Happy 2014! I have used my brief winter break to do a bit of reading, and want to recommend two books that I greatly enjoyed reading: The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vásquez and The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway. The Sound of Things Falling is the latest novel by Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez, and it follows the interconnected lives of a professor in Bogotá named Antonio, a pilot who spent years in prison, his gringa Peace Corps wife, and their Colombian-raised beekeeper daughter. It's a beautifully-written story that takes a convoluted but smooth route through the timelines of individual lives, through remembered and imagined moments, through recordings and letters. The conclusions drawn from the introspection of these characters raise larger questions about the trauma of an entire country: Colombia in the time of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar's reign. The Cellist of Sarajevo is also a war story. It takes place in the besieged city of Sarajevo. There are four characters that the novel divides its time among: a husband and father man trying to survive the trip to and from a brewery to fetch water for his family; an elderly man on his own errand, also trying to avoid the shells and snipers causing the citizens of the city to drop like flies while crossing streets and bridges; a female sniper given the task of defending a cellist from enemy snipers in Sarajevo; and the cellist himself, a man who plays Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor for 22 days, one for each person killed by a bomb while buying bread at the shop across the street. Amazingly, this novel is based on a real cellist who played in ruined buildings during the siege, Vedran Smailović.
The themes in these novels have a lot of overlap, and both are driven predominantly by the inner thoughts and drives of their characters. These books left me with a sense of the fragility and senselessness of human life and the world we inhabit, while also taking great pain to focus on the smallest, silliest coincidences and singular events that define lives and make them unique and cherishable.
I love listening to the news. I highly prefer it to reading a physical newspaper (ink fingers!), reading the online news websites (too much catching the eye - what's important?), or watching the news (anchors are far from being experts).
With the London-based Monocle, I get relevant breaking news straight from experts. The selection of different shows is absolutely huge. From day to day I can decide if I want to be briefed by any of the following (and these are just the tip of the iceberg!): "Midori House," a one-hour overview from Monocle editors and correspondents all over the world, "The Briefing," which focuses on the day's news in Europe, "The Monocle Daily," which checks in live with reporters from the US and Americas, or the wonderful catch-all "The Curator," which compiles the best of the week into one show.
You not only get international news; you get expert political analyses and impressive interviews and insight. And it's all delivered in dulcet British accents, which is an added plus.
And once you've had enough of the news, there are also stations that cover culture, food, music, books, and really everything under the sun! Monocle Radio has it all! Not to get off track, but Monocle.com has a million more things to offer outside of their radio stations. But start here, and see if you don't end up spending the next two hours on the Monocle website:
The best part is the fact that the live radio streams open in a player at the bottom of the website which allows you to continue browsing and opening new pages while you listen.
Some researchers claim it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Why not put that theory to the test? Instead of giving yourself a single abstract new years resolution, let's break the year down into monthly resolutions. Just to keep things interesting. Was your 2014 resolution to simply be a stronger, more confident individual? Well, these 12 smaller goals will see you achieving that higher goal by 2015:
JANUARY: Stop snacking. Make eating a ritual, and savor your meals.
FEBRUARY: Take inventory of your wardrobe and toiletries. Throw out or donate what you don't ever use or need. Only buy things you really need or want.
MARCH: Drink more water on a daily basis.
APRIL: Get in exercise daily, even if it's just for 10 minutes. Even if it's simply stretching.
MAY: Read a new book. Read a classic. Read something controversial.
JUNE: Do something creative: paint, write, build, start a blog.
JULY: Get outside. Go for daily walks, and schedule hiking trips with friends.
AUGUST: Gain a new skill. Take a class in something. Gain a certification.
SEPTEMBER: Travel. Get out of the state, or even out of the country.
OCTOBER: Reconnect with family and old friends. Go through your phone and text people you haven't heard from in years. Budget time to grab a coffee with them.
NOVEMBER: Boost your financial savvy. Learn about new investment opportunities or strategies, read the business section of the news, or just bring new vigor to managing your own finances wisely.
DECEMBER: Reflect on your achievements and on your goals. Not just concrete goals, but abstract goals. Try to find what gives you meaning in your life, and decide what you want the meaning of your life to be from now on.
Now that the holiday season is drawing to a close, the excitement and festivity that accompanies it usually slows to a depressing halt. We face several months of grey cold, hazy wintertime, and waiting for spring. But this isn't how it should be! Even if the holidays are over, we should still enjoy the remaining winter months to their fullest. Stop longing for flowers and rays of sunshine: instead, cozy up by the fireplace with a cup of tea and a good winter read, and enjoy January and February!
Celebrate the 12 days of Christmas. When I'm in denial after Christmas Day, and feel like tearing down all my decorations would just be too depressing, I suddenly realise that I should simply celebrate the twelve days of Christmas! This traditional celebration lasts from December 25 to January 5, and includes gift-giving either just on Christmas, on each of the twelve days, or just on the Twelfth Night. Whether you want to draw out your gift-giving for the holidays or just do something special and festive each day (Bake a new type of Christmas cookie! Keep listening to Christmas carols! Make some decorations for next year!), this is the perfect excuse.
photo: scotchandscones
Don't toss your decorations. Sure, big red bows and jingle bells can go back in storage boxes, but keep your Christmas lights, wreaths, and tree! Natural decorations with pine green, snow white, ivory, deep brown, and burlap colours are fitting for the entire winter season. Christmas lights can be used practically anywhere in your home for soft lighting: I have lights placed on top of the cabinets in my kitchen, draped from the ceiling above my bar, entwined through the headboard on my bed, and roped around my floor-length mirror. Additionally, some decorations (like paper snowflakes hung in the window, a boxwood wreath, or pine clippings tied with white ribbon) don't need to be restricted to Christmastime, but make beautiful decorations throughout winter. One of my favourite wintertime home decorations is my starlight, which I found after seeing similar lights at a Christkindl market in Chicago. Wooden dala horses also make wonderful wintertime folk decorations.
photo: werenna's warehouse
Enjoy unique wintertime crafts and foods. One of the things I'm doing this week is creating soy candles using dried fir needles from my Christmas tree and pine fragrance oils. I'm also going to make pinecone garlands to keep around the house for the remainder of winter. Keep pinecones in natural white baskets in the lavatory or on a side-table. Experiment with making your own nourishing, natural soaps and lotions with a pine scent. Apply flattened pine needles to glass votives. Enjoy the flavourful dishes and drinks of the season: this is the time of the year for warm spices, roasted meats, and root vegetables. Bake up some shepherd's pie or root vegetable pie, and use blood orange in a salad. Make rosettes (a traditional Swedish recipe) with lots of powdered sugar. Indulge in some of winter's dark, sweet, and spicy craft beers: Williamsburg Alewerks Coffeehouse Stout, Star Hill Snow Blind, and Harpoon Winter Warmer are a few of my favourites. These are things you can really only enjoy during the cold months!
Cuddle up next to the fireplace with a good winter read. If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, enjoy it while you can! Pick up one of our favourite winter reads (His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, A Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling), brew a pot of black tea, and find a comfy spot by the fire. Don't forget a big cozy sweater!
Listen to beautiful, reflective music.We love unusual and desolate folk music anyway, but this is the perfect season to enjoy artists like Sigur Ros (an Icelandic folk band), Balmorhea, or more mainstream artists like Mumford & Sons and Simon & Garfunkel. This powerful and inspiring music reminds us of cold woodlands, untouched lands, the northern lights, and pagan rituals.
Get outside. The plausibility of this might depend on where you live, but if at all possible, try to spend some time out in the snow and cold! Hunt for pinecones in the woods, go on a hike, spend an hour ice-skating, throw snowballs for your puppy to (try to) catch! It might not be as comfortable as a day at the beach, but bundling up for a nippy afternoon in the frost-covered woods can be magical and exhilarating. And you always have a hot cup of cocoa next to the fireplace to look forward to upon your return!
photo: travel marvel
Don't waste these beautiful, desolate winter days pining for spring. Embrace the enchantment of winter while you can, and let spring come in its own time. For now, gaze at the clear stars on a night following snowfall, light a pine-scented candle, and fall asleep next to the fireplace.
Elephantine is one of my favorite jewelry stores. The delicate, tiny-as-can-be style of everything from the charms to the details on a ring brings an ultra-feminine vibe to a modern look.
Edor has a similar aesthetic but specializes in geometric designs.
Jools sells jewelry with very unique and very quirky designs. Here you can get everything from earrings shaped like PacMan to a gold Shetland sheepdog-shaped pendant.
Contempo is a jewelry design company selling beautiful, colorful pieces predominantly featuring pyrite and freshwater pearls.
Fawn and Rose is THE shop of choice for those seeking triangular necklaces and rings.
Sevenstarz is a British company selling cute animal-shaped pendants in silver and gold.
Matoto has absolutely adorable charms, from owls to giraffes to a tiny sterling silver paper airplane charm!
Step 1: Make oatmeal (I prefer mixing the oats with milk instead of water). This is a life skill. If you can make pasta you can make oatmeal. Put oatmeal and water/milk in a pot (read the oatmeal package for correct ratio instructions). Turn on the heat and be sure to stir occasionally until desired texture. As you cook the oatmeal, spice it:
Add a dash of any/all of the following:
- cinnamon
- ginger
- cardamom
- cloves
- brown sugar
- vanilla extract (go easy on this one!)
Step 2: Once it's done, top with walnuts and pomegranate seeds. YUM!!
'Tis the season! We're officially into December, and personally I've started listening to a great deal of Christmas music. I thought it'd be fun to put together a mix for you guys - a blend of classical, alternative, and pop tunes to get you in the holiday mood.
AGONIST "is a Nordic fragrance brand launched in November 2008. AGONIST creates pure 100% natural fragrances inspired by the Nordic climate and culture. Raw materials and product give form to a Swedish but even more Nordic clarity, – fresh with a vigourous weight and beautiful low tones."
BJÖRK & BERRIES "is an ecoluxury beauty brand derived from Swedish nature and traditions. It all began with hand-picked birch leaves that were turned into natural perfume. Our experts refine natural and organic ingredients of the highest quality into essential products for face, body and home for the caring consumer in the contemporary world."
BYREDO "is a Stockholm based fragrance house founded in 2006 by Ben Gorham. Products currently include perfume, home fragrance, body care products and accessories. All products are made in Sweden with a distinct focus on craftsmanship and quality."
ESTELLE & THILD "is more than just a organic brand: it's about providing a sustainable, effective skin care solution with a feeling of everyday luxury."
FACE STOCKHOLM "is the only Swedish cosmetics company that offers makeup and skin care that is true to the Swedish beauty ideal – naturally based, trend forward, simple, clean, gorgeous and fun. FACE Stockholm offers a spectacular and unrivaled range of colors and uses only the highest quality ingredients."
1 can of sweetened condensed milk (14 oz - but I don't use all of it - I use probably 12oz)
2 eggs
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pie crust (or unroll the ready made crust) and put it in a pie plate.
In a large mixing bowl beat the 2 eggs. Add the whole can of the pumpkin to the eggs and mix well.
In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Mix until well combined.
Add the brown sugar and spices mixture to the pumpkin and egg mixture. Mix well. (It should look darker once the sugar is added)
NOTE:
When I add the condensed milk, I open the can about 3/4s of the way (so the lid keeps the milk from running out super fast )and pour the milk into the pumpkin mixture (mixing all the while as the milk is being added). When the condensed milk starts to slow down on the pour, meaning that it's coming out at a trickle, I stop. Usually there is a good coating of condensed milk left in the can. When it settles back down it looks like quite a bit so I'm guessing it's about 2 oz from the 14 oz can, but it may only be an ounce. The one thing you need to know about pumpkin pie is that it's pretty forgiving. If you add a little too much milk or a little too little milk, it's really not going to matter. When I measure in the sugar, cinnamon, cloves - I'm not super careful. If there's a little more - I don't sweat it. It always turns out yummy.
Once you have all your pumpkin and condensed milk mixed, use a scraper (so you get every last drop) and pour it into the pie crust.
Cook for 13 minutes at 425 degrees, then turn the oven down to 350 degrees and cook for anywhere from 30-50 minutes longer. You'll know the pie is done when the pie filling kind of puffs up and a little crack forms in the pie (like a crack in the dirt in the summer when it's dry out).
NOTE:
If you don't get a crack after 50 additional minutes I would still take the pie out - you don't want your crust to burn and the pie is just being stubborn! Sometimes, even when it's cooked, the middle will still look shiny and wet. Touch it gently in the center if you're worried it's not cooked - if it's mushy, then you're right - it's not cooked - leave it in longer but check it every 5 minutes or so. If it is not mushy and a little stiff, then it's probably done and you'll be safe.
Let the pie cool, top with whipped cream, and enjoy! YUM!! : )
is also a war story. It takes place in the besieged city of Sarajevo. There are four characters that the novel divides its time among: a husband and father man trying to survive the trip to and from a brewery to fetch water for his family; an elderly man on his own errand, also trying to avoid the shells and snipers causing the citizens of the city to drop like flies while crossing streets and bridges; a female sniper given the task of defending a cellist from enemy snipers in Sarajevo; and the cellist himself, a man who plays Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor for 22 days, one for each person killed by a bomb while buying bread at the shop across the street. Amazingly, this novel is based on a real cellist who played in ruined buildings during the siege, Vedran Smailović.
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