simplepretty

Happy New Year! I enjoyed my two-week break, but was also itching to “get back.” It’s been quite warm in Chicago over the weekend, giving us a taste of spring, before we’re thrust back into the reality that winter still has a loooong way to go around here.

My resolution for 2007 was “To do my best every day.” (Totally copped from Real Simple; I know.) And while I believe that may be the best resolution to make, in reality, I lost focus without structured goals. For 2008, I’m back with the traditional list. I’m sharing them here in hopes that it will keep me on track.

1. Stop yelling Sounds simple, no? Well, I am the type of person who yells without realizing it. Often for benign reasons. Yelling has its place, i.e. “Watch out for that car!” (and I’m really not trying to eliminate that type of yelling), but for communicating my frustration, not so much. This is definitely going to take some time to achieve, because the first step is simply becoming aware of my voice.
2. Re-learn French In college, I toyed with a minor in French, until I enrolled in a class where the instructor spoke rapid-fire French, and only rapid-fire French, and I couldn’t understand a thing, and became totally frustrated (not to mention that I felt completely inadequate). Yes, I should have stuck it out, and I probably would have learned a lot, but I dropped the class, and the idea of minoring. I have been downloading podcasts from the French Ecole on iTunes, and so far am through lesson eight, of 30 listed lessons. We’ll see where this goes, but as I am eager to visit Paris, it can’t hurt.
3. Continue learning Spencerian script This was a side resolution in 2007, and went nowhere. I tried writing script on my Christmas tags, and decided I needed to get back to it. Practice makes better, and so far, it’s looking better – not good; better. My biggest problem is that my handwriting is naturally linear, and the script is so rounded, so I’m fighting instinct all the way.
4. Learn two new camera settings Pure laziness. I have a beautiful Nikon D40 (that my husband encouraged me to buy last winter) and spend hours on Flickr admiring others photographs, yet I think that I will learn how to use my camera simply by studying photographs. Not so. I’m going to get out the manual, and learn at least two new things. This I’d like to achieve before February 29.

I’ll be back tomorrow with more holiday reporting, plus this week I’ll share the first Hall of Fame entry! See you then. Have a great Monday.

SaveSave

We’re here: “The Speckled Egg’s” final post for 2007. Hope you enjoy today’s theme ….. on with the Five:

1. Wilson’s Warbler
2. Wine tag/gift tag/ornament/etc
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Oriole Orange Ribbon
5. The Robin & the Lion

Couldn’t end without a Christmas robin!

Happy Holidays to all, and a peaceful, joy-filled New Year. I’ll see you back in this space on January 7, 2008.

SaveSave

Tomorrow will be my last post for the year. One last “Friday Flickr Five” and it’s off for two weeks of revelry. Of course, my mind is already thinking about potential resolutions. (Sorry – I can’t help it. I think ahead.) But more of that in January. For today, I’d like to boldly suggest a few of my favorite charities for 2007, in case you’re looking for someone to help before year end:

• Partners in Health I’ve been a fan of this organization ever since I read the profile of Dr. Paul Farmer in the New Yorker back in July 2000. (Dr. Farmer was subsequently profiled in Tracy Kidder’s book Mountains Beyond Mountains.) Partners in Health’s mission says it all: “… to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care.”
• First Slice This is a Chicago-based organization run by chef Mary Ellen Diaz that helps to feed Chicago’s needy. One of my 2008 goals is to visit their cafe and taste some of their yummy food.
• any organization you believe in that’s helping those in New Orleans get back to some semblance of “normal” …..
• Your local public radio and television stations

Of course, these are only my suggestions, and you may have different favorites …. no matter who you choose, giving is a wonderful way to give some balance to the season of consumerism. Thank you for reading.

ps Totally off-topic, but if you’re headed to a party over the next few weeks, and need an appetizer, check out Mark Bittman’s list of 101 Simple Appetizers in 20 Minutes or Less, from Wednesday’s NYTimes. I love #101.

SaveSave

We watched Helvetica on Sunday. Turns out, I knew almost nothing about the font, other than it turns 50 this year, and therefore found the film very interesting. (It’s everywhere! Who knew?) My husband and son joined me about 20 minutes in …. and stayed ’til the end. Starting Monday morning, someone was hard at work developing his own fonts. Pictured above are his first three attempts: Pottery Sans, Dotty Sans, and my favorite, First Letter Draw Over. I love FLDO because of its rules. If the first letter is a capital, the draw over goes on the tops of the letters. If it’s lower case, the draw over becomes an underscore of sorts (really, a draw “under”, but why quibble?) As you can tell, he’s quite the fan of “sans” fonts – says they’re easier to design.

Have a good Wednesday!

SaveSave

…. and I’m feeling on top of things. Hopefully, that’s a good sign, and not an ominous one. My gift from me to me arrived yesterday (photo above). I just couldn’t see anyone buying me a jar of honey, and I wanted it, so there you go. I bought orange blossom, and after the honey warmed up a bit, made myself a cup of tea. The orange blossom is currently out of stock, so I’m extra-glad I went ahead and treated myself.

I have another blog to recommend. This one features children’s clothing which is so perfect that I wish it were made in larger sizes. While browsing the enfant terrible site (gorgeous online children’s store), after (once again) adoring le train fantome’s babette dolls, I browsed the “to wear” section. I found a simple and perfect dress. So, I googled “le vestiare de jeanne” (the designer) and lo and behold, a blog exists. A blog that I can only minimally read. Why did I not keep up with the French classes? I really, really love this sweater, too. I know, you’re thinking “It’s a grey v-neck sweater!” but it’s the raglan sleeves, and the cotton/cashmere fabric that got me. It looks comfortable, and would be so chic with jeans. I’ll have to search for something similar in “big people” sizes. In the meanwhile, I think I’m adding “re-learn French” to my list of potential resolutions ….

p.s. I’m also intrigued by the Fabulous Garlands by Sophie Cuvelier featured at the blog …. must re-learn French! or hire translator.

SaveSave