Halfway Down the Stairs

Review: Burger, Tap & Shake - Foggy Bottom

2012-02-27T07:42:00.000-05:00

Everyone has heard about D.C.'s obsession with cupcakes. What many are missing, however, is D.C.'s burger craze. Face it: on any given Friday, after a long week of work, too much time on the Metro or the Beltway, and not enough real food, most of us find a burger, shake, and fries too tempting to resist.

So after a long week, two friends and I set out in search of Burger, Tap & Shake in Foggy Bottom.

Location - The close proximity to George Washington University means that college students fill the restaurant, children were definitely present and welcome and young professionals won't feel as if they're reverting to freshman late-night IHOP visits.
Parking - Metro-accessible. Parking can be tricky in Foggy Bottom on a Friday night, but it's definitely available if one is willing to walk a couple of blocks.
Pricing - A little pricey if you really just want a burger, shake, and fries, but reasonable for a food "experience".
Staff - Friendly, fast, and helpful.
Food - Deliciously satisfactory. The burgers were generous and juicy, the buns were soft and fresh, and the shakes were inexcusably decadent. My only complaint is that the burgers are cooked to medium by default. The burgers were a little on the rare side for several of us, so if you're picky about how your meat is cooked, remember to say something.

If you haven't experienced a D.C. burger yet, you're legitimately missing out. Make plans to visit Burger, Tap & Shake this week.

Sunday Inspiration

2012-02-26T14:08:00.001-05:00

My apologies to all of you who received the posts in error this morning! Several drafts went public by mistake....mea culpa.

Creative Commons License: "Books" by shutterhacks on Flickr.

"The vision is always solid and reliable. The vision is always a fact. It is the reality that is often a fraud."

Friday Linkage

2012-02-25T10:45:00.000-05:00

After being granted a tantalizing taste of spring, the D.C. metro area has again been blasted with chilly weather. (I know I shouldn't complain and that 45 degrees is hardly brutal, but I am ready for some consistent sunshine and warmth by this time of year.)

It's not really Friday anymore, but here are some links for your weekend browsing.

Tim Challies has made some beautiful desktop wallpapers available.

The Quest for Me on Humane Pursuits raises some thought-provoking questions on the purpose of community, the nature of our culture's craze with self-development, and my generation's obsessive avoidance of anything resembling commitment.

Christianity Today published an article that provided a unique perspective on Lent.

For those interested in breaking free of the traditional cubicle career, Leaving Work Behind is an interesting blog that contains a variety of rich resources.

Finally, my sister shared the beautiful Wayfare Magazine with me. I can't wait to explore it.

Reflections on Ash Wednesday

2012-02-22T07:18:00.002-05:00

Today is Ash Wednesday.

There is nothing particularly practical about Lent. 40 days spent purposefully suffering a minor inconvenience or small self-denial seems silly at best.

But then, there's nothing practical about giving instead of taking or in serving instead of demanding. There's no logical reason behind why humility breaks pride, why weakness breeds strength, or why death brings life.

Miracles are something out of the ordinary, impractical, illogical . . . and yet, real and necessary. And part of Ash Wednesday is remembering the mystery of salvation.

Creative Commons License: "Lots of Blossoms" by aussiegall on Flickr

Of course, the crux of Christianity rests on the idea that logic doesn't always trump and that the visible doesn't always triumph. At the heart of Christianity lies the idea that something very real - though utterly invisible - happens during baptism or communion or fasting. Christianity insists that the physical not only represents, but truly, deeply affects the spiritual and emotional and invisible.

So we commit to giving something up for Lent, holding on to the idea that a gesture of humility will soften our hard hearts.

Uncomfortably, though, we realize how paltry any self-denial looks when weighed against our guilt, how ineffective are our attempts to achieve our own repentance, how pathetic our penance.

But then, of course, that is what Easter is about, after all. Insurmountable debt paid in full. An irreconcilable gap bridged. Incurable guilt dissolved. And all this despite our inability to help ourselves.

Lent is a reminder of our need for Easter as penance is a reminder of our need for forgiveness and effort a reminder of our need for the gift of grace. The morning can only come after darkness; forgiveness can only come after confession; the rejoicing of Easter Sunday and the ironic gift of the Cross can only come after we acknowledge our failures and our inability to save ourselves.

Review: Barre 3 - Georgetown

2012-02-21T07:48:00.004-05:00

I am not normally easily won over by gyms, studios, or anything remotely related to working out in a public setting. Why would I work out in the light of day under the scrutiny of total strangers when I could work out under cover of darkness in the complete seclusion of my own living room?

But when I heard about Barre3 from a co-worker, I was curious. A studio that combined yoga, pilates, and ballet? Maybe this was worth trying. So one Saturday morning I proceeded to Georgetown.

Location - Beautiful. Located in the center of Georgetown, the studio was clean, comfortable, and tastefully designed with a lot of rock and wood elements and a fireplace.
Parking - As promised, it was available in plenty. During a busier time of day than 10:00 on Saturday morning, parking under the bridge is probably the best option.
Pricing - This seems very reasonable. My favorite part about Barre 3 - Georgetown's pricing plans? The option to purchase a few classes at a time and then use them at my leisure. This allows me to buy classes at a discounted rate, but without having to commit to a regular membership.
Staff - Lovely. All of them were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. As far as I can tell, each instructor designs her own class, so one might emphasize yoga while another might incorporate more ballet. Even if the first one doesn't quite suit your taste, it's probably worth your while to try a few and see if you enjoy the classes of one instructor in particular. I love the ballet aspect and highly recommend Sarah Milligan.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Barre3 - Georgetown and will definitely be returning soon.

*Please note that this is not a paid review.

Friday Linkage

2012-02-17T21:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! Here are some links for your weekend browsing:

750 Words is an interesting site built on a genius idea.

I need to pin this prayer somewhere where I can see it regularly.

Creative Commons License: "True" by Joel Olives on Flickr

I thoroughly enjoy Lists of Note but this list of Henry Miller's 11 Commandments gives particularly wise advice.

Mancredible had a clear and helpful article about the basics of investing.

Here's some eye candy for bibliophiles.

Five Things You Could Do Today for Someone Else

2012-02-15T21:58:00.005-05:00

1. Buy a co-worker coffee.

2. Write a note to someone you appreciate.

3. Bake cookies and give them to a neighbor.

4. Write a check to a charity to which you have been intending to donate.

5. Thank someone in your workplace for something specific.

Nineteen Tips: A Valentine's Day Tribute

2012-02-14T07:42:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Have you had enough yet of pink and red, chocolate, flowers, sickening pretension, socially imposed guilt, and relationship angst? Of course not. It's early in the day.

I actually enjoy this holiday, mostly because I'm desperately addicted to those weird candy hearts. I also feel like a holiday devoted entirely to love gives us all a great opportunity to think about, well, love.

But while the gooey, sticky, heart-and-flowers kind of love gets the spotlight on this day, I think Valentine's Day offers a prime opportunity to learn a little bit about real love (you know, the married, committed, sacrificial, I Corinthians 13, day-in-day-out, Hollywood-forgot-about-this-part kind).

I thoroughly enjoy cornering my married friends and gleaning advice on relationships from them. I used this post as an excuse to fully abuse this privilege. I asked over a dozen married friends and family members to offer insight and advice for real relationships. Below are their responses.

Some of the responses are from women and some are from men. Some of these people have only been married for a number of months. Some of been married for decades. All of them were generous enough to share some of their wisdom and experience with me and with you.

_____________________

Be willing to be vulnerable. Love the whole person, not just the good things. Express your love and appreciation daily.
Just say it, even when you can't think of how to phrase it. It's better to talk about it than stew over it.
If you have something that needs to be talked about, do it in the morning when you are both fresh from the nights rest. And take the time to pray together every day.
Laugh a lot . . . at yourself and together.
Never go to bed angry. You may not completely resolve the issue, but discuss it enough so that neither of you is angry anymore.
Stay steady through the ups and downs, always sharing thoughts and feelings. Be perceptive to the others person's needs, because they are most often different from yours.
Buy flowers at the right time. Don't just listen; give feedback, too.
Don't use "talk it out" as an excuse to air grievances that could easily have been forgiven
"Constructive criticism" is not your job.
Respect, civility, kindness, consideration - all will carry you much further than being in love.
Don't argue about the small stuff . . . and 99% of it is small stuff.
As Ellen Goodman said, "We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck. But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness. The understanding that although you’re no bargain, you love and you are loved. Anyway."
Choose to think the best of your spouse in any given situation. You get to choose!
"Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy?"
Pick the right girl and you're all set. Be a good companion to yourself, and you'll be a good companion for someone else. In short, be content, and do something in your spare time that not only is enjoyable, but worth doing.
Live with gratitude. Your partner will not be perfect, and you aren't either. Thank your spouse profusely for any special attentions he/she offers you, and don't allow yourself to dwell on your spouse's faults.
Learn laundry language.
Marriage is one of God's greatest gifts to his children, a rich blessing. It is also the meeting of two minds, personalities, and hearts . . . beautiful and terrifying all at the same time. It is somewhat akin to nuclear fusion.
The best advice comes straight from Dusty Springfield:

Measuring Time

2012-02-06T20:19:00.002-05:00

Time is a rare and valuable commodity in most of our lives. There's never enough of it. I am constantly learning how to better manage my time, how to serve better with it, how to be a better steward of it, and how to make every minute I have count for as much as it can (on both an esoteric level and a very practical level).

Here are a few things I do to make the most of my time:

Get up early. I've done this pretty consistently since college. I'm not a "morning person" and it isn't always fun. I like my pillow just fine when it's dark and cold and early. But I learned that 15 or 30 extra minutes early in the morning pay enormous dividends.

I've been able to accomplish things early in the morning that would never find their way into later hours in the day. During college, I could do significant studying early in the morning. Now, I use that time to work out, read, and clean. Getting up early means I can take a lunch to work, so it even saves me money.

Just do. At the risk of being cliche, the goals you want to accomplish are not going to happen by themselves while you click through recently posted albums on Facebook. If you have set a goal to read a book or practice an instrument, just do it. Time drains like social media and cell-phones should be ignored until goals happen.

Make small amounts of time count. This is related to the first two points For the last few months, I've made a goal of spending 15 minutes every morning and evening reading. The morning reading normally consists of some kind of Christian living or devotional book, while I use the evening reading time for whatever else I am reading.

15 minutes isn't a huge amount of time, but with it, I can fit in anywhere between 15 and 40 pages of reading a day, allowing me to consistently move through quite a few books at a reasonable pace. This concept of using a small, dedicated period of time could be applied to a number of different activities.

Multi-task. Multi-tasking is not always a great answer, but turning on a podcast while running, listening to a book on tape during your commute, and cleaning the microwave while you wait for your dinner to cook can be productive ways to utilize otherwise wasted pockets of time.

Prioritize. Make a list of the five most important things in your life. Then make another list of five things that are less important but for which you still want to make time. Place the "top ten" list somewhere visible. There is not an endless supply of time. Making time for these ten things means that, at some point, time is not going to be available for something or someone else. Accepting this reality will save endless frustration.

How do you make time for your priorities? What are time management secrets or tricks that you have found valuable?

Overheard in a Coffee-Shop

2012-01-30T06:19:00.001-05:00

Random woman: "Is this a latte?"

Barrista: "Yes ma'am."

Random Woman: "I ordered a mocha."

Barrista: "It's a mocha-latte."

Random Woman: "My mochas normally come with whipped cream on top."

Barrista: "I can put whipped cream on it if you would like."

Random Woman: "No, that's ok. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't getting something different."

Seriously?

Friday Linkage

2012-01-27T21:22:00.000-05:00

Fun links this week include a variety of new blog finds:

Itstartswith is an intriguing blog about productivity and life
The Virginia House, an interior design blog, made me want to drop my work and paint something
How About Orange is as whimsical as it is charming.

Dream Small was a timely, inspiring reminder from Cardus that God is in the little things. The author, James Smith K.A. Smith, poignantly writes, "You don't need me to tell you to dream big. But I do hope you'll hear me when I encourage you to also dream small. Because that might be what really matters."

In the same vein, this article for the Ligonier blog reminds readers that, in a world focused on the self, real purpose and peace can only be found in one place.

If you needed a reason to be grateful, The New York Times provides several.

Finally, in light of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, The Washington Post provides some surprising insight as it profiles some of the most influential members of the pro-life moment.

Winter Battles

2012-01-26T08:04:00.004-05:00

I battle a legitimate illness about once or twice a year. In all fairness, I can't complain. I am not one of those unfortunate souls who gets desperately ill every time the wind changes.

But even the best have their bad days. And one morning this week I woke up before work to the horrible realization that the vicious hand of a winter cold had gripped my head.

I presume that there are few other young perky professionals out there who enjoy working while sick. But any young woman (and yes, any guy as well) can take a few simple steps to make a day at the desk and a head-cold a bit more compatible.

Stockpile. First of all, when signs of disaster strike, stock up. After a visit to CVS, I surveyed my supplies, which consisted of medicine (one version for bedtime and a non-drowsy version for work hours), cough drops, Vitamin C tablets, orange juice, Kleenex, and Vicks Vaporub. And Brachs candy-hearts and York Mint Patties.

But the latter are optional. Only have an excessive stockpile of comfort food on hand if you want to maintain your happiness as well as your sanity.

Furthermore, take these items to work with you. Keep them with you at all times. Cough-drops can't work their magic sitting alone in a cabinet.

Sleep. Seriously. Just go to bed as early as possible. Avoiding your mattress will simply extend the torturous symptoms.

Wear your highest heels. This is not the time to wear your feelings on your face. The effort you put into your attire should directly counteract how awful you feel. Take a shower, wear an outfit that you love, put on extra lip gloss, and show up for work on time.

This is the day to fake it until you make it. I was so distracted by the high-heel-induced foot pain today that I practically forgot about my cold for almost an hour.

Friday Linkage

2012-01-14T10:43:00.003-05:00

For your reading pleasure, here are some links....again, not posted on Friday.

For anyone who needs justification for their love of all things Disney, this article in Scriptorium provides some fodder.

This is one of my resolutions for 2012.

Here are some concrete tips from Mancredible for those of us whose workout routines require a bit of a kick-start.

Donald Miller explores the (often unexpected) tension between character and reputation.

Here is some inspiration for those of us sometimes disillusioned by standard career paths.

Here's Comes the Year

2012-01-03T19:20:00.002-05:00

I've been paralyzed by the idea of writing the mandatory New Year's post. Normally, the idea of setting goals and achieving new things - represented by piles of completed checklists - excites me to no end. Right now, I'm having trouble even completing a private list of goals for the year, much less a public blog post about it.

I might just be tired of setting goals that I then fail to achieve. But under normal circumstances, even when I don't quite make my target, goal-setting helps provide me with a tangible and motivating record of the things that I have achieved over the last few months.

It's not that I'm not excited about the coming year. I am. I can't wait to see the adventures and stories that the year holds. Maybe, though, it's this excitement that is holding me back from compiling a detailed list of everything that I want out of the year.

I don't know exactly what I want out of 2012. I'm a little afraid to plan. Everything memorable, good and bad, that emerged out of the last few years was completely unplanned. No checklist in the world could have prepared me for what those years held or could tangibly show what I learned and felt and did.

Of course I want to read and write and grow and save and do more. I do have a checklist to help me achieve these things in realistic ways. But what I really want out of 2012 is another year of irreplaceable adventures and memories. And sometimes the important things that make up these lives of ours don't fit well onto a checklist.

Finally, I don't regret any of the moments over the last few years when I was courageous. Even if things didn't turn out exactly the way I expected, I was always glad after I made an irreversible decision or took a blind step.

Even if, in retrospect, my "bravery" looks a little more like stupidity, I have never wished that I had avoided the unknown. So in 2012, I want to be brave. Not just once or twice or occasionally, but for an entire year.

So here's to another wonderful twelve months of memories, good and bad, of checklists, completed and unfinished, of adventures, planned and unplanned.

It's Christmas Again

2011-12-21T07:58:00.001-05:00

Almost exactly a year ago, on Christmas Eve, I wrote these words in another blog post:

In the end, then, Christmas is about making much of small things. Christmas is about remembering that sometimes God's perspective is different than ours. Christmas is about commemorating the tiny, the tangible, and the real. And Christmas is about celebrating one lone event that, in the whole wide expanse of history, really did matter.

Now, twelve months later, these words seem more true than ever. Sometimes I plod along in the dark, only able to see the next task that lies directly in front of me. And even that next task is often too difficult and things don't turn out the way I plan or want or expect.

But sometimes, for a fleeting moment, I'm given a glimpse of the bigger picture, of the tapestry built from these fragmented pieces, those events that I didn't choose and the people that I couldn't control and the timing that I didn't like. Sometimes, and especially at this time of year, I'm reminded how very significant each of those shards really is.

And this season is perhaps the best time to stand back and admire, for just a moment, the bigger picture, as we celebrate the passing of this year and past years and look forward to the coming of the new. So, in the midst of the traveling and shopping and visiting and celebrating, as you sit among your family and friends, take a few minutes to savor the beauty that the last few months and years and decades have built.

Remember all of those pieces that seemed inconvenient or messy or troublesome. Acknowledge the pain and irritation and hurt and frustration. Then savor the abundance that emerged from the scraps. Because ultimately, Christmas is about celebrating the unexpected twist in the tale, about recognizing the beauty that comes from an overlooked corner, and about a miracle that happened in a manger.

Movie Review: Ides of March

2011-11-23T08:22:00.002-05:00

Every now and then, I find a movie that eludes the standard categories and predictable plot lines, a movie that sticks with me for months, if not years.

Ides of March was such a movie. The phenomenal acting, intense plot, and captivating lines combined to create a memorable story, brilliantly directed by George Clooney. Stephen Meyers (played by Ryan Gosling) is a young idealist working on a presidential primary campaign for the driven, intelligent Mike Morris (George Clooney). Conflict in the movie arises as the personal, political, and professional ambitions of the characters collide and the Ohio presidential primary draws near.

*Photo Credit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124035/

Although I won't give away the ending, I will warn any potential viewers that the movie was not light-hearted. The themes are heavy and the ending is dark. Some movies allow viewers to walk away with a bright vision of the world. Not so with Ides of March.

In a good story, the characters have choices. In Ides of March, the characters consistently make the wrong ones. Not once, not twice, but every time a character in this movie is faced with the choice between their welfare and the well-being of another, between ambition and compassion, between an easy lie and a hard truth, they take the wrong turn.

And the most terrifying part of this movie is that the bad choices, the wrong choices, even the inhumane choices, are never hard to make. It's easy to relate to the characters and sometimes it's even easy to justify their choices. And then when disaster strikes as the moral fall-out from their decisions ensues, viewers will feel awkwardly surprised because, like the characters, they didn't see the fall-out coming.

I walked away from Ides of March feeling uncomfortable, not because I was shocked by the behavior of the characters, but because I didn't feel shocked enough. In the world of Ides of March, betrayal was all too easy. Audiences will walk away uncomfortably uncertain that, faced with the same choices, we would behave any differently. And this discomfort is possibly the most redeeming feature of Clooney's movie.

A Year Ago...

2011-11-08T18:48:00.002-05:00

A few evenings ago, as some friends and I sat in my living room talking, each of us reflected on the changes that had occurred over the past 12 months in our individual lives. This was the second time in just a few days that the topic had arisen, so I made a list.

Here are just a few things that have changed in my life in a brief year. One year ago, I:

was planning (what I thought would be) my last semester of graduate classes.
was expecting to finish my M.A. in English in May 2011.
was spending a lot of time wondering what people with two English degrees did to produce income.
had no idea that I was about to agree to move 500 miles away for a job entirely unrelated to my degree.
was writing a lot of idiotic things in my journal.
was writing a lot of true things in my journal.
never dreamed I would agree to rappel off of a cliff.
had never made bread.
was a lot less brave.
had never eaten crab-cakes.
knew a lot less about grace.
had never lived without a mental deadline.
didn't know that I could successfully navigate a busy weekend without electricity.

So here's to another year filled with good books, coffee, friends, unplanned adventures, grace, and lots of good stories! What surprising changes has the past year held for you?

Friday Linkage

2011-11-05T20:10:00.000-04:00

Enjoy these links while you're keeping warm on this brilliant cool autumn weekend!

In a world of narcissism, this woman's tale of her birthday provided a refreshing contrast.
One quote from Relevant's recent article on inevitable failure particularly resounded with me: "Because of my failures, I don’t deserve anything good. But good keeps coming my way. That’s not a reflection of my character or timing or anything else. But it is a reflection of the character of God."

Andree Seu's recent post on rejecting emotional baggage was a gentle, yet convicting, reminder.
I discovered some simple tips for eliminating excess spending.
In a world cynical about relationships, this lovely tale of unlikely love was an encouragement.
Between Blue Rocks offers a lovely reminder to acknowledge the beauty around us.
The product of an idealistic liberal-arts education, I related to this author's experience.

A Cup of Chesterton

2011-10-25T21:44:00.001-04:00

Sometimes rambling and venting and writing are soothing and useful. Words tumble frantically onto a page as I sort out the racing in my mind and the jumbling in my heart. But sometimes an empty cup needs to be filled.

Sometimes, when the words just won't sort themselves into sentences and the thoughts won't arrange themselves into paragraphs, the solution lies not in my pen but in my books.

And so, on this quiet fall evening, I hope these words of G.K. Chesterton, full of far more wisdom than I possess, bring you as much calm and insight as they have bestowed on me.

"You have not wasted your time; you have helped to save the world. We are not buffoons, but very desperate men at war with a vast conspiracy."

"To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless."

“The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen.”

“Always be comic in a tragedy. What the deuce else can you do?”

“What embitters the world is not excess of criticism, but an absence of self-criticism.”

“Most modern freedom is at root fear. It is not so much that we are too bold to endure rules; it is rather that we are too timid to endure responsibilities.”

“In the struggle for existence, it is only on those who hang on for ten minutes after all is hopeless, that hope begins to dawn.”

“The one perfectly divine thing, the one glimpse of God's paradise given on earth, is to fight a losing battle - and not lose it.”

Destination: Unknown

2011-10-17T22:03:00.001-04:00

"You don't get to know the ending."

This phrase is one of Mom's most frequent.

But I want to know the ending.

I was the girl who would skip to the end of the book so that I knew what was coming.

I was the girl who endlessly harassed professors about test material so that I knew exactly what to study.

I was the girl who refused to watch anything labeled "Drama" because that was code for "Potentially Unhappy or Unsatisfying Ending."

No guesswork. No unknowns. No questions.

Clear answers. Clear endings. Clear directions.

But my plans have a way of being foiled.

"You don't get to know the ending."

The more answers I demanded, the fewer I received.

When I planned more, I enjoyed less.

When I insisted more, I appreciated less.

It was exhausting. And frankly, not a lot of fun.

So I gave up.

I don't want to be the one in the corner, afraid that the story won't end the way she hopes it will. I want to be the one who lives fearlessly.

I don't want to compile a list of all possible pitfalls, dangers, and losses. I want to live without assessing the risk.

I don't want to have safety and comfort and predictability as my highest priorities. I want to live and love and give bravely.

"You don't get to know the ending."

I remind myself of this when I need to commit, when I'm asked to sign up, when I'm called to join.

I remind myself of this goal when I catch myself compiling a list of "what-ifs?" and "why-nots".

I remind myself to take the scary steps, to agree to the unknown, to avoid the safe corner.

And I don't get to know where this journey will end.

Friday Linkage

2011-10-16T19:27:00.002-04:00

Friday nights in October are for bonfires and friends, for hints of cozy winter evenings, and for piles of good books. And October Saturdays are for long hours in the golden sunlight. So this week's blog post wasn't published until Sunday night.

Here is a thought-provoking post on the difference between a hero and a celebrity.Which one are you aspiring to be?

New blog finds of the week include Keitharsis. There were so many wonderful posts that I could barely pick one to share. But this post on last moments is a good place to start.

It's been a while before I've shared an article by Seth Godin. Read this post. And then decide: what are you going to do next?

Relevant Magazine recently published a thoughtful article on the wanderlust epidemic.

A recent article from Image Journal was a poignant reminder that grace resides in the everyday:

"But inside that little nothing is, of course, everything. Inside that smallness is an immensity beyond our ability to imagine. It is an offer of grace.Grace may be a gift, but the question we always have to ask is whether we are prepared to receive it."

Stories of our Lives

2011-10-10T14:58:00.004-04:00

The world is exploding with stories.

There are stories being told all around us, all the time. Stories are everywhere, whirling by in the autumn winds, and yet, so often, we forget to pay attention. We forget that we are always in the middle of a story.

“I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books..." - C.S. Lewis

We are caught up in the rhythm of the everyday and neglect to notice that the plot is always moving forward, that new beginnings are always happening, that chapters are always closing.

We forget, too, that we have a part to play in writing these stories...that the words we choose to grant or the thoughts we hold back - un-acted upon, under cover - are pages in the books of our lives.

“With every step of our lives we enter into the middle of some story which we are certain to misunderstand.” - G.K. Chesterton

And sometimes we are caught by surprise in the middle of our own tales. We think we are nearing the end of a chapter when we are really just in the beginning. Or we think we are slugging through the middle of a story when, really, the final page is close at hand.

So we push onward, trying always to live better tales, because we never really know when the page will turn or the chapter will close, leaving us only with the fragments of a story that could have been better.

"We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?" - Donald Miller

Sunday Inspiration

2011-10-09T21:02:00.000-04:00

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

- Steve Jobs, 2005

Friday Linkage

2011-10-08T01:28:00.000-04:00

It's 1:30 a.m. here, which means it's technically no longer Friday. It's been one of those weeks. Productive and challenging, exciting and stressful, I can't say that I'm sad to leave it behind. Now I'm spending the long weekend with my family in the woods, grateful for some time to catch my breath.

While you're enjoying the fall weather that's sweeping the nation, here's some weekend reading to peruse.

Some tips for decision making.
A related article by The Happiness Project. Are you a satisficer or a maximizer?
Another article on happiness in the usual irreverent tone of Lifehacker.
This article and this article, both published in Relevant Magazine, ask some revealing questions. They are definitely worth a read. And probably a second one.
Anne Jackson's writing is provocative and convicting. Take some time to savor this blog post of hers this weekend. Favorite quote from the article: "What I am realizing is the extent I let my expectations control me."
Along with the author of this post in the Cardus blog, I am learning what it means to love the revision process in writing and in life.

Sunday Inspiration

2011-10-02T08:47:00.001-04:00

"We cannot understand. The best is perhaps what we understand least." - C.S. Lewis

A Time to Ponder

2011-10-01T12:23:00.005-04:00

Sometimes life flows along smoothly and one is swept along a bobbing current of daily tasks, duties, and pleasures. Other times life feels a bit more like a whirlpool, a dozen, a hundred, or a thousand different demands all passing by with dizzying swiftness.

Life has been a little crazy lately. First, there was August. In August, I was able to spend substantial time at home, resting and being with those I love. But blogging didn't happen.

Then September came and I spent a few weeks learning how to navigate the balance of grad school, a (sometimes more than) full-time job, sanity, and some remote semblance of a social life.

I spent a lot of time in September thinking, too, about this blog and about how it fits into this ever-turbulent season of my life. I thought about what I wanted to accomplish through Halfway Down the Stairs, about whether I should be blogging at all, about whether I should just throw the towel in and close this chapter.

But I love writing and I love blogging and I don't want to let go of this. On the other hand, I think reassessment is healthy. The questions I asked myself gave me a clearer vision and renewed excitement. Donald Miller's post on writing advice was an invaluable guide as I thought through my goals for this space.

I was trying to achieve a daily blogging regimen, but frankly, this was neither practical nor terribly productive. The result was blog posts that neither I nor anyone else wanted to read and frustration when I failed to meet my own standard. Instead, I'm going to try investing more into a few posts each week. There will be more links to writing by authors far better than I, more quotes, less clutter. Sometimes less is more.

A final note: if you receive my blog updates via Facebook, please take a moment to either subscribe by e-mail (don't forget to confirm the subscription!) or find me on Twitter (@emilyadams829). For a variety of reasons, I will no longer be posting blog updates to my Facebook page.

Thank you to all of you who bother to read these words, who care enough to share your thoughts and advice and criticism, and who encourage me with your presence.

“The writer operates at a peculiar crossroads where time and place and eternity somehow meet. His problem is to find that location.” - Flannery O'Connor

Sunday Inspiration

2011-08-21T16:10:00.001-04:00

"One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place. . . . Give it, give it all, give it now.

The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. . . . Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes."

- Annie Dillard, The Writing Life

Friday Linkage

2011-08-19T19:05:00.001-04:00

Today's linkage includes a rather wide-ranging smattering.

Would you rather spend money on tangible items or an experience? This article in Time Magazine weighs in on this dilemma.

How About Orange is a delightful blog. This personality test is especially fun.

William Deresiewicz wrote a sobering post on the concept of love fed to today's young women and the dire consequences of its false idealism. He also wrote a thoughtful post on the consequences of our perceptions of ourselves.

Image Journal published a lovely reflection on unattained plans.

Christianity Today's article on happiness take a convicting look at our common definitions of happiness.

My favorite quotes from the article were the following:

"True virtue is personal, but it is never merely private. It involves a commitment to civic duty and the common good."

"We must challenge the tyranny of relativism not only in theory but also in our daily lives, families, communities, and businesses. We must show that true happiness comes only from being rightly related to God, the source of truth and virtue."

"The church of Jesus Christ has a special role to play in this moment: to speak the truth in love and to demonstrate our love to the world in acts of service and mercy. This is what Carl F. H. Henry had in mind when he wrote in 1947, 'We must confront the world now with an ethics to make it tremble and with a dynamic to give it hope.'"

The Cardus blog provided a sobering but optimistic perspective on the recent rioting around the world.

*Subscribe by providing your e-mail using the box on the right and receive posts as they are published.

Two Paths

2011-08-18T18:35:00.001-04:00

It's not hard to become jaded. Cynicism is easily achieved. It's more difficult to fight the constant, relentless urge to assume the bad.

Stereotypes are simple. "He always . . ." "She never . . . "

It's easier to criticize than to create. Something can always be done better or faster. Tearing down is fast, easy, and safe. If you never endorse, you'll never be wrong.

Assuming the worst is smart. But it takes courage to insist on seeing (and acknowledging) the good.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the un-jaded. The clear-visioned. The eternal optimists. The ones who refuse to retreat. The idealists. The hopeful. The persistent.

"For they shall see God."

They will see God everywhere. Every day. In every blade of grass. In every failure, every success, every happy ending, every heartache, every wish fulfilled. And having seen God, they will push onward.

There's a catch. Sometimes the fallen world will fail these dreamers and they will land on their face. But what is more tragic: unexpected failure or a loss of hope?

Bits and Pieces

2011-08-17T18:37:00.000-04:00

I've been a bit absent lately. A nine-day trip home, a newly acquired piano, the beginning of another semester of grad school, and a variety of other factors have pushed blogging to the back-burner. But I am back.

Although the announcement of the contest's winner is later than I had previously planned, there was indeed a contest and there was indeed a winner. Monica Jacobson, a frequent commenter on this blog and a dear friend, is the winner of Donald Miller's A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. She will be receiving a copy in the mail shortly.

And for the rest of my readers, on this Wednesday evening, I hope you glean as much enjoyment, food for thought, and wisdom as I have from the following passage from William Goldman's The Princess Bride.

"And they lived happily ever after,” my father said. . . . The truth was, my father was fibbing. I spent my whole life thinking it ended that way, up until I did this abridgement.

Then I glanced at the last page. . . . My father was, I guess I realized too late, a romantic, so he ended it another way. . . .

Yes, they got away. And got their strength back and had lots of adventures and more than their share of laughs.

But that doesn’t mean I think they had a happy ending, either.

Because, in my opinion, anyway, they squabbled a lot, and Buttercup lost her looks eventually, and one day Fezzik lost a fight and some hot-shot kid whipped Inigo with a sword and Westley was never able to really sleep sound because of Humperdinck maybe being on the trail.

I’m not trying to make this a downer, understand. I mean, I really do think that love is the best thing in the world, next to cough drops.

But I also have to say, for the umpty-umpth time, that life isn’t fair. It’s just fairer than death, that’s all."

Tales

2011-08-03T20:11:00.003-04:00

Our stories are funny things. They build us, these tales, piece by piece, moment by moment, that trip, that fight, that beach, that walk, that day. But of course, we build our stories too.

And sometimes we begin a story that won't end the way we want no matter how hard we try. So we have to pick up the pen and begin to write another chapter from the broken paragraphs and run-on sentences we are left holding when the page turns against our will.

Our stories pile up inside until they are less like coherent sentences than a foaming seething mass of words and letters and phrases, so many magnets on the fridge. But the stories are still there, emerging at unexpected moments, reminding us when we need it most of who we are and from whence we come.

So we continue to move through our stories, sketched in indelible ink, shaping and being shaped as we slip through the pages.

But sometimes we get lost. G.K. Chesterton said, "Every man has forgotten who he is. . . . We are all under the same mental calamity. we have all forgotten our names. We have all forgotten what we really are."

And we have to remind ourselves of our stories when the paths that we have walked become hazy. It might take a jog around the block or a trip across the country or a journey around the world to remind ourselves who we are.

In a few days, I will drive west towards a part of my story, towards a house whose windows shine late into the night, towards small hands and warm heads and time with those I love, towards piano keys whose silky sheen I miss and towards a driveway never still for long.

In a few days, I will hear the familiar clamor and open the familiar drawers and sit at the familiar table. I will hold the books that I know and sit in the room that I share and then, in a few days, I will remember.

One Sunday Morning

2011-08-02T07:08:00.001-04:00

Repetition was, for better or worse, a large part of my education. It started early as I recited the presidents chronologically in 2nd or 3rd grade.

"George Washington; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson...."

And then there was "The Village Blacksmith" in 4th grade.

"Under a spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands..."

Middle-school ushered in an era of Latin conjugations.

"Amo, amas, amat...."

How my parents and I avoided losing our minds during my finals is beyond me.

Repetition, for better or worse, sticks. Thrown off of a horse in high-school, I remember staring up at a sea of faces, trying to regain a bearing on where I was and when and why. Terrified by my own inability to dig out of the confusion that clouded my mind, I grasped frantically for some piece of reality to hold.

On that hot July day, bruised, sore, reality and dreams blending as I faded in and out of consciousness, the first thing that came to mind was the page of my Latin textbook that I had so carefully committed to memory.

"Amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant..."

I worked my way slowly and painfully through the familiar forms, working myself out of the hazy muddle back into the light of reality.

On Sunday, after a long week of chaos and crisis and busy-ness and work that seemed to have no end, I stood in church and repeated familiar lines.

"I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth..."

Once again out of the murky darkness of the week's labor, repetition provided me with an anchor to reality, a reality bigger than myself or work or politics or world news.

"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God..."

Slowly my head stopped swirling and my heart stopped racing and my mind stopped rushing as quiet settled over me.

"For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven . . ."

And through the darkness, I grasp for something real and unchanging and solid. In the midst of questions and confusion, the repetition reminds me of the real and the certain and draws me back to what I know.

"He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again . . ."

Perspective regained. Priorities reordered. The important things, the really important things, sifted to the top above the clamor and demands of the transitory and fleeting.

"And his kingdom will have no end."

And once again, the repetition of the familiar slowly lifted me out of the hazy shade back into the light.

A Quiet Gift

2011-08-01T07:00:00.003-04:00

I expect grace to be dramatic and surprising and startling. But I live grace every day, really. Grace is the reality that failure isn't final, that setbacks aren't fatal.

Grace is knowing that, at the end of every wearying day, rest awaits. Grace is that relentless quiet force that enables me, after countless frustrations and mistakes and wrong turns, to meet each new day as a chance to try again.

And really, what is more dramatic than that? The force that makes each day a new gift is as ingrained in nature as the sun rising and setting.

The surprise is that it comes from an unexpected and familiar quarter. While I look for something new and startling, grace steadily and patiently stands at every turn. After I have wearied myself by chasing after the glamorous, the grace of the ordinary stands ready when I can't run any more.

And so I slowly learn that every moment, every breath is the gift of grace.

Sunday Inspiration

2011-07-31T21:52:00.000-04:00

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

- Sir Francis Drake

Steps to Simplicity #1: Declutter

2011-07-30T14:04:00.001-04:00

During my recent move, I stored a large stack of miscellaneous papers in a big binder, promising myself that I would go through the papers soon. Soon turned into several weeks. Finally, last weekend, I went piece by piece through the binder finding, to my amazement, that almost every single piece of paper was useless.

By the time I actually looked through the papers, the majority of those "just-in-case" and "maybe-I'll-need-that later" scraps had become irrelevant.

We all have those piles of clothes we'll wear someday, events we'd like to go to if we get time, papers we'll sort through one day.

But there is something very freeing about realizing and acknowledging that someday, for most of our clutter, will never come. Give yourself permission to sort through that stack and aggressively prune all of those scraps from your calendar, your closet, and your desk.

If it doesn't contribute to your vision, it might be time to toss it.

Steps to Decluttering

1. Make a pile. This pile might be clothes, miscellaneous possessions, papers, even events on your calendar. But seeing all of the clutter physically in one place will help you force yourself to sort through it.

2. Sort through the entire pile, piece by piece, separating everything into one of three categories (a "keep" pile, an "action" pile, and a "throw" pile).

3.Put everything in the "keep" pile back in its appropriate, permanent place. This might involve filling papers, entering events into your calendar, or refolding your winter clothes.

4. Throw away everything in the "throw" pile.

5. Take action on every single thing in the "action" pile. Mail the cards, take the clothes to the Goodwill, and repair that broken item. If you decide the action required isn't worth the effort, throw the item away.

Decluttering is the first step towards simplicity.

Subscribe by providing your e-mail using the box on the right and receive posts for this series as they are published.

*There is still time to enter the giveaway.

Friday Linkage

2011-07-29T20:49:00.002-04:00

It's Friday. For some, the week has been a bright summer week, full of sunshine and activity. For others, it has been a long week, a hard week, a week after which the weekend is not a goal reached as much as a mere extension of labor and emotion and waiting.

For those of us in the second group, Ann Voskamp's post on patience is a gentle reminder to focus on the most important things.

I'll admit that Ann Ryand's Atlas Shrugged is on my book list, although I haven't read it yet. I have heard conflicting reviews of the book and appreciated Marvin Olasky's insight.

I appreciate the thoughtful essay on Image Journal. As someone who has moved frequently and traveled often, I have always thought myself an expert at the art of (and avoidance of) goodbyes. Gregory Wolfe's essay was a convicting reminder that such markers of time should not be taken lightly.

I can't wait to explore this newly discovered blog.

Sweet Simplicity

2011-07-27T21:43:00.010-04:00

I firmly believe that simplicity is foundational to clear vision. In order to achieve clarity of vision, we must achieve simplicity first.

"Out of clutter, find simplicity." - Albert Einstein

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci

"Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify." - Henry Thoreau

"Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance." - Coco Chanel

"Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity." - Plato

The Steps to Simplicity Series, published over the next few days, will feature five steps towards creating a simpler life. To simplify, one must:

1. Declutter.
2. Organize.
3. Commit selectively.

4. Spend thoughtfully.

5. Rest deliberately

What are steps you take to simplify your life?

Subscribe by providing your e-mail using the box on the right and receive posts for this series as they are published.

*There is still time to enter the giveaway.

Time to Walk

2011-07-26T06:06:00.004-04:00

I walked out of something this week. It wasn't something to which I had committed or something that couldn't continue without my presence. I was just trying it out, just dabbling, just a new-comer.

I showed up alone (always a bad idea) and late (unlike me, but perhaps the first sign of trouble) and then sat there uncomfortably.

As the minutes ticked by, I became more and more irritated at the time wasted, irritated at myself for getting into a situation in which I was distinctly uncomfortable, and even annoyed at the (innocent) people around me who appeared to be enjoying themselves.

Then it dawned on me. I didn't have to stay. Nothing, absolutely nothing, was preventing me from standing up and walking out. And so I stood up, turned around to face a sea of faces (all still clearly enjoying themselves), walked to the door (which happened to be all the way at the other side of the room) and sailed out into the hot afternoon sunshine.

Sometimes one just needs to walk. Not all books, movies, projects, or meetings are worth finishing. Not all goals are worth achieving. Life is too short to finish something simply for the sake of checking a box.

I don't mean that commitments shouldn't be kept. If you've committed to seeing something through to the end, then finish it, by all means. But most of our lives are filled with a little unwanted clutter, a few projects that we can't quite leave behind but that we really don't have the time or desire to finish.

It's hard to have clear vision if you can't see past the boxes in the doorway. What is one project, book, or activity that you can leave behind forever today?

*If you haven't signed up for the giveaway yet, there is still time!

Sunday Inspiration

2011-07-24T09:53:00.001-04:00

"Everything is connected with everything else: but not all things are connected by the short and straight roads we expected." - C.S. Lewis

The Importance of Vision

2011-07-23T08:26:00.003-04:00

I tend to be one of those people who, in the face of a decision, hesitates, waits, observes, weighs all available

options...and then, confronted with uncertainty and questionable success, I do nothing by default.

My head knows that any action, even mistaken action, is almost always better than inaction, but my instinctual desire to avoid failure at all costs often wins out over the option of following a trail with an unclear destination.

Thoughtfulness and caution are the building blocks of wise decisions, certainly. But I'm beginning to learn that cautious decision-making can be a pitfall when not done under the umbrella of a clear, overarching vision.

Andy Stanley sums this up by saying, "As a leader, you rarely have certainty, but you should always have clarity."

A clear vision of who we are and where we are going makes decisions easier and failure less fatal. Mistakes are inevitable and uncertainty is a reality, but a clear vision puts mistakes and decisions into perspective for the perfectionist.

A person with a clear vision can confidently forge ahead, secure in her vision of the future. Decisions are simply small pieces of a larger puzzle.

Without a clear vision, though, suddenly, every decision re-determines one's direction. Each decision has the potential to change the ultimate future, to take one down an entirely different path. Every new choice takes on immense impact and has the potential to utterly alter the future. Thus, of course, every decision is weighty and direction-altering.

Do you have a clear vision?

Friday Linkage

2011-07-22T07:03:00.005-04:00

It has been a long week, a busy week, but a good week as well. I hope your weekends are full of rich times and rest. Here are some links to browse as you enjoy the changed pace.

We all know we modify our tones as we switch between, for example, a conversation with a close friend and a conversation with our boss. Michael's Hyatt's thoughtful article inspired me to more closely examine the tone of my thinking, though.

I love the use of color in this post by Eat, Drink, Chic. Who knew red and pink could look so...well, so chic?

On a recent post by Leadership Freak, I learned about Colin Powell's 40/70 rule. The gist of the rule is that one should never take action if there is less than 40% chance of success. On the other hand, if one has 70% chance of success, then one should just go ahead and take action, assuming that the results will outweigh the risk.

I really enjoy the practical and creative tips provided by The Nesting Place. The photos are beautiful and the style is crisp, yet the perspective is practical.

I can't wait to explore this food blog.

Don't forget to sign up for the giveaway before July 30!

100 Posts

2011-07-20T07:00:00.008-04:00

This is my 100th blog post. It all started in a Barnes and Noble on March 20, 2010. I had been toying with the idea of starting a blog for a while and a conversation with Rachel pushed me over the edge.

I sighed with envy at the bloggers-turned-published-authors evidenced on the shelves around us as we sipped our coffee and chatted. "Just do it," she commanded me. So I did. On March 26, 2010, I published the first post.

My blogging project has been more successful than I imagined it would be. 15 months later, it's still alive. It's inspired me to read more, cook more, and write more. It traces my efforts to set more goals, be more organized, and try out new things.

The most popular post of all time is A Question for My Readers, followed closely by Home is Where the Bread Is.

Traditionally, bloggers post 100 things about themselves to celebrate this milestone. This is, I feel, definitely narcissistic and bordering on creepy.

Instead, in celebration of the 100th post of Halfway Down the Stairs, I will be doing a giveaway. One reader will receive a copy of Donald Miller's A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story

This book, which I read shortly before launching this blog, radically changed the way I viewed my goals, my relationships, and even my walk with God. I feel like it's an appropriate choice for the giveaway.

So here are the rules.

1.Link to the giveaway via Facebook, Twitter, or a blog post on your own blog by Saturday, July 30th, 11:59 p.m. (Eastern).

2. In the comments below, a)link back to the Facebook/Twitter/blog post where you shared the link and b)share one thing that you love about blogging.

3. The winner (and receiver of the book) will be announced on August 6.

Bookish Tuesday: Day 2 of 30 Day Book Challenge

2011-07-19T07:00:00.006-04:00

Day 2 of the 30 Day Book Challenge demands that I list my least-favorite book. This is difficult because a) if I suspect that I will abhor a book I simply don't pick it up in the first place and b) if I dislike it intensely halfway through, I normally just leave it unfinished.

The book that stands out vividly to me in answer to this question, though, is Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure.

Jude the Obscure (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

I was required to read it one summer during college as a part of an independent study. I remember being horrified by it. The characters were repulsive and the plot, terrifying. Some of the scenes in the book were far more disturbing to me than any thriller I've seen. Most of the book hovers somewhere between grotesque and absurd.

The book traces the path of the protagonist, Jude, as he slugs through life searching desperately for direction and meaning. It is full of apocalyptic Biblical references that only serve to highlight the emptiness of Jude's life.

Ultimately, after a seemingly endless list of failed relationships, shattered ideals, and tragedies, the book abruptly ends on a hopeless note. Significantly, I don't even remember whether Jude died or not at the end of the book. I won't be going back though to find out anytime soon, though.

However, even the darkest book holds some truth. Jude the Obscure vividly demonstrated how dark and horrifying a life without meaning, purpose or direction can be.

Monday Meal: Veggie Burrito

2011-07-18T07:00:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, after a long day, dinner needs to not only be quick but substantial. This can be accomplished easily by modifying a quesadilla.

2 flour tortillas
1/2 a bell pepper
1/2 an onion
1 can of refried beans
1/4 cup of sharp Cheddar cheese, finely grated
1/8 cup of milk
olive oil
Extra sharp Cheddar cheese, finely grated

Pour 3-4 tbls. olive oil into pan. Thinly slice pepper and onion. Saute on medium heat in olive oil until peppers are soft and flexible and onions are transparent.

While the vegetables are sauteing, heat the refried beans, milk, and cheese in a pan over medium heat. Remove vegetables from pan.

Swish tortillas around in the vegetable pan, making sure both sides of each are lightly covered in oil. Let tortillas warm in pan on low heat. Remove tortillas from pan.

Sprinkle cheese lightly in a line down the center of each tortilla, leaving about an inch of space between the top and bottom edges and the cheese.

Add a layer of beans on top of the cheese. Add sauteed vegetables. Tightly wrap tortilla around the cheese, beans, and vegetables. Repeat for the second tortilla. Place both burritos back in the pan and cook on medium heat until cheese is fully melted and tortilla begins to brown.

Sunday Inspiration

2011-07-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

"Every moment of light and dark is a miracle."- Walt Whitman

Friday Linkage

2011-07-16T10:49:00.003-04:00

This weekend holds friends and laughter, cleaning blitzes, clean laundry, coffee slowly sipped on the back deck, reading unrelated to work, and time passing unheeded.

Here are some links....even though today isn't Friday.

John Maxwell's system for filing quotes is fascinating and inspiring. Perhaps this weekend also holds time for tackling my quote collections.

Leadership inspiration often includes a lot of conversation about confidence, knowledge, and integrity. This week, though, Leadership Freak had a post on the importance of vulnerability.

Seth Godin wrote a convicting post about the role of fear in decision-making.

(In)courage has a wonderful post about the lasting impact of hand-written notes. I definitely admit to being a word-hoarder. I even have trouble deleting e-mails.

I also adore these items from Citta Design posted by Eat, Drink, Chic.

The Attack of the Refrigerator

2011-07-13T07:00:00.007-04:00

Sometimes certain tasks just demand action. Our refrigerator was in desperate need of attention. New arrivals to the house, move-outs, a power outage, and a few barbecues had taken their toll. The refrigerator was too full to clean, but not clean enough to continue filling.

My roommates and I went to work. We followed the steps below and two hours, some water, and a bit of bleach did the trick. Our fridge is sparkling clean. Furthermore, we now have plenty of space for new groceries. When was the last time you cleaned your fridge?

1. Remove everything. Everything. Every bottle, every jar, every bag, every package. It may be easier to do this in sections. We did the freezer, then the door, then the main section. Finally, remove all fridge-components that come out. These will generally include the vegetable and cheese drawers.

2. Throw out food. Be merciless. Check expiration dates. If it's expired, throw it. If it's open and no one has used it in a month, throw it. If no one claims it, throw it. Less food will ultimately be wasted if you de-clutter the fridge now.

3. Scrub. Using a sponge, soap, and water, scrub the fridge clean. Aggressively attack stains, scum, and crumbs. Wash the removable drawers and trays as well.

4. Bleach. Using a spray that includes bleach, spray the inside of the fridge and the removable components. Let the bleach sit for a few minutes and then scrub the surfaces again. Finally, wipe the surfaces dry.. Be sure to clean every surface, including the bottom-side of shelves and the inside of the containers.

5. Replace the pieces, shelves, and food. Logically organize the food so that you can easily find things. Bigger items fit best in the back. Small items should be placed so that they do not disappear into the depths of the back.

Bookish Tuesday

2011-07-12T07:00:00.002-04:00

I'm inspired by Facebook's 30 Day Book Challenge, from which I plan to draw the Bookish Tuesday prompts for a while. Day #1's question is: What is your favorite book?

In all honesty, I don't have a favorite book. I love many books for different reasons at different times. But the one book that stands out vividly in my mind is George Eliot's Middlemarch. Beautifully written and masterfully crafted, this books stands as the epitome of the British novel.

Middlemarch (Oxford World's Classics)

Midlemarch does far more than just stand as a literary achievement. Of great literature, C.S. Lewis writes, "My own eyes are not enough for me…. In reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself."

Eliot brings her characters alive for her readers. Readers of Middlemarch experience the selfish cruelty of Rosamond, the despair of Dr. Lydgate, the confident conviction of Mary, the youthful folly of Fred, and the well-intentioned naivety of Dorothea.

In Middlemarch, I see the lives, dreams, hopes, and failures of myself, my friends, and my family played out through the lives of Eliot's characters. I relate to, mourn for, and rejoice with the characters as the lives of the Middlemarch neighborhood play out across the 800 + pages.

A professor once told me that Middlemarch was a must for every English major. But I disagree. Middlemarch is a must-read for every serious reader.

Sunday Inspiration

2011-07-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

"Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."

- A.A. Milne

*Subscribe by typing your e-mail into the box on the right if you'd like to receive an alert when new posts are published.

Friday Linkage

2011-07-08T07:00:00.009-04:00

The end of a long - but good - week is upon me. I am looking forward to a weekend full of friends, books, coffee, and much-needed rest. Enjoy the following links!

Leadership Freak's "Fighting the Enemy that Blocks Suc cess" was a well-written post about the dangers of trying to stand alone and the importance of strong teams. One notable quote from the post says, "Aloneness is the enemy of long-term success. It takes more than one to get it done. The greater the challenge the more people you need."

These hand-painted water-color cards on Oh So Beautiful Paper are a wonderful idea!

Incourage had an inspiring list of ways to rest.

Have a restful weekend!

Of Gambling and Risks

2011-07-07T07:00:00.006-04:00

There is a difference between a gamble and risk. This hit me today as I read this post on the topic by Zig Ziglar. It was as if a light clicked on in my head.

A risk involves:

background research
odds that lean in one's favor
benefits that outweigh costs
statistics that show success is more likely than failure

A gamble involves:

Random guesses and optimistic hopes rather than realistic understanding
a thin chance of success
odds that lean against one's favor
large costs paid up front in hopes of future benefit
statistics that show failure is more likely than success

Risk-taking is a necessary step towards success. Gambling is just dumb.

Relationships, finances, and careers always involve risk. But if someone is asking you to play Russian Roulette with your heart, your money, or your job, it's time to run.

Know whether you are taking a risk or making a gamble.

My Facebook Adventure, Part II

2011-07-06T06:33:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I deactivated my Facebook for a few days last week as a sort of experiment. The experiment taught me a great deal about the way I manage time (and the way my use of time occasionally manages me!).

1. I log-in to FB without thinking far too often. I deactivated my Facebook account Monday night. Before 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, I had started to log in more times than I care to admit. There was never a particular reason. It was just an automatic reflex.

2. My creative energy started to become massively productive by mid-Tuesday morning. Bits and pieces that would have turned into meaningless status updates instead developed as I went about my day, turning into blog posts and brainstormed bits for my thesis, among other things.

3. I had more time in the morning. I slept in later than usual throughout last week, but even with less time, I managed to accomplish far more before leaving for work than I normally do.

4. I didn't miss Facebook as much as I thought I would. I was surprised by how little pressure I suddenly felt to check my feed or my messages. I felt relieved as if I had suddenly turned down an enormous obligation. I didn't miss out anything important. People who needed to contact me simply e-mailed or called me instead.

5. Facebook expands to fill the time allotted. Towards the middle of the week, I did began to feel a little as if I was missing out on my friend's activities and lives. So I reactivated my account a couple of times during the week-day evenings to briefly see what I had missed by *not* checking my Facebook. (As accounts can only be reactivated every 24 hours, this was fairly self-limiting.)

In under ten minutes, I was able to quickly skim my news feed and my friends' walls, catch up on the week's events, and glance at a few new picture of my brother's overseas adventures. Instead of wasting large amounts of time during the day by constantly logging in, I was able to catch up on everything Facebook-related in only a few minutes.

6. I didn't suddenly lose contact with all of my friends, close or far. If anything, I had more time to spend with them.

7. I enjoy Facebook and won't permanently deactive my account.....yet. Ultimately, this week's experiment taught me that I can use my Facebook account more efficiently. I appreciate the chance to reassess the way I use my time. But I'm not ready to turn it off for good quite yet.

How does Facebook impact your life, postively and negatively?

*Subscribe by typing your e-mail into the box on the right if you'd like to receive an alert when new posts are published.

My Facebook Adventure, Part I

2011-07-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

Last week I did the unthinkable. I deactivated my Facebook account. It wasn't a permanent step. It was a personal experiment. I turned off my Facebook for a few days for several reasons:

I was finding myself more and more pressed for time.
I suspected I was probably spending more time on Facebook than I wanted to admit, even to myself.
I wanted to see how much I "missed" by being absent from Facebook.
I wanted to find out if Facebook was making my life richer or if it was simply a drain.
I needed to know whether my writing was better without Facebook.

This blog is about pursuing rich living in the midst of the everyday clamor. Living well requires constant reassessment of one's goals, priorities, and use of time. Turning off my Facebook account for a few days was a step in that direction.

I learned some unexpected lessons from my brief Facebook reprieve. I'm excited to share them with you tomorrow!*

*Subscribe by typing your e-mail into the box on the right if you'd like to receive an alert when new posts are published.

Monday Meal: Quesdilla

2011-07-04T07:30:00.003-04:00

This recipe is quick, flexible, and satisfying.

2 flour tortillas
1/2 a bell pepper
1/2 an onion
olive oil
Sharp Cheddar cheese, finely grated

Pour 3-4 tbls. olive oil into pan. Thinly slice pepper and onion. Saute on medium heat in olive oil until peppers are soft and flexible and onions are transparent. Remove vegetables from pan.

Swish tortillas around in oil, making sure both sides of each are lightly covered. Let tortillas warm in pan on low heat. Remove tortillas from pan.

Cover half of each tortilla with a thin layer of cheese. Add a layer of vegetables. Fold uncovered layer of tortilla over covered half so that each tortilla resembles a half-moon.

Place both quesadillas in pan. Cook on medium heat and flip occasionally until each side is satisfactorily browned. Enjoy! And Happy Fourth of July!

Sunday Inspiration

2011-07-03T08:15:00.001-04:00

We hold these truths to be self-evidence, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

- The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

A Bit of Poetry

2011-06-28T20:56:00.001-04:00

Ulysses

It little profits that an idle king,
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.

I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees:

all times I have enjoyed
Greatly, have suffered greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone; on shore, and when
Through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vexed the dim sea: I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honoured of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers;
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.

I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!

As though to breathe were life. Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this grey spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.

This is my son, mine own Telemachus,
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle —
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil
This labour, by slow prudence to make mild
A rugged people, and through soft degrees
Subdue them to the useful and the good.

Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere
Of common duties, decent not to fail
In offices of tenderness, and pay
Meet adoration to my household gods,
When I am gone.

He works his work, I mine.

There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me —
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads — you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all:

but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.

The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices.

Come, my friends,

'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew

Tho' much is taken, much abides;

and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven;

that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

Monday Meal

2011-06-27T06:41:00.001-04:00

Another one of my favorite, quick, go-to meals during the week is a twist on the simple grilled cheese sandwich.

Pepper-Jack Cheese Panini

1/2 a pepper
1/2 a red onion
Pepper Jack cheese, thinly sliced
Pepper
Garlic
2 slices of sourdough bread
Olive oil

Pour 2 tbls. olive oil into a medium frying pan. Slice peppers and onion thinly. Saute sliced peppers and onions in olive oil on medium heat until onions are transparent and peppers are soft and flexible (about ten minutes). Transfer peppers and onions to a plate or bowl.

Sweep one side of each piece of bread around the pan to oil. (One side of each piece should be lightly covered in olive oil.) Lay one piece of bread flat in pan. Cover with one layer of thinly-sliced cheese. Cover cheese with sauteed onions and peppers. Add another layer of cheese. Add final piece of bread (oiled side up).

Cook on medium-heat, pressing firmly occasionally with a large spatula. Once cheese has begun to melt and the bottom-piece of bread has begun to brown, flip quickly. Continue to cook, pressing firmly on occasion with spatula.

When cooked as desired, enjoy!

Sunday Inspiration

2011-06-26T08:34:00.000-04:00

"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind." - Henry James

Friday Linkage

2011-06-25T07:02:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!

Laura Miller of Salon wrote an provacative response to an article I shared a few weeks ago.

One of the book reviews over at Cardus was also an insightful commentary on the problem of beauty in a fallen world. I think I'm going to have to add these books to my reading list!

I'm completely enchanted by the writing of William Deresiewicz at the moment. His article "Solitude and Leadership" made my week and possibly my month.

Seth Godin wrote a pithy post on excuses this week.

Simple + Pretty and Lemon and Lavendar are my recent blog finds.

This list from Hula Seventy was inspiring.

Bookish Tuesday

2011-06-21T06:49:00.001-04:00

What are five impactful non-fiction books you have read?

Father Fiction: Chapters for a Fatherless Generation

A great read for any young adult, Father Fiction thoughtfully discusses finances, relationships, and careers.

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives

I read Margin during college. It permanently altered the way I viewed and prioritized time and rest.

A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning (Isi Guides to the Major Disciplines)

A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning is a quick, inspirational read about the Great Books for those dedicated to a life-long pursuit of learning.

Fire

A series of essays by a journalist who was there, Fire transports readers out of their comfort-zone to scenes of chaos all over the globe.

Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life

Surprised by Joy is an autobiography and the story of Lewis' journey to God.

Your turn! Include your list in the comments or on your blog, linking back here.

Monday Meal

2011-06-20T05:37:00.002-04:00

I love trying new recipes and expanding my food repertoire. There's just one tiny obstacle: the reality of time. In reality, I have a job that generally requires me to leave my before 7:45 in the morning; during a typical week I don't ever get home before 6:00 and often walk in the door after 7:00.

This is not an unusual dilemma.....most of my friends, acquaintances, and colleagues also work (or study) between 40 and 60 hours a week.

I refuse to eat dinner out for the sake of time. If I am spending time with friends over a meal, fine. But I have fully boycotted eating out or relying on fast food simply to save effort. Among other reasons, eating out tends to be both less healthful and more expensive than cooking.

So how does one balance a desire for healthful, beautiful food with the reality of a crazy work week? Building an arsenal of quick yet healthful recipes takes time, but there are many healthful, creative, lovely meals that can be prepared with a minimum of time and effort.

For a while, Mondays around here will be dedicated to these kinds of recipes. I'm determined to build my repertoire and I hope you'll share in my search! For now, I'm going to share one of my go-to week-night meals.

Pasta with Veggies and Basil

1/2 a bell pepper

1/2 a red onion

Fresh basil leaves

Garlic

Pepper

Olive oil

Farfalle (bow-tie) pasta

Mozzarella cheese

Tomatoes

Fill a small pot with hot water. Add 2 tablespoons (all measurements are approximate) of olive oil and stir. Let the water come to a full, rolling boil and then add pasta. Let the pasta boil for about 9 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Wash and chop the bell pepper, red onion, and fresh basil leaves. Place the chopped vegetables and basil in a medium frying-pan with about 1/8 cup of olive oil. Sprinkle generously with garlic and pepper. Saute on a medium-low heat until onions are transparent and peppers are pliable.

Meanwhile, chop tomatoes. Place in a cereal-size bowl. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese over the tomatoes. When the pasta is done, drain well and add to the bowl. Add sauteed vegetables. Stir. (The vegetables and pasta should be hot enough to melt the cheese.) Enjoy!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T10:36:00.001-04:00

Today is Father's Day. Although it is a less-promoted holiday than Mother's Day, in a world in which the role of fatherhood is often undermined, an opportunity to recognize the importance of the men who helped shape us should not go unrecognized.

I've been blessed with a wonderful father. Over the years, my dad has taught me, shown me, and introduced me to so many things. My dad and I are imperfect people with an imperfect relationship. Learning to interact with my dad as an adult daughter is a tricky road, one which requires a great deal of grace and humility from us both.

But at the end of the day, despite our differences and the occasional clashes of our equally high-strung personalities, my dad has played a monumental and irreplaceable role in my life. His support and encouragement have kept me going when I wanted to quit. His convictions shaped me. His courage has inspired me.

From him I learned how to do the dishes, how to drive a car, how to ride a longboard, how to change a car's oil, how to shoot a gun, and how to grill fish.

Dad taught me how to embrace the unexpected, to refuse to settle for the safety of the familiar, and to boldly venture into the unknown. From him, I learned the importance of honesty and generosity and self-discipline and hospitality.

From my dad I inherited a love for the sky, the oceans, and the mountains, my occasionally reckless nature, and my sometimes-bull-headed ways.

And so, in honor of the man who raised me, held me, prayed for me and loved me and who taught me to value independence, goodness, integrity and truth, here is a list of 25 lessons I've learned from my dad:

Grill fish hot and fast.
More costly doesn't always mean better.
But sometimes it's just smarter to pay someone who knows what they're doing.
Store extra water.
People, time, and independence are worth more than money or accolades.
Showing up is 70% of success.
Wear gloves, helmets, and eye protection.
Water is the world's greatest cleaning solution.
Never settle for less than excellence.
Sometimes life needs to be a little cheesy.
Read actions, not words.
Change your car's oil regularly.
Never borrow money.
Practice.
Be persistent.
Let men be men.
Give.
Save.
Invest.
Guests feel welcome when the host is welcoming, regardless of food, setting, or decor.
Keep a U.S. atlas in the car.
Take responsibility.
Sleep and food will solve 80% of your problems.
Be gracious.
Be kind.

Friday Linkage

2011-06-18T09:31:00.000-04:00

Friday....Saturday...whatever. It's finally the weekend and in between doing chores, running, errands, relaxing in the back yard, and seeing friends and family, you should check out the following links.

But before you do, subscribe to the blog feed using the buttons in the upper right part of the page!

It was a crazy week, but in the midst of it, I read quite a few articles worth sharing.

Business/Time Management/Self-Improvement/Leadership articles:

"What to Do While You're Waiting" by Daniel Darling, guest posting for Michael Hyatt.
"Being Negative Creates Positive Value" and "In Praise of Doing" on Leadership Freak
"The EXCELLENCE 25: Master the Basics" by tompeters!, a blog I've recently discovered.
"17 Tips to Double Your Productivity in 14 Days" by Robin Sharma.
"The Least I Could Do" and "The Simple Two-Step-Process" by Seth Godin.

All Things Foodie Related:

"Baked" over at Pinecone Camp provides a great recipe for English muffins.
"Candles That Enhance Good Conversation" was just one inspiring piece of the 30-day series by Reluctant Entertainer.

Articles on Faith/Lifestyle/Society:

"Baptizing the Imagination" on the newly-launched Cardus Blog
"Christianity Needs a Better Story" on Relevant

Design:

"The Blog Notebook: Organizing my Bloggy Stuff" by ShabbyNest

Bookish Tuesday

2011-06-14T06:43:00.003-04:00

What are five powerful *classic* novels that you would recommend?

Persuasion

Middlemarch

Bleak House

Vanity Fair (Barnes & Noble Classics)

David Copperfield (Penguin Classics)

Either include your list in the comments or write your own post about your list and include a link back here! Feel free to be brief and concise or to elaborately explain your list.

The Times They are A'Changing

2011-06-13T22:53:00.002-04:00

Summer is fully upon us in all of its sticky, muggy glory. When I sighed with relief this morning because temperatures were only predicted to be in the 70's, I knew this for sure. In preparation for the sunny hot days ahead, I spent some time this weekend preparing my car for the new season.

I keep a number of supplies in my car during the winter months in anticipation of an emergency or unexpected situation. However, it's important to keep one's car appropriately stocked during the summer months as well. Here's my list for my car's summer kit:

Water. This is a must. Dehydration and heat exhaustion are realities. Lack of water can turn a simple delay or minor breakdown into a dangerous situation during the hot summer months. In addition to keeping a bottle or canteen on hand and within easy reach, store a gallon or two in the trunk of your car or behind a back seat in case of a real emergency.
Flashlight.
Food. Store a few simple non-perishables like granola bars and dried fruit.
Shoes. I travel to and from work in shoes that will be simply useless in an emergency. Keep an extra pair of comfortable sturdy shoes in your car.
Clothes. The long, sunny, summer days mean that impromptu outings and random adventures are bound to occur. I keep a change of casual clothes in my summer kit along with a pair of flip-flops.
Giant Beach Towel. A giant beach towel can double as a picnic blanket or a wrap on a cool evening.
Overnight supplies. Getting stuck somewhere overnight unexpectedly is no fun. But the inconveniences of a breakdown or emergency can be alleviated by keeping a few simple overnight necessities in your car. A toothbrush and some soap can make many inconvenient situations more comfortable.

What are some supplies on your summer car kit?

Sunday Inspiration

2011-06-12T10:09:00.001-04:00

"A friend is one to whom one may pour out the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that gentle hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away."- George Eliot

Review: In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado

2011-06-11T22:23:00.002-04:00

I recently completed Max Ludacdo's In the Grip of Grace (Word Publishing, 1996), in which Lucado examines the Biblical concept of grace.

Lucado uses metaphors, examples from real life, and his easy-going narrative style to show his readers their need for grace, the firm reality of God's grace, and the implications of God's grace in a believer's life.

Lucado's book is a great reminder and an approachable read. The concrete explanations, clear analysis, and terse writing style create a work that is comforting, convicting, and memorable.

I found the last section to be the most powerful. After discussion each person's need for grace and the concrete reality of God's offer of grace, Lucado turns to the practical implications of grace upon a Christian's life. He poingnantly demonstrates what it means to live a grace-filled, grace-giving life in perhap the most convicting section of the book.

As an aside, I occasionally found the writing to be a bit repetitive. Sometimes I also found it hard to connect to the style, which often seemed to lapse into Lucado's speaking style. Overall, though, this book is a wonderful reminder of the importance, power, and beauty of God's grace.

Favorite quotes from In the Grip of Grace:

"The problem is not that God hasn't spoken but that we haven't listened."

"All of life is a gift of grace...and the call of grace is to live a gracious life."

"Where the grace of God is missed, bitterness is born. But where the grace of God is embraced, forgiveness flourishes."

"You will never be called upon to give anyone more grace than God has already given you."

Friday Linkage

2011-06-10T22:12:00.001-04:00

I am ready for Friday. Need I say more? I am ready to sleep in, cook something that requires an attention span of longer than 12 minutes, read, lie in the sun, and do all of those other wonderful things that a weekend offers.

While you are relaxing this weekend, check out these links!

David Masciotra's "Living with a Literary Sensibility" in Relevant Magazine provocatively looks at life as literature...and literature as life. His thoughtful article addresses old questions and raises new ones.

Also on Relevant, David Condolora provides insight on the background of a familiar hymn in "A New Lesson from an Old Hymn."

I have enjoyed following "Thirty Days of Summer Entertaining" by Reluctant Entertainer recently.

Booking Through Thursday is a simple blog with a minimalistic theme. Every Thursday, a new question related to books is published. That's it. Reading through the old questions is inspiring and fun!

I can be highly critical of elaborate wedding cakes. However, the cakes in this post at Let Her Bake Cake were just lovely.

What did you read this week?

Of Goals and Dreams, Part II

2011-06-08T22:30:00.003-04:00

There's a delicate balance, then, between the pursuit of long-term dreams and the daily plod of short-term goals. Tangible short-term goals are a vital part of the successful pursuit of long-term dreams. But there is always a danger that the flurry of today's goals will obscure tomorrow's vision.

Here are a few tangible steps one can take to maintain a balance.

1. Vision Board - I have seen this used successfully in a number of different ways. Ultimately, a vision board's purpose is to provide a visual reminder of one's long-term vision. Some people use vision boards for individual projects.Others create vision boards that reflect their vision for their entire life or for a specific period of time. Right now, my vision board consists only of a cork-bulletin-board covered simply with a few quotes and my book list. Expanding it is one of my summer projects!

2. Purpose Statement - Donald Miller and Michael Hyatt both swear by this method. I have never tried it, partially because I suspect that for a verbally-oriented person (like me), writing goals down may simply be repetitious, since I find it easier to write lists than to act. Part of me is just too lazy.

3. Mini- "Bucket Lists" - Creating lists of tangible, large steps that cover a year or a couple of years can be useful. I have a few different kinds of mini "Bucket lists" (for cooking and reading, for instance) and have found working that using these lists is quite motivating and effective. To be useful, these lists should encompass enough time and acitivity to actually force you to exert a substantial amount of time and effort, but they should also be small enough for you to track tangible progress.

4. Assessments - Where do you want to be in 1 year? Where do you want to be in 5 years? Where do you want to be in 30 years? Are you taking steps today to get yourself to those goals? Constantly assessing your specific long-term desires and then analyzing your present situation, actions, and priorities forces you to keep yourself accountable. This is an area in which trusted friends can be helpful. Share your goals with them and see if they think you are progressing towards those points.

Have you tried any of these methods? How did they work for you? What other methods do you use to maintain a balance between pursuing your long-term dreams and short-term goals?

Read Part I of this series.

Bookish Tuesday

2011-06-07T22:12:00.001-04:00

What were your five favorite childhood books?

1. A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett

2.Betsy, Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

3.Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

4.Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

4.Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski

Your turn! Include your list in the comments below or in a post on your blog, linking back here.

A Summer Feast

2011-06-06T21:47:00.002-04:00

When I stepped out of the airport late the other evening, a blast of muggy warm air hit me. Warmer weather is upon us to stay, it seems, and the change in the weather demands a different kind of food, a lighter food, meant to be eaten as the golden summer air fills the evening sky.

So this weekend, I tackled Crusted Parmesan Chicken, halving the ingredients. Then I modified this recipe to create a delicious vegetable dish. I sprinkled Parmesan cheese on bread and toasted it briefly in the oven. Finally, I added some fresh fruits to the plates and my roommate and I sat down to a colorful, delicious summer meal.

Crusted Parmesan Chicken

1 package of chicken breasts (I used chicken tenderloins)

3/4 cup Progresso Italian seasoned bread crumbs

3/8 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

2 eggs

1 cup milk

Olive oil ( add additional oil if needed when sauteing the chicken)

Whip the eggs, milk, garlic, and pepper until thoroughly combined. Mix the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese together on a large plate. Heat the oil on medium in a skillet.

Dip each chicken breast in the egg-milk mixture and then dredge the breast in the bread crumb-cheese combination. The original recipe says to do this step twice. I only did it once to save time, but a second coating would have been beneficial, although not necessary.

Place the breaded chicken breast in the heated olive oil and saute until both sides of the breast are light golden brown. Repeat with all of the breasts.

After each breast is sauteed, place it on a foil-lined baking sheet. Once all of the chicken is sauteed, place the baking sheet in the oven on 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.

Brussels Sprouts with Carmelized Onions

1 lb. Brussels sprouts

1 large red onion, thinly sliced

2 tbls. butter

2 tsp. sugar

Garlic

Olive oil

Pepper

Place the onions in a pan with the butter. Sprinkle the sugar over them and saute on low heat until they become transparent, soft, and begin to delicately brown. Meanwhile, trip the stems from the Brussels Sprouts and steam until tender.

Thinly slice the Brussels Sprouts. Add garlic and Brussels Sprouts to onions and continue to saute for 5-7 minutes.

*Photos taken by Cassandra McCray

A Summer Adventure, Part II

2011-06-05T21:34:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned before, I’m not one of those people who thrives on heights. I wasn't exactly thrilled about the prospect of dangling 180 feet in the air. And I expected to come out on the other side of my adventures a stronger, braver, less-terrified-of-heights person than before.

But the thing about adventures is that they aren’t always what one expects.

Early in the morning, we set out with our guides, a lot of water, and climbing gear. We spent the morning on
this:

Two things surprised me about climbing.

1) It is a lot harder to hold on to a sheer rock wall than I had expected.

2) I barely had the mental capacity to be distracted by the height, because I was busy exhausting every ounce of energy I had on my search for hand- and foot-holds as I dragged myself upwards.

After a quick break for lunch, we set out once again. This time, we were going down.

As I waited for those ahead of me to descend the rope, I peered over the edge of the cliff. It was......a long way down.

The most psychologically daunting part about rappelling came, for me, when I discovered that, in order to begin my descent, I had to slowly lean out – backwards- over the cliff while hanging onto the rope.

Everything in me that was practical and rational defied this. Forward motion? Fine. Upwards motion? Ok. But why, I wondered, as I struggled to place my feet on the edge of the cliff, would any sane intelligent person voluntarily walk backwards into the air?

But somehow I managed, with the prodding of our guides, to get over the cliff. And then, it was all downhill, figuratively as well as literally. Halfway down, dangling 90 feet in the air, I paused for a minute to take in the stunning view. Red cliffs, dotted with green growth spread out in every direction. A creek trickled through the canyon below me.

It was then that the realization struck me that I had entrusted my life to a piece of fiber only half-an-inch thick. Panic struck me for just a brief second as I realized the hugeness of the empty space around me. But there was no turning back now. I certainly couldn’t climb back up the rope. And so I took a deep breath and continued my descent.

Sometimes I feel as if I wade through life waiting for epic moments, flashes of insight, clarifying epiphanies. I secretly envy those people who talk about the single unifying moments that come into their lives in which they conquer their greatest fear, or realize their deepest dream, or have some equally defining experience.

I think maybe I was expecting that to happen in Utah last week. But, if I’m honest with myself, I certainly can’t claim anything I ventured came close to one of those experiences. The surprising thing about my recent trek wasn’t that I had some moment of insight or felt more invincible or stronger or braver than I ever have before.

In fact, as I hugged towering red cliffs and dangled off the rock face, I was overwhelmed by the sheer size and strength everywhere around me. I was overpowered by how tiny and insignificant I and my world and problems and victories seemed next to the vastness of the cliffs and sky and desert around me.

In our world of ease and comfort and cell-phones and microwaves, it’s easy to forget how very tiny we are and how very vast the universe is. It’s easy to forget how great God is when our world is small and safe and soft.

Our souls need space and height and air and adventures and challenge. But maybe we need those things not to give ourselves an additional ego-boost or to remind ourselves of how great or invincible or cool or strong we are, but to keep us humble. Maybe we need those "Bucket List" moments not to feel big, but to feel small.

And so perhaps our souls desperately need to leave our places of comfort and security and cling to something bigger and vaster and stronger than ourselves not to remind us of our strength, but to remind us of our need.

Bookish Tuesdays

2011-05-24T19:26:00.001-04:00

Since I'm hopelessly addicted to both books and lists, the idea of book lists have always excited me. Inspired by this Wall Street Journal article, I henceforth designate Tuesdays as my excuse to concoct book lists.

Join the fun! Either include your list in the comments or write your own post about your list and include a link back here! Feel free to be brief and concise or to elaborately explain your list.

What five books would you recommend to someone else of similar age/life-stage?

1. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller.

To say that this book changed my life is an understatement. Miller's words provide perspective for goal-setting, context for failures, and direction to what sometimes feels like the aimless churning of the daily grind.

2. The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

Forget cheesy relationship books and blogs. This book provides a thoughtful foundation from which to examine every relationship in a Christian's life.

3. Father Fiction by Donald Miller

A good follow-up to the aforementioned Donald Miller, I would give a copy of this to every guy I know if I could; much of his advice is equally practical for women. He addresses issues like finances, dating, and careers along with more over-arching issues of character and growth.

4. Flames of Rome by Paul Maier

This historically-grounded account of one centurion's life in Rome around 50 A.D. is a captivating and dramatic tale of one man's redemption during a violent and bloody time. This novel put the problems of our world and times into perspective for me.

5. Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey

Financial Peace is a wonderful tool to help one begin to establish the foundations of financial responsibility. It is an easy read and fairly short. It provides a wealth of practical and helpful information on money management for the everyday person.

Your turn!

A Question for my Readers

2011-05-23T19:29:00.000-04:00

I love blogging. Really, I do. I also love to drool over the stunning photos found on truly beautiful blogs like this one and this one.

Oh, I have a camera....not an expensive one, mind you, since my minimal photography skills don't really merit any kind of large investment. It's a little Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330, which is conveniently small and even more conveniently sturdy enough to withstand its somewhat brutal life at the bottom of my bag.

I even have Adobe Photoshop Elements, so I can do some basic editing.

But I don't even know where to start. So I point and click and and shake my head in resignation and post my mediocre pictures while I continue to be inspired by blogs like this one.

So here is my question for my readers. What is the single best photography tip you could offer an amateur like me? What is one thing I could do to make my pictures better?

A Summer Adventure, Part I

2011-05-22T11:08:00.003-04:00

Next week I'm setting off on an adventure. My wonderful family is good at many things, but long-term planning is not one of them. We've been batting around the idea of adventuring in Utah for a few months now, but somehow trying to coordinate the schedules of eleven people is a little more difficult than we had anticipated.

Then a few days ago, my mom called me. Could I be in Denver by noon on Wednesday? (Do people normally plan cross-country treks more than a week in advance?)

So next week I'm flying to Denver to meet these guys.

And these girls.

They will have already traveled 19 hours from Indiana. We'll drive the remaining distance to Moab, Utah, where we plan to do this*:

Yes. Those are people up there, dangling in the air, attached to ropes.

The only kink in the plans? I'm terrified of heights. Not just a little squeamish, mind you. T.E.R.R.I.F.I.E.D. I tend to be fairly rational and level-headed. But something about having nothing solid between me and the ground inspires feelings of panic and desperation in me.

Two quotes are running around and around in my head, though.

"Fear is a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life." - Donald Miller

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt" - William Shakespeare

Next week should be interesting.

Continue to Part II here.

*Picture copyright of David Y Knox Photography and taken from http://www.highpointhummer.com/rafting.html.

Of Goals and Dreams, Part I

2011-05-21T16:23:00.003-04:00

I tend to be a very goal-oriented person. I have a list of reading goals pinned to a cork-board in my room. I have cooking goals enumerated on this site. I've set goals for myself involving time, finances, practicing, organizing, and a host of other things.

My goal-oriented readers understand how motivating goals can be. Short-term goals can be a great way to force oneself to be more effective and productive.

But there is a danger inherent in goal-setting, too. Small goals must be a part of a bigger picture to be meaningful. Attainable goals that lead nowhere can be as fruitless as no goals at all.

"Without a vision the people perish." - Proverbs 29:18

No number of accomplished goals will be fulfilling if they don't ultimately lead towards a dream. If one doesn't have a long-term vision, dream, or goal for his or her life, smaller goals becomes simply meaningless steps.

Donald Miller's A Million Miles in a Thousand Years forever changed the way I thought about goals. I started analyzing my short-term goals in terms of the bigger story that I wanted my life to be. Rather than just mindlessly setting reachable goals, I'm trying to spend more time thinking about where those goals ultimately lead.

"If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable." - Seneca

If short-term goals are simply ends within themselves, failing to reach them becomes quickly frustrating. However, seeing my short-term goals as a part of a bigger picture allows me to maintan a healthy long-term perspective, even if I fail to reach the short-term goals in exactly the way I plan.

Goals are what we do during the day. But vision is who we are in the dark of the night. Goals are a natural result of a clear vision. But without a vision, goals can quickly become meaningless trivialities. Goals can provide immediate satisfaction and a sense of direction. But a long-term dream provides a sense of security even when struggles and difficulties arise in the short-term.

"When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there." - Zig Ziglar

Reassesing the way I think about goals has changed the way I treat my goals. I'm trying to spend less time obsessing over specific goals and more time thinking about where those goals are leading me. Rather than fretting about specific places where I fail to meet my own short-term expectations, I'm trying to focus more on the big picture and on where my short-term goals are ultimately taking me.

Do you have a clear long-term vision for yourself? Are your goals leading you there?

Continue to Part II of this series.

Friday Linkage

2011-05-20T23:12:00.002-04:00

I hope your week was splendid! I know mine was. Here's some links to enjoy this weekend.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the rush and forget our dreams. It takes courage to stand for the dreams that matter to us. Michael Hyatt's "6 Steps to More Courage" is a helpful reminder.

Along the same lines, Leadership Freak provided some tips on prioritizing in order to make the most of one's time.

Meanwhile, John Maxwell talks about how to examine the driving force behind our actions.

Perhaps my favorite find of the week was"How Jane Austen Taught Me to be a Man" by William Deresiewicz in the Wall Street Journal. If you don't have a subscription, it's worth signing up for the two-week trial subscription just to read it. Deresiewicz perfectly pegs one of Austen's greatest lessons when he writes, "You don't have to be certain, I discovered, to be strong. And you don't have to dominate people to earn their respect."

Although the article is aimed at a male audience, I can fully relate to many of the author's points. My favorite line of the article occurs when Deresiewicz writes, " I wasn't just aggressively sure of myself. I was also oblivious to the feelings of the people around me, a bulldozer stuck in overdrive."

My sister shared Pinecone Camp with me a few days ago...I look forward to browsing through her lovely photos and archived posts!

What did you read this week?

Shannon Miller Photography

2011-05-18T21:16:00.005-04:00

I have a lovely friend named Shannon. Shannon, in addition to her other full-time job, takes photos. Not just any photos, mind you.*

Beautiful photos.

Breathtaking photos.

Photos with personality.

And even a bit of quirky charm.

Even Shannon's business cards are beautiful, with a different photo gracing the back of each card. It took me ten minutes just to pick a favorite card!

Shannon has a talent for capturing the joy and beauty of each moment.

I have been trying to convince Shannon (so far with no avail) to begin a photo blog. But for now, I love looking through her new photos as they are uploaded to her Facebook page. And I promise that you will too.

*All photos in today's post are used with the permission of Shannon Miller

Cupcakes!

2011-05-16T21:42:00.002-04:00

I am a huge believer in the theory that food should not only taste good, but be beautiful. I have been pleased with the taste of my recent culinary endeavors, but not as satisfied with the visuals. So I've set off on a mission to produce prettier food.

Cupcakes seemed to provide a dependable canvas from which to start the journey. So, on Saturday, I made lemon cupcakes, modifying this recipe slightly.

Then I made raspberry frosting, using this recipe as a foundation.

Using the basic Wilton frosting set available in the Target baking aisle, I set out to make my cupcakes at least a little prettier than former attempts. The frosting set was actually remarkably easy to use.

I'm not hugely impressed with the results, honestly. While they are a far cry from my original attempts to paste on frosting with a spatula, I still have a long way to go. The frosting looks a bit wet to me and I need to practice a bit with the frosting tips. However, I'm reasonably happy with my results as a beginning.

Lemon Cupcakes

1 box of white cake mix
1/4 up lemon juice
1 cup milk
3 whole eggs
6 tbl melted butter

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the cake mix, lemon juice, and water. Blend. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add melted butter. Mix on medium speed for two minutes. Line two cupcake pans with cupcake liners and fill liners with batter. Bake for 16-18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Raspberry Frosting

4 cups of powdered sugar

8 tbls softened butter

1 tbl shortening

1/4 cup milk

1/4 tsp raspberry extract

1/4 tsp almond extract

Blend butter and shortening in a mixer until smooth. Add sugar slowly, blending after each addition. Add milk slowly, blending. Add food coloring. Add additional milk and powdered sugar as needed to get the right consistency. Beware, though, that the frosting should seem too stiff. Don't overdo the milk!

After the cupcakes have cooled completely, frost as desired. Enjoy!

Some Organizing Ideas

2011-05-14T08:25:00.001-04:00

I love reading about organizational methods, tricks, tips, and tactics. I aspire to be one of those completely organized people to whose madness there is perfect method. My madness is still, well, just plain madness most of the time. Even my greatest achievements in the field of organization are often short-lived at best.

There are, however, a couple of steps I've taken that have consistently made me more organized, less crazy, and overall more effective.

Rising early. During the work-week, I get up between 5:30 and 6:00. On the weekends I'm not quite as ambitious, but I do try to be moving by 8:00 or 8:30 at the latest. Extra time in the morning allows me to enjoy an established, leisurely routine rather than frantically rolling out of bed and dashing out the door. Additionally, quiet time alone in the morning allows me to muster my mental and emotional forces and meet the rest of the day (and all of the people that I encounter) with energy, enthusiasm, and focus rather than with irritation and frustration.

Lists. I haven't mastered a perfect method for lists yet, but I do make them. All the time, and everywhere. Post-it notes are probably not the ideal form for effective lists, but my random and colorful post-it notes scattered across desks, walls, and mirrors have consistently kept me on track, both at home and at work.

The ground level. I have an ideal level of cleanliness, the one I achieve once a week for an hour after I have attacked every nook and corner of my house. But then I have the realistic clean. When this slides during the week, so does my sanity. I have discovered that I need to maintain a certain level of tidiness in order to be happy, productive, and un-stressed. Not perfection. Just a reasonable environment. Find out what this level is for you and then maintain it. Knowing the level of tidiness at which you are productive and effective allows you to prioritize better.

E-mail drafts. Saving lists, memos, blog drafts, and a host of other random things to my e-mail account has saved me countless hours. I even e-mail myself important documents and files "just in case" I ever need them when away from my computer.

What is your best organizing trick?

Friday Linkage

2011-05-13T20:38:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday! This week seemed longer than most to me. Anyone agree? But at the end of a longer-than-normal week, it's good to be reminded, by articles like Jon Acuff's recent guest post on Relevant, of the bigger picture.

At the end of a long week, it helps me to remember the point behind the daily grind, the bigger dreams of which daily jobs are just a small piece.

Speaking of the daily grind, I recently discovered John Maxwell's blog on leadership. His blog covers a wide variety of topics related to leadership, like time management, communication, and organization, and has a wealth of resources.

Another new favorite of mine is Small Notebook. The author writes prolifically about organization and time management in the context of real life. Her blog is also just beautiful!

On another note, I've always heard the mantra "Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." (A friend pointed out that this is really just a sloppy revision of the original quote by Einstein...details, details).

But Seth Godin offers a new twist on this mantra when he writes " Persistence isn't using the same tactics over and over. That's just annoying. Persistence is having the same goal over and over."

What are your weekend plans?

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-07T21:37:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. My present to my overwhelmingly deserving mom will be late, partly because I'm a poor planner and partly because I would rather give it to her in person. Fortunately, Mom gives a lot of grace in the gift department.

I have been blessed with an amazing mother. A blog post isn't really a sufficient medium to express my appreciation to the woman who has daily poured out her life for my dad, my brothers, my sisters, and me.

My mom has shown me what it means to love unconditionally, unquestioningly, and with total abandon. She has easily been the most influential force on my walk with God. She is an unwavering example of patience and grace.

My mom has a gift for instantly connecting with people and for making everyone, even complete strangers, feel loved. Grocery clerks have poured out their hearts to her in the checkout line. Hundreds of people (literally) have eaten at her table. Men and women and girls and guys of all ages come to her for advice.

So in honor of (really) the best mom in the world and the woman who has taught me everything I know about life and love and people and God, here's a list of some of the wisdom she has shared and shown over the years:

Smile, even if you don't feel like it.
The key to a great conversation is letting the other person talk about him/herself.
Good food solves 90% of the world's problems.
Strapless dresses don't actually look good on very many people.
You'll feel better after you clean.
Self-deprecating humor is the best kind of humor.
There isn't enough time to read everything out there. Skip the trash.
Paint it white.
Black looks good on everybody.
Don't borrow money. Ever.
Take a hostess gift. Always.
Add wine to the ingredients.
Better over-dressed than under-dressed.
Never leave your dishes for the morning.
Don't be easily offended.
Put on some mascara.
Throw it away.
Make your bed.
Stop whining, quit thinking about yourself, and serve somebody else. Now.
It's all about the presentation.
Make some bread.
Be careful handling raw chicken.
Get up earlier.
Go to bed and you'll be better in the morning.
Be sincere.

And to all of the mothers that I know, new and experienced, young and old(er), I hope tomorrow that you feel as honored, loved, and blessed as you are. Happy Mother's Day!

Friday Linkage

2011-04-29T22:54:00.000-04:00

Right now, I am behind the eight-ball on nearly every front. My house needs to be cleaned. My finances need to be "done". All lofty goals for the months of March and April have essentially gone out the window. I am hopelessly behind in reading. More than a few blog posts have taken vague shape in my head but have yet to make their way to paper.

The unplanned (such as my wonderful spontaneous visit home over Easter and my mom's equally spontaneous but equally wonderful trip to visit me) has certainly been taking priority over the planned.

But that is what weekends are for, I suppose. I hope that, in between catching up and spending time with friends and family this weekend, you find time to rest as well. Use the following links as an excuse!

Seth Godin's business advice always seems widely applicable. For instance, I know that I often simply avoid creating momentum because I fear a potential end-result. Often, too, I assume that more time, more data, more information, will increase the quality of a decision.

This wonderful article on Christianity Today forever legitimized my hopeless addiction to quotes. The last paragraph is poignant:

The relationship between the living Word embodied in Christ and the rich gift of words that is ours to use and care for is a mystery worth much pondering. Surely, among our most urgent and joyful responsibilities as stewards of that gift is to tell stories, to listen well, to resist the forces that flatten and inflate and beat language into alluring lies, and to stay in conversation—a word one of whose original meanings was to dwell in community or walk together. We need words and ideas that will surface when it is time to speak peace to violence or truth to power. To read wisely and memorize some of what we've read is to prepare for those moments, and to put away for a time of need provisions that will fuel our prayers and see us through.

Chatting at the Sky is always inspiring, but this post on the difference between a dream and a calling was especially so.

What have you read lately?

Friday Linkage

2011-03-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

I know it's not exactly Friday. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to check out the following links.

This article by Tony Woodlief in Image Journal was a on a poignant reminder of every person's need for relationships, for security, and for rest.

No matter how early I get up or how late I go to bed, I constantly feel pressed for time. Peter Kreeft wrote a convicting analysis of the interplay between time and prayer.

Seth Godin has a wonderful way of pinpointing widely applicable issues. What's your soft spot?

I'm always fascinated by brilliant twists on traditional recipes. And I adore the color blue. So this post at Balance and Blueberries definitely caught my attention.

Happy Weekending!

Pizza Perfect

2011-03-26T19:18:00.002-04:00

Pizza is always a good idea. I tackled my mom's pizza recipe the other night. Of course, I can't really eat three pizzas by myself. So I halved the recipe and made just one pizza with a fluffier-than-expected crust. But really, is fluffy crust a bad thing?

I was surprised at how easy and quick this recipe really was. The end result was terribly satisfying. Bonus: leftovers for a substantial portion of the week.

Pizza

5 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tbl. salt
2 tbl. sugar
1/4 tsp sugar
1 3/4 cups water
1 1/2 tbl yeast
1 tbl olive oil

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup or very warm water. Sprinkle 1/4 tsp. sugar over the yeast mixture to proof it. Let it sit until the mixture foams and increases to 3/4-1 cup.

Combine flour, salt and the 2 tbls. of sugar in a mixer. Add yeast mixture. Mix on low speed. Add remaining water and oil and mix again. I often add an extra 1/4 cup of water at this point.

When flour and liquid are acceptably combined, knead dough for 15 minutes. Place dough in a large greased bowl and cover. Allow it to rise for 45 minutes or until doubled.

Grease a cookie sheet. Now, lightly sprinkle the pan with flour. Roll the dough into a rectangle just slightly larger than the pan. Place the dough into the pan, stretching and reshaping as necessary. Avoid tearing.

Add sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and vegetables as desired. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes or until the bottom of the pizza is golden brown.

Enjoy!

Spring Is In the Air

2011-03-20T19:46:00.003-04:00

Lately, I've been a lazy blogger. This has to do, in part, with a schedule that has simply been filled to the brim. Part of it, too, has to do with the changing season. Today is the first day of spring. Seemingly overnight, the dead limbs have become covered with soft gray fuzz and the brown ground has transformed into green grass.

This spring, part of me is full of ideas and half-finished sentences and plans waiting to take shape. Part of me wants to blog about food and books and unplanned adventures.

But a corner of my soul wants to stop moving and talking and doing. Part of me desperately needs to just sit and take in the beauty and new life and warmth as I quietly watch the blossoms and trees and world unfold all around me.

Yesterday I lay on the grass, reading Annie Dillard and staring at the planes soaring far above me. And somewhere between awake and asleep, between the grass and the sky, between late afternoon and early evening, spring came to my soul too.

Questions and anxieties that built up in my mind and heart with the winter snows floated away with the spring breezes. Some questions were answered. Some anxieties were resolved. Some won't ever be. But maybe peace doesn't come through knowing as much as through accepting.

I can't fight the onward march of life and time any more than I can resist the rushing onslaught of spring. But really, who would want to? Sometimes working and striving and talking and blogging do less for the soul than just lying outside on the grass, breathing in the warm March air and welcoming the coming of spring.

Of the Writing of Books...

2011-03-04T23:04:00.004-05:00

I have this mental picture of what the ideal journal (or rather, set of journals) must look like. Beautifully bound books, each filled at regular intervals to the brim with eloquent prose, penned in impeccable hand-writing.

I definitely do not meet this ideal.

My journals are kind of a combined smattering of variously bound books and notebooks, a few e-mail drafts, some scraps of loose paper, and some random Word documents buried in my computer archives.

My writing is anything but consistent. I might journal with diligent regularity for a few days or even weeks and then stop, for no apparent reason, for a month, a summer, or an entire year. This could mean something deep. I think it really just means I have a very short attention span.

Every now and then, I pen something resembling eloquent prose. Most of what I wrote is just boring. Some of it is absolute garbage that probably never should have made its way to the light of day. I'm pretty sure I need to have a journal-burning party one of these days.

Anybody who has known me longer than 20 minutes knows that impeccable hand-writing and I will never appear in the same sentence. Or even in the same book. I can barely read my own hand-writing in some of my entries. Isn't that why they invented computers?

Having confessed all of this, I'll add a positive note. When I took inventory of my possessions as I was moving out in January, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of journals I had created. In a little over five years, I've managed to fill a couple of small notebooks.

And when I glance back through the journals, while I shudder at a lot of the emotional immaturity and spastic nature of some of the contents, there is some good there as well.

It's humbling to see how immature and ungrounded I was at times when I felt firmly in control of myself.

It's gratifying to see tangible ways in which I have grown.

It's relieving to see places where weeks or months or years of mental or emotional tugging and straining ultimately gave way to peace.

It's satisfying to see that my recent efforts to make journaling more of a discipline and less of an emotional back-board have been productive.

It's a little terrifying to know that in five or six years, I will probably view the present with the same kind of affectionate mortification with which I look at the last five or six years.

Do you journal? How? When? Why? Do you plan to keep them around forever? Share!

March 2011 Goals

2011-03-03T19:11:00.003-05:00

February was a good month in a lot of ways. A visit with family over President's Day weekend, time with friends, a job that I love...these are just a few of the things that made February great.

But February is a short month, and sometimes life gets in the way of goals. So this is how my goals for February went down (or didn't):

Although I cooked a lot more than five times, I did not make 5 new recipes. Instead, I stuck with the tried and true. I did make a lot of French bread, along with some other familiar dishes, and was able to improve my bread results substantially. I guess I'm ultimately happy with what has been happening in my kitchen, even though I fell a little short of the specific goals.
I did not have time to be crafty this month, so I did not make 5 cards. I have no good excuse. Tragic, but true.
I only finished two books, Velvet Elvis and Tipping Point, but I started Pilgrim at Tinker Creek as well.
The list of things to accomplish while I'm living in the area is growing, but the items on it aren't happening with any rapidity, I'm afraid.
I wrote 6, rather than the hoped-for 15 blog posts.

March is a longer month and the weather is definitely hinting at the arrival of spring. Hopefully, the longer daylight hours and the warmer weather will motivate me to accomplish more this month!

March's goals:

Try 4 new recipes
Finish 3 books
Do 3 new things in the area
Take more pictures
Write 15 blog posts

Here goes March! What are you goals for the month?

One Saturday Morning...

2011-02-26T08:00:00.007-05:00

It wasn't meant to be an adventure. My roommates were gone on Saturday-morning missions of their own. The day was still a blank palate. Entranced by the clear lit air, the summer-blue sky, and the massive blossoms on the tree in our backyard, I decided to experiment with my newly-purchased-but-not-yet-broken-in camera.

I grabbed a sweater and the camera, unbolted the back door and stepped onto the back porch shutting the back door firmly behind me.

The sunny day was deceiving. The air was definitely not as warm as I had expected and after just a couple of minutes, standing on the back porch in a light sweater didn't seem like such a brilliant idea. I turned around and grabbed the door handle....which didn't budge.

No. Way. I jiggled the handle, thoroughly irritated. Being responsible, safety-conscious females, my roommates and I ritualistically bolt the front door, whether or not we're at home. And I had just managed to lock myself out of the only other entrance.

I mentally ran through a mental checklist.

Car keys so I could at least leave in my car? Nope. They were safely locked inside.

Spare house key? Of course not.

Possible alternative entrance? Nope. The house was uncannily secure.

Phone?

Fortunately, I had my phone.

Wallowing in shame, I called my roommate, who miraculously happened to only be a half-mile away. I trudged the half-mile there, secured her house key, trudged the half-mile back, and let myself back into the house.

The End.

Lesson #1: Hide a spare key.

Lesson #2: Having unbreachable security is a good plan. Until you need to breach the security.

Friday Linkage

2011-02-25T22:02:00.000-05:00

Here are some links to browse this weekend.

This was a startling reminder of the impact of courtesy.

In a world prone to fear, cynicism, and doubt, this article is a graceful reminder to acknowledge the good.

Chatting at the Sky led me to this beautiful blog.

What have you read this week?

Friday Linkage

2011-02-12T17:07:00.002-05:00

Yes, I'm aware that it's not Friday, but Saturday. All too completely, blissfully, thankfully aware that this morning, instead of frantically dashing out the door and returning home after dark, I was able to just sit and sip my coffee and stare out at the beautiful sunny morning that contained the first tiny hints of spring.

Some weeks are for blogging. This past week was not one of those. It was wonderful and rich and filled to overflowing with real connections, with fellowship, and with work. But it was also one of those weeks in which absolutely nothing blog-related had time to occur.

And with that, here are some links to browse over the weekend....enjoy!

I just discovered Cardus, a site that will, I think, produce a rich harvest of reading. This essay on journals, though, seemed especially good. This brief commentary on living for each day was also encouraging.

Seth Godin always has pithy, thought-provoking posts. This one was particular pithy. And witty.

Jessica from Shiny Mess shared The Broke and the Bookish with me a while ago. The recent post on making time to read made me think about ways to fit more reading into my schedule.

What did you read online this week? Share some links in the comments!

Friday Linkage

2011-02-04T20:29:00.001-05:00

It's Friday! Need I say more?

This article on Facebook and the art of defriending was hilarious, especially if you have Aeneas and Julius Caesar lurking in your academic past.

As someone who tends to be pretty good at seizing new projects and simply terrible at letting them go when their time has come, I found this post by Chatting at the Sky poignantly relevant. My favorite line from the post was this:

"Sometimes the art is found in the bravery it takes to begin, and other times the art is about knowing you're finished."

On Boundless, I read a powerful article about the way Christians should view spaces. This seemed particularly relevant since I am in the middle of Malcolm Gladwell's Tipping Point. Gladwell spends significant time examining environment and the effects one's environment has on one. This may be fodder for a later post, but for now, what do you think about the article? Do you agree?

From Bona Vita comes a recipe just in time for Valentine's Day. This weekend will definitely involve baking.

What are your weekend plans?

One Chili Night...

2011-02-02T20:00:00.007-05:00

One recent cold Saturday night found a group of people at my house for dinner. All of us were nearly strangers to each other and to the city. We came together over warm chili and soft bread and tangy lemon cupcakes to relax, to share, and to connect.

We laughed a lot about our persistent and often awkward attempts to feel at home in this sprawling strange city. We compared notes about work and friends and our homes far away. And after a few hours, we parted ways feeling much less like strangers and much more like co-wanderers and friends.

Gather some family, or some friends, or some friends-to-be together over a warm pot of chili this February. When I used this familiar recipe, I halved the large quantity and still had plenty for six people as well as leftovers that lasted well into the week.

Chili

2 lbs. hamburger (extra lean)

1/2 large minced onion

2 cloves minced garlic

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 28 oz cans tomato sauce

1 6 oz tomato paste

2 16 oz can red beans (I used kidney because that's all I had on hand, but red are definitely preferable)

1 16 oz can white Northern beans

3 tbl chili powder

3 or 4 large fresh basil leaves (1 tsp crushed dry basil)

1 tsp ground pepper

½ cup Merlot or equivalent red wine (white is an acceptable substitute. Again, all I had on hand...)

In a large stock pot, brown hamburger, minced onion, and minced garlic cloves. Add the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring regularly. Simmer for at least 45 minutes and up to 3 hours.

Chicken Fajitas

2011-02-01T20:00:00.010-05:00

This recipe, I'll admit, almost feels like cheating because it's so quick and simple. But that's the heart of this blog, I suppose...carving out a satisfying, beautiful meal in a short space of time.

Saturday night, a friend came over rather spontaneously. With this recipe, I was able to quickly and easily prepare a wonderful meal for us to enjoy without too much forethought or preparation.

Chicken Fajitas

1 rotisserie chicken (or any leftover chicken you may already have on hand)
2 bell peppers
1 onion
Olive oil
Flour tortillas
Pepper

First I purchased a rotisserie chicken from the store. The rotisserie chickens that every grocery store sells really are miracles. You can barely buy an uncooked chicken for the price of a cooked one.

I poured a little olive oil in a pan (1-2 tbls. should be sufficient.) Then I sliced up the peppers and onions thinly and added them to the pan. Next, I added small pieces of chicken. I sauteed the combination on low-medium heat, stirring constantly until the onions were transparent and malleable.

Meanwhile, in a shallow frying pan, I poured about 1tbl. of olive oil. I tossed a flour tortilla into the pan and turned the heat on low. Sweep the tortilla around a bit to be sure that the entire bottom is lightly covered in olive oil.

When the tortilla begins to warm and soften, flip it over, covering the other side in oil. Continue to flip the tortilla at intervals until it is soft and most of the oil has been absorbed. Avoid allowing the tortilla to become crispy.

Once the vegetables and chicken are done, place the tortilla on a plate and add the vegetables. Wrap, adding cheese if desired. Voila!

February 2011 Goals

2011-01-31T20:49:00.005-05:00

It's difficult to believe that today is the last day of January. January was a good month, albeit a crazy one. In the space of just a few weeks, I packed my room, moved across the country, unpacked my room, and dove headfirst out of the life of a leisurely-but-stressed-out-grad-student-still-living-at-home into the life of a working-45-hours-per-week-and-attempting-to-be-a-real-adult-er.

Now, more than ever, I'm trying to navigate the territory between the realistic and the ideal, the esoteric and the practical, the rush of every day's commute and the desire for time and space and beauty.

I'm navigating this new journey with a mixture of terror and excitement. I didn't realize how much my goals for January would become a reminder to not just survive but to live this new stage to its fullest, deepest, richest measure.

And here's how the goals for this month went down:

I tackled 5 new recipes. Goal accomplished!
The reading goals weren't as successful. I started reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, and Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell without finishing any of the other books I'm currently reading. Well, I finished Father Fiction. But that wasn't much of a dent. Really, this just reflects my larger problem of starting projects that I then forget to finish.
I did begin a routine of waking up earlier and the benefits have been many.
I did not make any cards. However, I remembered to write two thank-you notes and a birthday card, which I think should count for something.
January's blog posts number 14. Success!

So Febuary's goals are:

Make 5 new recipes
Make 5 cards
Finish 3 of the books I'm currently reading
Create a list of things to accomplish while I'm living in the area and then accomplish 3 of them (more on this later)
Write 15 blog posts

Ready, set, go! What are your goals for the month ahead?

Cinnamon Roll Success

2011-01-30T20:08:00.004-05:00

Once I felt confident in my ability to work with bread dough, I became a little braver. I decided to try my hand at Mom's cinnamon rolls.

I did a few things a little differently, though.

I halved the recipe, since kneading such a large quantity of dough by hand is a little daunting. However, I did use 3 eggs. I did the initial mixing in the mixer, allowing the ingredients to thoroughly combine. Then I kneaded the dough by hand for about 15 minutes, until the dough was soft and malleable.

I actually started with butter that hadn't thoroughly softened, so combining the filling was initially problematic. To create the filling paste, I cut up the butter into small pieces. Then I dropped the butter into the dry filling ingredients and continued to chop the butter into tiny pieces until the mixture became paste-like.

Next, I microwaved the mixture for 30 seconds to soften the butter and continued to mix until the paste was created. Since I forgot to halve the filling segment of the recipe, my filling was quite thick. I also used vanilla flavoring rather than almond.

Cinnamon Rolls

Dough:

1 tbl. yeast

1/4 cup water

1 cup milk

3 1/2 tbl shortening

1/2 tsp salt

3 3/4 cup of flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

Filling:

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbl cinnamon

1/2 cup softened butter

Glaze:

1/2 tbl. brown sugar

1/3 cup evaporated milk

2 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Grease a large cookie pan and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Add 1 tbl. yeast to 1/4 cup water. Sprinkle sugar on top and stir. Allow yeast mixture to proof. Scald 1 cup of milk in a small pan. (Tiny bubbles will form around the edges...do not allow the milk to burn.)

Melt shortening into milk then allow mixture to cool. Combine dry ingredients in a mixer. Add eggs. Add proofed yeast mixture and scalded milk mixture.

Knead. (Be careful to clean your surfaces carefully...remember that the dough contains raw eggs.) Let the dough rise in a covered, greased bowl in a warm place for about 30 minutes.

While dough is rising, combine ingredients for filling in a small bowl. After dough has risen, let rest for 10 minutes and then, on a clean, lightly floured surface, stretch into a 9" x 12" shape. Spread filling. Roll dough from the long side. I made 14 rolls. Spread rolls on cookie sheet and let rise again for about 20 minutes. Bake for 20 minutes. (Mine took 25.)

While rolls are baking, combine 1/2 tbl. brown sugar and 1/3 cup evaporated milk in a sauce pan. Dissolve the sugar in the milk (occurs at a low boil). Add 1 tsp vanilla extract. Combine with 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar in a bowl or mixer. Drizzle glaze over rolls immediately after pulling them out of the oven.

Friday Linkage

2011-01-28T22:16:00.000-05:00

Well, it's Friday again. Difficult to believe. I'm not going to lie....I'm not sorry to see the weekend.

This week I discovered Chatting at the Sky. The design and photography are beautiful and the writing is fascinating.

I also recently found Reluctant Entertainer. I feel as if I've just begun to scratch the surface of its resources.

I find that pictures of ideal (and idealistic) rooms reminds me to be conscious of the design of my spaces. I find images of well-designed spaces incredibly inspiring. But I'm not the most artistically inclined. I need help when I'm designed...steps, a plan, an instruction manual. That's why I I adore Pottery Barn's design studio.

Working in an office all day forces me to think a great deal about office space. I like this one the best, I think.

For a little deeper food for thought, this article from the Washington Times provides a sobering commentary on the pro-life movement.

What did you read this week?

Of Plans Gone Astray....

2011-01-27T16:45:00.005-05:00

Sometimes plans go awry. Yesterday, I had hoped to saunter in the door from work around the usual 7:00, eat a great dinner, do some reading, and maybe whip out a blog post. But those plans changed.

Yesterday a blizzard descended on the city, just hours before the usual traffic rush. Offices let out early in an attempt to help employees get home before the heavy snow hit. But to no avail. The heaviest snow fell between 5:00 and 8:00, when every driver in the metro area seemed to be on the road.

In summary, I spent the hours between 4:30 PM and 12:30 AM with thousands of other cars, slowly making my way home (a mere 12 miles away). So I had plenty of time to think. And ponder. And sigh. And gaze at the clock. And change the radio station.

And I feel like I learned some things.

I learned a lot about perspective. Driving 30 mph on a 50-mph-highway in everyday traffic might seem frustrating, but when one is crawling along at 1 mph, 10 mph starts to look pretty desirable. And while a 45-minute commute that stretches into an hour may be irritating, an hour commute looked like a dream last night at Hour 5.

I learned about patience. Because, for eight long hours, circumstances were firmly beyond my control. I couldn't change the weather or make the traffic move faster or change the road I was on. And I had two choices: I could be panicky, irritated, frustrated, and upset. Or I could just relax, refuse to stress, and accept the inevitable. The former wasn't going to get me home faster. So I worked on doing the latter.

I learned other things too:

When the highways and freeways are crawling because of the snow conditions, trying to cut through the backroads of hilly (read: impassable) neighborhoods is not the most effective solution.
Conditions like last night bring out the best and worst in people.
Chivalry is not dead. Countless men who could have stayed warm inside their homes instead chose to stand out on the roads digging out cars, helping stranded drivers, and directing traffic.
It's difficult to gracefully reject the offer of a date from someone who just pushed your car up a hill, but sometimes necessary.
Pushing cars up snowy hills is difficult in a skirt and heels, but possible.

When we travel from our door to our office during the winter, sometimes it's easy to ignore the potentially dangerous outdoor conditions. Until sometimes we're faced with the prospect of spending the night on the road. As conditions on the road deteriorated, I was relieved to know that I had the following in my car:

A flashlight
A car charger for my phone and GPS
A full tank of gas
Gloves and a coat

However, after last night, there are definitely a couple of things I'm going to add to my car's "winter stockpile":

A tow rope
Non-perishable food
Boots
A blanket

What do you keep in your car during the winter in case of an emergency?

____________________________________________

Things I am grateful for today:

81. Walking in the door of my house last night at 1:07 AM
82. Relative safety last night amidst major chaos
83. A room-mate who was willing to meet me a mile from our house in the middle of the night in the freezing cold
84. Shovels
85. Four-wheel-drive trucks

Friday Linkage

2011-01-21T22:23:00.000-05:00

It's finally Friday. I can barely contain my excitement. My weekend plans include cooking and reading. What are you doing this weekend?

While you're enjoying a (hopefully) relaxing weekend, recovering from a (hopefully) productive week, here's some links to enjoy.

Michael Hyatt has some convicting words that made me reflect on the way I see people.

This article by Tony Woodlief was touching. Even though I'm definitely not a parent, his words made me pause and wonder about the people I'm neglecting, the opportunities that I'm missing, the moments I'm living now that I'll regret.

Poignantly, he says, "Your life stretching out before you holds a series of choices, and what you don’t realize until you are older is how quickly those choices can accumulate and choke off possible futures. If you are not care-filled and prayer-filled and intentional, your days may pile up with more regret than hope."

Read the article. No pun intended, you certainly won't regret it.

I am addicted to paper. And books are my oxygen. So this post by Oh So Beautiful Paper did terrible things to my soul. Especially note the copy of Joy of Cooking, whose praises have been recently sung by Rachel.

So what great articles have you discovered this week?

Beauty Around Us

2011-01-17T12:13:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about beauty lately. About creating beauty, about investing in beauty, about carving out a beautiful life. In this crazy, fast-paced, over-booked world, sometimes I forget that beauty matters. I forget that life isn't really just about checklists on a page or statistics or balance sheets or numbers or deadlines.

But how do I remind myself to create beauty when all I really need to do is type out one more page of double-spaced characters that no one will really ever read again?

How do I invest in beauty when the more immediate gratification of squeezing out just one more thing on my to-do list is so tempting?

How do I remember to carve out beauty when, after a full day at work, all I want to do is crash head-first into bed?

But perhaps even that perspective is wrong. Perhaps compartmentalizing beauty from every other part of life is the problem.

Maybe a long full day, in which our talents have been used and expanded, during which our brain and heart and muscles have been stretched, at the end of which we are utterly spent, is beautiful.

Maybe being worn out from work, being drained from caring, being tired from long hours, is a blessing.

Maybe the very act of labor itself, whether physical, mental, or emotional, is just as beautiful as the resulting product.

Over Christmas, one evening, I was sitting in our living room watching my dad fill our wood-stove with logs. Dad, who is immensely intelligent and talented, but rarely poetic, suddenly turned to me and said, "Do you want to see beauty, Emily?" Then he pointed to the log.

It was beautiful because it was producing warmth for others. It was beautiful because it was being spent on others' behalf. It was beautiful because it was giving all it had for something outside of itself.

So perhaps labor and sweat and emotion and energy and time and talents and the entire process of being poured out into whatever field or place God has placed us are all part of creating beauty. And maybe sometimes the only difference between a hopeless spiraling rut and a meaningful, rich path is this realization.
_____________________

Blessings I am grateful for today:

72. Mom's understanding
74.The baby voices of my siblings on the phone
78. A lovely Sunday morning at Eastern Market and brunch at La Pain Quotidien with friends