For Real Christmas List

So, here's my for real Christmas list.  It includes all the things I already have that I am so grateful for:

The best family in the world including:

The Cutest Niece That Ever Lived.

  Nora makes the best handmade birthday cards ever. They are so precious. She loves books, princesses, and pink and purple. She reminds us all of the innocence of childhood, she gives hugs, kisses, and jokes unselfishly. 

The Best Parents.

I can't even tell you all how amazing my parents are. I am 28 years old and have never seen them fight. they are what I hope my marriage is like; devoted, wonderful, giving, and sharing. They gave everything to my brother and me. They gave us the best childhood and after 35 years we can tell they are still just as in love as the day they met. 

My Grandparents

My Grandma Spornitz is 90 years old and still kicking. She and my Grandpa set the bar for the rest of us. My maternal Grandparents were not as fortunate to live such long lives, but they were an inspiration to us, they stayed together through thick and thin, sickness and health, and I was fortunate enough to spend time with Grandma McDole for the last years of her life. My Grandmothers especially were such strong women

They gave us the tools we needed to be the best we can be. I thank the universe for everyday my Grandma Spornitz can still share her wisdom, her generosity, and her compassion. she will always be my inspiration in life.

My cousins.

 How could I be the person I am without them? They inspired me to go to college, be the person I am, I will always be a better person because of my cousins!

My wonderful Fiancee

He always makes me laugh, makes me feel good about myself, encourages me when I feel ready to quit, helps me feel happy when I feel broken, is my partner in crime, and loves me even when I'm being an unequivocal crazy person.  And I know he'll make a great Dad!

Being Back in Kansas City
I've been back for almost 2 years and I'm so glad! (Even though no one here knows how to drive.)

My wonderful friends

some I've known for 25 years, some for 16, some for 10 or less. All the friends I've made, have been loyal and wonderful and amazing and there for me for everything. I wonder how I've deserved so many wonderful friends and I thank the universe for every one of them..

I also Love my cat. Ollie.

He snuggles on my lap on days that I feel people have failed me, he purrs on my lap when I feel like I've had the longest day ever. And he is the sweetest little snuggler  I have in my life. 

Thanks to everyone, all my family and friends who make my life so full. 

I am so grateful for everyone who is generous enough to share their time with me.

I have the best parents

I have the best brother and sister-in-law

I have the best niece

I have the best fiancee
I have the best mother and father -in -law to be

and I have the best cat

and that's all I need to be happy.

so thank you all for sharing your love with me

I am lucky to have such a wonderful group of people (and animals) to enrich my life.

you all keep me going, and I love you.

Merry Christmas!

Mastering the Art of Julia

I know I'm about a year too late, but did you guys see that wonderful movie, Julie and Julia? I'm re-watching it. I forgot how wonderful this movie is. Its one of those you can pop in at any time and enjoy over and over again. Based on the book by Julie Powell, this movie really brought Julia Child back onto the front burner. She was such a wonderfully exciting woman. I find it so extraordinarily inspiring that she didn't even begin culinary school until she was 36. There is so much pressure for those of us in our 20s to know just what we want to do with our lives as soon as we graduate college, and just look at Julia. She found her calling a little later, and it happened perfectly for her. Mastering the Art of French Cooking is in the top 10 Best Selling cookbooks of all time. Julia brought this art to the women of the United States, and we could never thank her enough. If you haven't seen this great movie, watch it! It will inspire even those whose cooking level is only making toast or a box of Shells and Cheese, to poach an egg or even attempt Beef Bourguignon.

Joni.

I don't know what happened today but I woke up and had to listen to Joni Mitchell's amazing album, Blue. I listened to Carey about four times on my way to school and I've been obsessing over her all day. I actually don't know that much about her other than she's one of the greatest songwriters of the late 20th century, she's an amazing painter, and my mom loves her. This obsession might last a while.

Okay, Okay

So, I've been a big slacker about updating this blog, pretty much since classes started again. I'm feeling like school is just sucking all the creativity out of me. Sorry guys, I just haven't been inspired by much. I've been knitting though, and watching Project Runway, and hey! I got engaged! So I guess I've just been busy. But here are some things I've been learning in school! First I'm taking a Political Science class about Campaigns and Elections, which I thought would be interesting, but it's just making me a disillusioned citizen and I'm deciding that I hate all politicians regardless of what party they belong to or what they say into a microphone. I'm also taking Women in Rhetoric, which is a great class! So many women doing so many things to change the world in different and exciting ways. Each one is fascinating in her own right. We're all doing a rhetorical biography on a woman who has made a difference and I chose Wendy Shalit. I'm also taking advanced fiction writing where I have been challenged to write two short stories. I also get to read some from my classmates, which has been awesome! Workshop is full of great intimate conversation with people who are passionate about the same things. I'm also taking Symbolic Logic which is tough but like brain teasers, I actually kind of like it. I'm also taking a great Art History class with a teacher who doesn't care whether we know the dates, just if we recognize and respect the artists, which I think is what art is all about. He showed me this sculptor, Constantin Brancusi, who I think is my new favorite! Google him. amazing!

Chick Flicks Forever!

Everyone has movies that they watch over and over again. These movies are the "chick flick" movies that I discovered when I was a teenager and really spoke to me. I love to watch these movies on snowy winter days, days when I want to hide out and knit, I like to play them in the background while I clean the house, or just when I have alone time and want to hang out by myself. Fried Green Tomatoes , based on the novel by Fannie Flagg  starring Jessica Tandy , Kathy Bates , Mary Stuart Masterson , and Mary Louise Parker , is an awesome story about best friends, finding yourself, and family. While it is kind of a chick flick, it still has a really good story, a murder mystery, and a loving community in the 1920s south. It is sad yet joyful and so inspiring. Foxfire is one of Angelina Jolie's first movies, released in 1996 and loosely based on Joyce Carol Oats novel by the same name, this movie is about a sort of sisterhood bond between a group of girls who beat up a teacher who sexually harasses female students. It has a great 90s Grunge soundtrack and also stars Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis and supermodel Jenny Shimizu. I think this movie genuinely changed my life. Angelina Jolie's character hitches rides from town to town and thinks for herself. I wouldn't have been the same pain in the ass teenager without this movie!   How To Make an American Quilt stars Winona Ryder (I miss her, why'd she have to steal those damn socks?!), Maya Angelou , Ellen Burstyn , and Anne Bancroft .  This movie is about a group of women in a quilting circle who advise Winona Ryder, who is about to get married, about being true to herself. They each share their stories about finding their soul mates. It is sad, real, lovely, and funny. If there are any of these movies you haven't seen, add them to your queue! 

Girlosophy

I'm a bit of a dork and, I will admit that there are a lot of books aimed at teens that I really love at the age of 27. With all the adult hype over the Twilight series and such, I know I'm not alone. I really love these books, the Girlosophy series that are written by Anthea Paul. So far there are nine books in the series (four of which I own) and they are all full of good advice, real girls and women, true stories, and wonderfully colorful pictures. My favorite is A Soul Survival Kit but they have some other great titles including The Love Survival Kit, How To Write Your Own Life, Real Girls Eat, and The Oracle, among others. I wish I would have had books like these when I was 15 because they do not just scratch the surface. They give actually useful information, advice, and inspiration that stems from a soul level. Paul wants girls to focus on what is real, feeling comfortable in their own skin instead of finding the right bag to carry with the right shoes. At any age, Girlosophy is one to live by. 

Girls Gone Mild

Everyone should read Wendy Shalit's book The Good Girl Revolution. It is a refreshing take on modern feminism shown from a totally new angle. Shalit's book explores how modesty is the new rebellion for young women. While Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus are dancing on stripper poles for their 12 year old audiences, these real life girls are combating the sexualized image of women in a truly original way. Being the "bad girl" isn't a big deal anymore, its being wholesome and setting high standards that's genuinely shocking. Shalit interviews girls and young women ages 12 to 28 and the results are a breath of fresh air. Check this out at your local library and visit her blog. It truly is the revolution we've needed.

I'm Back!

Home again.  Italy was amazing and although I did not make it to France on this trip, I enjoyed Italy immensely. Here are some of my favorite pictures taken at my favorite places. We stayed in Dumaso on Lake Como, one of the northern most points on the lake. On our 3 hour boat ride, we spotted this beautiful sail boat backed by the Alps. I never thought I'd see the Alps, they were absolutely breathtaking. I loved every minute of it. The Trevi Fountain in Rome is also amazing. It was made in 1620 and is a masterpiece. Walking around Rome was so amazing, you're just walking around and Bam! you run into the Colosseum, this amazing structure built in the year 80. It was mind blowing. The last two pictures were taken at Cinque Terre national park. I loved this place, right on the Mediterranean Sea, while it was probably one of the more touristy places we went, it was like a whole other world. The Sea was clear, the sunsets were beautiful, and the locals were wonderful. The whole trip was like a dream come true, I can't wait to explore more of Europe

European Vacation

A week from today I will be on a plane to Rome. This is a trip I have dreamt about my whole life, it is coming up so fast now, it feels surreal. I cannot wait. My best friend and i will be going all over Italy as well as visiting Paris. Here are some pictures of the tourist attractions we will be going to see. The Colosseum, The Parthenon, a lovely view of the city of Florence, this awesome hide out on the Mediterranean my friend found, Cinque Terre, and of course the Arc de Triumph in Paris. Two glorious weeks of Europe. Can't wait!

Sabrina Ward Harrison

I don't think it's just me. I always feel like I am on the path to finding or really creating my true self. We are all a work in progress. I picked up Spilling Open by Sabrina Ward Harrison when I was 18. Read through it in wonder and then when I packed everything away to go travel, it got packed away too. I reopened it when I was 22 and again, read through it in wonder, finding it just as relevant as I had four years ago. Again, I picked it up with I was about 25 or 26 and found myself finding other passages that maybe hadn't spoken to me as strongly earlier, shake me to the core. I decided I had to immediately find and buy her other books, Brave on the Rocks and Messy Thrilling Life.  They are just as wonderful. Sabrina's books so eloquently illustrate in both words and pictures the greatness of life, from being totally insecure about your body, or feeling inadequate in your chosen path to those glorious days when you finally feel like you've got it, the sun is shinning bright and you're feeling beautiful, encouraged, hopeful, validated, and the world is yours for the taking (and giving). Not only are her words encouraging, her pages a true illustrations of these feelings, each page is a literal work of art. I think Spilling Open will remain my favorite of the three because it was the first I read and the one I've read the most, but each book is immensely special, wonderfully honest, and extremely gorgeous. Purchase any of these and other wonderful books by Sabrina here.