{dear friend}

sister style // v. 1

December 19, 2012

Welcome to the very first EVER episode of Sister Style…

Starting Yours Truly and my favorite sister, MEG!

I’m humoring you all with the volume one business. In reality, I have no idea if we’ll ever do this again. I thought “Sister Style” was kind of catchy and kept saying it the whole time we were snapping these pictures. (Think “superstar!” and Mary Katherine Gallagher and you’ve got the right image in your head. Except instead of lunges, more like strike a pose.) My sister and I took a day trip to Portsmouth, New Hampshire this past Saturday and while we were there I had the idea to do this joint outfit post. I saw the white wall, and it just seemed like the perfect opportunity for an impromptu photo shoot. My sister went along with it happily, which is why she’s my favorite.

First of all, if you don’t already know, Meg and I are super close. We used to fight like animals when we were younger, but now we’re the chummiest of chums. She lives with me and Zan (our apartment has two floors!), and I always feel super lucky to get to spend as much time with her as I do, especially when Zan’s working late, or on weekends. I think one of the best things about having a sister, besides having a forever friend, is being able to share clothes. When we were in high school we wouldn’t ever dare to be caught dead sporting the same outfits (I shake my head at the immaturity), but now, we are glad to have a second wardrobe to choose an outfit from. Imagine!

These two outfits are a pretty typical representation of our style. We’re in love with Madewell and J.crew, but have had a lot of great luck at Old Navy in the past year, too. I’ve been dabbling in a little vintage lately, and of course, we’re both suckers for Target. But who isn’t?

On Meg: J.crew vest {similar} :: Madewell sweathirt :: Old Navy pants

On me: Crewcuts hat :: similar coat :: similar shirt {and here} :: similar skirt :: similair boots

Yeah, I’m wearing a children’s hat. WHATEVS.

I’ll be sharing photos from Portsmouth soon. Have you ever been? It was my first time visiting and I loved it!

20 Comments · Filed Under: family, fashion, life, steppin' out ·

chocolate crinkle cookies: a recipe.

December 18, 2012

Yummmm.

YUM!

These chocolate crinkle cookies sure are delicious.

Make them for the annual school cookie swap (like I did), for your friends, or better yet, JUST MAKE THEM FOR YOURSELF.

They be crazy good.

You will need:

1 1/3 cups (8 ounces) chopped bittersweet chocolate or chocolate chips
1/2 cup (4 ounces, 1 stick) unsalted butter
2/3 cup (4 3/4 ounces) sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cups Flour
confectioners’ sugar* (for coating)

*you can add 2 teaspoons of espresso powder, too, of you’re into that. (Mmmm.)

To make the dough:

Place the chocolate and butter in a small saucepan, and heat or microwave till the butter melts. Remove it from the heat, and stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth.

In a separate bowl, beat together the sugar, eggs, vanilla (and the optional espresso powder). Stir in the chocolate mixture, baking powder and salt, then the flour. Chill the dough for 2 to 3 hours, till it’s nice and firm.

To make and bake:

After the dough is cooled, put about a cup of confectioners’ sugar into a shallow bowl. Using a spoon, or your fingers, scoop out heaping teaspoon-sized portions of the dough. Drop the dough balls into the confectioners’ sugar as you go (make sure you coat them nice and good!), then place the coated dough balls on a lightly greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between them.

Bake the cookies in a preheated 325°F oven for 10 to 12 minutes (I had to do closer to 15), switching the position of the pans (top to bottom, and front to back) midway through the baking time. As the cookies bake, they’ll flatten out and acquire their distinctive “streaked” appearance. Remove the cookies from the oven, and allow them to cool on a wire rack.

Pour yourself a glass of milk and ENJOY.

P.S. One week until Christmas! Yipeeeeee.

11 Comments · Filed Under: food ·

December 16, 2012

As I work to gather my thoughts about the horrific tragedy that happened on Friday, I can hardly think of anything that hasn’t already been said or thought or cried. It’s unimaginable and unthinkable, yet it happened. And all many of us can do now is to grieve and send love to those that are hurting, in Connecticut and everywhere.

But there is more that we can do in addition to grieving. In addition to praying, and sending healing thoughts.

Yes, we MUST talk about gun control. And yes, we should absolutely talk about the state of mental heath services. But also, we can make sure that every day and in every way possible we are showing love to those around us, that we are teaching empathy, and compassion and kindness.

As an elementary school teacher, a teacher of 6 and 7 year olds, this tragedy sincerely hit home for me. What if that was my school? What if those were my littles? What if that had happened to me? These thoughts and so many more have been running through my head constantly this weekend. Sometimes the images are so real that I have to stop to catch my breath.

Those innocent kids should not have had to die. It’s absolutely unfair and beyond confusing and most of all, it’s just plain messed up. I have cried a hundred tears and will surely cry a hundred more for the parents of those children who will not get to see their littles grow up into the people they were meant to be.

And then today, after I received a thoughtful and appreciative email from a parent, a whole new wave of emotions started to fall over me. I realized that tomorrow I will have to go to school in the morning. I will spend the day with my beloved little 6 and 7 year olds and it is my job do everything in my power to assure them that they are safe, and protected, and loved.

It’s the most important job, and I am proud and honored to do it.

I’ve been spending the day researching how to deal with tragedies around children.

I’ve been calling friends and family to help me work through the details of tomorrow. What will I say? How will I respond? And how will being back in school make me feel?

It won’t come easy, but I will do it, and I will try my best to do it well. Teachers everywhere will.

Send a little love to us, okay?

If you’re interested in some of the resources I found, I’ve linked to some of the best and most helpful to me below…

Talking to Students about Violence from the National Association of School Psychologists

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Information from the Crisis Management Institute about the Sandy Hook Shooting.

Talking with Students in Response to the Sandy Hook Shooting (There is a script for teachers in this one.)

I will carry the memory of those fallen children with me forever and I will carry the bravery of those Sandy Hook teachers, principal, and school psychologist with me throughout the rest of my days. They are heros in the hearts of people everywhere and their dedication to their students will shine on.

https://dearfriendblog.com/2012/12/13515/

21 Comments · Filed Under: life, teaching ·

boston, in december, at night.

December 12, 2012

It’s perfect, isn’t it?

It’s been a busy couple of weekends and I haven’t gotten to take my walks with my camera as often as I’d like lately. With holiday this and holiday that it’s been kind of crazy around here, which is fun (and makes me forget about the cold for awhile), but it’s also exhausting. Ever since December’s hit I’ve been wanting to visit Boston at night to capture the lights in all their glory. You know, walk around with my camera, enjoy the city, do my thing. Last night brought me to Beacon Hill to meet up with new friends, and I finally got my wish.

Here they are! THE LIGHTS! They sparkle! And they are BEAUTIFUL.

Twinkle perfection.

16 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, holiday ·