fashion rubies

2011-03-06T00:14:00.001-08:00

running again

2011-03-01T17:39:00.000-08:00

It's been almost a year since I ran because of my injuries. Today I ran a mile and it felt really good. No pain and I wasn't exactly tired either... this is a good sign and an even better addition to my already hour-long cardio workouts. It feels really good to have finally been able to run freely because I've missed it so much. I wish I was around for the Shamrock Marathon so I can run with my group but I am leaving for Russia that same morning. I hope I don't get too out of shape while I'm in Russia - but I know I will be pumped to get back into the gym once I'm home.

The other night I went to Pambiche. I haven't been there since Veronica was having her going away lunch there with out law firm when she was heading out to the Air Force Academy. I miss her - and I'm excited she'll be close to me while I'm in Europe also since she's going to school in Scotland.

The rest of the night I plan on relaxing and drinking some wine. Maybe doing a little writing and getting some inspiration because the weather has really made me depressed lately. I love hearing the birds chipper outside the window, but I am really longing for sunshine and spring dresses.

Also - it was extremely fun going out with the girls and the group together last weekend. It was GG, MaryAnne, Lexi and the boys and we ended up singing karaoke: Glamarous by Fergie. This was actually really funny because I couldn't see the screen and I was clearly a whisky sour too much for it. Overall it was a great time together and everyone laughed. We all ended up going to Sasha's and eating what I remember as - the best hot dog I've had in my entire life. The next morning wasn't too good but it's been a while since dancing, singing and laughing with everyone was this fun. I can't wait to do it again soon!

la bella vita

2011-02-26T08:43:00.001-08:00

Last night I ate dinner at Piazza Italia. Started out with the Antipasto Italiano and then I had Bucatini all'Amatriciana for the main course. A. ordered Pizzaiola with pasta and then we finished dinner with a Tiramisu and an Espresso. Gino was mingling with everyone as usual - and the whole restaurant ended up singing 'Happy Birthday' twice and before leaving, he was dancing with a girl. He's always the life of the party. After getting home, I went to bed fairly early - maybe 10:30 - and I remember still getting text messages about going out. Today, I have a lot planned though.

I am finishing up my 2 articles (not sure about one of them because I never got a response from the Dean of Student Life and it's been a week) and then I am heading over to my moms to pick up a dress.

I am going to the American Cancer's Society 2011 Hope Ball with my girlfriends tonight to benefit cancer research. Funds raised at the Hope Ball event will directly support Camp UKANDU. This camp is a week-long "outrageously fun" overnight camp for children between the ages of 8 and 17 living with cancer. Campers, along with their patients and siblings, tackle arts and crafts, swimming, field games, a challenge course, climbing wall, and archery – all under the care of specially-trained adult staff and 24-hour medical specialists. Can't wait to be a part of this.

2011-02-23T09:36:00.000-08:00

To all the men of Russia: с Днем защитника Отечества! И от Путина: "Поздравляю всех с праздником, желаю всего доброго и особые слова признательности, благодарности - ветеранам Великой Отечественной войны, ветеранам Вооруженных сил."

DC remarks

2011-02-20T19:54:00.000-08:00

Day 1: My flight was at 6:35am from PDX to DC. I got to DC around 5pm - just in time for the Reception. We were at the Yellowstone/Everglades room with an open bar and hors d'oeuvres. We then had dinner and opening remarks from Jeff Nelson, the Senior Vice-President/Chief Marketing Officer of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and a welcome speech from Josh Bellis, the Director of CN. Jordan and I went to the gym after dinner and then got ready and met up with everyone downstairs at the lobby for cocktails and conversation. It was a great night filled with interesting people.

Day 2: We had breakfast around 9 and then the Conference talks began. David Mastio, the Deputy Editorial Page Editor of the Washington Times began the talks and it was a great speech on how newsrooms operate around the nation. The second speaker was Naomi Schaefer Riley of the Wall Street Journal and she spoke about her experiences and the various books and projects she is working on that are releasing in Spring 2011. After her speech, there was a writing workshop led by Michael O'Brien of the Hill in DC and I had individual critique time with Laura Wainman, who is currently with USA Today. The last speaker was John McCormack of the Weekly Standard and his speech was my favorite. He had great information and advise on sourcing your stories and what role politics play in journalism. After the talks, we had a couple hours of break, so Jordan and I walked down to the Capitol and took a couple of pictures. Then we met up with the CN officers for cocktails in the lobby before we all went to get ready for dinner at the Old Ebbitt. The 3 course dinner was delicious - and afterwards we had a networking social to get to know everyone better and network. We also took a little walk to the White House because it was across from the restaurant. It was definitely an incredible weekend.

Day 3: My flight left early and I was stuck in Denver with a 3 hour delay. I just got home and had dinner at Nicholas' restaurant. Now, I am just relaxing and I took a bath. I'm feeling pretty jet-lagged but inspired and happy about the results of my weekend. I don't particularly love DC, but it was nice to be in an important city. As some said, once you know the right people in the city - like I have the chance to - everything seems very small. It's like living in a small community and networking contacts but just in a really big city. I'm not sure if I would move there yet - but I'm still hoping my number 1 choice will be available.

I have really exciting things coming up and I can't wait to share with everyone! More travels on the way too. Very, very rewarding and exciting. There are so many opportunities that have opened up and I hope everyone looks for opportunities in their field. Work hard and everything will be what it should be in the end. Keep in mind that sometimes "it's not the grades you make, but the hands you shake."

updates

2011-02-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

- Oregon triple berry martini from Jake's is extremely good.

- Flying out to DC at 6:35 in the morning tomorrow. Land at around 5pm and have an hour to get to my Reception dinner. Extremely excited to meet new interesting and talented people.

- Found a solution to my Calculus course requirement. Will be taking an online class through UC Berkeley. This way I can be anywhere in the world and still be able to be caught up with multivariate analysis.

- Finalized my itinerary for Russia.

I've been pretty busy so I haven't had much time to update. I'll try to record a video tomorrow night because that should be faster. See you in Washington D.C.

Some food for thought:

"Ability can take you to the top, but it takes character to stay there."

i will love this love forever

2011-02-14T23:15:00.000-08:00

My Valentine's Day was absolutely incredible. I came home to my honey making us dinner and to Dean Martin on the radio. Dinner was delicious and so romantic. I'm so incredibly lucky to have the best man in the world. He made me a scavenger hunt and at the end of it, I got a pink laptop! At the end of the day, I am always his princess who wears the golden crown. I love you honey. I love you so incredibly much.

And my sunshine:

highlights

2011-02-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

(+) Had a celebratory night out with my girlfriends last night at Vault and then went out dancing to Candy's. I had a couple of the 'Gluttony' drinks on the 7 sins menu and they were good. I like the tart and sour cocktails - so they were perfect. I also got a free promotional shot at Candy's but that wasn't great at all. It was a watermelon punch of something.......but my night was really fun! And I got flowers and amazing chocolate from the girls.

(+) Spent a good portion of my day walking around 23rd street with Abdullah today and ate Indian food and then had some green tea. He is so sweet to me - when we were getting bubble gum from the machine, he didn't stop putting in quarters until the pink ones would come out. It was really cute. And we finally got to walk around World Market today and got some imported German beer. It is really, really good.

(+) And this and this is really funny. I got those from him today in my inbox and I laughed. Valentine's Day is on Monday. I didn't feel like going out anywhere, so Abdullah and I are staying in and cooking dinner together. We finally found turkey bacon, so I can finally make my favorite bacon wrapped figs. A great French recipe and it makes great finger food/appetizers.

I made it

2011-02-09T10:46:00.001-08:00

“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it.” - Margaret Thatcher

My dreams came true! I am so happy to announce that I got accepted to LSE for my 1st choice programme! I had a 9% chance of getting into my programme, and as my Professor told me "that's putting a lot of eggs in one basket" because I didn't apply for any other schools. I knew that this was meant for me and I put my heart and soul into it - and I did it! I made it. I am so happy to move to London and begin a new chapter in my life. Hard work pays off and I am happy, excited, nervous and anxious all in one. I just need to stay focused for a few more months until I graduate. This feels so good.

Josette, la Confiturière

2011-02-07T22:15:00.001-08:00

Whew - what a day!

I had a "restaurant simulation" in French class today and it made class really fun! We talked about Josette, la Confiturière and the difference between les gourmands and les gourmets. Josette has such precious glass jars of gelées médiévales with rose petals and seeds. It reminded me of my great-grandma Zoya when she used to make fruit and vegetable preserves and I helped her.

When I was little, every time the family got together for lunch or dinner - I got a new large glass liter of compote of which ever flavor I wanted. Josette also reminds me of my great-grandma because we used to have orchards of apple trees and I would pick them to make more preserves in the summer. We had all types of fruit in our garden - gooseberries, black, red and white currants, zemlyanika, strawberries and so many different types of apples.

Every summer I would spend at the country side - herding cows, milking cows, picking eggs from the barn and running around with all the kids from morning to night climbing trees and playing around in the field. I miss my village, Shornovo and Boykovo - near Staritsa. I hope if I get the chance to go to Russia this Spring break that I can visit and take pictures. I was so young last time I went and if I go this time - I will definitely have a bigger appreciation for everything.

After French class I grabbed lunch with Faisel. We went to Pizzacato and by the time I got my greek salad, I had 5 minutes to get to class.

In class I got to leave almost an hour early because I was the only person to get 5 out of 5 on the last Problem Set. I was happy because I had more time at the gym. I did an hour of cardio and some weights and then Abdullah met me outside and we walked home together. He cooked us Shrimp Kabsa tonight and it was absolutely delicious!

Now I am just doing laundry and checking emails. Tomorrow is going to be a long day! But I am looking forward to starting it out with some Pilates!

super bowl sunday!

2011-02-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

Currently listening to Lissie - In Sleep.

It's SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! (Packer's 31-Steeler's 25). I'm happy I got to watch the game with Lexi and everyone. (I must say though - the Puppy Bowl was more exciting for me!!)

Before the game I also got a chance to get to the gym for an hour. Five days at the gym this week! I swear when it hit 40 minutes on the Elliptical I thought I was going to pass out because I didn't even eat breakfast. I just ran downstairs when I woke up because I slept through the alarm and I promised myself I'd make it to the gym before the Super Bowl and all the beer would come around. Thankfully, I pushed myself until the 60 minute mark and I was so proud.

I found these cute slippers from Kate Spade I'm thinking of buying since I'll be traveling/flying a lot starting in 2 weeks to various places. Super comfy and adorable for the long flights.

- fluff slipper
- cheeky slipper

And below are some photographs from the "Style" by Kate Spade book I took a while ago and just found them on my Flickr! account.

festival of colors

2011-02-05T23:58:00.000-08:00

It was nice to sleep in today until almost 13:00pm! I woke up feeling a little bit under the weather though, so instead of exercise I ate a whole lot of ice cream while watching TV shows with A. ALL DAY. A couple of my girlfriends were going out tonight and I missed out - but at least I know I'll be ready for SUPER BOWL SUNDAY tomorrow with friends! Getting rest this weekend definitely has made me feel better. I'm waking up earlier tomorrow so I can have time to go to the gym for a couple of hours and work out all this ice cream I ate today! A couple of you guys have asked me what work-outs I do so here is my list: EXERCISES.

I am also happy that my skin has gotten a lot better. I had a big acne problem for a couple of months and when I consulted with a Dermatologist, it has gotten better. Here are some of my favorite products that I think are amazing:

- Origins "Checks & Balances" Cleanser
- Origins "Modern Friction" Exfoliator
- Sisley "Gel Nettoyant Gommant" scrub
- Origins "Out of Trouble" acne mask
- Origins "Clear Improvement" charcoal mask
- Sisley "Masque Crème aux Résines Tropicales" (Topical resins mask)
- Organic "Purifying" toner
- Origins "Balanced Diet" moisturizer
- Sisley "Emulsion Ecologique" moisturizer

I also found these amazing photos on Flickr! of the HOLI "Festival of Colors" in India. I saw an episode of Outsourced where a part of it was about HOLI. I thought it was absolutely incredible and beautiful. Read more about it here.

2011-02-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

I love this charming Kate Spade video:

French "Kiss"

2011-02-04T23:53:00.000-08:00

I went out with my girlfriend Lisa tonight to have some Spanish tapas at Toro Bravo. It was an hour and a half wait so we spent some time at Afrique Bistro next door and had a glass of Chardonnay while we listened to live Jazz music. We started with a French "Kiss" which was a brandy soaked prune stuffed with foie gras, then we ordered sauteed Hedgehog mushrooms with cream and sherry on griddled bread, griddled shrimp with chilies, a pork confit in a sweet pastry with raisins and finished with potatoes bravas. Everything was absolutely delicious and worth the wait. The only downside is that they don't take reservations - and there was still people trying to get in at 10:30pm. Weekdays are a lot more quiet, but it was Lisa's first time so I was definitely up for the wait! On a better note - I got to spend more time with her because I never get to see her!

Earlier, I made my way to the gym after my French conversation class. It felt nice to begin lifting weights again.

My mom is in Phoenix, AZ for her Birthday. Happy Birthday Mom & Dad!!! It was nice to hear her be happy next to the fire place and enjoying the night after dinner.

Now, I am just relaxing with Abdullah and listening to Billie Holiday - God Bless the Child. I wish I was able to go see the "Imaginary Invalid" play by Molière at the Armory with my girlfriends, but the play is ending tomorrow and tickets are sold out. Maybe next time!

It was a wonderful night. I'm about ready for bed!

Il existe au milieu du temps la possibilité d’une île

2011-02-02T21:54:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful song! I'm cooking dinner, having a glass of wine, reading French prose for class and thinking about all my wonderful adventures in Europe.

Carla Bruni - La Possibilité D'une île (lyrics with translation)

Ma vie, ma vie, ma très ancienne
Mon premier vœu mal refermé
Mon premier amour affirmé
Il a fallu que tu reviennes,
Il a fallu que tu reviennes
Il a fallu que je connaisse ce que la vie a de meilleur...

Today was a really gloomy day for me even though there was sunshine outside. I've been in a weird haze these last couple of days, but maybe because I have been very contemplative about life, people and traveling. I want to go to Europe, and I can't wait until I get a chance to. I feel I have grown so much in the last year, and I definitely have been hurt, and happy and afraid and all possibilities of emotions a woman could feel. I regret that I never spend time alone anymore - partly because I never feel like it and partly because there is not enough time in the day.

Ahmed is leaving to go home tonight and I wish him the best of luck in everything. He is such a wonderful person and I was so happy I met him and saw him before he left. He promised to write me a poem for my birthday and I can't wait to see what it is. It's things like this that make you love and enjoy life, these little things about life that in the end is the only thing you have to hold on to and remember your youth.

I also saw my cousins' wedding and honeymoon photos today. They are absolutely stunning, and I can't believe that I was 3 years old when he was holding me and hugging me and dancing with me and now I am 20 and things have changed so much and I miss him and my family in Russia so incredibly much. I would love to see them soon.

On February 5th is my Mom's and Dad's Birthday. My mom is going to Phoenix, AZ. I am thinking of spending the weekend at her house - to be alone, away from the city and reflect on everything. Reflect on the past and think about the future.

London, England

2011-01-31T22:34:00.000-08:00

In just 1 hour, it will be exactly 2 months since I've applied to LSE. I found this picture of London and I am in love with it. I wish I would be accepted! But I guess on the bright side - I haven't been rejected even though it's taking them an awfully long time to get back for a program that isn't popular compared to others. Last year they only accepted 11/113 people for my 1st choice and 72/240 people for my other choice.

Last night I had a really hard time falling asleep and I think I only slept for 4 hours. After a couple of energy drinks though I managed to finish the day with an hour of cardio. Now I'm just enjoying the rest of the night hoping that when it's 8:30am in London and I check the status of my application it will say "unconditional offer."

things happening in my life right now

2011-01-30T21:19:00.000-08:00

It probably has been almost 2 months since I began planning to start a blog of some sort to share parts of my life and work with everyone who is interested in knowing more about me and what I do. I finally found some time to start this tonight and hopefully I can update it daily.

Friday night was MoMo's Birthday and we celebrated at his house. Yesterday I visited my Grandma and spent some time with her and a couple of my other relatives. Last night we celebrated MoMo's birthday again with a more tight group of friends if you want to call it that. All of us went to Grand Central Bowling in SE and it was such a great time. I love my group of friends, and they have become like a family to me since I began hanging out with them about a year ago. I keep thinking how different everything would be if I moved away (which is happening in less than a year) and to a place where I don't know or have anyone at. I'm not sure how I will react, and at the same time, being alone in a foreign place is something that really entices me.

Since I started working for the Spectator, I had so many great opportunities and I've met great people. When I went to Dallas for the Editor's Conference in early November, everything just became sort of like a domino effect and I was lucky and blessed that it was an effect into the positive direction. I'm flying to Washington DC in mid February for another conference/professional reporters course. I'm really excited to meet new people and network in DC - as I hope it will turn out well and open doors to many more things. I never entered journalism thinking it is a career I want to pursue, but I've developed skills and the better I become as a reporter/writer, the more positive results I see, and the benefits really have made me rethink journalism as a potential profession because it is something I love, and I happen to be good at. I really do wish that I get a position for the Fellowship program to work at some sort of news publication for a year in New York. The only thing that scares me is being on TV and doing some kind of commentary and I'm asked questions on issues I don't have knowledge or expertise to answer. It's kind of frightening, but I like to think that after a couple of times it won't be as bad as it looks or seems.

I've also chosen to go through with a Plan B in case Plan A (journalism) doesn't work out. I applied for a Master's program at London School of Economics for an MPA in European Public and Economic Policy and also an MSc in European Political Economy. Both fields which interest me - and I would do anything to live in Europe for some time. I've always planned on going to law school but 3 weeks before I was going to take the LSAT, I had a change of heart and I don't want to be a lawyer. It doesn't interest me like it used to a few years ago. I think things happen for a reason - and the things which happened to me in the last year or so have definitely proved to be more exciting then doing 3 years of law school only to graduate and not enjoy being a lawyer. I have every capability of being one, it's just not something I see myself doing on a larger scale.

In terms of my personal life - after I graduate I plan on moving somewhere far. I really don't enjoy living in Portland and I have an urge to travel and see other places. I hate staying in the same place for a long period of time, but at the same time I get homesick often. I also hate the fact that my boyfriend is moving away and I can't be with him. He has grown to be an incredibly important person in my life and I care and love him unconditionally. It just is really heartbreaking to know that every new day I wake up next to him is closer to the time he must leave.

Those are just a few things happening in my life right now. My classes are really keeping me busy and hopefully this week I will start going to the gym.