Great TED talk about introverts and what they have to offer the world. I thought I'd share this video with you all since I think many of us are on the introverted side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0KYU2j0TM4

I Want a Girl Who Reads

Ironic

My one and only younger brother is graduating high school this weekend, and apparently he decided to go out with a bang, by doing a cover of Bo Burnham's Ironic at the school talent show.  I know the song can be a little offensive, especially the original version, but it's all in fun, and I just had to share this!  

Why I love Wikipedia

Because it's always sharing knowledge in new ways, and it's not creepy like facebook.

commons.wikimedia.org

I'm just so excited to have a million free pictures to use...

Gaetan Lee at http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaetanlee/

I am legitimately upset by this ad campaign. 
http://www.1designperday.com/2010/02/23/durex-sexy-cmpaign/

The summation of how a woman feels when having sex is apparently horny, lustful, heavenly, and orgasmic.  And while giving a blowjob she is apparently pleased, satisfied, happy, and finds it tasty. 
All this while a man is simply feeling muscle tension, sensory overload, and intelligence...

It is bad enough that there are underwear, cologne, and car advertisements that show women as overly sexual creatures who undress at the drop of a hat, but to lower the female experience to this point really astounds me. 

I know this is a rather risque first post, but I know you are all women who care about women's rights and the development of gender equality so I wanted to share it with you.

Hi friends!

I already invited you all to this in the form of a facebook event, but I wanted to put it out there again to encourage you to donate! I know we're sort of starving recent graduates, but even inviting someone you know who you think might be interested and willing to donate would mean a lot. Basically, my organization here in South Africa works with rural farmers, teaching them how to farm organically, and then we buy their produce from them and sell it at retail prices. It's really hard work, but very rewarding. The project truly makes a big difference in the lives of the farmers who decide to be a part of it. Thank you in advance for your support; both prayer and finances are equally appreciated!

http://www.onepercentclub.com/projects/kumnandi

Chicken in Wine Sauce

This is a super easy recipe my mom used to make when I was a kid... It's perfect for a busy day, throw it in the crock pot in the morning and it's ready to eat when you get home from work!


Chicken -- I usually use breast meat and cube it into one inch pieces, but thigh meat is also tasty, so is chicken on the bone. I usually use one breast per person, which is enough with leftovers.
One can of condensed Cream of Mushroom soup 
One can of condensed Cream of Celery soup 
One cup of dry white wine (I usually use the cheap $3 bottles, and I usually use more than one cup)
Salt and Pepper to taste


Put it all and the crock pot, cook 8-10 hours on low or 4-6 on high.
Serve with rice or egg noodles.


Note: using reduced fat soup doesn't hurt the taste!

This is the Stuff by Francesca Battistelli

So, this is going on my personal blog as well, but I'm just in love with this song right now!

All day yesterday, I had the song "This is the Stuff" by Francesca Battistelli stuck in my head, so the second I got home, I had to listen to it.  It's such a perky, happy, Christian song, and I love it.  While it was playing, I was singing and dancing all over the house (probably not very well, I might add), and was about a minute away from being caught by Cornelius had I not stopped to play the song yet again!  I just can't help but be happy listening to it!

What song have you had on repeat lately?

Summer and Owen's Apartment

For the past year, Owen and I have been living in a dinky apartment that I love to complain about. The shower is too short, the oven is too small, the front left burner always goes out, the windows are too small, the heater makes scary noises, and worst of all... we have cinderblock walls that drip.


Yet, we have nested, and made it home... I've grown oddly attached to our little place.
Here are some of the highlights!!

This is the outside of our apartment complex. The railings are all extremely rusted, and the cement walkways creak, a lot, so that I'm afraid that they are going to fall out from underneath me!


Notice the swing pictured here. The only person I've seen on it is a middle-aged man, who rocks gently as it squeaks loud enough to hear in my own apartment. It's a sad decrepit playground.

To the right, you can see our tiny oven and kitchen cabinets. On our one month anniversary, Owen and I celebrated with a trip to the mall. We found a kitchen cabinet advertisement, which used our very cabinets as the "before" sample. 


Also, Lydia should recognize the red decoration above the oven... she gave it to Owen after her summer in China!

This is our washing machine!!!! The basket is one cubic foot, so basically we can wash a pair of jeans and two towels at a time.


You can also see that our wine habit continues on strong here in Iowa, where you can actually buy hard liquor in the grocery stores.

My little sister (who will officially be attending St. Olaf College in the fall!!!) sewed us our lovely quilt. Our bed was initially against the wall where the dresser is, but when that wall became moldy, I determined that I didn't want my bed near it anymore.... Oi, the things we deal with in this little place! We ended up having to purchase a dehumidifier, and we've basically run it to the ground.

Our new television and X-box... Also the table that we picked up from Goodwill for $4. 

And finally, the vocal point of our apartment-- the dinner table/desk. As we only have one table, it serves all purposes. We are constantly trading out dishes for schoolwork. 


For some reason though, the table has become my favorite part of the apartment. I feel that it gives our space a homey feel. Especially the place mats-- my grandma has place mats! We're so grown up.








That's the official tour!! But still, you should all come see it in person.