30.8.13

MISC.

I'm turning 25 this weekend so naturally I'm chaperoning a bunch of kids off to Faith Quest. I love our teens. Love makes you do crazy things. 
It's been a week guys. Our preacher quit, work has been insane and the house has not been cleaned once. BUT we got gelato last night! And Roo is currently peaking over the computer with just her two paws and nose. Even when bad weeks happen my home feels like a safe place. A port in storm. I'm so thankful to be able to come to that place (the physical place and that place in me).








This is such an interesting topic! It's exciting to read each new one. I'd love to hear mothers from other countries talk about parenting here in America.


A sweet article on man friendships.


I wouldn't say no to a poncho this winter, and they donate 15% of the $$ to a homeless shelter. I dig it.


Love a good timeline!


We've made so many trips to Goodwill you wouldn't believe! And it's so simple to straighten up before bed- the whole house is neat in five minutes. I wouldn't call us minimalists but we've definitely eliminated a lot of things on this list!


I dig this dress for fall.

28.8.13

Interracial-


As if NPR would let us forget the 50 anniversary of the march on Washington (for jobs and freedom)! It's been wonderful to hear stories about people who were there. Today was three people from Detroit, one this woman from the famous photo. I've been thinking about color this week, about unconscious prejudice and family (blood and created) and embracing race without letting it completely define us. This is a fascinating story about race and color being separate entirely.


As weird as it sounds to me to even think it, I'm part of an interracial couple. I read an article once that said when people say they don't notice color or that they are "colorblind" it's as bad as being racist. Because people are different (just like men and women are different right)- not good not bad, just different. And I think I do that with Joshua sometimes. It's easy for me to forget that he's Filipino because I think of him as Joshua. Just like I forget that he's tall and has tattoos and can be rather menacing if you don't know he's the nicest, nerdiest guy to ever live with me. Perhaps I just incorporate him into me, kinda like we do with Jesus (let's be honest even though Jesus looked more like Osama Bin Laden I always first, for an instant, see white Jesus looking off to the side in a white robe with a blue sash).






This ad got tons of talk going and the NYT has a whole section on interracial marriage. My children will be one quarter Filipino and that's a lot! I don't want them to miss out on living in that knowledge. But they'll just be our kids! Eh. I'm not too concerned. Being smothered in love is universal. Did you ever see that movie Babies? Love is love is love.


My husband, smart talking smart walking handsome Joshua wrote a little something about being interracial.

I did not search for a spouse of another color or race or ethnicity. I do not define my relationship through any lens of whiteness or colored. I am a man of color and my wife is white. I embrace our differences. I love them. They make us unique, they contribute to our identity as a couple. Growing up with white parents as an adopted child, I remember my parents encouraging me to understand the complexities of geographical regionalism in an international context to which my personal heritage and identity should be contextualized. They showed me that though I am colored and they are white, most importantly we were family. And so, I hope my relationship with my wife is one that transcends any type of standardization of race. I do not wish for us to be color blind but rather color loving, because ignoring a symptom of discrimination falls into a category of saying that cultural identity is no longer beautiful, but rather something that should be overlooked and feared, homogenizing the human experience. I want us to be color sensitive to each other and our friends of all ethnic backgrounds so that we are able to empathize with others on a deep level of humanity, not out of a passively sympathetic pity of another persons experience. And I believe that we achieve this as we have a multiplicity of friends dear to us ranging from agnostic, black, christian, white, poor, gay, native, et al. Our relationship is wonderful, multi-ration, inter-cultural and beautifully colorful.



27.8.13

The Beets Motel.


Three things and a thought. Thought: or question... will my children care as much about home design as I do? Will they care about history and world religions and politics as we do? Will they love to cook like their father? Will the knowledge they inherit as byproduct of living with Joshua and I seep into their priorities? I suppose it's the age old nature nurture bit, but I can't help but think that some of that will naturally pass on. Without intention. The key is to avoid passing on the negative bits as well I imagine!


(irrigation map on etsy)

Remember Shrute Farms? Joshua and I have decided (not that we're pre-planners) that our guest bedroom with have an irrigation theme. Americana irrigation. Yum.


And it will have a reading nook. Here are two roundups of drool worthy nooks.


Finally, I am totally digging the series about dorm style on apartment therapy- it could alternatively be called affordable and easy ways to theme up a room. I thought this one was the most complete and theme centered but I love them all. Oh to have seen them while in college!

20.8.13

R.C. Wilson


I'm watching Keeping Mum (hilarious, the first ten minutes make me actually laugh out loud) and kitten is sleeping right under my chin. She's spends a lot of time there actually. It's pretty much perfect. Dog people are so snooty about cats but teeny Rooster could win anybody over. She wooed Jarrod who is the most exclusively dog crazy person I know!

 It's impossible to imagine we got her only a week ago! We went to the farmers market Saturday and it felt like a month since we met here there, like we've had Roo for forever, like I can't remember our home before her.

She's such a little creature. But she's eating and pooping and playing and then falling asleep on our chests so overall it's success. Maybe babies cry in the night so that parents know they are alive. I know I'd appreciate a check in! Although she is wildly noisy when I first get home before I can get her food fixed. It's outrageous.

Lastly, in kitty news, tonight I was making ice cream and in the process lost the kitty. I kept hearing this tiny meowing and our HUGE couch is just big enough for her to crawl under and there's a rip in the bottom. So I'm freaking out.
Turns out she hopped in a cabinet and then I shut her in with the tupperware. Whoops.



Seriously, look at her. She's adorable. 

17.8.13

MISC.


We went to the Farmer's Market today, as we do every Saturday now. And seriously even though we got ice cream cones from the new (less worrisome) Carter's guy I knew it wouldn't be nearly as great a trip as last week. Duh. No new kitty this week! 

Although Joshua's oldest friend from childhood is in town and we met up with him at the market. He's a volunteer on the Hawaiian Chieftain and has been sailing the West Coast for a couple of weeks. We toured the boat and when he's got a day off this week we're taking him on a tour of Port Orchard. Hmmm. Well, he can meet Roo and we can go kayaking (she's currently underneath my laptop sleeping in my crossed legs)! And maybe we'll go on a battle cruise. No cannonballs on board unfortunately but you can't have everything. Ha.





I have a weird but undying love for Nicky's hair. Not even the real actresses hair, just the nappy big jail hair. I LOVE IT.


Such a cute baby shower (or any shower) idea.


Mom and I have been to one of these!


Borrowed an ice cream maker to make a variation on this ice cream.


First homes.


Joshua got me thinking...


Just watched this episode again (naughty word be warned)!


And another related Buzzcocks episode. We need this weekly here. Can we replace Wheel Of Fortune. Then it'd be Jeopardy and Buzzcocks. Oh my.

10.8.13

Constant vigilance. Fall is returning.






I, as should all, take Mad Eye Moody very seriously.
Because of this, it is almost fall and with fall comes two important issues: wedge booties and capes. Every year I think, "Is this the year for capes and wedges?" And then each year it's a no. But this year not a no! And least for booties. And for the bison photo.

I fly fairly regularly (a couple times a year) and I wear pretty much the same thing every time. Except I don't have a study go to pair of boots! I love my brown boots from Bass- they took me three weeks in Europe with nary a complaint but a black pair is in my future, especially since I only wear black jeans. And then I remember this post and her adorable booties and presto! Booties. It's going to happen.


I've been listening to this song on and off for months. Still digging it. 

9.8.13

MISC.

Why yes, I have been obsessively looking at Westfalia camper vans, how did you know? And planning  road trips to the coast and dreaming of quitting my job and just driving. Ridiculous. But wonderful to imagine. In other news, I bought my first pair of dangly earrings and over baked some banana bread. And made a surprise box for newlywed friends (like this, but more like a child made it). And had friends over for dinner and am working a half day. That's my whole life! Oh! And our wedding photos appeared this week. I'm so in love with Joshua. And Jessi.





This is the coolest remodel of all time. And photos. From AT.


Spencer sent me this. I love my friends.


Mumford tour blog: Chicago.


Still one of my favorite SNL skits.


A wedding.


Man soccer take skill!

4.8.13

Sunday Funday!


Capaldi... I have to admit I'm happy we're back to an older Doctor- since 9 we've been moving younger and more polished and I like that the British are staying the British and not giving a hoot about age or crazy teeth on tv. I'm in the middle of tv drought, no Walking Dead, no Doctor, no Sherlock. I'm one million times more productive though!

(What's up crazy eyes! I love him already.)


This morning I woke up to a phone reminder that I was on praise team and yikes! Did not know that fun fact. But it went okay. And then Thai food and then house cleaning mania and then life group. I have my first day off in a long while tomorrow so we're doing laundry and watching a movie tonight, staying up. The Fighter. Man my life is exciting! Don't be jealous, I have to vacuum like every other day. You know.




1.8.13

Cleaning.

I was on the phone with one of our elders wives last night (for half an hour... weird but nice) and I mentioned to her that I felt like I vacuum ALL THE TIME and she said, "Small apartments, there's no where for the dirt to settle!" And there is the answer.

I find it nice to clean though. Mind clearing. The way some people use running.



Cleaning to this song. I hate that it's so catchy!