Amelie

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I adore Amelie. My absolute favorite bit of the movie is the very end when Amelie and Nino ride around Montmarte on the scooter. The tenderness, the sweetness, the silliness, what is not to like? This weekend, I'll be dreaming of Paris and hopefully squeezing in a scooter ride around the countryside. Happy Friday!

What's Your Flavor

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I love looking for new blogs. I usually find them by clicking on the blogroll of my fav blogs. They usually have excellent taste. Sometimes, I stumble across a new blog after following links from a post. This is the case with the Enjoy Cupcakes blog. My starting point was this post on Oh Joy! Eats. I'm enamored by the airy-pretty-freshness of the blog's design. I also loved the posts about flavor boards. I've heard of inspiration boards when I was knee deep in wedding planning. The flavor boards are even more fantastic and whimsical. It's so fun learning where people get their inspiration.

On the Road Again

For my hubster, summer is his travel season. He's been on three business trips so far. Worst timing ever. It's the time when I don't have work to distract me from missing him. He left for Austin today and will be back Friday night. Not too bad. I have a bit of a ritual whenever he's gone. I usually make a dinner that he's not too fond of like Chile Rellenos and watch my favorite chick flicks. In the rotation of chick flicks, there are Pride and Prejudice, Amelie, and Dedication. Don't get me wrong. I need to give him the credit he deserves. My hubster has been such a good sport and watched all of them more than once with me. I just love watching them more than he does. To spare him the obligation of being polite for the umpteenth time, I watch them when he's gone. I love the picture above because it reminds me of this scene in Pride and Prejudice. Commence swooning over Mr. Darcy.

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Throwback Tuesday: Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon

A Lovely Weekend

During the week, I'm a bit of nomad. I hop between coffee shops, bookstores, and garden stores. For this reason, I love to spend the weekend enjoying our adorable little home. My hubster spends his week in a lab, conference room, or cubicle. For this reason, he loves to spend the weekend out and about. We're still trying to find the perfect compromise. I think we were pretty darn close this weekend. We went on a frigid early scooter ride to farmers market, met some mini ponies, made gigantic onion rings, took a nap, and flew a kite. The next day, we slept in, had a picnic, flew a glider, and walked our Tabatha in our patio. Love love love summertime weekends.

On Books

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What the books were in my life had to do with something much deeper, much more intimate, relational, personal, had to do with the soul. One person speaking to another out of the deepest part of the soul. - Richard Rodriguez, Author of Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez

"You Are My Best Friend. You Are My Only Friend."

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In the midst of our housekeeping frenzy, I took time to watch Mary and Max. I was definitely skeptical about it. The synopsis read: A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man with Asperger's living in New York. The cover art featured on Netflix also creeped me out a little. The verdict? I loved it! It's whimsical and tragically sweet. Their friendship forms over random facts, awkward questions, and chocolate delights of questionable taste. The wit and humor that supports the story is illustrated through the narrator's voice and is undeniably funny.

Make Some Time

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A few weeks ago, I finished A Wrinkle in Time. A long long time ago, a few friends told me it was the worse book that they ever tried reading as kids. I had been avoiding it for that reason. Then, I sat with some fifth graders last year during their reading group time. They were required to read it. The bits I heard were really interesting. My sentiments towards it? It's one of the most beautiful children books that I've read. I can see how as a kid it my bore you to death with all the philosophical quotations. As an adult, I've read a bit from many of those who L'Engle quotes in the story, so it's not as daunting. Here's one of my favorite excerpts:

Aunt Beast is a creature that has no eyes. She lives on a planet with other blind creatures.

'We do not know what things look like, as you say," the beast said. "We know what things are like. It must be a very limiting thing, this seeing."

Le Ballon Rouge

One of my all time favorite movies is La Ballon Rouge (The Red Balloon). When I was a wee one, I first saw it on the Disney Channel. I love that there is no dialogue and only beautiful music is used to tell the story. I totally think this is where my obsession with Paris started. This movie and the Madeline books.

Life at Starbucks

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I've been living at Starbucks for about 4 days. You must be thinking, "God, why?" Well, I carpool with my hubster. He has to be at work around 7:45 and I don't have to go to assist with that grad level class until 3:00. Thank god, they have free wireless here, and I love to read. It's not always idyllic. Here are a few things that I could do without.

• The guy who hogs all the bandwidth just to watch his videos. I'm talking about the guy with the beard and ugly blazer. Once he leaves, my wireless acts like it just got a shot of espresso.
  
• The creepy old men who stare at me and don't think that I can see them being a creeper.
  
• The men who use the unisex bathroom and don't put the seat down when they're done.
  
• The people who talk like Loud Howard. I know it's not a library, but you don't need to shout either.
  
• The lady who stuffed the toilet seat covers haphazardly back into the holder. No one will use them because you touched them. Just throw them away. Seriously.
  

*Thanks for letting me vent. I needed it. Two weeks and counting.

Les Petits Souvenirs

*Beach near dry forest in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

The weather here has been flat out ugly. I can't think of a nicer way to put it. The sun doesn't break through until around 2 in the afternoon at best. It's not only cloudy. It's also chilly. I'm wearing a scarf in the middle of July. I've been cheated out of my gorgeous morning drives along the ocean. If you can't tell, I have a major case of summer blues, which may explain why I almost ended up wearing blue every day this week. Good thing, I caught my almost folly. (In case you're wondering, I opted for grey today.)

To compensate, I've been reminiscing about all of our lovely vacations. As I sit in the coffee shop daydreaming, I notice that it's all of the smallest memories that come back with the greatest of ease and create the greatest joy. Here's a little list.

Hawaiian Cruise:
Roaming aimlessly along the streets of Kona, enjoying the warmth without any agenda. Trying to get the perfect picture of a salamander.

Mediterranean Cruise:
Eating a delicious chicken sandwich, looking at pink colored buildings and taking a photo of a French Toto.

Palm Springs:
Watching my hubster slide down on his butt on a snow covered mountaintop.

Bellingham, Seattle, & Vancouver:
Eating the best salmon dinner ever with heirloom tomatoes and watching the sunset from the old house balcony.

Costa Rica:
Looking at more stars than I can count.

New York City:
Sitting on the steps of the NY Public Library and people watching.

Chicago:
Taking pictures at the Bean and wishing it was a sunny day.

One of Many

Thank you Cambria for another lovely weekend. We never get tired of you. Hopefully, you never get tired of us.

"How Much Does Your Life Weigh?"

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Before we got Once, we watched Up in the Air. It had gotten mixed reviews from our friends, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Actually, I was happy that it got mixed reviews. Sometimes, I feel awkward if I don't like a movie that everyone is raving about. Totally unnecessary. I know. Back to Up in the Air, I'm not a fan. Not quite sure what it is. Maybe, it's because I'm not totally employed at the moment, and I relate entirely too much to the person sitting opposite of George Clooney's character. Maybe, it's because I know someone who lives that insane traveling life. Maybe, it's because everything that he wanted me to toss in my backpack and throw away is everything that is keeping me afloat. I know I'm supposed to laugh when he gives those ridiculous seminars, but some people really choose to live like that. If I want to watch a movie about the airport, I'll watch The Terminal even if it's a bit over sentimental at times.

My Name

So, I've been tormenting myself over this post. Trying to get it just right. I don't know how I got so hung up on it, but I did. Rewriting it over and over. Therefore, over thinking it over and over. I think this is my 4th or 5th go at it. Yes, it's been so many that I've lost count for the sake of my sanity. Why talk about my name? Well, the really really big kids had to write about their names last week. It was an activity inspired by Sandra Cisneros' House on Mango Street. I wanted a challenge. I've been so closed off lately, and I needed to open myself up once again. Here's the last go at it:

It's a love letter from my parents, a shadow, and a clunky pair of shoes that I needed to grow into. When I hear my name said in the room, I don't have to look around to see if the person is talking to me. I'm usually the only person in the room named Beatrice. A professor once told me that Dante was in love with a Beatrice, and he immortalized her in his Divine Comedy. I often wonder what it would be like to be immortalized in one of the greatest poems in history. Now, my name is on the cover of Yann Martel's second book. Yes, that's how I feel about it. It's my name. I have finally learned to embrace it, love it, and carry it well.

Throwback Tuesday: No Such Thing - John Mayer

Inspired By: Martin Wilson

*Found through Photojojo but check out his stunning site.

"What's the Czech for 'Do You Still Love Him'?"

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Before we watched Once last night, I couldn't remember the last romantic movie that we watched. I'm so glad that we watched Once. It was one of the best love movies that we've seen in quite awhile. There is not one single kiss in the movie between the two who are falling for each other, which would never ever happen in an American movie. There always has to be at least one kiss. Even though there are no obvious displays of affection, their love for one another is so evident. It's so genuine and sincere. As soon as Marketa Irglova popped on the screen, I loved her. She's got just enough spunk to make her a strong female character without being obnoxious. I highly recommend this simple endearing love story.

New Love: Japan

If you ask my hubster, he would tell you that my love for traveling is teetering on uncontrollable. He says my list is getting too long. It's to the point that he predicts that we'll be DINKs. If you ask me, there's nothing wrong with dreaming. I'm just curious how much of my list I'll actually accomplish.

My latest addition is Japan. Thanks to my middle school bff's mom, who is currently living there and posting amazing photos of her Japanese adventures on her Facebook, and my hubster's high school friend Jay, who has a wonderful blog that constantly inspires me.Over 4th of July weekend, my BiL took us to a Japanese supermarket for a little taste of Japan. I fell in love with the packaging of everything!

Un Grand Oignon

Purchased at our local grocery store. This bad boy is locally grown. He was delicious! Maybe, we'll get another one and make beer battered onion rings.

Really Really Big Kids

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Every summer, I always get a major case of cabin fever. My remedies usually involve making a bunch of crafts, reading, and watching lots of movies. This year, I decided to try something different. I asked one of my profs if I could help her with one of her grad courses. It's the same class that I took when I was in the teacher education program. She was kind enough to welcome me with open arms.

This week was my first week attending the two hour sessions. I love it. It feels like student teaching, but I'm learning how to teach a graduate level course. I'm still trying to find my footing, building rapport with them is a bit different than with the wee ones. Don't forget, I'm not that much older than most of them. I also still look like I'm in middle school. It's an Asian thing.

Today, we discussed one of my favorite readings, H.G. Wells' Country of the Blind. It's a really interesting allegory. Figuring out how it applies to teaching makes it even more fascinating. I've been asking the big kids some tough questions. I keep forgetting that I have a tiny bit more classroom experience. Woops.

At the end of class, I told my prof to feel free to give me any feedback. I would love to know what I should be doing more of or less of. Then, a future history teacher turned to me and said, "You ask really good leading questions." Right after, a future English teacher said, "Yea! When you sat with us a little bit, it was really helpful." How nice of them to notice and say something! My immediate response was, "You guys are awesome. You ask really great questions and share wonderful ideas with me."

I love teaching even teaching the really really big kids. I'm more excited than ever to get my PhD. I can definitely see a future after I'm done with the wee ones where I go back and teach the big kids how to teach the little ones. Have I told you that I love teaching? Well, I do.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are my favorite flower. One day, I just decided that they would be my favorite flower. Things haven't changed since that fateful day. When my grandpa lived with us, he grew a garden in our backyard one summer. Just for me, he grew sunflowers. Now, I think of him whenever I see them. Thank you grandpa for making that such a special summer.

Finished

Over Memorial Day weekend, we went to check out the chalk festival downtown. Luckily, I had some free time the day after the last day to see the finished pieces before people drove over them. It's remarkable to watch the process over the weekend and then be able to see them finished. Love this tradition!

Throwback Tuesday: Love At First Sight - Kylie Minogue

Catch Up: Al Fresco Shopping

Taken during one of our many shopping adventures 4th of July weekend. We went on one of our rare shopping binges.