The lost post.

The art of losing, they say, isn’t very hard to master. And just like every person on this planet I have lost something. People and places and memories that certain smells and seasons and dates unexpectedly bring back to me. I traded and bartered parts of who I am and who I was for bits and pieces of the people and places and memories I wanted to keep. Just like every person on this planet I have been hurt somehow. Smart enough to know better, but not smart enough to do better because I believe and dream and hope. And believers and dreamers and hopers are the exact kinds of people who push themselves too close to the edge of a very tall shelf just to take in the view.

We are fearless in the face of fear. We take chances despite the odds. We spin madly out of control with our heads thrown back on the merry-go-round, laughing wildly.

Just like every person on this planet I am learning how to forgive and remember that every person here has a heart and wishes and desires and wants just like me.

There is a box on the shelf of me somewhere. It’s contents? Nine yellow balloons. Two magnets. A field sunflowers happier far from the vase. A single jellyfish waiting to float away into outer space. I have returned the pixie dust to the proper jar, the spines of my books color-coded and aligned. Bedtime comes at reasonable hour these days, long before lavender daylight breaks and birds begin to sing, my dimples packed away, our herringbone anthology nothing more than a rind from a distant land.

In a hundred years they won’t will be telling the story of us.

If once upon a time, someone would have told me, in a certain tone of voice, “Some people will change you without your permission and you will never see it coming.”

I would still have done it all the same.

The world is

My “DRAFTS” folder is the untold story of Amy. I laugh, cry and marvel at the things I have – intentionally or unintentionally – left unsaid.  Each one a road trip that never came to fruition. Others road trips begun, but I only made it down the block.

I cannot recall many of them, which means they were the truest form of writing. Total and utter inspiration. A blip, a thought and then words. Life, interrupted.

I wonder about a blank e-mail titled “Thunderbird” or another called “Thursday” written on May 27, 2010 that reads only: “The world is”

No period. Just an open-ended statement, more profound in retrospect, I am sure, than it would have ended.

The world is

I’ll look for the rest of it one day.

Dyson

 

Stop advertising.

When you start helping people see their world differently,
you start making people care.

Do you want to advertise?
Or do you want to make people care?

Thought so.

Go find a way.

Gimme Gimme Gimme: Amy’s Guide to Holiday Shopping (from the comfort of pj pants)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Unless, of course, your definition of “wonderful” doesn’t include the general public acting like heathens in the pursuit of saving $7 on a kindle, in which case, you might as well start drinking now. Either way, Jesus is coming and you know what that means … it’s time to murder an evergreen and bring it indoors to appreciate the beauty of nature slowly dying in your living room whilst you wait for a fat stranger with a beard to exploit a team of reindeer (PETA alert!) before partaking in a little cheery breaking and entering by way of chimney and eating all your cookies.

Okay then.

As you head out to the far corners of the globe to deck the halls, roast your chestnuts and eat some figgy pudding, the laws of proper etiquette politely remind you to take along a gift for each hosting girl or boy on your list. Wine and flowers, though lovely, are played out. If you’re feeling a slightly more inspired, taking a little extra effort to come up with a unique, tactful hostess gift is a great way to show your host you didn’t just head straight for the wine aisle, rather you gave a little thought to selecting a gift as special as they are.

BUT if you’re too lazy, too important or simply can’t be bothered with things like this, you’re in luck, because I’m sharing my list.

When it comes to gift-giving, my favorite things to give (and receive) are the little niceties most people don’t indulge in for themselves. Simple pleasures that add a dash of luxury and indulgence to our otherwise hurried everyday lives.

Below you will find a non-exhaustive list of some of my favorite go-to gifts in no particular order, all available for purchase online which means no long lines, no germ-laden cart handles and no parking lot stalkers. My gift to you this holiday season.

For the Hostess

Linen Water ($16) | Traditionally used by French women to softly perfume linens and lingerie, the ever-so-gentle aroma of linen water has the power to take just about anything from wow to wowza. Mist your sheets, add a few drops to a steam iron or spray a cloth and toss it in the dryer to add a subtle hint of Provence.

Darling dish gloves ($13.95) | A $40 mani + hot, soapy water and scrubby pads does not a fabulous combo make. Gloves to the rescue! Unless you have the pleasure of a full-time house staff, chores are a necessary evil. Go evil in style, I say.

A sinfully indulgent bar of soap ($4 – $10) | There was a time I would have balked at the thought of paying $7 for a bar of soap, which makes it an extra delightful gift to give to others I know feel the same. Once you’ve indulged in the wonders of a quality bar of soap, it can transform a ho-hum daily shower into a private moment of daily rejuvenation.

Note: I’m uber picky about scents, but a sucker for a well-done grapefruit. Though slightly less exotic than some of the soaps coming out of Portugal and France, I have recently fallen in love with the World Market brand of bar soap. These large all-natural bars ring in at just under $4, making them a steal. The main WM website isn’t listing the new grapefruit scented bar yet, but I found it on the shelves of our local WM. All the yum-factor of high-end soaps at half the price.

Portugal |  France | World Market

Euro pillows ($21.99 each) | After a recent visit to the Ritz-Carlton (and one of the best nights of sleep I have ever had) I immediately came home on a mission to acquire my own pair of euro pillows. Go buy a pair and prepare for sweet dreams.

Thank you cards on quality paper ($15 for 10 cards + envelopes) |  In an age when e-mails and instant gratification are king and queen, there are few things more elegant and timeless than a handwritten thank you note arriving unexpectedly in the mail.

Crane & Co. has been crafting artisanal paper since the 1700s. If you don’t know them, meet them. Love them.

I have an soft spot for people with manners. A deeper affection yet for those who take the time to craft a thoughtful thank you message. I cannot imagine a better gift for a hostess or friend than a set of beautiful thank you cards. Go forth and be thankful.

Dish soap bottle ($9.99) | Despite my chosen profession, there are few things I find more blah than walking into an otherwise clean room and being distracted by packaging, branding or electronics everywhere I turn (that goes for you too, giant flat screen TVs!) A repurposed oil drizzler makes an elegant container for dish soap and replaces ugh-appeal with ahhh-appeal.

(Speaking of dish soap ... I may be a bottle-ditcher, but I do want to give kudos to Dawn for their Dawn Saves Wildlife program. In case you haven’t heard of this initiative yet, every bottle of Dawn dish soap is labeled with a code. Each time a consumer logs online and enters their code, Dawn donates $1 to a wildlife rescue fund. Over the past year Dawn has donated more than $500,000 to two different organizations helping rescue, rehab and release wildlife affected by oil spills. To enter your bottle code visit: 
http://www.dawn-dish.com/en_US/savingwildlife/home.do
)

Stackable Mugs ($9.99) | One of my fav hostess gifts ever. Inexpensive, charming and perfect for those short on cupboard and counter space.

A savory spread ($5) | I had the pleasure of having dinner with the Marcus family, owners of Grateful Bread in Houston, during a recent visit to Texas. From start to finish the entire meal was spec.tac.u.lar, but something about the tart cherry mustard really stole my heart (or taste buds, as the case may be.) Expect to see it turning up everywhere from party spreads to care packages. So yummy.

A set of cheese knives ($25) | Two years in a row I have found myself scrambling around town in search of a set of cheese knives at the 11th hour during the holiday season. Based on the fact that I was unable to locate a set at 5 stores and counting, I can only conclude hostesses around the country are doing the exact same thing I am – scrambling at the last minute in search of the proper cheese-serving utensils. Maybe we serve the majority of cheese during December, or perhaps the rest of the year we don’t care and serve it with a paring knife, but there is something delightful about having the just-right tool for the job. Whether you’re slicing cheddar for grilled cheese sandwiches or bits of manchego off the block.

In my universe, a party without cheese is a crime against humanity. Thus, cheeses make an appearance at all my parties. Since I do most of my hostessing beyond the Christmas season, I prefer not to be limited by holiday-themed cheese knives, but I do enjoy a little whimsy around the cheeseboard. I’ve been on the prowl for the elusive (and constantly out of stock) smiley cheese knives for quite some time. At $25 they make a perfect hostess gift and bring a little cheer to any celebration.

Table Topics ($25) | There are few things I loathe more than adult icebreakers, which makes this gift choice a bit of a surprise. The first time I played Table Topics was at a dinner party. The hostess placed a card under each plate. As we waited for dinner to begin, each guest took a turn reading their card and answering the question. It was a great way for everyone to get to know each other (or at least a quirk about each other) without the high-pressure hooha of dorky traditional icebreakers.

There is a version of Table Topics for just about every occasion, from family gatherings to girls night out, cooking to couples. Here are just a few of the questions you’ll find in the deck:

• What did you get into trouble for the most when you were young?
• What is your favorite family tradition?
• If you could name the street you live on what would you call it?
• What’s your family known for?
• What’s the dumbest argument you’ve ever had? (couples)

For the Person Who Has Everything

Glass bullseye sun catcher ($32) | Several years ago, my dear friends Steve & Jen Castro came to visit from New York. Much to my surprise, they arrived with a gift in tow that has gone down in the history books as one of my favorites of all time, my very own glass bullseye. The bullseye has survived three moves and currently resides in my bedroom window frame. On sunny days the light streams through and paints a colorful little circle on my bedspread. Something about the simple harmony between art and nature is so lovely. Whenever I see it, it gives me pause to stop and appreciate this small pleasure and reminds me of two dear people I am blessed to have in my life.

For Newbie Parents

Boon Snack Ball Container ($6.49) | No more spilled baggies. Put an end to pulverized cheerios. Bid farewell to sweaty cheese cubes once and for all. I feel like every child should come with an instruction manual…and at least a half-dozen Boon snack ball containers. Boon snack ball  is an innovative snack storage device that doubles as a toy in its off-time. If you have kids, go get a Boon ball. In fact, go check out everything Boon.

For the Dog-Lover

Day of Doggy Day Camp ($20 – $40 per day) | Pet parents face many of the same challenges as human-baby parents. Demanding dependents. Deliberate disobedience. Accidents. Feeding times. Needy, needy, needy. As a result, we feel the same sense of euphoric joy and freedom when we ship our four-legged campers off to camp as parents of two-legged campers do.

If you want to win your way into the heart of a dog-lover, buy them a gift certificate for a day (or week if you’re feeling saintly…) of doggy day-camp. Though I try to keep my pup close to home as much as possible, there are times when I know I’m going to have a long day at the office or a social engagement that will keep me tied up. Those are the days I am beyond grateful to have a place I can drop off my little buddy and let him spend the day running himself ragged with a pack of 20 of his closest furry friends instead of missing me (and/or chewing the blinds up out of frustration…again.)

HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service (aka microchip registry) ($20 per year) | I’d be remiss if I didn’t include HomeAgain as an awesome gift for every pet lover. Once the pet has been microchipped (I think I paid around $75, but many shelters and humane societies chip for around $50) keeping the chip registered in their database is less than $20. Gifting a pet loving friend a year of registration = major brownie points. Especially if Fido gets any crazy ideas about staging a jailbreak and goes on the lam.

For Lil Ones

Animal stickers ($14.55) | I’m not sure if stickers are still cool, but if not, I think these stickers by Cavallini may make them cool again.

For Coffeeholics

Knitted coffee cozy ($14) | Snug as a bug in a mug.

For the Mixologist

Penguin cocktail shaker ($39.99) | So charming you might even be able to overlook the slight gross-factor when the bartender pours your cocktail out the penguin’s mouth.

Put a Sock in It! (rather, put this in your sock)

5 stocking stuffers done right…for under $15

Bacon band-aids ($9)

Robot Ice Cube Tray ($7.99) [ On a similar note: Denture ice cubes ($12) ]

1001 Facts that Will Scare the Shit Out of You ($12.95)

Lil Lewis N. Clark Luggage Tags ($7.99)

Liquid Bookmark ($11.99)

GOOD THINGS FOUND HERE

Perpetualkid.com
TouchofEurope.net
UncommonGoods.com
ThinkGeek.com
FredFlare.com

30-30: The Plan

When I was a little girl, I had certain notions about life mile-markers.

I thought every 16 year old had the pleasure of driving off into the sunset on their 16th birthday. I thought at 18 I would have total and utter control over my life choices. I thought everyone was married by 26. Bought a house by 28. Was smuggling baggies of cheerios into church to keep toddlers happy by 30.

As it turns out, I was wrong. At 16 I failed my drivers test. At 18 the only thing I had total and utter control over was the radio dial in my car. As for the rest, well, that’s a story for another day.

Life, as it turns out, is nothing like what I expected at 5 years old.

If we do a little creative math (the only kind of math I do) it is fair to say that in 9 months I turn 30. In light of this astounding/horrifying revelation, I have decided to do what I do very well … make a list, then write about it. In tough times and busy times, happy times and hectic times, I turn to list-making and writing. List-making is zen for my left-brain, writing appeases the more verbose right-side. Win-win.

Taking a cue from my dear friend Betsy, I have decided to do a 30-30 list. As 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of my arrival to this most delightful planet, it seems only fitting that my list follow suit.

The 30-30 list will include 30 simple things I have never done before. These items are to be completed by 11:59 p.m. on August 14, 2012. The clock starts ticking on January 1, 2011.

1. Pay for a stranger’s meal at a restaurant
2. Try tomato soup (with a side of grilled cheese and a pickle)
3. Attend “Lumberjack Days” in MN
4. Volunteer somewhere outside my comfort zone
5. Order Cristal
6. Take an actual camping trip (ugh)
7. Karaoke
8. Visit an alpaca farm
9. Interview 30 interesting people (and blog about them)
10. Organize a twitter fundraiser
11. Write 30 anonymous letters and stuff them in 30 random books at the library
12. Attend Rocky Horror Picture Show live
13. Be a witness at a stranger’s wedding in Vegas
14. Pick up the check for my parents’ meal
15. Send something anonymous and let the mystery live on forever
16. Take a train somewhere
17. Put my bare feet in the Atlantic Ocean
18. Go vegetarian for a month (and see if it sticks for longer)
19. Visit a Renaissance Fair
20. Launch a message in a bottle
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Ten open spots remain on the list. They have been left intentionally blank. I am hoping that you, my dear reader, will suggest something amazing that I simply cannot turn 31 without trying during my 30th year of life. Post your suggestion in a comment and it may end up on the list.

Ready? Go!

What say you?

15 Spooktacular Wines for a Happy Halloween

Planning an after hours adult celebration once you send your sugar-crashing ghost and goblins to bed? Meet 15 Halloween-worthy wines who came ready to stand on their own …or pair with a side of monster mashed potatoes.

 

Return of the Living Red

 

Devil Blood

Vinaceous Wines: Spooky in a creepy sideshow kind of way

What’s Cooler Than Being Cool? Being Loved.

Ice cream! You scream! We like you! We really like you!

After living Columbus for nearly 4 years (Whoa. Where does time go?) and hearing about Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream at least once a day, a few weekends ago I finally broke down and made the trek from my suburban haven to the nearest Jeni’s hub to give it a whirl and find out what all the hype was about.

Boy had I been missing out! I would have kicked myself for not trying Jeni’s sooner, but I was far too busy shoveling spoonful after spoonful of “Backyard Mint” and “Salty Caramel” into my face. YumYum.

As I stood out front eating, watching a line 30 people deep snaking out the door patiently at 9:00 p.m., I had to ask myself – what was REALLY behind the powerful local love for Jeni’s?  The ice cream was spectacular, but is dessert really enough to warrant a love response? Ask almost anyone in the central Ohio area where you should go for an ice cream fix and 9 out of 10 people will invariably respond with a very enthusiastic: “Jeni’s!” They will then proceed to list all the Jeni’s locations around town, draw you a map to each and include a listing of Jeni’s flavors you’d be remiss if you didn’t at least sample.

And that response is more than a like. It’s a love.

Conventional wisdom tells us like attracts like, so does that mean love attracts love?

And where does love come from? The heart. And though you may not find it on the menu, Jeni’s has a whole lot of that.

So what really makes Jeni’s so (pardon the pun) cool?  The short answer is: their passion. A passion that defines them. A passion founded in community. A passion that takes prides in product and people.

With their mantra “pasture to table, cow to cone,” not only does Jeni’s embrace a sense of shared ownership with the farmers, growers and producers who work with them hand-in-hand to bring their flavors to life – with humble splenditude, Jeni’s invites their patrons to become a part of that shared ownership, too. Suddenly it doesn’t matter if you’re a dairy farmer, a mint grower, a delivery driver, a staff scooper or the customer on the other side of the counter – you are simply a part of IT.

A local success story with an outpouring of love for the locals, Jeni’s Ice Cream is a product of community. And the community feels that love and loves them back for it.

“Here we are,” Jeni’s says, “This is us. Hello. Meet our staff. Our cows. Our growers. Come into our kitchen. Let us teach you. We want to learn from you. You’re not just a customer, you are our neighbor. Learn what is important to us, and why what is important to you is important to us, too.”  Armed with a solid product and a welcoming openness, Jeni’s invites their customers to meet the local hands, hearts and hooves behind each scoop and cone, meaning it’s no longer just that ice cream, it’s our ice cream. And they’re not just those people, they’re our people.

I hopped on Jeni’s official blog this afternoon and chuckled at the photo you will find at the top of this blog post (courtesy of gloriously talented foodie photog Stacy Newgent … who could make burnt toast look good.)

Upon further reflection, I began find a quiet (or, as the case may be, not-so-quiet) wisdom in that photo. When you’re doing something right, when you’re inspiring a fan or evangelist or liker or supporter or advocate or whatever you want to call them – that’s how their love should look, no? Like a freezer stuffed full of living proof that doesn’t just mumble “I like you,” rather screams “HELL YEAH I LIKE YOU! MOVE OVER FROZEN WAFFLES! MAKE WAY ICE CUBES!”

The freezer in that photo isn’t just a fan by name, it’s a fan by action. It’s a fan who wants to bring YOU to a backyard BBQ, an unexpected visit from an old friend, a breakup, a makeup, a Tuesday afternoon for no good reason at all.

So, if you asked ME to define what makes Jeni’s so special in one word, I’d simply respond: passion, but maybe not in the way you’d expect. Jeni’s passion is ice cream, but the passion that really defines them, is the passion others wrote, and continue to write, on their behalf. With each happy customer – a neighbor becomes a fan, and a fan becomes an author of that story beyond Jeni’s doors.

For as long as I’ve lived here, I don’t recall a time I’ve ever seen an advertisement for Jeni’s. I’ve never seen their name scrawled on the side of a bus. They don’t have some guy dressed up as an ice cream cone passing out coupons on the sidewalk to passerbys. What Jeni’s is really famous for comes from the people who love them and pull, root and cheer for their success…one scoop at a time.

Getting Carded.

14 business card designs to give your business card an inferiority complex…

YUM | YUM

Amy Taylor: Sucker for a mixtape since 1981.

Lightning Bugs

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” Mark Twain

20-Somethings That Make Life Joyful

I turn 29 on Sunday. My last year of the twenties. Sigh. But less sigh that I will sigh on my first year of the thirties.

This year I decided I would give gifts to you. Except that would be expensive. So you’re getting warm fuzzies instead. Warm fuzzies and a list of twenty-something things I vote you simply can’t live without.

As Julia Child (my August 15th birthday twin) once said: Bon appetit!

Bacon Bandaids

In the infinitely wise words of Homer Simpson, mmmmm bacon. Thanks to bacon band-aids, it is now possible to indulge in the wonders of bacon without the feelings of immediate post-consumption guilt that accompany a breakfast which easily dings in with a 4-digit calorie count. Also available in: toast, sunnyside-up egg and waffle. Seriously.

Wine Cork Recycling

Wine lover with a guilty green conscience? Check out the cool things the forward-thinking greenies at Yemm & Hart are doing with recycled wine corks. From flooring materials to cutting boards, they have reinvented the cork’s life-cycle. Pop your corks in the mail and send them off on a new adventure rather than a trip to the dump. Be sure to check out the eloquent commentary on the “Wine & Cork Connection” on the Yemm & Hart website.

Velvet Tango Room

If you only have on cocktail in your life…make it a cocktail at the Velvet Tango Room. One of Cleveland’s best-kept secrets you’ll only want to share with your favorite people. Shhhh….