"I am good but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love." -M. Monroe

she dreams in poetry but writes in prose // she lives in ballet flats but likes to feel the grass between her toes // she craves her Starbucks fix // she's pearls and she's politics // she makes her own sunshine on a rainy day // she gets her work done but she lives to play.


Friday, December 31, 2010

out with the old & in with the new

2010 was a complicated year for me. I feel like I really grew up in 2010. There were a lot of tears, but like rainbows follow rain, there were a lot of smiles too. I had many new experiences, and while some were mistakes or made me sad, they were all formative and I'm glad for that.

My 2011 resolutions: none. No resolutions, no regrets. I try to be the best version of myself each day, but often I'm not; I make mistakes. Nevertheless, I don't need one day to make myself feel good about reinventing myself - it's a constant process. Writing things down won't make them happen. The only thing there is is to just do.


That being said, I do have a few 2011 blogolutions (If Sarah Palin can coin a word, so can I)
1. Blog twice a week at a MINIMUM. Even if it's just a picture or a quote, I should blog frequently and regularly.
2. Get more personal, to some extent.
3. Have some short posts more frequently with quotes I like, pretty pictures, or funny videos.
4. Start a new blog that focuses on politics and policy. I have a few here and there in this blog, but they don't fit with the rest of the post. If this is something I'm passionate about, it deserves my focus.

Hope you're doing something wonderful tonight!


ab imo pectore,


Hannah

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

reading has never been so chic

LoveloveLOVE these Kate Spade clutches...they look like classic books! three hundred-and-twenty-five dollars is too pricey for something that's so cutesy, in my opinion.


{via rough review}


{via kate spade}












The Kate Spade website also has Great Expectations and The Importance of Being Earnest. I would love some classically girly books, like some Jane Austen titles.



ab imo pectore,


Hannah

Monday, December 27, 2010

good morning, upper east siders

Since Gossip Girl is taking a break until January 24th, here's a post to help you miss it a little less. Besides all the guilty pleasure drama that takes place on the upper east side, many of us watch the show for the style. Blair's style is my favorite; she looks polished and put together, yet she always manages to wear something unexpected.

Blair is my favorite character, because she is the most complex. She feels deeply but lives in a shallow world.

I tried to pick my favorite of her outfits or accessories for the whole show, but that proved impossible. As I tried to decide between her green pea coat and yellow accessories outfit and her white Marc Jacobs dress and headband, I realized I could not pick the best of all three-and-a-half seasons. Here are my top five from season four so far.

{photos via http://blairfashion.blogspot.com from youknowyouloveme.org}




No one else makes black and white look so fashion-forward. Love the patterned tights.




The colors on this dress make it so elegant and almost seem like the are from an old, faded photograph.



This must be Blair's least expensive outfit all season. The skirt was not even eighteen dollars. She is mixing florals perfectly and proving that cheap can be chic.




The fuchsia with red could not be better. Leave it to Blair to mix it up while still looking elegant. I couldn't not choose this glamourous dress.




I lovelovelove how Blair mixed these prints. The beret is so Paris and the perfect accessory to start to the season.



You know you love me.
xoxo,


Hannah

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!

"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." - How the Grinch Stole Christmas





I watch Charlie Brown's Christmas every year. Regardless of what you believe, Christmas is about more than gifts and aluminum christmas trees. It can be about religion, family, reflection, tradition, or any number of other things.

I love the tradition and spirit that comes with Christmas. Everyone is just a little happier, a little nicer, and a little for thankful. I wish we could be like that all year. I watch Charlie Brown, The Grinch (cartoon, obviously), Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, and other classic Christmas movies. I also like to reread A Christmas Carol by Dickens every year.


Everyone's family is unique, crazy, and quirky, but they're the only one you have. I wouldn't trade mine for the world. Spend some time with loved ones today :)



Merry Christmas, everyone!!


ab imo pectore,



Hannah

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

semiformal

Alpha Chi Omega semiformal at my school was a few weekends ago (and the same weekend as my birthday...more on that when I get back to school) I went with a friend and had a blast dancing the night away at our great half-indoor-half-outdoor venue.

I went classic in black dress, matching black rosette bag, and black heels. I absolutely love this dress!! I also had classic red nails, and I wore a matching heart necklace and earrings set that my friend got me for my birthday a few years ago.


Here is the only pic that shows my full dress. It was taken on my phone, which explains the quality:




In the future, I am going to use Rent the Runway to get dresses. You can borrow a designer dress that you will probably never wear again anyway for about 50 dollars.



ab imo pectore,


Hannah

Monday, December 20, 2010

In the eye of the beholder

Not that taking History of Western Art and a few drawing classes makes me an art expert, but I absolutely love it.
I am a firm believer that you should read beautiful things and look at beautiful things everyday, which is why I like inspirational quotes and artwork so much.

But beauty isn't just a pretty picture, it's about something that speaks to you and it's something that you can carry inside you wherever you go. This is one of my favorites:



Something about this painting has always struck me; the motion, the colors, the odd angle has captivated me ever since I first saw it on a deck of cards that were intended for some sort of matching art game I had. I don't know enough about Degas and this piece to say much, but this is what beauty from a real artist looks like.




I chose the above Thomas Kinkade at random, as they all look pretty much alike, and no one painting has stuck with me. To me, looking at the painting is the equivalent of eating marshmallow peep after marshmallow peep; over processed and sickeningly sweet with no real substance. Yes, it portrays the (idealized) optical reality of the world we live in, but it doesn't say anything about what it means or feels like to be a citizen of that world. I guess it speaks to the triumph of mass-produced commercialism over taste, but I don't think that is his intended message. Sorry for the rant, but I really cannot understand the appeal of his "art." Maybe some people don't consider Duchamp's pieces to be art, but at least they make you think.


I would much rather have a print of the Degas painting than an actual Kinkade. I have an series of pastel drawings of Boston in my dorm room that I bought on the streets of Boston for about 20 dollars. An actual artist made it, and it captures the spirit of the city we are both from.


ab imo pectore,


Hannah

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

hello, finals.

If you're in college, it's probably finals week for you too. I have three down, two to go. Here are a few thing that have kept me sane...

1. Music. If you're sick of your own music, I recommend listening to other people's iTunes on your network, Pandora, Glee music, or Straight No Chaser's Christmas music.

2. Find a non-library non-room place to study. Preferably with comfy chairs, food, and coffee. I've studied at Starbucks and Panera lately. There enough noise that it doesn't feel too quiet, but not enough to distract you. Also, change up your setting if you're having trouble focusing.

3. Self-control. My friend downloaded a program for mac called self control. You can choose to block certain websites for a certain amount of time to help you focus. No more hours wasted on Facebook stalking and newsfeed updating.

4. Schedule what studying you want to do when to keep you on track. Also schedule breaks. Breaks are good.

5. Sleep eight hours every night. Do it. Your body, mental health, and GPA will thank you. Since you have no class, a few extra hours of sleep is definitely do-able. I am about to take my own advice and do just that.

6. Don't stress out. I am the queen of getting stressed out, but it is not productive. Life will go on. Keep Calm and Carry On.




ab imo pectore,


Hannah

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

sorry about the lack of posts recently. This is just a short one. I just wanted to share a surrealist poem by Pablo Neruda I read in a logic class. The thing about surrealism is that it doesn't make sense in a cerebral way, but it resonates with something unidentifiable inside you. In many classes I've taken, it seems that emotions and the heart have a strong influence on our decisions than our mind does, and surrealism recognizes that.

Neruda is a Chilean poet, so this is a translation I especially liked.

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.


ab imo pectore,


Hannah

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

rainy days

I realize I haven't posted in an absurdly long time...


"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain" - Vivian Greene

Today was a very rainy day! As nice as it would be to stay inside and watch a movie, I had a lot of things to do today!

Here's what makes the rainy days a little better...



Pucci Rain Boots - more fun and less common than Hunters. I get compliments on these boots without fail. every single time I wear them.




North Face rain coat - love the color!



Got this ring on vacation in the Dominican Republic with my mom. I wear it whenever it rains because it matches my rain jacket perfectly.

I also wear leggings every time it rains, because I hate how rain feels on denim, khaki, and corduroy. I also have a purple umbrella that matches my rain boots. :)


ab imo pectore,


Hannah

Monday, November 22, 2010

I heart books

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid" - Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen

This quote is from a novel that would be on my "ideal bookshelf." I first read about Jane Mount's designs on Where the Style Things Are. I love this idea! Now you can literally decorate your room or home with books.


The books on my ideal bookshelf might not be sophisticated classics, but all of these books mean something to me. They made me nostalgic for my childhood, touched me unforgettably, or changed me irrevocably. I limited this list to ten, but it was tough.

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder
A Porcupine Named Fluffy - Helen Lester
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
The Giver - Lois Lowry
Atonement - Ian McEwan
My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
Harry Potter (not sure which...) - J.K. Rowling.

A complete list of one's favorite books is a clearer representation of them than any photograph. It exposes their values, likes, and view of the world. The authors describe their life, thoughts, and struggles better than they could themselves.

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Harry Potter Thursday

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and there are so many things to be thankful for, but mostly I'm thankful for...
HARRY POTTER!
Just a joke. Sort of.

I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and have read all the books several times. Tonight, I'm going to my first every Harry Potter midnight premiere. The books are absolutely spellbinding (pun intended), and while the movies could not possibly live up to the books, they are also great.

My friends are dressing up, (one is going to be the golden snitch!) but I'm not sure if I'm dressing up yet. I am wearing my house colors to class Friday, which are blue and bronze for Ravenclaw. Maybe I'm a Hufflepuff, though? I'm not quite sure. (Note: I ended up dressing up as Luna, complete with dirigible plum earrings, and I went barely awake in Hufflepuff colors to class the next day.)

Here is the trailer for the Part I of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, just to get you even more excited for the movie:



I do not consider the Harry Potter series to be about magic. Yes, they go to wizarding school, play Quidditch, and preform magic, but all these things serve as a mere backdrop and are secondary to real story. The real duels are not fought and won with wands, but with the heart. It is the characters that choose love, friendship, and selflessness over magic who are the "good" characters and whose vision ultimately prevails. Lily Potter's love and selflessness ensure Harry's survival against Voldemort's killing curse. Also, in the end, Harry defeats Voldemort in a duel, despite Voldemort's stronger wand and more advanced magical skills, because of the sacrifices people have made for Harry and for 'Good'. Although the heros of the books make devastating mistakes and are deeply flawed, their hearts are in the right place. This quote is central to the idea that character is more powerful than magical prowess:

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" - Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

teenage dream

If you turned on the radio this summer, you are undoubtably familiar with Katy Perry's catchy song "Teenage Dream." I love remixes and acapella, so I thought I'd share these great covers with you!


This version is from Glee and is performed by the Dalton Academy Warblers (who are the Tufts University Beelzebubs in real life!) One of the 1093392 reasons to love Glee.



This cover is just one of the great covers by Boyce Avenue. Boyce Avenue changes some of the lyrics in this song, making it softer and more romantic. Katy Perry's version is fun and upbeat, but this version sounds so sincere and from the heart. Love it!



ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Sunday, November 14, 2010

ellies!

Fun fact: I absolutely love elephants, or "ellies," as I call them. I just found out there is an elephant sanctuary an hour and a half away from school, and I want to go so badly! Actually, I just want a pet elephant so badly. Since neither of these is a possibility right now, I'll have to get my elephant fix some other way...

Jonathan Adler Utopia Elephant Mugs (Update: Got these as a birthday gift - thanks daddy!)




Jonathan Adler Elephant



An elephant necklace I have from J.Crew.


Even Louis Vuitton and Vogue love elephants. I'd much rather have the elephant than the blanket :)


P.S. Also, one type of elephant is called a "white elephant," but it's actually light pink!! I knew I liked elephants for a reason...

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

pandora

I'm up writing a sociology paper based on a breaching experiment I did, and I was thinking about how great music is to study to. When I get tired of my iTunes (I've listened to Speak Now so many times since it came out that some of the songs are already starting to creep into my 25 most played!) I turn on pandora.

Here are the three stations I've been listening to lately:

Glee Cast Radio - A good mix of songs from the show, show-tunes, and other good music
Carrie Underwood Radio - good modern country
A Fine Frenzy Radio - soft, melodic, sometimes sad music.

While these aren't necessary my favorite artists, the stations are great to listen to while doing work. They have the right amount of upbeat, but not get-up-and-dance upbeat. The lyrics are good and the music is relaxing. I've come across some really great music this way!

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Lilly Love

Sorry for the lack of posting - I've been working on some fun posts, but this has been an extremely busy semester for me, and this week promises to be one of the most overwhelming yet. Starbucks Via is my new best friend.

Nothing like a little Lilly to brighten up this week.

Just got my new planner. I have to write down everything in this planner or I will never remember to do it. Besides, I feel so accomplished when I cross things out. I usually have sticky notes on top of all the things written on the actual pages. The colors and stickers are so fun in these agendas.

And I pre-ordered this new iPhone case, because my Lilly pen leaked all over my old pink one:


I love how they match each other! They also match everything school-related that I own...like my pink macbook pro, my pink Kate Spade book bag, pink Kate Spade pencil case and my pink Vera Bradley card/key holder. If only textbooks came in pink.


When I got my shipping confirmation for my Lilly agenda, the email said "Now you have something to look forward to." Well since hopefully I have more to look forward to than that, here's my weekly list. Everything has an exclamation point to get me extra excited. Nothing terribly interesting going on this week...

Monday - My first formal chapter as an initiated member of my sorority!
Tuesday - Tortellini Tuesday, my fave!
Wednesday - Early morning pancakes at Pancake Pantry with my friends before class. Maybe I'll see Taylor Swift!
Thursday - Turning in two major assignments is going to feel so good!
Friday - Catching up on Glee and Gossip Girl as usual, and movie night at the house! What's not to love about Friday?

Monday, November 1, 2010

classic.

Julius Caesar walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a martinus
Bartenders says "you mean a martini?"
Caesar says "Nah, buddy. If I want more than one, I'll let you?"

If you laughed at that, you're a classics nerd too :) I'm sure that you've picked up on my interest in classics from this blog title and the signature on my posts.

As a struggled to stay awake Sunday translating Xenophon's Anabasis and Plato's Symposium for my test tomorrow, I was thinking about why I, or anyone, would take this challenging language or study the classics in general.

Just the word "classic" when applied to clothes refer to those pieces that are always in style - you will look go no matter what in these. "Classic" novels are those works that were written long ago but are still read because they continue to have resonance now. In other words, something that is classic is old but always feels "now".

I could go on and on about the specifics of Ancient Greek, but all I will say is that the complicated constructions and the nuances in the language that we do not have in English make Ancient Greek so elegant and precise. Classics and classical languages open up this whole new world of thought and way of thinking. The language of a culture gives us insight on what was important to them and through which lenses they viewed the world. The words and ideas of the Ancient Greeks are timeless and these classical civilizations made us who we are today.


"This new degree of Bachelor of Science does not guarantee that the holder knows any science. It does guarantee that he does not know any Latin" - Dean Briggs, Harvard College (1900)

Lately, math and science are the focus in education because they seem more directly practical. Will the classics help a surgeon save a life or a aid a scientist in measuring natural phenomena? No, but the lessons learned from classics and humanities infuse those actions with meaning and frame them in the context of what it means to be human. I would argue that that is more central to a successful society.


P.S. Know what is also great about Ancient Greece? Democracy started there - so get out and vote today!

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Friday, October 29, 2010

modern art

I'm taking Intro to Western Art, and it is quickly becoming my favorite class! Today, we looked at Cezanne, who is frequently thought to be the founder of modern art.
The painting on the left is a still life he painted in 1887, and the painting on the right is a self portrait. The Impressionists, who came before Cezanne, found his art deeply disturbing and it did not sit well with them.



imgres.jpg imgres.jpg


Here's a quick summary of what we learned in class today and why his art was so avant-garde.

The front of the table on the picture on the left does not line up - the angles are incorrect and the lines do not match up on each side of the table cloth. In addition, the front of the green vase looks like we see it from a side view, yet we can still see into the vase as if we are looking from above. This painting challenges the unity of space and time - we would have to be looking at it from different times and viewpoints for this painting to represent the actual objects.

In his self portrait, the line separating the blue and brown panels is not straight, but the moment it bends and we could tell the relationship in space between these two panels is obscured by his hair. In addition, the black line around his head does not exist in real life, but is there because above all, this is a painting. The lines on the wallpaper do not extend to his head, because that would look like he was in front of the wall; Cezanne purposely does not indicate that one object is in front of the other. In addition, his popped collar makes a diamond shape that mirrors the pattern of the wallpaper, the form of the diamond his head is obscuring appears in his ear. I could go on.

Our class lecture and discussion about this artist and modern art as a whole really got me thinking. My professor described how Cezanne's art is only disturbing and troubling because we apply the Renaissance perspectives of representation of time and space. Asking the old questions about art merely yields confusion. The effects of what I have described above are to create a two dimension space and emphasize that this is a painting of paint on canvas. It is two-dimensional. There are no contradictory perspectives on a flat surface. Even though Renaissance art tried to look like photograph, Cezanne is telling the real truth; the flat surface of the canvas has always been flat, and images have always been paint. He shifts us from looking back in space to looking at a flat space. Some people love modern art and some hate it; some are disturbed and others are liberated.

Try to be liberated by these images, and have that flexible and critical perspective carry over to other areas of your life. This perspective is the ability to see truth, rather than the mere illusion of what is real. Be free to know things as they are and be free be okay with them.

ab imo pectore,

Hannah




Tuesday, October 26, 2010

glass half full

I'm a glass-half-full kind of girl. Even though I tend to get easily stressed out from all the events listed on my ical, all the assignments and meetings in my Lilly Pulitzer agenda, and the sticky notes with my to-do lists that pepper my computer screen and planner, I have this eternal optimism about the world.

I do this thing where i consciously think about one exciting thing to look forward to every weekday, even if it's little. It was hard to only pick one thing each day! This week:

Monday: Taylor Swift's new album came out.
Tuesday: I got to hear a fascinating discussion on the environment that represented the culmination of hard work and planning.
Wednesday: Stopping at Starbucks on the way back from class.
Thursday: My 8AM class got cancelled! Sleep!
Friday: TGIF! I'll get to celebrate Halloween and catch up on Gossip Girl and Glee (okay, so I picked more than one. Couldn't help it.)

Even though I have a lot of work, thinking about this list gets me so excited for every single day.

Also, some of my MWF classes are far, but I still like to take a few extra minutes to walk through campus rather than on the street, because not only do I see friendly faces, my campus is a national arboretum - and I get to live here for four years! Makes me so happy - life is beautiful :)

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

The midterm elections are coming quickly! College students, especially, check out this list of reasons you should vote!

http://collegecandy.com/2010/10/14/why-vote-5-good-reasons-to-hit-the-polls/

I just mailed in my absentee ballot today, and it felt so good to do my civic duty and make just a small difference!

My friend and I have this phrase we say when we are stressed out about something minor or decide not to do something that isn't a big deal. We say "this doesn't matter in my forever!" meaning that the decision we make and the outcome that results will not significantly impact our lives. Elections are not one of those times. We are deciding on people who can best represent us and making our voices heard on issues that will affect us for the rest of our lives. This does matter in our forever. Almost everyone complains about the way the country is run, but so few people actually take the time to make a difference. Complaining is idle; voting is active.

It is the little actions that matter. On a related tangent, I just recently planned a discussion on my campus about environmental policy and behaviors on an individual level, (more on this in another post) but the message is that everyone needs to be active on an individual level to see changes.

If you don't follow politics, it is not too late to check out the New York Times, Politico, or another news website to catch up on the important issues and races this November.

We are so fortunate to we live in an amazing country where we are free to be ourselves and pursue our dreams in ways millions of people around the world cannot even begin to experience. So, you might say, that means we are free not to choose not to vote. That's true. But if we don't use our freedoms, do we truly have them at all?


ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Sunday, October 24, 2010

papers and events and service, oh my!

I have been extremely busy as of late juggling my board positions in various organizations, my sorority, and my community service. Oh yeah, I squeeze some school work in there too :)

On the one hand, my posts might slow down as I try to tackle my full-to-the-brim ical ("play" events are listed in pink, "work" assignment are listed in purple, of course). On the other hand, these posts give me a release and offer a quick study break in the wee hours of the morning.


ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Ignorance is the new black, apparently.

This op-ed article in the New York Times titles "Making Ignorance Chic" was recently brought to my attention, and I think it raises some really interesting political and societal issues:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/opinion/20dowd.html?src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_F

While this is intended sarcastically by Austen in one of my favorite novels of all time, this seems to be the trend politics and culture

"A woman, especially if she has the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can" - Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen.

In the article above, Dowd brings up the dichotomy of intelligence and beauty for women in her discussion of Marilyn Monroe and Sarah Palin. It saddens me that we cannot listen to Hillary Clinton, who is a smart, opinionated woman (regardless of whether you like her politics) without commenting on her 'cankles'. And really, what does it matter if Palin cannot define the job of the Vice President of the United States? Her hair looks great! In order to be perceived as feminine, women must be airheads. In a way, it seems we cannot win. This issue especially resonates with me, as my major is public policy, and I do not want to feel pressure to be a Sarah or a Hillary. The world can handle more complexity than that.

My mom sends me a lot of cards in the mail while I'm away at school, and one of them had a quote I really like:

"Refuse to choose between turning pages and turning heads" - "Sakura Park" by Rachel Wetzsteon

I think we should try to live that everyday.

ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

love like crazy

"Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse "I Love You." Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense. Never let your praying knees get lazy, and love like crazy." - Lee Brice


These are some more country music lyrics I love. Maybe he isn't implying everything I'm about to write, but these words inspired a lot of thought. I think all these exhortations center around a single message: To really put yourself out there and try in everything you do in a genuine way. If you have been sincere, then no matter what happens, you can feel good about it.


Sometimes it takes an incredible amount of bravery to do seemingly simple things like to really and openly try your best, to truly do everything that is involved in the incredible act of being a best friend to someone, and so simply say things the way they are, without worrying about how people will react. Being genuine is, ironically, one of the most difficult things to do sometimes


As for overusing "I Love You"...

A lot of people treat those words as something sacred, precious, to be locked away like fine china and only be taken out and used on special occasions, if ever. While I agree that exclamations like "omigosh I totes love that..." devalues the meaning of those three words, I've been thinking recently that "I Love You" shouldn't be treated as almost unsayable. I want it to be a part of my everyday. Something about the way it feels on my tongue, something about how the letters and syllables feel tactile. I would rather love too much than not enough. If someone cannot love you back, then it is truly their loss because at least you have loved and felt fully, whereas they have not had that experience. There is no shame in it. Say it to your parents, your friends, your boyfriend, anyone who means something to you - even if it doesn't last.


All of this above is why I sign my posts "ab imo pectore," or something like "from the bottom of my heart".



ab imo pectore,


Hannah

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Once you're real

I love this excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit, because I think it really illustrates what everyone wants from life and love - to be both loved and feel real because of (not despite) the imperfections in yourself, your past, and your life.


"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

"I suppose you are real," said the Rabbit.

The Skin Horse smiled. "The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago, but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always."


Ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Coffee

Hello, Autumn.

One of my favorite parts of fall is walking around while having my hands wrapped around a hot cup of coffee and feeling it warm me from the inside out. I love sitting all snug and warm in coffee shops doing my work as the people bustle by in the crisp autumn air.

On that note, I had my first ever instant coffee experience today- Starbucks VIA. I tried the mocha..SO. GOOD. I've heard a lot of bad things about instant coffee, but I really liked this.


Nearby Coffee Shops:

Starbucks, of course - love the coffee. love the breakfast sandwiches. However, it's a very generic place to socialize or do work

Fido - Where all the hipsters go. My friends and I like to don our hipster outfits, and try to fit in there :)

JJ's - A recent discovery. Their coffee drinks are named after philosophers like the Rousseau & Burke. The vibe is very intellectual - just being in this place makes me want to put on my glasses and take out my Nietzsche.



In which I become a Southerner

It's my sophomore year of college, and in these past two weeks, I've really started to embrace being in the South.

1. I went to All for the Hall on Tuesday and it was amazing! Saw Keith Urban AND John Mayer. swoon. Also saw Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride among others - it was amazing!!

2. I've been to the Grand Ole Opry twice in the past two weeks! Once at the newly restore Opryland and once at the Ryman - both venues were lovely. Got a kick out of the commercials- Cracker Barrel, Dollar General, and Bass Pro Shops oh my! I really am in the South. At the Opry, I saw Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and Trace Adkins perform!! Life is good :)

3. I got cowboy boots - one brown pair and one black pair, of course. Have already worn them with a dress - twice!
mine are second from the right!

My appreciation for country music has greatly increased in the past weeks - I can't get enough of the catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Grab some sweet tea and take a listen to this sample of the soundtrack to my new country life:

Trace Adkins - This Ain't No Love Song; Ladies Love Country Boys
Keith Urban - Kiss a Girl
Anything Taylor Swift has ever performed
Brad Paisley - She's Everything
Carrie Underwood - Undo It; All-American girl



ab imo pectore,

Hannah

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Elizabeth Warren


There has been a lot of controversy surrounding whether Elizabeth Warren is a good choice to head The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Here’s how I see it:

Pros: Her appointment will show Obama and his administration definitively prioritizing Main Street over Wall Street. Also, Ms. Warren is an academic, not a politician or Washington insider, which I think will give her a fresh perspective. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection was also Ms. Warren’s idea, which she originally proposed in 2007, before the vast majority of Americans new that anything was wrong.

Cons: It may be a struggle to get the Senate to confirm Ms. Warren as she is not perceived as a being politically neutral. Also, some do not believe she is qualified for the job based on lack of experience or inadequate academic credentials.

All in all, I think she is a great choice to help fix the system that desperately needs fixing. Lately, politics, for better or for worse, has been about the outsider, about the grassroots involvement and the choice of the people. When we thought the White House had failed us, we brought in a previously little-known Senator by the name of Barack Obama as previously apolitical people got involved with grassroots campaigning. Now that the banks have failed us, isn’t it time Obama appoints the people’s choice, namely, Ms. Warren?

ab imo pectore,

Hannah


“I Hopped Off the Plane at LAX with a Dream and My Cardigan…” - Miley Cyrus

I just love a good cardigan; they are a preppy staple and quite prominent in my wardrobe. They add instant polish and warmth - both of which are always a plus in my book. Here are some ways to wear them:

1. long cardigans over leggings for early morning classes
2. shorter cardigans over dresses instead of a bolero jacket
3. in place of a blazer for a corporate/dressy occasion
4. over an oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up

I especially love J. Crew cardigans. The Kate Spade 'kimi' cardigan is my most recent cardigan purchase – I’m now obsessed with it but have yet to wear it!


P.S. Cardigans are popular among women, but what do you think of guys wearing cardigans? Personally, I'm a fan.

ab imo pectore,

Hannah





Nail Polish

For the past year, I’ve been loving purple nail polish of all sorts. Particularly, I've been into lavender as a fresh summer alternative to pinks and corals. I think this color is a little chicer and more unexpected than standard pink. Here are two of my favorites:

OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender


American Apparel L’Esprit – although this color looked slightly bluer than I expected once I put it on.


Also, while I know many people love a french manicure, I am not a fan. To me, short, rounded nails with clear or colored polish is the classy way to go.

ab imo pectore,

Hannah