Identity

Well, my heavens, has it been a long time since I have visited this space! To be honest, I wasn't sure that I should continue blogging - I felt so detached from here. I feel that I am best in this space when I am pontificating about big ideas. Life ideas.

My life has EXPLODED in all the best possible ways over the past 6 months. I have truly experienced an embarrassment of riches. A course in life and entry into grad school. A new love. Loads of wonderful friends. The unceasing love and support of my incredible family, who helped me move from DC to Boston for school. I am truly the sum of the wondrous people in my life.

Which brings me to the notion of identity. I feel that in the course of the past 6 months I have negotiated and renegotiated a newer sense of self. It has been dizzying to say the least. For so long, I was very much the same with natural developments here and there.

And then I finally found a true professional course. And I was admitted in graduate school (someone else believed that I could do this too - someone besides my awesome mother). And I finally met someone who fit into my life the way no man had before. Who showed me such kindness, love, trust, intelligence, and humor. Who allowed me to express the love that I had so longed to give someone. I was made better by these things. These gifts. But I was also made different.

And now I am back in Boston and at school. Learning in an academic environment for the first time in 5 years. And it's all at once strange, hard, and wonderful. And we are constantly discussing our identities - our racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. I am here in this new/old place, closer to my family but farther from my love, and trying to navigate the next stages of my life (because I am not a true woman if I am not in super planning mode) and wondering how it will all play out.

There's the old Emily - so close to her awesome family and friends but perpetually single and looking for the one man who could be a kindred spirit. How can I mesh her with the new Emily - not only empowered by friends and family but also now career validations and an incredibly kind and loving man? It seems to be the ultimate decision that many of us face in this fast-paced, populated, multi-option, geographically diverse world. Hah, I am tired just typing this out, let alone making a decision. And the good thing is that I don't need to make one now. But it is coming down the pike. And I am not quite sure how it will all play out. How can I be the person I want to be and be with everyone I want to be? How can I have it all? The ultimate question of the modern woman. Of the modern human.

Update:  A very kind and wise friend read this post and wrote me the loveliest email about life. It meant a great deal but one of her best lines was that "we are all a work in progress." And that's the beautiful part. Thanks, C!

Photo credit: Emily Bowen

The Good

One of my favorite past times in DC is to walk across the Francis Scott Key Bridge from Rosslyn, VA, to Georgetown, DC.  You can see the Monument, the Watergate, and Roosevelt Island.  You will also experience low-flying planes on their way to Reagan. Georgetown in all its snootiness didn't want a Metro stop within it's superior borders so the only way to get there by public transportation (besides by bus) is to take the Metro to Rosslyn or Foggy Bottom (in DC) and walk a bit to get to M Street (the Park Avenue/Newbury Street equivalent for DC). 

Much to my dismay, I have not inherited my mother's green thumb.  I kill most plants I bring into my apartment. However, these two - a basil plant and pretty succulent - are still around and doing pretty well. I guess I am growing up after all. Yeah, right.

I noticed sunsets here more than any other place I have lived. Maybe that's because I live on the tenth floor and have an incredible view of the sky. This also the land of roof decks. Most of my friends have them here and during these warm days, I have been lucky to have spent many an evening lazing about various roof patios and eating an insane amount of ridiculously delicious food.

One of the things I love most about him is how serious and intellectual he can be. From what the future holds to what type of hot sauce to choose. Seriously, he should be a professional taste tester just for the awesomely intense face he makes when he's trying a new type of food.

My future haunt. I visited here a few weeks ago and was thrilled to walk on these hallowed grounds. I still cannot quite believe that this is all happening. The mere thought of being here is like a warm, energizing elixir to my wandering spirit. More updates to follow in a few weeks!

Quite frankly, the best margaritas I have ever made. Well, that WE made on the Fourth. Although the headache I had the next morning was quite frankly the worst one I have ever had. Just not the girl I was at 22.

I like us.

Crossing the Falls

I was venting to my mom tonight about all that I have going on right now.  All that there is to do.  That I was losing sight of how lucky I am right now.  And my mum, in all her wisdom, brought up the story she had heard on the news of the man who just walked a tightrope across Niagara Falls. Talk about perspective.

The thing is he just talked about how he didn't focus on the crossing. Only on the end. The result. The goal. What it was all - the angst, the worry, the nerves - for.  And she's so right. But of course she is. She's my mum. And I am so lucky these days. So lucky.

Photo credit: Reuters

Judy's Moxie

I watched In The Good Old Summertime this evening. A classic Judy Garland film, if you haven't seen it. If you like Meet Me In St. Louis, you will adore this film. It was the perfect and cozy choice for a blustery fall evening.

I love Judy's performance of "I Don't Care" in the film (video above). I am adding this to my Girl Power Mix, which includes "I Have Confidence" from The Sound of Music and "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl (the Barbra version only).

I need some moxie this week and am taking my inspiration from only the best and the brightest!

On Being A Modern Woman

Awkward iPhone photo to symbolize my attempt to be a modern woman...

Lately, I have been feeling like I am going through a change. Not THE CHANGE. (Although sometimes when my time of the month rolls around, I wish THE CHANGE would just happen already. TMI? Oh well :) By "change," I mean a change in identity, in personal goals, in the type of woman/person I want to be in this world. 

 

For years, I have strived to be a "power" woman. Think black suit, trendy bag, perfectly coiffed hair, and a big time job. That's where I always saw myself ending up. 

It started in high school where I changed into a total nerd and threw myself into my studies, achieving top marks and accolades. I knew that if I applied myself, I could be a successful, modern woman, the fruit of my foremothers' labor over the past century. I clung to this goal as the rationale behind all of my efforts in school.

 

My academic pattern continued into college, especially freshman year, where I kept my socializing to a minimum and focused on achieving straight A's, which I maintained until the final semester of college (darn you, War and Peace Studies). The ironic thing was that that last semester in college was probably the best semester of my life wherein I had the most fun and enjoyed life a little bit more.

 

Coming out of college, however, I was emotionally and mentally exhausted. I could not even think about going back to school. So I took a steady job in market research and enjoyed life for a few years. Then I decided that law school was my next step. I have a "soapbox" side to me, an argumentative side. I am passionate about various causes such a child advocacy and immigration, and I believed that meant I would be a good lawyer. And of course, my mom said, "I've always thought you would make a good lawyer." Anything to make my mom proud.  SO, I bought an LSAT book, studied as much as I could with a full-time job, took the LSATs, didn't do amazingly well, and then asked myself if I really wanted to follow this path. The answer was no. While I do have a high-powered aspect to my personality and admire many aspects of the law, I do not LOVE the idea of being a lawyer or the three ensuing years of law school.

 

So I switched gears to journalism. This was in 2009, when the economy was not so great and the media market was in turmoil, particularly print media. But I found a job working as an editorial assistant for an education policy magazine. In short, it was hell on earth. Six months later, I quit. I thought I might like to work for NPR, so I tried to network there and began recording podcasts (otherwise known as The Weekly Marginalian). I never heard back from any of the NPR positions I applied for - which was perhaps due to the paucity of my radio experience. I eventually became a freelance web editor for a foreign affairs journalist, but I was never able to get my own writing off the ground. Then,  I realized that I didn't want to report on the action. I wanted to be at the center of it. Around that time, I got a job in Washington DC, the center of the action (although lately I feel like I want to disassociate myself from the Washington action).

 

Now, six months in, I find myself wondering if working here is right for me in terms of the person I want to be. Here is a world of empirical black and white thinking, self-promotion, cutthroat competition, insurmountable bureaucracy. I thought I would love the power of the scene.  The woman here are hard, tough, and relentless (and they bury themselves in manly suits - seriously, I like a little frill and a little eclectic patten once in a while). And the thing of it is, I feel like one would have to be such a woman to work here. This place is strong. It can change you.

 

In thinking about my long-term goals, however, I have lately found myself with a penchant for a quieter, less high-strung lifestyle. I miss the country - being closer to a natural setting. I keep going back to that simple dream: husband, a kid or two (at least one adopted), dog, cat, old country house, huge vegetable garden, kayaks, and the ocean not too far away. 

As for my career itself, I want to see more results and impact of my work. I find myself again sitting at a desk, often with excess time on my hands, not really engaging with people. I want to connect with people more and have a more action-oriented position, but not necessarily high powered. I don't want to look back at my life and see that I have spent most of it sitting at a desk, reviewing other people's work and having no real impact.

 

Many of my female friends are on very high-powered, successful tracks. For years, I felt immense pressure to keep up. But then I realized, why? Do I want to even keep up? Am I doing this just for the sake of petty competition?

It hit me lately how all this pressure I have put on myself doesn't necessarily have to be there. It's my life. And life is short. I should live it how I want. Nothing else and no one else matters. That should be the bottom line. 

This realization was huge. Gone was the desire to be high-powered. Gone was the idea that I had to have this perfect career path at only the best places of employment. Thinking about all that makes me tired and to be honest, bored. What my life needs is a little spice, a little creativity.

I am a free spirit who has been trying to fit herself inside a tiny, sterile box for too long. 

Now, this doesn't mean I am moving out of Washington. It just means that being here is teaching me more about who I am and where I would like the road to take me. 

So in sum, I see a modern woman as a lady who makes the choices that are best for her, despite what family, friends, society, and feminist theory may dictate as the "right" path. It's our privilege and there are still many women in the world who still need that privilege, so it is not something to be taken for granted. 

The Mysterious Allure of a Full Skirt

I have fancied a full circle skirt à la 1950s and 60s style for some time, and recently procured such a skirt from that fabulous online emporium, Etsy. The vintage skirt -- quilted black material with gold threads embroidered in a subtle, swirly design -- arrived last week to my delight.

After getting it dry cleaned, I chose to wear the skirt to work yesterday with a black turtleneck, black tights, and black heels. The only pops of color were the gold in the skirt and the gold locket around my neck. I must admit to feeling quite the sophisticate, something out Desk Set or, dare I use the common reference, Mad Men.

It was a cold, rain-filled day -- perfect for such an outfit that had considerably more coverage than most due to the fact that the only skin to be seen was my face and hands. My shirt was somewhat form fitting but not in a provocative way.

This is all to preface a most bizarre, yet not unpleasant experience that I cannot disassociate with this skirt. Yesterday I have never received more stares from men passing in the halls or "good morning, ma'ms."

One gentleman stopped me in the hall to say, "Ma'am, I hope this doesn't get taken the wrong way, but you are absolutely beautiful." Absolutely beautiful. I have to linger on that comment for a moment because I have never received such a compliment before.

Okay, now before you think, "Um, that is totally creepy and gross."  I have to say that I wasn't at all offended by this attention (especially because for once a man paying attention to me wasn't super old). Should I be offended? I've had offensive things said to me in the workplace before, and mostly in relation to my appearance. Those times I remember being was offended. But somehow, yesterday, I was amused and fascinated by the fact that I was receiving so much attention and that is was somehow related to this skirt.

Later in the day, a couple of guys in my office made jokes and references to my skirt -- one said it looked like a comforter, while another said it looked like curtains. In the context of their joking, again, I wasn't really offended because a) I am tough and b) the frequency and focus of their comments regarding my skirt suggested their fascination with it. One would think a particularly tight pencil skirt would draw more attention than a full skirt that betrays no hint of my body shape underneath. But perhaps, it was the full and total mystery of the shape that intrigued the men (for it was mostly men commenting, besides one female coworker who said "cute skirt!").

Instead of becoming incensed over the somewhat chauvinistic focus on my skirt, I just found it so interesting. Men conjuring up ways to bring my skirt into the conversation. It felt so silly.

Instead of getting mad, I just made jokes right along with them -- better jokes à la Tina Fey's method of mastering how to work successfully in a man's world, which is sometimes how I feel these days.

On Becoming a Professional Woman

Picture a Friday night in late summer. The air is thick and hot, and those August crickets are crooning their evening tunes. In an effort to stay cool, my fourteen year-old self can be found camped out on the hardwood floor of my family's two hundred year-old Maine farmhouse, watching television and enjoying a quickly melting bowl of cookie dough ice cream (as if there was any other flavor).

 

There's not much on, so I put in a video (yes, as in VIDEO CASSETTE) rented from my local video store (what is that, you ask?). The movie in question happens to be My Best Friend's Wedding. A Julia Roberts event. 

Over the next two hours, my eyes would be opened to a multitude of concepts I had rarely considered: the notion of being a successful, independent professional woman, the clothes you get to wear when you are said woman (note: while Julia's fashion in that film might be called into question in current times, the idea of wearing a suit of any kind intrigued me), what my wedding would look like, what my husband would look like -- aspects of being a woman.

 

Prior to seeing this movie, I had never really considered any of these things, focusing more on more adolescent pursuits.  But for whatever reason, this movie opened a floodgate of ideas about being a woman in the modern age. The image of Julia's character in that movie became a symbol, a beacon of sorts, that I sort of moved toward ever since that first viewing. 

A few months later, I saw the movie Stepmom. Another Julia extravaganza, this time a sad one. But again, I saw Julia play a successful professional woman who had done quite well for herself (loft in the city, Land Rover, nice clothes). Now I must admit that much of what had appealed to me in these movies are the material objects. Together they visualized a lifestyle that my teenage self thought she might like to have.

 

As I approach my late 20s, I feel in many ways I have become a version of that professional woman. But perhaps something better than Julia's food critic and photographer characters because I became me. Success and a comfortable life are still important to me, but I think the overt display of material wealth that once seemed attractive no longer appeals. I want to do well in my life but also live one that is modest and good.

 

I do see my beautiful new apartment and my new job in my new city, and cannot help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment of those adolescent longings. 

I achieved much of my independence and success on my own, but really, what I have learned is that this life of mine would not have been possible without the incredible people supporting me - chiefly, my parents. They are incredibly kind, loving, fair people. And my friends - all bringing something unique to my life and giving me incredible support and laughter.

 

All of this is to say that being a professional woman is about your independence but it is also about learning to acknowledge your vulnerabilities and accept help from those who love you. The riches that come from those connections can yield a wondrous existence for any woman.

Image found here. 

Woman Making the World Better

This week, TED put together a collection of their talks revolving around women's roles in the world.  I love the idea of TED - some of the smartest, most compassionate people spreading their message in 20 minute videos.  My mind is on somewhat of a rampage these days as it tries to figure out its purpose in the hopes that the final result will be meaningful to something bigger than myself. Below are some of my favorite talks, given by passionate women who are making the world a better place.





Sheryl WuDunn, co-author of Half the Sky (with husband Nicholas Kristof), takes about how half the world's women are missing due to discrimination in many cultures. She cites examples of how several women have overcome the prejudice of their society to see success and happiness. She also points out the importance of giving to something bigger than yourself - the responsibility to think in a global context.




Emily Pilloton is a graphic designer who founded Project H Design, a nonprofit design firm that helps people who might not normally have access to design services. Since becoming more involved in the design world, through blogging, I have often wondered how to mesh the beauty of a design technique with a humanitarian cause. Emily has done just this in the North Carolina. In impoverished, fading Bertie County, Emily and her partner Matt incorporated design elements into languishing schools, which has produced happier, more successful students. They have also worked with the county to design a message and look that will engage the community more and hopefully boost productivity and development in the area. She's doing good work and seeing the benefits as the result of her labors. An intriguing case study for the creative, compassionate soul.



Kavita Ramdas of The Global Fund for Women talks about providing aid to women, while also keeping in mind the traditions of their culture. This is crucial to any aid or humanitarian intervention. Paul Farmer knows this. James Orbinski (author of An Imperfect Offering - such a good read about humanitarian intervention) understands. And yet, so many aid organizations offer without any consideration of the cultural context. Ramdas does a good job of touching on this and sharing some poignant stories.



And then there's Jane Goodall. The woman was a secretary in England who was always passionate about chimpanzees. So, on the advice of a friend, she telephoned the Kenyon paleontologist Louis Leakey to set up an appointment to discuss his research.  Leakey was planning to study chimpanzees and great apes so he hired Jane as a secretary and later sent her to Tanzania. The rest is history. Jane is just charming in this video - intelligent, humble, and informative. A must-watch.

The Weekly Marginalian (Ep. II: Madeline Albright + L.M. Montgomery)

Hello! I have here the second episode of the Weekly Marginalian. I had some sound trouble with this episode, so I apologize in advance! I discuss the modern woman in the context of former Secretary of State Madeline Albright in the first part and then highlight Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery's incomparable ability to describe a natural setting and bring the reader to her beloved, enchanted Prince Edward Island. There is truly nothing like her writing.  Thanks for listening and have a glorious weekend!

 The Weekly Marginalian (Ep. 2 Madeleine Albright and LMM) 

Image found here.

The Weekly Marginalian (Ep. I: Journalism Meets Katharine Hepburn)

Friends! I bring you the first episode of "The Weekly Marginalian." After a few takes, I offer you the final product. It is still a tad rougher than I would like, but a honest attempt to provide my thinking through a new medium. I will also qualify the podcast by begging your pardon for using a clip from Saturday Night Live's most recent parody of NPR - it's not for the squeamish!

This first episode introduces the premise of the podcast and then divulges my feelings for public radio journalism. And believe me, I have very strong feelings! I end the podcast with a tribute to my favorite actress, Katharine Hepburn. I hope enjoy my first attempt at podcasting! Also, please give me any feedback about the program as I am always looking for ways to make it better!

Image found here.

A Woman's View of Afghanistan

The evening before the ninth anniversary of September 11th,  I attended a talk given by American photojournalist, Paula Lerner, who discussed the lives of Afghan women today. Lerner has collaborated with The Globe and Mail's (an excellent news source) Jessica Leeder to produce a series of multimedia presentations called Behind the Veil, a look into the experience of being a women in Afghanistan.  I highly recommend checking out all the website has to offer: vibrant interviews and on-the-ground knowledge of the current Afghan situation from the view of the women, who I believe are the most affected by the strife currently plaguing a country that has so captivated the Western world.

During her talk, Lerner spoke about her travels to Afghanistan and what it is like to be an American female freelance journalist reporting from one of the most dangerous places in the world.

Things I learned/realized from this talk:

• Due to Islamic customs, Afghan women are not allowed to be in the presence of men who are not their family members, therefore male journalists cannot report the stories of these women. Therefore, it is only the female journalist who can tell the story of the Afghan woman, which signifies the incredible importance of training intelligent, compassionate female journalists and sending them safely to places such as Afghanistan to tell the underreported stories of groups whose story might be missed due to local laws and mores.
• Security is at an all-time low in Afghanistan - the epicenter of danger residing in Kandahar. Kabul is relatively safer place, so Lerner has done most of her reporting there. The fact that the Behind the Veil takes place in Kandahar makes it all the more fascinating that a Western female journalist was able to report these stories of women who were brave enough to risk their lives for the interview.
• Despite the strict Sharia customs, Afghan women have found ways to make a living, mostly by sewing or beekeeping, both of which can be done at home and do not cut into the industries of men. An example of this is Kandahar Treasure, a soon-to-be online marketplace that sells the wares of Afghan women working to support their families. Their income means protection for themselves and also for their daughters. Young girls are married off when their family needs money. Additional income earned by Afghan women mean that Afghan daughters may have more time to be little girls. 

Much of the conversation after Lerner's talk centered around gender issues, and many people decried the chauvinistic, oppressive nature of Afghan men. On this point, I take issue about the often superficial level of criticism. I do not believe that berating the male gender will solve any problem (in fact, it may exacerbate the issue). Most areas in Afghanistan where Sharia law is strictly enforced are controlled by the Taliban, a select group of male extremists who instill fear through display of menace and force. An entire group should not be condemned for the actions of a few members. In fact, many Afghan men support the liberation and rights of women but might be killed if they voiced/showed their opinions too loudly. The situation for Afghan women is not black and white but rather a rare grey color not unlike the veil worn by a Kandahari woman as she discreetly makes her way down the street.

Photo credit: Paula Lerner 

Character Icon: Madeleine Albright

So I find myself in Washington trying to figure out how to make a career work down here. It certainly is anything but easy. It seems to end up being all about who you know and whose campaign you worked on. That's fine. I am making in-roads as I can. In the process, I have been listening to people's stories of success here and trying to figure out how I can write my own story.

I was strolling through the Smithsonian Museum yesterday when I came upon an exhibit of Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's pins, or rather, brooches. Each pin represents a significant time in her career and a particular diplomatic message: the large, glittering American flag she wore to visit Kim Jong-Il in North Korea, the dazzling bumblebee to negotiate with Yassar Arafat, or the gold snake pin she wore after Saddam Hussein's government called her "a serpent." Details of each pin are depicted in Albright's book, Read My Pins.

I found this use of pins fascinating, and stopped by a nearby bookstore to browse her biography. Not only was she the first female secretary of state in the United States, but she was the first female to hold that high of an office in this country.

Albright was born in Czech Republic (she became a naturalized citizen, but was never part of the nuclear contingency plans for the president), and moved to the U.S with her family when she was in her teens after living all over Europe. Her father, a diplomat, eventually received a teaching position at the University of Denver. Albright attended Wellesley College on a full scholarship, and after graduation, moved back to Denver and worked as an intern at The Denver Post, where she met her husband, Joseph Albright, part of a major newspaper legacy. After they married, the couple moved to Chicago, where they both continued to work in the media, which later took them to New York City.

After the birth of their twin daughters, Albright enrolled in Russian language and international studies courses at a local university. After having a third daughter, she eventually earned her Master's and doctorate from Columbia University (after moving between NYC and Washington in the 1960s).

Um, she had three kids and earned a doctorate degree...there are no words for my admiration.

After to moving to Washington, DC with her family, Albright made a broader foray into politics by fundraising for Senator Ed Muskie (of Maine) presidential campaign, and she later earned a staff appointment with his team. Her career then moved swiftly from congressional liaison with the National Security Council to working on a research project of Polish dissidents with the Smithsonian Institution (during which her husband divorced her for another woman).

In the early 80s, she taught at Georgetown University and became a foreign policy advisor for the Democratic Party. In January 1993, President Clinton nominated her to be the Ambassador to the United Nations (during this post, she was criticized for her language around recognizing the 1994 Rwandan genocide and supporting the UN sanctions of Iraq during the Gulf War). In 1997, she received the nomination to be secretary of state with the Clinton administration.

I go into such detail about her biography because I am so impressed. She began her professional career at 39, raising three girls and weathering a divorce. It proves that it is never too late to educate oneself, make career moves, and follow a dream that could make a huge difference in this world.

She also guest starred on Gilmore Girls. She pretty much had the ideal career.

Image found here.

Pounding the Pavement

Though I probably won't look as chic as her, I am running off to Washington, DC to pursue my career aspirations! I will pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, networking, begging, beseeching the Washington, DC job market to take pity on a poor, yet bright young thing. And I will not take no for an answer! I will try to post during my adventure! À Bientôt!

Image found here (via The Sartoralist).

The Hepburn Philosophy

Pure gold. We need more honest, sparky people like her.

Character Icon: Giada de Laurentiis

She offers some of the most delectable Italian recipes in the world and flashes one of the most brilliant smiles on television every week for her Food Network show, "Everyday Italian." She's Giada de Laurentiis and she's my Character Icon for this week!

I chose Giada because of a conversation I had with my mom a few weeks ago. My mom had mentioned that she always observes different people - some she knows personally and some public figures - and tries to emulate aspects of their personality that she admires. During this same conversation, she suggested that I look at Giada - someone who exudes such enthusiasm for what she does.

If you read the preface of her cookbooks, Giada talks volumes about her supportive family and their encouraging her to follow her passion: cooking. Her happiness holds authenticity because she has followed her heart and does what she loves. Hers is an enviable position. In looking at pictures of her in her cookbooks, she appears so ignited.

In that moment, I realized that I wish to emulate this same energy and joy. I set a personal goal to smile more in the hopes that my face will one day be primarily constructed by a smile large enough to showcase my whole life's happiness.

Not only is Giada enviable for her vivacious personality, but also her awe-inspiring repertoire of Italian recipes. I have been pouring through Giada's cookbooks this week and think I may try my hand at the Saffron Orzo with Shrimp from "Everyday Italian," a variation of which can be found here.

Image found here.

Character Icon: Katharine Hepburn

Ever since I read Zadie Smith's essay on Katharine Hepburn from Smith's latest collection of essays, Changing My Mind, I have been filling my Netflix queue with Hepburn films. Adam's Rib and Woman of the Year (both with her real-life, longtime love Spencer Tracy) have been the latest to arrive and I am expecting Stage Door and The Philadelphia Story next week.

I have always been a K.Hepburn fan since I saw Bringing Up Baby with Carey Grant. This film is a MUST SEE if you haven't already - hilarious!

In watching the films, I see why I have come to admire Hepburn so much - she's completely comfortable in her own skin. She's tough and smart, while maintaining her feminine wiles to flirt shamelessly with her male costars. She knows her beauty and charm are powers she needs to ascend within her society. And her character in Woman of the Year realizes that a dream career as a newspaper columnist is not enough without the man she loves, a partner in crime with whom she can spend her days. I love how she finds the balance of the two things I find myself wanting: a successful career and the love of a good man.

A style side note: Hepburn has savvy, enviable fashion sense (or rather the costume designers of her films have this sense)! My favorite is the black jumper she wears in the final scene of Woman of the Year:


Image found here.

Broken English

My friend Emily recommended the film Broken English to me. And I am so glad that she did. Parker Posey leads a quirky ensemble cast as she portrays Nora Wilder, a 30-something woman living in New York City with a liberal arts degree and a job at hotel that she hates. She feels unlucky in love until she has a random meeting with Julian, a Frenchman who traveled to the US for love and then lost. The center of the film is about their growing connection and navigation of each other's understanding about dating and being in relationship. He wants to live in the moment and just have fun. She wants to label it, lock it down, determine if this is for keeps or something to throw away. However, through their time together, Nora unwinds and becomes a calmer, freer version of herself. It is my guess that this is the person she always wanted to be and never had the right ingredients of people, place, and circumstances.

I resonated greatly with her as I watched the film. Both of us going through transitional periods, struggling with "what we want to be when we grow up," and then the inevitable quandary of a single woman in her twenties and thirties: will I ever get married?

But what I enjoyed most about this film is that, in the end, it became less about the man and more about the woman and her making peace with herself. Find the peace, and the rest will come.



Image: The New York Times

Lena

Last Sunday, actress and jazz singer, Lena Horne, passed away in New York City at the age of 92.

What a life she led.

Her most notable performance is probably "Stormy Weather," but her incomparable voice immortalized countless other songs. I have included some of my favorites in a little playlist below.

Source: The New York Times (image found here).

Isn't She Lovely?

This post is a little late because I was away from my computer this weekend.

I know my mom approves of this picture above, which is why it appears here and I am not in fear of my life for putting unapproved photography of her on a public site. She does not like to have her picture taken. Many of our family vacations consisted of my dad and me trying to take a picture of her, but she's so quick (many of them were derriere shots)!

But to the point! My mother is one incredible woman. She is beautiful, smart, kind, silly - a real definition of a free spirit.

And she's just plain cool. A line from a conversation we recently had. "Oh, Alien! I saw that movie in the 70s when I was counseling teenage prostitutes [in Boston's combat zone]."

Her eternal optimism - embodied through her glowing smile and golden hair - breathes new life into all who meet her. You meet my mom and you just feel loved. Instead of shaking hands, she gives you a hug.

She is ALWAYS there for me, even when we have the occasional disagreement. She never judges me and loves me in spite of my choices, good and bad. She tells me to believe. Her goodness is interminable. I am a most fortunate daughter.

Bensimon Ballerine

I have large feet. There's rarely a graceful moment for my expansive tootsies. Additionally, I am tall so you won't find me in high heels, or if you do, not for very long. I seek comfort, style, and quality in my shoes. I've been trying to save my pennies but I could not resist these Bensimon Ballerine flats. They were on sale and oh-so-French. Comfort and style for the upcoming summer.

What's a twenty-something, fashion-conscious girl to do? It'll be PB&Js for the next week and half!

This reminds me of a Carrie Bradshaw line. I used to buy Vogue instead of dinner. I felt like it fed me more.

Image found here. This is actually an image of a kid's shoe, but I ordered the adult size. Hehehe.