To-Do List for Life: Language Edition

I have a running list of things that pop in my head that I want to accomplish at some point in my life. Most recently I have been on a language kick. I speak English, obviously, quite a bit of Spanish because I studied it in high school and majored in it in college, and I understand bits and pieces of Korean because of my husband and having spent 6 months abroad in Seoul. Still, I wish I knew more languages so that I could travel and be confident in my ability to communicate. I hate to be the stereotypical American who goes abroad and expects everyone to speak English. I think it's so elegant when you can converse in a person's native tongue and really understand the nuances of the exchange - it's something to which I aspire.

In my lifetime I would love to become passably fluent in a language from each region of the world. For example, I have the romance languages of Europe covered with Spanish, though I would actually love to learn French. For the Scandinavian languages, I would probably choose Swedish even though I am part Danish, mostly so I could converse with Alexander Skarsgard in his native tongue if we ever met! (Sorry honey). I keep trying to get better at Korean, but it's tricky for me. I would also want to learn Arabic, Swahili and Russian. Obviously that wouldn't get me everywhere, but between all of them I could probably make some conversation in most places I want to go.

Any goals on your minds lately?

Photo Credit: Fanpop.com

CFDA Newbies

The internet is abuzz with the announcement of the new inductees to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Among the prestigious 31 invitees were: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Alexander Wang and Jason Wu. I would say that Wang and Wu were not surprising, but I am a bit taken aback by the inclusion of the Olsen sisters. However, unlike many other 'celebrity brands,' they seem to have been welcomed into the fashion world with open arms and really do appear to have a lot of hands-on involvement in the process instead of merely lending their names to an established brand.

What are your thoughts on the new members? Do they deserve to be included amongst the special few?

Photo Credits: Olsens Anonymous, Teen Vogue, Glamour.com

Not So Mellow Yellow

Love love love this yellow blouse. Normally I am a neutrals kind of girl, but something about this just grabbed at my heart. Mirco Giovannini, where can I buy your wares?!

Le sigh.

Photo Credit: Garance Dore

Wants: Kitchen Edition

During my time off from school this summer, I have completed many baking projects. I like whipping up muffins or brownies or any other assortment of baked goods when the mood strikes. Most of the time the ingredients are easily mixed by hand, however, some of my favorite desserts require a little extra. Sadly, I do not have an electric mixer. Instead I grab my trusty whisk and set to frothing egg whites by hand. Unsurprisingly this causes me to become weary. With each project I find myself wishing more and more that I owned the classic KitchenAid mixer.

My older sister is an amazing cook and has every kitchen gadget known to mankind, including this iconic mixer. If it wasn't so heavy, I would have stolen it and brought it along when we moved to the east coast! I'm not looking to accumulate too many kitchen tools, but this makes sense. Some things are just too hard to whisk by hand (i.e. cheesecake) and some dishes just don't turn out quite like I want. My tiramisu never quite looks like this:

I simply cannot achieve that stiffness in the mascarpone mixture that is required. Infuriating!

Paying hundreds of dollars for a mixer just isn't in the cards right now, but I think I will hold off and won't buy a cheaper one. I'd rather wait it out and then get the one I really want, which may be a year from now when I am graduated and (hopefully) have a job. Until then I suppose I will just have to buy my tiramisu, which isn't really so bad after all.

She's back!

I'm not ashamed to admit that I love Rachel Zoe.  During the days when she was everywhere in the tabloids I was skeptical about her, but after season 1 of the The Rachel Zoe Project I am a believer!  She's a lot funnier and more self-deprecating than you might expect.  But as much of a character as she is, her assistants totally steal the show.  Taylor annoys at times, but I adore Brad!  The bickering between the two of them cracks me and up and I am excited for season 2. 

Will you be tuning in when The Rachel Zoe Project returns to Brave on August 25?

Photo Credit: Bravo

Style Crush: Emma Watson

It seems to me that there are 3 trajectories for the transition of child stars to adults: those who sink miserably, those who experience a rough patch, but who then recover (think Drew Barrymore and Jason Bateman), and those whose transition is seamless.  Emma Watson, like Natalie Portman and Dakota Fanning, is of the last category.  But not only is her life seeming to fall into place without disaster, her sartorial choices are following suit.  Rarely does Ms. Watson miss a step when it comes to her wardrobe - she dresses impeccably for her age; her clothes are playful but not childish, mature but not matronly.  See exhibits 1-9.

To be fair, 2 of the photos are from photoshoots, and she might have a stylist.  Nonetheless she seems very at ease in her skin and I think that would show through in any outfit.  Her parents certainly did something right to raise such a poised young woman.  I think I need to raid her closet now. 

Photo Credit: WireImage via Harper's Bazaar

Burton's Wonderland

I love the story of Alice in Wonderland with all its twists and turns, so I am looking forward to the upcoming movie.  If the photos being released are any indication, Time Burton's take on this classic story promises to be enchanting.

I have never seen Mia Wasikowska (aka 'Alice') act before.  But, if the casting directors were impressed enough to think she can hold her own in a cast of so many other amazing actors (Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman, Michael Sheen, etc...) then I have no doubt she will shine.  

Per IMDB, the release date is March 5, 2010, so we have a while to wait.  That's fine, I'll just stare at the photos until then..

I die...

Hilarious.  I love celebrities with a sense of humor. 

My Mother's Red Hat w/Alicia Silverstone & Alanis Morissette from Alicia Silverstone

Creatively Sluggish

The past week's sickness seems to have sapped my creative energy along with my physical energy.  To try and regain some strength I took up Bikram Yoga and have made it to 3 sessions.  I am learning slowly and getting my ass kicked in the meantime.  I love the way I am forced to focus on the poses for 90 minutes and forget everything else.  I have never practiced yoga outside of my own living room, so looking awkward and sweaty in front of other people is not my forte.  

To combat my embarrassment of being a beginner, after my first session I went on a mission with the goal of at least dressing the part of a practiced yogi.  Along the way I picked up a new yoga mat, some shorts that will never see the outside of a yoga studio and am in the process of obtaining a few new tank-tops that are appropriate for 105 degree weather.  

I really love my mat.  It's by Nike and has great traction, even when I am absurdly sweaty.  The shorts, however, are just a necessity.  I tried the first class in a pair of running shorts and the loose material kept sticking and getting uncomfortable, so I swallowed my pride and bought a pair of insanely short lycra yoga shorts.  The consolation is that no one pays attention to anyone else during class, so no one is ogling my pasty, white legs that modesty usually keeps safely tucked away.  

I am getting progressively more accustomed to the near-naked state of most of my classmates and am trying to get comfortable revealing so much of my skin.  Honestly, the less you wear the easier it is to do the poses and deal with the sweltering heat that defines Bikram yoga.  I feel myself getting addicted to it and the detoxed feeling that I experience after each class is enough to keep me coming back. 

Anyone else do yoga?  Are there any particular brands of yoga wear that you prefer?  I'm new, so I would love any suggestions.