Words to Live By: Of Things to Come

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
-Emily Dickinson 

“Don't you give up. Don't you quit. You keep walking, you keep trying, there is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon. Some come late."

 -Jeffrey R. Holland

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” –Karim Seddiki

“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” –John C. Maxwell

“Courage, dear heart.” –C.S. Lewis

Review #11: "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

"I was hated by large numbers of people---the only time in my life that I have been important enough for this to happen to me." -page 1

 

"As for the job I was doing, I hated it more bitterly than I can perhaps make clear." -page 1

 

"(Never tell me, by the way, that the dead look peaceful. Most of the corpses I have seen looked devilish.)" -page 3

 

"I marched down the hill, looking and feeling a fool, with the rifle over my shoulder and an ever-growing army of people jostling at my heels." -page 3

 

"He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it." -page 4

 

"I watched him beating his bunch of grass against his knees, with the preoccupied grandmotherly air that elephants have." -page 4

 

"I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool." -page 6

 

About the Main Character:

 

The narrator is an Englishman, working as a police officer. Many akin the narrator to George Orwell himself. He spent time in Burma where the story in this essay takes place, but it's not definitive if it is him or not. The narrator is put in a difficult position when an elephant in "must" breaks free and runs amok on a small Burmese village.

 

Another Character to Note:

 

In the midst of the havoc of the elephant, a Burmese man referred to as a "coolie" is killed. This nameless character is important to the narrator. He acts as justification for what happens at the end of the essay.

 

Plot Breakdown:

 

1. The Story of the Miserable Cop in Burma

 

2. An Elephant in the Bazaar

 

3. Dead Man in the Mud

 

4. Let the Circus Begin!

 

5. The Internal Struggle of the "White Man"

 

6. Ain't Nobody's Fool

 

Something Interesting to Note:

 

There are bigger questions going on here than shooting an elephant. For me, it makes me reflect on motives and why, at the end of the day, do we do what we do? Is it because of an insecurity or an assurance? It is pressure from somewhere else or a simple whim?

I also thought of consequences. Do we consider who will be most affected by what we're doing? And do we sometimes think it will be the person we are inflicting our action upon...when in actuality it will be us who leaves more wounded than anyone else? 

Orwell prods these questions with this essay.

 

Should you read "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell?

 

Yes you should! I'm a big fan of Orwell's essays. I don't so much love his novels, but he is poignant beyond words when you give him 5 pages. And he's pretty witty too! This essay is a must read for me!!



Treat Yo' Self

 

Piano has been something I've wanted to pursue since I graduated from high school. Which is why in my first semester of college I signed up for Introductory Piano. I thought surely it wouldn't be too hard and by the end of the semester I would be playing like a champ! But...I quickly realized the instructor's idea of "introductory" was not the same as mine. The other students in the class all had some piano background and were taking the class as more of a refresher than a starting point. I had to work my tail off in that class and it ended up being my second hardest course of the semester (behind a Philosophy course that could bring a grown man to tears, but that's another story.) Even though I had wanted to pursue piano for so long, this class really burned me out in a hurry! I was stressed about it which took out any fun I could have had with it. Yet, at the end of the semester when I could plunk a few basic songs I was really proud of what I had accomplished I wanted to learn more, but the next level class was faster paced and pretty much consisted of Music majors, so this little English major bowed out somewhat gracefully and went on to take an extra literary course instead...which wasn't so bad :)

 

A funny thing happened as I got married and graduated college. Although I continued to want to learn to play piano, the idea of paying for lessons kept me far, far away from any opportunities that came my way. I just could not bring myself to indulge in this desire when Trager and were still newlyweds and living as newlyweds do (budget, budget, budget.) So I didn't. And those three little songs I learned in Introductory Piano quickly faded from my memory.

 

Then a few weeks ago a woman from churched mentioned that she would be teaching piano lessons for anyone who was interested. And I realized, once again, that I really, really was interested.

BUT. I immediately thought, "Nope, can't do that! We have too many other things to think about first." I let that idea fester for about a week and then I came to a conclusion. I'm not sure if it was "Parks and Recreation" inspired or not, but I decided to "treat myself'" to lessons.

(Any other Tom Haverford fans out there?)

 I realized that I go and go and go all week long and by the time I stop the most I usually do for myself is take a 15 minute shower instead of an 8 minute one.

It was time to do a little something more.

 

So this past week I started piano lessons. I will be going every other week because my schedule is busy and this way I'm sure to start out slow. Trager got me the easy version of the Pride & Prejudice sheet music for Valentine's Day and it has been the perfect motivator. As I practiced for my next lesson today I realized I had been missing out for so long. I was genuinely enjoying myself even as I struggled with my scales! I think this sort of self-care is something woman as a whole sometimes overlook, but it is so crucial. Even if it's just buying that delicious smelling candle or getting the $7 nail polish instead of one from the $2 section.

I'm not saying we should all go out and get everything on our "Wish Lists" tomorrow, but I am saying it's okay to do something just for yourself every now and then.

 

Really though...it's not just okay...it's pretty darn wonderful!

Review #10: "The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss

Favorite Quotes:

"All I want is not to die on a day when I went unseen." -page 4

"Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering." -page 11

"I had left my anger somewhere long ago. Put it down on a park bench and walked away." -page 18

"I kept my manuscript in a box in the oven." -page 26

"I know there is a moral to this story, but I don't know what it is." -page 39

"...when I said I was going up to my room she'd call after me, 'What can I do for you I love you so much,' and I always wanted to say, but never said: Love me less." -page 43

"22. THAT YEAR I WORE MY FATHER'S SWEATER FOR FORTY-TWO DAYS STRAIGHT" -page 49

"So many words get lost. They leave the mouth and lose their courage, wandering aimlessly until they are swept into the gutter like dead leaves." -page 111

"Perhaps that's why I hoarded the world: with the hope that when I died, the sum total of my things would suggest a life larger that the one I lived." -page 165

"As certain as I am sitting here now, this letter exists. And yet. In my heart, I know my hand is empty." -page 230

"Leopold Gursky started dying on August 18, 1920."

About the Main Character:

Alma Singer. Leo Gursky. These two take the lead in The History of Love. Alma lost her father from cancer and has been trying to survive the tailspin it sent her family into. Leo lost the love of his life long ago and has lived a secluded life ever since. This story beautifully outlines how their paths cross and the happiness and revelation it brings to them both.

Another Character to Note:

Bruno is Leo's best friend. They grew up together in Poland and reunited in America. Bruno and Leo check in on each other periodically to be sure they don't die without it being noticed. Bruno gives Leo the gumption he needs to go to his son's house and generally keeps the loneliness from killing him. To explain what makes Bruno interesting would be giving too much away. He's just interesting...trust me.

Plot Breakdown:

1. The nude old man...Leo Gursky, the man who wanted to be seen.

2. Alma Singer. An Alma, but not the only one...we're introduced to the Singer family in list form {which I love!}

3. Zvi Litvinoff...the man of great guilt.

4. The loss of someone someone important...Leo loses someone before he can express how important they are to him.

5. Alma, the matchmaker, and the translation...Alma's mother begins translating a book and, as always, Alma thinks the man who commissioned her might be the one to break her out of her slump.

6. Why Litvinoff did what he did...the story is actually pretty sad.

7. Bruno gets Leo to where he needs to go...He's looking for answers.

8.  Misha's kiss, searching for Alma, and Bird's journal...Alma's plot continues to thicken.

9. Alma finds who she's looking for

10. Bird gets involved...he's hoping to prove himself to someone very important.

11. The Park Bench

Something Interesting to Note:

One of the things I loved about this book was the freedom Krauss took with the formatting. The perspective changes each chapter. There are pages with three words. There is a page without a number. Krauss was thoughtful in the layout and final product of The History of Love and I think it adds so much to the novel.

I also love how Krauss addresses the theme of death and how her characters each depict a different coping mechanism with loss. There are characters that she doesn't really tell you much about other than showing you how they deal with the loss of a loved one and that's all your really need to know because they have become their loss. Krauss shows how telling of a person grief can be. 

Should you read The History of Love before you die?

I'm having a hard time settling on the answer for this one. I think this book can make a huge impact if read at a certain season in life and I think I read it in the wrong one. So I didn't connect with it as much as other people I know who have read it...which makes me want to say "No." But, I also feel like the originality, tenderness, and beautiful execution of the novel warrants a resounding "YES!!" And what more could one really ask for in a novel??? So I think that I want to stick with yes....yup, it's gonna be a yes for this one.

The History of Love is definitely a novel that demands to be reread because there is so much more to it than what I took away the first time.

Toasted Coconut Chocolate Muffins!

So apparently this week is all about trying new things over here! Up next we have a recipe :) 

Trager and I are "trying" to be a little more conscious of what we're eating and, with Valentine's Day coming up, it was proving a little difficult to stay strong! Brownies are our weak point so I knew I had to find an alternative. So, without further ado...

Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons oat flour (regular oats blended)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 large egg
• 5 tablespoons chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons toasted coconut 

Instructions

1. To toast the coconut, preheat the oven to the 400 degrees. Spread your 3 tablespoons of sweetened coconut on a foil lined cookie sheet. Cook for 2 minutes then turn your coconut so it cooks evenly. Repeat until the coconut is a pretty golden color. Keep a close eye...it burns easily!
2. Once your coconut is cooked, turn up the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray 9 of the cavities in a muffin tin and fill the other three with water to ensure they cook evenly. NO muffin liners.
3. In a large bowl, stir together the cocoa powder, oat flour (blend regular oats until they are a flour consistency. Make sure to measure the oats AFTER being blended), baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the peanut butter, Greek yogurt, vanilla, and honey. Beat until completely combined.
5. Beat together dry and wet ingredients.
6. Add in the egg. Make sure not to over mix it!
7. Stir in the chocolate chips and toasted coconut last. Save some of the chocolate chips to the top of each muffin.
8. Fill the nine cavities with your batter. It will be a little thick.
9. Bake at 425 degrees for 5 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and continue to bake for 12-14 more minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

 ^^^Props to all you food bloggers out there...taking pretty food pictures is not easy!!^^^

  

My very favorite part of this recipe is that each muffin is only 150 calories!! So I don't feel quite as bad when I can't help having two :)

These have kept our brownie cravings at bay so far...but I may need another batch before the weekend is over!  Let me know if you try them too!!

What I'm Listening To

  

1. Dawn.....Dario Marianelli 

2. Lips Are Moving.....Meghan Trainor 

3. How We Love.....by Ingrid Michaelson 

4. I've Got The World On A String.....by Frank Sinatra   

5. To Make You Feel My Love.....by Adele

6. Small Town Southern Man.....by Alan Jackson

7. A Sunday Kind Of Love.....by Etta James

 

Valentine's Day Banner!

Recently, my mom and I had a craft night and made some fun Valentine's Day banners! And it was seriously just what I needed! There's nothing quite like hanging out with your mom all day and leaving with paint on your hands and glitter everywhere else :)

Since these were so easy and fun I thought I would share it here! 

Valentine's Day Heart Banner

Materials Needed:

•  1/2 yard burlap
• Round sponge
• Mod Podge
• Twine
• Paint brush
• Hot glue gun {And glue obviously}
• 2 sheets cardstock {For outlining}
• Red glitter
• White paint
• Pink paint

 Step 1: Make a triangle outline out of your cardstock. Fold your paper in half and then cut from the top corner to the crease in the middle that you created when you folded the paper if you want it to be perfect :) Next, use that outline to cut 5 triangles out of your burlap. It helps to pin the paper outline to the burlap for cutting. It definitely wants to move around otherwise!

Step 2: Use your round sponge to paint each triangle pink. My mom and I used a sponge brush at first, but found that the round sponge we were using to make the polka dots worked better. I had to do two coats when I did mine with a sponge brush, but it only takes one with the round sponge. 

Step 3: After your pink paint has dried completely, it's time to dot! Clean your round sponge and use it to make roughly 7 polka dots on your triangle. It's best to come up with a pattern for your dots that you recreate consistently on each triangle as you will need to be sure to leave room for the red glitter heart {the best part in my opinion!}

Step 4: Using your other sheet of cardstock, make a heart outline. At first I really wanted a big, traditional heart, but the skinny, quirky one we ended up with was pretty darn cute if I do say so myself! Outline the heart with pencil on each triangle. Or you can do one at a time for the next few steps. Whatever works for you!

Step 5: After you have a clearly defined heart outline, use your paint brush to paint the heart with Mod Podge. Immediately after your heart is podged {yup, I'm sticking with podged}, sprinkle it with your red glitter. I use a spoon because it helped me better control the glitter. After it sets for a few seconds bend the triangle and shake off the excess glitter either back into the container or into a bowl.

 Step 6: Admire your kick ace glitter heart!!

Step 7: Glue gun time! Once you have all five of your glitter hearted triangles you will want to put a line of hot glue at the very top of your triangle. Immediately after that you will lay your twine over the glue. Each triangle needs to be about an inch apart on the banner. It's up to you how much twine you would like to have on each side depending on how big you want your banner to be.
 {Fair warning: That burlap will not defend your precious little fingers from the burning fire that is hot glue! But, you are going to need to press the burlap and twine together to ensure it sticks. I suggest gloves or something. You will get burned...I'm speaking from experience here people :)} 

Step 8: Find the cutest place in your house to display your new banner! Like my mom's mantle in the top picture.

I hope you all try this one out! Super easy and just the right balance between shabby chic and glitter if you ask me! I also recommend music, a good friend, and chocolate for your banner making experience...it's just better that way! :)

Review #9: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

Favorite Quotes:

"When we first begin fighting for our dream, we have no experience and make many mistakes. The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and get up eight times." -Introduction vii
 

"And if you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." -page 22

"I'm like everyone else--- I see not the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually does." -page 40

"I'm afraid if my dream is realized, I'll have no reason to go on living." -page 55

"...he had loved her before he even knew she existed. He knew that his love for her would enable him to discover every treasure in the world." -page 94

"'But this payment goes well beyond my generosity,' the monk responded.

'Don't say that again. Life might be listening, and give you less the next time.'" -page 155

About the Main Character:

"The boy's name was Santiago." -page 1. That is the first and, I'm pretty sure, the last time we hear "the boy's" name throughout the entirety of the novel. After I finished, I started thinking about my review and went, "What is 'the boy's' name?!? Doe he have one?! And sure enough, he does! Although as Santiago embarks to fulfill his Personal Legend, he is simply referred to as "the boy." When the audience is introduced to Santiago, he is a shepard on his way to a town where a beautiful girl lives. He is also pondering a recurring dream he is having. After he learns what his dream means, the audience ventures with him on his quest to realize his Personal Legend of finding a treasure. Along the way he learns more about the Soul of the World and meets many characters who teach him more about life.

Another Character to Note:

 

Melchizedek is one of the most interesting characters in the novel. There are several people who help him along the way, but Melchizedek, or the King of Salem as he claims to be, seems to have the most influence. He meets Santiago early in his journey (really before it begins) and gives him guidance that shapes how he will view the world for the rest of his life. The interaction between Santiago and Melchizedek reads a bit like a modern day parable to me. Really lovely and insightful.

 

Plot Breakdown:

 

1. The Girl in the Valley...Santiago starts off the book as a dreamer seeking the heart of a pretty girl.

 

 

2. Dream Interpreting, Treasure, and Pyramids...The journey for his Personal Legend starts with a gypsy.

 

3. The King of Salem...Melchizedek sets the boy on the right track and teaches him about the Soul of the World.

 

4. Omens and Thieves...Beginner's luck gets the boy's hopes up, but his fate takes a turn for the worst.

 

5. Selling Crystal...After his fate takes a turn, Santiago has to pay his dues and learn some lessons along the way.

 

6. The Oasis...The boy continues to on his journey after joining a caravan to the Pyramids. Love finds him in the desert.

 

7. The Alchemist...He helps the boy finish out his journey and teaches him much.

 

8. The Boy basically becomes an Airbender...and it wraps up nicely!

 



Something Interesting to Note:

 





I'm going to use this section as more of a "Tip to Reading" area. My number one would be to read the Introduction and the after notes of the book. I found it so endearing that Paulo Coehlo 100% believes everything he wrote. And he writes it that way. You can't help, but get enthralled with the story and the idea of Personal Legends.

PS-Let me know if you can figure out that Prologue. The metaphors abound!!!

 

Should you read The Alchemist before you die?

 

If you had asked me this the first time I read it I would have said it was too deep and left it at that. But, after reading it again, especially where we are in our lives, it really touched me. Any book that promotes following your dreams or "Personal Legends" is a resounding YES from me.