Wednesday, May 31, 2017

A Few Things For Summer


I have to say the off the shoulders one piece is one of the most flattering swimsuits trends. 


A summer long book club, starting with And We're Off...

Because straw hats and purses are not popular at all this summer season :)
Even if you're not spending your summer at the Hamptons, you can at least feel like you are!

Comfy and cute sandals

Always, always choose Quay, my sister officially converted me.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 summer uniform = keds...
 chill mode.
 still working on adding to the apartment...
 need more girl nights.
enjoying the last few hours of the extended weekend.

(images via instagram)

Friday, May 26, 2017

Friday Morning

Hey readers, what are your plans for the three day weekend? I'm looking forward to watching the remake of Dirty Dancing even though all the reviews are pretty negative. I'll probably end up watching both the remake and the original because it's just the perfect way to start the season. My coworkers and I are recording our third bookish podcast, where we discuss books that our readers choose for us. This week we're reading and discussing Almost Famous Women by Megan Mayhew Bergman. And lastly, my brother and his wife are driving down from the bay area to hang out for the holiday weekend. It will be filled with barbecues and lots of relaxing by the pool. How are you? What have you been up too? Have an excellent weekend!!





Thursday, May 25, 2017

The Time Has Come, The Walrus Said

Now that summer is here, (it's already well into 100 degrees where I live and it's not even June) I'm so excited to bring back my seasonal series but this time, there's a little twist. Some ideas and activities will be inexpensive and easy to try but others maybe a bit more challenging. So I hope you'll participate. I spent the last year relaxing and enjoying that fact that I am no longer in school. But, I have to say I actually miss having homework, I'm weird, I know. Join me and maybe challenge yourself as I plan to find a little bit of balance this year.  

This first week is all about exercising my brain; when was the last time you memorized something?! In the third grade, every couple weeks we had to memorize and recite a passage from the bible. My third grade teacher was known to be strict (she was really awesome at the same time), homework included reading assignments in which we had read the same story three times, until we learned how to pronounce every word and learn proper annunciation. When was the last time you had something memorized that was longer than a paragraph. Pick a favorite poem from childhood or one you read recently and loved, even if it's long spend however long you need to memorize the whole thing. I at least narrowed my picks between Wynken, Blynken and Nod and The Walrus and The Carpenter.   Can you guess what famous children's book the following passage comes from? 
 
Summer Challenge #1 Memorize a Poem

The time has come,' the Walrus said,
      To talk of many things:
Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —
      Of cabbages — and kings —
And why the sea is boiling hot —
      And whether pigs have wings.'

But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried,
      Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
      And all of us are fat!'
No hurry!' said the Carpenter.
      They thanked him much for that.

A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said,
      Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
      Are very good indeed —
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
      We can begin to feed.'

But not on us!' the Oysters cried,
      Turning a little blue.
After such kindness, that would be
      A dismal thing to do!'
The night is fine,' the Walrus said.
      Do you admire the view?


Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Summer Night Routine

My sister started opening the front door in the evenings a few months ago and now it's one thing I look forward to when I get off work and head home. We'll keep it open practically until we're ready for bed.

Actually make dinner and get in the habit of making sweets from scratch.

Take a relaxing bath, soak in some bubbles and wear my favorite masks.


I've gotten really into art journaling.


Settle in and maybe fall asleep to reading or watching a favorite film.

I'll do some variation of Vinyasa yoga right before I hit the sheets. 

How do you spend your summer evenings when you get off work? 


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

My Travel Food Diary



Before I even got on the plane, I knew exactly what I wanted to eat while traveling abroad. The foodie in me wanted to make this trip a true dining experience, although I knew it wasn't going to be that way considering who I was traveling with. This is not to out my my sister but she is one of the pickiest people on the planet when it comes to food. I mean she doesn't like cheese and we were heading to the cheese capital of the world. When it comes to food, she's comfortable with her same five favorite meals while I live for trying new things (as long as I don't know what it is before I actually eat it). I had the trip of a lifetime but in my mind I'm already planning another trip abroad but with my boyfriend, because with him it will be all about the food and beer. 

 
Day 1-9: When we got to Paris, I was mostly concerned with crepes and baguettes. Unfortunately the beginning of the trip started with severe anxiety which turned into stomachaches and headaches. I was living on veggies and soups the first few days. Which reminds me, the Cream of Jerusalem artichoke with truffle oils and ceps I got from Bouillon Racine, was out of this world good.


(Day 1-4) For breakfast/lunch, we mostly hit up small cafes around our apartment and the Eiffel Tower, although the cafes in the 5th Arrondissements were my favorite. I mostly sipped on rosé and had some version of tomato mozzarella. A combination of baguettes with slices of tomato and cheese was everything I wanted and needed, my poor stomach wasn't having it so I had to be careful with what I was eating. If I wasn't eating steamed veggies at dinner I was ordering french onion soup or not eating at all. I ended up loosing weight on our trip instead of gaining weight. 

Since my sister lived on crepes while in Paris, we found the best at a kiosk between the Eiffel Tower and The Esplande due Trocadero, right next to the prettiest carousel. I never got my own, but I definitely indulged in a few bites of my sisters and it was beyond delicious!


One of the musts I had on my little checklist was a freshly made baguette. Our second day in Paris, we ate at a cafe that was luckily attached to boulangerie and patisserie. I stared into the glass display for about five minutes and then ordered an extra long baguette. Side Note: given that it was day two, I didn't even get my baguette. I was only able to take a couple bites, but it was so worth it!

  
Another must on my list was visiting Ladurée. There's a local french bakery and café in my hometown that makes the best macrons; as in they are better than macrons I've tried in L.A. and New York. So going to Paris, I made it my mission to taste the real thing and see if they compared to my  hometown ones. Obviously, you know the answer! Now, I just need to find the rosé that was sold in in the store.

My first real dinner in Paris was at Le Chat Noir. Our day spent visiting the Montmartre, it was the first time I actually felt hungry which was a relief because I didn't intend to starve in Europe. So I splurged, I had another round of rosé and ordered this four cheese pasta dish and it was splendid. Picasso's favorite hangout and perhaps the first cabaret, the 19th century bohemian hangout for American expats, it's still quite the scene. I also feasted on a seriously excellent ham and cheese melt, a chicken and broccoli crepe, and a pizza or two, which are more like tarts. (French pizza is seriously the best if you into ridiculously thin crust)


Day 10-12 I was really impressed by the food in Belgium. Belgium was not apart of the original itinerary but I'm so glad we went. The enclosed medieval vibe of the town made all of my history fantasies of walking through an old European town. The people were incredibly nice and the food was so choice. Number one item on the menu - Belgian waffles. 

Our first night in Belgium, we ate at an Italian cafe in the historic center of Brugge and I ordered lasagna that was smothered in like five difference cheeses, needless to say I was happy for the rest of the evening and even into the next day. The next morning I found this little hole in the wall patisserie, Panos.I went back every morning to get my strawberry waffles.  

If you were wondering, we ate gelato pretty much everywhere we went from Paris to Belgium. It was crazy how cheap a scoop was and let me be clear a scoop in Belgium is triple the size of a scoop in America. We were only in Brugge for three days but we instantly became friends with the gelato lady, there may have been a day we went back for a second time. We only ate out once for dinner, you know since tap water cost us $6 our first meal, we ended up making dinner for the rest of our stay.

 
Day 13- 16: And lastly London; in all seriousness I did not want to leave my favorite city. Our last few days abroad we spent in London. Our first night back, we gorged ourselves with tapas. I was just happy my sister was enjoying herself, all she ate in Paris was sweets! Tapas Brindisa in Soho was maybe one of the best meals of our trip. With excellent company and being reunited with a dear friend, we spent a few hours reminiscing and (me in particular) being envious of our friend's life in London.

The next day we went for high tea at The Wolseley near Piccadilly and it was exactly how I imagined afternoon tea to be. The epitome of high class and in the most gorgeous of all buildings, I had to refrain myself from being an annoying tourist taking pictures and just enjoy my scones, muffins and sweats galore.  I was on cloud nine for the rest our stay. Hanging out in the candy and tea department at Harrods was also a highlight, the building is just so impressive. You better believe I treated myself to a few boxes of tea!

We also went out for fish and chips, this was a must for me so I'm glad I got to check that off my list. And because our host was extra sweet, she took me to one of the best fish and chips spots at The Chipping Forecast. When in London and in the mood for battered fish, you must check out this place. The ambiance is charming and the food is excellent. My sister requested Nando's, which I had never heard of until she and Maggie started talking about it. Apparently, it's the place to go. All I have to say is I am all about that Peri, Peri sauce. And to end our fabulous trip, we went out with a bang and ordered Domino's pizza. My sister was really missing American food and needed a taste of home even though we'd be stateside in twenty four hours. In case you wondering what garlic bread was like in Europe, it's really just a small pizza. 


 (images via instagram)

Monday, May 22, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 rosé all day.
 new recipes and lots of sweets...
 pleats and scallops kind of girl.
 sunday game days with old and new friends...
this week's favorites.

(images via instagram)

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Saturday at the Movies





Since it's practically summer and nostalgia hits me hard this time of year, I'm channeling the 80s this week in my movie selection. What is your favorite 80s flick? 

(1,2,3,4,5)

Friday, May 19, 2017

Friday Morning

Good Morning!!! So this whole waking up at five in the morning hasn't really gone away. The past few days I've been lying in bed hoping to go back to sleep but I end up reading, which is a good thing because I've gone through a couple books in the last two weeks. With the summer festivities around the corner and gearing up for the annual Summer Reading Program, I'm excited and slightly overwhelmed. I know it's going to be a fun summer but honestly, I was not ready to come home from Europe. I'm already thinking of a few more trips, hopefully the east coast in the fall! What are your plans for the weekend? I have a few do it yourself projects waiting to happen at home I also plan to do a serious deep clean of the apartment. Have an excellent weekend and see you next week :)





Thursday, May 18, 2017

Top 5





When it comes to wine, I am a "Rosé All Day" kind of girl. At a reasonable price these five choices still taste oh so good. At only $15, Whispering Angel is ranked some of the best rosé out there. And if you're a Sugarfina fan, then you know they're infamous gummies are infused with a little Whispering Angel. Now that summer is just around the corner, what's your favorite pink wine? 

(images)

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

The Working Girl




A Peek Into My Profession:

How would you explain the role of librarianship today? 
Being a librarian is so much more than what people think. It's such an antiquated term that people forget it's still an important job. The organization and management of information and data has never been more significant than now. In just the last two years the amount of data that has been created surpasses the entire previous history of the human race. Who do you think catalogues, stores and organizes all that information?  So, whether you're a librarian for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Lincoln Center, Google or the the head librarian of some small town public library in Maine, being a librarian today is one of the most demanding jobs!!

The Modern Librarian
  I wish I had the luxury to read all day but sadly I don't; your assumption of a frumpy old maid reading and shushing people out the door, is super old! The job is constantly evolving and whoever told you libraries are going away, they are wrong!!! Libraries (and librarians) have always adapted to changing times - we house books (and other material), we collaborate with city and other community organizations, we offer programs and cool classes, we're pretty much willing to do whatever we can to help our patrons.

What do you do all day?
 I usually divide my day into two hour increments. I'll spend two (sometimes three) hours researching material and working on collection management/development (what do we have versus what needs to be in our system). I could seriously work all day on just this one task but there's so much that needs to get done in my work day. Program Development - from story times to writing workshops, book clubs, coding classes, trivia nights, makerspaces, tutors, toast masters, and etiquette courses. You name it, we can make a program out of it! Being a community leader and being the voice of the people coming into our establishment. I'm a strong believer in listening - what do people want to see in a library and finding a way to give it to them, that's my motto. Social Media! My coworkers and I are constantly coming up with clever ways to showcase what we have and do on all the platforms. Constantly educating myself whether through webinars or trying to find time to make a conferences.

So if you're not working with books, what are you doing?
Getting out into the community and asking what people want. We're a library, everything we offer has to be free. I've seen everything from ballroom dance classes, to language courses, gaming competitions, cooking classes and small theater production to so much more. Thank god there's libraries right?!We help people with job searches, technology questions, college level research, homeschoolers, although difficult - try to form relationships with school librarians and schools so we can work together. There's so much more but this is a shortened list of some of the things we do...

Do You Need A Degree?
Absolutely!!! Even a hundred years ago, if you wanted the title of being a librarian you had to have a masters degree. Until the 80s, many universities had MLS programs (Masters in Library Science) and then the degree changed to Masters in Library and Information Science. With technology, our job has changed immensely. We're technically called information specialists but I want to know which librarian prefers that term! Unfortunately many colleges had done away with the program but they are still out there and they are tough and competitive, from USC to Simmons and San Jose State there are still a number of great schools that offer the degree.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Life Lately

If there was one article of clothing I was impressed by on my trip, it was the coats everyone was wearing. Since the French are impeccable when it comes to fashion, I was ecstatic when I found my very own. It wasn't necessarily camel color, it was olive green. And it certainly didn't break the bank but I was happy with my purchase. A huge thank you to my dear friend Mags for taking us to the market in Notting Hill.  Next time can you work on getting at home in Notting Hill?

If there was one stop I was over the moon about it was getting to explore Shakespeare and Co while staying in Paris. After reading the history about the bookstore, I wanted to spend the rest of my life in the infamous little book nook. As soon as my books were stamped, I felt like the luckiest girl in Paris!

Almost a month ago, a friend and coworker introduced me to this podcast about a son reading his father's new work of fiction, an erotic novel. The podcast is dedicated to reading chapter with a few friends and talking about the content and what was going through his father's mind while writing this series. Apparently season two there are a few celebrities like Elijah Wood and others!!!

This pizza joint recently opened a location near my apartment. And even though it's been a staple in Palm Springs for years, I've never been. Needless to say, it will become a regular hang out spot!!! 

I have been waiting for Masters of None to return and has it! Well I've only watched a few episodes, I've been trying tackle this jet-lag but I can't seem to shake it. Once I've finally caught up, I plan on binging the show. Does anyone else love Aziz as much as I do?! 

I read The Count of Monte Cristo years ago for a high school english class and I consider it one of my favorite books of all time. When I found myself trying to decided what to buy in Shakespeare and Co, it only seemed right to get Dumas's classic and get it stamped. I'm now listening to it on audio. Have you seen the Jim Cavezal version, I love it!!! 

I didn't realize until my first shower that I forgot to bring soap with me. Luckily, in our first Air Bnb, Le Petit Marseillais was pretty much my only option. I ended up buying a few different scents in the pharmacy while we stayed in Paris. If you have dry and sensitive skin you'll love it and if you like subtle scented soap, this is a winner.

Since Madeline was another book I bought when I was searching in Shakespeare and Co, I kind of became nostalgic for my favorite brave little red head. When I got back stateside, I bought the doll to add to the collection of book characters I have at the library and found the Department 56 house for a reasonable price and got it for myself. 

And when it comes to food, I pretty much ate the same thing everywhere, some version of tomato and mozzerella with pesto.  Whether it was a sandwich or salad it was the only thing I could nibble on since I was feeling under the weather when we got there. Also, I went bananas at Laduree :)

 




Monday, May 15, 2017

Two Week Wrap Up...





Last fall my sister excitedly decided she was going on vacation in the spring and when she told me she was going to Europe, I was envious. I didn't want to intrude because I knew she was going to visit a friend from college but secretly I wanted to tag along. And then miraculously (and because we're freakishly close), she asked me to go. At first, I jumped at the offer but realistically, I didn't think I could afford it so I initially said no. After saving what I could and my parents encouraging me to go, I decided to take a break from work and jet set across the Atlantic. It was nerve wrecking to say the least, I hadn't taken a vacation in at least seven years. After college and exhaustively searching for a job, I dove head first into my first real job and was overly studious in grad-school. And not to say I don't love my work because I do, but I never took a break (including many lunch breaks) and I burned myself out pretty quickly. Leaving work was going to be extremely hard for me! In the end, I'm so grateful that my people - my family, my guy and friends all said I needed to go. So I did and I loved every minute of it. And don't worry I have plenty of content to share about my trip, this is just the first of many to come!!! Happy Monday :)

(images via instagram)

Friday, May 12, 2017

Friday Morning

Good Morning and Happy May, my readers!!! Well I'm back in the states and even though I'm feeling great after my vacation, jet-lag has seemed to follow me through the entire week. Not that it's a bad thing to wake up at four a.m. but wanting to fall asleep when I open the door after work, I can't be doing that every day. I don't have too many plans other than to finish putting things away and get  back into my work and home routine, I'm gearing up for our Summer Reading Program which is starting up next month. What have you been up too these past couple weeks? What are you plans for the weekend? Have a good one and see you next week :)



  

Thursday, May 11, 2017

What I'm Into This Week





While I was in France, one of the most important stops was to hit up the Laduree counter. I got macarons galore - at Versailles and at shops scattered throughout Paris. Don't ask what my favorite is because there's so many to choose from. To make matters worst, I ended up getting this book where Laduree gives up their secret recipes. Indulge your sweet tooth with these French goodies. 

I've long been a fan of Chloe shoes, they are the epitome of being classy and chic. But I could never justify spending five hundred dollars on a pair of shoes, even if they are as cute as these pink scalloped flats that have been sitting on their pretty display at Saks for the last five years. Years later, I ended up with a pair that cost less than $100, the story behind these perforated creme babies make them so much more lovable. 

As a history nerd, I came across Malcolm Gladwell's latest project, Revisionist History. Yet another podcast to add to a library of more than a hundred shows I already listen too. Essentially Gladwell goes back and reinterprets something from the past, (whether it's an event, person or idea) that was perhaps misunderstood or overlooked at the time.

While on vacation, my friend who is currently living and working in London took my sister and I out  to a comedy show on our last night in the city. Beat, tired and thinking about my suitcase that needed to be repacked, I had the greatest time. The two comedians we ended up seeing were Tom Ward and Andre Mitchell. At some point in my research on comedians, I came across Tom at least a year ago but I didn't necessarily know anything about him or his act. There's just something about British comedy and that accent that makes it so much better. I'm just happy I got most of the cultural references.  

I was introduced to The Great American Newsletter a few years ago but have recently gotten back into it. Erin Carson is just an exceptional writer and spot on in whatever she's writing about. If you have never heard of her, just start reading her as soon as you can!!! 

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

A Little Shameless Self-Promotion

Remember when I wrote about The Silent Book Club and how I started a chapter in Palm Springs? Well, not to toot my horn but we've taken over social media and even started our own little space on the internet. That's right, another librarian and I decided, what the heck we don't already have enough on our plates let's add one more thing to our schedules. But seriously, we love our jobs as librarians and we want to share our love and expertise knowledge (we're not exactly experts but with two master degrees in library and information science) on all things bookish and well our serious addiction for keeping up with pop culture. We would love to introduce you to our newest baby, Notes From A Librarian. We've only just launched the newsletter but we're cranking away on getting more out there. And later in the year we will be going audible! So please follow us here, here and here.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 When can I move in???
 Just strolling through this quiet park...
 On our way to the windmills and loving our walk.
 Reading my favorite author in the park...
When in Bruges!!!

(images via instagram)

Leading Ladies

Five Things to Know About Bernadette Marie: 1. Trained and completed two degrees, an AAS in Communication Design and BFA in Textile S...