http://www.flickr.com/photos/booleansplit/ / CC BY 2.0

I feel terrible. I have no photo documentary on my ravenous pig culinary experience. You may be able to excuse me when I say that the fresh-out-of-the-oven gruyere biscuits with sea salt butter and the cooked-to-perfection-burger with blue cheese and perfectly- caramelized-into-a-spread onions  taunted me. I was thinking with my taste buds and not with my camera. But this gives me an excuse to go back very soon!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nate/ / CC BY 2.0

In addition to my new found passion for the gastro-pub concept, I have uncovered my love for breakfast. I know. I know. Breakfast: the most important meal of the day. I’ve been skipping it since 1998. I thought filling myself up with coffee instead of breakfast would boost my metabolism and cut my calories. All of that changed this weekend when I prepared a bowl of steel cut oats with a light sprinkling of chia seeds and a fruit medley.  It was this weekend that I became super woman.  After my workout, I biked 13 miles in a single afternoon and I wasn’t hungry again until long after my usual lunch time. In conclusion, I want to give a warm welcome to breakfast into my daily routine.

Last (and maybe even least) on the list of things I loved this weekend is the Super Bowl. While I am not a big fan of football, I am a huge fan of the awesome company, loads of junk food and inevitable comic relief that comes with Super Bowl Sunday. This year on the comic relief menu: my promiscuous puppy.

the one on top is mine...hehe

I hope you had a lovely weekend and I promise that in the next month (or two!) I will return to the ravenous pig and give you a REAL review with photos of the truffled fries and everything!

What a week! I have been counting down the minutes until Friday since Monday morning at 7:30am.

I’ll admit that having all of these guest bloggers imparting their wisdom on my blog has made me a bit lazy when it comes to the blogosphere.

I would love to provide you with a photo-update of the apartment garden, I don’t have any photos [yet]. But as a teaser, I will have you know that the basil is in full bloom.  While this means that it’s healthy, it also means that I pluck those pesky little white flowers from it’s tiny little leaves on a daily basis. More on this later.

Also soon to grace this blog is my upcoming visit to Winter Park, Florida’s only gastropub, The Ravenous Pig.

Well enough of me telling you about what you will eventually see here. I need to get some photos taken and share the wealth! In the meantime, check out what’s on the menu tonight!

Have a lovely Friday.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shinealight/ / CC BY 2.0

I am proud to present yet another wiser today wednesday courtesy of Talia of T-Recs and Faux Boheme. (Busy lady!)

Sit back, enjoy the show and do not forget to email me if you are interested in being featured in wiser today Wednesdays!

Year of college graduation: 2009

Lessons learned in the classroom

1. The rule of three in storytelling and design. This might sound simplistic, but just recognizing that things – stories, patterns, composition – need to have a beginning, middle, and end has shaped  the way I see the world and the way I work. Whether I’m writing a blog post or planning a project, I now keep in mind these rules so that I have a balanced end result that feels finished and coherent.

2. How to find the right voice for the writing project at hand. Writing marketing copy is a lot different than writing on your personal blog. You don’t want to use the word “deliquesce” in a product description of a children’s toy. The variety of projects I had to write for in college – from writing copy for the film festival I worked at to crafting screenplays for student productions – taught me that it’s important to find a voice that speaks to your audience and for your subject best.

3. How to navigate New York City. While this was probably the first thing I learned in college, once I tackled that I felt like any other city would be easy to handle. As a result, I’ve been a lot more fearless about traveling on my own and seeing the world as far as my puny budget has allowed.

3 things you wish you had learned in college:

1. I wish I had taken some business or finance classes. I think it’s unhealthy to just concentrate on the creative side of things, but as I try to teach myself business concepts post-college I find myself wishing I had a professor to lead the way.

2. Physics. I’ve never taken a real physics class and I’ve always found it fascinating. Plus, maybe I’d get more of the XKCD jokes without having to Wikipedia them.

3. Spanish. It’s a useful language, especially when people assume that you know it because of your coloring anyway.

3 Important life lessons you learned during college:

1. When possible, do things the hard way. You’ll learn more and be less afraid of future challenges.

2. Just because information doesn’t have an immediate practical advantage, doesn’t mean it hasn’t shaped your thought process to make you a better thinker and decision maker. You might never need to know the results of that photosynthesis experiment again, but the scientific method will color every decision you make in the future.

3. Always carry a notebook and pen. Always.

3 Important life lessons you wish you had learned during college:

1. The cute “I’m only in college so I didn’t know better” thing won’t fly in the real world.

2. Sometimes efficiency is more important and profitable than creativity for creativity’s sake.

3. Innovation comes when you need it, not when you want it.

Thanks Talia for imparting your wisdom upon us!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivyfield/ / CC BY 2.0

to read?

Seriously. I’ve been working on the same book that I vowed to read before the end of 2009.

I’m just not that into it.

It just so happens that I am into Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. (I’ve been on a health kick 30 days and counting.) It just so happens that I can purchase the ebook for half price! But when will I have time to read it, if I don’t have time to read anything that is already on my to read list?

Despite considering myself to be technology savvy, I haven’t quite jumped on the ebook bandwagon. There’s just something about putting down my iPhone when I get home and picking up a real paperback. There’s something about the lack of tangibility of an ebook that irks me.

The thing is, I never put down iPhone. It dawned on me today that maybe I can make time for reading if I’m carrying a “book” with me as I wait in line at the grocery store or wait for a server in a restaurant. Maybe if I can read a page or two every time I’m waiting, I will actually finish a book some time this year.

I’ll admit, I tried an ebook once and it didn’t work out. Maybe this time will be different. Maybe this time I will see the inherent value in having a book without carrying the book around.

Maybe this time next week I’ll have an update on how my reading of The Omnivore’s Dilemma [ebook] is going.

I am so excited to have Molly guest blog on wiser today Wednesday! Her blog, my name is yeh, is on my daily must-read list and we share a freakish passion for cheese. Molly hasn’t graduated from Julliard yet (yes Julliard!), but while she’s been there she has learned a lot! Without further ado, I present to you, Molly!

my first day of college! (mum MADE me take this.)

Date of graduation: Hopefully 2011. eeeck that is too soon!

How to sing half diminished chords up and down in every inversion and every key. KILL ME ABOUT THIS. For my first two years of school, I had the craziest ear-training teacher. In fact, people started calling it fear-training.

World percussion! I’m a classical percussion major (meaning xylophones, timpani, snare drums, triangles, etc etc), but I am also exposed to so many different styles from around the world! Last week I came into my private lesson and said to my teacher, “teacher, I want to learn middle eastern drums.” And so I had a two hour lesson on the doumbek and riq. Then, today, I had conga class and learned about rhumba (did you know that rhumba and rumba are two completely different things?!) and mambo and bembé and salsa! Oh it was so fascinating. Also, a few months ago the cymbal player from the London Symphony gave a class, and I learned that London cymbal technique is about the polar opposite of American cymbal technique. I am totally dorking out right now, I’m really sorry.

Writing. I have to take one non music class per semester. My school doesn’t offer any math or science classes (I don’t know if that’s a bad thing or a good thing), but I’m in this AMAZING creative writing class. I love it. I feel sort of weird about having to write fiction, but that’s only because I’ve never done it, and it is getting more and more fun!

When in doubt, go to yoga. Self explanatory.

Things I want to learn before I graduate

How to be a girl in a male dominated field. I’m nice to the guys, they think I’m flirting. I’m mean to them, they think I’m a total bitch. I try to be one of them, I’m being too manly. WHAT GIVES?!

this is a picture of only some of the instruments used in that recital!

To play more pieces that use a lot of instruments. My sophomore year, I gave this recital that used probably around eighty different instruments- no joke! Oh, it was so much fun. I don’t know anywhere else where I could have pulled that off. Before I graduate, I really want to feel like I’ve taken full advantage of my school’s instruments and performance/rehearsal spaces.

The kicker: something I just recently learned, but am still working on sustaining- and this is one thing that I would like to pass on to everyone reading this…

No matter how much I feel liked I’ve failed in my work, or how much I feel I can to better, I will not let it affect my overall happiness. I used to really beat myself up about not doing well in auditions, or not playing my best in a concert… I would tell myself that I didn’t deserve to enjoy something because I didn’t do well in something else. And I would do silly things like reconsider my career plans because I didn’t play well in a class or something.  It was unfair and unproductive (maybe it was productive for my playing, but not productive for myself). A conversation with my friend Josh, and a Ben Folds song made me realize that if I’m always going to try to be the best at everything, I’ll never be happy with who I am or my accomplishments (that song, by the way, is called, “There’s always someone cooler than you.”). That’s not to say that I shouldn’t always try my best- but, it’s possible to do that and not let the outcomes affect my happiness.

Thank you Molly! This was absolutely enlightening, charming and entertaining. I hope to you have you back for more guest blogging soon!

-L

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijames/ / CC BY 2.0

We’ve all have had them. Well…I hope that we all have had them.

memorable professors

The reasons that they were memorable differ. However, at various times throughout your life you’ll be reminded of the lessons you learned and the memorable professors you learned them from.

Some of my favorites include…

a high-energy, absolutely hilarious business law professor. His mission was for everyone to succeed in his class and to actually learn something while succeeding. He may have given away the occasional answer to a multiple choice question or two on test day. He made everyone laugh which, in turn, made everyone remember what they learned through laughter. Business law was the only college class for which I still have my notes!

a young PhD student who felt my pain. My last semester in college I has to take the infamous capstone class which required one long, stressful and complicated project. A few of my teammates abandoned ship when I needed them the most. I emailed my professor in a panic at nearly midnight on a week night. He called me within 5 minutes (despite the fact that he was home with his wife and children). He told me not to panic and that we would rectify the situation.  Maybe a caring professor (or boss) is not a “real world” experience, but the world would surely be a better place (at least for college students) if it had more caring educators and employers.

a young go-getter who pushed her students to find their inner creative genius and use it in combination with typical business skills (i.e. budgeting, planning, marketing, advertising). I did my best work in that class. In academics, there is no better feeling that taking a step back and admiring your work. A professor who pushes you to do the kind of work that your future employers will be impressed with, is a memorable professor.

Which professor do you remember or which professor will you remember?

Christina at Lights. Camera. Drama.

(Holy. Blog. Envy.) (Love Christina’s blog like whoa!)

Year of college graduation: 2009

(Congrats on your graduation Christina!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cleopold73/ / CC BY 2.0

I’ve been busy! Busy cleaning my house and busy brainstorming in preparation for Chasing Education’s first guest blogging series!

I asked some of the great bloggers at 20-something-bloggers to help me with the brainstorming and Amie handed me a perfect title for this series of guest blogs. And so, it is with great excitement that I present to you:

Wiser Today

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ektogamat/ / CC BY 2.0

Stories of what you’ve learned and what you wish you would have learned sooner. Whether you’re a college graduate, a college student or you’re just learning your lessons from life, you’re wiser today than you were yesterday and you’ll be wiser tomorrow.

If you are interested in participating, contact me as chasingeducation@gmail.com.

If you have suggestions as to how to make this series more interesting, comment!

The first post should be up in the next day or two–get excited!

I have been so moved by the many individuals who have made small contributions towards the relief effort in Haiti. These small efforts have turned into monumental contributions.

People everywhere want to know how they can help. Do you want to know how you can help?

If you haven’t yet decided to make a contribution, put yourself, your loved ones and your family in this position. I know that not everyone is in a place to make a monetary contribution, but your time is just as valuable as your money. Check out local charities that are sending aid to Haiti. If they haven’t already started looking for volunteers to help sort food, clothing and other donations, they will be looking for them soon.

If you’ve decided to make a contribution, deciding which organization to donate to can be overwhelming.

Here are my suggestions

The Help Haiti Blog Challenge: If you provide products or services and would like to contribute a portion (or all) of your profits to the relief effort in Haiti, check this out. If you are participating in the Help Haiti Blog Challenge, please let me know, as I would love to promote your work.

Direct Relief International in collaboration with Reddit.com: Reddit users were concerned about what their contributions would be used for. In response, Reddit did some research and partnered up to ensure that 100% of donations go directly to the relief effort. Reddit’s contributions are already on the way.

Individuals doing big things

Naomi @ the Rockstar Diaries

Isabelle Debrosse Hardesty @ Debrosse Hardesty Etsy Shop (For more Etsy sellers who are contributing proceeds to disaster relief check out apartment therapy.)

Jenn @ IndieFixx

Do you know someone who is doing something wonderful to contribute to relief efforts in Haiti?  Are you doing something wonderful to contribute? Please share!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photomishdan/ / CC BY 2.0

School started yesterday for Florida colleges and universities.

Not for me.

I’m not going to school this semester, because I need to prioritize. I was supposed to take the semester off to get my grad school application in order. While I have plenty of time to do this (and I halfway intend to do it), there are so many other priorities I need to organize. (Organization: the theme of 2010)

I need to find the motivation to search for a job that will give me the type of experience that I want.

I want to work for…

• A company that encourages team work and promotes morale  (I want to be a part of something!)
• A company that supports higher education and can [occasionally] be flexible with their employees schedules in order to accommodate the pursuit of higher education
• A company that provides a service that enhances the lives of real people
• A company that not only encourages communication between peers and upper management, but requires it
• A company that can justify major decisions with sound logic
• A company that listens when employees have something to say
• A company where upper management actually has an open-door policy and they make a point to make you feel comfortable so that you will actually use that open-door policy when you need to

Since I graduated with my Bachelor’s, I have learned a lot about myself and about the kind of environment that is not good for me. What I’m looking for in a company is a direct result of what I have experienced over the past two years. Fear is not an effective form of management. Instant gratification is no way to accomplish long term goals. When morale is lacking, so is hard work

Maybe once I find this [possibly fictitious] company, it will be easier to pursue higher education knowing that my employer fully supports this. Though it pains me to put off school, this is likely the best choice for my sanity.

But before I can find my perfect company, I need to find my motivation.

P.S. If any of my former college professors are reading this, I would really appreciate a letter of recommendation for my graduate program. I’ve been calling and emailing you to no avail. I will make it worth your while! (Cookies, cornbread, spanakopita, whatever strikes your taste bud’s fancy!)