Women doing awesome things

In celebration of the beauty, grace, dignity, strength, and ferocity of the female body and soul, I wanted to share a collection of women doing epic and beautiful things.  I love these pictures!

Credits:
Girl drawing at the window  |  via Tujiko on Tumblr
Dancer Sofia Boutella  |  by Annie Leibovits via Nike Blog
French climber Catherine Sedtivelle  |  via WanderingPioneer.com
Beautiful breastfeeding doula  |  by Deck and Oar of Kim Guiley via Milk and Love
Woman writing  |  via Collections and Recollections
Female archer  |  via MCSG SYM
Girl kissing a cheetah  |  via Whole Lot of Lovely
Harry Potter gif  |  via James Francoco

Kitchen Experiment: Ice Cream Bread

I heard about this cakey, ice creamy, bready dessert first on this thread in Reddit.  I'd bookmarked the other recipes mentioned, but for some reason gave the Ice Cream Bread recipe a second look.  I talked it over with my sister briefly, and we decided it was a ridiculous idea.  So, what the heck, we tried it.

Peach Cobbler ice cream is supposed to be amazing in this recipe, but we only had lactose-free vanilla, caramel, and strawberry.  The lactose-free stuff is usually saved for my mom, and my sister thinks the caramel is too sweet, so strawberry it was.

I mashed the flour and ice cream together Cold Stone style.  It tasted like a strawberry Pop Tart.  It was also hard to mix very well, so I let it sit and warm for a while.

Once it was all moist and in the too-big pan, it looked more like it could be bread.

Here you can see clearly how the pan was too big or the portion was too small.

Tada!  After 45 minutes we had what Taylor likened to a scone and I likened to a biscuit or shortcake.

I think that, with the proper amounts of ingredients, the ice cream bread would come out more cakey.  As it is, I cut all the portions in half because I wasn't sure if I would like it.  Less food being cooked for the same amount of time prescribed in the recipe is what made mine an ice cream biscuit.

I put ice cream on mine.  Don't judge.

I'd like to try the recipe again with a different flavor and definitely with the correct portions.  I believe in its potential.  The stuff I ate just now is pretty good, but I'd really like to try it in its true form.

Happy Weekend and Recommended Links

This week I saw lightning his a traffic light in front of me, I met with 2 different recruiters who are going to help me in my job search, I built a résumé for my future brother-in-law, and I bought Ecofetti for people to throw at me and my new husband on our wedding day.  I also saw Man of Steel just yesterday, and I think it's pretty darn good.  I prefer Amy Adams in Enchanted, and some of the cinematography made me tilt my head, but it was very entertaining, it made me laugh, and it made me cry. (Actually, here's a non-spoiler secret:  There's one part that is exceptionally tense that made me cry in fear.  I have never cried in fear before.  What the heck?)

If you battle wanderlust occasionally, too, here's a great Pinterest board for you called Cultures from Around the World.  Well, maybe it won't be so great to get more glimpses into places where you are not, but you might like to see the pictures.

Here's an article by Colossal about an art/music exhibit where a girl makes music with her mind.  Watch the video and read the description.  They left me in awe of the intimacy and complexity of the display.  Amazing.

For anyone who would like to know, I can recommend Batiste's brunette dry shampoo.  It does its job of soaking up the extra oil in my hair when I haven't showered for a while, it blends in pretty well with my dark hair, and the smell reminds me of coconuts.

Here's a collection of interesting facts you probably didn't know.

One more thing... Will anyone wear these pretty clothes with me?

via Fashion with Aman Maryam

Wedding Plans: Collecting Centerpieces

I've been collecting small vases, jars, and bottles for my wedding.  I'll put flowers and vines in them, and they will be beautiful.  I especially like the look of so many different glass pieces together.  I've been keeping my eyes out for especially pretty ones, but everything I see in the store is much more expensive than everything I've seen in yard sales.  Thankfully, June is Yard Sale Season!

Here's the loot I got for $1.35!

What a steal, right?  I was so excited!  These bottles look so neat, and their small size will be a great addition to the collection! I love that seasoning bottle set.  They look so great.

This little guy even came with something extra.

And this is the way the two middle school girls running the sale packaged the bottles for me.  In a Victoria's Secret bag.  Made me smile.

Caleb stopped by a yard sale last week, too, and he picked up 8+ jars and vases that will work perfectly for $3.  I'm starting to get a rush from getting a deal, and I find myself hunting for Yard Sale signs on the country roads I drive into town.

A Variation on the Mori Fashion: Yama, the Mountain Girl

So another branch from the mori girl is the yama girl.  Yama, 山, means mountain in Japanese.  Some chicas have taken the natural vibes of mori and have turned them more rugged.  Hiking is a serious hobby in Korea, and I assume there are pockets of Japan that are quite similar.  And, a girl wants to look cute while trekking up a mountain, right?  So right.  Thus, Yama fashion: Colors beyond the neutrals, warmer layers, and usually more functional clothing.

Starting at the more serviceable end of the spectrum and tapering off int the more mori-inspired interpretations, here are some examples of yama gaaru (山ガール、mountain girls) in pictures.

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More Links for the Curious:

Yama Pinterest Board #1

Yama Pinterest Board #2

More hiking fashion

I've Had an Exciting Week.

Happy weekend, my friends!

Guess what I don't have to fret about anymore!!

This week I called my health insurance company for the 3rd time and discovered 30 minutes before my 3rd OB/GYN appointment that the really expensive option I was looking at would be covered completely.

An hour later, I was bawling and cursing in the car over the polymer + progestin rod in my arm with my sister smoothing my hair.  I had gotten Nexplanon.  I had made a well informed decision, followed through, and now there it was.  Hormones in my body.  That I still didn't want.

See, all of the stress and tension and frustration (not to mention the sleeplessness over the birth control dreams I was having) was finally given the chance to rise to the surface, and after a minute of anticipation, everything broke loose.  I freaked about the hormones.  I yelled at feminism.  I whined for Caleb to be there with me.  I screamed about how hard the decision was.  I fervently outlined how stupid it was that the standards of society deemed that the doctors actually complimented me as one of his more educated patients!  I condemned all of the other patients as ignorant and as a problem for women's health since they weren't there for me on the blogs to offer advice and information.  I ranted on how this shouldn't have been so hard.  I apologized to feminism and explained our new terms.

I used the F word.

Ugh.  It was quite a day.  And I got a killer bruise from it.  I also wrote a serious post containing my research and had many follow up conversations with people who messaged me privately.  Last night I even talked about the whole thing for half an hour with my mixed group of curious friends.

Here's one funny story that came from the whole ordeal.  God bless my sister.  She had no idea what was going on when I asked her to go into the examination room with me for my minor surgery for birth control.  She immediately objected and got more grossed out when I started to press her.  "But that's so... personal!" she said.
"Um, it goes in my arm." I said.
"Ooooohhh...."

Other [really] Fun Happenings This Week:

I got more excited than I probably should have that one of my future brother-in-laws asked me a lot of questions about the wedding and how he could help.

I gave him a hug when he told me he started growing a moss colony in the woods for me.

:)

Now.  Would someone please make this caramel macchiato for me?

via MiloAndMe

12 Facts About Birth Control That You Should Know

Oh. My. Goodness.

I had no idea how much I didn't know about birth control!  I've just made my decision on Monday, and I just stopped having bad dreams about birth control on Monday.  Now today I want to get all of my research out into the open so maybe the next girl will find it and get the information quicker.  Because gosh darn it, it was So Dang Hard to find all of this information!  I spent days hunting and gleaning and organizing, and I want my hard work to be used as much as possible, so I'm spreading it!

12 FACTS (that I didn't know):

Revolution in Turkey

By the way, guys, up to 250,000 people in Turkey have been protesting their government since May 28th.  I know social media sites are on fire with #OccupyGezi and the like, but I've hardly seen any of my friends taking notice of it, so I want to make sure you know.  Because it's important.
(6.5.2013 Edit: The total number of protestors has been raised to the millions.)

via an interview with a Turkish protestor via ROAR magazine

Gezi Park was due to be demolished to make way for military barracks/a shopping mall.  There is more history behind the park, but at the moment, it is one of the few green spaces in Istanbul, especially in the center.  It's also in the Taksim Square, the epicenter of culture and Westernization.  First, people were peacefully protesting the cutting of the trees by spending the night and reading and sitting in tents, but when police came to the park and started harassing the protestors, the protest grew to include more and deeper issues.

Islamization has brought about legislation restricting alcohol, abortion*, and public displays of affection.  The freedom of speech and freedom of press have also been restricted, and during the protests, the right to assembly has been dismissed by the police and government.  This is all led by the AKP (Islamist Justice and Development Party) with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan.  Read more on what's been happening on Wikipedia's page on the protest which will link you to other pertinent pages.

The Turkish Rebellion in 70 Seconds / Day 5 from Memento Mori on Vimeo.

What's astounded me about what I've seen in Turkey is how people from all walks of life are involved.  The internet includes Right, Left, Nationalist, Muslim, LGBT, and all other peoples in its list of supporters.  The pictures show many student-aged people, but I've seen a lot more middle-aged and eldery folks than I expected.  There are also pictures and reports of professionals getting involved up to their necks in the protest.  Lawyers are among the protestors collecting evidence of police brutality.  Doctors and medics are giving out their phone numbers to protestors and are treating the injured in the streets.  Families are opening their homes and emptying their fridges to provide food, and establishments are unlocking their wifi to allow access for protestors.

The Turkish government and police force's responses have been appalling.  Tayyip Erdoğan makes it sound like an annoying little skirmish from a minority of his people.  The nation's news sources have been broadcasting cooking shows and acting as if nothing is wrong.  The police have been assaulting unarmed protestors and have using using tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets.  Turkey's largest network provider has been pressured to shut down its signals in the areas with the most activity to weaken the protestors' communication.  Protestors have resorted to Facebook and Twitter or organize and share information.

I just want to make sure you know, because the world should know.  Police should be the protectors of the people, not terrorists.  The government should be addressing the protests candidly, not pretending they don't exist.  The people of Turkey have my support, and I hope the horror ends soon.  May it truly be a revolution.

*Abortion is wrong, but going back on legislation to allow it would cause an uproar in any country, so I of course mentioned it here.

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Police converge on girl in the streets [video]