A long way gone

Just finished reading Ishmael Beah's haunting and poignant memoir about his experience as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. I saw part of an interview with him on PBS and decided to check out the book. I was impressed by his intelligence and his eloquent description of the situation in Sierra Leone. His book is a compelling argument for the world to intervene on behalf of children conscripted into armies across the globe.
Some of my favorite passages included his first experience with an elevator and his first taste of a New York City winter. I also found the following passage very interesting:
"My conception of New York City came from rap music. I envisioned it as a place where people shot each other on the street and got away with it; no one walked the streets, rather people drove in their sports cars looking for nightclubs and for violence. I really wasn't looking forward to being somewhere this crazy. I had had enough of this back home."
It amazes me that this boy, who had experienced a bloody civil war and had been involved in the killing of many people would think of NYC as such a dangerous place. What message is our media giving the rest of the world about us?

Cooking for Mr. Latte

As a wannabe foodie and secret fan of chick lit, I was delighted to find both combined in Cooking for Mr. Latte: A Food Lover's Courtship, with Recipes. Authored by New York Times food writer Amanda Hesser, the book is part cookbook and part autobiography of her courtship with a man she nicknamed Mr. Latte (who is now her husband!). You can get a taste of her writing and some of the included recipes here in an excerpt featured on NPR's All Things Considered. I personally love her recipe for green beans with walnut oil and toasted walnuts. A very simple dish and quick to prepare, it has been welcome addition to my cooking repertoire. Next, I plan to explore her more serious collection of recipes, The Cook and the Gardener : A Year of Recipes and Writings for the French Countryside.

A sexy new car....

So I am in the market for a new car. Everyone tells me that I should get an environmentally friendly Toyota Prius, but I must confess I am interested in the Volkswagen Jetta. And not just because they made the most compelling car commercial ever. Though, really, I am in love with the BMW, despite the fact that I am an old-lady driver who prefers a car that hugs the road and is not too concerned with speed. However, the BMW commercials have me hooked. I would like to buy one, if not for myself, for the James Bond in my life who deserves a smooth driving machine. Here are a few of my favorite BMW commercials starring the always devastating Clive Owen as the Driver. First is The Follow, a short by Wong Kar Wai. The second is Ticker directed by Joe Carnahan. Next is the more serious Powder Keg, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. I cannot forget to also include the hilarious Star by Guy Ritchie, starring none other than his wife, Madonna.

Coup de foudre

Yesterday, I went to my absolute favorite lingerie shop, Coup de Foudre, located in Washington, D.C. The name translates to "love at first sight" and you will not be disappointed by the selection of unmentionables. They feature stylish European lingerie, including Aubade, Chantelle, and Cosabella and favor subtle seduction over aggressive sex appeal. The service is discreet, offering murmured sizing suggestions, but also allowing you to browse undisturbed. The changing rooms are well-lit with moveable mirrors to view yourself in all dimensions. I picked up an appealing black Cosabella chemise. Disappointingly, they do not offer Eberjey, one of my favorite brands for cute and confortable underthings (as can be seen on the always adorable Keira Knightley in a recent spread in Vogue).

Arabesque

Last night, I tried two delicious recipes from the new cookbook, Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon, by noted food author Claudia Roden. Roden mixes tips on food preparation (e.g. how to peel tomatoes) with background on regional cooking (e.g. what is a tagine), wonderful traditional recipes and sumptous photographs. I love to read cookbooks and was drawn to Arabesque because of its beautiful blue cover. Initially, I was unsure if I would like the book because I do not tend to make dishes that combine meats and fruits however, I love to try new recipes so I picked it up. I started with two Lebanese recipes: chicken and chickpeas with yogurt served with okra with baby onions and tomatoes. The chicken is slow cooked in exotic spices and then baked over chickpeas and toasted pita bread pieces. The okra and tomatoes were sweet and tangy, which was excellent served over hot Basmati rice. Next I think I will try the Turkish lamb stew with eggplant sauce.

Ladies who rock

I must introduce to you two of my new favorite musical artists -- Vienna Teng and Azure Ray. Vienna was introduced to me by a friend who saw her play at a private party in Washington, D.C. and was captivated by her music. I have her latest album, Dreaming Through the Noise and have been listening to her song, "Whatever you want" repeatedly for the past month. I discovered Azure Ray through a music junky friend of mine who first heard the group featured on Moby's album, 18. The group is comprised of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink. I cannot get enough of their song, "New Resolution," which is on the album Hold On Love. You must take a listen to these beautiful and talented musicians.

Vienna Teng

Azure Ray

The Curatorium

While in Providence, Rhode Island on business, I had some free time to explore the city. I chanced upon Wickenden Street. It is a very cute little street lined with antique shops, coffeehouses, and some very tempting looking restaurants. One of the adorable stores that I stopped in was the Curatorium. Filled with art books, fine tea sets, and many other curious, but beautiful items, the store is an excellent place to shop during the holiday season. I picked up some lovely, unique Christmas gifts (including a Jane Austen action figure!) and made a mental note to return next year.