doings | ten for may | recap

May isn't over yet, but I'm at the airport waiting for my next adventure to begin. Here's my recap

1. Plan and post at least one outfit photo to the blog.    Nope, didn't happen. Sorry about that. I'll try again next month. I'm just not much of a fashion blogger. 
2. Finish reading "I Married Adventure" by Osa Johnson (my new favorite!).    Yes! Read it and loved it!
3. Read one book on Winston Churchill (such a fascinating character).    About halfway through... Does visiting the War Rooms count?
4. Workout/Run three times per week.    Haha!  Oh my. Not even close, try again Abbe. 
5. Complete application process for Global Entry.    Yes. And it's a great status to have!
6. Attend opening night for Mom's Night Out - May 9th!    Yes!
7. Try four new recipes (any suggestions?).    Um... I made a few things. Nothing too blog-worthy. 
8. Continue to edit wardrobe down (I'm so inspired by this lady right now).    Yes ma'am. I bought a few things and have continued to get rid of things I don't wear or need. It feels so good!
9. Host one small party (because I just love a good party).  I was hoping to do something tiny and fancy, but no. Instead my family hosted 150+ for Memorial Day. Definitely not small!
10. Make something beautiful (my everyday goal).    Yes, I think so. Even if it's just cleaning something up, I'm in the business's of beautification. 

Not too shabby. A little over half way completed. I'm excited for June to begin!

What did you accomplish in May?

doings | ten for may | I married adventure

Meet my new favorite book.

A friend recommended this book to me.  She said it was one of her favorites and that it reminded her of an "Abbe book" and that I needed to read it.  I was instantly intrigued by the name.  I Married Adventure.  It sounded so romantic, and exciting and, well, adventurous!  I already knew I was going to love it.  Waiting for my Amazon order was pure torture, I spent the time reading anything I could find on Martin & Osa Johnson.

This book was just as incredible as she said it would be.  It's the story of a darling, plucky, 16 year old, girl who falls in love with a man who travels the whole world over.   Her husband, Martin was a filmmaker in the early 1900's and captured some of the earliest footage of headhunters and African wildlife and she not only goes along with his crazy plans, she fully embraces them.  I cried more than once as I read of her escapades, because her courage and joie de verve was so very inspiring!

At one point, Martin tells her that he's giving up his dreams of Africa and taking her home to Kansas and he's buying her a house with a picket fence.  She looks up at him and says "that's the dumbest thing you've ever said".  (Okay, I'm paraphrasing, can't find her exact quote...)  She knew that that wasn't the life for them and she loved living the adventure as much as he did.  She learned how to fly her own plane, which I might add, was painted with giraffe spots!  She shot wild animals, managed an entire camp full of men and scientists, never got seasick, hiked up mountains and still dressed for dinner.  She wrote that "it seemed to me that I owed it to Martin to look my very best no matter what the circumstances".

I love biographies because they tell the true story of someone who those who went before me.  I can see in the span of 400 pages, life, love, struggle, failures, success, happiness, and grief, a real telling of how real people lived and breathed.  You find similarities in your own life and it builds courage in your heart.  Far better than any novel.  In probably the sweetest paragraph in the book, Martin smiles and says "It's all nonsense"  "What's all nonsense?" Osa replies.  "This thing about cake.  Not being able to eat it and have it too.  We've been doing it all along."

Postnote:  Just because I'm a little crazy and did waaaay too much research.  This is the cover of her first edition book.  Isn't it gorgeous!  This book is now a prized collectors item and very spendy.  I'm on the lookout for my very own copy.

Have you read "I Married Adventure"?

thoughts | personality types

There's something you should know about me...

I get on these kicks where I'll find something new and fascinating and devote the next several weeks of my life to research.  Some might call it an obsession, I prefer to think of myself as a well-rounded individual.  Like that one time I read about honeybees for three months straight and mapped out a branding plan for my approximate, 3 annual jars of honey.  Or once, when I found out about this fabulous grocery store in the UK (Daylesford Organics).  How about anytime I plan an event?  Or read an article in the paper?  See also, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gone with the Wind and a random smattering of creative directors for clothing companies that most normal people have never heard of.

Anyway.

Several months ago I was doing some work-related research about Myers Briggs personality types.  About 20 minutes into my project I was just dying to know WHAT IS MY TYPE?!?!  Is there anyone who doesn't love these things?  There are quizzes for everything, personality type, love language, what is your temperament, what style of shoe best describes you, what flavor of frozen yogurt are you, etc.  In cases like this I would likely be a "quality time-kitten heel-cake batter-sour gummy worm" kinda girl.

It's a little narcissistic and yet fascinating at the same time.

On a deeper note, I believe that it might just be a desire that we all have to not feel so alone in this world.  To find another person who is "just like us".   To find our box and the people that belong in it.  To see that "our" weird isn't so weird after all.

And...

Since this is my blog, and I've already done the research AND I can write about whatever I want.  So here's the down low on personality types.

Take the test here...

It all bases off of four main factors: how you focus on the outer world (Extroverted or Introverted), how you take in information (Intuitive or Sensing), how you make decisions (Thinking or Feeling) and how you structure the outside world (Judging or Perceiving).  These four factors can be combined to make sixteen different personality types.

I'm a INFJ (Introverted Intuitive Feeling Judging).  My results were absolutely dead on.  I printed out all of the info that came with my type and started to highlight everything that was "me". Basically the whole page.  Mine is the rarest personality type, with less than 1% of the population being an INFJ.

Which leads me to speculate that my weird, might actually, in fact, be, quite, "weird".

My parents are to thank for this confusing twist.  And it's funny to me, because, I've always felt that I was the "girl version" of my dad (introverted) with just enough of my mother's (extroverted) personality to keep people guessing.  Something that is very common to the INFJ, as most people are surprised to find that they are not extroverted.  And I've actually had arguments (calm down, sister) with people over the fact that I'm an introvert.

In an instant I learned so much about myself.  The way that I process things and learn and interact with others.  I basically forced Brooke and Dan to take the test and their results were highly accurate as well.  We've also spent a good bit of time talking about how much impact growing up in a large family has on your personality.  In case your wondering, the answer is A LOT.

Then I started googling, researching, famous INFJs.  Who knew that Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice was one?  And suddenly it all makes sense.

Leave me a comment and let me know what your type is!

quotable | incredible

This is an honest to goodness compliment that I received last week.

Using lotion makes all of the difference in the world.

doings | ten for may | approved traveler

Several weeks ago, at the suggestion of one of my best friends, I applied for the Global Entry frequent travelers program.  It allows those who regularly fly domestically or internationally to bypass long security lines and go straight to a special, shorter line and keep on walking with shoes and coat on and with liquids and laptop remaining neatly in your bag.  Like some kind of famous person.

And really, who wouldn't want to feel that special when they travel?!?

After filling out the required paperwork online and waiting for my pre-approval to come through, I was instructed to schedule my in-person interview at the airport.  Dressed in a subtle "elegant world traveler" kind of outfit (dark denim jeans, black silk blouse, pointy-toed flats and Burberry trench), I arrived at the tiny office to find it was already packed out at 9:30am.  In the morning.

Apparently half the city of Chicago thought earlier was better too.

They called my name and my personal officer (okay, so maybe he was just the officer on duty, but for the sake of my story, lets just call him that), anyways...

"Officer Lew" asked to see my personal documents. Passport?  Check.  Drivers License?  You got it.  Official letter.  Right here.  Oh, you won't be needing my PADI Scuba Diver card, original social security card, birth certificate, parents birth certificates, baby photos, or resume, today???

Not a problem, I just like to be prepared.

Then I was photographed (I do believe that he could have cared a "little" but more about how my hairs looked) and fingerprinted.  Officer Lew complimented me on my fingerprints, which may just be the strangest and also best compliment I've ever received.  He went over how the everything works and then welcomed me to the Global Entry program.

And just in time.

I leave for Europe in nine days!

quotable | not even real

I think she meant to say "it's unreal".

Needless, to say it was a tortilla and cheese combo that was out of this world.  Her little 7 year old taste buds nearly exploded.

Let me know if you want her recipe.

doings | ten for may | mom's night out!

Mom's Night Out movie opened last night (one day early!) in most theaters across the US.  Since my mom will be traveling over Mother's Day, we (the five oldest, and obviously, most favorite, children) took her for a little pre-mother's day "mom's night out" celebration.  Haha!

I can promise you that we had a very casual low-key evening that included dinner, and a target run to pick up snacks and a home decorating magazine before the movie began.  Nothing crazy.  No lost kids, motorcycle gangs or salmonella.  Just a fun filled evening with sour gummy worms and diet coke.

I'm also happy to report that the movie was just as funny to watch the second time around.  My mom and the other moms in the audience (okay, so that was everyone... my poor brothers were the only guys there) were belly-laughing through most of it.  Go this weekend and be sure to tell me how much you love it!

Get tickets here!  http://www.momsnightoutmovie.com/theaters

quotable | pb&b

"Seriously, I can't keep up with you & your weird food addictions."

What my sister Brooke said to me after I mentioned that I was into peanut butter & bananas again.

If you're one of the cool kids on the twitters, you can follow her @BrookeAlline.  She's pretty funny.  And also likes to remind me that I am not a cool kid & therefore not allowed on the twitters.  Ever.  

I guess I should start eating normal foods like kimchi & anchovy paste.

doings | ten for may

Happy May Day!  I'm so excited that this month brings us closer to summer.  Here are a few things that I'm hoping to accomplish in the next four weeks...

1. Plan & post at least one outfit photo to the blog
2. Finish reading "I Married Adventure" by Osa Johnson (my new favorite!)
3. Read one book on Winston Churchill (such a fascinating character)
4. Workout/Run three times per week 
5. Complete application process for Global Entry
6. Attend opening night for Mom's Night Out - May 9th!
7. Try four new recipes (any suggestions?)
8. Continue to edit wardrobe down (I'm so inspired by this lady right now)
9. Host one small party (because I just love a good party)
10. Make something beautiful (my everyday goal)

Here's to successful endeavors!  

What's on your list for May?