My Suitcase Heart

My Swiss Wish

2012-02-15T08:52:00.000+04:00

Wish I may,
Wish I might,
Go to Whitepod,
Stay the night.

I was intrigued when I read "charming village," "ecotourism," "heart of the Swiss Alps," and "ultimate mountain escape for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike."
I was hooked when I saw the photos . . .

All images are screenshots from here.

What a perfect winter wonderland!
♥, Molly

Wintertime Blues

2012-02-10T21:51:00.000+04:00

Photo by Jill

Psych!
Winter in Abu Dhabi is the best.

Don't hate on me.
♥, Molly

what i secretly want . . .

2012-02-08T10:48:00.000+04:00

BIIIIG hair.
winehouse. bardot. streisand. sjp. adele. you name it, i probably want it.

Source: Hair Romance

having short hair makes me jealous in all these weird sorta ways...
♥, molly

Out and About Washington

2012-02-04T09:43:00.000+04:00

Thanks to Liz for this picture.

We have the same hair right now!

I love Washington so much that it's hard not to get too mushy when I talk about it. Sunny afternoons, snowy Mt. Baker, good friends, Old Town Cafe, foggy mornings, bowling under black lights, red headed critters, lazy days in pajamas, homemade baklava, classic milkshakes, the streets of Bellingham, sunshiney afternoon walks, and adorable babies with kissable cheeks are just skimming the surface. Don't get me started.

♥, Molly

Murmuration

2012-02-01T00:55:00.000+04:00

Murmation: a collection of starlings

This has been popular on the internets for awhile now. If you haven't already seen it, you should.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

♥, Molly

Oh Christmas Tree

2012-01-28T21:44:00.000+04:00

On my first few days back in Washington, my body was having a hard time with jet lag. Most mornings I'd try to stay in bed as long as I could before venturing downstairs to cozy up next to the fire and read. One early morning I decided to skip the reading and play with my camera instead.

I read a little 'how to shoot sparkle lights' somewhere online and followed the directions. I was most surprised with how the lights came out--it's a mini-Christmas miracle that it actually sort of worked. In the 4 tree pictures above I used a tripod, low shutter speed (1/5s, 1/8s, 1/8s, 1/4s respectively), low ISO (Lo1), f.1.8, and a remote. Later I ended up changing the f stop, ISO, and shutter speed in all sorts of various configurations. I seems that the lower the shutter speed, the more twinkles. I like twinkles.

Finding and decorating the tree is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I love the fresh smell. I love unwrapping and 'discovering' the same ornaments year after year. I love the way it looks once it's covered with lights and surrounded by presents. I'd say it almost casts a spell on me.

Must be magic.

♥, Molly

my sentiments, exactly.

2012-01-25T10:43:00.000+04:00

sometimes, i want to do this to my students.

their father, photographer jason lee, has a whole blog full of crazy photos he takes of these two little sisters. pretty cute.

♥, Molly

Christmas in Stop Motion

2012-01-23T10:11:00.000+04:00

It's never too late for a little jingle.

Merry and Bright from Jill Cox on Vimeo.

Many thanks to my dear friend, Jill, who made this little video after our Hump Day Christmas party.
♥, Molly

2.5 Years And Counting

2012-01-22T19:09:00.000+04:00

Today, January 22nd, marks the day I came to the UAE exactly 2 years and 6 months ago.

To celebrate, I pulled together a few random photos that I've taken. Almost all of them are from blog posts I never finished during my first year here.

I'm pleased about the things I've been able to do while living here. Things like . . .

Kayaking in the mangroves
photo by Fiona

Learning more about Islam
(This man is doing his evening prayers. Wherever you happen to be when the sun sets, you face Mecca, keep calm, and pray on.)

Eating Pakistani bread after yoga

Going to art shows

Getting acquainted with Indian food (This is my first dosa!)
photo by Esther

Goat watching

Saying good bye to co-workers; Trying new ice cream flavors

Making our own fun
photo by Jill

Commuting in crazy traffic; living to tell stories about it

Enjoying a few movie nights at the Bidingers
photo by Curt

Watching my babies got their booster shots . . .

and learn their alphabet . . .

be silly . . .

and go on school field trips to Action Zone. Wheee!

Sometimes two and a half years feels like a long time--sometimes it seems like I just stepped off the plane for the very first time. Even though it's been an interesting haul with some unexpected twists & turns, I have to credit my time here as an adventure. I'd even say a good adventure.

And it's not over yet . . .
♥, Molly

'Tis the Season

2012-01-17T16:20:00.000+04:00

. . . for a little Christmas recap.

I spent the days leading up to Christmas with my mom in Western Washington. Looking back, it seems like most of my time was spent with family, friends, and finding ways to sit by the fire in my unending quest to stay warm. It was so nice to be back, to have face to face conversations, to walk arm in arm, to hug, and to be in the same place at the same time with the people I love. Most of that is hard to capture on camera, but I do have a few digital memories to share.

Christmas Morning -- surprises under the tree, my favorite toast for breakfast, stockings, and relaxing in our pajamas.

Christmas dinner . . .

Family game night -- complete with baby Eli, Grandpa's slideshow, and some funny Minute-To-Win-It moments.

And my mom's lovely little Christmas tree.

♥, Molly

Check. Check. FAIL.

2012-01-17T11:10:00.000+04:00

i put so much thought and effort into making goals for 2011 (here, here, and here) that i thought it only proper to do a quick recap.

+ make moss graffiti.

and the results are in . . .
1. pay off student loans. check.

karate chop that college debt

2. get a new job. check. (getting the job and starting the job are 2 different things, right? right.)
3. email! FAIL. big FAIL.

♥, molly

In with the New

2012-01-14T10:59:00.001+04:00

In general, I'm much better at making goals than I am at accomplishing them. However, that doesn't seem to stop me. This year I decided upon a serious and somewhat silly mix of things I want to work on in the upcoming months.

My 12 resolutions for 2012:

1. Send home ____ dirhams each month.

2. Learn how to change a flat tire on my bike.

3. Figure out imovie.

4. Practice planning ahead, doing little bits along the way, and avoiding last minute crunches.

5. Go on a hot air balloon ride.

6. Respond to emails within 1 month of receiving them.

7. Finish reading my camera book.

8. Set better boundaries.

9. Practice more consistent giving.

10. Declutter, organize, and back-up my electronic life.

11. Ride my bike without hands.

12. Rehabilitate my shoulder so I can do yoga, lift, and rock climb pain-free.

Wishing you all the best for the year to come!
♥, Molly

Flying Machine

2011-12-28T04:40:00.000+04:00

a birthday video for my brother who used to make cool things. like robber traps and stuff.

originally found here via cool hunting

♥, molly

Christmas Gretings 2011!

2011-12-25T06:30:00.000+04:00

For the first time in two years I've been able to celebrate Christmas in Washington. So far the trip's been cold, rainy, and really cold. When I haven't been freezing, it's also been all sorts of lovely. I have to agree--whoever said "there's no place like home for the holidays" kinda knew what they were talking about.

This year Jill and I are calling "Yoo-hoo!" by sending out our annual Christmas video card in super-speed style. We hope it puts you in a ring-ting-tingaling mood. Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas 2011 from Jill Cox on Vimeo. Music by The Ronettes.
I'd definitely like to thank Jill for being the mastermind behind the video. Additional thanks go out to Mike for letting us use his camera and for helping us film.

If you're wanting to stretch out the season just a little bit longer, here are our silly videos from Christmas past. Combined, they'll give you an extra 4 minutes and 23 seconds of holiday cheer.
Christmas 2010: 12 Days of Christmas
Christmas 2009: Christmas in the Mid-East

♥, Molly

P.S. Although at first glance you might think we filmed this in the US, everything of course was done right here in Abu Dhabi. A Christmas display in the mall might not seem like a very big deal, but the more I watch the video, the more I appreciate the open and accepting attitude of our Muslim country. Thanks, UAE!

An Afternoon Stroll

2011-12-23T09:01:00.000+04:00

Earlier this week my family headed out one afternoon for a little stroll. I grabbed my camera before we left and I'm so very glad I did. The natural lighting in Abu Dhabi is usually harsh, glaring, and not very nice to work with; the natural lighting in Everson was moody, dramatic, and completely different.

Here are a few scenes from our winter walk along the Nooksack River.

Horatio--he's completely focused when it comes to playing fetch.

flood plain

So glad my brother was in town for a few days.

rose hips

♥, Molly

Happy Days!

2011-12-12T04:42:00.001+04:00

Report cards are not my friends. Ever. Ever. Ever. 3 times a year my life comes to a standstill until they're done. You would think after 5 years of this I'd have it figured out by now, but it still gets me stressed to the max every single time. I'm not sure you can even imagine how happy I am that they're finished.

This song seemed like a fitting way to celebrate the (temporary) end of my report card troubles!

♥, Molly

Happy Birthday U.A.E.!

2011-12-02T09:06:00.002+04:00

You've come a long way, U.A.E.! Happy 40th!
♥, Molly

Here's another fun time-lapse video you might enjoy. This one is 24 hours in Dubai.

for you. from me.

2011-11-27T09:29:00.000+04:00

sometimes people have to go through some pretty rotten yucky things. i have one dear friend in particular who could use a big huge hug right about now.

xo!

♥, molly

found here

Fauxhawk Friday

2011-11-18T09:49:00.000+04:00

Happy weekend!
♥, Molly

Hooray!

2011-11-17T01:02:00.000+04:00

Guess who's literally jumping for joy?

Photos by Jill

Me! After a two month absence, it sure feels good to be back in this little space.
♥, Molly

P.S. I'm sending a super huge shout out to Skylar (& Sarah): THANK YOU for fixing my blog!!!!

On the Borderline//Sally Seltmann

2011-09-19T09:42:00.000+04:00

I'm usually a peaceable person. I hate fighting even more than I hate bed bugs.

Sometimes, though, things get hard and you need a good song to help you rally. That's when I listen to this little gem. I'll leave all of the Notre Dame Victory Marches and Boomer Sooners to you--when it comes to fight songs, this is the one for me.

So there. Take that, world.
♥, Molly

Malls of Dubai

2011-09-14T08:26:00.001+04:00

“You got big ones, small ones and all of them are awesome.”

(Link to YouTube)

Another controversial internet teen sensation. Watch out Rebecca Black, you've got a rival in the UAE!

♥, Molly

Jon Foreman//House of God Forever

2011-09-12T16:13:00.001+04:00

Declaring this as my official go-to song for the month of September. It's just right.

Update: I've probably listened to it 100 times by now.
♥, Molly

Redeeming Love

2011-09-11T08:22:00.002+04:00

image from Simple Pleasures
{20.2011}

i made a pact in high school never to read a francine river's novel. 10 or so years and 3 insistent friends later, i guess i did. maybe the biggest thing i took away from this book was the theme from job 1:21--"the lord gave, and the lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the lord."

♥, Molly

bird by bird

2011-09-10T09:45:00.003+04:00

image by good reads
{19.2011}

it's not very often i come across a book i look forward to re-reading right away. helpful, honest, funny, and so very good.
♥, Molly

The English Assassin

2011-09-09T08:42:00.002+04:00

image from Daniel Silva Books
{18.2011}

my sister likes spy books part II.
the english assassin is #2 in an 11 book series. the author had an excellent way of describing characters and inserting interesting historical references and tidbits.

♥, Molly

Rules of Betrayal

2011-09-08T08:38:00.002+04:00

image found here
{17.2011}

my sister likes spy stories. this one was horribly cliche (bitter afghani terrorist + rich arab fundamentalist unite to destroy new york) and the ending left me completely unsatisifed (emma ransom, you're annoying). however, i had a bit more grace for the sloppy resolution when i learned it's only part 3 of an ongoing series.

♥, Molly

Imperfect Birds

2011-09-07T08:36:00.001+04:00

image from critrature
{16.2011}

My first novel by Anne Lamott was a bit disappointing. I liked certain passages, but overall didn't connect with the book. You never know, though--maybe in 25 years when I'm the mother of a challenging teenager I'll have to give it a second try.
♥, Molly

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2011-09-06T09:30:00.005+04:00

image from SBF
{15.2011}

yes, i do think this series is worth all* the hype.
♥, molly

*well, okay--maybe i take that back. definitely not quite this much. or this. or this. or this, either...

Cat Scan

2011-09-06T07:16:00.000+04:00

No:
The Cat Scan

Yes:
Today I'm heading to the Gulf International Cancer Center for my second PET-CT scan. This is where I get to have radioactive superpowers for a day and am not allowed to be near pregnant women or small children.

Praying my results will come out clean! No more cancer = no more chemo!
♥, Molly

Prodigal God

2011-09-05T09:16:00.002+04:00

image from Andrew Fuller Center
{14.2011}

Our Bible study group has been going through this book together. You may know the story of The Prodigal Son; we've looked at it more from the perspective of The Two Lost Sons and the Lavish Father.

♥, Molly

Have A Little Faith

2011-09-04T09:06:00.002+04:00

image by Rate It For Me
{11.2011}

A thoughtful gift from a friend. A thoughtful read.
♥, Molly

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2011-09-03T08:58:00.002+04:00

image by Spill
{12.2011}

Once you start, you can't stop.
♥, Molly

Day 30--Last Hurrah!

2011-09-02T20:24:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School

inspired by Mighty Girl

poP pOP POPCORN!

Yes, popcorn was my last hurrah. Before you think it's a completely lame ending to the 30 Days of Fun project, you should know that it's one of my all time favorite foods and also represents one of my all time favorite memories. The instant I smell it I'm reminded of Sunday nights when my whole family piled into my parents' room to eat popcorn and watch PBS Nova nature shows and old school episodes of America's Funniest Home Videos. Good times.

Although I think air poppers to be the best, owning one hasn't been too conducive to my transient lifestyle. Since the beginning of college, the microwave stuff has had to do. That is, until Pinterest helped me discover DIY microwave popcorn, which is really just like the traditional air-popped stuff. All I ever do is throw a few kernels in a bag, fold the top over twice, and stick it in the microwave. When there's a 3 second lull in the popping action I consider it done. Ta-Daa! Easy as that!

Caitlin doing a fine job of displaying the best discovery of the summer!

My favorite part is that if you only want a little bit, you don't have to make a whole big bag. And if you don't feel like the funky taste of chemically coated kernels, you have the option to eat it plain.

Like I do.

For dinner.

Everyday.

Here's the full recipe + nutritional, environmental, and economical reasons to try it for yourself.

YAY for 30 Days of Fun!

♥, Molly

Up Next: A slew of summer reading . . .

Day 29--Henna

2011-09-01T19:25:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

For Caitlin's last day in town I convinced her to get a fun little souvenir of the UAE: henna. She didn't try it when she came the first time, so I was extra excited for her to have the experience this go-around. Due to awkward bug bites all over my arms, I was content to hide beneath my cardigan and just watch. We tried a new-to-me salon and were most happy with the results. (I think.) Although she burned her leg in the drying process, it was worth it. (I think.) Nobody ever said that being beautiful was easy. ;-)

Thanks for coming, Caitlin! I'm going to miss you--you've made my summer extra special!!

♥, Molly

Day 28--a little sleepover . . .

2011-08-31T22:26:00.004+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

. . . with the bed bugs.

they showed up at the beginning of the week and just kept inviting more of their friends. believe me, they were NOT welcome little guests. don't know for sure where we I picked them up, but there's no denying that they really love us me. (i had over 63 bites on the first night and more each night after that. caitlin had 0.)

thinking i was clever, i put down double sided tape and circled the bed with Pif Paf. they didn't like my ring of poison and decided to fight back. with vengeance. all over my face. jerks.

i now have a new plan of attack: it's called garlic and a silver stake. watch out!
♥, Molly

update: i got rid of the mattress the next day and slept on a yoga mat inside my circle of defense until the sprayers came. i also took everything out of my bedroom and baked it in the car. 21 days later i finally vacuumed up the ring of poison. 24 days later i still have the bite marks and am slooooowly putting my clothes back in the wardrobe. im not brave enough to let them bring in the bedframe quite yet, but a mattress on the floor is just fine. i think they're gone, but i'm trying not to be too optimistic. hello worst nightmare!

Beluga + Mariachi Band = Cuteness

2011-08-31T09:34:00.002+04:00

Although I'm not pleased to see this little guy confined to a glass cage, I am glad to know that he appreciates a good mariachi band when he sees one.

♥, Molly

Day 27--Lunching at the PQ

2011-08-30T22:25:00.004+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Every visit to Abu Dhabi deserves a little trip to PQ. Caitlin ordered their lentil bread bowl. I tried a pesto and goat cheese salad. Both were enjoyed.

♥, Molly

Day 26--Ski Dubai FAIL

2011-08-29T21:51:00.002+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Ski Dubai seemed like the perfect grand finale to Caitlin's trip and a great way to celebrate my Abu Dhabi anniversary. (2 years on August 22!) Unfortunately, 'the coolest thing to do in Dubai' became 'the coolest thing NOT to do in Dubai'. It was a true FAIL. As you can tell by the picture, we made it there--we just didn't quite make it out on the snow. The slope is closed and isn't set to reopen until the first. Bummer.

♥, Molly

Day 25--a little fun in the sun

2011-08-28T21:17:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

I don't quite know how a month has gone by so quickly, but it's nearly time for Caitlin to head back to the States. I didn't want her final week in town to be a repeat of last week (where I spent 90% of my time on the couch). Instead, I wanted to get out and about to make her visit worth remembering.

We decided to spend our day at one of the prettiest pools in town. Aloft is a bit of a drive from downtown, but less crowded and less expensive than most of the other major hotels.

images from the Aloft gallery

I spent a good portion of the day reading in the shade . . .

. . . while Caitlin took full advantage of the pool.

It was a nice way to spend the day.
♥, Molly

Day 24--Dinner at Cafe Arabia

2011-08-27T20:40:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Tonight we went for dinner with my dear friend, Laura.

Although Abu Dhabi has hundreds of Lebanese restaurants, when you're really craving fattoush there's only one place to go: Cafe Arabia. Luckily, it didn't take much effort convincing Laura and Caitlin. We were all on the same page and we all ordered the same meal. If fattoush x1 is fun enough, fattoush x3 is even better.

♥, Molly

Day 23--Chemo-Hair Coverups

2011-08-26T23:00:00.006+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

After coming across this post we decided to change our plans for the day and make a few non-hair hair tutorials. Yes, I think it's time to wear more scarves and turbans.

A few internet searches later and we were set, to the best of our limited fashionista abilities, to recreate some of the looks. There are a bajillion ways to wear head scarves, but given the circumstances we only focused on styles that offered maximum scalp coverage. We found some great videos & tutorials here, here, here, here, here, and here.

The Kerchief :: if you've ever played dress-up then I'm sure you're quite familiar with this standard fave. I was recently re-inspired by Brigitta von Trapp.

1. Start by folding your scarf into a triangle.
2. Place the middle of the triangle on the crown of your head with the point behind you.
3. Bring the long ends of the triangle to the back. Tie in a knot.
For a beach look (or in my case, unintentional biker-dude) you can tie the knot over the point.

Broadband :: Another facile style everyone already knows. We made the width of the scarf a bit wider than normal for extra camouflage.

1. Fold your scarf into a triangle.
2. Starting at the point, continue folding until you're left with a long, thick strip.
3. Place the middle of the strip on the crown of your head.
4. Bring the ends to the nape of your neck. Tie in a knot.
5. Secure with hairpins as needed.

Slingshot Headband :: This works best with a scarf that has a bit of texture to it.

1. Start with a long strip.
2. Fold the strip in half by putting two ends in 1 hand and the resulting 'loop' in the other.
3. Going from the back to the front, bring the 2 ends of the scarf through the loop.
4. Make it tight and snug. Then pull the loose ends towards the back of your head, retracing the way they came.
5. Tuck the 2 loose ends into your turban.

The Bow Headband

1. Make your scarf into a strip.
2. Going from the front to to the back, place the middle of the scarf on the crown of your head, bring the ends to the back, cross them once, and bring them back to the front. (If your scarf is short, start with your scarf in the back and bring the ends to the front.)
3. Tie a bow.
4. Adjust the loops and ends as needed. Twist the bow to the side as desired.

Twist and Shout Headband

1. Make your scarf into a strip.
2. Begin in the back and bring the ends forward to the front.
3. Twist the ends once, twice, and then wrap them around to the back of your head.
4. Secure with a knot.
5. Shout.

The Kumari Headband

1. Fold your scarf into a strip.
2. Begin in the front by placing the middle of the strip on the crown of your head.
3. Wrap the scarf around your head, bringing the ends to the back.
4. Cross the ends and once again bring them to the front.
5. Tie the ends off in a knot (or just cross them if your scarf is too thick) and then tuck them into your headband.

Un Turban Simple :: par Cynthia

1. Fold your (fairly big) scarf into a triangle.
2. Lay the triangle over your head with the middle of the scarf at the nape of your neck and the point covering your forehead.
3. Bring the ends from the back to the front.
4. Cross them . . . (Depends on your scarf, but sometimes crossing twice works better.)
5. And then bring them to the back again.
6. Secure your turban by tying the ends in a knot
7. Take the point (that annoying bit hanging over your face in the front), pull it up and over the 'knot' in front, and then tuck the tip back down into the turban.
8. Readjust by tucking & tweaking as necessary. Yay!
Or, you can just buy a pretty turban if that's more your style.

I'm still on the look-out for new ways to appear less bald. If you have any more non-wig-solutions, please send them my way!

♥, Molly

P.S. Special thanks to Caitlin for taking all of the photos and for not being too annoyed when I wanted to delete every other picture. ;-)

Day 22-- ♥ Falafel

2011-08-25T12:00:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

I ♥ Heart Falafel.
It's just so darn cute.

♥, Molly

Day 21--Prime Time Pool Time

2011-08-24T21:28:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

My friends were kind enough to give us the key to their apartment while they were gone this summer. They even gave us permission to use both their accordion and their pool! (Just call us lucky ducks, we know.) We took advantage of their offer and enjoyed a little prime time pool time today.

Thanks guys!
♥, Molly

Day 20--Popsicles

2011-08-23T21:02:00.001+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Popsicles are the perfect summer refreshment.

Unfortunately, when you buy them in Abu Dhabi they usually turn out to be a bit of a disappointment. Like so:

Based on the condition of the box these bad boys came in, I could tell there'd been some meltage en route.

Since store-bought can be an expensive waste and since going a whole hot summer without would have been a real shame, I nearly had a dilemma on my hands. Lucky for me, there was a solution in sight: homemade Popsicles.* They're yummy, inexpensive, and easy. (They're even manageable when you don't feel too well.) Win-win-win.

I combined pomegranate, goji berry, mango, pineapple, and kiwi & lime juice to make this pretty treat. I used the simple add a layer/freeze-add a layer/freeze method.

Pour some juice, toss in some seeds, freeze, repeat, voila!

These were fun to design and delish to eat. I'm looking forward to making more soon. Probably like tomorrow.

♥, Molly

*It's a proper noun? Who knew! Weird.

Day 19--Sleep/Internet/Sleep/Sleep

2011-08-23T09:58:00.005+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

These past couple of days have not been very fun. Today I woke up feeling a bit better, but in the 36 hours directly preceding this morning, 31 of them were spent sleeping. No joke.

Yesterday I managed to rouse myself from my coma long enough to get Caitlin onto Pinterest. It's time-consuming, dangerously addictive, and an unlimited source of good ideas and mindless fun. Beware.

If you're interested in joining, here's a Beginner's Guide to get you started. If you'd like to follow, I'm right here.

♥, Molly

Day 18--Money!!!!

2011-08-21T10:18:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Today I deposited my first reimbursement check from the insurance company. Definitely something to smile about. ;)

♥, Molly

Happy Birthday Dad & Wendy!

2011-08-20T12:57:00.004+04:00

If I had a 'family birthday month,' August would be it. There are special dates on the calendar for the step-mom, the mom, the grandma, and the dad. Today happens to be the birthday of the dad. Happy Birthday, Dad!!

"Working on the Farm" from the talented This Paper Ship

This print is a birthday gift for both the dad and the step-mom. (Sorry I wasn't home to frame it and deliver it in person! I hope it's arrived in the mail by now!) The instant I saw it, I thought of them--they both love to garden and they both love each other. Every time I glance at the illustration, I get these very same impressions. Plus, in real life they look extremely similar to the cute little cartoon couple--boots, basket, cowboy shirt, smirk and all.

Wishing you good things all year and especially on your birthday(s)!
♥, Molly

Day 17--Embroidery 101

2011-08-20T09:15:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Back in March, Sarah and I were treated to a little Carnival in honor of our birthdays. In addition to tons of homemade fair food, cheery decor, and specialty soda, the night included some lively midway games. (And prizes!) After a few turns at the dart board, I was the lucky recipient of a craft lesson from Jill. I decided to ask her to teach me a thing or two about embroidery and she happily obliged. (You can check out some of her needlework here.)

I liked embroidering well enough to order this kit from Sublime Stitching. Once it arrived, however, I never quite got around to starting any of my own projects. Until yesterday.

I decided my first project would be something for my sister's birthday. I washed and ironed a dishtowel, transferred the pattern, reacquainted myself with the basics, and then got started. Lo and behold, it really wasn't that hard. I chose a straightforward pattern (HB--my sister's nickname) and used some very simple stitches (back stitch on the H and stem stitch on the B). Several hours and several episodes of The Office later, I was finished!

Happy Birthday, Honeybunch!

Obviously, it doesn't take much to make me proud. :)

♥, Molly

View From Here//Turtle Nests

2011-08-19T17:18:00.001+04:00

inspired by {this moment} by soulemama
an image // from the week // no words

♥, Molly

Day 16--Presents!

2011-08-19T08:42:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Before she left for her summer holiday, my sweet friend left a stash of presents--a stash of presents for me! I've been saving them for today.

Thanks, Sarah!

♥, Molly

4th Chemo

2011-08-18T16:48:00.000+04:00

4 down, 0 to go. (Lord willing!!)

So glad to have my sister here to help me. She is a fab nurse and I know some lucky hospital is going to snatch her up in no time!

♥, Molly

Day 15--Temp Tats

2011-08-18T12:38:00.005+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

I'm a moderately conservative person. Maybe that's why I like temporary fixes like fake glasses, fake nose rings, and fake tattoos.

I was lucky enough to find Tattly, an online designer tattoo shop*, right before Caitlin came to visit. I quickly ordered a few ($5 for 2 tattoos + it includes shipping + they threw in 2 extra designs just for fun!) and am so happy with the end results. That is, once my sister managed to put them on in the right direction. Side note: Caitlin is about as good at applying fake tattoos as she is at navigating. ;-) Although she's currently looking for employment, I am warning you -- do not-- I repeat DO NOT -- hire her at your tattoo parlor.

I think Caitlin's laughing because it's the 3rd tattoo she put on upside down.

♥, Molly

*Be sure to check Tattly out as their designs are frequently changing. I'm kind of in love with this one right now.

Day 14--Dip-Dye Bowls

2011-08-17T23:27:00.007+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

I have limited skills when it comes to crafts and I've never dyed anything before (ok--I got my hair dyed a few week ago) but this project was easy enough for even me to handle. Although the dipping part was fun, for some reason I just can't get over how exciting the make-your-own-dye part was. You could easily use artificial dye*, but making your own is definitely worth the extra effort.

Directions:
Adapted from the dip-dyed cups tutorial over at Design*Sponge.

1. Chop up the beets into little chunks.

2. Add 1 part beets to 2 parts water. Simmer on the stove for at least an hour. The longer they cook, the darker the dye.

3. Strain the beets and voila!--you're left with a most gorgeous color.

4. Let the dipping begin.

We used 'eco friendly' paper bowls from the grocery store.

5. Have fun!

As we discovered, there's really no right or wrong way to do it. We played around with getting the bowls wet before we dipped them, trying to make polka dots, and letting them dry right-side-up or bottom-side-up depending on which way we wanted the color to bleed.

6. Let everything dry on a color-safe surface (we used grocery sacks) while you start to tidy. Clean up is minimal, but as you can see, things have a tendency to get a bit colorful.

7. All that's left to do is dress up your pretty little bowls with some sweet summer bounty. Dish delish.

♥, Molly

*We quickly got bored with just red, so we used yellow food coloring to help expanded our color palette.

Theater Clouds by Elly Mackay

2011-08-17T08:38:00.000+04:00

I was wandering through Etsy when I stumbled across this dreamy little shop. The artist, Elly Mackay, photographs her unbelievably beautiful three-dimensional paper theater art.

This is my favorite. Probably because this is one of my very favorite books.

Incredible, no? You can read about the way she makes these images right here.

♥, Molly

Day 13--Coconutty

2011-08-16T12:32:00.003+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Caitlin sipping on some fresh coconut water.

In the heart of Salalah you'll find lush coconut, papaya, and banana plantations. Definitely not your typical scene in the Middle East. Before heading towards the desert, Caitlin and I made an impromptu stop at a few fruit stands on our way out of town--I think we both wanted to savor the 'tropics' a little bit longer. Plus, neither of us had ever tried coconut water before. We also splurged on some fresh bananas. Both were delicious.

♥, Molly

Day 12--Hiking along the Travertine Curtain

2011-08-15T12:32:00.006+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

photo by Caitlin
Consider yourself lucky that I'm allowing you to see my classic "Lewis & Clarke" pose.

The Traverine Curtain is the dramatic gateway to Wadi Darbat. Caitlin and I had an incredible time hiking and scrambling along the rocks at the bottom of the 330 foot petrified waterfall. We also made a quick stop at the top to look out towards the sea and Khawr Ruri. (Now Khawr Ruri is only an estuary, but it was once one of the busiest ports in the region and home to the famous Queen of Sheba.)

Approaching the Travertine Curtain.

Caitlin by a giant pool at the base of the falls.

The pastures below are fluorescent green and polka dotted with brown, black, and white goats.

♥, Molly

Day 11--TURTLES!

2011-08-14T12:31:00.002+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

This was a morning of pure magic. Caitlin and I went on the 4am nesting tour at the Ras al-Jinz Nature Reserve to see the endangered green turtles lay their eggs. The experience was hushed, intimate, peaceful--pretty much amazing. My only wish (aside from getting to see some baby turtles hatch) would have been to make the sun stand still. Dawn came much too quickly and as the morning sky grew lighter, all of the turtles left the shore for the sea. Our turtle tour was possibly the highlight of my trip; it was certainly was a most wonderful way to start the day.

♥, Molly

Day 10--Quick Dip in the Omani Gulf

2011-08-13T12:27:00.004+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

photo by Caitlin
Although it kind of looks like I'm car sick, I'm not. I'm just gazing at the water before deciding that looking alone was not enough.

Even though we had a lot of driving ahead of us to reach our destination, we were drawn in by the color of the water and the smell of the salt spray. Who can resist a quick dip in the turquoise waters of the Omani Gulf? Not us. A little swim was definitely in order.

♥, Molly

Day 9--Muscat

2011-08-12T11:01:00.001+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

A stroll at dusk along the Corniche in Mutrah was a lovely (albeit sweaty/sticky) way to spend the evening.

♥, Molly

Days 9 - 15

2011-08-12T08:18:00.000+04:00

We're taking the fun to . . . OMAN!

image from infoplease
We're going on a road trip. Be back soon!

♥, Molly

Day 8--A New Do

2011-08-11T16:25:00.002+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

My hair started falling out a few weeks ago. (Remember this?) Since it started, it hasn't stopped. I tried to hold off on cutting it short for as long as I could, but it was getting pretty thin. I knew it was time when I put an elastic in and ended up with a rattail haircut instead of a ponytail. (Rattails are the less acknowledged, yet equally gross cousins of the mullet.) After chickening out twice in the past 2 weeks, I finally got it cut today. And cut they did.

Before:

After:

I thought it would make my hair look fuller, but instead it just looks like I really need Rogaine. I'll say it so you don't have to: I have a balding middle-aged man haircut. I'd fit right in with these guys. Ah!

pictures by Caitlin
Fortunately for me, the bits I can see (the front and the sides) don't look as bad as the bits I can't see (the back and the top). I'm not quite ready for scarves yet. Instead, I am just refusing to stand next to people who are taller than me. ;-)

♥, Molly

Day 7--a little extra time . . .

2011-08-10T21:32:00.007+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

The 'most fun' part of my day was NOT having to do chemo. SURPRISE!
Once my white blood cell count gets back up to normal I'll give 'er another go. I'm not sure if I should be annoyed or happy. I'm some of both--a little annoyed things aren't going to schedule (suspending scans; delaying radiation; revamping the plans for 30 Days of Fun--grr) but mostly happy. Avoiding all that crumminess for another week is a welcome treat.

So instead of what I'd originally planned, our fun for the day involved poring over travel guides, popcorn for dinner, and a movie I'd been wanting to watch for ages.

And a nice long soak in the tub. With lots of bubbles.

♥, Molly

P.S. No cameras were harmed in the making of this post.

Move. Learn. Eat.

2011-08-10T10:42:00.000+04:00

Sharing a little travel inspiration for this week's link love.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

♥, Molly

Monday Music: No One's Gonna Love You//Cee-Lo Green

2011-08-09T20:41:00.005+04:00

I skipped last week, so I wanted to be sure and post a song today.

Here's what Caitlin and I have been dancing around to lately:

The original version by Band of Horses is also nice.

♥, Molly

Day 6--Confetti Cake Mani

2011-08-09T19:26:00.006+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

original idea via Design Crush via Makeup Alley

Manicures aren't really my thing, but since I've moved here, I've started enjoying them every once in awhile. We opted out of a more tradition look (I got pearl pink last time) and went for something a little different today. Caitlin wanted to call it the Zany Bridesmaid but we finally compromised on the Confetti Cake Mani.

Up close, Caitlin's has a neon vibe:

My color scheme is more 'My Little Pony':

♥, Molly

Day 5--S'more Brownies

2011-08-08T17:39:00.009+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

We've sure had a lot of food-related fun these past couple of days! Tonight we're hosting a very small birthday gathering for a dear friend. We made these brownies in her honor.

S'more Brownies
Ingredients:
1 box of brownie mix (which typically requires water, oil, and eggs)
1 bag of chocolate chips
1 bag of mini-marshmallows
1 package of graham crackers; about 10 sheets broken into halves

Directions:
1. Bake the brownies according to the directions on the box.
2. 5 minutes before they're expected to be done, remove the brownies from the oven and sprinkle the top with a layer of chocolate chips followed by a layer of marshmallows.
3. Return the brownies to the oven until the timer goes off or until the marshmallows are puffed to a golden brown.
4. Immediately top the brownies with the graham crackers. Press down hard enough so that they fuse to the marshmallow.
5. The brownies will be quite sticky, so serving them is a bit tricky. For best results, wait until they're cooled and then try cutting through the marshmallow with a buttered knife.

Head here for the original recipe from Fork vs. Spoon.

♥, Molly

Day 4--A trip to the NEW! Ikea

2011-08-07T17:12:00.000+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

We ventured out to the NEW! Ikea on Yas Island today. (Well, 'new' since mid-March.) This was my first visit to the new locale and even though I didn't really need anything, it was an enjoyable break from the apartment. It's definitely a BIG store. Thanks to Ramadan, we basically had the place to ourselves.

♥, Molly

Day 3--Authentic Nepali Dinner

2011-08-06T16:27:00.002+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Our Nepalese friend, Pawan, came over to cook us dinner. He made his special chicken curry and spicy lentil daal. Yum!

♥, Molly

Day 2--Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows

2011-08-05T23:22:00.009+04:00

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

image by OnlineMoviesHut // image by Movie Fanatic

Caitlin, Jenny (a friend & co-worker), and I finally finished watching the monumental Harry Potter saga today. It all started a few weeks ago during my 3rd chemo treatment. At that point I hadn't seen a single movie in the series and I'd only read books 1-5 way back during the summer of 2008.

While we were in the hospital, we sort of caught Potter-fever. It resulted in more than one late night movie marathon. I was also forced to spend hours on the couch resting and reading books 6 & 7. Such. a. shame. Our mania came to a peak this afternoon. After watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I at home we had just enough time to rush to the theater to see Part II. From there, Jenny left directly for her summer vacation in the States!

I was envisioning a photo of Caitlin and I standing in front of the movie poster for our 'day 2' pic, but that didn't work out so well when I left the camera at home. Instead I'll use a picture from our little Hogwarts themed brunch.

I put the menu together from memories of the Saturday breakfasts we used to have at Capernwray.

I think it came out basically the same--aside from the addition of homemade English muffins (recipe here) and butterbeer (recipe below).

Recipe for Butterbeer
original recipe here from HELLO, My Name is Heather; Serves 6

Ingredients for the butterbeer:
1 bottle beer or ginger ale
3 bottles cream soda
3 T butterscotch ice cream topping

Ingredients for the frothy sparkle:
corn syrup
fine and coarse sugar in gold and yellow colors; (or if you're in a pinch, plain white sugar mixed with few drops of yellow food coloring also works)

Directions:
1. Chill beverages and a glass pitcher
2. Dip the rim of each glass in corn syrup; then dip the rim into a plate of colored sugar
2. Squeeze butterscotch topping into a tall glass; add a little cream soda; mix until thoroughly combined
3. Pour all remaining soda into the glass pitcher
4. Add butterscotch mix to the pitcher; stir
5. Serve over ice immediately

I enjoyed both the books and the movies much more than I thought I would. The character growth, the clearly defined struggle, the challenge of real relationships, the examples of sacrifice, and the story of redemption--there's a whole lotta good stuff going on. I'm not saying they're my favorite books, but I would argue that Harry Potter has all of the elements of a great story.

I've never imagined myself admitting this, but now that I've finished, I do think the series actually is worth all of the hype.

And in the words of Ron and Hermione, "Always the tone of surprise." ;-)

♥, Molly

View From Here//Abu Dhabi Arrival!

2011-08-05T22:21:00.000+04:00

inspired by {this moment} by soulemama
an image // from the week // no words

♥, Molly

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Crown Jewel of Abu Dhabi (Part III)

2011-08-05T11:21:00.002+04:00

Facts, Figures, and a VIDEO!
A few things about Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque you just might want to know know . . .

The Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the U.A.E. and the 3rd largest mosque in the world.

It can accommodate 40,000 worshipers.
The mosque had it's busiest day on January 29, 2011 when 29,000 people came to visit.

From the outside, you can see 4 minarets and 82 domes.
The minarets stretch 358 feet into the air.

The outer courtyard, decorated with vines and blossoms, is the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.

The reception room is inlaid with 28 different types of marble from all around the world.

There are 7 German-crafted chandeliers made of Swarvoski crystal and fiber optic lighting materials in the main hall. One of these chandeliers is the "World's Largest Chandelier in a Mosque" It is 33 feet in diameter, 49 feet long, and contains one million Swarovski crystals. It bumped the chandelier in Oman's Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque down to second place on the podium.

World Record #2: It has the largest handwoven carpet (aka prayer mat) in the world. It is 60,570 sq ft which converts to 1.39 acres. (That is practically a pasture!)

The carpet took 35 tons of wool and 12 tons of cotton to complete. There are supposedly 2,268,000,000 knots within the carpet

More than 3,000 workers and 38 contracting companies were involved in the building process.

Want a guided tour of the mosque? Local celebrity, Ali Al Saloom, has got you covered!

Click here for the video! (It's about 20 minutes or so.) Definitely worth watching if you have the time!

♥, Molly

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Crown Jewel of Abu Dhabi (Part II)

2011-08-04T17:20:00.000+04:00

Before entering the Grand Mosque, one must dress appropriately. For male tourists, this means pants and shirts with a sleeve. Female tourists must wear the traditional abaya and shayla.

Caitlin and Jill will model for you . . .

Since most tourists do not have their own, the mosque provides you with a complimentary outfit.

After you have appropriately covered, you must then remove your shoes before passing through to the reception room.

Reception Room

From the reception room, visitors are able to enter the Main Prayer Hall.

The Qibla wall (the main wall facing Mecca) has been decorated very simply so as to not distract during prayer. It displays the 99 names (or qualities) of Allah. Head here to read the full list.

You can also see the minbar (pulpit) where the Imam leads the prayers and delivers the Friday sermon.

If you look closely you can see a faint "line" under my foot. These markers were woven into the carpet to help all of the worshipers organize themselves into lines.

In addition to the main prayer hall, there are also a few other rooms open to visitors:

The Washroom for ablutions

The Women's Prayer Hall

In the words of Sheikh Mansour, "The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque represents great sentimental and moral value for the people of the UAE, and their leadership. It reflects the spirit of diversity in culture, thought and civilisation. It aspires to be a welcoming, humanitarian space open to all visitors who wish to acquaint themselves with the intricacies of Islamic civilization, arts and architecture." Yes, I would say it is all that.

And even more.

♥, Molly

P.S. Some of these photos may be from Caitlin.

Blast from The Past

2011-08-03T08:30:00.000+04:00

Both my mom and my grandpa recently sent me photographs from a few years ago. I love how they're all of me doing what I've always been able to do well: Enjoy summer!

The pictures reminded me of the work of a rather interesting photographer, Irina Werning. Her "Back to the Future" series is both quirky and cool.

Pancho from Buenos Aires (1983 & 2010)

Flo, Maria, Dolores (1979 & 2010)

Nico in Buenos Aires (1983 & 2010)

Mechi in Buenos Aires (1990 & 2010)

Flor, Male, Sil (1983 & 2010)

Marita & Coty (1977 & 2010)

What I'm most fascinated by in all of these pictures is the clothes. How did they find such accurate big kid versions? If you're interested, head here to see more of her "Back to the Future" work. (Just to warn you--there's a few kids who are not completely dressed, hence . . .)

♥, Molly

P.S. I also think the fast forward fifty years version of this pic would be pretty awesome. Ha!

Uncle Chip, Uncle Roger, Aunt Karen, my dad, Aunt Linda

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Crown Jewel of Abu Dhabi (Part I)

2011-08-02T09:06:00.000+04:00

In honor of Ramadan I thought I would publish a few pictures of the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

Way back when I first came to town, the Grand Mosque was one of the first sights I visited. It struck me as one of the most beautiful buildings I'd ever seen--and I'd say that it still is. (True confession--I found it prettier than the Taj Mahal.)

All of the stones were hand cut by artisans.

I remember being most impressed by the sheer size of the mosque as well as the intensely minute details.

The mosque is named after Sheikh Zayed, the beloved "Father of the Nation" who unified the emirates and became known for his goodwill and generosity. He passed away in 2004 and is now buried in a tomb on the site. As a way to honor the legacy of the late Sheikh, it is one of the few mosques open to both Muslims and non-Muslims in order to promote understanding and peace.

♥, Molly

P.S. Some of these photos may be from Caitlin.

Ramadan Kareem

2011-08-01T09:19:00.007+04:00

The hilal, or crescent moon, has been seen! Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic year, has begun.

from the streets of Abu Dhabi
For Muslims, it is a time of dedication, prayer, holistic fasting (abstaining from food and water, as well as undesirable emotions and sinful actions), charitable giving, and family time. To put it in North American terms, the season reminds me of a mix between Lent and Christmas.

For non-Muslims, life also changes a bit.

It is illegal to eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke in public during daylight hours. (This includes your car as well.)
Cafes and restaurants are closed during the day.
There is no swearing, singing, loud music, or dancing allowed.
Everyone is expected to dress more conservatively.
Most business and companies work a shorter day.

Urban legend says that if you break these rules, you will be put in jail until the end of Ramadan. Or maybe you will just get away with a big fine? I'm not exactly sure and don't plan on finding out!

After sunset, many Muslims break their fast by drinking milk and eating dates. (This is what Mohammad did.) They follow this up with an Iftar meal. I was able to attend an Iftar my first year in Abu Dhabi.

The food is laid out and ready while we wait for the signal that the sun has set.

Time to eat!

Everyone sits together on the floor. Instead of forks and knives, you eat with your right hand.

1. A big spread
2. Lime and mint juice; local water; milk
3. Waiting for sunset
4. Desserts: sweet, syrupy, and fried

رمَضَان كريم
Wishing you Ramadan blessings!
♥, Molly

100 Reasons You Should Go To Thailand (91-100)

2011-07-31T10:52:00.000+04:00

91. Old ruins, new life
Sukhothai , the heart of the kingdom during Thailand's 'golden age', was pretty spectacular. I don't think a trip to Thailand would be complete without a stop here.

92. Puddle jumpers. (Particularly baby elephant puddle jumpers.)
The day we went to the Elephant Nature Park was my very favorite day of the whole trip. Even if you don't have time, you should make time to stop in and visit.

photo by Jill
93. Orange
The bright, vibrant colors everywhere were an unexpected but much appreciated simple pleasure.

94. Wat Arun, Temple of the Dawn
Lonely Planet may not rank this place an essential attraction, but I really enjoyed the beautiful river views from the top of this temple.

95. Clean public restrooms.
Although it's an unglamorous topic, the availability and cleanliness of washrooms can make a big difference in one's experience. (Hint, hint Nepallll!)

96. Treehouses (Can you see it? It's tucked into the jungle.)
Climbing trees = One of my favorite things; Treehouses = Even better. This was like the Thai version of Swiss Family Robinson. Fun!

97. Timelessness
I like the contrasts of this picture. And the overall mix of modern and ancient that we saw throughout the country.

98. Checking things off the life list
Before we started planning the trip, "riding an elephant" was on my life list. After learning more about the training process however, it was enough for me just to be close to them. It's pretty great to get to do things you've always dreamed of doing!

99. Happy surprises around every corner
Seems like every moment we turned around there was something new to appreciate or try. Several months and several trips later, I think I can say that Thailand was one of the happiest trips I've ever had the pleasure of taking.

100. 2 THUMBS UP for unforgettable experiences and wonderful stories! Thanks, Jill! Thanks, Thailand!

♥, Molly

100 Reasons You Should Go To Thailand (81-90)

2011-07-30T10:09:00.002+04:00

81. We ♥ Thai folks!
So kind. So friendly. So happy.

photo by Jill
82. We ♥ novelty snacks!
Correction: Jill quadruple ♥♥♥♥ novelty snacks!!!! We named these little street treats "Sweet Thai Tacos". To learn more about our snacking habit, please read Novelty Snacks of Thailand: Part I, Part II, and Part III.

I like how the statues look like they're praying over this little pooch. He he!

83. We ♥ sleeping pups!
Correction: Jill isn't really a dog person. She prefers sleeping cats. Or awake cats. Or non-orange cats, friendly cats, tourist cats, climbing cats, model cats, and cuddlesome cats. The proof is here and here.

84. We ♥ giant toes. Especially with sparkles.
Correction: Jill does NOT like feet. Not even statue feet. Not even one little bit.

85. We ♥ our blessings!
Both Jill and I saw a lot of people living in challenging situations. It made us even more grateful for the opportunities we've had and for our life experiences. We are both very fortunate.

86. We ♥ roasted plantains!
Correction: I ♥ plantain bananas! Mostly because I associate them with my time in Cameroon.

Jill on the left, Molly on the right
87. We ♥ rock climbing!
Correction: I double ♥♥ rock climbing, but Jill is not a fan of heights and consequently not too keen on the sport. But she gave it a go and I'm very proud of her. You can read Jill's thoughts on the matter right here.

88. We ♥ biking! Especially with company so grand and scenery so beautiful.

89. We ♥ men in uniform.
Correction: J/K!!!!!

photo by Jill
90. We ♥ beauty. And in Thailand there's a lot of it to be found.

♥, Molly

P.S. I ♥ all these corrections. There got to be so many of them that I started to find them kind of funny. I guess they just go to show that there's a little of something for everybody in this place. ;-)

View from Here//Blueberry Treat

2011-07-29T14:34:00.002+04:00

inspired by {this moment} by soulemama
an image // from the week // no words

♥, Molly

Third Chemo.

2011-07-28T10:56:00.005+04:00

3 down, 1* to go!

♥, Molly

*The odds are in my favor. Yesterday, the doctor said there's 70% chance that I'll be finished after 4 treatments! (The alternative being there's a 30% chance I'll need 8.) From what we can tell, the chemo is doing its job. Yay!

a favorite.

2011-07-27T18:44:00.000+04:00

the first time i saw these my jaw dropped. and the second time... and the third time...
i think they might be some of my favorite photographs of a long time.

aren't they just amazing?
please head here to see the rest of sebastiaan's work.

♥, Molly

100 Reasons You Should Go To Thailand (71-80)

2011-07-26T08:50:00.001+04:00

71. Locusts. I hear they're the new bacon.

72. Geeky graffiti

73. Intricate details
When my brother was little he used to ask my dad all sorts of unanswerable questions. Dad, how many snakes do you think are out in that field? Dad, how many bears do you think are in those mountains? Dad, how many fish do you think are in that river? When I saw all of the mosaic work at the Grand Palace I felt like doing the same thing. Dad, how many little teeny tiny little tile pieces do you think are in that statue?

74. Fresh watermelon

75. Friendly faces (Another feature from the Grand Palace)

76. Thoughtful moments

77. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, even though you can't tell because the picture's so small, it's me! And I'm FLYING!!!

78. Cute artists who paint cute elephants at the Chatuchak Weekend Market

79. Ruins in the morning (Just another day in Ayuthaya)

80. Ruins at sunset (Just another day at Sukhothai)

♥, Molly

La Mer//Charles Trénet

2011-07-25T17:38:00.007+04:00

In honor of summer, I thought I'd share this classic song plus a few pictures of the French seaside.

(I also like the version by Françoise Hardy.)

St. Malo, 2005

Nice, 2005

I hope you're outside enjoying the sunshine. Happy Summering!
♥, Molly

100 Reasons You Should Go To Thailand (61-70)

2011-07-24T20:49:00.000+04:00

61. Blooming flowers and temple blessings

62. Cheap tickets! (Well . . . at least cheaper than if we'd flown from Seattle . . .)

63. Bruno
We have Bruno, an unsuspecting German traveler who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, to thank for some good laughs. I had my suspicions when he first boarded the van wearing padded spandex shorts that he was not planning on visiting the elephants that day. I was curious, but had to wait over 8 hours to find out the rest of the story. The pieces started to come together when he very crossly expressed his displeasure with the whole Elephant Park experience. Turns out he'd originally signed up for a bike trip, but had accidentally boarded the wrong minibus. It was a complete mountain biking FAIL for him, but a definite source of comic relief for us. All we had to do for the rest of the trip was mention "spandex" or "Bruno" and we instantly felt better. In fact, all these months later, it still makes me smile.

64. Crazy tour guides who are obsessed with DSLRs and won't stop posing you so they can take your picture!
"Ma'am--I am like professional!!"

65. Inside jokes
(Jill!!!!)

66. Interesting desserts.
Ever tried toasted pound cake with custard, raisins, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles? Neither had we!

67. Time for silly poses (Yes, we like our photo shoots.)

68. Cute puppies

69. Pad Thai
The standard for good and cheap street food has been set!

70. Palaces . . . big, glitzy, Grand Palaces
Mr. & Mrs. Globetrot also visited. Their photos are absolutely gorgeous; you can see them here and here.

♥, Molly

100 Reasons You Should Go To Thailand (51-60)

2011-07-23T20:49:00.000+04:00

And the reasons continue . . .

51. Fried banana blossoms.
They tasted kinda like French fries.

52. Sunsets
(Long Beach, Koh Chang)

53. Gold pedicures at Wat Lokaya Sutha

54. Prayers

55. ~a rainbow of taxis~

56. Fresh fruit dusted with the sweet & spicy prik kab klua!
To make your own seasoning mix Thai chili, salt, and sugar. Mmm!

57. Elephant skin (the legal kind)

58. Warm, tropical waters (So wondrously nice! Especially compared to the frigid waters off the coast of Washington and Oregon!)

photo by Jill
59. Water lilies
P.S. You should read this book. It's a favorite.

photo by Jill
60. Solitude. At last.
(It was a relief to escape the party scene at the definitelyNOTlonely Lonely Beach!)

♥, Molly

View From Here//Beginning of the End

2011-07-22T15:29:00.003+04:00

inspired by {this moment} by soulemama
an image // from the week // no words

♥,
Molly

One More Reason

2011-07-21T17:00:00.003+04:00

From our camping trip in the Empty Quarter, April 2010

According to NEWSWEEK's 100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear, the Empty Quarter is the largest continuous sand sea in the world. Although the book may credit Saudia Arabia as the hosting country, that sand sea doesn't know about political boundaries and spills quite effortlessly into the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Heck, it's basically in my backyard.

image from google maps

Not only close, but quite beautiful as well.

And it makes for great camping!

Add it to the list! Sand sea = another great reason you should come visit!
♥, Molly

Swim Day at the Corniche

2011-07-20T07:55:00.001+04:00

~~If your house was burning, what would you take with you?~~
If you wanted to go burn at the beach, what would you take with you?

Name: Molly McGraw
Age: 28
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Occupation: Teacher
List:

sun hat, wrinkled
sandals, Birkenstocks
goggles, leaky
head phones, purple
iPod, loaded
sunglasses, buggy
book, inspiring
dirhams, 10
keys, apartment and bike
key chain, embellished by a Houbara Bustard
cell phone, ignored
swimsuit, red with polka dots
water, cucumber fresh
sandmat, Thai
towel, bought with love at a CarreFour in Jordan on Christmas Day

Inspired by the theburninghouse.com

♥, Molly

P.S. This is the first post in which I have ever used a code! Feeling fancy with my little ~~strikethrough~~ action!

A 'Wowza' Way to Start the Day

2011-07-19T12:12:00.001+04:00

Oh my. This looks like too much fun.

BSS | Breakfast Interrupted from Bruton Stroube Studios on Vimeo; originally found on design crush

♥, Molly

Sorry!

2011-07-19T08:14:00.002+04:00

I somehow keep hitting the 'publish post' button when I mean to hit the 'save' button. That's twice this week that I've published unfinished posts! Sorry!!

♥, Molly

I Scream, You Scream . . .

2011-07-18T16:29:00.002+04:00

Although I felt like it would never ever get here, it finally did! Tuesday, July 12th, was my LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!

We continued the Cox family tradition and headed to Baskin-Robbins for some ice cream. {Just so you know, here are a few pictures of celebratory-ice-cream-eating from my first, second, and third years of teaching.)

Fourth Year of Teaching

photo by Jill

[Most of] The Hump Day Crew: Jill, Shera, Sarah, Molly, Jen

Unfortunately, Ms. Hannah was unable to join us at our last minute date.

However, she got her ice cream cone the next day at the hospital. The nurses were kind enough to keep it in the freezer for me until she arrived--even if they did have to put it in a bio-hazard bag.

Here's to finishing another successful year! Happy Summer!!

♥,
Molly

...World in a Bubble...

2011-07-17T07:05:00.000+04:00

Washington DC, USA

New York, USA

Copenhagen, Denmark

Gdansk, Poland

Geiranger, Norway

Philadelphia, USA

Chicago, USA

Cappadocia, Turkey

Brandenburg Gate, Germany

Such a fun and happy series--not to mention a completely awesome idea. Tom Storm is pretty genius.

♥, Molly

A Smiling Face is Half the Meal

2011-07-16T15:55:00.002+04:00

Hannah, Jill, Shera
Sarah, Jen, Molly
Almost every Tuesday for the past two years, I've gathered with these lovely ladies to share a meal and to share what's happening in our day to day lives. It's become our "Hump Day" tradition and a very special part of my weekly routine.

When I was planning on moving to Saudia Arabia, Jill decided to create "Hump Day Recipes: A Collection of Tuesday Night Dinners" as a going away present.

Jill's Broccoli & Sun-dried Tomato Quinoa; Sarah's Canadian Apple Dip
(Ha ha! Little did they know they'd be stuck with me another year!)

Each person was requested to submit recipes and photographs in the following categories:

Sarah's Pesto Pasta (with Bacon); Jill's Pomegranate Spinach Salad; Sarah's Nutella Pastry Pockets
They were ever so sly about things and even managed to get a couple of my own recipes in the book without raising my suspicions.

Many, many thanks to you all. Special kudos to Jill (for typing, formatting, and submitting the book), to Sarah (for typing, formatting, and photos) and to Hannah & her aunt (for bringing the book from L.A. to Korea to Abu Dhabi!). It's a brilliant idea and something I'm looking forward to using. I love it!

photos by Sarah
And I love you all, too. ;-)

Hannah's Korean Tofu Tacos
I'm looking forward to seeing your smiling faces across from me at the dinner table in September!
♥,
Molly

View From Here//Some Rooms Should Never Feel This Empty

2011-07-15T15:50:00.004+04:00

inspired by {this moment} by soulemama
an image // from the week // no words

♥,
Molly

Positive Thinking Only!

2011-07-14T15:11:00.000+04:00

My adorably sweet friend, Hannah, left me a gift and a kind note the other day. Here are her instructions for my summer---

Molly McGraw!
This summer I want you to abide by 3 simple rules.
1. SEE NO EVIL
2. HEAR NO EVIL
3. SAY NO EVIL

Positive thinking only!

Thanks for the t-shirt! And yes, your instructions sound like a pretty good plan to me. ;-)
♥,
Molly

P.S. I'm on a kick to try as many new hair styles as I can before my hair [possibly] falls out. Although I've still got some work to do to perfect this one, my messy side ponytail was inspired by this tutorial.

Chemo. 2nd Treatment.

2011-07-13T16:54:00.003+04:00

2 down, 2 to go!

Lots of love helps the medicine go down.

Thanks for being there, friends!!
♥,
Molly

[UPDATE: I'm feeling so much better this go-around. I'm very glad for stronger nausea meds--they're making a huuuge difference!]

Ok Go

2011-07-11T22:46:00.003+04:00

This video is a much-belated birthday shout out to my brother, Reid. Happy Birthday!! I love you!

I admit to liking the video more than the song. How many tries did it take them to do that? Seriously....?!

Happy Monday!
♥, Molly

View From Here // Happy Fish

2011-07-08T21:37:00.003+04:00

inspired by {this moment} by soulemama
an image // from the week // no words

♥,
Molly

A First Grade Novel

2011-07-07T12:30:00.002+04:00

Today as I was sorting through a stack of random papers I came across this story. I instinctively started to throw it out, but then decided otherwise.

So without any further ado, here is the tale of . . .

The Mom and the Baby
by Mariam Abudulla
(As told to Miss Molly)

The Mom come. The
baby. Yaaay!

I sad.
And the baby
he ________.**
**Can you guess what word? If you're thinking die you're on track. She didn't know how to say it or write it, but she definitely knew how to show it. Right in the middle of reading her story aloud she did a full-on impersonation of a dead baby--complete with tongue out and eyes rolled to the side. Priceless.

The baby. He
happy.

As you can see, we've still got some work to do. (Ahem, no punctuation and general lack of description.) However, for a little 6 year old ELL writer, I think she did a pretty swell job. I particularly love 2 things:

1. The lackluster but clear attempt at a plot-- even though it's kind of awful she does try so very hard to have a problem and a solution. I've got to give her credit for following directions.
2. Her illustrations -- hellO princess hat!

Thanks for reading.

THE END
(Which she more accurately pronounced like Thuuuuuuhhh End)

♥,
Molly

First Chemo.

2011-07-06T20:28:00.013+04:00

One down, three to go!

photo by Hannah

Last Thursday I had my first chemo treatment. Heading into it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I'd heard everything from "It's no big deal--really, it's quite undramatic," to "You're gonna wanna die." The most common responses from chemo vets went something like it's just so hard to know how you will react since each person responds so differently. Ambiguity lead to a little bit of apprehension. I have to admit I was a little nervous going in. Eek!

It's a good thing Hannah was there.

photo via Hannah
All of my friends in Abu Dhabi have been so good about helping me out, but Hannah deserves some special thanks for her efforts last week. She willingly gave up her whole day off to join me in the hospital for my treatment. We were told that it would only take a "couple of hours"--little did we know that it would be a full 11!!

Some of the minutes during those 11 hours were spent working on paperwork and insurance. Some were spent at the cashier's desk. Some were spent at the pharmacy trying to fill prescriptions.
But most were spent lounging. And waiting.
Waiting for the nurses to put in my IV.
Waiting for the hydration packs to finish.
Waiting for the pharmacy to mix up the drugs.
Waiting for the A pack to finish.
Waiting for the B pack to finish.
Waiting for the V pack to finish.
Waiting for the D pack to finish.
Hannah was such a trooper! She kept me feeling loved and entertained from start to finish.

This is pretty much what I looked like for the vast majority of the day.

photo by Hannah

It was basically like having a lazy day of nonstop chilling. It was nice to chat with the nurses, talk with a few visitors, and look at the trees out the window. Hannah and I both asked several questions but then tried not to think too much about the answers. It was nice to distract ourselves with Modern Family and a special Jones the Grocer lunch. (Thanks, Allan!)

Even though I was worried about it hurting, I really didn't feel any discomfort throughout the treatment. So I must say, many thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Please know that your love (from near and far) has made such a difference. The day definitely went better than I was anticipating. It wasn't all fun and games, but as you can see . . .

photo via Hannah
it wasn't so bad either!

♥,
Molly