Gatsby and Daisy

This weekend I saw the “Great Gatsby” with some friends. Although the film has received luke-warm reviews from critics, I liked it. It was visually beautiful and the story was for the most part, faithful to the text which contains some of my favorite quotes including the  final sentence of the novel: “So we beat on, boats against the current bourne back ceaselessly into the past.”

But it’s the symbolic “green light” that got me thinking the most after this movie. In high school, when I first read Fitzgerald’s novel, I probably thought my “green light “was “getting a pair of guess jeans,” or  having a boyfriend (neither happened!). But what does it mean to me now? I think my ultimate dream is, of course, Jackson. I want to raise him to be happy, healthy, kind, respectful (you get the drift). But what is MY dream for ME? What is your dream for you?

What is YOUR green light?

I think for me, outside of being a MOM to JRB it is my career. I want to work with brands and companies that make a difference. I want to help people find solutions to problems and dream up new ideas that make people’s lives, better, easier, more fun.. And that is how we come to making scrapbooks out of barf bags on morning TV for “You & Me This Morning” on WCIU-TV.

Scrapbook made out of Barf Bags

The full clip is here. Many thanks to Melissa Foreman and Jeanne Sparrow of “You and Me this Morning” for having me on. Enjoy! Love and Shoestrings, Beth

When I was growing up ~ I was the ditsy one. I was more interested in the mall than running student government (like my sister). I was more interested in “Knott’s Landing” than studying Math  (like my brothers). For me, reaching goals meant getting a pair of Guess Jeans or a colorful Espirit sweater, and paradise? Well that was  sitting at the pool at my grandmother’s condo in Ft. Lauderdale reading the latests and greatest from Sidney Sheldon (The Other Side of Midnight ~ in case you need a good beach read).

When I got to college a few things changed. I fell in love with reading and writing, and looked forward to classes where I would learn about Great Books and Authors (especially American literature). I discovered classics such as The Great Gatsby, The Sound and the Fury and A Farewell to Arms (my all time favorite book) are not that different than Sidney Sheldon and Knotts Landing  after all. I mean what is more heart-wrenching and soapy than having Henry walk home, in the rain, after Catherine dies from a routine surgery. And I realized ….I was a lot smarter than I thought!

Take for example my “travel abroad” experience. While most of my friends went to London or France or Hong Kong and despite the fact that I had taken French for 8 years and could read French novels (though really I must admit, my speaking ability was somewhat ~ terrible) I decided to study in GREECE.

I was in love with mythology (the ultimate Soap Opera) and had seen “The Greek Tycoon” and I was sure that during my study abroad experience, I would lean about Aphrodite, do on some archeological digs and ultimately fall in love with a shipping magnate who would appreciate my “down-to-earth” charm. What ended up happening was I learned about Aphrodite, I went on some archeological digs and I fell “in love” with a dude who sent me an apron as a gift  with a note that read: “To our future.”

Needless to say, I left Greece with an deep appreciation and love of the culture, history and food. As for teh men, well let’s just stick with the food. My favorite discovery was Tzatiziki which I am convinced makes everything taste better even store-bought, 100 calories veggie burgers.

The great thing about homemade tziatziki is it looks like you made an aeffort even when you didn’t  because it just involves opening up a container of Greek yogurt (I’m partial to Stonyfield but use what you like), adding diced cucumbers, a handful of dill, a dash of lemon juice and some garlic. I might not be able to go back to Greece these days and I am still not that interested in wearing an apron (unless it is really chic like this one ) but as I sit at my picnic table on this sunny day eating my veggie burger with homemade Tzatiziki, I’m almost there.

Here are 2 more fun pictures from my semester abroad in Greece. The first one is of our group enjoying a meal on the island of Crete. My luggage was lost for about 3 weeks so all the clothes I’m wearing are from “The Plaka” (the outdoor market in Athens) you gotta love the high waisted jeans.

T

Studying Greece, not too shabby (or ditsy) but taking a picture with our fingers in my mouth…well that might be ditsy!

Happy Cinco De Mayo! In our house, WE LOVE Cinco de Mayo as it’s a wonderful way to celebrate the Mexican culture and learn something new in the process! This year we are going to make a pinata (which will be ready next week ~ so stay tuned for pics) and enjoy chips and guacamole. Since I am trying to lose 5 Lbs BEFORE bathing suit season starts, I have a little trick that is also Dairygood…add 1/2 – 1 cup of non-fat greek yogurt (I am partial to Stonyfield, but any Greek yogurt will do) to your favorite guacamole recipe (or store-bought guac) ~ it reduces calories, adds protein and calcium. Oh and did I mention, it tastes GREAT?  Love and Shoestrings, Beth

What’s your favorite activity for Cinco De Mayo?

A perfect morning breakfast

When I was in college, my favorite thing to do was eat breakfast outside. I’d grab a waffle, some coffee and a  cup of yogurt and  head out to the front porch of our sorority. I loved the way the light reflected off the leaves and how quiet it was in Sorority Circle, as most of girls were still sleeping. Sometimes, I’d bring out the San Francisco Chronicle or San Jose Merc, and sometimes a friend of two would join me as we talked, ate and people watched.

These days I try to eat outside as much as we can. JRB loves it too. Sometimes we sit on our front porch and watch the men and women pass out house (in a hurry) as they make their way to the train station, while the middle school kids gather at a nearby  bus stop. Other times, we eat in the backyard on our old picnic table. That’s what we did this morning. JRB ate a bowl of “JRB MIX” (Raisin Bran, Rice Chex, Cheerios and milk) while I enjoyed me very own concoction: Stonyfield Greek Yogurt Coffee Parfait. Recipe: Yogurt, 1 tsp of instant coffee and 1 tsp of sugar or sweetener and a strawberry for good measure. A perfect way to start the day. try it for yourself and lmk what you think! Shoestrings and Hugs, Beth

I am a BIG fan of audio books, especially when it comes to stories for children and if it music is intertwined with the story, even better!

“Kanu…a Boy’s Journey” by Jonathan Brown is even better. Written and Performed by Brown who not only tells the story but also plays the percussion instruments that accompany the tale, The CD tells the story of Kanu, mischievous African boy’s risky adventure through the dangerous jungles of ancient Africa.

It is a fun story your kids are sure to love!
Shoestrings,
Beth

So happy to announce that Danielle from Cooks and Travel Books is back and this time she is talking about My kind of town…Chicago!!!!!!!!!!!

I just love Chicago this time of year. The weather is warming up after a bitter cold winter, so it’s an ideal time for a family outing. During the spring or summer months, your family can’t miss these top five Chicago attractions.
Brookfield Zoo
The Brookfield Zoo is always an enjoyable and educational place to take your children, but what you really want to check out at the zoo is Dinosaurs Alive! It’s been featured in years past, but this time the dinos are bigger and better than ever. Two dozen life-like animatronics will have your kids staring in wonder. Your family can even check out the paleontologist section to learn about dinosaur bones.
The Field Museum
If your kiddos are afraid of the dark, ease their fears with the stunning “Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence” exhibit at the Field Museum. Dim lighting allows your family to see the secret glowing world that comes to life at night. Fireflies, jellyfish, glowworms and other creatures with their own nightlights make an appearance in this unique family-friendly exhibit.
Navy Pier
For over 100 years, families have come together at Navy Pier for a beautiful, fun-filled day on Lake Michigan. From the Ferris wheel to the funhouse to the Transport FX motion thrill ride, there’s no shortage of family activity. Although the 4th of July is a great time to celebrate, time your visit right and you’ll see fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday nights throughout the summer.
Looking Glass Theatre
If your kids are a little older, introduce them to some mind-blowing theatrics at Looking Glass Theatre. I love the adaptation of Still Alice, based on Lisa Genova’s bestselling novel. See it now through May 19, 2013. If you’re visiting Chicago later this summer, hit up Big Lake Big City, a comedy sure to have the family bent double with laughter. This show starts June 19, 2013.
Farmer’s Markets
Want to teach your kids about the benefits of eating farm fresh? Give them hands-on experience with more than 70 vendors at farmer’s markets around the city. Whether you want fresh fruits and vegetables, plants and flowers, or delicious baked goods, you’ll find it all here.
By checking out these fun attractions, you’ll love the Windy City as much as I do. Plan your trip and get exploring today!