A Hasty Life

Magical Teaching Moment

2012-02-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

This is my first year teaching, I haven't had much time to have a magical teaching moment. I almost blew off this challenge thinking there is no way I could have a magical teaching moment already. Then I had one.

Before I tell the story of my magical teaching moment, I want to encourage all teachers to at least dream of what a magical teaching moment might look like, even if you don't think you've had one, or maybe you haven't started teaching yet. I'm not sure that I would have recognized my magical teaching moment as "magical" if I hadn't first dreamed of what such a moment would look like.

A bit of background information: At the beginning of my teaching career (and I mean the very beginning, I hadn't even been teaching for a month) I joined a faculty learning community (FLC) on the Indiana University- Bloomington campus. What in an FLC? According to the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning's website:

"Faculty Learning Communities (FLC) at Indiana University Bloomington are cohorts of faculty members, often from different disciplines or fields of study, who ask questions about teaching and learning, try out teaching innovations, assess student learning, create new models of practice, and publish scholarship about their work. Each FLC shares a question, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, as members deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis."

The FLC I joined focused on the use of Second Life in the classroom.The following excerpt is from our project's website:

Description: As students and instructors become increasingly comfortable (and confident) in the online environment, there is a growing interest in exploring new technologies and tools that appear to have the potential of making teaching and learning in the online space more engaging, while at the same time ensuring it remains pedagogically sound. The online virtual world Second Life continues to be considered one such tool in furthering the definition and scope of an online learning environment.
Outcome: The Exploring Teaching and Learning with Second Life FLC includes a specific focus on how online environments, specifically Second Life, can enhance teaching and learning across a wide variety of disciplines/areas of interest. This FLC is intended to encourage faculty to explore whether Second Life enhances or enables our ability to:
Promote student engagement in an immersive virtual learning environment
Develop new pedagogies that take advantage of the wide array of options available in the virtual environment (e.g., the ability to "fly", and/or to design replicas of real-world environments otherwise inaccessible in a traditional course format)
Utilize Second Life in conjunction with other Web 2.0 technologies

My magical teaching moment came when I introduced Second Life to my students. My dream is to always invoke curiosity in my students. If they become curious about a topic, they are more likely to seek more information on their own. I could never hope/dream of teaching them everything there is to a know about a subject, so I can only hope to make them curious enough to study the topic in more depth.

I experienced my first glimmer of curiosity in my students when I introduced them to Second Life. I recognized it when they couldn't fly their arms in the air fast enough to raise their hands to ask questions. The questions came at me faster than I could think to answer them. I'm sure I stood at the front of the room for a full minute, completely dumbfounded by the sudden enthusiasm. When I gained my composure, I answered a few immediate questions then encouraged them to answer the rest of their questions my exploring in-world.

When we addressed Second Life again, their enthusiasm changed slightly, but it was still very evident. I've never had students so excited about a topic that they came into the classroom already talking about the subject and left the classroom still talking about the subject. Their enthusiasm changed from curiosity to a sort of amazement. They couldn't believe this type of world existed and they were shocked to see the kinds of things that took place in this environment. It was the perfect addition to my Multichannel Marketing class. It allowed me to teach marketing without the students having any preconceived notions about the target market (none of my students had previous experience with Second Life and only one had even heard of it.)

We are still working our way through the semester, but it is my hope they attempt to see all marketing channels with the fresh eyes they use when working with Second Life. Imagine the possibilities for marketing and social media if I can assist students to disregard their inhibitions and preconceived notions!

My heart is racing at the thought.

Kids Valentine’s Day cards from Pear Tree Greetings

2012-02-06T07:00:00.045-05:00

As a Pearista, I am proud to be a brand ambassador for Pear Tree Greetings. Pear Tree has helped tens of thousands of customers celebrate life’s shareable moments with a collection of uniquely personal, high-quality greetings and stationery. Pear Tree offers Save the Date cards, kids Valentine cards, graduation invitations, address labels, and dozens of other high-quality paper products, so you can seize every opportunity to connect with others.

Where do I start?

2012-02-02T15:00:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading chapter 3 of What the Best College Teachers Do by Ken Bain. The chapter includes what the author refers to as “The Bakers Dozen” of questions that the best college teachers ask themselves as they prepare to teach. Yes, 13 questions from “What big questions will my course help students answer?” to “How will I create a natural critical learning environment in which I embed the skills and information I wish to teach?” At first glance, it seems that each teacher asks themselves a simple series of 13 questions. In actuality, each of the 13 questions has about ten sub-questions. Clearly, becoming one of the best college teachers is no easy fete.

I thought I’d start asking myself these big questions for the classes I’m scheduled to teach in the fall. Of course, I’m stuck on the first question. I’m not sold on the answers, so feel free to make suggestions. The first question should be the biggest question I hope my course will answer. The following questions are those that we would explore to address the larger issue.

Q1: “What big questions will my course help students answer?”

R319 – Professional Techniques in the Apparel Industry
• Why should a company hire you over your peers or the thousands of students across the country graduating with the same degree?
o What makes you so special?
o What is your added value?
o What do you provide the company that no one else can?
o What are you especially good at?

F415 – Good Behavior, Bad Behavior: Critiquing the Apparel Industry
• Where does the apparel industry draw the ethical line between good behavior and bad behavior?
o Is that line drawn in the right place?
o How does the industry engage in good behavior?
o How does the industry engage in bad behavior?
o How do we know what is good/bad behavior?
o Who gets to decide?
o Is bad behavior ever acceptable?
o Is it important to change that behavior?
o How do we change that behavior?

R490 – Multichannel Marketing
• Where does the marketing strategy end and the deception begin? Is ‘strategy’ a glorified term for ‘trickery’?
o What are the marketing strategies?
o How does marketing affect the consumer?
o Are you okay with these affects?
o When would you not be okay with these affects?
o How can you compete without the use of the same strategies/deception?
o What new strategies can you come up with that are not deceptive?

So I ask you, my more experienced colleagues, do you think I’m on the right track?
How does this book make you feel about your current teaching strategies? I did not ask myself any of the “Bakers Dozen” questions outlined in chapter 3. As a first year teacher, I am only moderately comforted by the fact that Dr. Bain asked very different questions during his first year teaching: “Where’s the classroom? What textbook will I use? What will I include in my lectures? How many tests will I give?” These are far more similar to the questions I’ve been asking myself this first year. I have hopes that my second year will be significantly better after confronting these 13 questions. It can only get better from here, right?

Right?

January 2012 in Photos

2012-02-01T08:46:00.000-05:00

Super Bowl Village

2012-01-31T07:00:00.012-05:00

Me Manifesto

2012-01-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Have you heard of the 30 Goals Challenge for teachers? Starting on January 16 and continuing through April, teachers are challenged to complete a series of 30 goals. The first goal was to write a "Me Manifesto." According to Wikipedia, a manifesto is "a public declaration of principles and intentions.” I could have written a book on my principles and intentions. I began writing my "Me Manifesto" about 100 times, but I was never satisfied. It was verbose, littered with cliches, and I constantly changed my mind.

I'm sure you've seen these ecards floating around the Internet. One thing I'm consistent on is my love for technology. So I wanted to write my manifesto on something that had meaning. I also love humor. I enjoy having a good time. In addition, I'm a professor in the Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design department. Fashion should be fun! It isn't brain surgery. There are no lives in our hands. So we can goof around, explore, innovate, fail, and try again.

So I wrote my "Me Manifesto" on these ecards that often depict humorous (and yes, sometimes vulgar) phrases. I condensed my chapter book of a manifesto into three short phrases:

Rise to the challenge - why are we so scared to be challenged? Why must things come easy to us? A read somewhere that students often feel smarter when something is easy. Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard? I intend to challenge my students. If I'm not challenging them, I'm not teaching them.

Use your imagination - look at how things are. Imagine how things could be. I believe things can always be better. Whether we are discussing fashion, life, or learning, the key is to exercise your creative muscles, and imagine a new way of being. Question everything.

Expect more - so you rose to the challenge? You imagined a new way of being? Go the extra mile, do something extra. Impress me. Expect more of yourself, expect more of others. Avoid complacency.

So there it is. My manifesto in a nutshell. I still have the urge to write an epic tale of my principles and intentions. But before I could finish writing I'm sure my mind would change. This is the core of my being. This is how I live my life. This is my manifesto.

What am I really after?

2012-01-27T07:00:00.007-05:00

At our first book club meeting, Maggie asked us to write down one thing we really want to get out of this book. (Reminder…we are reading “What the Best College Teachers Do” by Ken Bain.) She asked us to reflect back, as we continue reading the book, and ask ourselves, “Am I getting out of the book what I hoped to get out of it?” “Has what I wanted to get out of the book changed as I continue reading?” She encouraged us to blog about our thoughts. So that is exactly what I’m doing.

At the first meeting, many of my fellow IU faculty mentioned that they were born skeptics. One person when so far to say that most academics are skeptics, that skeptics are even drawn to academia. I am not, by nature, a skeptical person. As I typed that last sentence, I suddenly doubted myself and had to take a moment to Google “skeptical.” In case you’re curious, the definition of skeptical is as follows:

skep•ti•cal/ˈskeptikəl/
Adjective: 1. Not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.
2. Relating to the theory that certain knowledge is impossible.

Nope, I’m not a skeptical person. I am easily convinced. I’ve only read the first two chapters of “What the Best College Teachers Do” and I’m totally convinced that the six conclusions that Dr. Bain outlined will work to improve teaching. At least for some people. I’m willing to give it a shot. Even it doesn’t work for me, I will still believe that it worked for someone. Perhaps my lack of skepticism comes from my age. I have no doubt that I’m the youngest member of this book club. I don’t have the years of experience that sometimes leads my fellow professors to dismiss ideas and suggestions for improving teaching. Some might call this naivety. I prefer to call it my advantage.

But back to Maggie’s question: What do I hope to get out of this book? I hope to learn the strategies of the best college teachers, practice those strategies, and eventually develop habits that will improve my teaching. Sure, I dream of someday being recognized or referred to as one of the best college teachers, but mostly I just want to be the best college teacher I can be. This is my first year teaching, so there really isn’t a better time to start.

And lucky me! Chapter one outlines six strategies/characteristics of the best college teachers. They are:
1. Know your subject extremely well
2. Treat all elements of teaching, including lectures, discussion sections, problem-based sessions, as serious, as demanding and as important as your research and scholarship
3. Expect “more” from your students
4. Create an environment where students are inspired to “grapple with ideas”
5. Reflect a strong trust in students
6. Develop a system to assess your own teaching efforts and to make appropriate changes

Suddenly I don’t feel so “lucky.” As a first-year teacher (and a teacher who hasn’t been taught to teach, mind you) I’m overwhelmed.

Winter Break Reading List

2012-01-26T07:00:00.039-05:00

Over the winter break I began reading for fun again. I always find time in the summer to read but somehow during the school year I rarely make time for reading for pleasure. In an earlier post I mentioned that I found it difficult to get my mind off of work, even when I was at home. I discovered that reading for fun was an easy way to get my mind more in the moment. I take an hour or so to read a good book and suddenly I'm more relaxed, not stressing about what needs to be done for work, and I can focus on my family. Here is a visual list of the books I've been reading.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck was given to me as a Christmas gift. I've only read about half of it, but I really love it so far. It is unlike any other book I read over the break. It is very descriptive, takes my full attention, and is truly beautifully written. I can't wait to finish this book, but it definitely isn't a book that can be rushed through.

I recently joined a book club as part of the PEO chapter I joined in Bloomington. Our first book of 2012 was The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I never would have read this book on my own, so I'm already glad I joined this book club. It was an amazing (true!) story about a woman whose cells continued living long after she passed away and made significant contributions to science.

I rarely pick up books that a part of a series because I have a difficult time committing to a set of characters for an extended time period. But I had heard so many good things about The Hunger Games that I could no longer avoid reading it. In addition, I always prefer to read the books before I see the movies and the movie is set to come out this spring. I had no regrets reading this book, it was fantastic. And I was not ready to end my "relationship" with the characters, so I'm glad there are still two more books!

Finally, I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Again, I was pushed to read this book because the movie was set to come out over Christmas. Although I wasn't quite as enamored with this book (it was slow in the beginning) I'm glad I read the book before seeing the movie. I'm not as eager to read the second two books in this series, but I probably will eventually. I can't believe I started two trilogies in one month! That is so unlike me!

I'm always on the look out for new books to read! What books would you recommend? What books are on your list to read?

IU Plaid Contest

2012-01-25T07:00:00.014-05:00

I'm excited to announce the next phase of the IU Plaid Contest! Last semester, SIFE-IUB (Students in Free Enterprise at Indiana University - Bloomington) invited students currently enrolled as undergraduates to enter designs into the Official IU Plaid Contest. We received over 25 designs! For more information about the contest, click here. The SIFE student group narrowed down the selection to the top 6. Those top 6 designs were sent to a select group of judges consisting of:

3 alums of the Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design department at Indiana University, Bloomington:
- Michael Ping, Project Manager, Kohl’s Department Stores
- Amy Levin, Founder/Creative Director, College Fashionista
- Jessica Quirk, Personal Style Blogger, What I Wore

2 representatives of the College of Arts and Sciences:

- Kirstine Lindemann, Senior Assistant Dean and Director, College of Arts and Sciences

- Jean Robinson, Executive Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

1 representative of the Bloomington, IN community:
- Judith Rose, Textillery Weavers

These fantastic judges chose the top 4 designs which are now available for online voting. Anyone associated with Indiana University (including alums, current students, parents, faculty, staff, etc.) or even anyone who just likes plaid is invited to vote for their favorite design. Help us choose the Official IU Plaid that will be licensed and trademarked through Indiana University. Visit the Official IU Plaid Website.

Which design is your favorite?

Bloomington Ice Storm

2012-01-24T07:00:00.023-05:00

Over the weekend we had a mini ice storm blow through Bloomington. It has slowly been warming up but I noticed the grass and a few branches are still covered with a thin layer of ice. I just love how beautiful the grass looks individually coated in ice. Huxley, however, does not see the beauty. He rotates holding up his poor paws off the ice-covered grass. He looks up at me with those big, sad, puppy eyes begging me to get him off this awful grass. Well, Huxley is in luck, it is supposed to warm up to 50 degrees today, so that grass should be free of ice by tomorrow. And lucky for me, Eric took these amazing photos of the grass and branches before all of the ice melted away.

This girl got a new hair dryer!

2012-01-23T07:00:00.011-05:00

Not long ago the good people at Misikko sent me a new Hana Professional hair dryer to review. Prior to this I have used relatively inexpensive dryers available at bargain retailers because – let’s face it – hair dryers can’t be all that different. So what sets a professional dryer apart from an inexpensive dryer? I’ll attempt to answer that question below, and also provide a few other tidbits of information.

First things first – I need to show you what comes in the box. This product is clearly set up to be gifted. It comes with a variety of neat accessories, and even a plush toy. Check out the pictures below.

The dryer is aesthetically impressive. It is more compact that many bargain store dryers, and the weight of the dryer is distributed evenly resulting in a balanced feel. Not including cord weight, my old dryer weighs in at 1lb 2.7oz, while the Hana weighs 1lb 4.5oz. Trust me, 1.8 additional ounces is difficult to notice. The Hana seems to be comprised of superior components. The twelve foot (yes, twelve foot) cord is both flexible and tough, the scratch-resistant plastic casing is sturdy, and the switches feel durable and of high quality. Additionally, the mesh guard for the fan intake is removable for cleaning! What a great feature!

On to performance. There are a few metrics that come to mind: airflow, heat output, power consumption. In a thorough review, these and other metrics would be compared for a variety of brand new dryers. Unfortunately, my lab/apartment isn’t equipped for such an extensive project. I’ll do my best, though.

There is a tremendous airflow difference between my old dryer and the Hana, although I don’t have access to an airflow meter to back it up with numbers. The Hana’s low speed setting clearly moves more air than my Conair’s high speed setting. That extra weight mentioned above is certainly a result of the powerful fan. The dryer draws 1700 watts, but this number is really useless without a comparison. CHI makes two professional dryers in a similar price range, and they come in at 1300 and 1500 watts.

In order to measure heat output, I placed a standard analog kitchen thermometer across the dryer’s nozzle and allowed it to run for two minutes before taking a temperature measurement. The Hana reached 152 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Conair reached 143 degrees. Also important is how quickly the device can heat up/cool down. I measured this by depressing the “cool” switch on each dryer, holding my hand over the cool air, and releasing the “cool” switch. I timed how long it took for the air to become intolerably hot. For the Conair, it took between seven and eight seconds. The Hana took between four and five seconds.

So, how does all this tie together? To gauge overall performance, I’m offering a rudimentary but comprehensive measure – average dry time. Assuming I begin drying my hair with about the same amount of wetness and using the same drying technique, the amount of time needed to dry my hair on the same settings for each dryer should indicate whether one dryer is – generally – more effective than another. So I averaged three dry times for the Hana Professional and my Conair. The average dry time for the Conair was 3:49, while the average dry time for the Hana was 2:36 - approximately a 32% reduction in dry time. Not too shabby. My suspicion is that this time savings would translate proportionally to different hair styles and drying methods.

One last performance note. Like almost any dryer of merit, the Hana Professional features an “Ion” system for reducing static electricity, and therefore reducing hair frizz. My Conair has a similar feature, so I won’t be able to compare performance very well. I didn’t notice a marked reduction in frizz.

If you are going to spend $194 on a hair dryer, it should out-perform entry level alternatives by a significant margin. In nearly every way, this dryer outperforms the rather ubiquitous bargain store model I had previously used. Additionally, it comes packaged as a fantastic gift. I highly recommend it to anyone ready to step up to the plate on price. Misikko makes a variety of other hair products including T3 hair dryers, hair straighteners, and other accessories.

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 30

2012-01-22T07:00:00.008-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

30. a picture I’m satisfied with ~ what an odd prompt. I'm satisfied with most pictures I take. Isn't that the beauty of digital cameras? You keep snapping until you're satisfied. But I stumbled across this little birdhouse hanging from a tree near our apartment. I thought it was perfect. It has now been hanging there for months. It makes me smile every time I see it.

Why did I join this book club?

2012-01-20T11:47:00.001-05:00

I joined a book club through the Center Innovative Teaching and Learning at Indiana University to join with fellow IU faculty to explore a book by Ken Bain, "What the Best College Teachers Do." Why did I join this book club? I guess the answer begins with my childhood. When I was very young, both of my parents were teachers. My Dad worked at a Jr. high school and my Mom worked at an elementary school. By the time I was in high school, both of my parents were public school principals. My dad had a reputation for being a big advocate of professional development. My mom had a reputation for using innovative strategies to transform small-town elementary schools. Dinner conversations centered around teaching strategies, how students learns, and educational politics. I swore I would never be a teacher.

Fast forward to today, I work for Indiana University teaching students about apparel merchandising. The only thing I know about teaching is what I couldn't help but overhear at the dinner table the past 20-something years. My parents, probably by accident, instilled in me an intense appreciation for the art of teaching. I know enough about teaching to know that I don't know enough about teaching. I do know it is incredibly difficult to do well. People spend four years studying how to teach others, why do colleges seem to think that anyone with expertise in an area can teach? It baffles me. Yet, here I am with knowledge about apparel merchandising trying to teach. I feel a sense responsibility to share my passion for the subject with my students. To make them curious enough about the material to go learn more on their own. To make them question what they think they know. To make them think...really think. I have the desire, but I don't have all the tools I need to be successful.

So why did I join this book club? Because I'm looking for the tools I need to be one of the best college teachers. I want my students to look back on the classes they had with me and think, "Dr. Hasty challenged me. She pushed me further than any other professor, and as a result, I accomplished more than I ever thought I could. She opened my mind to new ways of thinking, she encouraged me to question everything, she inspired me to continue learning outside the classroom. Most importantly, I still use the tools she gave me in my life today."

What I Wore ~ Book Worm

2012-01-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

Button down shirt: J. Crew

Cardigan: J. Crew

Skirt: J. Crew

Tights: Gap

Shoes: J. Crew

Purse: Coach

Book: East of Eden

The Tamale Place

2012-01-16T07:00:00.037-05:00

Over the Winter Break, Eric and I found ourselves vegging out in front of the television more times than we care to admit. We really got hooked on the Food Network (which is great for me because Eric wants to do fun cooking things, now!) Eric caught an episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri featuring a restaurant in Indianapolis. Ever since moving to Indiana, it seems that the Food Network is always featuring restaurants in Indianapolis. Maybe we're just paying more attention. I, for one, love being so close to a delicious restaurant mecca.

We've been home for less than a week and we already made the drive up to Indy to check out The Tamale Place. When we walked in, we were greeted by a friendly server who was training a new employee. We lucked out that we got to hear her explanation for how this restaurant worked so we didn't seem so clueless. There is a whiteboard next to where they take your order that tells you what kind of tamales they have in stock (pay no attention to the large menu above your head.) They take your order by writing your tamales directly on the plate, along with your name.

The restaurant may not look like much (hence the reason it is on Guy's show) but the food is amazing. Eric and I really got turned on to tamales through Feast in Bloomington, IN. But we were not disappointed with these tamales in the least. They were large, tasty, and had fabulous ingredient combinations. We would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Indy. It is a bit off the beaten path (not much nearby worth seeing) but worth a short trip out of your way.

As you can tell, we highly enjoyed our meal. We ordered three tamales and one sweet tamale. We couldn't finish our order, so order less than you think you can eat! For my Indiana friends, or anyone who may be in Indiana soon, check out this list of other Indiana restaurants featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Bon appetite!

What I Wore ~ IU Style

2012-01-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

{In Celebration of IU Basketball}

Shirt: J. Crew

Sweater: J. Crew

Jeans: The Limited

Shoes: Sperry Topsider

Contemporary Art and Me

2012-01-10T07:00:00.166-05:00

Ashley: On Saturday Eric and I went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art to celebrate the last weekend before the Spring 2012 semester classes began. Eric is always wanting to go to the museum and we rarely have time, so when we had an open Saturday with little to do, I suggested that we go. Eric chose to visit the ancient mediterranean art exhibit. We had a great time, and I had fun remembering what I learned from Dr. Wilson's class when I was a TA at the University of Missouri. But the exhibit was small and we hadn't gotten our fill of art just yet, so we wandered into the contemporary art section. We. Loved. It.

Eric: Who knew mylar arranged in a fashion best described as 'globular' could be so interesting? This piece is intended to demonstrate how an industrial product like mylar can be made to display something fluid or organic. I hope my butchery of this piece's explanation isn't too severe, but I think it gets the point across. It was every bit as interesting up close as it was from a distance.

Ashley: Eric and I were having an intense conversation about whether illicit drugs should be legal. I was also navigating via iPhone, yet the museum still snuck up on me. There is something about museums that are so regal, whether they were built 100 years ago or 100 days ago. The feeling of excitement begins as we drive up to the museum. The lawn is scattered with sculpture and graphic design. You can just feel the priceless works of art, even from the parking lot.

Eric: Our intense and unresolved discussion about illicit drugs was quickly shelved in favor of less contentious discussion about exhibits. The ancient Mediterranean exhibit contained some incredibly old things. Viewing artifacts that are thousands of years old is always amazing, and we always have fun talking about them. I quite enjoy contemporary art, but a splattered canvas from 1972 just doesn't compare to an Egyptian sarcophagus from 3500 years ago. Egyptian sarcophagi and other ancient pieces aside, one of my favorite contemporary pieces was this steel representation of Robert Indiana's iconic "Love" image. It can be seen everywhere, from postage stamps to album covers. Here it is steel, marking the entrance to the museum.

Ashley: I can't believe this was one of Eric's favorite pieces! We didn't visit this piece until after we had finished the inside of the museum. I had been secretly planning a way to see this piece and I finally got my opportunity when we took a break to get a drink and relax a bit at the museum's cafe. We had a perfect view of it from the window in the cafe. I thought Eric would certainly think I was silly for wanting to walk all the way across the lawn to see it. I had a great time, though. It was worth going a little out of our way before ending our visit to the museum. There are many more statues that we didn't get to this time around, so I'm already looking for a date to visit the museum again.

Eric: I'd like you to observe my observation of the piece of yarn in front of me. This was a particularly neat piece. The artist uses yarn to define areas within a space. I probably didn't get the full effect by staring at the yarn up close, but be assured I viewed it from a variety of angles not pictured. Ashley took this brilliant photo of the orange strand running through the middle of the room, and I think that photo provides a great representation of what this exhibit was about. Its really different, and quite enjoyable.

Ashley: This might be my favorite photo, but it was certainly not my favorite exhibit. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate all art, but this art didn't interest me as much as some of the other exhibits. Many people don't like contemporary art, particularly the kind of art that doesn't "scream" art. I'd put this yarn display in that category. How does this yarn display qualify as art as compared to another yarn display? I think back to the movie Mona Lisa Smile, a student in that movie states that (and I'm paraphrasing) that art is art if someone says it is. I love that quote.

Eric: The ambiguities of art aside, we can all agree the enormous wall pictured below is impressive. Not sure what else to say about it - its substantial, visually appealing, and the outcropping facilitates a fun visual experience. It makes a grand entrance to the main area of the museum.

Ashley: The piece above is one of my favorites. I like colorful pieces and I like big pieces. When my colleague and friend, Mary, and I went to a thesis art exhibit, she said that she thought anything could be considered art if it was large enough or repeated enough times. I think she has a good point. These geographic shapes are both repeated and on a large scale. Thus, it is a beautiful work of art.

Eric: These chairs are nifty, but my first thought when viewing them is that they all appear remarkably uncomfortable. I'm sure these works are significant for a variety of reasons, but could you ever see yourself spending time seated in one of these? I view functionality as the most important consideration when selecting things like chairs. Unfortunately, I think my strongly engrained pragmatism prevents me from fully appreciating items like these chairs. My first thought is always something like "that looks almost unusable!"

Ashley: This was a work commissioned by the Indianapolis art museum. It was a piece that invited you to interact with it. We were allowed to walk on it. I think interacting with art makes it really come alive and people are able to appreciate it more when they can become part of the work. The piece above was constructed by placing glass tiles over countless number of plastic figurines who appear to be holding you up. The piece below was also interactive. It was a work of art projected by a overhead projector. We were invited to become part of the work by stepping in front of the projection and allowing our shadows to interact with the characters in the work.

Ashley: I hope you enjoyed our tour of the contemporary art section of the Indianapolis Art Museum. Rather than writing a new year resolution, Eric and I wrote a 2012 Bucket List. One of the items on our bucket list was to visit the Indianapolis Art Museum in its entirety. The Contemporary section was the 4th floor, so I suppose we will work our way down. Stay tuned this year for more posts about art (among many other things.)

Ringing in the 2012

2012-01-09T07:00:00.031-05:00

Eric and I haven't gone to a New Year's Eve party in a long time. We tend to like to stay at home and have a quiet evening in. But when we received an invitation to join my Dad's band, 2 Car Pile-Up, at a New Year's Eve celebration at the Summit Lake Winery, we couldn't refuse.

Summit Lake Winery is one of my favorite places to hang out in Jefferson City, MO. They have a fabulous location on top of a bluff overlooking a beautiful forest of trees and a small vineyard. During the day they have outdoor seating and on nice evenings they have live music playing for the outdoor guests. For the New Year Celebration, they sold tickets to a private event on the top floor.

I wore a top and a from The Limited (quickly becoming my favorite store at the Bloomington, IN mall). They are always running fantastic sales and I can often transition items of clothing from party to work to a casual weekend outfit.

I helped my Dad pick out his outfit. He wore this red top, a gray tie, black pants and shoes, and red and black argyle socks. The socks were fantastic because as my Dad beats on the drums he tends to tap his foot and when he was really getting into it his bright argyle socks were bouncing up and down. Perfection.

Eric being goofy. What is it about New Year's hats that get people to act silly?

Look at those argyle socks peeking out! Love em!

The party was hopping. I love the huge age range of people that came. People as young as 21 to as old as in their 70s. Everyone was out on the dance floor and having a good time. It was a fabulous way to ring in the New Year!

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 29

2012-01-08T07:00:00.006-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

29. a picture of an accomplishment ~ surviving my first severe Crohn's flare, and coming out stronger

Christmas Review

2012-01-06T17:35:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve Morning
We woke up early and packed up the car in order to drive to Marceline. We stopped for breakfast at BK Bakery (my aboslutely favorite bakery of all time) and then proceeded up to Moberly to do a small bit of shopping at Randolph Mercantile. I hadn't had a change to visit Randolph Mercantile since I moved to Indiana. It was a nice little treat before visiting my mom's family. We got to Marceline around 10. We opened gifts and then ate lunch. Mom and Dad brought Taco Soup and Grandma Oliver made Vegetable Soup with Beef. We had cookies and candies and of course, eggnog! My Grandma never adds alcohol to her eggnog, but it still seems to be the best eggnog I've ever tasted. Afterwards we went into downtown Marceline to shop at the new shop Curiosity and to Debbie's shop Simply Made. Found adorable things in both shops!

Christmas Eve

Eric and I had to leave Marceline early to drive back to Jefferson City to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday. We all agree that it is a big bummer to have a birthday near Christmas so we try to do something special so he doesn't feel neglected. My father-in-law opened his birthday gifts and then we ate a big meal prepared by my mother-in-law. We got my father-in-law a nice polo shirt to wear to church (he doesn't often dress up for working at the post office or staying home.) He didn't want the traditional clown cones that my mother-in-law gets for everyone's birthday, he requested a simple vanilla cake with chocolate ice cream. It was delicious.

Later we returned to my parent's house and the Santa Sack was opened to reveal our Christmas PJs from Target, Zingo (a toddler's version of Bingo), and Christmas Karaoke. We had pan seared scallops, baked goat cheese and red sauce with crostinis, homemade meatballs, bratwurst wrapped in croissants and various cookies and candies. We watched The Sound of Music (the ending) and played our game and then went to bed! Usually my parents try to keep me up as late as possible on Christmas Eve so that I won't wake up at an un-godly early hour.

Christmas Morning

I was the first up, as usual! I had to wait until my mom woke up, but I'm happy to say that my dad was up and taking care of the dogs by the time I made it downstairs. Santa had come and so we sat down to open stockings. After the stockings we open presents and then had breakfast. My favorite gift this year was the fair-trade merchandise my Dad picked out for me. I was really impressed that he picked out a beautiful fair-trade scarf and bracelet all by himself. This year Mom made a breakfast ring, a cranberry cocktail and gingerbread cake pops that looked like reindeer! We all admired our gifts and then Eric and I left for Christmas at the Hasty's house.

Usually we arrive at the Hasty's house and everyone is still in bed. We usually sit with my mother-in-law in the living room until Eric's siblings roll out of bed, often around 1pm. Since Christmas was on Sunday this year, everyone was already up and had attended church that morning so when Eric and I arrived everyone was ready to open gifts. My favorite gift from the Hasty's was a gift card to Starbucks, I mean, how can anyone beat a gift like that? :)

Christmas Night

The Hasty family came over for a visit and for dinner. Dad made a pork loin roast marinated in Dr. Pepper and herb encrusted. He also roasted Brussels sprouts and made his wonderful Gratin Dauphinaise potatoes. Dad had been talking about these potatoes for months. I guess he learned how to make them at a cooking class in Columbia, MO and I have been dying to try them. It was such a great meal. Mom's dessert was Oreo stuffed brownies. Yummy. Renee gave Mom a candle and Mom gave Renee a wreath from Debbie's shop. We had a great visit with Renee, Bob and Evan.

A few days later...
The Christmas marathon didn't end on Christmas day. A few days later Eric and I traveled to Camdenton to visit Eric's extended family on his Dad's side. I always enjoy this trip because Greg, Eric's uncle, is an ah-maze-ing cook. He made homemade pizza and, as usual, it was perfect. He created about ten different pizzas with a variety of interesting toppings. I was in heaven. If I can squeeze the recipe out of Greg, I'll be sure to share it here. I do remember him telling me that he grilled the pizzas using a green egg. Does that mean anything to all you cooks out there?

I also really enjoy catching up with "out-laws" which I fondly call anyone who married into this crazy family. They include Lyn (Greg's wife), Renee (my mother-in-law), Jessica and Stephanie (the wives of Eric's cousins.) We always have a fun time spotting Hasty "traits" or characteristics consistent across all the Hasty's, especially our husbands. Somehow, every year, we end up separated with blood Hasty's on one side of the room (usually talking economics, politics, and careers) and the married-in Hasty's on the other side of the room (usually talking food, travel, hobbies, kids, and careers.)

I'm Back!

2012-01-04T14:55:00.000-05:00

I took a bit of an unexpected break from blogging and twitter over the holiday season. I had every intention of keeping up with my blog as I visited family and friends over the past two weeks. Instead, I read. A lot. I'm currently reading East of Eden, a book I've often thought about picking up and was too intimidated. I finally received it as a gift this Christmas from a colleague and I no longer had any excuses. It is not a book you can fly through, there are a ton of very descriptive paragraphs and you really have to think about the characters and how they are connected. So it has taken quite a bit of my time. Recently, I've found the only way to get my mind off of work is to read. I made a conscious decision when I started this job that work would stay at work. All of my files are kept on my work computer and I don't bring home grading. But one thing I didn't expect was that my mind would stay at work when I got home. I discovered that reading would take my mind off of work so that I was fully present while at home. I also discovered that I really really love reading for pleasure. Graduate school didn't leave much time for reading for fun. I've forgotten how fun reading can be.

I also spent a lot of time talking to my parents, visiting a few of my favorite places in my hometown, and visiting with friends. Last year at this time many of my friends were living in Columbia. We ate lunch together almost weekly. Now we are scattered across the country. One moved back home to Virginia, another moved to Alabama with her husband, another moved to New York City, one is in St. Louis finishing law school. Reconnecting with all of them was one of the highlights of my trip back home. I love hearing about all the new places they are living and hearing about what is new about our hometown or what is the same. I've been friends with most of these girls since middle school, can you imagine? We are still great friends and when we get together it is like no time has passed at all.

I made a point to visit many of my favorite restaurants including BK Bakery, Arris' Bistro, Bleu, and Gumby's Pizza. I also discovered a new favorite restaurant, Hot Millions. Attention all mid-Missouri friends, you must try Hot Millions Bistro in Jefferson City! It is one of the best Indian food restaurants I've been to. I would love to see it be successful! Delish. Eric and I filled up on BK Bakery's croissants, scones, gingerbread cookies, and eclairs. We can't get enough of that place!

My mom treated me to TWO massages, that's right, two. The first one left me exremely sore. The second one left me extremely relaxed. I used to get monthy massages when I lived in Columbia, it was my little treat to myself. I suspended the membership when I moved to Indiana, but I may need to start it up again. It is amazing what a good massage can do for the body. I'm hooked. I also got my hair cut by my favorite stylist. I just haven't found a good replacement for her in Bloomington. I've only had one hair cut, and it wasn't bad by any means, but finding the perfect hair stylist is a tough job. I'm not ready to give mine up just yet. I'm sure you girls out there can relate!

Anyway, that was my holiday break. I'll be posting about our Christmas and New Year celebrations in the coming days. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm still around. :)

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

With Every Christmas Card I Write...and Receive

2011-12-20T07:00:00.032-05:00

It is still a week before Christmas and my card collection is already filling my fridge.

I've received cards from Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, and Indiana.

...from friends who've had a difficult year...

...from cousins who've had the best year of their lives...

...from colleagues of all religions...

...from grad school friends who've gone our separate ways...

...from Grandma...

...and more cousins...

...from my parents...

...from former professors...

...and from new friends.

It has been quite a year for us, our friends, and our family.

Wishing all of our friends, old and new, a very merry Christmas!

I'll Be Home for Christmas

2011-12-19T14:47:00.000-05:00

In less than 24 hours, I'll be on my way home to see these two cuties.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 28

2011-12-18T07:00:00.003-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

28. a picture from my favorite vacation ~ no better vacation than a honeymoon. :)

Friday Fashion Flashback ~ Baby's Christmas

2011-12-16T07:00:00.019-05:00

Look at how I'm smiling up at my Daddy. I look pretty fond of him. He looks pretty fond of me, too. I think it was love at first sight for both of us. This is my first Christmas. Just a wee little thing! I'm wearing a white onesie, knee-high white socks, and cute little w hite shoes. Those socks are something else, huh? I've never seen infants wear socks like that. There must be a story.

But better than my outfit, is my Dad's. He's wearing a traditional white button-down shirt, black slacks, and a skinny blue tie. I distinctly remember shopping with my Dad less than a month ago and he was commenting on how skinny the ties were these days. Uh, hello Dad, they aren't THAT skinny! My Dad has always been a fashionable dresser. I think I get my love for fashion, in part, from him. I definitely get my shopping style from him: buy quality, buy less often. We tend to buy quality clothing and rarely get rid of things. I purchased a camel hair coat when I was a Freshman in highschool. I still wear it. It is classic.

Textillery Tour

2011-12-15T07:40:00.000-05:00

The process of creating one of these beautiful textiles begins with design

Judith's design room, where a lot of the magic happens

Once the design is made, yarn is chosen

This room is filled with yarn shipments for various orders to be filled. Many orders come from hotels and retailers.

Once the yarn is chosen, it is prepared for weaving

The yarn may be woven by automated looms

This loom is weaving the yarn on its own, occasionally someone checks to make sure it is doing okay.

Or the yarn may be woven by hand, as this woman is doing

Once woven, they are packaged for shipping

Or they are sold at the warehouse

I wonder who is going to get a lovely textile for Christmas? Could it be you?! :)

For more information about the Textillery, visit their website, here.

It's Christmas Time in the City

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

City sidewalk, busy sidewalks

dressed in holiday style.

Christmas on Campus

2011-12-13T07:00:00.032-05:00

Hoagy Carmichael Statue

Admissions Building

Lilly Library

All light posts on campus

My two helpers

Outside Memorial Hall

Outside IU Theater

A sorority or fraternity (I can't remember)

Hoagy Carmichael Statue

IU Auditorium

School of Fine Arts

Memorial Union - Tree Suites

Memorial Union

Deck The Halls With Boughs of Holly

2011-12-12T09:37:00.001-05:00

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 27

2011-12-11T07:00:00.005-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

27. a picture from the best days of your life ~ I generally find the present to be the best days. Life just keeps getting better!

A Teacher's Dream

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

{I get to teach in this classroom next semester!}

Large overhead projector and comfy chairs!

Portable whiteboards and high-top tables

An interactive whiteboard and main computer system

Lounge area for group work

Collaborative stations with computers and laptop hook-ups

Awesome chairs!

Computer station

{Yep, that's all in my classroom!}

The Nutcracker

2011-12-07T07:00:00.010-05:00

SIFE Fair Trade Holiday Sale

2011-12-06T07:00:00.024-05:00

Once a year the Indiana University SIFE team hosts a Holiday Fair Trade Sale in the Frangipani Room at Indiana Memorial Union. Led by my colleague and the co-advisor of SIFE, Mary Embry, SIFE helps raise awareness about Fair Trade products and artisans and raises money for the artisans and the local Fair Trade store, Global Gifts. I'm excited to say we increased our sales by 11% this year over last year! Enjoy the photos from our two-day sale and if you are in the central Indiana area, come visit us next year or shop at Global Gifts when you're in the area.

A Modern Girl's Guide to Getting a Christmas Tree

2011-12-05T07:00:00.026-05:00

1. Order tree from DeliverMyChristmasTree.com

2. Have it delivered to your front door

3. Carry box to where the tree is to be located

4. Set up tree stand

5. Open box

6. Allow all family members to help

7. Admire tree at first glance

8. Saw off end of tree trunk

9. Set up tree and add lights

10. Stop to admire tree again

11. Decorate and enjoy until Christmas

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 26

2011-12-04T07:00:00.004-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

26. a picture of my parents at my age ~ I have no idea where or why this picture was taken. But I find it adorable.

It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-12-02T07:00:00.003-05:00

{Kansas City and the Plaza Lights}

We Are Family ~ Steffes and Fessler Thanksgiving

2011-12-01T07:00:00.013-05:00

Pigging out on some pumpkin seed brittle

I met baby Isaac for the first time!

We all loved up on Isaac. He is quite the snuggler.

The ladies of the Steffes clan exchanged cookies.

And boy did we have some good cookies!

The Steffes' and the Fessler's make quite a large gathering!

Adam had me cracking up all afternoon!

A Thanksgiving Feast Worth Remembering

2011-11-30T07:00:00.021-05:00

The Crown Roast

Served by Chef Dad

Piping hot and oh-so-delicious

Pumpkin Gnocchi with pumpkin pesto

Butternut Squash sauteed in olive oil, baked, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Pumpkin Trifle: Gingerbread Cake, Pumpkin Pudding, Cinnamon Whip Cream, and Pumpkin Seed Brittle

The Chef and his wife (my mama and daddy)

The lucky two who got to enjoy the meal.

Huxley's First SNOW

2011-11-29T13:46:00.000-05:00

About an hour ago it began snowing. Big, wet, snowflakes. Eric and I experienced our first Indiana snow and Huxley experienced his first snow EVER! It was truly a bonding moment for our little family. We are lucky to have each other, we are lucky to have a happy life, we are lucky to be in Indiana, and we are lucky that our first snow was such a beautiful one!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

A Fall Wedding Reception

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Decorations perfect for Fall

Tables labeled with songs the Bride and Groom chose

Doesn't this reception just exude Fall? Beautiful.

Flowers decorating the dance floor

And boy was there ever dancing!

The bride's family were expert dancers

I tried to keep up (dollar dance with the Groom)

The extremely happy couple, isn't she gorgeous?!

The old married couple :) Love ya, sweetheart!

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 25

2011-11-27T07:00:00.005-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

25. latest picture of myself ~ taken last Sunday with my iPhone. Love my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:00:00.046-05:00

{Happy Thanksgiving!}

Pear Tree Greetings sent me the cutest Thanksgiving cards to give to whomever I chose! I gave one to my husband, Eric. I don't think husbands are thanked enough for all that they do for their wives. Eric is so good to me every day and he deserves a GREAT BIG thank you for being such a wonderful husband. Eric, I am most certainly thankful for YOU on this Thanksgiving day. I also wrote one of the cards to my parents. They have been my biggest cheerleaders as I embarked on this journey to follow my dream to be a college professor. I could not have survived this move to a new state without their love and support. I am so thankful for the two of YOU, I am so lucky to have the best parents in the world. Finally, I wrote my last card to my in-laws. Thank YOU guys for raising the most amazing son. Without you, I wouldn't be married to the man of my dreams. I owe you two big time. :) If I had a thousand more cards I still wouldn't be able to thank all the people who've made my life so fulfilled. To all of you out there who've touched my life and my heart in any small way, I thank YOU!

This Thanksgiving, I'm Thankful For...YOU!

Along with these sweet cards from Pear Tree Greetings, I'm giving my family jars of homemade candied pecans. What is it about pecans that makes us all think of a warm family dinner by the fireplace? I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe for homemade candied pecans. I wish I could give you all a jar of our pecans, but this recipe will have to do! :)

{Homemade Candied Pecan Recipe}

{Ingredients}

3.5 - 4 cups chopped pecans

1 tablespoon flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg white

{Directions}

1. Whisk egg white until frothy

2. Combine brown sugar and flour

3. Combine brown sugar and flour with egg white and vanilla

4. Fold in pecans

5. Bake at 250 degrees on a greased cookie sheet for 45 minutes

{Enjoy!}

As a Pearista, I am proud to be a brand ambassador for Pear Tree Greetings. Pear Tree has helped tens of thousands of customers celebrate life’s shareable moments with a collection of uniquely personal, high-quality greetings and stationery. Pear Tree Greetings offers a full line of photo Christmas cards, recycled Christmas cards, invitations, announcements, address labels, save-the-date cards and dozens of other high-quality paper products, so you can seize every opportunity to connect with others.

What I Wore ~ Casual Friday

2011-11-23T07:00:00.010-05:00

Sweater: J. Crew

Black long-sleeve shirt: Ralph Lauren

Necklace: JewelMint

Bag: Vera Bradley

Coffee Mug: Starbucks

Jeans: The Limited

Shoes: Relish (Bloomington, IN)

Mizzou Football. Autumn is Complete.

2011-11-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

{It just isn't Fall without some good Mizzou Football}

It feels good to be back in the old Black and Gold

Tailgating as it should be: as far as the eye can see

A packed stadium chanting MIZ-ZOU

The Marching Mizzou, gettin' down.

Crowds streaming into the stadium

A visit from Missouri homeboy, David Freese, Most Valuable Player of the World Series

Cribs: Huxley Edition

2011-11-21T07:00:00.017-05:00

Hey everyone,

You’ve all certainly heard of MTV Cribs. Well, I recently got some new diggs, so here is my take – its Cribs: Huxley Edition.

When I first came home from Kansas, my parents thought I was going to grow to about twelve pounds. I passed that. Now I’m about twenty-three pounds, and I outgrew my apartment.

Here is my new place, next to my old place:

This is a Petco 300 series kennel that measures 24” x 16.7” x 14.5”. It features a spacious floor for sleeping and relaxing, and also has a tall ceiling that allows me to stand and stretch. My old kennel was way to short and narrow. This is a vast improvement.

I wish this kennel had some other amenities – Eric said I couldn’t have the model with a hot tub, and since I can’t seem to resist chewing fluffy things, I can’t have a padded floor. But its very nice, and I’m looking forward to spending many doggy years in my new pad.

Talk to ya next time!

-Hux

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 24

2011-11-20T07:00:00.006-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

24. a crazy picture ~ No matter how fun it might be, laying in snow is crazy.

Thanksgiving Fashion Flashback

2011-11-18T07:00:00.044-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Is this not the most fabulous turkey picture? And look how happy I am! I have to say, this is rare. I'm NOT a Thanksgiving fan. Wait, that didn't come out right. I'm a fan of the Thanksgiving holiday. I think giving thanks is very important. I'm not a fan of traditional Thanksgiving food. Usually, when I tell people this, they begin listing all of the Thanksgiving foods they can think of. So I'll just do it for you:

1. Turkey: nope, not a big fan. I like deli turkey on my sandwhiches, but I'm not a big fan of whole turkey. I'm not a big fan of pulled meat in general, which turkey tends to end up being...pulled right off the turkey body.

2. Cranberry sauce: nope. Not much of a cranberry fan. Then turning it into a sauce, intensifying the flavor, nope, not for me.

3. Stuffing: not sure WHY I don't like stuffing, all the ingredients seem to be okay, except for the dried bread. I'm not sure what it is about our sociey wanting to eat sliced bread as a side and then drying that sliced bread until it is stale and then making a new dish out of it. If you're going to eat bread it ought to be the reall delicious kind.

4. Gravy: no, slathering gravy on everything does NOT make it any better.

5. Yams: don't get me started on yams. No one even talks about yams until it is time for Thanksgiving and then there are yams everywhere. Can we just forget about the yams?

6. Then there is all the 'country sides' as I call them: green beans (or worse, green bean casserole), mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and collard greens. No, NO, no, no, no. Although, if mashed potatoes are done well, they can be delicious.

7. Mincemeat Pie: Probably the worst of all the Thanksgiving foods.

With all that being said, there are a few dishes that I DO like. Apple Pie, Sweet Potatoes, Squash, and Pumpkin Pie. Sometimes Ham is served at Thanksgiving meals and I definitely prefer ham over turkey. BUT did you know that the original Thanksgiving meal (the one with the pilgrims and Wampanoag) included lobster and clams?! What happened to a seafood Thanksgiving dinner?! I petition to bring back the original foods of Thanksgiving!

On a side note, this is Friday Fashion Flashback. So I supposed we should discuss what I'm wearing. What the heck am I wearing? It kind of looks like a Snow White costume! Mom, what is going on here? :)

Happy Birthday, Mama!

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

{5 Reasons Why I Love You}

I had to draw the line somewhere.

1. You know how to have fun. Whether it is getting a tatoo or dying your hair pink, you never hold back from having fun.

2. You're a survivor. Literally. You survived cancer and I couldn't be more proud of you.

3. You always encourage me to look on the bright side, but allow me a good cry when I need it. I distinctly remember our "pout-fest" when I was in the hospital. You, Dad, and Eric had tried so hard to make me look at the positive but I refused. So you made the guys leave the room and we spent a good 15 minutes crying and complaining about life. We felt so ridiculous it only lasted 15 minutes.

4. You've done everything for me without losing yourself. I love that you've always done things outside of raise me. You work. You are part of book clubs. You're a member of professional organizations. You're a member of social organizations. You go out with your friends. You go on vacation without me. But in focusing on yourself you never neglected me. You led by example and you've taught me to do the same.

5. They way you spoil Truman. It is absolutely ridiculous that you take that dog for rides in your convertible just so he can stick his nose in the wind, but I absolutely love you for it. I just may have gotten my absurd love for animals from you. :)

Love you, mama! I hope you have a fantastic birthday. I wish I could be there with you to celebrate!

What I Wore ~ Wedding Edition

2011-11-16T07:00:00.009-05:00

Dress: Chadwicks

Tights: Kohls

Boots: BCBG

Necklace: JewelMint

Falling inlove with a Fall Wedding

2011-11-15T07:00:00.014-05:00

Philly Cheese Steak ~ Puppy Style

2011-11-14T10:14:00.002-05:00

{I brought Huxley a present from Philadelphia}

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 23

2011-11-13T07:00:00.004-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

23. a picture i always laugh about ~ my family knows how to have a good time. :)

QVC Tour

2011-11-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

A cute little trolley drove us about an hour and a half to the QVC headquarters

Jess and I were pleasantly surprised with the bright colors and modern interiors

We felt very welcome, indeed

Extra large QVC box about to fall on our heads

A view from the top of the sales floor

ITAA takes on Philadelphia

2011-11-08T07:00:00.003-05:00

Walking around Philadelphia neighborhoods

Shopping

Enjoying a few sweet treats

I spotted a Toynbee Tile!

Yes, we did some work

Reunited with a Stephens professor - my inspiration for going into this field

The Betsy Ross home

Beautifully historic Philadelphia

The Liberty Bell

Some Philadelphia culture - Laura style

Home sweet home

IU Homecoming

2011-11-07T07:00:00.020-05:00

{In Pictures}

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 22

2011-11-06T07:00:00.007-05:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

22. a picture that makes me sad ~ These two pictures go together - each of us putting on a brave face. A tough year for our family.

New Fall Traditions

2011-11-03T07:00:00.023-04:00

I missed out on the annual pumpkin festival in Hartsburg this year. Mom and I used to go every year to pick out a few pumpkins. So when I heard my parents were coming to town, I began searching out for the perfect place to pick our pumpkins for carving and decorating. I think I may have found a place to replace our traditional outing to Hartsburg. I'm totally inlove with The Apple Works!

According to Foursquare, their doughnuts were to die for. So we got two pumpkin doughnus and two apple cider doughnus. DELICIOUS! I may like them more than the doughnus at Soulard in St. Louis...maybe. I haven't made up my mind yet. The Soulard doughnuts are mighty good. The trip to Trafalgar, IN (middle of nowhere) is well worth it just for the doughnuts.

But you don't just get doughnuts! You get this adorable barn full of goodies from freshly picked apples to homemade apple butter! Not to mention any style pumpkin and gourd you could dream of! A short jaunt down a winding path, you'll find a large pumpkin patch where you can pick out a pumpkin right off the vine! This was the first pumpkin patch Eric and I had been to. We suddenly understood Linus' dilemma in trying to find the perfect pumpkin.

After some serious perusing through the pumpkins, we finally found three perfect pumpkins just begging to come home with us and be carved into jack o'lantern master pieces.

But before we could leave, we of course had to take family pictures. :) And pictures for the blog. And pictures of the pumpkins...and the fines...and the cute kids...and the trees. So we like taking pictures.

Look at all those pumpkins! Can you believe we were able to leave with just three?!

What I Wore Wednesday ~ Weekender Style

2011-11-02T07:00:00.007-04:00

Jacket: J. Crew

Necklace: Tiffany and Co.

Sweater: J. Crew

Jeans: The Limited

Shoes: Relish (local store)

Family Pumpkin Carving

2011-11-01T07:00:00.026-04:00

Pumpkin Carving! What a great time of year. Over the weekend my family came to visit to celebrate my birthday, my mom passing her comps, and my mom's 2nd year of being cancer free. We had A LOT to celebrate! I was so happy to have my family with me over the weekend. We squeezed in as many traditions as we could muster. The best one being pumpkin carving! My favorite part of pumpkin carving is scooping out the seeds and pulp. The rest I left up to the men...

Dad and Eric each had a pumpkin to carve. Actually, I think Dad may have done two! I loved Eric's method of getting a straight line on a pumpkin: using a paper towel. I have to admit, he freehanded a darn good IU! We were all impressed. I think I would have printed something out and traced it, but that isn't Eric's style.

Dad made a traditional jack o'lanern and a "designer" pumpkin (polka dots) just for me. This way I had a little of the tradition and a little of the design that I love. We had so much fun carving pumpkins. Another family tradition squeezed in. I'm all about the traditions and my parents are doing so well at trying to keep them all going despite the distance.

Thanks, Mom, Dad, and Eric! I think the pumpkins look fantastic!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 21

2011-10-30T07:00:00.005-04:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

21. a picture from last summer ~

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's the Friday before Halloween, so of course this Friday Fashion Flashback post features one of my favorite halloween costumes of all time. Yesterday I asked my mom to send me any halloween picture she could find, I wanted to have a post for today and I couldn't find any halloween photos in my own stash. She found this one to send to me, I not only love the costume, I love the little note she wrote beside it. For once, I have a Friday Fashion Flashback post with some background information. I could never have speculated that my mom let me sleep in the costume after going trick-or-treating. What a great little tid bit of information about this outfit.

I love this costume for many reasons:
1. The costume is so simple. A gray sweat suit, ears, a little eye liner for the nose, and tennis shoes!
2. The costume is super comfortable! What is more comfortable that a sweat suit?
3. The costume is warm! I'm so over the skimpy little costumes people tend to wear. This is the end of October. You don't look cute in next to nothing, you look stupid. And you look cold.
4. The costume is adorable. Wouldn't you love a little kid trick-or-treating at your door in a costume like this? The little girl in that picture is the cutest. And I'm not just saying that because it is me.

On a side note, I love the caption my mom included. I'm assuming this is one of the many scrapbooks that my mom kept as I was growing up. I will look back on those scrap books forever and I'll be able to read about moments that I can't remember. I would never have remembered that I wore this costume to Kindercare, I would never have remembered trick-or-treating in it (although I would have assumed so) and I never would have remembered that I was allowed to sleep in it.

Thank you, mom. For recording my childhood so that I will be able to remember it for as long as I live. This is one of the greatest gifts you could give a child. (And you thought I should crop it out!) :)

Faculty Finery ~ What I Wore

2011-10-26T07:00:00.010-04:00

Shirt: Talbots

Jacket: Talbots

Jeans: The Limited

Belt: Target

Shoes: Cole Haan

Necklace: Tiffany and Co.

A Huxley Life: Birthday Edition

2011-10-24T07:00:00.061-04:00

Hey everyone, Huxley here:

I'm writing this on the eve of Ashley's birthday. How cool is that? Ashley's birthday is tomorrow! Anyway, I thought this was an appropriate time to reflect on why it is great to be a Hasty.

1) Food. I get good dog food. Scratch that, great dog food. If you haven't heard of Fromm Dog Food, I highly suggest you switch over to Google and look them up when you're done reading this. Also, I get some people food occasionally. ;)

2) Fun. We have a lot of fun together - whether its ice cream, walking around the neighborhood, or running around the house, we always have a great time.

3) Appreciation. It isn't always easy being a pup - occasionally your bladder gets the best of you, or you can't seem to communicate to your family that there are squirrels in the trees outside. Ashley and Eric make sure I know my efforts around the house are appreciated, even when I make a mistake. That doesn't happen very often, mind you, but when it does, it is quickly forgiven, and followed with...

4) Affection. Ashley and Eric make sure I know I'm loved. They make sure I'm taken care of when they have to be gone during the day, and do their best to include me in as many of their activities as they can. They also make sure I have plenty of toys to destroy to keep me entertained. You can really tell they care, and that's whats best.

So, we've established its good to be a Hasty. How does this relate to Ashley's birthday? Well, All of the things listed above wouldn't be part of my life if it wasn't for her. Thanks, mom, for all you do for our family. You'll be getting years of companionship and love in return!

-Hux

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 20

2011-10-23T07:00:00.012-04:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

20. a picture of a time in life i miss ~ my theory in life is to never wish for the past, I always enjoy the present most and look forward to the future. But with that being said, I miss my time with this crew. Don't mistake that statement for ever wanting to experience that time again, grad school was NOT the highlight of my life, I just happened to meet really fabulous people.

Birthday Suit

2011-10-21T07:00:00.027-04:00

My birthday is on Monday!! So what better Friday Fashion Flashback to feature than the birhday suit! It is the most common outfit, is it not? We all have it in our wardrobes. :)

Gosh, how old do you think I am in this picture? A week? Maybe two? Just a few days? My dad used to really be into photography. He even had his own dark room, you know, back in the day when it was necessary to have a dark room to develop the film correctly. Now it is just cool, and a bit nostalgic, to have a dark room but completely unnecessary and ridiculously expensive. Who develops film anymore anyway? The greatest invention for amateur photographers was the digital camera. We can just snap snap snap and 1,000 pictures later we have a diamond in the rough.

So I have a feeling this picture is a product of my dad's photography years. There are countless pictures of me in makeshift photography sessions. The one that comes to mind is a picture of me around 4 or 5 years old, dressed in a fancy and frilly dress from England, painting my nails over a white table cloth with a basket of flowers next to me. I mean, only for the sake of my dad's photography would my mother let her 5 year old paint her nails over a white table cloth. I love that photo.

But back to this photo, I am clearly uncomfortable but I can just see my parents positioning me "just so" in order for my cute bald head to be in focus and my cute baby behind to be in view in the background. I imagine them laughing hysterically about how this photo will haunt me when I'm older. Little did they know that they would have a blogger for a daughter who posts these pictures for the whole world to see.

Funny how times change. Now my mom is the one taking all the photos (another blogger in the family.) Although, I'm always pleasantly surprised when on rare occasion my dad picks up the camera and takes a brilliant photograph. I forget how talented he is. I think now that he is retired he should take up photography again. He was a brilliant principal but now it is time to let his creative genius run free. So for my birthday, Dad, I'd like you take up photography as a serious hobby again. And from you, Mom, besides the adorable shoes you sent me, I'd just like to see you, because I miss you like crazy.

Teacher Threads ~ What I Wore

2011-10-19T07:00:00.010-04:00

Tank Top: J. Crew

Cardigan: Old Navy

Pants: Express

Shoes: Cole Haan

Necklace: Tiffany and Co.

A Hasty Life, shared.

2011-10-18T07:00:00.067-04:00

Dear Blog Friends,
Can you believe it is already mid-October? It is time to start thinking about holiday cards and end-of-year cards, whichever you prefer! Speaking of the end of the year, what a year it has been for the Hasty family! Last year...

We were living in Missouri
Eric was working full-time for a bank
I was drowning in dissertation research
I was recovering from surgery
We were a family of two

Now, we are living in the lovely Bloomington, Indiana! Eric is attending Indiana University and loving every minute of being a full-time student. I am happy to have my dissertation completed and PhD at the end of my name. I'm working full-time (for the first time!) and loving it. I am excited to be living my dream. My Crohn's Disease has been in remission for a full year and I've had little to no symptoms since my surgery! But, most importantly, we are now a family of three! We welcomed our sweet puppy, Huxley, into the Hasty family back in May. He has been the joy of our lives ever since. Eric and I are thrilled to be puppy-parents!

As you reflect on the past year, think about the cards you want to send. Eric and I are in constant debate over the importance of US mail. I think the value of a card sent through the mail can not be replicated through email or text message. This is the time of year to show those you love a little exra thought by sending a lovely card; signed, sealed, and delivered. I've been excited to work with Pear Tree Greetings for almost a year now, since hosting my card exchange. I encourage you to check out their website! I designed the customized card you see above. The card not only reflects our new lives (pictures of us on IU campus, images of our adoration for our little Huxley) it also illustrates our unique style as a couple: Eric's modernity and my tradition. The card feaures modern holiday colors but the nostalgia of vintage Christmas lights.

We hope your year has been as wonderful as ours! We can't wait to see all the lovely cards come to us in the mail. :) We stole a fabulous idea from my mom and starting hanging the cards we receive in the mail on a little Christmas tree. This way we can celebrate the holidays with our friends from around the world. We happily share this idea with you and encourage you to showcase the cards you receive in innovative ways!

Sincerely,
The Hasty Family

This post is sponsored by Pear Tree Greetings. Pear Tree Greetings has helped tens of thousands of customers celebrate life’s shareable moments with a collection of uniquely personal, high-quality greetings and stationery. Pear Tree Greetings offers a full line of photo cards like Christmas cards, invitations, announcements, address labels, save-the-date cards and dozens of other high-quality paper products, so you can seize every opportunity to connect with others. Custom greetings made simple, affordable, and absolutely keep-worthy.

Costume Society of America: Cedar Falls, Iowa

2011-10-17T07:00:00.015-04:00

Waiting at the Minneapolis airport with 5 others headed to Waterloo, IA

The cutest historic hotel ever: The Blackhawk in Cedar Falls, IA

When I arrived my friends were waiting for me in the bar with lovely drinks. It was a great welcome!

We grabbed coffee at this adorable coffee shop: A Cup of Joe

We had a few minutes to explore the historic downtown in Cedar Falls, IA

Iowa has a fair trade store!

We loved the art deco chandeliers on the University of Northern Iowa's campus!

Yes, I did do a little work while I was there. This is me presenting on World War II wedding apparel.

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 19

2011-10-16T19:00:00.000-04:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

19. a picture of a person who is always there ~ One person. One dog. Always there.

Favorite Fall Memories

2011-10-14T07:00:00.018-04:00

This pose cracks me up. I'm snuggling up with a pumpkin witch! I'm wearing a purple t-shirt with pink and white cuffs. There is some sort of image on the front. Maybe a Fall scene? Or one of the Disney Princesses? I've paired it with a matching pink skirt, pink socks, and white ballet flats. Not the most appropriate outfit for a Fall picture, but it was very "me." I've said it once, and I'll say it again, I was the girliest of the girly girls.

I believe this picture was taken at Wilson's Garden Center. My family always loved to go there to pick out our pumpkins for Fall decorating and Halloween pumpkin carvings. I made a list last week of my favorite things about October (which is really a list of things I love about Fall) but family traditions trumps them all. What I miss most about establishing a life in a new state are the little traditions established when I was a child that I was able to continue through to last year.

Another tradition I'm missing this year is the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival. My mom and I used to go together every year. There were a ton of pumpkins to choose from, craft vendors to peruse through, and lots and lots of food. We always enjoyed bringing the puppies so they could sniff around, say hello to all the people, and gets lots of attention. I'm also missing Mizzou football. As much as I'm enjoying blogging about IU football, it just isn't the same! My parents have had season tickets to MU football for as long as I can remember. I miss going to the games with them!

Who knew that I would miss shopping for pumpkins at a particular place? Sure, Eric and I purchased pumpkins in our new hometown, but somehow it just wasn't the same. We haven't found THAT place with the charm of Wilson's. We need to find a cute pumpkin patch with lots of children and employees that dress up in costume. We are beginning to establish new traditions but I'm definitely feeling that nostalgia for "old times."

University Uniform ~ What I Wore

2011-10-12T07:00:00.013-04:00

Necklace: Tiffany and Co.

Tank Top: Envy (local store)

Shirt: Ralph Lauren

Cardigan: J. Crew

Skirt: J. Crew

Tights: Gap

Shoes: Cole Haan

Best Accessory Ever: Huxley

Fall Arrives at Indiana University

2011-10-11T07:07:00.002-04:00

Huxley via {Instagram}

2011-10-10T07:00:00.005-04:00

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 18

2011-10-09T07:00:00.008-04:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

18. a picture of people who are closest to me ~ so really I'm closest to my family. But my family have been pictured quite a bit so I'm changing things up. This is who I'm closest to at work. Her name is Mary and she inspires me to be a great teacher. She would never settle being a good teacher, she continuously strives for greatness. I can only hope to be half the person she is and inspires others to be.

Straw Maze

2011-10-07T07:00:00.028-04:00

{October}

It's October, folks! One of my favorite months! Here is my list of reasons why I love this month:

It is my birthday month!
The leaves are changing colors
Pumpkin makes its way into every meal

Pumpkin latte
Pumpkin pancakes
Pumpkin and cream cheese muffins
Pumpkin puree pizza with candied pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seed oil on fall vegetables
Pumpkin ice cream
Pumpkin bagels
Pumpkin schmear on bagels
Pumpkin pie
Pumpkin bread
Etc.

Pumpkins used for decorations and going pumpkin shopping and carving pumpkins
Straw mazes pop up everywhere

Also corn mazes if you live in the midwest

Hay rides
Apples, apple cidar, apple pie
Mums are popping up all over campus
Handing out candy to cute little trick-or-treaters
Cool, crisp mornings

What is your favorite thing about October?

Did I mention it was my birthday month?? :)

Oven-Roasted Vegetables for Fall Cooking

2011-10-06T07:00:00.046-04:00

{Ingredients}
1 squash, 1 sweet potato, 7 or 8 new potatoes, or your favorite fall vegetable
4 tablespoons of flavored olive oil (we've used toasted sesame oil and pumpkin oil)
3 cloves of garlic (or more if you love garlic, like us!)
Salt and Pepper to taste

{Directions}
Preparing the vegetable:
Peeled, seeded (if needed), and cut into 1 inch chunks

{Directions}
Prepare seasoning:
Combine ingredients in a plastic Ziplock bag
Add vegetable chunks and toss until thoroughly covered in oil

{Directions}
Scatter on a baking sheet, bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes (until tender)
Transfer to a skillet over medium-high heat to sear until a nice crust is formed

{Serve}
Serve hot over rice, couscous, quinoa, risotto, or with pasta.
You could also pair it with chicken or pork tenderloin.
The sky is the limit! These vegetables are so delicious you'll want to eat them with everything!

Most importantly...
{Enjoy!}

Scholastic Suit ~ What I Wore

2011-10-05T07:00:00.009-04:00

Jacket: J. Crew
Shirt: J. Crew
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Tights: Gap
Shoes: Cole Haan

IU Football Season

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

Eric and I attended our second Indiana University football game! As part of the Statewide IT Conference, I got tickets at a discounted price PLUS we got to tailgate with all the IT people at IU. Not to mention, we got to tour the press box and even go on top of the press box! We went with a colleage of mine whose husband works for the IT department on campus. So you get another post of fabulous IU football pictures. And this time I brought the telephoto lens so the pictures are closer up! Enjoy!

Fall via {Instagram}

2011-10-03T07:00:00.014-04:00

Pumpkins!

Using pumpkins to decorate for Fall!

Fabric pumpkins and a spice cake candle from Pier One

Pumpkin Cake from Feast in Bloomington

The infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream from Hartzell's

Pumpkin Cardamom Creme Latte from Feast

Pumpkin Ice Cream with Caramel and Hot Fudge from The Chocolate Moose

Spiced Cake Candles from Pier 1

Cinnamon and Sugar bagels with Pumpkin Schmear from Bloomington Bagel Company

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 17

2011-10-02T07:00:00.002-04:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

17. a picture of my spare time ~

Picnic in the Park

2011-09-30T07:00:00.029-04:00

How can you not smile when you see this photo? Whether or not you know the subject of the photo, you see a picnic, in a park, on a clear and beautiful day. This is an all-American perfect weekend day! My Dad is compeltely unaware of the photograph being taken, I, as always, am blissfully aware the camera is on me. My Dad is consumed by me, doting on my every move...or trying to get me to sit still and eat my lunch. Either way, it is clear is loves me. ;) I'm waving at my Mom who is, without a doubt, taking the photo. Why am I so happy? Gosh, to list the reasons would max out the word count blogger allows per blog.

I am wearing a baby pink onesie, white tennis shoes, and....you guessed it! White, lacy, fold-over socks. Mom, did you have any other socks in my wardrobe at this age? It is amazing I'm not still wearing them! I clearly could not accessorize an outfit without these beloved socks! My Dad is wearing a white shirt, I can't tell if it is a polo, a button down, or what? It has a pocket like a button down, but it appears to only open part way down...and the collar is really confusing. Half polo half button down? Not entirely sure...it was probably an 80s or early 90s style that no longer exists. :) He's wearing it with khaki shorts and tennis shoes that are pure, 100% 80s.

My family is known for their fabulous picnics and tailgates. I can see now that it is because they've been practicing for two decades. I love my family picnics, they know how to do them in style. Although, I think we usually have our picnics on a quilt, I think this was done because keeping a kid at that age focused on eating is meal can only be accomplished when eating at proper table. Of course our meal was brought in a wicker basket. How else would a picnic be prepared? Ha, Dad is drinking diet coke, as he still does daily. Mom has her A&W Rootbeer, her favorite drink far before I was born. And me? Probably water. My parents were sticklers about what I could drink. My grandma once offered me juice after a certain time of day and I informed her I was only allowed water. What kind of kid doesn't take advantage of her grandma's offer of juice knowing it would break her parent's rules? What kid doesn't jump at the chance to break the rules? I'll tell you, the kind of kid who has principals as parents and is convinced they have spies everywhere she goes. Because, as you know, principals know everything that happens in their school and that ability, of course, is transferred to the home. ;)

And look at the wicker plate holders! Yes, my parents know how to picnic. :)

Hoosiers Outrun Cancer

2011-09-29T07:00:00.037-04:00

As many of you know, my Mom is breast cancer survivor! So when Eric and I were asked to walk in the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer event, we were quick to say "YES!" When we first moved to Bloomington, Eric and I began looking for organizations to join to meet other young professionals. One of the first organizations that popped up in our search was a subgroup of the Chamber of Commerce: hYPe (Helping Young Professionals Excel) As it turns out, this is the best group to have joined! We met our first real friends at the college outreach committee of hYPe. We later joined the philanthropy committee which got us involved in Hoosiers Outrun Cancer. More about hYPe in another post, today we're focusing on HOC!

Hoosiers Outrun Cancer (or HOC as it is fondly referred to) is a huge event for Bloomington! I couldn't begin to count how many people were there, but I heard that the largest group was one of the Bloomington High Schools with over 500 walkers. Can you believe that?! It is a pretty cool experience to see so many people gathering together in support of a single cause. No matter what type of cancer you have, you are part of this tight-knit community of survivors and celebrators. Many of the people walking had "In Celebration of" or "In Honor of" tags on their backs. Of course, I was walking primarily in celebration of my mom beating cancer. But I was also walking in honor of my two grandpas who lost their battles with cancer. It is a tough disease to fight and I'm proud of both of my grandpas for their long fights (whether or not they knew they were fighting it at the time.)

Our hYPe group gathered around 8:30 to get our t-shirts, meet our fellow walkers (some of us hadn't met yet), and get organized. Note to self for next year: bring coffee! Eric and I just grabbed half a bagel each before the event, needless to say, we were starving by the 11:30 end time! Everyone passing us had their venti Starbucks coffee and I have to say, I was envious! It was so fun to meet our fellow hYPe members, reconnect with those we had met before, stand back and watch as the crowd grew in front of our eyes to the huge mob you see in the picture above. If you've never participated in a walk or event where people with intense desire for a particular cause gather together, you haven't experienced the immense kindness and passion of the human race. It is really something unparalleled.

Eric and I had a really geat time, despite the rain. Next year we'll bring Huxley, he'd love to meet all the dogs that walk! We are having a great time getting invovled in our new community. We can't thank Bloomington enough for making us feel so welcome! We love our new home.

Bookish Beauty ~ What I Wore

2011-09-28T07:00:00.008-04:00

Sweater: Ann Taylor LOFT

Button-down Shirt: J. Crew

Jeans: The Limited

Shoes: Sperry Topsider

Necklace: The Limited

My New Office [in pictures]

2011-09-27T07:00:00.016-04:00

The Lotus Festival via {Instagram}

2011-09-26T07:00:00.078-04:00

Ever since moving to Bloomington, we've heard all about the Lotus Festival. It was an event that shouldn't be missed, we were told. So when the much talked about weekend finally arrived, we were sure to catch as many festivities as we could. For those of you not familiar with the Lotus Festival, it is a festival that celebrates music and art from cultures around the world. It is full of diverse artistic performances from musicians and artists. True works of beauty everywhere you turn.

The Lotus Festival is a four day event with concerts starting on Thursday for those who have purchased individual tickets. You can also purchase a weekend pass for Friday and Saturday when the majority of the concerts take place. With a weekend pass you have open access to over 25 concerts and art performances. Artists came from places such as Sweeden, Oceanic cultures, Africa, Brazil, Poland, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Bulgaria, Ireland, Colombia, and Australia.

For my Columbia, MO friends, think True/False Film Festival for music!

The two pictures above are of Australia's Strange Fruit. Their artistic performance combined acrobatics, theater, and dance. Three women performed on top of tall spring-like structures. The pictures really do not do them justice, so I've included a short video of their performance on Saturday night: click here. Now I realize this is supposed to focus on Instragram, but another great app is Glmps! Check it out. While taking a photo you also capture a short "glimpse" or video of the moment. It is pretty cool. You can see a longer video below.

We wanted to fully experience what the Lotus Festival was all about during our first year. But next year, we are definitely volunteering! A few friends of ours volunteered this year and have done so for several years prior, and they highly encouraged us to take part as well. For more information about volunteering, click here.

Our two favorite performances were by Te Vaka, a group from Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and New Zealand. Their music is inspired by Oceanic cultures. They sang, they danced, they were excellent percussionists, but my favorite part was the costumes. They had more costume changes than I could count! There were two women who did the majority of the dancing, a man joined them occasionally, but the women were always costumed in elaborate grass skirts, feathered accessories, and elaborate head pieces. Really a wonderfully beautiful display of artistic work for many senses.

Our hands down favorite performance of the weekend was Movits! Holy cow, this group of guys is the epitome of cool. They are...wait for it...a Swedish rap band with a swing twist. Yes, Swing + Rap = Movits! I can't even explain how much swagger these guys had. I couldn't understand a single word they sang (partly because they were rapping and partly because they were singing in Swedish) but as they say "a party needs no translation." And these guys know how to party. My picture, unfortunately, does not capture much. So I embedded one of their music videos. Enjoy.

This video doesn't even do them justice. The energy at their concerts is indescribable. The crowd really adds a lot. They are just. so. cool! Oh yeah, and I'm a BIG fan of their style.

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 16

2011-09-25T07:00:00.002-04:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

16. an unusual picture ~ What?! I'm not posing for the camera?? ;)

Vague Memories

2011-09-23T07:00:00.026-04:00

This photograph looks like it was taken from indoors, through a window. I imagine that my Dad was working outside and I was "helping." I took a break to swing and Mom tried to sneak a picture through the window. But I have a sixth sense for a camera trying to take my picture, so I smiled my million dollar smile and posed perfectly on the swing. Yep, that is how I imagine this picture being taken. I really have no recollection of this picture.

I've seen that jumper before, though. Perhaps in another picture, perhaps we still have it tucked away in our cedar chest. I'm not sure. I love that cute little jumper with three flowers on the chest. A jumper could be a bit tom-boyish but I pair it with a frilly white shirt with puffy sleaves and a lace collar to make sure everyone knows I'm no tom-boy! Sure, I'm wearing sneakers but paired with fold-over socks with lace trim. My golden locks may seem messy, but I prefer to call it "wind-blown." Yes, a fashionista from the day I was born. :)

I have a vague memory of this swing. I recognize it, but I can't place it. Perhaps it was at my grandmother's home? My mom's mom owned a day care, but when I picture where everything was located I can't picture this swing. Perhaps it was in Wien, where my dad's parents lived? Maybe outside the old school house? No...I remember those swings being wooden. Or was it in my own backyard, in our first home? I don't remember much about that house, perhaps I have a faint memory of the swing that was there. Or could it have been at my Aunt and Uncle's house? They always had a ton of toys: trampolines, swings, barns to climb on. More likely, this is at a random park.

My favorite part about this picture? The flowers. You didn't notice at first, did you? Yes, there are beautiful pink flowers scattered all over the ground! Doesn't it look heavenly? I wonder what kind of tree scatters such lovely flowers?

A Huxley Life

2011-09-22T07:00:00.072-04:00

Greetings readers of A Hasty Life!

Huxley here. It has been about a month since my last post and in my 7-month-old wisdow I think I have a lot to share on a dog's life in the Hasty Household. Yup, I turned 7 months since our last exchange. Which makes me about 5 years old in Human Years.

I graduated from the Puppy class at PetCo, I got a graduation certificate and everything. Two weeks ago I started the Basic classes. I'm the only dog in the class, but my trainer sometimes brings her dog for me to play with. I especially like it when she brings her dog so I can see an example of what the trainer wants me do. Sometimes the communication between the trainer and me is lost in translation. It is nice to have an older, wiser dog to translate what the trainer wants me to do. My favorite part of class is when the trainer trains my Daddy. It is funny to see him being trained how to handle me. He's usually in comand at home, so it is pretty entertaining when someone gives him commands!

So far, I've mastered Sit, Down, Shake, and Roll Over. I'm still working on Stay, Come, and Leave It. The most difficult for me is Leave It. Mommy and Daddy have so many interesting things at home and I have to "Leave" all of them! I really don't like Leaving socks, toilet paper, and dryer sheets. These are three of my favorite things to chew on and I have to Leave all of them. I also really like digging my face into the leather sofas. Sometimes I get carried away and forget that I'm not allowed to chew on the sofa. The Leave It command comes out in full force when I accidentily chew on the sofa. Mommy and Daddy really don't like that. Sometimes I Roll Over when Mommy and Daddy give me a different command because I know how cute they think I am when I Roll Over. They always get so tickled! So sometimes when they say Down I just Roll Over so I can get the fun reaction out of them. Sometime they'll give me a treat anyway eventhough I did the wrong trick. They spoil me.

Besides going to school, I do a lot of laying around during the day. Mommy has to work all day and Daddy attends class every day. Daddy comes home almost every day during the week to let me out of my kennel. I look forward to these breaks. It gives me a chance to go outside, play in the grass, go to the bathroom, and stretch my paws. Sometimes I give Daddy a hard time and run laps in the living room and throw my toys around. But usually I just want to play fetch with Daddy so I drop my toys at his feet. Daddy will toss them out and I get to chase them and bring them back to him. Sometimes Daddy has a lot of homework to do, but he still holds a bone for me or takes a break to work on my training. These breaks during the day are my favorite, but I wish Mommy and Daddy could just stay home with me all day.

Weekends are my favorite time. Mommy and Daddy are both home all day. Sometimes they'll take me on long walks, or take me to get ice cream. Just the other day they took me to Hartzell's, a local ice cream shop in Bloomington, and I got a Pup Cup! They give ice cream especially for dogs! It even had two milk bones! I ate the milk bones right away, I'm still unsure if I like ice cream. I licked it a little but then I got distracted by everyone around me so I began putting my cute on as people walked by. I got several people to stop and pet me! This is one of my favorite games when I'm out in public: see how many people I can get to make cute faces at me or, even better, stop and pet me! I can never get enough of people oogling over me. Mommy and Daddy also took me to Dats while they ate dinner I sat by them on the porch and people watched. I tried to steal a few licks of their food, but they were too fast for me. They always pulled the food away from me.

Overall, life is good. I miss my grandparents and my uncles. I can't wait to visit them over Thanksgiving break. I hope they are doing well back in Missouri! I was super excited when Grandma and Grandpa came to visit over Labor Day Weekend. They brought me some toys that I had forgotten at their house and my food bowls! I was happy to have my food bowls back. The Human bowls that I had been using weren't working as well. They tipped over easily and they were taller than my bowls. Anyway, you aren't here to listen me go on about food bowls.

Take care! I'll be back in a month or two for another update! RUFF!

Collegiate Clothing ~ What I Wore

2011-09-21T07:00:00.010-04:00

Black Top: Ralph Lauren

Button-down Top: J. Crew

Necklace: J. Crew

Skirt: J. Crew

Tights: Gap

Shoes: Soft

2011 Primetime Emmy Fashion

2011-09-20T07:00:00.050-04:00

[Best Silhouette]

Gwyneth Paltrow in Emilio Pucci

[Best Shoulder Detail]

Lea Michele in Marchesa

[Most Interesting Adornment]

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Julianna Margulies in Armani Prive

[Best Discreet Sexiness]

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Kerry Washington in Zuhair Murad

[Best Feminine Details]

Aubrey Plaza in Juan Carlos Obando

[Best Nude Dress]

Elisabeth Moss in Marchesa

[Best Use of Color]

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang

[Best Pattern]

Julie Bowen in Oscar de la Renta

[Best Television Show Plug]

Heidi Klum in Christian Siriano

[Most Beautiful Neckline]

Dianna Agron in Roksanda Illincic

[Best Dressed Over 50]

Christine Baranski in Zac Posen

[Best Use of Lace]

Minka Kelly in Christian Dior

Tea via Instragram

2011-09-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

I'm not a big fan of tea, but when I was in St. Louis the other weekend with my Dad I was stopped by a saleslady from Teavana who offered a sample. My dad stopped to try some and I was about to deny a sample when I caught a whiff of it! It smelled so incredibly delicious. So I went against everything I knew about tea being disgusting and I actually tried a sample. Guess what? I loved it! It didn't taste anything like tea. So my dad bought be some and I finally got around to making a cup. Isn't it the most beautiful shade of pink? Who wouldn't love drinking this stuff? No weird aftertaste, no strange brown color, just pure beauty!

Storytelling in 30 Photos ~ Day 15

2011-09-18T07:00:00.005-04:00

{Storytelling in 30 Photos}

15. a picture from a great night ~ Greatest night of my life. Although, each day keeps getting better.