freesparrow

children's literature: an annotated bibliography

2011-11-08T19:57:00.001-08:00

Kites Sail High by Ruth Heller

This is an excellent book which illustrates verbs for students. Don't be deceived! It looks like a children's book, but covers topics such as subjunctive mood, passive and active voice, and auxiliaries. Heller has a series covering parts of speech, each illustrated with beautiful colored pencil drawings. Elementary children would undoubtedly listen to these over and over while junior or senior high school students digest the intricacies of parts of speech in a candy-coated shell. Beyond the obvious instruction for verbs, you could also use this book to teach the difference between “vivid” verbs and the typical be verbs which fill student writing. After reading, have the students create their own list of vivid verbs and practice using them in sentences without be verbs. Another topic for discussion could be syntax. One page reads “Or it gives a command. March! This is a whole sentence in one single word, and of course this can only be done by a verb.” Why is a verb the only part of speech that can be a whole sentence? How else can we write besides using simple subject-verb with a period at the end? An easy way to introduce grammar is always a handy tool for the English teacher's belt, and this series is one of them.

John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith

Lane Smith, of The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs fame, is great at humor and point of view. She doesn't talk down to children; her books read like she has an inside joke with them. John, Paul, George & Ben is a based-on-the-truth look into some of our founding fathers. It distills each man down to his essential quality and then goes back to when he was a child and shows how that trait set him apart. Each quality seemed to be a negative quality at first but fast-forward to the Revolutionary War, and each man's character plays a central role in the shaping of America. This book can obviously tie to history, becoming a cross-content review or introduction to a unit set in the late eighteenth century. It can also be used as key to unlock characterization. What are the major character traits of each man and how did those affect his life and those around him? After going through this short exercise, one could tackle a much more daunting work, like a novel or play. What are Willy Loman's and his two sons' essential qualities if you boil them down? What about Hamlet or Romeo? Why does Gatsby seem bound to a tragic end based on his character? Why stop there? Lead right into an essential question like “Do humans have a choice or does Fate determine their destiny?” The possibilities are endless.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This timeless classic has so many potential uses, and is loved by everyone who reads it. It is the story, “narrated” by a pilot who crashes in the deserts of Africa, of a little prince, visitor from another planet (Asteroid B-612), who is exploring the universe. He has a tidbit of wisdom from every encounter which he innocently shares by way of observation. He is always longing to return home, where a beautiful rose is waiting for him; a rose that cannot survive without him and to whom he is bound even though she is haughty and seems indifferent to his patient care. A few of the themes covered are: love, friendship, loyalty, childhood versus adulthood, and admirable character qualities like being hardworking and dedicated. In the secondary English classroom, a certain chapter could be read, such as when the little prince encounters a businessman who is obsessed with numbers, money and ownership, but who never gets up from his desk to enjoy anything he owns. The little prince is intrigued by this, which could be contrasted to Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye, who is disdainful toward adults and phonies. It could also be read as a whole, a little each day, just to instill a love of reading in students who do not habitually read. It is hard to imagine a person who would not be touched by this simple story, and it is short enough to read a small piece each day, or a larger chunk on Fridays, and finish in a quarter. So many sentences of Saint-Exupery's works have become well-known quotes about the deep themes of life, which could be discussed or used as journal prompts for reflection because they are universal.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Though most would cite The Giving Tree as their favorite Silverstein work, I am a lifelong fan of his poetry. I really believe most of them are about deeper themes than they appear to be. But, that could be reading too much into them. Silverstein is a master at poetry, a topic that is usually daunting and dry to students and adults alike. Read one of his poems a day to familiarize your students with the rhythm and lyricism of poetry, or just to add a bit of fun (who doesn't love “Sick” or “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out”?). Many could be used as a hook to a lesson. I am going to put “Invitation” on a poster on my door. It reads,

Invitation

If you are a dreamer, come in,

If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,

A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...

If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire

For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Sparkle and Spin by Ann & Paul Rand

My exposure to Paul Rand came from my husband, who greatly admires Rand's work as a fellow graphic artist. This proves that art and design are not wasted on the youngest readers! Children often notice things that adults walk right by. We have grown accustomed to seeing the world a certain way, but children have an untrained eye and are keen observers. In Sparkle & Spin, Ann writes (and Paul illustrates) about the way that words are used and the magic in everyday language. It is written in rhythmic verse and “explores homophones, interjections, adjectives, verbs, and more” (I own this book and love it, but am using a review because our copy is packed away in our tiny apartment at the moment). (paul-rand.com) This is applicable to a unit on writing in the English classroom; forcing students to carefully choose the words they use in an essay. It would also be a good study in visual content, which is a section of required learning (7. Media in English III). Graphic design reveals the power of words not only through their lexical meaning but in the way they are presented, which is how advertisers and politicians (and used-car salesmen) target their audiences.

Goodnight, Goodnight by Eve Rice

This book is illustrated entirely in three colors: black, white and yellow. The yellow is only used for pools of light, since the story is set at night. The book is for very young readers, probably who cannot read on their own yet, and the story is a city going to sleep at night. But the twist is that Goodnight is not just the salutation that a toddler says before going to bed- it is the main character of the story. This becomes more apparent as the story progresses, and makes one wonder if the title is a salutation to the main character. The setting of the story is also a city. Over the rooftops of a cityscape the moon rises. A cat tiptoes along rooftops and hunts for food (not everyone sleeps at night!). A chestnut vendor closes down his cart and walks home. Goodnight peers into windows watching the townspeople wind down from the day's work. This book could be used to introduce and explain personification. It could also be used to explore setting. This book is set in the city and has a very urban series of events. What would saying goodnight look like in a rural town or in a suburb? How do you know you are in a city? What are the elements of setting that impact the story? Another idea is to explore the use of color, or simplicity, in the illustrations. With only three colors, the artist conveys more than with a spectrum. Sometimes simple things are more powerful.

Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky

This classic brothers Grimm fairy tale is retold and richly illustrated for children (Zelinsky also illustrated Beverly Cleary's Dear Mr. Henshaw and Ralph S. Mouse). The story goes like this: a beautiful young maiden is sold off to a king under the impression that she can spin straw into gold. Her own father was the one who told this tall tale to impress the king. Facing death, the girl is desperate. Suddenly, a tiny, strange-looking man appears and promised to get her out of her bind in return for jewelry. This continues three times, of course, the bargain escalating each time. The girl marries the king, has a child a year later and is on her way to a happy life when Rumpelstiltskin reappears and demands the child as the last promised payment for her deliverance. She begs, pleads and cries, and finally the man says if she can guess his name, the bet is off. She has three days. During the second night, she sends her maid out to find the man, and loyal servant that she is, she scours the countryside until she happens upon him dancing around a fire, preemptively rejoicing because no one knows his name is Rumpelstiltskin. Back she goes to her mistress, who guesses his name the next day and lives happily ever after! I would use this book for two things unrelated to fairy tales. First, the importance of minor characters in key moments of the plot. Take Shakespeare- it is usually a very minor (and often foolish) character who saves the day, or who unwittingly gets some major character in big trouble. There are no small parts, only small mistakes which lead to big outcomes. Secondly, I would explore pride. This maiden was sold off by her father who was just trying to impress his king. Then Rumpelstiltskin was foiled by his own pride- he had the deal sealed but could not wait to rejoice, thereby losing it all. How many great characters have had their downfall because of their own pride? And how many of us can relate?

Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness

Winner of the 1967 Caldecott Award for illustration, this is one of my favorite children's books. I first read it in third grade, and though it had been years since I last read it in a library, I found myself brought to tears once again. Sam, short for Samantha, is a lonely little girl in Maine whose mother is deceased and whose father is a fisherman. She has a cat named Bangs and a friend named Thomas who believes all her tall tales. Her father's admonitions to stop telling “moonshine” stories goes unheeded until one of her stories risks the lives of those dearest to her. Again, the theme of friendship is very strong, especially since the protagonist seems to take it for granted. Bangs also plays the role of being Sam's conscious by “talking” to Sam and asking her poignant questions. This is really Sam questioning herself, though she will not admit it. The book also deals with contentment. Sam is lonely but does not rejoice at the little friend who hangs on her every word (Daisy Buchanan, anyone?) and little Thomas, though surrounded by riches, just wants a friend. What happens when we do not take into account the consequences of our actions, and risk what we do have to get what we only might have? Is it worth it?

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott

This fable from Ghana is simplified and retold for American children. Anansi the spider is a great folk hero of the Ashanti people, a funloving rascal whose six sons have to rescue him from his adventures. In the story, he falls into trouble, but his sons rescue him by use of their namesake-quality: See Trouble knows Anansi is in peril, Road Builder gets them all there, River Drinker swallows a whole river to save Anansi from drowning.... all the way down the line to Cushion who lets dad plop onto his back. In gratefulness for their help, Anansi wants to give them a gift. He finds a great white orb and asks Nyame (the God of All Things) to hold it for him until he can decide which son to give it to. Nyame, wise being that he is, decides to put it in the sky to be shared by all the sons, and all creatures on the earth. This book would be a great way to expose students to world literature, in the context of a unit or throughout the year. It also deals with cultural questions of existence: where do we come from? What is most important in life? How was the earth created? Students could write their own short story or children's book about the origin of a natural event (like volcanoes, or spoken language) and share it with an elementary class in the city. If studying modern literature, it could be used to analyze what a hero is, or rather, an antihero. Modern literature tends to favor a flawed but still admirable protagonist over the swashbuckling Renaissance man of classic literature. Anansi has some good and bad qualities, but in the end is still the hero of the story. Why? What qualities are important in a hero? How do flaws help define and shape us and help us relate to others?

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Talk about a tear-jerker! This is one of the greatest children's books of all time! A stuffed rabbit is given to a small boy, who over the years loves the shine right out of his eyes. At first, the rabbit is ostricized for being old-fashioned and unimpressive compared to the tin soldiers and mechanical toys of the nursery. But a wise old rocking horse encourages the rabbit not to listen to their mockery. They will not last, and once a spring snaps, it will be off to the ribbish heap for them. A real toy knows what love is and knows its value comes from the child who owns it, not the praise of others. Many a child grew up thinking his toys were real because of this book. I know I did. This classic work has so many possibilities in the classroom with teens and adolescents. For one thing, the topic of value and worth could be discussed in groups and paired alongside a novel the class is reading. The theme of hardship or trial being the very things that make us who we are is another life lesson that Williams handles so well. The book could also be used to talk about comprehension despite a semi-unfamiliar and outdated setting. This book is British and was published in 1922. Many of the words are odd to the modern American ear but nevertheless understandable in context. This could be a lesson for something old and difficult such as “The Devil and Tom Walker,” written by Washington Irving in 1824. The story is readable when given a little help with vocabulary. This would be encouraging to students who have a difficult time reading, because they could summarize the story to a friend and see that it is not necessary to understand every word and detail to connect with the deeper meaning of the story.

Autumnal Equinox

2011-09-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, I missed it by a few days, but bear with me- I've had the most insane week. I heard recently that September/October is the most stressful part of the resident year and that gave me such relief! The other night, I dreamt of graduation-lol! Only eight months to go....

I was so inspired by this beautiful display made entirely of book pages....

the nester

cannot wait to have a cute little house with a fireplace and a little back yard and space enough (and maybe time enough?) to do things like this again. Oh yeah, and then un-bury our wonderful dining room table and chairs and all our dishes and kitchen ware and have people over again.... dreaming....

link for directions should you be so inspired

wanderlust

2011-09-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

while spencer and i were mansion sitting this weekend (pictures of that to come), we looked through our honeymoon pictures - the condensed list- and it got me dreaming of a trip to paris. this is not a new plan. i have long since determined that we will make a trek in 2013, the ten year anniversary of my semester abroad. i would love to show him around praha, and bookend the trip with a honeymoon reminder in paris.

him: what would you do with only three days in paris?

me: eat. and walk along the river. and eat.

him: visit the pompidou.

me: go back to that one painting in the louvre we got kicked out before seeing. and go to Fauchon and Habitat and spend a buttload of money. (i'm so eloquent)

here are some of my favourites from the over 1400 spencer took...

gratuitous mush photo thrown in there. hey, it was our honeymoon.

bonsoir.

spread the word!

2011-09-02T04:35:00.000-07:00

it's open season here at MTR! tell anyone you think might be interested in an amazing career changing the lives of students in memphis!

memphistr.org/apply

summertime waning

2011-08-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

at least i hope it is.

before the fall brings shorter days and darker evenings, i will celebrate summer. i found this on a favourite blog and wanted to share

sprouted kitchen

yum.

today has been the loveliest, most relaxing day in a long while.

woke up at ten.

went to la baguette, the nearby french patisserie, to get danishes

made coffee, veggie & goat cheese frittata to accompany said danishes

ate a nice, slow breakfast with spencer

soundtrack to the day so far: garden state, phantogram, spencer's homemade led zepplin mix...

about three hours of internet browsing, including the amazing ipad app Catalog, blog catch-up, searching for fall wardrobe wishlist items. anyone know where to find some silk knot earrings?

now to nap, journal, read my bible, ichat with fam, go on a long walk at shelby farms with spencer and end the day with dinner and parks & recreation.

ahhhhhhhhhh

yearning

2011-08-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

it's that time of year for me...

i have the same excitement bubbling up in my soul for the onset of autumn that most people talk about around the holidays....

cooler weather
leaves
tights
boots! boots! boots!
sweaters
cider
pumpkin patches
cold rain
darkening days
halloween
long walks outside with spencer (who enjoys summer like a cat enjoys water)
soups!
figs, apples, persimmons
beaujolais nouveau
our anniversary
and new this year: baby waldon!

did i mention boots? (these are on their way to me as we speak)

as i sit and enjoy my sunday afternoon blog-reading time, i think of how much i love decorating. i miss it. don't get me wrong, i love so many things about our cute little apartment- wood floors, tiny floor tile in the bathroom, cute wall trim and a 50's era swinging door to close off the kitchen- but i long for the time when we can move out to a little place of our own. maybe a little house in midtown or cooper-young, maybe a downtown loft (exposed brick!)... i want to paint. i miss our dark aqua wall in our condo, and i could do great things with rusty orange. i miss my acrylic ikea dining chairs and our dark espresso ikea dining room table that can hold 16 (really uncomfortably) people. sigh....

here are some photos that have me inspired and dreaming right now

photo

photo LA times, Domino

design sponge

house obsession

apartment therapy

LA Times blog

hgtv

sabbespot

decor8

See some inspiring ideas? I need a way to catalogue my finds....

also, I am in the mood for some new blog finds. What are your top five?

the birthday wish list (part II)

2011-07-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

For those of you not married to musicians, the title of this post is a reference to an annoyingly named Beastie Boys album. I could write a whole post about annoying band/album names. For one thing, anyone who did not go to college but names their band after great American literature should be banned. It's like moving to NYC and a month later saying you're from there.

The other day I got on here and discovered I have 30 blog followers! Thirty! That is crazy. I don't know how that happened during my months of silence, but I'm determined to not let this blog die, though it will have to morph a bit. For those of you wondering what the heck I'm doing writing a blog post after several months of silence, let me recap:

Six months ago, I got a new job, broke my arm, and got another new job while applying for a REAL job half way across the country. In March, we came to Memphis, TN, for my interview, and seven short and insane weeks later MOVED there! It's been the most insane year of my life (I've now had five jobs this year, a record even for me), but so amazing and incredible. Which brings me to why I did decide to blog today: in three days it's my birthday!!!! What else could pull you out of a non-blogging rut better than a narcissistic birthday wish list post? To prepare for this, I reread my wish list from last year...

(I'll wait while you review)

(has your jaw dropped?) That's right- I got my number one wish- a new job where I can wear Jemma Mays- esque clothing!!! Of course, the job is the main gift: I am now a part of the Memphis Teacher Residency, and will be teaching high school English this year!!!! How unbelievable and amazing is God? I never thought in a million years this would actually be my life and now here I am! Totally crazy and amazing. Wow.

Next up was a cat, and while we are not there yet, we did go look last week. Meet Jack:

Isn't he just adorable? Or, as a true Southerner would say, "precious." He is waiting for us over at the Humane Society at Shelby Farms and if he is still there in about a year when we move out of our itty bitty apartment and I have more than a stipend to live on, he will come home with us! (If he is adopted in the meantime, even better. We will find another kitty.)

I was perusing a website today and thought, "I could make a whole birthday wish list of charitable causes."

So here is my birthday wish list of things that help others and are totally awesome items for me:

My friend Crystal is also about to celebrate her birthday. We share a birthday- July 20th- but two years apart. She is about to turn 30 this year, which is amazing. What is more amazing is that for the last 7 months, she has been battling breast cancer. She is a wife and a mom to two adorable little girls, and has endured an alarming regimen of chemo, meds, a mastectomy, and now radiation. She is so brave and it is really inspiring to read her blog and be reminded of what is truly important in life. There is a fundraiser to help cancer patients pay their medical bills through buying fabulous apparel.

This would be so comfy for a jog after I come home and change out of my awesome teacher clothes. To find something cool for yourself, go here. Make sure to make your money go toward "crystal hoffman." Thanks so much!

Next up, TOMS. My first pair was the basic black flats and I loved them. But now I want to jazz it up and also add to my teacher wardrobe. I want these babies:

Sassy and sophisticated, like a socially-conscious librarian.

How about jewelry? 31Bits is just daring me to spend my entire salary on their chunky bracelets and their braided fabric necklaces. I'm also loving that their most recent photo shoot was done in Palm Springs. I guess whenever I get homesick, I can wait for jcrew or anthro to do their spring/summer photo shoot near my mountains. For now, I'll take these, thank you.

I want all four of this last one. great color combo.

Last on my list is this scarf from World Vision.

It's handmade by women in Thailand. Wouldn't it be great with a dress or tank top in the summer? I love how it looks like guaze and the white is so clean and simple.

This list does not include giving to charitable causes I like, or gifts that are not going to help anyone but me. That could be a pretty long list, but Spencer did just take me to see u2 and Florence + the machine in Nashville, so my official birthday celebration will be dinner with some friends at a hip little bistro downtown called SOB (that stands for South of Beale, in case you were wondering).

To wrap this up, thanks for not giving up on my blog, and I hope I can keep up the posting in some fun new ways as I transition into my new career. So far, twenty eight is looking pretty good.

~tara noelle

It's a sale!

2011-04-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

I've got to get rid of ALL my etsy stuff!

This is good news for you- everything handmade is 30% off the price that is listed. All fabric is priced as marked- a great deal!

Go here to check it all out!

In honor of our move to Tennessee (it has such a ring to it, doesn't it?), I will provide a link to the world's longest yard sale. Have you heard of it? It's a giant outdoor yard sale that happens every August and crosses 6 states! It goes straight through Tennessee, but the eastern part. Perhaps next summer when I have some free time, we'll road trip over to Chattanooga and try to find us some vintage shell back metal lawn chairs.

Spencer is not convinced he likes them. I'm pretty sure he will have to come to terms with that.

memphis

2011-04-11T23:11:00.000-07:00

I have been absent awhile. absorbing the whirlwind that is life right now. Until I can get back into blogging, (because I know you are waiting with bated breath), enjoy these...

Sorta Nifty, Eh?

2011-03-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

I am the least talented person I know. I am not saying that to be self deprecating, because I am also proud and can be a tad judgmental at times (like when people can't use proper grammar). In the nerd schoolbook smart realm, I feel comfy. Cozy even. Like all I've wanted to do since graduating is find a way to go to grad school. But when it comes to creative endeavors, I know dozens of mind-bogglingly talented people. Take my brother in law, Stuart, for example. He is hands down the most amazing photographer I've seen. I know it's all hip and trendy to do that retro 70s people-in-the-sun thing right now, but that doesn't mean your work will be around twenty years from now. Go check out his stuff. It is incredible.

Or my friend Sarah. Amazing artist.

Or Molly. I have known Molly since we were twelve. We have co-written journals that date back to freshman year of high school, and while the contents and style would be devastatingly embarrassing if revealed, I treasure these not only as mementos of our youth, but because one day (mark me) she will be famous. And I have the journals. Molly is a writer who is currently slaving away getting other writers published by starting her own publishing company. But one day, she will get her chance and then, my friends, be prepared to be blown away. Think CS Lewis (which also happens to be molly's last name), but contemporary, and with a love of indy music and all things Anthropologie.

Which brings me back to my original thought: about a month ago, Molly needed a picture of wine glasses for a cover photo for Zova's latest book. She knows I like wine and am apt to have a bottle lying around, and since I was still recovering from my broken arm, I had some free time. So last minute, I threw together a scene and took a ton of pictures hoping one was decent.

Today she just posted the book for sale on Amazon, with my photo on the cover! (She is very gracious, but I think it is poorly lit, and the composition could use some work. But since I was free, it will suffice). I just got all excited to see something I did on Amazon's website! Crazy!

Which brings me to my second point, I of all people should not be selling photos for cover art. I should be holed up somewhere teaching grammar to suffering high school students. Which is why I ask you to go click on those links up there and support the truly talented.

friday favouite: memecraftwork

2011-03-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

happy luck o' the irish day to ye!

Though I am many things, for some reason I identify with my Irish roots the most. Maybe it's my fiery personality and pale skin, or maybe my love for u2, but whatever the cause, I love a day where wearing green and drinking beer are the festivities!

My friday favourite today is also from another country, but not Ireland. Memecraftwork is based out of Hong Kong. I found one of their items the other day and LOVED it! I think that is the sound of the door opening to another hobby for me: asian sewing patterns.

memecraftwork features many, many items, but what I love are the sewing patterns for women's fashion. Take a look at this:

The texture! Or how about this?

How would people not reach out and touch your shirt? I know I have said before that I love texture more than any other aspect of fashion, sometimes I dress according to what texture I feel like. Don't these just inspire you to create gorgeous, unique pieces of clothing? I love it!

A few more:

Are you inspired? Going to do something fun and creative this weekend?

I am going to be getting ready for our trip to Memphis, including starting one of two books spencer surprised me with yesterday. He has great faith in me. Or, in God, would be more accurate. Anyway, they will be good books even if I don't get this job. I am excited to be excited out loud now and to see what the future brings! (The immediate future brings sleep- something I have been unable to drink enough of lately)

Goodnight! And happy weekend time!

tara noelle

walking in memphis

2011-03-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

hello.

I haven't written about this anywhere yet publicly. So this is my official 'announcement' to the handful of followers on here, and to anyone who might read this from my facebook friends.

I haven't wanted to say anything until now for several reasons. The timing didn't seem right. I didn't want to get my hopes up, be rejected, and then have dozens of people ask me about it, requiring me to repeat the sad story over and over again. Kind of like how people who are pregnant don't tell people at first. I also wanted the people closest to us to know and be able to get used to the idea before people could ask them a million questions.

Next Thursday (wow, NEXT Thursday), Spencer and I will be flying to Memphis for the weekend because I have a job interview there. This past fall, I had applied to Teach for America, the peace corps type teaching program for inner cities that is renowned for turning things around in the country's worst school districts. I knew that there was a slim chance I'd even make it to the phone interview level, let alone be chosen to go, but I have been praying/thinking about/attempting to get into teaching for the last several years, and I felt that I wanted to go where the need is greatest. Well, I did make it to the phone interview, but no farther. I was heartbroken. I guess once I made it to some level, I got my hopes up. It seemed like this was a real possibility, almost tangible.

After TFA notified me that I would not be going to an in-person interview, they offered to pass along my info to other programs that like to recruit from their applicant pool. I didn't want to, but Spencer encouraged me- "just see what comes" he said. Several things came, but nothing that was the right fit. I need this to be a job, not a volunteer thing. And I want to teach, I don't want to be a group leader of something, though mentoring is important. Then I got an email from the Memphis Teaching Residency. Many cities are now using 'residencies' (like medical residencies) for teaching because it helps new teachers stay in teaching, and in inner city schools. The bonus: a Master's degree in exchange for 3 years of teaching. The super awesome bonus: MTR is a Christian program, believing that teaching is a direct response to the gospel. I would not just be trying to 'better' students through education; I would be mentored and teamed with other Christians, and be able to share that hope with my students!

Despite all this, I didn't want to apply. I guess I thought I didn't want to be disappointed again after TFA, not to mention the numerous other jobs I had applied to and been rejected from in the last year. It's a recession, I know, but it got to me. Spencer kept encouraging me to apply, so we decided to pray about it for a week. I have to admit, I didn't pray much. I kinda just wanted to move on and forget about teaching. Spencer prayed like crazy. I'd never seen him like that. Not that he doesn't pray, but this was at every meal, when we went to bed, doggedly and persistently. At the end of the week, I said Ok, but after the holidays.

Finally, I did apply, and then the whirlwind began. I had my phone interview (everyone who applied got one) and at the end, she asked me 'Do you have any questions for me?' Not wanting to say nothing, I asked, 'When should I expect to hear from you?''
"About 2 weeks, maybe longer, depending on the other interviews."
"Oh, Ok, I was just wondering because I'd have to find airfare."
"Well, let's just make this easy- Congratulations!" My jaw dropped. My eyes filled with tears. I was totally shocked. She asked, "Would this be something that would interest you?" "Yes!" I choked. She laughed.

That was January 13th. For the last 8 weeks, I have been preparing. I have read books on education, recommending by MTR and also by my cousin Amanda, a teacher in Baltimore. I have studied for (and now taken) the Praxis II, the certification test I need to pass in order to teach in TN. I have researched the city of Memphis, the state of Tennessee, and the general state of education in the U.S. I have watched Waiting for Superman (an awesome movie even if you are not into teaching). And I have prayed. Mostly I have prayed. I have never prayed so much about anything in my life. And it has not been, "God let us have this." I don't think I prayed that at all for the first 5 or 6 weeks. I just prayed for wisdom, direction, peace, unity, humility. Spencer has been praying, too. He is like my cheerleader. I have other cheerleaders. Family and friends are praying for us and so excited for this opportunity.

And now it's almost here. I have two days off from work in between now and when we leave. For awhile, it seemed so far away, but now it's right here. I can check the weather now. We have our hotel, rental car, and airfare ready to go. I bought real grown up shoes to go with my suit we got in case I needed it for Teach for America.

I don't think I have any 'confirmation' either way about this. It's funny, to have your whole life up in the air and just keep waiting to find out which way it's going to go. I know I have to be Ok with not going, which is likely since there are 60 of us going to this weekend, and 11 open positions, most of them in math and science. I don't think of it as a 'one in six' chance. I think that it's already decided one way or the other, planned by God, but I am confined by Time and unable to see it.

Deep breath. I'm glad we had this chat. I am so excited to write about this now on here and share what God does in the near future.

For now, I leave you with this. It's been playing in my head for months, and I can't wait to actually see it in ten days!

friday favouite: fiji

2011-03-10T22:19:00.000-08:00

Today I am breaking with tradition. As I type this, my dear friend Corinne is somewhere over the great expanse of the Pacific, on her way to Fiji. She and her husband Eric have been involved with fighting human trafficking through various ministries and organizations for several years now, this trip being the latest manifestation of their passion.

I thought I'd let you know about it if you want to learn more about what goes on in many of the world's top tourist/resort locales, and to show you you can become involved right from your desk! Here is Corinne's blog about their trip (last I heard, she will not be posting while she's gone, but will put up pics and talk about their trip once they are back in ten days).

Corinne is such a woman after God's heart; with a deep passion for justice for those who cannot fight for themselves. I was not surprised at all when she told me about this trip, as she is also a land-locked, desert-trapped, ocean lover. Of course she would be going to Fiji. One thing that we have in common is our longing for adventure in distant places (more on that soon from me). Places where (gasp!) there is no Trader Joe's to be seen for miles and miles. It's not just the where that draws us, but the why. We both want to spend our lives doing something vitally important to God's kingdom, and to other people on this earth. Those are very different things, and we are very different people, but we connect in our passion to live life to the fullest.

So here's to stepping in the desired direction and pursuing your dreams.

Bon voyage, Corinne!

friday favourite: babies!

2011-03-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone!

I am so happy to be healed from whatever that nasty cold was last weekend! I can almost taste my food.

In other exciting news, it's raining babies! My best friend from college, Kristiana, just announced she is pregnant! There are several close friends in the family way, and I'm thrilled to do a babies-themed friday favourite! Here are some recent finds of great baby items...

you can make these adorable booties from monpetitviolon

pinafore dress by allthenumbers

nervous robot tee by dogboneart

meow hat by knittles

hemp organic booties by bobkababy

sleepy red fox plush by sleepyking

New to this World print by FreyaArt

(I've featured freyaArt before but just wanted to show her work again)

London Calling dress by thetrendytot

If Spencer and I have a baby girl, she WILL own that london calling dress. So frickin' cute.

Happy weekend relaxing to you. I am excited to get back into some sewing projects with my mom today, after a long break. Please consider something in my shop if you have birthday shopping to do in the near future- 50% of ALL sales in March will go to help my friend Crystal with her breast cancer medical bills. Thank you!

It's Aliiive

2011-02-28T18:23:00.000-08:00

Something is living in my head.
It won't die.
It has successfully survived: DayQuil, Nyquil, Affrin, Nasonex, Ibuprofen, Steam showers, Lots of EmergenC, and also, antibiotics.
It makes my fillings hurt. They aren't even part of my body.
We are on day 5 and if it doesn't end soon, I'm going to give us both Kool aid and end my misery.
This is supposedly a 'head cold' and not a sinus infection, according to the urgent care doc.
I don't know what Typhoid, Diphtheria or Shingles feel like, but I'd be willing to give them a try after this.

Today I actually pulled myself together and went to work, just to prove that I wasn't at home watching the Oscars last night, but was, in fact, trying to die. I went through an entire package of little tissues, running into the kitchen to sneeze, so the globs of yellow snot would not disgust our high-end patrons. Although the pressure inside my head has somewhat subsided, my Friend's new trick today is making my eyes water all the time. I am about to watch The Pianist to see if I can't out-cry myself.

I've eaten nothing but water, tea, cereal and mac n cheese for the last four days, but it really doesn't matter because I can't taste anything anyway. Despite that, my patient husband, who by now should be a registered nurse for the things he's witnessed with me, is on the road getting pizza because I said I couldn't eat more mac n cheese and wanted something tasty. At least he will taste it.

I would like to officially suggest that the phrase 'just a cold' be stricken from the English language.

friday favourite: Award Design

2011-02-25T07:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday!

I had the day off today and got a ton of things knocked off my to-do list! I think I am well on my way to fulfilling my NYR (new year's resolution) of getting ALL the junk mail to stop filling our mailbox. I have other goals, but that one is like an obsession with me right now. Just such a waste.

While perusing etsy recently, I found Award Design, the lovely shop by a one time photographer and makeup artist, who is now learning the centuries old craft of millinery from her Hollywood Hills home (jealous of that, by the way. I think I'm going through actual LA withdrawals now, since we haven't been in months and months).

All the hats are handmade, steamed and shaped on antique wooden blocks, or even handmade wooden blocks. It'd be so cool to watch an artist at work with something like this, forming a beautiful straw or felt hat from shapeless fabric. I am narrowing down my favourites because I am in need of a new summer hat. We have a wedding to go to in April, and I am going to attempt to make my own white linen pants (can't find them anywhere online. I guess they are not as 'timeless' as I thought) and flowy floral sleeveless shirt.

Wouldn't this be the perfect accessory to top off (haha) my handmade outfit?

or maybe this?

I need to learn to tie a scarf like a cravat

perhaps a fascinator?

Go check out all the other hats at Award Design!

Have a great weekend everyone, happy rest and relaxation time. Please go check out my shop, as I am donating 50% of all sales now through the end of March to my friend Crystal who is fighting breast cancer. Thank you!!

tara noelle

Fight with me!

2011-02-22T23:18:00.000-08:00

I have just found out that a childhood friend has stage 2 breast cancer! Crystal and I have the same birthday, July 20th, two years apart. She is just 29 years old, a mommy to two adorable little girls and has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.

In an effort to help raise money to offset her medical bills (I know all about those), I have decided that until further notice, 50% of EVERY SALE in my etsy shop will go to help Crystal.
Please go take a look at my shop, I have new items, and more stock than I've EVER had, so more opportunity than ever to raise a lot of money!!!!

Please PRAY for Crystal- I've seen the power of prayer recently and know that God can do anything!

Also, check out Crystal's blog here.

THANK YOU!!!!

live as sojourners

2011-02-21T12:05:00.000-08:00

"for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me." ~Leviticus 25:23

Lord, let us live like it- not attached to the things of this world- riches, comforts, money, status, houses, cars, friends & family even. Wean us from all worldly loves, to care for only You, so that we do not look back with our hand on the plow.

Let us live like we're not here for long, as though we really believe our lives are vapors. Let us give generously, because it is all Yours and only given to us to see what we'll do with it- do we love You, or the things You give?

We cannot serve both.

Let our words and actions be only to season our lives with salt; to share this abundant life we have with others, and thereby 'make an appeal' to them as ambassadors, living out a visible manifestation of heaven on earth.

Let our lives be appealing- not because we agree with the sons of this world, but exactly the opposite- let our lives be confounding to them:

Why do we let ourselves be wronged?

Why do we give away more than we can afford to?

Why do we continue to love and serve Someone even when tragedy strikes and we don't know the reason Why?

Let the mysteries of the love of Christ abound in our lives, that the people around us see the Living Water we have and run to tell others how to quench their thirst.

Let us make it our ambition to lead quiet lives of humble service, that when we see You face to face, we may not shrink back and be ashamed, but eagerly wait to hear Your commendation,

"Well done."

friday favourite: andrew's reclaimed

2011-02-18T06:06:00.000-08:00

I would like to start this post by sharing my husband's music sensibility with you. For some reason, we have been receiving Rolling Stone magazine for about the last six months, for free. We think it's because of his album release and the processes of getting it up online. Anyway, we usually peruse it for a bit, then toss it in the recycle bin. Today we got another one. Here is the March 3rd, 2011 cover of Rolling Stone:

And here is our copy, as spencer handed it to me today:

Spencer's feelings about 'super boy' are pretty much my feelings about Lost- "Enough already! We get it- it's big, everyone loves it, blah blah blah. Leave some space in the world for those of us who don't!"
I am just happy someone finally did something with the kid's hair (I think maybe someone in the upper echelon of RS offered him the cover just so someone could get rid of that dopey mop look).

Ok, enough bieber bashing.

Onto some awesome etsy-ing. Our featured etsy shop today is Andrew's Reclaimed. Andrew and Melissa are the duo behind the repurposed goodies in their etsy shop. They find items "slated for demolition" and rework them in their woodshop to create beautiful home and gardening items. Melissa also has her own shop for vintage and supplies over at rabbitsreclaimed.

Here are some of my favourites from their shop:

minimalist planter box

bee house

business card holder

industrial coat hanger

cedar wood soap dish

seed starting trays

Have I got you dreaming about springtime now? Lately, I've been hearing about more and more babies on the way, so I think the season of birds and bees must be here. A baby themed friday favourite to come in the near future...

I will definitely be trying to relax between two 6-day-workweeks. Tomorrow I will be hanging out with my niece, Isabella, and making mini pizzas. I'm sure I will have some good food photos to share next week.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Love Like Yours

2011-02-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

... will surely come my way.

I'm listening to the awesome vday mix spencer had waiting for me last year when I got home from the east coast. March Cohn, Buddy Holly, KOL, White Stripes, Dashboard, Deathcab.... it really is the best musical version of our love story.

Here are some carnival pics of us at the Date Festival (yes, we have a festival for dates- the fruit, not the meetings, it just always happens to be around Valentine's Day) from the first year we were dating, and then two years ago.

I think it's about time for new ones...

Happy Day with the one you love.

Friday Favourite: For Strange Women

2011-02-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, the dominant home decor trend was southwestern- indians, cacti, and everything was peach and teal. Of course, this sent me running the opposite direction- namely, to anything dark, Victorian and otherwise looking like it belonged in the Haunted House at Disneyland. Over the years, I balanced out (and had a lot of influence from Spencer), but I still love me a velvet fainting couch. So does Spencer, oddly enough. When I found ForStrangeWomen on etsy, her style instantly stood out. This woman knows who she is, who her clients are, and what she's about. I highly recommend looking at her shop, if you are an etsy seller, to get an idea of 'branding.' And if you are not an etsy seller, I highly recommend perusing her shop for the fun of it. Because it's Valentine's Day on Monday, and that means you can buy something impulsively online and just tell your hubby he got you something extra.

Jill is the master craftswoman behind For Strange Women, and all her products are made from 100% natural ingredients. Here is an excerpt from her bio on etsy: As an artist my first language was dance, then music, and now perfumery, and although they seem as if they would be very different, these diciplines are truly interconnected. Balance, harmony, acute sensory perception, and creative alchemy will always draw me into their magic.

You can read more about Jill on her website, her blog, her facebook page, or her interview with etsy (which is how I found her)

This is one of those instances where I wish technology could produce smell. Although I am not a fan of most scented things, I think I would fall for these naturally derived delicacies.

So, what are your Valentine's Day plans? For the first time in our relationship, I will not be working, getting up at 4am to work the next day, or on the other side of the country.... in other words: I can spend it with Spencer! And we are celebrating in style. Oh yeah, baby, pass the denture cream and hearing aids, we will be watching Jeopardy Man v. Machine along with most of the Greatest Generation. Romantic, eh? I just hope Watson doesn't have a voice like Hal, from 2001, or that could be a deal breaker...

Have a great weekend!

I think I've Got It

2011-02-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

I think I have perfected the pizza crust..... (this was made from trader joe's wheat pizza crust, which I slathered with olive oil and garlic salt. Still need to perfect my homemade dough)

my favourite place in the world

2011-02-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd start the week out by giving you some photos from my favourite place in the world - The Huntington Library in San Marino (Pasadena), CA. I was first introduced to its lovely gardens and amazing artwork by my best friend from high school, Jared. He took me there when we were both in our freshman year of college, me at Hope and he at Pomona. It was magical and amazing, and has been my favourite place to take other people to ever since. Last week, my dear friends Jon and Michelle's oldest daughter, Carleigh turned 16, so I thought it'd be a fun trip for Michelle, Carleigh, Janet (Michelle's sister) and me. They are my extended family in the true sense of the word, we just don't happen to be related. So, I got us some tickets for free day next month and now we're going!

I took Spencer here when we first started dating, five years ago, just as they were about to close the house and do some major renovations, and haven't been back since! Five years! I am determined to make up for it now, and take Spencer again this spring. One of several planned trips to LA for the near future.

Enjoy your week, and enjoy these pictures:

Ahhh... I feel relaxed already. Now off to tackle my giant to-do list for the week!

friday favourite: yarn plus yarn

2011-02-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

Happy friday, y'all!

This week flew by and I am determined to get much more done before I call it quits tomorrow night. (I like to take Sundays off as a breather between weeks, also known as a sabbath. God really knew what He was doing when He implemented rest into our lives... anyway).

Today's friday favourite shop, yarn plus yarn, is owned by friends of friends- alanah and emily. I have never met them (that I know of) but our social circles overlap, and more importantly, they have adorable knit accessories! Despite Phil's recent prediction of an early spring, it is still very chilly in most of the country (even in good ol' Palm Springs), so bundle up with some love from yarn plus yarn!

Head on over and check them out!

Also, be sure to check out some new vintage items I have recently posted in my shop! I am on a selling rampage (call it de-nesting, call it I-have-hospital-bills, call it spring cleaning) and I'm off to take more pictures!

Have a great weekend!

Next week: the huntington, friday favourite baby style and let's see... a giveaway!!!

~tara

I've Got You Babe

2011-02-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

If you know what this picture is from, then we must have the same sense of humor.

I have probably seen Groundhog Day as many times as Phil lives that day, but it never gets old. In fact, it gets better every time I see it. And funnier. If you read this blog, I'm going to sound redundant, but my favourite movie theme is a person getting the chance to change themselves, or live out a different life. Bruce Almighty is one example. School of Rock, The Family Man, Roman Holiday, It's A Wonderful Life... these movies all portray heroes who get the chance to live out a different version of themselves, often changing for the better and ending up with more than they could have hoped for in the beginning.

I also love Groundhog Day because I can relate to the theme of feeling stuck in a small, touristy town for what seems like an eternity. Only, I haven't learned to ice sculpt or play jazz piano. Every time I watch this, I ask myself, "What would I do if I had some chunk of time to use up?" Speaking foreign languages would be pretty good. One day, I'd be Normal Tara, who speaks English, a little Spanish, and some phrases in French and Czech. The next day, I'd be Linguist Tara, speaking at least twelve languages, and having read most of the major works of literature from each. I'd also eat a LOT of crab drowned in butter.

I am beginning to think that certain seasons of our lives are like our own personal Punxsutawneys. Times and Spaces where God, in His infinite wisdom, holds us still while our little legs are kicking and running in place, and we're beating our heads against the metaphorical wall in desperation. I don't say this to be a downer, or because I resent it. I feel I have been in this 'place' for the past several years, and inklings of the reasoning are beginning to show forth. Not that I can see an end, or know there will be one. Not that I am a more kind or compassionate person, performing CPR on a homeless man in the alley. But I do believe now that there are reasons Why we sometimes struggle in the same place for so long. I think we grow best when we can't see the growth, and when we give up on things ever changing. I also think God has a dry sense of humor. "Maybe God isn't omniscient- maybe He's just been around so long that he knows everything." Blasphemy? Perhaps. But I think He can take a little jab from his restless children now and then while we learn to grow up.

Happy Groundhog's Day. Here's to learning from the present and hoping for a new day.

friday favourite: fashion mash-up

2011-01-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

hello everyone!

it's friday again? I don't know where this week went, and I have accomplished about 4% of my to-do list, but oh well. Some weeks are like that, right? (I am eating a ginormous salad right now, and have walked about 5 miles, so I think my 'be healthier' goal is covered.)

Today, since it is still close to 80 outside, and since I'm wearing my cut off shorts and favorite black tank top while the eastern half of the country is buried in snow (my sister was shoveling parking spaces today for her neighbors- how sweet!), I thought I'd do a little fashion mash-up for Spring!

Here are some recent finds that I love from etsy:

union jack dress by celebfashion

sun kiss by fashionloft

epershand studs by isette

vintage safari dress by theparaders

saddle belt by ayaletshachar

french market bag by bayousalvage

Cute stuff, huh?

Ok, I am off to get some acupuncture!!!! SO EXCITED! I've had a knot in my left shoulder for uh, about eight months and my fall down a flight of stairs didn't help. For those of you who have not tried it, I highly recommend it- the acupuncture, not the stairs. And don't say 'ew needles!' It's more like the feeling when your foot falls asleep and then wakes up- but for about 2 seconds. And the results are amazing! Seriously. Well, even if I don't convince you, I'm off to be relaxed and pampered! Then it's pizza making time in the smith household.

I love fridays, don't you?

~tara noelle

Holy Santoku, Batman!

2011-01-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

Something I have been thinking of for many weeks now is to blog about my food/cooking "goals." Also included in this would be a wish list of necessary cooking apparatai (no, that's not the real plural form of apparatus, but I like it better). Chief on that list would be an immersion blender. Sigh. What anniversary year would that be? (Update: since originally writing this post, I have indeed acquired an immersion blender- Christmas 2010!)

Other items I am pining for: a cast-iron skillet, a mortar and pestle, a pasta maker attachment for my kitchenaid, one of those mashed potato squasher things (somehow we don't have one), a Japanese knife from Henckels, glass mixing bowls, getting my knives sharpened, a pizza peel and wheel, a giant cheap stockpot for steaming crabs or sanitizing jars for preserving, a restaurant-grade floor mat since tile kills my back after a few hours of cooking/dishes (in a dream world, I'd have a restaurant dishwasher that could do a load in 60 seconds. sigh...), a chinois or food mill, a mandolin (even though they scare the bejesus out of me), a full size food processor, a french bread pan, silpat mats, a martini shaker (for more uses than hosting a Mad Men party) and a knife roll, for travel. The list could keep going, but that would just be excessive.

On my to-do list, (basically my idea of Iron Chefing myself)

Homemade Pate and Sausage with my new meat grinder
Infused Olive Oils/Balsamic Vinegars/Vodka
Orange Marmalade or Fig Preserves
Homemade Caramel Turtles
Buying a side of beef and cutting up my own meat for the season
Learning real knife skills
Learning to BBQ with charcoal
Clarifying Butter
Perfecting Nani's Indian Recipes
Homemade hamburgers
Make the perfect crab cake (sounds basic, but I have had more failed attempts at this than you would believe. Starting to border on the definition of insanity)
Find a way to take natural light food pictures in my windowless kitchen

And then there's this. If Alton Brown weren't married (and I weren't either), I'd be one of those stalkers who would propose through handwritten letters. He is like a food magician and if he opened a culinary school, I'd be in the first graduating class.

friday favourite: yellowfield7

2011-01-21T07:25:00.000-08:00

feeling like springtime yet?

it definitely is here- more like summer since we hit 85 earlier this week. Oh, palm springs.

spring used to be my least favourite season until,

just like all the songs say, I fell in love.

tomorrow will mark five years (five years!) since that day

that spencer said 'tara noelle, I adore you.'

sigh.

that spring I literally did hear birds singing all the time, and flowers were blooming everywhere.

sap sap sap.

now I love spring.

maybe one day I will even live somewhere where buying rainboots isn't absurd.

today's featured etsy shop is

yellowfield7

aka 'hats by bahida dolic'

as you may know, i have a love for eastern europe and its people,

so i was happy to find that

behida was born in northern bosnia,

emigrating to america after the war.

but it was in florence that she discovered

her love of early 20th century american fashion

(who doesn't love it?)

she studied millinery and now lives

in northern california.

what do you think?

i'm ready to read the great gatsby (again)

and find some vintage vogue patterns.

happy friday everyone!

I have a dream

2011-01-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

Today I decided that I'd say a little something about MLK Day.

Because it sorta ties in to what I said last week about an answer to prayer.

Here's a little hint:

Growing up, I always liked and understood the concepts behind celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. in school. But as an adult, I find it absolutely astounding that he said what he said that day in front of the Lincoln Memorial. For the Civil Rights, but also for the biblical references.

I just don't think that kind of 'vision' would fly these days....

I also never realized that his speech was 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

That seems so far, and so close at the same time.

The Lincoln Memorial is my favourite place in D.C. If you go, I dare you not to cry looking up at that strong and gentle face who was so misunderstood in his time, and is so revered now.

Makes me brave to face trials and peoples' misjudgments (small though they be) in light of what I know I ought to do.

Thanks MLK and Abe!

If anyone's interested, you can watch the whole speech here. I did this morning, for the first time.

So good. Now I'm going to go watch Rattle and Hum, my favourite u2 concert dvd.

Between the speech and Bono belting In The Name Of Love, how can you not be inspired?

Friday Favourite: Home Sweet Home

2011-01-14T12:15:00.000-08:00

Hello!

It's friday again! What a whirlwind week this has been! I got my cast off (wee!), my new glasses came in (double wee- spencer loves them!), and had a phone interview for a job I really want. My 'career' search has become a long story that I won't delve into now, but this is a HUGE answer to many, many, prayers, and we are so excited at this possible opportunity and journey.

With that in mind, I decided to do a thematic friday favourite today- home sweet home. I also discovered a cool house-renovating blog through another cool blog which was mentioned in one of my favourite blogs- don't you love how finding blogs happens? It makes me want to buy an old house and renovate it. But then I remember, I am not so handy, spencer really does not enjoy house-renovating projects, and oh yes, the condo we do own is brand new and we love it. ;)

Here's to home sweet home, wherever it may be.

nerdnest on etsy

1canoe2 on etsy

bodhicitta on etsy

anotherseason on etsy

ralfg08 on etsy

darriellesclayart on etsy

melangerienyc on etsy

beehivekitchenware on etsy

LBrandt on etsy

etcetera on etsy

Any favourite housewares etsy shops or blogs you want to share? I'd love to know about them...

Have a great weekend everyone. I'm going to be kickin' it on the couch with spencer, watching 500 days of summer (we LOVE L.A., got engaged there, and I can't wait for him to see this) and maybe enjoying our beautiful southern california weather.

~tara

The Way She Sees It

2011-01-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

I have many great friendships. I sometimes want to sit and write out descriptions for each of these, for example, "Friend I'd most like to travel the world with.." or "Friend who would be the best to tour Napa with" (and whoever is saying "napa? overrated! sonoma or central coast!" is probably that person)...
One of these is someone who in literary terms is my foil. She is not my opposite or nemesis, but our personalities contrast in such a way that we are both brought into sharper focus.

Corinne was technically my boss when I was a Resident Assistant in college. But our relationship soon uh, blossomed?, as we connected. Our 'one on one' weekly meetings overspilled their designated one-hour time slots the way very virulent bacteria takes over the petri dish, runs over the lab table, onto the floor. Five years later, we have reinstated these times, now once a month. We connect on so many levels- we're both passionate (overwhelmingly so sometimes), headstrong (stubborn?) and independent (I like independent. But you can call it whatever you want). One thing we really differed on, though, was our fashion sense. Corinne, like many many people, would often wear black and brown together, which would set me into a tailspin of irk-ed-ness. After we discussed it, she'd point it out every time she wore it, and I sometimes think she did it on purpose to bug me. It became an inside joke and we bonded over it.

Since that time, I have matured (in many ways, I hope), and now appreciate the color combo of not-opposites-yet-not-quite-complimentary black and brown. In fact, I am pining for this purse from anthropologie.

In honor of Corinne, and her honest friendship, I have named an infinity scarf after her. It is a lovely black and brown plaid, bold and beautiful, just like her. Thank you for being my friend, C-dog, I love you.

friday favourite: theater clouds

2011-01-07T16:03:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

Have you all recovered from the holiday festivities? I am happy to be back to a normal schedule, something about the extended vacation feeling just makes me want to tackle life with vigor now!

As part of that normal schedule, I will resume my friday favourites in 2011. I found theater clouds not too long ago on etsy while searching for my 12 days of Christmas post, and fell in love! I was a major theater nerd in high school, so I love the drama and creativity of these creations. Artist Elly MacKay creates these eye-catching creations by "inking yupo paper and cutting it into layers that I set up in a miniature theater. I play with the lights and filters to create atmosphere and then photograph the scenes."

To see more of her work, visit her website, blog or flickr page!

Are you in awe? I love how the light makes the layers of two dimensional pictures seem to come to life... I know a few friends with babies on the way- wouldn't these be beautifully delicate and unique nursery artwork? (Leah, I am still going to design some nursery sketches...)

Thank you to anyone who read this blog in 2010, I am honored and really love doing it. Since Spencer and I had a very tight Christmas budget this year, we decided to ask and answer questions as stocking stuffers for each other. One of his was "What is one unexpected (random) discovery of the past year?" I answered that I discovered I love to write for an audience. My blog is scattered and haphazard now, but I really love to cull ideas and inspiration and get a dialogue going, and hope to hone that in the next year. I am really hoping Spencer will create for me a wordpress account since I have seen some amazing things you can do that you can't do here. And since he had to figure out wp for clients last year, I figure he can put all that learnin' to good use. So, stay tuned or come on back in a month or two and see what I've done with the place...

happy non-holiday, stay at home or go out and run errands weekend!

~tara

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

2010-12-31T16:46:00.000-08:00

I am doing absolutely nothing! For the first time in a long time, I do not have to work this craziest of all evenings, nor do I have to wake up before the crack of dawn to get peoples' coffee... SO I am staying home with Spencer. We are making raclette, dressing up, and watching tv. I don't know about you, but this year has been one for the books and I am happy to see it go. I have learned much, hopefully grown a little, and hope to take this into the future. I just finished reading Little Women today, and there was one line in particular that caught my eye. It is my wish for 2011: "It was a very astonishing year altogether, for things seemed to happen in an unusually rapid and delightful manner." Here's lookin' at you, 2011, let's make it a good one.

What about you- what is your hope for the new year? Any resolutions?

Enjoy!

the right motivation

2010-12-27T15:40:00.000-08:00

If your Christmas was anything like mine, then today you woke up and thought, "I don't need to eat for at least a month. Maybe two." I love cooking and food, but I think in the last week I've eaten a year's worth of goodies. Now it's time to get back on track with a balanced life. We also received so many gifts that I'm already mentally placing old items in a Donate pile, which will turn into reality in January as I continue my 'tradition' of cleaning/organizing/purging the house, one room at a time.

As a stocking stuffer, my mom got my sister and me each the January issue of Real Simple. Thanks, mom! I used to have a subscription, and honestly, I didn't need most of the articles in it, so I stopped. But right now the whole issue is about organizing your life and getting to where you want to be with eating, budgeting, etc, so it is really useful. Also, they have this handy dandy "ultimate to do list" inside, which you can print for free here.

Go ahead and use all that pent up energy from eating and movie watching for getting a head start on the new year~

Christmas Eve (Eve)

2010-12-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

Today I thought I would forego the usual friday favourite in lieu of a Christmas tribute. When we were in San Diego last month, one of the places we visited was the Mission San Diego de Alcala. With a husband born and raised in D.C., I take pride in the fact that California has old stuff too- 1769 old! Anyway, none of us had been there before, so it was an interesting trip. I love the old Spanish architecture- fountains and courtyards, walled gardens and brick covered in white plaster. But my favourite part of this mission was a series of mosaics depicting the life of Christ. It was so original and modern (I'm not sure how old it is, but it's not original to the building), with the striking colors and simple outlines. It tells a story perfectly, without words. So, in honor of Christmas, when we celebrate Light coming down to our dark world, here is a little story for you...

And I know this is more "Easter-y," but this song just kills me. If you haven't yet heard John Mark Mcmillan, this is my gift to you. His song writing astounds me; he's like the Milton of Christian worship writers (can you guess what I studied in college?).

Though the Earth Cried out for blood

Satisfied her hunger was

Her billows calmed on raging seas

for the souls on men she craved

Sun and moon from balcony

Turned their head in disbelief

Their precious Love would taste the sting

disfigured and disdained

On Friday a thief

On Sunday a King

Laid down in grief

But awoke with keys

Of Hell on that day

The first born of the slain

The Man Jesus Christ

Laid death in his grave

So three days in darkness slept

The Morning Sun of righteousness

But rose to shame the throes of death

And over turn his rule

Now daughters and the sons of men

Would pay not their dues again

The debt of blood they owed was rent

When the day rolled a new

(chorus 2x)

He has cheated

Hell and seated

Us above the fall

In desperate places

He paid our wages

One time once and for all

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope it is a blessed time remembering what is truly important this holiday season.

love,

tara noelle

Friday Favourite & Giveaway Winner

2010-12-16T18:19:00.000-08:00

Today I am at my parents, visiting with Jenny who just arrived last night for 3 weeks!

I decided to do my blog post and Jenny said "the 12 days of christmas!"

So, here it is: my take on all those odd gifts (which are apparently a catholic catechism with veiled meanings.... going to research that one)

enjoy!

partridge in a pear tree pillow by elsabeta

lidded jar with turtledoves by blue sky pottery

3 french hens card by teroldego & tomatoes

calling birds ornament by rnacreations

golden urban set of 5 rings by aurumjewelry

fly away wall decal by urbanwalls

a winter's morning print by theaterclouds

milking stool by grayworksdesign

any glee fans reading my blog? you might want this.

leaping lords op up card by Popupcardmaking

bagpiper glass pendant by pollyfusia

cufflinks drum set by dabbledesigns

I like the last one, what about you? What's that you say? The winner of my giveaway? Hmmm...

Ok I will tell you!

ahem....

It's BETHANY!!! Congratulations to you!!!

I will wrap it up and mail it off to you today!

Thank you to all who participated. I think my next giveaway will be a freesparrow gift card.

More to life than being really, really, really good looking.

2010-12-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

Last night I forced my husband in to modeling some of our new scarves for me. Lucky for me I married a good lookin' man, and have a model for a sister (and a seamstress for a mom)...

There is more to Spencer's life, in case you're wondering, but thankfully, he humors me. And we've been selling men's scarves like crazy lately, so I need to get these up!

Outtakes: (Oh! Don't forget to leave a comment for the giveaway ending WEDNESDAY!!! You can comment HERE. Also another entry for: following this blog, posting my contest on facebook or twitter, etc.)

"why do you look scared? smile!"

that's better.

uh-oh. caught in the act.

Oh yeah! Go over to our etsy shop to buy these scarves- more up soon- tomorrow's photo shoot is nicole & isabella (what took me so long?) and Wednesday JENNY GETS HERE!!!!

friday favourite: a visual feast

2010-12-09T21:33:00.000-08:00

Photo credits (click to go to shop): LeMuse, the shop house, bodhicitta, featherweight, Nature's cubbyhole, the vintage treehouse, pure and noble, olivemanna, blushie, Minxshop, huenemevintagemodern

THE GIFT CARDS ARE HERE!

2010-12-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

Freesparrow now has gift cards!

Aren't they beautiful? Thanks to my husband for whipping these out yesterday. Just in time for the holidays!

Can be made for any amount.... just convo me!

Don't forget about the GIVEAWAY going on now until next Wednesday.

More good news (well for me) - I get my cast replaced in 2 weeks with a shorter cast that won't go over my elbow. I can straighten my arm for the first time in over a month!!!

Better than Erik Estrada

2010-12-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

What are your favourite Christmas movies? Chances are, they include It's A Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street, classics that make us smile and appreciate what we take for granted the rest of the year. I have some favourites, too, ranging from the kitschy (clay-mation Rudolph narrated by Burl Ives, which we watched over and over from the recorded-from-tv tape my grandma made for us) to the remake of The Preacher's Wife (with Denzel Washington in that amazing grey suit) to The Family Man with Tea Leoni and Nicholas Cage. Recently, I have been more and more appreciative of Home Alone. As a kid, I thought the antics were funny, but now I love the sacrifice of family, the story of reconciliation between the "scary" neighbor and his son, and the character development as Kevin realizes maybe what he really wanted was what he had all along. I guess that would be the theme of all those movies I just mentioned. Contentment is a lifelong theme for me, too, and Christmas is a time when being grateful for your blessings is frequently brought to mind as you are surrounded by friends and family.

One holiday favourite you probably don't share with me is X-files. The Ghosts Who Stole Christmas episode is my now ritualistic Christmas Eve tradition. Spencer is slightly nauseated by how many times I can watch this particular episode, and this year I am determined to get to it in order since we've been watching the whole series chronologically (only season 5 and the first movie to get through in 3 weeks!). For those of you not acquainted (ok, obsessed) with Skully and Mulder, this is a gem of writing and character analysis. And with Lily Tomlin and Ed Asner playing the star-crossed lover ghosts, it's comedic genius, too.

Anyway, I bring up xfiles only as background for another holiday tradition: the other night we decorated gingerbread cookies with Stuart, Nicole and Isabella. It was so much fun- I don't think I've ever actually done this. Between Isabella's licking all the decorating utensils and eating more cookies than she decorated, and the boys' frustration at their lack of illustrative skills (hey, you can't be good at everything), it was a really great evening. And it was something I could do with one hand!

Here are some photos of our edible art:

my El Chupacabra xfiles episode cookie (if you are laughing, you are a nerd)

"Maria! Maria!" "This guy is better than Erik Estrada."

Our (apparently Austrian) gingerbread couple

Isabella's cookies

Spencer's first cookie. Nice mustache.

my cast (arm is in no pain, now)

Spencer's Millenium Falcon. He wins "most improved" for the evening.

What are your favourite Christmas/holiday traditions? Movies? Music? Maybe I will do my giveaway for the holidays. Ok people: If you leave a comment with your favourite holiday tradition or movie and why, you will be entered to win the tea traveler mug:

If you blog about the giveaway, leave a facebook or twitter comment about it, leave a link for an extra chance to win. Giveaway will start today and end on December 15th!

Happy holiday prepping and good luck!

friday favourite: that holiday party

2010-12-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

Yesterday I had the good fortune of being on etsy's front page! It's been a long time since that happened so I was really excited. You can see the archive here on craftcult. That always helps one's google analytics.
Today for ff, I thought I'd do a mash up of jewelry that has caught my eye recently and would be great for all those holidays parties. Those of you who know me know I am a minimalist when it comes to jewelry, I usually do one statement piece like a giant cocktail ring. All of these lovely items would be sure to complete an outfit and make you stand out. (They'd be great for gifts, too...)

In no particular order (drum roll please)....

fern lace ring by ardent1

pin oak cuff in copper by birdforbread

feather duo necklace by verabel

gilded bronze twig hairpins by woodlandbelle

large rose headband by besomethingnew

peacock ring by ginandbutterflies

les madeleines collection by lechouchou

gold feather wedding band by adzia

flower and feather headband by viemoderne

oxidized silver ring by MarKhed

autumnal library necklace by theblackspotbooks

Perhaps I should try to make a treasury sometime; it's one of those etsy things I haven't dedicated much time to, but I know it'd be a good idea. I want to do a series of seller tips on here- there are some really amazing shops for photography- I want to buy their items just because looking at them is so fun.

Anyway, I'm off to start the Christmas decorating before we leave for Anza this afternoon. Has everyone started decorating already? Are you a day-after-Thanksgiving-until-day-after-New-Year's person? I am not that organized- last year we didn't clean up until halfway through January!

Happy holiday prepping weekend!

~tara noelle

Litaly

2010-12-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

Since I am adjusting to life as a one-armed being for the next two months, I will take this opportunity to share photos from our trip to San Diego, which was now a month ago. One of the best parts of that trip was going to the farmer's market on Saturday morning in Little Italy (or 'litaly' as Spencer named it; he has a penchant for epithets). For those of you who are as obsessed with food as I am, you will appreciate that Harvard has posted their lecture series on food & cooking online for free! Thanks to my favourite foodie blogger, Clotilde at Chocolate and Zuccini, for that.

In other news, Spencer has submitted his music to the Independent Music Awards, and we should be hearing back on that in the next few weeks. Say a prayer for him- this would be a great promotional opportunity, and could lead to some new opportunities. And, in case you're wondering who the judges are... (weird al in retirement?)

brussels sprouts. on my 'to eat' list of 2011

spencer's beautiful latte foam

my yummy breakfast- black coffee & butter croissant

I couldn't blame persephone either

adorable italian market

dried fish inside adorable italian market

cute modern condos...

deliciously strong and not at all bitter coffee sold here

And, since my attempt at a giveaway didn't work, I will have to try something else.

Black Friday! Cyber Monday! ra ra ra!

2010-11-25T06:20:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am a little excited.

etsy has a new coupon feature and what a perfect time to try it out! Tomorrow though Monday, my freesparrow shop will be having a BUY ONE GET ONE HALF OFF SALE!!

Enter the coupon code "BOGO50" at the checkout. I'm even doing this for the sale items I have listed- bring on the savings! (and no, I am not on pain meds or crazy right now, just excited!)

I just put myself on retailmenot.com! Who knew I could do that?

Anyone braving the madding crowd out there tomorrow? Not me. I prefer to stay in with a good book, Christmas music and some cranberry bliss from Starbucks that I got for free. I do have my sister scouting out a cute pair of fuzzy slippers for me. The girl is magic; she walks in and things go on clearance. I will be perusing the webosphere and compiling a list. A wishlist, that is.

Happy shopping!

Deck the Fridge

2010-11-24T16:04:00.000-08:00

our first photo christmas card, still my favourite

It is Thanksgiving Eve, the excitement of the holidays is palpable, and if you are like me, you are thinking, "How on earth is it already the end of November? It was just September! I still need to do so much for gifts and cards and and..."

(breathing into paper bag)

Actually, we have been planning our family gift for months now, and I can hardly wait to see the completed project. But cards is a feat in itself. Gathering addresses, choosing a picture (not just any picture is appropriate), printing and cutting and stuffing... and the cost of stamps! But this year will be easier because we are going to have Shutterfly do the cards for us!

You can have them take this item off your holiday to-do list, too! Just go to their site, choose from the many options, upload your photos and click click you're done! While you're there, you might decide to check some gifts off your list, like a photo calender for grandparents, or photo canvases for a modern take on a family portrait wall... you can even do invitations to your holiday party!

Now pay that thirteen year old to wrap your gifts, and get back to reading A Christmas Carol and sipping eggnog...

A break and a giveaway!

2010-11-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

Hello, friends.

Well, this weekend was definitely not what I had in mind. Moments after Spencer and I were taking in the amazing views of the Pacific from the top of the Santa Barbara Courthouse, I slipped on a wet stair and landed entirely on my left arm. Ouch! We spent the rest of the afternoon in the ER getting my arm reset (I will spare you the visual aid of a picture) and I am now propped up on half a dozen pillows watching You've Got Mail and waiting to see the orthopedist. I am pretty impressed with myself for getting my contacts in with two fingers of one hand, but it's going to be a long recovery. I am out of work, not able to be a barista or a server, which means we get to see God provide in amazing ways. He already has. We are being showered with food from our "tiny but mighty" church family. I am writing down the myriad ways God has blessed us, and totally excited to see what happens next. I am hoping for something related to Spencer's music.

It is times like these that make us plunge headfirst into the deep end of trusting God- last week I found out I did not get a further interview for a job I had been applying to. I really wanted that opportunity, and it still makes my heart sink when I think of it. The next night, we got a flat tire and discovered both rear tires needed replacing. Then Saturday and the great arm debacle. I can only imagine the bills and time required to heal. Yet for all that, I feel optimistic. I think I really needed a break from life, so God gave me one, literally.

"You are daring to imagine that you could have a different life. Oh, I know it doesn't feel like that- you feel like a big fat failure now. But you're not. You are marching into the unknown, armed with ... nothing. Have a sandwich."

Maybe that's why I can watch this movie over and over; the common theme of characters reaching a turning point in their lives and going a different route resonates deeply with me. Bruce Almighty, It's A Wonderful Life, The Family Man... all movies where the protagonist takes a good long look at themselves before they can move forward.

I am really looking forward to the time off. No social engagements, no work, just loads of time. I have lots of reading to do. And writing- perhaps now my children's book will crawl out of my head where it is warm and snug, and onto paper. Lots of prayer and meditation. I have been intentionally slowing my life down this year; perhaps now I have arrived at zen master base camp.

I promised you a giveaway on Friday and I have not forgotten. Here's your assignment, should you choose to accept it:

Write two paragraphs about your favourite Thanksgiving Day food, using no adjectives. This is not just a description, but details about different ways you've made the dish, where you've eaten it, or who joined you at the table. at first the writing will look stark and spare. Now go back and add specific adjectives to make the story sparkle. Limit yourself to three.

The winner will receive this:

A beautiful glass tea infuser from Tazo!

All entries must be submitted by next tuesday, november 3oth!

Please email submissions to tara(at)spencerwsmith.com. Entries will be judged anonymously by Spencer. Runner up prize: You can earn an entry by blogging, facebooking or tweeting this post, or following the blog. Runner up will receive a box of Tazo tea.

good luck and happy thanksgiving week!

friday favourite: carolina soma

2010-11-19T10:28:00.000-08:00

Good morning!

I feel like singing "O, what a glorious morning" from Oklahoma (yes, I am a fan of musicals, mostly Rogers and Hammerstein or funky dark ones like Little Shop) for several reasons: I didn't have to work today so I get to eat breakfast with spencer, then we are leaving for a two day trip to Santa Barbara for a wedding. But mostly because this new schedule of waking at 7 am and eating breakfast with spencer is going to be my new normal! That's right- I have one more week at Starbucks and then I am a daytime server at a nice country club here in Indian Wells. This is ideal for many reasons; I am looking forward to the new schedule with more free time for running, etsy-ing, and writing my children's book.

Anyway, I was tempted to do a gift guide today, but I'm going to make that a series during the week. Today will be a traditional friday favourite featuring one of my very favourite etsy shops: Carolina Soma. I had to double check that I hadn't featured her yet because her stuff is gorgeous! Plus, there are some beautiful wedding gowns, and since we are going to a wedding, I thought it was fitting.

Carolina Soma is the line created by owner/designer Carolina in Argentina and it is now her etsy shop. Soma is her grandfather's name and means 'body.' She likes to design each dress from her own patterns, giving great personal attention to each person's unique needs and tastes. She started sewing at the age of 9 and attended the Roberto Piazza Fasion Design School in Argentina, later moving to the U.S. when she got married. She has won numerous awards, including First Place in the American Sewing Challenge in 2007.

Head over to her shop now to check out more of her great designs!

Amazing, right?

I am currently reading Will Write For Food, which is a very helpful and interesting read for anyone who blogs, even non-food-related. The author includes numerous writing exercises to help you improve your writing style or find your voice. I am going to feature one of those next week as part of a giveaway! If you're wondering what the prize is, I will just give you this hint:

"A woman is like a tea bag- you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Saturday Morning Satisfaction

2010-11-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

me in my "reading is sexy" shirt in college

I love Saturdays. The ones where nothing is going on, which means I love about one Saturday a month. How I relish these mornings where breakfast is stretched out to brunch, the coffee is plentiful and the reading material/youtube video watching takes over the living room.

During the summer, Spencer and I had weekly breakfast meetings to make sure we were on track for his album release. I am pretty proud of what he accomplished, and that the potential stress of a huge project brought us closer together, with only one terribly stressful night (which happened to coincide with my birthday). That said, since the album is out, we now spend our Saturdays reading. Another thing I am grateful for is a husband with common interests; we are both pretty nerdy about our respective subjects (him, all things music and design, me, food, cooking, wine, blogs, literature). Despite the fact that we have still not finished reading Moby Dick, we do spend a good deal of our free time voraciously devouring the written word.

spencer playing a violin (2 screwdrivers)

We both also have blogs. Obviously, you know this about me. In case you didn't know, Spencer has a blog about music- not his music, but the history of rock n roll. He likes to do things all the way, and so up until now, his e-publishing harkens back to when Dickens came out serially. I keep trying to get him to bite off less, and blog more frequently (which I am not a model of at the moment). So, here is today's post. Complete with plenty of pictures and witty remarks. I am hoping one day he will publish a real book, and together with my children's books royalties, we can retire to a cabin in the Tennessee mountains, with our oversized grey cat, Tolstoy, and our Huskie, whose predetermined name I have momentarily forgotten.

Now I am off to said stack of books. I'm trying to finish a few more before the end of the year (as well as start Team of Rivals, and cram in Little Women, which for some reason is a Christmas movie to me).

Friday Favourite: Thanksgiving

2010-11-11T19:38:00.000-08:00

wood carving by Mountainbrook on etsy

(shhhhhh.... a baby is sleeping....)

I must type quietly because I am baby sitting for my friend Renee, and my blog time is sure to only last as long as Jayden stays asleep.

I am very sad at my lackadaisical blogging of late, but I hope to get back in the swing of things before the holiday season is completely over. My etsy shop took a bit of a break, too, for me to take stock (literally) and focus on a few other endeavors. Let's just say that applying/interviewing for jobs is itself a part time job for me right now...

San Diego was so good and relaxing, a perfect weekend away (many thanks to bethany for covering for me while I was away!!!). I can't wait to show you pictures of the mission, coronado, and my new favourite- little italy! I wish I could go back this Saturday for that amazing coffee and a trip around the farmer's market. Ah, city life. How I crave thee.

Today I am going to do another mash up of some fall-inspired items. Thanksgiving, to be exact. I have come across some nifty items for gifts and decor and thought I'd share. First off, the succulent wreath:

vivaterra.com

I've now seen this in three different magazines/blogs in a week, so I think I'm a little behind the times, but aren't these just adorable? Something to love about living in the desert; I could keep this thing alive long after other front stoops are frostbitten and wet.

Next up, simple floral arrangements inspired by nature... (also known as 'tara loves ginko leaves in any form')

hgtv blog

Over the mantle, while you read Dickens by the fire...

(hint: go visit vivaterra.com for great green gifts. As a thank-you, buy me these, in grey)

If you are like me and sadly lacking a fireplace, you could always use candlelight from Cire Trudon:

(warning: Customers who purchased this candle also bought a

Rolls Royce for their summer home, but we can drool, right?)

On the table, inexpensive wine decanters. I just read somewhere that it's a trick for serving wine in a sophisticated way, if you are not able to break open your vertical collection of Screaming Eagle (pshh)

cb2.com

After you buy all those sought-after gifts, why wrap them in boring, bulk wrapping paper? Why not let the gift wrap be as unique as the gift inside?

(I bought another Cavallini paper in San Diego,

totally different in design, and I have great ideas for it...)

I realize all but the top photo are non-etsian, so that must mean I need to do some etsy gift guide friday favouites in the near future...

What's on your docket for this weekend? Me? Reading a good book, training for a turkey day 5K, getting caught up on my bookkeeping (crickets chirping)...

Whatever you do to unwind, enjoy!

Friday Flava... rit

2010-11-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hello, Tara's blog readers! I'm today's guest blogger, Bethany. As a subscriber of this blog myself, I have to say: it's fun to see everybody from this side of the podium.

It's Friday. If you're like me, that means you've eaten your oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar quicker than normal so you have time to check for a new "friday favourite" freesparrow post before the baby wakes up from her morning nap. You're eager to see what chic new shop is on Tara's radar, amiright?

Well, I hope I can help feed your sophisticated soul its weekly snack of soufflé au fromage for your eyes. But first, because in college I was known less for my knowledge of French pastries and more for my goofy attempts at gangsta speak, here is a video of 8-year-olds popping and locking:

Self-gratifying abuse of guest-blogging privileges over.

On to the pretty! I love decorative art, and own a sizeable collection of paintings - in my head. Below are some of my favorite, affordable pieces (some original, some prints) from my Etsy hearted items. Click on the images to be taken directly to their Etsy listings. But don't buy the originals unless you want to steal my dreams.

One last one, which I didn't include above partly because it wasn't submitting to my size restrictions, thereby throwing off the beautiful uniformity in the column of images above. Also, it's special because I kind of know the artist - we've traded our paintings a couple times, and that makes me a lucky, lucky girl.

Tara will be back from her trip soon. Let's pressure her for lots of photos, shall we?

Singing Lessons

2010-11-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

(This is a journal entry I wrote while reading Do Hard Things. It is a response to the question "Is there something that seemed beyond you at the time that you did and now it's no big deal?")

My sophomore year of college, I took Beginning Guitar, and as a final, we each had to play a song and sing along with it. I got someone else in the class to accompany me, because I cannot sing. It went fine, and afterward, my professor asked to speak to me. He said he'd be happy to give me a few singing lessons privately. I declined and he persisted that even if I couldn't perform, I would at least be comfortable and able to sing on key in my range (which is just about level with Tom Waits). I declined again, thanked him and left.

As I walked back to the dorms across the library lawn with lamplight making pools of yellow in the dark cool green, I cried. I felt so sad, like a heavy lump of raw regret lay undigested in my stomach, and I knew it would feel worse as it digested.

What was the worst that could have happened? I could suck. Ok. And one person would have witnessed it. It was pride, really, at the root of it. I desperately wanted to be able to sing, and I knew I would never be a really beautiful singer. Sure, he could help me with pitch and breathing, but he couldn't add what God hadn't given me: talent. The voice I hear in Spencer, a sound so achingly beautiful it's hard not to cry, and impossible not to be moved. I knew I'd never sound like that, so why bother?

Here's what I really missed, though: aside from humility, I missed out on the chance to grow as a person. Who knows what would have been different had I stayed? Might I have left half an hour later and crossed paths with someone new, stopped to talk, and become friends? Could I have overcome my fear and pride enough to lead worship for a small Bible study? Maybe I would have loved that breakthrough so much that I would have stuck with playing guitar- really dedicating myself to it- as opposed to playing occasionally and improving at a snail's pace, which is where I am today.

I think that choice about the singing stings so acutely because it stands out. I have to say that in my life as a whole, I have done many "hard things." As a child, my parents moved us every year or so until I was eight, so I had a lot of experience makings friends out of strangers- a skill that is still going strong today. I have dozens of really good friends, the kind that really understand me as a person and who go to great lengths to maintain our friendship across the years and over many miles.

I studied abroad in Prague, which is hands down the best decision I have ever made, and gave me so many amazing memories and two of my closest friends. Not to mention, the myriad ways I grew as a person. There is a love for the quiet streets of Mala Strana that haunts me. That is where I grew up, so to speak, and where I learned the real meaning of 1 Peter 2:11. There is not one place on this earth which holds everyone I love; there never will be. But that ache is a blessing, it makes me look ahead- eons ahead.

I left my heart open to the possibility of love- cliche as that sounds- after years of apathy, disappointment, and heartache. And confusion- man, did I think God was leading some places He wasn't. I thought the confusion would never end. I thought the longing would never end. And you know what? It hasn't. Only now, it's fulfilled. Because what I could see so vividly for so long is now reality- changed only by Time (and wedding vows). I wake up every day next to the person I most admire in the world. Sometimes I just stare at Spencer while he sleeps. Creepy, I know, but Life goes by so quickly, and I know mine is a miracle.

The question becomes now, "What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?" That quote is often used at commencement ceremonies, and as corny as it sounds, I think it begs to be answered.

I would keep trying to find what it is I'm made for. This opinion may change in the future- and I know I always need to serve where I am, but part of me is so stupidly stubborn that it won't give up on the idea that a future me is busily working at something she loves. Maybe she is growing vegetables in her backyard while she home schools her five children (Spencer hopes it's not this one). Maybe she's teaching culinary classes. Maybe she's writing children's books and being an advocate for literacy. Maybe she is getting fifteen year olds to love Upton Sinclair and Shakespeare.

I can see all of these. Maybe that's my problem. Maybe they will all be me, at different times. Who knows? He does. And though I'm frustrated and feeling despair at my continual search for a purpose, even whether the idea is legit or not, I press on. I have to know this better. I want to know Him better. I want to see Direction and choices overlap and start to flow together.

I am terrible at waiting and being still. But I have prayed more in the last six months than ever in my life. And I have served more and chosen to stay in situations I could have gotten out of, because I want to see God work. I want to wrestle like Jacob and walk away with my hip out of place more than I want to be as I was and unchanged.

friday favourite: woodland belle

2010-10-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

Another week and only one post. I have a suspicion that the break-neck pace of the holiday season started in early summer this year...

Last night, Spencer and I went out to Fleming's for our third wedding anniversary. It was delicious: he had a porcini-rubbed filet with creamy gorgonzola sauce, and I had the lamb chops- yum! It is always good to go back there and catch up with ex-coworkers who feel like family (at one point, though, Spencer looked at me and said 'hi' - his hint that I was spending more time talking to servers and managers than to him). The general consensus between us for the last year was: phew! It's been kinda rough, but we learned a lot. Here's to the future and the prospect of things being different. He wrote in his card to me, "I pray so much for God to do amazing things in our lives and I hope it's this next year. Hold my hand and enjoy the ride with me." Here's to year four!

Today's friday favourite is woodland belle, formerly known as the sparrow's nest. I was looking through an old Real Simple and saw her twig bobby pins. The rest of her accessories are just as cute! All nature inspired, she features items like miniature terrarium rings and butterfly collection necklaces. Mai (pronounced May) Mckemy has been featured in many online publications besides the Real Simple feature, as well as etsy's Quit Your Day Job and Featured Seller series. She hardly needs my press, but I love her work, and with the holidays' coming up, you might find the perfect handmade gift for someone! Read more about Mai on her website. (She even has an independent musician for a husband, which means I feel connected even though we've never met.)

Here are some of her gorgeous items:

the twig hair pins. I want this haircut, too.

quail necklace

terrarium ring

hydrangea hair pins

pewter bird hair pins

With holiday parties coming up quickly, you might want to head over to her shop and start accessorizing!

Next friday, while I am in San Diego, Bethany will be taking the reigns here. She is one of my favourite bloggers (and people), so you are in for a treat!

Now I'm off to jump in the shower before Isabella gets here for an afternoon of cooking: pumpkin soup, pumpkin seeds, chicken and bell pepper pizza and a dessert pizza with FIGS (finally)!!

Have a great weekend!

friday favourite: Mimi Kirchner

2010-10-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

This week has been insane, but in a good way.

The clouds, the rain, the cooler weather...

(deep breath in)

It has been amazing.

My parents are home from the east coast,

which means I am done cat and house sitting.

I have been busy planning a giant

*surprise*

(that is tonight!)

and also kitchen assitant-ing at the culinary school.

plus work.

phew!

All of a sudden, it's the end of October,

which means my anniversary!!!

(that's three exclamation points for three years of marriage)

third year: leather.

there may be boots in the near future.

Today's friday favourite feature is the delightful shop of

Mimi Kirchner!

If you haven't seen the work of this talented artist yet,

you need to go over there right now!

(Or her own website, D oll)

I first heard about her from seeing this video on etsy.

She has been an artist for over 30 years,

and this line of dolls came out of her inheriting

her mother's collection of fashion fabric.

Who knew toile could be so edgy?

aw, a robot. spencer would love it.

And now, back to the fray!

babysitting, quicken, a job app online,

(all while watching Ten Things and quoting

every single line)

I will be doing some crafty things

in the near future

and featuring a

guest blogger, or two.

stay tuned.

happy weekend!

friday favouite: olive manna

2010-10-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

It's friday again- this week flew by- and today's favourite is... olivemanna!

I have been wanting to feature this shop for awhile now, but had to wait because I bought my sister's birthday gift here and couldn't post it, or she'd figure it out (Jenny was the one who deduced that Santa wasn't real from a toys r us receipt in my mom's purse featuring hungry, hungry hippos. When we got hungry hungry hippos 'from santa,' jenny put two and two together. And then informed me, who was ignorantly blissful with the discrepancy. shoot.).

Olivemanna is the store full of cute stuff you didn't know you needed. But you DO need adorable handmade twine and little cardboard packaging. Hey, Christmas is right around the corner! Olivemanna is the etsy store of natalie jost, who also has a blog, and a non-etsy store of the same name. Here's what she has to say about her shop: "I am a professional designer of all things visual and textile, from websites to fabric, or packaging to dinnerware. It's all about balancing what makes life easier for you with innovative design that removes chaos, and what makes the stuff around you worth looking at every day with rich and dynamic color schemes."

I have to say, as the wife of a graphic designer, I really appreciate the 'clean' look of her website. Her products are pretty awesome, too! Go check it out!

Can we all guess which one of these went to Jenny?

I have a sicky husband in bed right now, so I'm off to get one of those rotisserie chickens- they make the most amazing chicken soup- and lasagna noodles for veggie lasagna. I know it sounds bad, but I love it when Spencer is sick, it's the only time he lets me drug him, and we all know how I like to watch him sleep;) Tomorrow night, I will be going (probably sans husband) to an awesome free concert where my dear little friend Morgan is opening! This could be the beginning of an amazing music career- and I can say I homeschooled her!

What are your plans for the weekend?

neverneverland

2010-10-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I went on a now biannual play date with Kristiana. One of our stops was this amazing little children's bookstore in downtown Redlands. It is the kind of place that would be magical when you were a kid, the kind of place that you would associate with warm, fuzzy feelings, like Grandma's house at Christmas or a favourite tree that you always climbed. I had that tree, and boy, did I climb it. I always thought that living in a tree was the ideal situation. I also never wore shoes at that point and didn't cook my own meals. Doing dishes in a tree would be less than ideal. But that is the magic of childhood- running so fast that the practicality of life's reality's can't keep up. I remember being distinctly heartbroken when I realized neverland did not exist. I have to say though, for one who hated the idea of becoming a grown-up so much, I really do love my life now and wouldn't go back at all. I think gratitude is a choice, one that is easier to make the older you get. And you can still dream. Boy, do I dream. One of my dreams is to be a children's author. The trip to the magical bookstore brought this up and now kita and I are going to make each other write our books so what lives in our head can be out in the world. That is the magical part of growing up.

twinkle lights

after the bookstore was the two hour conversation here

and the photoshoot here

wish i had a photo uploaded of when we met- 9 years ago!

friday favourite: mquin

2010-10-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

Today's friday favourite is MQuin. Milka is the lovely and talented lady behind MQuin. She is based in Manila, Philippines and does everything in her etsy shop on her own! You can follow her artistic processes on her blog or go visit her etsy shop.

I love her intriguing designs, almost like artwork that you can wear.

I'm also excited to choose her because she is from the Philippines and I am happy to announce something I've been working on for some time...

From now on, 10% of all your orders on my shop will be going to support my friend Pami, a registered nurse who grew up in the Philippines and is now taking her career training back to minister to women in a birthing home run by a 78 year old midwife! It has been my desire for awhile to have some of my profits from this shop go to charity that is directly related to women in foreign countries.

I am so excited at this venture- to be able to "see" the impact of my own endeavors in running a business go to help other women in the world be self-sufficient and pursue their dreams.

If you want to read about Pami's journey, visit her blog!

If you would like to donate to other women working on their own, World Vision's microloan program is great! You can choose someone by country or job type and you get updates on their progress.

We've had week of clouds, cool weather and even some rain. This weekend, I'm going to bask in the many blessings that have been showered down on me lately. What are your plans?

happy friday, everbody!

Little Orange Slices

2010-10-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

Friday at work, my coworker Clint asked me, 'do you want to be working here for awhile?'

'well, no. but I can't seem to find another job'

'can't find what you're looking for.'

'yeah'

'cause you seem like you should be doing something really important with your life.'

'thanks. you mean making frappuccinos isn't really important?'

'yeah well. You are really smart with all your degrees and stuff. it seems like you should be doing something better.'

'i only have one degree. you seem like you should be doing something better too.'

then the conversation digressed into a running joke of him becoming a woman so he could make crazy tips as a female bartender.

I thought that was nice, and encouraging, but it made me sad too. I am so happy about seeing God work in recent events, big and little. Still, as I left work, it made me think about things that aren't going as I planned or thought they would, including Spencer's music and my job situation. I think I am getting better at looking Up and at Eternal Things, but sometimes it is hard not to look around and get down. So I came home and later read psalm 37, which was really good. Verses 3-5 specifically.

I don't think eveyrthing I ever want, God is going to hand me one day, if I just 'believe.' I think a lot of it has to do with probably me changing and finding the things I want are some of the things I already have. But I also thought of Crazy Love and how he asks "What in your life would be total failure if God didn't come through?'" and I thought, "Well, pretty much all of it." Because otherwise, what is working at starbucks with a college degree? and why did spencer put all his time and effort and heart into making an album? and why are we spending our best years, when we could be pursuing so many things, here in a place we don't particularly like, but because we know there are people to minister to here and we want God to move us, not us to move us.'

(I didn't think that coherently in my head at the time, that just came through writing it out.)

I thought about how lately it seems like God is giving us/me these things to keep me going, like an orange slice at mile 9 of my half marathon, when your legs are starting to really ache and your shorts are chafing and you think, "Why am I doing this?'" The cello getting sold was one slice. The rain today was another. Hanging out with Kristiana yesterday, where we found out how we're pretty much on the same page with life and God and it's amazing and totally not where we ever thought we'd be.

Then I went to take a nap and awoke to the sound of rain on the window. Another orange slice. Another mile. It can't go on forever and when I'm done and look back, I won't say "Oh, it was easy" or "It went by so fast," because it didn't. It was fricking hard. So hard. But I believe I will be different from running and not giving up, and that there will be rewards that come much later that never would be if it weren't for making these choices now.

*photo from thedailygreen.com

Friday Favourite: an autumnal array

2010-10-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hello October!

Month of my niece's birth (she's 3 today!), my wedding anniversary, and cooler temperatures. Yesterday we even had thunder and lightning! It was amazing. Oh, and by cooler, I mean it will hopefully stop hitting 100 this month.

Yesterday, I drove out to Redlands to spend the day with my best friend, Kristiana. We discovered some amazing new places, including a coffee shop/dance studio. I am dying to take dance lessons with spencer. That town is just so cute, and walking around the campus made me feel like an undergrad, but with more grown up clothing and some self awareness. Oh, grad school, will you even stop enticing me?

Today I decided there is just too much out there to choose one shop. Since it is now October (my favourite month of the year!), I'm gonna do a mish mash of fall inspired items. Most of these are recent finds of mine, so take a peek in their shops. Today was pay day for me, how about you? A little window shopping never hurt anybody...

silk bolero by hollybloomcouture

layered pleat tote by yorktownroad

black wool dress by 13threads

(sold out, but she has tons of other cute stuff!)

georgia hair clip by appleninny

(who happens to be my good friend wendi!)

enamel poppy ring by jewelrybynatsuko

leather journal by peaseblossomstudio

(also sold out- shoot!)

kimono wrap by pyxuspassionproject

simply orange linen baby shoes by lalashoes

(catching the orange theme yet???)

tiny leaf wrap bracelet by silkstonedesigns

Phew! That was a lot of shops in one quick scroll. I hope you click on a few and check out these artists' other beautiful items.

My friend Corinne got me lusting after some boots at Nordstrom. Third year anniversary is leather...

How do you celebrate the turning of the seasons?

Have a great weekend, everybody!

the cat came back

2010-09-29T16:03:00.000-07:00

zoe is home. back home to my parents' house.

i cried almost the whole way over there.

for the last week and a half, spencer and I have been cat sitting the world's smartest, most energetic two year old, but with four legs and who pees in a box.

as i was loading the car, I put the pail of cat poop in the trunk, where it immediately fell over and unloaded it's contents. 'shit!' ... 'literally.'

i was sad no one was there to share in my witty litter moment. now the car smells like that fake deodorizer that is actually worse than urine. I will vacuum it later.

after loading the car, I called zoe into the garage and opened the cage door. zoe walked right in and then even stopped meowing during the car ride. that's when I cried. "she trusts me and i tricked her into going to an empty house for three weeks.

i cried because i thought 'what if she thinks no one wants her again? like at the shelter?'

then i went to the chiropractor, ten minutes late, determined not to tell her about the cat.

"how are you?"

I immediately told her about the cat.

she said 'she will probably be happier there,' after I explained that I felt like I was always saying no.

hmm... I hadn't thought of that. I know she probably said that just to cheer me up, but I went with it.

then i went to scott trade for the third time in one week and signed 3 more papers, each in my maiden name. who knew selling some disney stock given to me at birth by my grandparents could be so complicated?

then I listened to npr. some guy was interviewing some director about a movie. they said things like 'energy' 'it's very meisner, and mamet' and 'we had two to three rehearsals just to make sure everybody was getting along' and I was comforted by how weird and overly-neurotic theater people are. i thought, "I could teach theater. maybe I should look up that one year degree at pepperdine for education/teaching credential.' then I immediately thought, 'and what? mortgage our house to pay for it? no. we're done job hunting. we are waiting on God.'

then i drove home, made a smoothie, called my parents' neighbors to pass off cat duty and am now watching a sandra bullock movie just to relax after this 'very' stressful day.

First ever blog feature!

2010-09-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

I just got an email from the ladies at handmade gift guide to say our plaid men's scarf has been featured on their blog! This is the first time we have been featured on someone else's blog, and we are very thankful!

Another recent first was a complete and utter stranger left a comment on this here blog! I got so excited, I ran down the hallway screaming and then Spencer humored me by saying, "let's go see!"

These are nice little perks at a time when I have been too busy to put much effort into social networking or joining in the forums on etsy.

Thanks for the support, friends! It does not go unnoticed.

Weekend Food in Review

2010-09-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, I went to a pizza making class with Leah. Then the week escaped me, I didn't blog about it and I even forgot to blog on Friday!

This morning, whilst reviewing pictures we've taken recently, I realized that we ate like kings this weekend! Sometimes it just seems so normal to make things up like pumpkin pancakes with proscuitto and cider (a la Paris), or grilled chicken, pesto, red onion, mushroom and black olive pizza that I don't realize how good life can be on a small budget. I think for our income, spencer and I probably overspend when it comes to groceries, but really, we are OK with not going out much. We'd much rather stay in, cook, watch movies, or have friends and family over.

And that is just what we did this weekend:

Exhibit A: Willow House Party, Thursday evening

homemade bruscetta

and a dessert pizza with sauteed pears and cherries

Exhibit B: Josh & Jaymi Dinner Date, Friday evening

pesto chicken pizza with black olives and sauteed veggies

and proscuitto goat cheese pizza with fresh basil and arugula

Exhibit C: Parisienne Brunch, Saturday morning

pumpkin pancakes (ok, I don't know how french that is)

proscuitto (we were short on bacon, but it was yummy!)

mmmmmmmmmm

bowl of cider (this is the french part- we were always offered a bowl of cider for breakfast in Paris, so finally we tried it. It was good! Not what you'd think of first thing in the morning (ok, so it was usually around noon) but surprisingly enlivening with the spices. Not too sweet.

Exhibit D: Zoe, all month long

We are catsitting for my parents while they are on the East Coast visiting Jenny and Michael. It's like having a very smart, hairy two year old around all the time.

Oh! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER JENNY!!!!! She is 26 today! I love you!

Will Write for Food

2010-09-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone.

I mentioned last week that Spencer surprised me with a copy of Will Write for Food, which I have since started reading. I am convinced that food is my thing. Meaning that if I could never cook again or write about food or try new things, I would probably shrivel up and die. The only thing worse would be if I were banned from reading anything ever again. I will read the backs of food labels if they are there, just because it is made of words and I have an insatiable appetite for knowledge.

Back to food. I am not a food blogger, as of now. This blog is a mish-mash of stuff I like and do- travel, cook, etsy, read, etc. A very good friend of mine, Leah, IS a bonafide food blogger, and she is now in a contest through foodbuzz.com to be 'the next food blogger star.' Part of this contest is tied to voting, and so I am going to shamelessly ask you to take a minute and vote for her because she really puts a lot of effort into her meals and her blog, and into those around her. I am one such lucky recipient of her time and efforts in the kitchen. And if you haven't already found her blog by looking on the right side of mine, here it is. Her blog is called 'seldom made' because in the six years she and drew have been married, she has rarely made the same dinner twice. I'm not exaggerating here. One time Spencer and I went over for dinner and we had these amazing chicken and shrimp lettuce wrap things that Leah called 'a favourite' because it was the THIRD time she had made them. I think in the three years spencer and I have been married, I have made salmon with sauteed veggies about thirty eight times. And that is counting the fact that for the first year and a half, I worked 4 nights a week.

That said, I am experimenting more and also working on my food photography skills. I can't wait for Christmas because we are making a food-related gift for our family and close friends and I think it's going to be really cool. Maybe a tradition, of sorts.

Thanks for checking out Leah's blog and voting for her!

Apron Sale!!!

2010-09-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

Is anyone out there baking yet?

ALL our freesparrow aprons are on sale NOW through October 4th! 25% off!!!!

Check it out!

Friday Favourite: robrray

2010-09-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

If you had a billion dollars, what would you do with it? Is there something you really love but just don't have the money for? A far flung dream that has been left untouched? What's your 'finer thing in life?' Cars? Wine? Diamonds?

For me, it is furniture. Spencer and I have talked this over several times and we agree that were we millionaires, our weakness for 'worldly treasure' would be fine, hand crafted furniture. Probably a lot of it Scandinavian (shout out to my Norwegian heritage here, it's not all alcoholism and emotional constipation). When people come over for dinner, they usually end up complimenting our furniture, and I have to say, it's obvious that that is what we love, though, right now it is a lot of IKEA, baby.

I was in shop in high school, for theater. We worked with power tools and built all our own scenery for our productions. It was really something for a bunch of adolescents. I am amazed our shop teacher, Ed, could be as calm and laid back as he was. That early experience, and later training with a master carpenter for a year, instilled in me a love of wood. I don't have anything to show for it at the moment, but in my wildest dreams, I would have a completely impressive woodshop out back, where I would build really awesome furniture for people I loved. That dream is a long way off...

Fortunately I discovered this little etsy shop. For a little friday afternoon fun (because I know you're not at work reading this), type 'furniture' in the handmade search on etsy. It is eye opening to see what is out there. These people are artisans. Skilled craftsmen. One of these is robrray. Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything else about them, because they don't have any info up for their bio, but you can still admire their work.

morning cup of coffee desk.

"The wood used was reclaimed from a Railcar Repair Station built in 1906."

I just love this. Clean, simple lines. The juxtaposition of thick wood and thin steel.

I think our new mattress could look splendid on this. (new mattress arrives tuesday and I can't WAIT)

furniture with a past: kitchen island made from reclaimed material from an apartment in Times Square, circa early 1900's.

Ok, now I'm off! Shower, post office to mail an order, come back and pack for Anza! Going to Ed & Margaret's for the night: good cooking, crafts and guitar nerdiness, and a photo shoot. More scarves up next week.

And, I just got my first issue of Sunset that I won for free!!! Just in time for the trip.

Have a good weekend!