tasty apple carrot juice or watermelon broccoli cooler (trust me, it's delicious), but I hate to clean my juicer afterwards. For so long I had the same issue with smoothies. Throwing a bunch of fruit together in my blender made for a nutritious and delicious morning drink, but the prospect of cleaning out the blender often kept me from making any concoctions in the first place.

Enter the immersion blender. I originally asked for one as a wedding gift in the hopes of making smooth and creamy soups. When I realized just how easy it was to clean this blender, however, I broadened my sights and came up with a whole array of new recipes and ideas for this most handy of kitchen tools.

My favorite is the morning smoothie. With a combination of just fresh and frozen fruits and a little touch of water, I can whip up a sweet, healthy, additive- and sweetener-free smoothie in minutes. Below is my favorite recipe that I have been making on a pretty regular basis these days. Even though the weather has turned cold and most people are probably starting their mornings with a warm cup of tea or a bowl of oatmeal, I always feel refreshed and awakened by the combination of tart and sweet ingredients in this smoothie, as well as pretty full by the time I'm finished. And knowing exactly what goes into my breakfast drink makes me even more confident that it's a healthy choice!

But don't worry - even if you don't have an immersion blender, this recipe works just fine in a traditional blender. The key is using some frozen fruit to get a nicely chilled and textured drink, while gradually adding as much water (or fruit juice if you prefer) to attain the perfect consistency for your taste. This is a highly adaptable recipe and the proportions aren't set in stone - feel free to play around and make your own perfect smoothie!

Ultimate Immersion Blender Morning Smoothie

Ingredients

1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup frozen strawberries
1/8 cup frozen cranberries
1 whole banana
1/2 cup fresh pineapple
1/4 cup of water

Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (or in the bowl of your blender if using a traditional blender).
2. Blend until desired consistency is reached, adding more water as necessary.
3. Enjoy!

Writing to Change the World

2011-11-16T08:49:00.000-05:00

It was only after I began reading Mary Pipher's Writing to Change the World that I realized another of her books, Reviving Ophelia, had been sitting on my shelf for years, anxiously waiting to be visited. Pipher got me so inspired and fired up with Writing to Change the World that I won't waste any time getting around to Ophelia, or any of her other books, now. But on with the true subject of this review, Writing to Change the World.

Even if you aren't considering writing to change the world, Pipher's book is a veritable bounty of inspiration for making the world a better place. From the plethora of affecting quotations contained therein to her contemplation on what each of us can offer to the world in unique and unrepeatable ways, Pipher makes a case that we all have particular voices and deeply felt causes about which we can make change. If you're a passionate writer, she inspires you to put that voice to paper and make your one-of-a-kind perspective known. If not, her words still encourage challenging the status quo and thinking about how to leave the world in which we live a better place. A psychologist by training, Pipher offers content that can be applied beyond the written world to improve readers' relationships, careers, states of mind, and general levels of motivation.

At times the book's inspirational ways verge a little too cheesy for my tastes. But I do think that anyone with true intentions of changing the world requires a touch of the sentimental if they have any hope of making their dreams into a reality. If nothing else, Pipher encourages readers to challenge their patterned modes of thinking and writing, to dream big, and to allow individual personalities and passions to fuel great the sharing of great thought.

For bloggers and writers with a passion for doing good, social justice, and big change, Pipher's Writing to Change the World is definitely worth a look. And I can personally attest to this book's inspirational qualities as I've been doing a whole lot more writing in my spare time after I started reading. Pipher's writing gave me an increased sense of confidence in my own. Writing to Change the World helped me realize that I have a lot of valid things to say, things that I sometimes worry are too obvious, inconsequential, or common. But exercising my writing muscles will only help to clarify the unique messages that I have to share and to improve my talent and aptitude in sharing them.

Like Crazy

2011-11-13T09:46:00.000-05:00

Mike and I finally saw Like Crazy this weekend. I've been anticipating the release of this one for a few months now and drooling over the trailer again and again (I actually posted about the trailer here). I won't say that I was disappointed (doing so would satisfy Mike too much), but it wasn't quite as satisfying as I had hoped. I think it was the kind of movie I had idealized to the point that my expectations were too high to reach.

It was still a lovely movie and definitely had plenty of highlights and post-viewing discussion points. The film follows Anna and Jacob, two college students in LA who fall in love. Anna is from the UK and has dreams of becoming a writer while Jacob, a US-native, is a wannabe-furniture designer. The movie tracks their relationship from its very first date through all the struggles the couple deals with regarding immigration and deportation issues after graduation. Anna wants to stay in LA and violate her visa in order to be with Jacob, but this ultimately poses major obstacles in their effort to live in the same country.

Reviews have been pretty good all around but I was worried that this would be a real bummer of a movie. It wasn't nearly as depressing as I thought as there were a fair amount of both highs and lows scattered throughout. Anna and Jacob's problem isn't as simple as it appears, just as nothing ever seems to be once emotions become involved. And their story isn't completely hard to relate to - anyone who has been kept apart from someone they love can understand the experience of these two.

The acting is a true strength of this film. Felicity Jones, who portrays Anna, and Anton Yelchin, who plays Jacob, improvised all of their lines, but the movie never once feels ad libbed. Director Drake Doremus (who also directed Spooner, a movie of which I was a big fan) does a great job of capturing this story. Oftentimes, in films which lack written direction, scenes can seem to last for hours with little or no point, but the flow of Like Crazy was surprisingly satisfactory. Though extremely realistic, sometimes uncomfortably so, the movie grows dull and boring. In addition to the improvised nature of the movie, that true to life feeling can probably be attributed to the fact that Like Crazy is based on Doremus' own experience in college, falling in love with an international student.

Despite my few misgivings with this film, which would have probably been lessened if I went in to the theater with lesser expectations, I think Like Crazy is definitely worth watching. Though I don't see myself returning to watch this movie again and again, I was completely enraptured for the film's entire duration and found much to appreciate in terms of acting ability, direction, visual style, etc. The recognition it has received at Sundance is well-earned and I hope Like Crazy continues to do well. I just wish I could have been a little more satisfied with the storyline itself, a discontent that is probably much more attributable to me than the movie itself.

On Positivity

2011-11-11T07:22:00.000-05:00

Occasionally I worry that I'm not a good critic. On this blog, for instance, all the books, movies, artists, and recipes that I share and review get positive marks. To the reader, it may appear that I love everything I consume, that I'm an undiscerning patron of the arts and food.

In reality, this is hardly the case. I can complain just as much as the next person and the list of books I start and never finish because I find them boring, incomprehensible, or dull is much longer than I wish it to be. But the reason things get such a positive glow on Radiator Tunes is because I don't see the point in dishing out negativity. Why would I waste my time elaborating upon the reasons why I think you shouldn't read a book that I found particularly horrible when I could utilize that post as an opportunity to sing the praises of another worthwhile read? I guess negative reviews are ultimately antithetical to what I'm trying to do on this blog.

Though my goals are fluid and constantly taking new form, I generally hope to reach and share with others in a positive way. Some blogs share thoughts and ideas on fashion, others on motherhood and family life, and still others on design and homemaking. For me, I could never place limitations on the vastness of my curiosity and the spread of my interests, so I share whatever it is that I find particularly moving on any given day of the week. I think my blog is ultimately shaped by who I am and the interests that I have as a person, which gives it a particular personality (or at least, I hope it does), but also a positive spin. My posts are fueled by whatever it is that I find myself passionate about and that enthusiasm infuses and fuels Radiator Tunes.

I'm not really sure where I intended for this post to go, but this is a general line of thought that has come to me again and again as of late. Am I being too undiscerning by not posting about books that I found less than overwhelmingly wonderful? Am I letting readers down by failing to refer to movies that failed to entertain or recipes that failed to please? Ultimately I think the answer is no. I allow whatever I consume with enthusiasm and joy to become a topic on this blog. And doing so creates a positive atmosphere, one that I am proud to put my name on and to share with others.

I have yet to come across many (if not, any) blogs out there that are primarily devoted to bashing other people, their work, passions, or interests. Most of the blogs you'll come across have nothing but positivity and enthusiasm to share, for anything less would be a waste of a blogger's and her reader's time. This little community is one that thrives upon support, connectivity, enthusiasm, and good cheer. I hope to see this trend continue and for the goodness to keep on coming. Thanks for reading.

Upcycling

2011-11-08T10:16:00.000-05:00

We all know about reducing, reusing, and recycling - but what about upcycling? The concept is to utilize things you already have and recycle them to create more beautiful, useful, and eco-friendly products than you started with. The idea isn't difficult to grasp and is one most crafty-minded people have probably put into action plenty of times before. Danny Seo's book Upcycling, however, takes this fairly familiar concept to a whole new level.

Seo's upcycling projects are classified into one of five categories: ideas for decorating, ideas for entertaining, ideas for giving, ideas for kids, and utilizing materials from the great outdoors. And each of these categories contain an unbelievable amount of ingenious ideas for making the most of what you've already got around the house or would otherwise throw away. From a bath mat made of wine corks to fine-tooth-comb bookshelves, leather-belt doormats to cute zip-tie vines for organizing electronics cords, chopstick trivets to paint-stirrer candle lanterns, the ideas contained within this book are seemingly endless and endlessly inventive. Seo's book proves that, with just a few basic tools such as a glue gun and some thread and needle, nearly any item of trash can be turned into a treasure for your home, your next party, or your best friends' birthdays.

Wine Cork Bath Mat

Homemade Tiered Trays

Chinese Take-Out Chopstick Trivet

Though some of Seo's ideas verge a bit too much on the kitsch for me, flipping through Upcycling is still a great way to generate new ideas and push your creative abilities to the limits. The techniques and modes of thinking requires for Seo's projects can easily apply to whatever item your home needs or whatever types of excess you've got lying around and want to use up. Mr. Seo is truly the upcycling king and for anyone who wants to learn more, consider his book your new bible.

GIVERS

2011-11-02T08:04:00.001-04:00

I've been finding myself a little more optimistic about the state of music these days, probably in large part thanks to the band Givers. Their music is able to stay peppy and positive without sacrificing substance or artistic talent. Their percussion-driven tunes are highlighted by beautiful harmonies created through the fusion of two talented lead vocalists, one female and one male.

"In Light," Givers' debut album, is one that I can play all day as I drive around for work and never (at least not yet!) get bored with. And these danceable tunes are perfect for beating boredom when stuck in traffic or at a long stoplight.

Here are just a few of my favorite tunes from Givers. I highly recommend checking out their entire album because there really isn't a single track on it that doesn't deliver joyful and wonderful music!

"Up, Up, Up" is the opening track from "In Light" and it's pretty unbeatable in the danceability department!

This live performance of "Atlantic" recorded during SXSW really sold me on this band. I found myself captivated by the variety of instruments (some traditional and others not-so-traditional) being utilized but even more so by the lead female vocals which are tinged with just the subtlest of rasps.

Though I genuinely enjoy the album versions of all Givers' songs, I thought this SXSW session highlighted their talent and the simple beauty of their music so well that I couldn't resist including this video of their single "Saw You First."

October Tumblr Round-Up

2011-10-28T09:01:00.023-04:00

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter." - Carol Bishop Hipps

Patagonia's Common Threads Initiative: Patagonia agrees to build useful things that last, to repair what breaks and recycle what comes to the end of its useful life.I agree to buy only what I need (and will last), repair what breaks, reuse (share) what I no longer need and recycle everything else.

A self-described “visual anthropologist” and social explorer, 27-year-old photographer Umair Jangda has created a remarkable series of images based on a simple, sneakily powerful concept: namely, that photographing Muslims of different ages and backgrounds dressed in both contemporary clothes and in traditional Islamic attire might well be one way to alter the perception of Islam in the West.

“After a bit of a false start with this project,” Jangda told LIFE.com, “I realized that, ironically, I needed to show the stereotype [of how Muslims appear to Western eyes] in order to to battle that stereotype.

LIFE.com presents a selection of images from Jangda’s work-in-progress:The Muslim Behind Islam.

"You are an explorer, and you represent our species, and the greatest good you can do is to bring back a new idea, because our world is endangered by the absence of good ideas. Our world is in crisis because of the absence of consciousness." - Terence McKenna

"Associate with the noblest people you can find; read the best books; live with the mighty; but learn to be happy alone." - Saul Bellow; Ravelstein

Outcasts United

2011-10-26T07:05:00.090-04:00

I absolutely loved Warren St. John's Outcasts United. I'm not a soccer fan but that didn't effect my interest in this story of a soccer team composed of refugees relocated to Clarkston, Georgia in the least. St. John's narrative follows the real life story of a Jordanian woman, Luma Mufleh, who resettles in America permanently after receiving her undergraduate education at Smith College in Massachusetts.

Luma finds herself down South just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, in a town called Clarkston where the International Rescue Committee, World Relief, and other resettlement organizations have directed an influx of refugees from the world's most devastated and war-ravaged nations. The vast majority of these refugees belong to families that have been torn apart by the tragedies taking place in their home countries and are working tirelessly to make ends meet in a nation whose culture fails to understand, and often fails to even attempt to understand, their own. For the youth among the refugee community, however, soccer provides an outlet that most refugee parents are not so lucky to have found. It's more common in refugee communities to see games of street soccer being played than not, and this is how Luma comes to connect with young men from the whole world over.

With bottomless determination and a headstrong attitude, Luma develops a youth soccer league for the refugees. Struggling to find players who will adhere to her strict team rules, safe spaces in which to practice, and proper equipment to outfit her teams are just the first of many obstacles that attempt to thwart Luma's goal of establishing an organized, empowering, and successful soccer league for the refugee community. But Luma's endless perseverance meets with numerous rewards and successes, both large and small, that most others in her position would likely never see.

St. John's story isn't just that of a driven soccer coach, however. Luma's league is composed of three well-stocked teams, and the players' stories are just as remarkable as their coach's. Though her tough-love attitude at first serves to intimidate some players, over time the bond created goes beyond that typical of coaches and players. Luma considers her players and their kin to be her surrogate family, and her kindness and generosity toward them are in keeping with typical family behavior. From helping translate important bills to sorting out financial scams, from filling up empty pantries to coordinating discipline with mothers who can't be present to keep an eye on their children themselves, Luma runs herself ragged caring for the refugees who become more than simply players on her soccer team.

Outcasts United is a story about soccer, relocation, the struggles that refugees face, the extraordinary determination of a single woman, and the unbelievable good that athletics can do. It's composed of an array of intertwined stories with individual origins centuries old and thousands of miles apart. St. John's book is at times heart-wrenching, but ultimately inspiring.

Herbed Spaghetti Squash

2011-10-24T15:55:00.000-04:00

Spaghetti squash is something my mother and I first tried on an unusual whim (unusual for her more so than me being the adventurous veggie-lover that I am) one day while grocery shopping a few years ago. Though it doesn't look like anything special from the outside, once this unique squash is cooked, its flesh breaks apart in such a way that truly resembles spaghetti noodles. Though the taste of spaghetti squash is mild as is the case most squash, it is the perfect edible vehicle for tons of herbs and spices.

Most spaghetti squash recipes are fairly basic because, the more you fuss with it, the more you mask those spaghetti-like qualities that make this such an endearing novelty food. I wanted to do something simple with the spaghetti squash I had on hand and was searching recipes online to determine how long I'd need to cook my squash. Emeril's recipe for Herbed Spaghetti Squash worked wonderfully for me.

I simply sliced the squash in half lengthwise (a good and sharp chef knife does the trick much better than I imagined!), put it in a pan with a bit of water, and cooked it for about an hour. Then you remove the seeds and pull out all the delicious edible flesh, which falls out of the peel like perfectly cooked ribs do from the bone into spaghetti-like strands. I popped the squash into a saute pan with butter and the last of the season's herbs, and had a meal prepared in no time. How simple is that?

For Emeril's fool-proof recipe, click here. And to admire my lovely and delightful squash dish, simply scroll down to the photos below!

Race for the Cure

2011-10-22T08:49:00.128-04:00

Tomorrow morning myself, my father, and some.... other Baltimoreans will be running in October's annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It's an event in which people within my circle of family and friends have been participating since I was in middle school. In recent years it has become a tradition of sorts for my father and some combination of my sisters, our significant others, and myself to run as well. And as the granddaughter of a survivor of breast cancer, my connection to the illness is more than tenuous. But as a graduate sociology student, and in particular as a student of epidemiology, my increasing knowledge surrounding cancer acts as a small caveat to my participation in the Race for the Cure.

For the earlier part of the 20th century, the major causes of death were deseases which could be classified as infectious. Tuberculosis, pneumonia, measles, influenza. With short latency periods and high rates of mortality, infectious diseases primarily affected the young resulted in death or full recovery. Infectious diseases were curable but, to put things crudely, they also evoked a sort of natural selection whereby the more weak succumbed to disease while those who could build up some semblance of resistance made it through their childhoods. Individuals with heartier constitutions lived to their reproductive years and passed such infection-resistant traits on to their progeny while those who were unable to battle the disease passed away prior to their childbearing days. And for those who did survive, vaccines were created to suppress incidence. Thus deaths by many infectious diseases have been virtually eliminated.

Chronic diseases, on the other hand, are nearly the opposite of their infectious counterparts. Affecting a primarily older population, these illnesses are incurable with lengthy latency periods and innumerable causal factors. Cancer falls into this category as does heart disease, stroke, and diabetes among others. Since an older population is affected, there is little to no natural selection at work. The victims of chronic diseases are already beyond their reproductive years and have passed their genetic susceptibilities onto their children, who will find themselves affected most likely during their older age as well. Thus there is no natural reduction in occurrence over time. And many people can live with these illnesses for years, some even overcome them, but they are ultimately, by definition, incurable diseases. And this is what my whole Race for the Cure participation caveat rests upon.

I completely understand the desire to find a cure for cancer, a disease that nearly all of us have been affected by in one way or another, even if that be simply knowing someone who suffers from some form of cancer. But I also understand, now more than ever, that this effort will most likely be a fruitless one. I don't mean to be a pessimist or nonbeliever, but by its very definition as a chronic illness, cancer is incurable.

On the other hand, I think efforts to improve the quality of and extend the length of the lives of people with cancer are more realistic, beneficial, and efficient goals. Even better yet would be to see some true devotion to prevention of cancer and other rampant chronic illnesses. Our society places so much attention on treatment after the conception of disease when more of our focus must be devoted to prevention efforts to offset if not entirely avoid conception. There are innumerable things that we can do on both social and individual levels to make our environment, our homes, our families, and ourselves less ridden with chronic illness. Organizations like Breast Cancer Action, about which I posted a few months back, are turning the spotlight onto the perpetrators of our increasingly carcinogenic world. Rather than searching for a cure that may never be found, their efforts are directed at changing the world we live in so as to stem the tide of cancer-causing environmental factors.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation and its Race for the Cure events are truly remarkable. They stand as testaments to the power of excellent advocacy, fundraising, issue framing, and more. But imagine how different our world would be if those eponymous pink ribbons represented (and if all their associated products funded) not the search for a cure to end breast cancer but the effort to research and develop preventative techniques and lifestyles. Or what if millions of people across the United States participated in 5k runs and walk-a-thons to fundraise for solutions to problems more achievable, such as hunger and homelessness. Social ills near and far require time and money to curtail. If these problems, including genocide, human trafficking, and starvation, were the cause behind fundraising events as popular and wide spread as the Race for Cure, think of where our world could be. Maybe it's because they simply aren't relatable to middle class Americans or maybe people don't have a proper understanding of the scope and reality of these life-or-death issues. I just can't help thinking of the multitude of dire causes that need just as much, if not more, attention as breast cancer.

Despite my various misgivings, I still enjoy participating in the Race for the Cure. Though the true aim is to find a cure for breast cancer, the event is also ripe with celebrations of womanhood, community, health, and more. Sponsors such as Panera Bread, Yoplait, and others come out in droves to support participants, provide free food (Panera's pink ribbon bagels are quite the draw for me!), and demonstrate their endorsement of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. People find unbelievably creative ways to bring pink into every last facet of their outfit while others list the names of victims of breast cancer in whose names they are running. The race is far more than 5k and this is, I believe, one of its true strengths. Though I wish this type of attention and fanfare could be redirected to more realistic and practical goals, I love to see people so rallied up about something in which they believe and for which they truly care. It gives me hope that, when messages are delivered in compelling, inspiring, and unavoidable ways, they have the capacity to do unlimited good. And it is this aspect of the Race for the Cure that keeps me running and allows me to hold out hope that the call for preventative policies and actions are not far behind the search for a cure.

Once

2011-10-19T09:01:00.003-04:00

Once is the sort of movie that will never ever leave me. Within the first five minutes of viewing the film in the theater, I knew that I would be irrevocably affected by what was playing out on the screen before me. That may seem a bit dramatic and even presumptuous to say, but I can't think of a more accurate way to describe how it feels to think back to the very first time I watched Once.

If you haven't a clue what movie I'm talking about, skip ahead to the trailer at the end of this post. Basically it's an independent boy-meets-girl film with a musical spin. Glen Hansard, lead singer of the Irish band the Frames, plays the unnamed male lead while Czechoslovakian newcomer Market Irglova portrayed the girl. While Hansard spends his days performing popular covers on his battered old guitar in the middle of the busy town square, Irglova sells novelty items to tourists in the same commercial section of Ireland. Irglova finally approaches the talented music man late at night after hearing him play one of his most beautiful originals "Say It To Me Now." Her perfunctory line of questioning and abrupt manner of conversation are initially a turn-off to Hansard. But their subsequent interactions turn him further and further on to this magnetic girl's charms, especially once he discovers her musical prowess on piano.

The two make music together and adventures ensue. Both of their histories, romantic and otherwise, are slowly unveiled and the seemingly simple outcome of a typical boy-meets-girl scenario looks increasingly unlikely. But set to the entire story is an outstanding soundtrack of original music. It's hard to classify the film as having either a soundtrack or a score - the songs contained therein are central to the story itself as in a musical but are more akin to tracks than a standard score. No matter how you look at it, the way in which music, in particular Hansard and Irglova's songs, is woven into the film makes Once as stunning as it is. My major impressions upon leaving the theater were of incomprehensible beauty, songs so gorgeous that I wanted to cry, cheesy as that may sound. It is exceedingly difficult for me to accurately describe them because they are so wonderful, but that is why this is a must-watch film.

For about a year, Mike and I were without our DVD copy of Once. We generously donated one of our very favorite films to our close friend Evan. Being kind and forgiving people, we didn't get upset with Evan for forgetting to return to us our most prized DVD on the innumerable occasions he had to do so. But when Once was finally returned to our hands, we both fell in love all over again and watched the movie at least three times in the span of a single week. We didn't realize just how special the movie was to us both and how universally appealing a film it is. There isn't a single person I've recommended Once to that has come back anything less than grateful, a raving fan, and ecstatic at having been introduced to Hansard and Irglova's world. I hope that the trend of thoroughly satisfied viewers holds true for any readers out there who get their own hands on a copy of Once.

Weekly Recap

2011-10-17T08:21:00.015-04:00

En route to a wine stomp with my family on Sunday, we stopped at a plentiful roadside farmer's market with pumpkins, gourds, and squash galore!

My little sister Leanne got into the spirit of the fall season!

I got a huge haul of sweet potatoes so we've been eating them non-stop this week. My favorite method is sliced, sauteed, and enjoyed atop a salad of mixed greens and dried cranberries.

On a trip into Baltimore to see my friend Bilqis this weekend, we stopped at Patterson Park's observation tower which offers stunning views of the city. Apparently the tower is only open Sunday mornings during the spring, summer, and fall, so we were especially lucky to make it in without any prior planning!

Dangerously Delicious Pies offers a delightful pie known as the Mobtown. Pecan pie buried beneath a thick and decadent layer of chocolate ganache, it's pretty much my favorite sweet treat. Since they failed to deliver when we ordered pies for my birthday a few weekends ago (how a pie shop runs out of crucial ingredients for orders placed days in advance without letting the customers know is still beyond me), Mike and I decided to make our own modified Mobtown. A store-bought pecan pie worked as the base and Nutella made a most delicious ganache-esque topping. Mike was out of town and challenged me to save the pie until he made it home... the Nutella swirls on top are really putting my willpower to the test!

Pumpkin Munchkins

2011-10-15T15:39:00.010-04:00

Photo courtesy The Craving Chronicles

I'm crazy about pumpkin and I have quite a thing for donuts too. I guess it makes sense that I'd gravitate toward these delicious and pop-able autumn treats! You've got to try this recipe now that fall is in full swing and pumpkin time is here! I think they'd be particularly amazing with a cream cheese glaze or dipping icing!

I'm also looking forward to making these Nutella-Filled Sugar Donuts as soon as I can. And a few Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes wouldn't hurt either. So many recipes for delicious and sweet breakfast treats are anxiously awaiting a test run in my kitchen these days. I'll be sure to report back as soon as I've tested them out!

Lunch in Paris

2011-10-13T08:57:00.000-04:00

Reminiscent of Elizabeth Berg’s Eat, Pray, Love and Molly Wizenberg’s A Homemade Life, Elizabeth Bard’s debut book, Lunch in Paris, is a memoir of love, food, and Paris. We meet Bard as a 25-year-old Londoner, a New Jersey Jew transplant who found herself living overseas working towards a Master’s degree in Art History. Her first meeting with Gwendal, the man who becomes her husband, is at an academic conference which leads to lunch in Paris and then a long-distance courtship. Though the majority of Lunch in Paris documents the trajectory of Elizabeth and Gwendal’s courtship, the memories that define their relationship are defined by the food they ate and the city in which it all took place.

Elizabeth includes recipes throughout her book, from ages-old family meals to recreations of dishes devoured in France’s best restaurants. She offers simple and quick comfort foods as well as more traditional, labor-intensive French fare. But in addition to food, which certainly plays a vital role in Bard’s life, especially once she officially moves to Paris, the book is about intercultural relationships and offers a running commentary on the vast disparities between French and American mentalities. Elizabeth discovers that she holds onto a largely unrealistic and very American sense of optimism, while Gwendal is used to being told that he shouldn’t pursue his dreams, that he needs to keep a firm grasp on reality. Pursuing a friendship in France is a timely endeavor that tries on one’s patience. People rarely pick up friends outside the social circle they formed in school and are much less open in conversation with outsiders. The American meal is excessive, quick, and unbound by any sense of tradition, whereas the French dining experience is truly that - an experience. Foods and flavors are savored because only just enough, if not less than enough, is prepared for everyone. Meals can last hours while most Americans are too fast-paced to linger over a relaxing dinner for more than a single hour’s time. Bard provides plenty of interesting observations that made me question my own value system. Certain American ideals have become so ingrained in my psyche, such as our value we place upon work and achieving some modicum of success, that it is hard for me to place myself within a French mindset and relax, linger, and let happiness be my guide. Nonetheless, there are plenty of things to admire in the French, and for me, their food culture is the most enviable of all.

And of course, it’s also a story about love. There is the inexplicable and incomprehensible way that Gwendal, a man from an entirely separate culture and a drastically different set of life experiences, fully understands Elizabeth, often knows what she wants better than she knows herself. Bard also deals with those life-changing decisions that every relationship eventually requires contemplating. Moving in together, relocating to a new city and country, getting married - to an outsider, these are seemingly natural progressions in any healthy relationship, but within the confines of this couple, these are decisions that must be poured over, considered, and never decided upon in haste. Lunch in Paris offers both an intimate look at the specific romance between Elizabeth and Gwendal while also sharing in the universality of love, the common outline of experiences that all lovers go through by virtue of sharing their life together, though the specifics may vary.

All in all, Lunch in Paris is a delight to read. Full of the rush of new love, the delight of painstakingly prepared French cuisine, and the charm of Paris, Bard’s first attempt is a lovely and delicious winner.

We Are The 99 Percent

2011-10-11T22:10:00.001-04:00

I just came across this great blog on Tumblr called We Are the 99 Percent. In response to the Occupy Wallstreet movement, citizens from across the country have written testimonials about their experiences with the economy, student loans, mortgages, medical bills, unemployment, and the like. The authors take self portraits of themselves holding their handwritten stories which are posted on the Tumblr page.

I came across one of these photos and soon found an hour of my night consumed reading these people's experiences. Some of them ring awfully familiar, others have brought me to the verge of tears, and still more have detailed my worst fears. Despite the awful political and economic conditions which have made such a blog possible, reading this Tumblr does give me hope. The sheer number of people who have shared their experiences, who have reached rock bottom but still count themselves blessed or lucky, who recognize how unsustainable and precarious our national situation is, and who realize that the American dream is no longer within reach gives me reason to believe that change is imminent.

The Occupy Wallstreet movement is a peaceful, powerful, and essential one that I fully support and hope to in some way participate in when it makes its way to Baltimore. Reading these narratives from the 99%, and even a few from advocates belonging to the 1%, I can't imagine how things could possibly persist as they are without any movement toward change. In a world where so many individuals have followed the correct path, worked hard in school and beyond, and done right the whole time but still find themselves unable to make ends meet, worried about their survival, and unable to provide for their families, there is no conceivable future without change.

Even if 99% of our nation's people don't possess the degree of economic power they have rightly earned, their voices are another source of power that is proving impossible to ignore.

Weekly Recap

2011-10-10T10:36:00.001-04:00

Louie's guilty face gets her out of so much trouble.

Fall is in the air!

A few pretty shots around the garden of the house I've been sitting.

A typical housesitting morning - tea, a book, and the great outdoors.

More shots of the garden. I love the little hairs on this guy.

I've had some bad luck with shoes lately (three pairs have suffered significant damage in the past month!) so I finally got myself a pair of TOMS and I am positively loving them!

Cuban Black Bean Soup

2011-10-08T09:33:00.036-04:00

As an undergraduate, I briefly dabbled in the hospitality program at my university in the hopes of attaining a culinary education without losing out on the college experience. My tenure as a major in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management was quite short lived but I stuck around long enough to take a basic cooking course which I loved. We didn't really learn specific techniques so much as prepared recipes for three hours a day once a week, then enjoyed our creations together. It got to the point where the professor offered us a lot of freedom and we kept returning to rainy day comfort foods like grilled cheese and tomato soup.

One of my favorite recipes from the entire course was a Cuban Black Bean Soup. Prior to the course, I never considered myself a fan of black beans, nor much of a soup connoisseur. But one taste of this delicious and flavorful soup and I was hooked. Though it can be a bit labor intensive (mostly when it comes to the clean up since a food processor or immersion blender is required), the results are definitely worth whatever effort it takes.

Black beans make the base of the soup, as the name implies, but the real dynamic flavors come from diced red pepper, ground cumin, and fresh oregano. Warm and smooth, this soup is hearty enough to eat on its own or with a little bit of cheese, toast, or a sandwich. Even if you don't consider yourself a huge black bean aficionado, I highly recommend giving this soup a try. It's a surprisingly appealing dish that, though not necessarily appetizing to look at (which is why there aren't any pictures to accompany this post), is great to make in batches for freezing and enjoying all fall long.

Cuban Black Bean Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

6 cups canned black beans, rinsed and drained
3 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 cup oil
2 red bell peppers, de-seeded, ribs removed, diced
2 shallots, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
8 garlic cloves, peeled, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Place beans, broth, and bay leaves into a pot. Bring to a boil, then partially cover and simmer over medium-low heat while preparing the remaining ingredients.
In a saute or fry pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
Place the peppers, shallots and onions into the pan and cook until the onions are translucent, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
Add the garlic, cumin, and oregano, and cook for several more minutes.
Add the sauteed mixture into the pot of beans. Add the sugar and salt.
Remove the bay leaves and puree with an immersion blender or food processor until smooth.
Adjust salt, sugar, and pepper if needed. If soup is too thick, thin with more broth or with water. Enjoy!

Villagers

2011-10-05T08:57:00.035-04:00

While driving home from work one evening, I came across WXPN's World Cafe broadcast from WXPN. I found myself immediately smitten by the artist who was the subject of the evening's interview, a man with the most adorable Irish accent. I hurried home to figure out what band was churning out these melodic folksy sounds under voices tinged with Dublin and quickly found my answer: Villagers.

A lot of the music produced by this Ireland-based group sounds really familiar to me. Not in a tired, heard-it-a-hundred-times-before, sounds like everything else on the radio kind of way, but in a nostalgic, comforting, warm and fuzzy kind of way. They fall quite easily under the indie umbrella but, like many of the most successful artists within this genre, there is something a bit special that sets Villagers out from among the rest with all their lead singer-songwriters, college radio hype, and acoustic vibes.

I don't know too much about the group's history and can do little justice by way of a description of their sound, so I'll let the music speak for itself. All I know is that Villagers got me at least a little bit excited about music again which an exceedingly few number of artists have been able to do as of late. Enjoy!

Weekly Recap

2011-10-03T08:21:00.016-04:00

Monday: I've been driving by this tree nearly every day for work and the excitement of seeing half of its leaves turned to bright red never lessens!

Tuesday: Pumpkins and squash galore!

Wednesday: I know I still have about three months more to wait until my most favorite holiday but that doesn't mean I can't start raiding the local library for Christmas inspiration! A Greener Christmas (which I posted about around this time last year) and The Farm Chicks Christmas are definitely my two favorites thus far!

Thursday: A trip to my local craft store was crucial to my efforts to fall-ify my house! This garland was 60% off (with so many seasonal sales and coupons, you should never have to pay full price at these places!) and adds so much autumnal cheer to my living room. Plus I can use it year after year after year!

Friday: These little owl candles are another favorite fall touch of mine! I'll probably never burn them because they are just too adorable as they are!

Saturday: Mike and I went to see the new movie 50/50 on Saturday morning (all movies are only $6.00 per ticket before 12:00 noon on the weekends at AMC theaters!). We'd both been looking forward to the film and were extremely pleased by how entertaining, touching, and hilarious it was. 50/50 was everything you would hope it to be - funny without being completely insensitive and heartwarming without crossing the line onto the overly sentimental side. I highly recommend seeing this one soon!

September Tumblr Round-Up

2011-09-30T09:54:00.048-04:00

For a while, I totally fell off the Tumblr bandwagon. I think I was following too many hipsters posting photo after photo of the same monochromatic images of coffee mugs and vinyl records and v-neck-t-shirt-clad androgynous boys that I just got bored with it all. For some reason unbeknownst to me, as of late I've allowed myself to enter the realm of Tumblr again, making sure to seek out better blogs to follow. I think I've done pretty well on that front thus far.

Tumblr is almost a form of micro-blogging since most posts are quotes, photos, links, and the like. So I thought it would be interesting to re-post some of my favorite little bits and pieces that I've come across on Tumblr on the more long-form Radiator Tunes blogger site. I'm hoping to make this a monthly post where I'll select and share some of the best things I've discovered on Tumblr in the past 30 days. Here's my first attempt at a Tumblr round-up. Let me know what you think, if you have a Tumblr account that I should follow, or if you have any following recommendations to make!

Link: Surrey is home to North America's largest living wall. And better yet, it's on the side of a library.

Link: The Stanford Center's 20 Facts About U.S. Inequality that Everyone Should Know

Link: Income Gaps Between Very Rich and Everyone Else More Than Tripled In Last Three Decades, New Data Show

“There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don’t expect you to save the world I do think it’s not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary and remove from your live those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect.” - Nikki Giovanni

'Don’t be morbid,’ Jordan said. ‘Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.’ - F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting” - e.e. cummings

The Head and The Heart - Rivers & Roads (A Doe Bay Session Extra) from Sound on the Sound on Vimeo.