Friday Roundup

Happy Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend? It's soooo cold here but at least the sun is shinning.

Rest in Peace, Nelson Mandela. Jenny and I both spent time living in South Africa over the past 10 years and were inspired by this amazing man.

10 words you've probably been misusing. Guilty!

Can't. Look. Away. 

Home Alone, the puppy version.

Easy to cook for holiday gifts, and looks delish.

Kind of love these boots in merlot.

How your eating habits while pregnant and breastfeeding effect your child later.

Jemima Kirke's gorgeous home and babe.

Old Finnish people with things on their heads. JENNY you will like this.

Interesting alternative to Elf on a Shelf.

Oh, George.

Downton dogs.

On the Road, pt. 3

A lot has happened in the last few weeks of tour, we spent a week in New York, made it down the east coast, all the way to Florida and completely across the country to California, but here are a couple of highlights... 

I finally got to visit New Orleans, a city that's been on my list to see for a long time. We were there pretty briefly, it was very rainy and I spent most of the time doing work on the bus, but I still managed to get some gumbo, jambalaya, make it to Cafe du Monde and briefly walk around Canal Street.

In Houston, JJ Watt gave us a tour of the Houston Texan's stadium and locker rooms.

In New York, we were wowed by our very own Mary Lambert at Subculture.

I got to spend Thanksgiving with my good friend Chelsea in Houston and then finished out the night bowling with Jason, Ryan and Jackie.

I sort of cheated and actually went home for a few days that we had off this week. It was so nice to see my cats and sleep in my own bed and of course, get a lot of needed work done.  Between that little taste of home and seeing everyone posting their Christmas trees on Instagram, I'm feeling pretty ready to decorate one for myself. 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

CHRISTMAS! Yippee! We went and cut down our Christmas tree last weekend with my parents and sister. We picked a delightful little spot outside of Issaquah called Trinity Tree Farm that had an adorable gift shop, hot drinks and sweets, and two fireplaces outside.  I think we have a new tradition on the horizon. Also, can we please take note of how gorgeous my NINE month pregnant sister is! Geezz!

Karama: Jewelry with a Story

Believe it or not, the metal that make up these earrings, bracelets and necklaces were once bullet casings and other forms of scrap metal salvaged a former conflict area. The metal is collected, turned into beads and made into beautiful jewelry by an organization that employs mainly HIV+ women. 

The Entoto Mountain Region, outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has an interesting history. The area was known to have a spring of holy water, rumored to cure those who trekked to it of HIV. However, the "cure" seemed to come in a unique way, as organizations and even the Ethiopian Orthodox Church,  started providing and encouraging these displaced people to begin taking antiretrovirals. As the people became healthier, a local church began enterprises to employ them and the Entoto jewelry program began.   This Wall Street Journal article, does a great job of telling the story if you'd like to hear a little more in detail. 

Now, the jewelry has expanded outside of the Entoto region. When Jason and I were in Ethiopia last spring, we got to visit their workshop in Addis Ababa where many HIV+ women happily sit side by side chatting and expertly stringing beads together into beautiful creations. 

Here are a few of my favorite! All available at karamagifts.com. 

Lucia Earrings

Baubles & Beads Necklace

Wrapped With Delight Bracelet

Cousins

Over Thanksgiving weekend we got to spend a couple of days with my sister and brother in law and our niece Kenedee. She is over a year and half old now (remember how tiny she was- time flies!) and is so adorable with Myles. I can tell already that they are going to be buddies.

In the next few weeks Myles will welcome a new cousin to the world when my sister Laura has her baby boy Rory! He is due on December 15th so we are all officially on baby watch.

Thanksgiving gave me a chance to reflect on how grateful I am to have these two little cousins in Mylo's life. I know he is going to have a very special relationship with both of them over the years because they are so close in age and we spend a lot of time with our siblings. What a lucky little dude!

Another Jimmy Fallon Mashup Masterpiece

Have you seen this awesome "holiday song" mashup from Jimmy Fallon last week? It stars the fabulous Rashida Jones and Carrie Underwood and had us all giggling on our way out to cut down a Christmas tree on Saturday. Enjoy!

Monday Motivation

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