Valentine's Day in Review

I know that Valentine’s Day is old news by now, but I want to take a moment and express how loved I have felt this holiday week. Valentine’s Day has held a fond spot in my memory since the days my mom used to fill pink bags with goodies and place them at the foot of our beds before we woke up on Valentine’s morning. I remember keenly the feeling of warmth and security on those mornings, knowing that this simple, lovely action was a symbol of my mom’s love for me. Thank you, Mum!
 

This year, the festivities started last weekend. I received two packages, from my parents and from my church family, in one afternoon.

The sweet and savory goodies inside were delightful, but it was the handwritten notes in each package that brought back the warm fuzzies from my childhood.

Bible verses and personal messages told me that I was a unique person, cared for and prayed for by many back home.

That same weekend I also received cards from two important women in my life: my sister and my grandma. There are few loves as dear as the bond of sisterhood, and these thoughtful gifts reminded me of that.

On this Valentine’s morning I had the opportunity to create a little magic of my own for some adorable children. I played my harp at a toddler-mother tea party in our Dining Commons. What a joy it was to watch the little girls in princess gowns and the little boys in sweater vests play tag around the tables, while their mothers tried to snatch a few sips of tea and mop up spills and sugar from the pink tablecloths.

 And let's not forget those dorm valentines.

The pièce de résistance occurred on the evening of Valentine’s Day. At nine o’clock I stumbled out of my evening class to find my fiancé waiting for me with a half-dozen red roses. We grabbed a snack at a self-serve frozen yogurt bar, and then relaxed for the rest of the snowy evening in my uncle’s Jacuzzi.

The widespread sentiment among my generation is an animosity toward Valentine’s Day. “Happy Single’s Awareness Day” was the most common greeting around campus this week. And I understand the feeling: we all crave love. It’s what we were made for. And while romantic love is wonderfully fulfilling, I think that we zero in on one specific aspect of love and forget its multiple meanings. This week I’ve experienced love with family, friends, strangers and my fiancé. Perhaps we shouldn’t think about ourselves so much when it comes to Valentine’s Day; perhaps we should spend this holiday showing others our love for them.

I’d like to close with a prayer that I also consider the most encompassing passage about love that’s ever been written. For love is not something that originates in us—it’s a gift from our Heavenly Father:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

-Ephesians 3:14-21

Recovering Retro: Rag Curls Part 2

Since yesterday’s post, popular demand has motivated me to share an in-depth tutorial for rolling successful rag curls. The following method works best for my hair, so if you find a better way after experimenting with your own hair, more power to you! I also thought of a few tips that might make your first attempts better than mine were. So here you go: step-by-step instructions and helpful tips. Enjoy!

Step 1: Patiently let your hair dry to that perfect, nearly dry stage. My mom used to describe my hair as “bone dry” when I reached this stage, I’m not really sure why. If your hair is too wet, the curls won’t set properly and will probably end up more wavy than curly. Of course, that may be what you’re going for. But I know I hit the right ratio of damp to dry when, the next morning, I have bouncy curls that spring back when I pull on the ends. It’s addicting, so watch out!

Step 2: Part your hair from side to side, the way hairdressers do when they cut layers, and clip the rest on top of your head. I find that curling in layers from the back of my neck to the top of my head yields the fullest, most even crop of curls.

Step 3: Divide the loose hair into sections, and smooth or comb it so you won’t have many knots tomorrow morning. Grab a rag curler and get ready to wrap.

Step 4: Begin wrapping at one end of the curler, leaving a tail on the curler to tie later. Wrap the end of your hair tightly around the curler, TOWARD the direction that you will be rolling. This means that the thin ends get buried beneath thicker layers of curl, so they stay put and don’t slip out while you sleep.

Step 5: After securing the ends thus, grab the ends of the curlers in each hand and begin rolling. Roll all the way up to your scalp, or stop wherever you want the curl to stop.

Step 6: Tie both ends of the rag together over the top of the curl. If you tie it under the bottom, the curl will unwind one layer and the tie will end up on the top naturally, so it will end up looser than you intended.

Step 7: Once you’ve curled one layer, unclip your hair and make another parted layer. Work your way up your scalp, leaving the hair on the top and sides of your forehead for last.

Step 8 (optional): Spray with hairspray or smooth down the individual curls with desired hair product. I just let mine dry naturally, because I usually keep the curls for two days and don’t want my hair to get greasy from leaving in hair products. For tips for freshening up your curls for two-day wear, read on!

So it’s 6:30am the next morning, and you’ve pulled all the curlers out and have those great, bouncy curls billowing around your head. You look like Shirley Temple. Now what?

This is the time to shape your curls and make them less extreme, since people don’t actually wear Victorian ringlets anymore. If you’re going for that look, just try shaking your head and pulling on the springy ends (I told you it was addicting). But if you’re like me, you want a LOT more taming than that.

I start separating the curls, one at a time. I usually don’t separate them more than once, because tons of small curls are harder to manage. Thicker curls also weight down your hair and slowly unravel, making the coils less extreme.

After separating a curl, I comb it. Yes, you heard right. I actually brush my curls. But there’s a special technique to it. I first learned this tip from a delightful youtube page, The Lipstick Diaries. If you want to check out the brushing tip, plus another fun tutorial for heat-free curls, go here.

I use a wide-toothed comb and start at the bottom tip of each curl. I work my way up the entire length, meanwhile holding the curl in one hand and twisting the strand of hair in the direction of the curl. After I've removed any tangles and smoothed any flyaways, I twist the curl a little more, this time sliding my hand all the way down its length. If the curl is too frizzy, I spread a dot of product on my fingers and repeat the twist-and-slide step.

Taming rag curls does take time, but once you get the hang of it you get into a rhythm. Just keep twisting in the direction of the spiral, and you should be fine.

Rag curlers are great for long-haired ladies because they set so firmly that you can “recycle” your curls for a second day. To preserve curls overnight, braid your hair loosely, being careful not to separate the curls that are still intact. The next morning, just repeat the comb and twist routine. I find the curls often look even better the second day because they’re looser and more natural. If the hair at the top of my hair is flat, I often put my day-two hair into a ponytail for lovely cascades of loose curls all day.

Day-old curls: still look pretty good, don't they?

For another hair texturing tutorial, check out this post on Carolyn’s blog, my sister site—literally!

I hope you found these tips helpful. Again, please send along pictures of your retro rag curls!

Recovering Retro: Rag Curls

I don’t own a curling iron. My hair gets enough split ends without applying heated metal appliances. More importantly, my hair is as flat as a mohair carpet. The only way to give my hair some texture is to curl it when it’s damp and let it dry overnight. My perfect solution: rag curlers.

I was always intrigued by the Bennet sisters’ bed hair in the BBC Pride and Prejudice (love!). It looked like they had bits of ribbon rolled up in their hair, and I didn’t understand why. I also didn’t understand how they had perfect ringlets clustered around their face every single morning. Then I put two and two together, and realized with some urgency, “I need to get me some of those!”

Strips of cotton fabric = curlers

Inspired, I made about two dozen rag curlers. Then I took a luxurious shower, toweled my hair dry and waited for the slightly-damp-almost-dry stage. My hair’s almost three feet long, so I had to wait for a while.

Let me tell you, it takes time to get used to the rolling step for rag curlers. The curls don’t stay tight and the ends slip off, or the curl doesn’t dry because it’s been rolled up in too many layers of hair. My first couple attempts were mixtures of triumph and failure. But I think I’ve finally figured out the strategy. I’ll let you decide for yourselves.

I made curlers by cutting strips of old cotton t-shirts. I made a lot, and cut them to various lengths. I tend to use the longer ones, go figure. But if you decide to make your own, use whatever length suits your hair. Just leave enough room at the ends to tie them up.

 Caterpillar curls!

Why is this retro look worth recovering? One, it’s eco friendly: we’re recycling t-shirts! Two, it’s pain free: no restless nights in painful curlers before a big date or picture day. Three, it’s healthy: say goodbye to dryness and breakage caused by heated hair appliances. Four, it works for long hair: even after walking to and from class in 13 mph winds, I still have ravishing, tightly-coiled curls. And five, it’s adorable. What other reason do you need?

Toned down a bit

Send me pictures if you have success with your own, homemade rag curlers!

Thrifting: Gas City (I'm not kidding)

For those of you who enjoyed a day off for MLK Day, how did you spend your leisure time? My fiancé Scott and I spent several hours exploring local flea markets in Gas City. My upcycling fervor, paired with his passion for collecting, made it an ideal date. We checked every nook and cranny for interesting stuff or good bargains. We ran across a vintage Singer sewing machine—I mean, this thing was OLD. It was made of solid metal and its fabric-covered wires were frayed through. Several lovely china cabinets and a vintage croquet set caught our attention as well. Scott examined their coin collections, but his experienced eye didn’t approve of their selection or their deals.

We did have a bit of success, however. Scott came across a Library Companion edition of Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. We found it noteworthy for three reasons:

1.       It was printed in 1927. Although it’s nowhere near antique, and is printed on average quality paper, we appreciate the charm of old hardcover books and have started a library of similar volumes for the day when we establish our own home

2.       The cover art inside and out is delightful. From cowboys to the Queen of Hearts, the illustrations depict scenes from classic literature and American history.

3.       Alcott was one of my favorite authors during childhood and beyond. I have never read Eight Cousins, so I am looking forward to adding another title from this beloved authoress to my reading list.

Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott

Nail polish in 'orchid'

Gorgeous engagement ring from my wonderful fiance! Look at it sparkle...

We each scored a personal find as well. Scott found a rookie card of a pretty famous football player, which he is quite pleased about. And during the last few minutes of our outing I stumbled upon racks and racks of nail polish, which I assume were leftover from a discontinued line. I bought six bottles for 15 cents a bottle. Not bad.

Polish colors from back to front: Lagoon, Ambrosia, Salmon, Orchid, Champagne and ridge filler

Forgotten Foods: Hazelnuts

I’ve been in love with the taste of hazelnut since eating my first Nutella toast when I was a little tot. My siblings and I would smear the delicious, creamy chocolate-hazelnut spread on toast, covering every crumb from crust to crust. I’m sure you’re thinking, “What a nutritious breakfast…” Don’t worry; it was reserved as a special indulgence when we visited Ena and Opa, my maternal grandparents. Mom didn’t start buying it for us until I was in high school. That was a joyous event in our household.

Hazelnuts via Cookstr

This nut lends itself well as a partner for several flavorful perfect-pairings. For instance, hazelnut is one of my all-time favorite coffee flavorings. It’s my go-to flavor for lattes and iced coffee. And the heavenly combination of hazelnut and chocolate becomes a tempting indulgence. This afternoon I've been savoring the hazelnut-crème and hazelnut-almond chocolates from a box of Merci I received for Christmas. I’ll say it again: chocolate paired with hazelnut is heavenly.

Merci via Flickr

During my three-month stay in Ireland last spring, I noticed that many Irish dishes include this rich, sweet nut. Hazelnuts were featured in combinations that most casual American cooks might find unconventional, from meringue to dinner salads. One of my favorite hazelnut dishes can be found in the Avoca Café Cookbook 1, an excellent resource for contemporary dishes from Avoca, a gourmet café and home wares chain (only in Ireland and the UK: let’s start a petition to bring it to the US!). I encourage you to try this recipe out at a potluck or dinner with friends. People will try it just to be polite, but they will probably also discover an affinity for the sorely overlooked taste of hazelnuts!  Here’s the recipe:

*note: you may have to do a little math to convert the measurements. It’ll sharpen your brain!

**also note: the Avoca Café Cookbook 1 includes a recipe for homemade French dressing, which is called for in this recipe. I would highly recommend purchasing a copy; it’s a delightful cookbook!

Broccoli, feta, hazelnut and cherry tomato salad

4 oz hazelnuts
14 oz broccoly florets, bite-sized (I used about 1 3/4 c)
14 oz feta cheese, cut into bite-sized pieces
8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved (about 1 c)
7 fl oz French dressing

Toast hazelnutes on baking tray for 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees farenheit. Tip them into towels and rub off skins (or use pre-chopped hazelnuts--they're less expensive--and toast them slightly). Allow to cool, then put nuts in bowl with broccoli, cheese and tomatoes. Gently toss with dressing and season with salt and pepper. Makes about four servings


Enjoy!

Change...It Started Long Ago

I recently finished reading the travelogue Out of Africa. A paragraph from that book lingers with me after closing its pages and sliding it into the recesses of the library return desk. Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke describes the changing landscape of Africa as she prepares herself to depart from that beloved continent:   

Now the country disengaged itself from me, and stood back a little, in order that I should see it clearly and as a whole. I have before seen other countries, in the same manner, give themselves up to you when you are about to leave them, but I had forgotten what it meant. I only thought that I had never seen the country so lovely, as if the contemplation of it would in itself be enough to make you happy all your life.

                                              -Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen

African Sky via FreeHDWallpapers

These words are much like my travel philosophy. Within the past five years I have visited three European countries and many places within my own. A particular few have gripped me fiercely, like Africa gripped the baroness. In such cases fate is set: the traveler immediately returns its possessive embrace, discovering every nuance in each land- and cityscape and fashioning beauty even from its rugged, frightening shadows. But one never truly sees a place until faced with the realization of parting with it—by stepping away from its embrace to view its own entity, separate from oneself. The traveler departs and the land remains, its cycle of life unfazed.

The grand irony is that each new place cannot be totally separated from the traveler. Each vista strikes a new chord in the human heart, provoking deeper thought and fresh ambition. I am tied with threads to the places I have been and to the people I have encountered there. Some ties are better called ropes; but even threads, when pulled, tug at the soul. I am changed by each new face, word, even sip of coffee. For better or for worse, journeys change us all.

Ireland (taken by me)

The purpose of this blog is to document my journeys and pass on their lessons. Not all journeys require buses, trains or airplanes—in fact, most require little more than an open mind and obsession with creating. Books, conversations, film, festivals, food, self-reflection, large windows…All can be portals to a journey that enlivens the soul. If I can be challenged and changed within the confines of a dorm room or restaurant kitchen, anyone can.

This blog got its name from my favorite portal: Grandma’s closet. I lived with my grandparents as a commuter during one semester of college, and the closets in the house soon became iconic of my mission to recover the value of tradition, heritage and home for my wandering generation. From vintage red-hot boots to unwritten family recipes, grandma’s closet has showered me with treasures that symbolize this, my newest journey. The simplest things often have the greatest power. Come along for the taste of freshly baked pie, unconventional projects and hopefully an entertaining rant or two.  I have only one disclaimer: neither of us will ever be the same.

Monarch (taken by me)