Città Bella

In April I have plans. 

Siena! As in, Italy. :)

That's right. Beautiful Siena awaits me for 

a seven week study abroad. The first three weeks I will take an advanced Italian Language class, and travel around to villages, cities, and anywhere else I pretty much feel like going.]

Siena is only an hour away from both Florence and Pisa. And two hours north of Rome. So I'll probably be hitting up Florence a lot at first. 

But my school classes only last the first three weeks. The second half I get to choose whatever the hay I want to do for an internship and I've pretty much decided on culinary. 

That's right, I will be working as an intern in an Italian kitchen where I hope to be learning the many magical secrets to an amazing Italian dish. 

My Italian teacher from last year is from Genova and she made what was pretty much just a ragu on noodles with lots of cheese, and I am SO not kidding when I declare it to be the most delectable thing I have ever to have passed over my tongue. It was... it was beautiful. I nearly weep at the memory. 

So I hope that to be part of my future. I want to be the lady whom everyone wants to invite to their dinner parties in the hopes that I might grace everyone with one of my renowned Italian dishes. It's a beautiful future!

... Just realized that this means I'm probably going to be really fat if this is my future.

Too Much Time in Front of the TV?

Who doesn't love those classic movies? 

I've been CRAVING A Philadelphia Story; you know, the one with Katherine Hepburn, Carry Grant, and Jimmy Stewart. Yeah. It's a good one. That's for sure.

And thanks to netflix, I recently saw Shop Around the Corner, also with Jimmy Stewart. You've Got Mail was based off of this one. It is also VERY good. The lines are witty as they do a fabulous job of insulting each other. And it's just cute. So if you haven't seen that one, go ahead and watch it. It's worth it. 

On a different note. I've also watched recently Easy Virtue with Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, and Collin Firth. I really like that one too. It was maddening in sort of a Family Stone way, but I loved it. Plus Ben Barnes is stinkin' HOT. And he has these huge, brown, puppy-dog eyes throughout the movie that make you wish the camera never left his face. And it is very enjoyable aesthetically. But I'm a sucker for the vintage clothing and styles. But really, it's a great one. Chaotic, but charming non the less. 

Other movies I love and have revisited lately:

Family Stone (Rachel McAdams is one of my favorites right now. And this was the first movie I actually really appreciated Sarah Jessica Parker in. 

Sunshine Cleaning (Emily Blunt is the other favorite right now. Talk about versatile.)

I've also been on sort of a Friends kick lately. So I've been re-watching a lot of those.

Willy Wonka Jr.

I work at a chocolate shop. I don't really like chocolate, so I don't have to worry about gaining fifteen pounds or anything, but it does sort of put yet another ironic twist on my life. 

I've never had much artistic skill. I REALLY wish I could draw well. I have a load of images bumper-carring around in my brain that I desperately wish I could transfer to paper and actually view. But alas...

But when it comes to chocolate... It's just fun. And it looks pretty when I'm done.

See it's an art.

(not actually my photo, but our stuff looks just like this)

And it's fun. I also dip and drizzle strawberries, pretzels, oreos and cinnamon bears. It's a great job. 

The number one question is, "How do you stay so skinny working in a place like this?" To which I just laugh and don't really reply. It's probably not the best of advertising to say I don't like chocolate while working in a chocolate shop. So yeah. That's my job. Jealous? Because it IS pretty cool, and I totally won't judge you if you are a little.

PS. I can drink as much Dr. Pepper as I want while working. It's a definite perk.

The Rainbow Connection

So school seems to be much more difficult for me this semester. And I was actually really struggling recently as I tried and failed to stay on top of my homework. And then, ta da, miracle of miracles, I rediscovered my secret to good study patterns: colored pens. 

It sounds like a joke, and I'm sure you had to reread that line several times to make sure you understood it, but yes, I find myself much more driven to complete homework and to study when I write and organize everything with different colors of ink.

Yesterday, while studying my Italian vocab I used the colors brown, red and yellow. It was great fun. So while I was learning how to say iron in Italian, I also managed to make the page look pretty with beautiful fall colors, which suited my mood very well.

These are the pens I use, and I love them. Their Staedtler triplus fineliner. :) Incase you were interested.

I highly recommend this method to anyone who struggles in their studies. It gives your brain a good excuse to exercise its right hemisphere, as well as the left. 

So there you go. Happy studying to you. Let me know if it works for you or not.

You just can't get enough of 'em!

I was just reading all my friends' amazing posts and mourning the fact that I wasn't as witty as they when I found myself opening a new page and wanting to blog about something myself. But what to blog??

I have nothing to blog really. So I'm just going to post some pictures of some of the greatest kissing moments in film history. Remember these?

Of course there's the classic, random kiss of the 1985 Room With A View

Another fabulous surprise kiss is in the 1995 Clueless. I LOVE this movie by the way

If I had managed to find a worthy picture I would have shown the FABULOUS grab and pull kiss from the phenomenal 2006 Penelope.

But moving back toward the classic literature-on-film kisses we have:
1996- Emma (only a good kiss because of the magnificent tree it's set under. Couldn't find a pic..)

Mansfield Park 1999
(This Edmund is SOO good!)

And, in my opinion, the best kiss I've probably seen in this genre of film:
North and South 2004

If you haven't seen it yet, DO. It's THAT FREAKIN' GOOD!


(There are many MANY more, but I haven't the time. I'll think of some and add them later if you'd like. Or feel free to remind me if you're appalled to see I've not included.

Against All The Odds

Human psychology just continues to amaze me. Have you ever thought about how hard it is to not only find someone who you're interested in, but who also returns that interest? It's hard! So many plays, books and movies are based around this one concept, and they still continue to entertain us. It's because it's a true concept that every one of us can relate to.

Most often one person likes someone, and that person likes another someone, who likes another someone. I see this as loop-de-loops in my mind. And a lot of the time, the people don't even realize that there was someone out there who had a little thing for them.

Think of all the people you've had a little crush on in your lifetime, whom you never told. They probably still, to this day, have no idea it ever happened. Well is it so impossible to think that maybe there were several people out there who never said anything to YOU? So you still to this day are clueless to there ever having been anything going on.

So amidst this huge maze of unrequited love, it's almost miraculous to come across a couple who broke out of their loop-de-loops long enough to find something they were looking for. And even more miraculous is when that couple fit so well together that they can make a lifelong relationship work.And I think THAT is a romantic concept.

So let's not get discouraged when things aren't working out for us. We just have to remember how harsh the numbers are against us ever finding someone in the first place. And when you do finally find someone, even if it's not a lifelong thing, allow yourself to be more grateful for what you've found. It's a rare thing.

Best Day of the Year!

I don't care what anyone says, birthdays are a BIG DEAL!

I love my birthday. It's fabulous. It reminds me that I'm moving somewhere. Age isn't an issue for me. I know people who are my age and think, "Oh man, I'm freakin' OLD!" So? Even if you are each new era of your life is full of fabulous new experiences and something to look forward to learning from.

I love knowing that I have one day out of the year where I can find an excuse to spend time with those I care the most about. I also like to look back at the last year spent in my life and think of all that sucked, then I try to figure out why that stuff sucked and then I make a plan to shape the next year of my life into what I want. So yeah, I guess it's like a second New Year's resolution; though not really because this is more personal and more affective. (I can't take stuff seriously when I know everyone else is doing it.)

I love making people feel good on there birthdays as well. They deserve a moment of self-appreciation. We always look down at selfishness and pride, but I think we also push it into a lack of self-esteem and self-respect. So it's important to remind those around you how much value they really have in your life. It feels AWESOME to feel loved by those around you. So give back to the people who love you and let them know how awesome they are, particularly on their birthday.

It's late and I'm totally rambling and probably don't make much sense. So I'll just stop.

I'll just have you all know that my birthday was FABULOUS. I honestly didn't do a whole lot, but I was given opportunities to feel loved by those around me. And that's what made it so good. So thank you to all who were a part of my day in some way or other. I love you all.

(I had a request to post the Anthropologie clothes I got. So I did. That's them there. A fabulous top and pair of shorts.)

I love... Anthropologie dresses! They say, "Let's go have afternoon tea" and it's suitable. Here are some more dresses I found that I thought were cute and tea-appropriate. I also really, really want one for myself. So if anyone has a desire to buy one for me... comment and let me know. :)

Benefits

Today at our staff meeting, the manager awarded me and the others involved with our little flood with little rubber ducks. The ducks she gave to the others had adorable little sailor hats. She handed mine to me last. It had a snorkel. "And since Rachel got to go diving..." she said before showing me the adorable little thing. It was exciting. That's what you call a job with benefits.

Just Doing My Job

Life is full of adventures. Take Tuesday night for instance.

I'm working at the bookstore and I was totally caught up in what I was doing. When suddenly I am shaken out of my head by the sound of pounding rain. And when I describe it as pounding, I mean it was holy freakin' cow POUNDING! If it were cold enough to become hail, the hail balls would have been about the size of golf balls. I am SO not exaggerating here. I looked out the window and the street was almost completely flooded. It looked like a river carrying small branches in its current. I couldn't help but smile. Because how often does something like that happen? And, again I emphasize, the raindrops were HUGE!.

As my boss and coworkers looked out the window with me I verbalized my thoughts. "Doesn't it just make you want to go play in it. Jump around, get wet..." They all looked at me a little funny, my boss in particular. "Not that I would," I corrected, "because, you know, then I'd be all wet when I came back in here..."

As my boss turned to disappear up the stairs, we heard her curse. "S***! Not good!!!" We all turned in unison to see where she was looking. The door to the patio had 2 1/2 feet of water up against its glass, and the door was no longer working to keep the water out. It was coming in so fast and hard that it looked as though someone had turned on a foset, and left it to run all over the hardwood floors.

Allow me to remind you at this point, that we sell BOOKS. And books' nemisis= water.

It was like someone had snapped their fingers and made us into a fire bragade. A line of us ran to the back room with me leading the way. We grabbed towels and ran back to the door. For about three seconds I watched as everyone started mopping up the water with the towels and made sad attempts to stop the water from coming in. But it looked like the scene in Free Willy when the tank has a leak and there are only mere minutes before the glass just gives in. (Of course I am somewhat exaggerating here.) So it took me mere seconds before I decided to act.

I ran back and found a mop bucket, ran to the other back door, kicked off my shoes and dashed out into the wet. I just remember how hard those raindrops were falling and how they even hurt a little. I was using the bucket as an umbrella as I ran around to the patio. I couldn't believe how much water was sitting against the door. I wondered if it was even worth it to start bailing, seeing as it would take a really long time before it would take any sort of helping effect. But I dipped my bucket in anyway and got to work. Even though it was a crappy job, I couldn't help but laugh a little out loud as realized that three minutes earlier I had been talking about how much fun it would be to go out and get wet. Well... I certainly got wet.

About twenty-five buckets later I was starting to finally see a difference. At one point I remember looking through the glass door and seeing one of my coworkers smile at me. I'm sure it looked like I'd gone swimming with my clothes on. I laughed and gave her a thumbs up then kept going.

About thirty-five buckets into it I noticed that the lightning was actually very close, and was coming about every forty seconds or so. Remember... I was on the patio. So it was a little scary for a bit, but I just went until the water was below the door. It took about fifty-five buckets or so. When I went back in I looked at my boss and said, "Well I think I'll need to run home and change." She laughed a little. "I'll bring back more towels too." At this she shook her head and told me to just go home since it would be closing time when I got back anyway. She'd call her daughter and have her bring some towels over.

So there you go. When you're in need of getting out of work an hour early, try doing something semi-heroic. Preferably if it means sacrificing dry clothes. It's a win-win situation. Plus I had fun. A change of pace is always exciting.

But let me tell you... when I woke up the morning after, my back and shoulders KILLED! I've never had such bad knots. But it was all totally worth it.

Capitalism

SHOES

I love them. And yet I have a hard time finding any when I go shopping. See, just because I would sell my life to debt if it meant obtaining the perfect pair of heels, doesn't mean I would wear just ANYTHING. I'm, infact, very particular when it comes to my shoes. I'm not about to put anything on my feet that I don't just absolutely love.

So a couple weeks ago I was having a blast visiting with friends, and we decided at 10:30 pm that we wanted to go shopping. But where might one go shopping so late at night? Particularly when you're in Idaho, like we were. Have you guessed it yet?

Walmart

Please, don't judge me. In my defense I'd only ever been to a Walmart, probably two times previous in my entire life. I'm one of those people who likes to pretend to at least try and buy local. Plus, I hate Walmart. But there we were. And we made a real shopping experience out of it. Let me tell you. We hit up the undies first, then moved to shoes, then to movies, then to accessories and bags, and wrapped it all up in the regular clothing department.

I, who hate Walmart spent at least three times as much as anyone. A list of purchases:

2 scarves

1 bag

1 movie

1pair of shorts

1 pair of shoes *

See that? SHOES!! I bought Walmart shoes!! For $14.99! I've never spent more than $100 on a pair of shoes. (Probably because I've never alowed myself to even look at shoes of that price. I know where I am weak...) But I HAVE spent $85 on a pair of shoes before. And I don't feel bad about it in the least. So the fact that I found a reasonably cute pair of shoes at Walmart is on the brink of miraculous. And what's more: I've been getting compliments on them like crazy! Nuts huh?

I was going to post some pictures of cute shoes I found online, but I coudn't find any I loved enough to post. Which is probably a good thing, because if I did, I would want to buy them.

Oh, by the way. If you find any cute yellow heels... I've been dying for an adorable pair of yellow heels.

I found this cute dress while looking for good shoe pictures. Two words for you: Anthropolgie baby!!

...Oh Calamity...

"Don't you dare strike that brave, unbalanced woman!"

What has happened to the film industry? Is it just me, or does it seem that every movie is an adapted screenplay? Ok, maybe not EVERY movie. But if it's not an adapted screenplay it's one of the pitiful failures that make you role your eyes and say, "I could write this crap."

Not that I was alive in the 1940's or anything, but all those movies seemed just as marvelous as the next. And they were WELL written! I mean, the romance is real enough to make you swoon, the humor is witty enough to have you giggling four scenes later. The action... well that's improved, but that's all thanks to the fabulous CG teams or whatever.

But it's not like every film that was made was spectacular. We just know all the good ones because... well they're good enough to last 65 some odd years. But it seems to me that all of those classics were original screenplays. Right? Only a few books then made it into movie form. East of Eden, for example.

Perhaps it's just because I work in a bookstore. I'll just be doing my job and run across a copy of About a Boy, or The Women... and I hadn't REALIZED it was originally a book. So it just seems to me that Hollywood is losing originality or something. Of course every now and then they'll pop out something like Casanova or something. But not often enough it seems.

Oh woe. Oh spite. I guess this just means we'll all have to start putting our own imaginations to use and generate our own original story lines for entertainment.

Whatevs. I guess I can deal.