Auld Lang Syne ~ to a very happy new year!

This is my favorite version of Auld Lang Syne.  I've been enjoying a brief blogging hiatus for the holidays.  I'll be back at it in the new year! Happy New Year! 

On reading. . .

"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." 
― Mortimer J. Adler

 

Weird Christmas Tradition Wednesday

10 UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Note: The original post is courtesy of Open Journey and can be found here.

Christmas is celebrated (and not celebrated) in countless ways around the globe. Some decorate trees, hang mistletoe and drink egg nog while others go out to the movies and eat Chinese food. Then there are those that display pooping figurines, hide all the brooms in the house or roller skate to mass. Read on for some of the world's strangest and most interesting Christmas traditions.

Austria

Photo of Krampus, Austria © annia316

If you thought that being on Santa’s naughty list was the scariest thing to happen around Christmas, you’ve never heard of Krampus Night. Krampus is Santa’s evil twin whose job is to beat and punish all the children who have misbehaved. On December 6th men dress up in some of the scariest devil-like costumes you can imagine and drunkenly run around towns hitting people with sticks and switches. The Krampus legend originates in the Germanic alpine regions and is widespread throughout Hungary, Bavaria, Slovenia and is especially popular in Austria.

Spain, Portugal and Italy

Photo of Celebrity Caganer © daniel.julia

Photo of Caganer © Mtiedemann

A traditional Christmas tradition in parts of Spain, Portugal and Italy, is to set up a model village of Bethlehem. Along with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, a Caganer, or “Shitter” in English, is placed in the scene. The Caganer is a figurine, traditionally of a man, in the act of defecating, pants around his knees bending over with pile of feces at his heels. He is usually placed in a corner, perhaps because he needs privacy. The Caganer has been around for a few hundred years and in recent times it has evolved from a traditionally dressed man taking care of business to figurines of celebrities, nuns, politicians and Santa Claus.

Czech Republic

On Christmas Eve, unmarried Czech women practice a traditional fortune telling method to predict their relationship status for the upcoming year. If you’d like to give this a try, here’s how to do it: Stand with your back to your door and toss one of your shoes over your shoulder. If it lands with the toe facing the door it means that you will get married within the year. If it lands with the heel facing the door, you’re in for another year of unmarried status.

Catalonia

Photo of Caga Tio, Catalonia Spain © Toniher

Caga Tió, the pooping log, is a bizarre and widespread Christmas tradition in Catalonia. It starts with a hollowed out log, which is propped up on four little leg-like sticks and then painted to have a face. Every night, beginning December 8th, Caga Tió is “fed” and covered with a blanket (so that he doesn’t catch a cold). On Christmas Eve or Christmas day Caga Tió is put in the fireplace, beaten with a stick and ordered to “poop”. He is encouraged, along with the beating, by singing songs with catchy lyrics such as:

caga tió (poop log)
caga torró (poop turrón)
avellanes i mató (hazelnuts and cottage cheese)
si no cagues bé (if you don’t poop well)
et daré un cop de bastó. (I’ll hit you with a stick.)
caga tió!" (poop log!)

When he is done pooping candies, nuts and such, Caga Tió will then give one last push to reveal an onion, a head of garlic or a salt herring.

Norway

Photo of Broom © Esc861

Norwegian legend says that on Christmas Eve witches and evil spirits come out looking for brooms to ride on (a bad omen). To thwart the witches, all brooms in the house are hidden and men go outside and fire a shotgun to scare the bad spirits away.

Japan

Photo of Christmas KFC in Japan © ozchin

For many Japanese, traditional Christmas dinner is Kentucky Fried Chicken. It is so popular and well marketed that reservations may have to be made to eat at a KFC on Christmas in Japan.

Caracas

In Caracas, Venezuela, church-goers attend an early morning mass between December 16th and December 24th. Not so strange for a mostly Catholic population. What is unusual about this practice is how everyone gets to church: on roller skates. The streets are blocked off to vehicular traffic until 8 am and children, the night before, tie one end of a piece of string to their big toes and hang the other end out the window. As roller skaters go by the next morning, they give a tug to all the strings hanging out the windows.

Ukraine

Photo of Christmas Tree, Ukraine © DDima

In Ukraine, Christmas trees are decorated with all the typical kinds of ornaments and one not so typical. An artificial spider and web are hidden in the tree and good luck is given to the one who finds it. A Ukrainian folk tale says that a poor widowed mother could not afford decorations for her family’s Christmas tree. One Christmas morning she awoke to find a spider had beautifully decorated the tree with its web, making for a very happy Christmas. (Can you find the spider web hidden on this Christmas tree?)

Great Britain

Photo of Christmas Pudding, Great Britain © jon.roberts

If you would like your Christmas wish to come true in Great Britain, all you have to do is take a turn stirring the Christmas pudding. Traditional Christmas pudding is made of dried fruit and nuts, similar to fruitcake. It is often doused in brandy and flambéed in a dimly lit room for a dramatic effect.

La Font de la Figuera

Spain seems to have quite a few unusual Christmas traditions. Here is a New Year's Eve's one for you: In Spain it is customary to wear red underwear on New Year’s Eve. The small town on La Font de la Figuera has taken this tradition one step further - a New Year’s Eve run wearing just red underwear. People of all ages participate in this event.

The happiest Christmas Songs - ever.

You may hear them in Macy's while you're shopping for Goldtoes and Frango mints, but really, these need to be added to your Christmas party rotation.  Happy Tuesday!! 


Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Bing Crosby 

Merry Christmas, Baby - Otis Redding 

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee 

Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday - William Bell 

White Christmas - Otis Redding (as heard in Love Actually) 

This Christmas - Donny Hathaway 

Joseph Better You Than Me - The Killers 

Christmas - Michael Buble 

Little Saint Nick - She & Him 

Mistletoe & Holly - Frank Sinatra 

Ella Fitzgerald - Sleigh Ride 

Little things that make every day special . . .

It is so easy to get bogged down on all of the things that we hate about the daily grind and to take for granted the little things that make life easier, happier and generally more livable.  In the spirit of being grateful (and let's face it, between Facebook and Twitter, there is only so much Monday bashing that anyone can take) I sat down and thought of a few things that make me each day better

• Google reader - quick and easy access to every blog, news feed and/or design blog that I love; 

• Spotify - I find music I love, then I listen to it.  I don't have to pay for it.  You simply can't beat that :) 

• Starbucks so strong that I still feel jittery four hours later -- Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte is my favorite (not everyday of course & never with whip).  As an aside: whipped cream is only for emergencies i.e. break up, ex-boyfriend sighting, lost your job, snagged your panty hose, got splashed by a cab -- that kind of day).  
• iMessage - Thank you, Apple (& AT&T) for not making me feel guilty about text messages - at least to other iPhone users. 
• RedEye Chicago's tongue-in-cheek reporting & tweets :) 
• My super easy commute - 20 minutes door to door.  Living in the city certainly has its perks! 

My view of the Bean from my office (this, of course, is not my view - just a gratuitous shot of the bean): 

What I can't put down

This is going to be tough to put down - I suppose Anna Karenina is going to have to sit out this vacation.

I read the first 60 pages in a little over an hour!

It's almost time!!

One more day . . . then vacation time is here!!!

State Opera

Vienna 

My personal favorite: CHRISTMAS Vienna!

Annoyed by your friends’ Tweets/Yelp reviews?

From the RedEye: I like the way this guy thinks. It's a good moderate position.

Do you have a friend who Tweets too much?

Do you get sick of friends who update their Facebook statuses constantly all day?

Do you not understand what qualifies someone to be a foodie and post Yelp restaurant reviews?

I think I'm pretty much guilty of all three sins. Though I wonder about Yelpers. There's a whole culture there that I can't quite understand. That's OK, more power to you. Nothing forces me to log on and read your opinions on why Noodles in the Pot is better than Oodles of Noodles. I mean, it's not like you JUST tried Thai food last month, and can't tell the difference between Thai and Panda Express.

(I did think about posting a blog about fictional Yelp reviews of Thanksgiving meals. I mean your family needs to read that snark if they're going to improve their customer service during the holidays. That cranberry sauce they've been serving for years has been so flaccid.)

There's a term we learned in journalism school: "the free marketplace of ideas." You're shopping at your favorite store, but nothing compels you to buy everything. Sure, there are bargains to be had, but why would you need a copy of "Gigli" or a Justin Bieber album. Yeah, these are first-world problems.

My point is, for every time you stop a cool post on Facebook from a friend, there's bound to be a stinker. Sure, I love a flow chart on how much I should drink during my office holiday party. No, I don't care that you're at the grocery store and are taking a stroll through childhood by eating macaroni and cheese with sliced hot dogs for dinner. But that's the gamble you take by participating in the ecosystem that is the World Wide Web.

These second you police what can be posted, that's when you're going to stifle someone's creative juices. Just roll with it. You don't care, don't read it. Don't be such a stick in the mud.

glen grassi’s micro-home

As seen on Design Sponge - going off the grid is in this season :)

glen grassi’s micro-home

via Design*Sponge by Grace Bonney on 12/12/11

I love micro-homes. Mainly because living in NYC for almost 10 years has made me terrified to live in a "normal" sized suburban home. I don't know what I'd do with all that space; I'm used to cramming everything into less than 1,000 square feet. But these mini-homes look like a great way to see the country without leaving all the comforts of home behind. This sweet mini-home built by Glen Grassi is insulated on all four walls, the ceiling and the floor to withstand a blizzard. So if you wanted to pack this bad boy up and travel to Alaska, you'd be set (even the shingles are rated to withstand hurricane winds). The interior has a chimney and a stove and a portable solar panel that helps you stay off the grid as much as possible. I love the idea of packing into this guy and hitting the road. If you're interested in taking the plunge, click here to read more about Glen's homes. You can even take it home with you if you've got $16K burning a hole in your pocket. Thanks to Amanda Kavanagh for the tip (via Skinflint Design)! xo, grace

  

A Girl You Should Date | nona merah

http://nonamerah.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/869/

Last minute Christmas gifts . . .

http://pillowmob.com/

Put your loved one's face on a pillow!

I can't think of a more versatile gift :)

Chagall's Windows

As seen at the Art Institute

My tree :)

Oops!

Facebook Glitch Reveals Mark Zuckerberg's private photos

Interesting.  I wonder how Mark Zuckerberg feels about his personal photos being shared.  However, this could be a publicity stunt to somehow garner even more attention for Facebook.  If I had to guess, I would say that he probably minds a lot.  FB is only as strong as its best hacker.  Note: this is not a threat, as I know nothing about computer hacking.  I do think that Mark Zuckerberg has a cute dog.  In the interest of treating his private information with care, I will not post photos of said really cute fluffy white dog & MZ's girlfriend Ms. Chan.  Regardless, I think that any hope of "teaching MZ a lesson with the revelation of his own private photos" is an exercise in futility.  I'm pretty sure he'll lock it up shortly, if need be.

On a related note: my own Facebook diet has served to wean me off of my previously dependent habit of checking FB when I wake up, as I ride the train to work, at lunch, when I get bored writing a brief, on my way home, after dinner . . . I wasn't joking when I said that something needed to change.  I like the way that it feels to be a little less connected.  I am still glued to my work e-mail and my personal accounts.  I just don't need to know what my old friends from church camp ate for lunch or what some girl I didn't talk to in high school found on Pinterest.  Ahh freedom.

15 Things White Girls Love To Do on Facebook |

Very funny!

http://25pillsaday.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/15-things-white-girls-love-to-do-on-facebook/

5 Reasons a Wreath Can Be Better Than a Tree

Very interesting concept. I like the less is more idea.

5 Reasons a Wreath Can Be Better Than a Tree

via Apartment Therapy Main by Regina Yunghans on 12/6/11

Living in a small apartment, the last thing many of us want to do is bring a tree into the mix. If you're pressed for space, time, energy, whatever it may be this season, here are five reasons we've come up with to consider a wreath on the door instead of a tree in the living room:


Read Full Post

Christmas List

I don't really want anything for Christmas -- I already feel super lucky that my husband planned such a fun trip.  That's enough.  However, it's always fun to have a wish list a FABULOUS wish list.  Just for fun . . . 


 Like this Herman Miller Chair - Amazing.  So classic and simple. 
 Crate & Barrel Arden Candleholders (Disclaimer: I've been eyeing these candle holders since 2010). 


This fun print from 20 x 200: 



In The Library 
by Tatsuro Kiuchi 





For my office?  KY Bourbon trail?? Found here


Pecan Art - sentimental because of my family's farm: Found Here





Seen HERE. 
Jim Beam KY bourbon bottle collector's edition. features the wood duck art work of j. lockhart, a world renowned canadian artist.


 Tory Burch Reva Classic Ballet Flats. Love


Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren Jacket, Long Sleeve Plaid Printed Faux Fur Hooded Moto

Right now, I love . . .

Music

I've been listening to the Foster the People cd for what feels like months now.  I just can't get enough.  It puts me in such a good mood.

Pumped Up Kicks - Fab. Listen Here.

Helena Beat - also super amazing

I will always love Adele.  She had me at Hometown Glory & Chasing Pavements. 

Set Fire to the Rain  This is another good one.  She has such a great voice.

The Black Keys - Tighten Up

My husband and I probably listened to this cd 8 times on the way back from Thanksgiving with our families: 

Deathcab for Cutie - Keys and Codes Remix EP. 

Food

Trader Joe's Chili Spiced Mangoes

Reads

This article about social media fasting.

Thinking about

• Packing for my trip to Austria
• Three Christmas parties this week 
• Buying Christmas gifts for friends and family 
• Cramming as many billable hours into the next two weeks as possible so that I can truly enjoy my vacation. 

Television

• Prime Suspect - totally dorky, I know.   

• New Girl - I did not expect to like this show, but I am pleasantly surprised. 
• Tons of great Christmas movies -- 
• Love Actually
• The Holiday
• Nat'l Lampoons Christmas Vacation 
• Elf
• White Christmas and the not so great ones I love (i.e. Christmas in Handcuffs)

Happy, happy Monday!! 

Dear Photograph

Move over post secret. I love this.

You've got to check out this clever photography project!

http://dearphotograph.com/

Soup course

Roasted apple and pumpkin soup with cheddar bacon biscuits.

Friendsgiving - appetizers

Baked Brie, smoked Gouda, goat cheese wrapped in blackberries, roasted pumpkin seeds, cranberry bourbon compote, pumpkin butter and dried apricots.

Good books lately . . .

I just finished the book County Dr. David Ansell.  It was a good, quick read.  I'm fascinated by hospital politics -- especially 1980s Chicago politics.  I learned a great deal about the key players in Chicago politics and health care reform over the past 30-40 years.  It is amazing that many of the now commonplace screening programs and clinics implemented throughout the country began in Chicago.
NYT book review HERE.


After watching a 20/20 special (which I love!) on Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos,  I felt compelled to read Delivering Happiness.  He wrote the book without a ghostwriter, which I feel makes it very personal and conversational.  I am always inspired (and a little jealous) of people who take very unconventional paths and end up being wildly successful.  Most interesting -- he wrote the book in 2-3 weeks.  (In some places, you can tell).  However, I like books that make me think about what I'm doing to make my life "great."  He didn't even try to be notable or inspiring.  He simply set out to create a welcoming and inspiring work environment for his employees.  It's a great & quick read.  More details HERE



Last, but certainly not least, I read The Devil All the Time, on my husband's iPad all the way home for Thanksgiving vacation.  With a few rest stop and work telephone call breaks, I managed to read this truly disturbing book very quickly.  It has been three days and I still don't know what I think of it.  It is graphic, violent, explicit and pretty Godless (ironically).  That's the point.  I read a few reviews that put it best:  the characters constantly appear to seek God but God is notably absent for much of the story.  The theme of religion and spirituality is omnipresent in every individual storyline.  For each character, religion is a peripheral presence that occasionally borders on the extreme.  It is manifested in ways that force the reader to confront the Godlessness that plagues each character.  I will let you know when I figure out the rest of the book. :)

HERE is a little more information.

Are You Really My Friend?

One woman's incredibly fascinating Facebook/Photography Project.

Read about it here: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/are-you-really-my-friend/

Add this to the list of things I should have thought up first!!

Another reason why I love my job

They love Christmas as much as I do!
I received this pretty poinsettia this a.m.
What a good day!

A little confession . . .

The social media diet is going well so far.  I've checked FB once per day this week.  In doing so, I realized that I am not missing anything.  At all.  I keep up with my friends via Twitter and their own blogs.  That certainly helps. It has really cut down on useless social media clutter in my brain -- leaving me more space to think about Christmas gifts for others and planning our trip to Austria.  Although work is already swamping me this week, I think that I'll notice more of a difference throughout the month.  I feel a little more focused already.

Note: I've kept Twitter -- not so much because I like to tweet. :)  I just really like the small bits of news and quick updates throughout the day.  I also have to admit that I love someecards' Twitter feed.  It never fails to crack me up.  My favorite posts lately were entitled, "The Worst Examples of Facebook Parenting."  Love it.
I also love this one labor and employment law feed that keeps me updated on new cases and issues in that particular area of the law.

So far, I don't feel deprived :)

Vintage photos: Love.

Art Shay: Gorgeous Photos of a Sweet Love Story

A Dark Cloud Over Every Holiday Season

I absolutely love this time of year -- with one exception.  Regardless of where I am or what I am doing, I always remember what happened in the couple of days ending November and, of course, December 1.  On December 1, 1997, a freshman at Heath High School fired shots into a prayer group taking place in the lobby right before school began for the day.  He killed three students and injured five others.  I don't like to get into the gory details or the conspiracy theories, including the aftermath, but there are more mostly-accurate details here.

I was in 8th grade at the time.  I had walked through the lobby less than 15 minutes before to get to the middle school behind the high school.  All I remember is that the school was put on lock down with no explanation and we began to hear sirens. Lots of sirens.  At that point I was sitting in algebra class and everyone had stopped pretending to focus.  We figured out what happened from the television in the classroom before anyone on our floor knew what was going on 40 yards away in the high school lobby.  I remember everything about that day: what I was wearing, riding the bus home, calling my mom to assure her that I wasn't hurt, talking to my preacher on the phone for at least an hour and sitting with my parents crying as we all struggled to figure out what exactly had happened.  We held a memorial service at my church that evening.  The father of the shooter, a local attorney, practiced in the same firm as a member of our church.  He and his wife and their daughter showed up at the service.  I remember that it was certainly an exercise in forgiveness and compassion and, for some, restraint, to sit in the same church as the shooter's family.  In that same church in March of that year, the shooter himself and two of the victims attended a lock-in.  It was a strange collision of circumstances that was, at the time innocuous.  Later, it was just too much of a coincidence to fathom, in light of the circumstances.

I remember the hardest part as a young teen was understanding.  My seemingly odd behavior during that time was what I now know to be coping.  My exceedingly supportive parents knew that all along.  I recorded the news every evening, recorded every tribute, the funeral and the news coverage after it was all said and done.  I collected stacks of newspapers.  I don't recall whether I watched the tapes or looked at the newspapers all that often.  I just recall needing something to hold onto so that I could try to understand exactly what had happened.  I think that at some point I just gave up on trying to understand and began praying a lot.

I watched my friends, later my boyfriend, at the time, whose brother had been wounded and all of their friends who were actually there on that day as they attempted to cope as well.  The grieving process went on for years.  It was always the elephant in the room.  It also became a point of contention for many who felt as if their grief was superior to those who were not close enough to the tragedy.  Others didn't care about that and, instead, wanted to pretend as if it didn't happen at all.  Still others, it seemed, wanted to wallow in it and find ways in which to call themselves heroes, clinging to their blood spattered backpacks and t-shirts, once evidence.  Some became hyper-religious.  Some became atheists or agnostic.  Some even pretended to be heroes until they were caught.

However, in some ways, it brought out the best in people.  Students and teachers were cognizant of one another as human beings, which, in turn, forced both to grow up a little.  As for me, I remember coming out of the haze and carrying one thing with me: never forget to tell your family how much you love them.  Every. Day.  I spent a lot of time with my parents and sister in while I was in high school for that reason. There are so many other things that I remember about that day, but the lessons I learned from the aftermath are probably some of the most important ones I've ever learned.

The Great Christmas Tree Battle Begins . . . 


So, we live in Chicago, in a fair-sized apartment.  The problem is that we have little to no storage space.  I'm talking, under beds, two closets and an extra set of drawers.  That's it.  We even store a few things in the trunk of our car when company comes.  Although I think that we manage the space well, it's pretty tough to acquire anything else without getting rid of something.  We try to purge extra clothes on a regular basis.  


The one thing that we do not have to store right now is a Christmas tree.  That is because we don't have one.  We have some ornaments and some tinsel and stockings but no tree.  We have used one from my grandmother for the past few years.  I plan on making good use of that tree again this year since, alas, I believe that I have lost the Christmas tree battle.  My husband is right . . . yes, I mean that.  We don't have the space.  It is another thing to store.  I have not thought about where exactly it would go at the end of the season.  


But. I. really. love. Christmas. 


I have dreamed of having my very own family Christmas tree for years.  I always loved and still adore my parents' 9 foot tree at home.  It is always so lovely and full of great memories.  However, all through undergrad and law school, I couldn't wait to have my own place so that I could have my own full-size tree to decorate.  The problem:  I have been out of law school going on three years now and still have not had my very own tree.  While I understand that these are first-world problems and in the grand scheme of things -- especially with a wonderful trip coming up in the future -- it is not a big deal, I still really would like a tree. 


Seeing my Christmas tree every evening when I come home from work and every morning while I eat breakfast is not a reminder of the Santa Claus parts of Christmas or gifts, or snowmen, etc.  It is a reminder of the season and of the real reason for all of the celebration and anticipation.  (The armadillo ornament that I purchased last fall in San Antonio is on the back of the tree so that it doesn't ruin the sanctity of the tree -- and it's pretty ugly. :) )  It is a visual reminder of family, friends and my faith.  I can do without the presents -- really, I mean it.  I truly have all that I need and want, for that matter.  


I just like the visual reminder.  Here's to hoping that I can still use my favorite substitute for a big tree: my Grandma's long needle artificial pine.  THAT'S  a special tree. 


OKAY . . . so after I drafted this post.  We decorated my Grandma's Christmas tree.  I can be SUCH a brat sometimes!!! 


Note to self: remember this in about a month when I'm searching for New Year's Resolutions. 

SURPRISE!!

I already knew that I had a wonderful husband.  No one needs to remind me because I am reminded every single day.  He's a great human being -- just like my daddy.  


However, my husband has truly topped himself this time.  His schedule ebbs and flows a little more than mine -- mine is more steady with fewer breaks.  Somehow he managed to get a week off in December and decided to surprise me with a vacation.  A small confession: it has always been a secret dream of mine to be surprised with a vacation.  Boy did he surprise me. 


Here were the clues: 

• you need a passport
• you will probably need boots
• and a coat
• and it's going to be REALLY cold
• you won't have access to e-mail or your phone

What would your guess have been?  

Here is mine: Canada 

(Alaska, until the whole passport thing)

No offense to the Canadians, eh, but I did not care to go somewhere even colder than Chicago for vacation.  I think this is more practical than bratty.  Regardless, I did not express my reticence to go to Canada until after I found out that we are going to . . . 

Vienna, Austria 

for reals.  I am so excited.  I haven't been to Europe since 2004, when I studied for a summer in London and traveled to Ireland, France and Wales.  Truly, it was an amazing experience.  

However, this is the first time we've been abroad together, so this trip is extra special.  I love traveling with him, so this should be just as fun as some of our other trips to San Juan, PR; Sanibel Island; Hawaii, etc.  

I feel very blessed with such a wonderful husband and best friend and the chance to take a fantastic trip during a time when Vienna is one of the most Christmas-y places in the world.  

More to come regarding his fantastic plans for us -- 3 shows, a couple of castles, some museums and, I'm sure, at least a 1/3 of the 18+ Christmas Markets in and around the city.