Life in Denim and Flip Flops

Oh my goodness is the school year here. I've been running all over this week and boy to my feet feel it. Lots of meetings and student streaming back. The school is alive again. Greek : I started watching this show online this week on a whim. I'd heard a lot about it, but never seen it. As soon as I started it, I got sucked in quickly. It's pretty cute and reminds me a lot of college. I wasn't affiliated, but a large majority of my friends were. It makes me nostalgic for college. Omaha trip: Speaking of Cornell friends, I'm starting to get crazy-excited about my weekend in Omaha in October. It sounds like we could have as many as 8 at any one time, including significant others, college friends, and new BEDA buddies. If the semester is as crazy as it looks like it's going to be, I'm really going to need this weekend to rejuvenate. newspaper talk: The new editors of the college paper are making changes and asking for help, so I've gotten a chance to talk sh...

This week was the last calm week before the storm. The students move back next week, and then the craziness ensues. One toast to calm! the return of reality tv: It's great to see Top Chef and Project Runway back. Watching these two shows always inspire me to yank out the pots and pans and sewing machine. And since they're already out, it's only helping to cultivate that urge! good movie adaptations: Manda and I went to see "The Time Travelers Wife" Saturday night. I really enjoyed it. I absolutely loved the book when I read it in college (and appreciated it even more after studying at the Newbery Library where a significant portion is set). I often avoid adaptations, especially ones with complex story lines, but this one was surprisingly well done. A good story. It's not the book, but I still really liked it. homemade pie crust: I'd never made my own pie crust before this week, but the recipe I linked last Monday really worked well and was so easy. She...

How is it half way through August already?? This summer has flown past so quickly. I'm both excited and dreading school starting again. I love having the kids around and teaching any everything. But it's just crazy hectic and I'm nowhere near ready yet! I need a snooze button for that. Anyway back to the point. Decently good week, way less stressful and kinda productive. Getting Gretchen's care package: she mailed me the mix cd she made when she was in Spain and a really cute necklace she bought me there. It was so unexpected and it totally made my day. And now I have a new mix that can reside in my car. It's a great combo of music about friends and some of our fave songs from college. Getting two more DFTBA records : I splurged a while back and pre-ordered Trock On and I'm Not Very Good At This Live. They got here Tuesday. I haven't had a chance to listen to them ad nauseum yet, but on first listen I really like them both. The Live album reminds me of that ...

Random blog post today. A few things today, mostly food related. I don't know if you guys watched Next Food Network Star this season. I watch most seasons because I always feel like I learn something new. Not always useful to my everyday life, but you know something I'll need on a quiz show someday. This season, I was really impressed with Melissa d'Arabian. Her food always looked good and more importantly it looked like something I could make. I DVR'ed her show this weekend and was not disappointed. I'm really stoked to try her Potato-Bacon Torte . I've never made homemade crust before, but this looks easy. I'm thinking this might make a fabulous idea for break next week. I was thinking homemade salsa, but this looks better! I made some yummy pasta this weekend. I'd like to say it was planned, but that would be a lie. I haven't exactly grocery shopped in 2 weeks (due to guests, and unplanned trips home) so my pantry and fridge looked a little dire....

It's been a hugely long week, so I'll keep this short. playing drunken Bananagrams : Stone Cliff's Sweet Cranberry wine plus Amy and I plus Bananagrams was quite the Saturday evening. There are photos of the finished product on camera that I promise to post sometime. Let's just say, two librarians and a word game will always end in hilarity! (edit: I added the photo. See. Drunken Bananagrams!) Prison Break : I borrowed Season 1 from work on a whim on Friday. I was instantly addicted. I mean how can you not be? Gorgeous cast, fabulous story, and intriguing plot twists. Now I just have to wait until someone returns Season 2. Arg!! Geektastic-Stories from the Nerd Herd : OMG what a great anthology of nerdy short stories. I love getting the references and even when I don't, the stories are great. The comics between the stories are incredibly geeky and awesome as well. (Reading the stories aloud like we did in elementary/middle school with Amy just added to the awesomene...

As promised, I've posted my first memoir over at "Life on the Hilltop." It's a little story about the floor newsletter Lauren and I (and later Gretchen) put together for the girls of our floor. Nowadays, we probably would have just posted a blog, but it was a fun project that lots of people seemed to enjoy. Just a heads up for those who aren't alums, the school is a small liberal arts college on a weird block plan schedule in a small town surrounded by cornfields. We had to create our own fun (or trouble depending on your perspective). For those of you who did go there, I need more stories! I can't keep this blog alive by myself. They don't have to be that long, or about something that big. Mine for next week is about a random night of drunken darts. Email cornellmemoirs (at) gmail (dot) com with stories, ideas, or anything!!