Ahem. A letter...to the editor.

In response to Dean Bruckner's letter to the editor (“Planned Parenthood letter included deceptive information and arguments,” Thursday, March 3), I get it. You're pro-life. That is the point of your letter, isn't it? I'm not mad at you; just trying to clear things up here. Education is the number one priority, right?

First and foremost, we all want our children to have a decent one. It all starts with an idea – a light bulb! – whether it be one based on well-formed, knowledge-based opinions or one formed on their own without any sexual guidance at all. From there we're led to the doors of Planned Parenthood – the ONLY place that a broke white female raised in upper-middle class suburbia like me could afford birth control or get an (all-important) annual exam as a young twenty-something. Without insurance or a well-groomed savings account, I couldn't even make an appointment elsewhere.

It was never a place I went for an abortion, but if one day I was presented with the choice, the resources were there. I know I have options! Why? Because they told me so. People before them told me so. Pamphlets in the lobby equally represent adoption and abortion. (For the branches that don't, I assure you they'd have the adoption pamphlets, too, if only they had the funding.)

Hard-working individuals behind the desk, behind office doors working for nothing. The hours have already been cut, but they're always willing to help, by comforting girls who have nowhere else to go, and wearing out their pointer fingers dialing for counselors for rape victims.

That's what we're willing to risk here. Planned Parenthood is not a drive-through baby-killing center – as much as some would love to make them out to be. I hold the personal belief that nothing should ever be forced upon anyone. If we are free to make our own choices, then we should rejoice in that fact. All options should be part of our education. Better education leads to fewer abortions. That's what you want, isn't it? So, teach them! Don't shut down our resources. Even you, sir, need them more than you realize.

Stephanie Leigh

Athens, Ohio


Stand with Planned Parenthood and show your support here.


The Planned Parenthood letter in the Athens News.


My very first rant...also in the Athens News.

I'd consider cutting my ear off for you.

Some of you out there wonder why I do my playlists in this format. I just figure that you can listen to what you want. Listen to them all. Listen to a few. Add some to your own growing list of beautiful music. Make your own playlist. Do what feels good for you.

That's the point now, isn't it?

1. M79 - Vampire Weekend

2. Sweet Dispostion - The Temper Trap 


3. Ramona - Beck


4. Modern Man - Arcade Fire


5. Stay Golden - Au Revoir Simone


6. For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her - Simon & Garfunkel


7. Femme Fatale - Velvet Underground & Nico


8. Wonderwall (Oasis Cover) - Cat Power


9. When U Love Somebody - Fruit Bats


10. How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees Cover) - The Bird & the Bee


11. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine (live!)


12. Janglin' - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros


13. And Then You - Greg Laswell


14. Down by the Water - The Decemberists


15. Write About Love - Belle & Sebastian


16. Maureen - Vetiver


17. True Affection - The Blow

[This is part of where I live.]

Most random.

Free cup of Yoplait yogurt.

If you're into that sort of thing.

Puddle jumping. A survival guide.

I noticed them right away when I moved here. Rain boots and umbrellas. Everywhere. Never in my life have I seen more of them...and never this cute. Quickly I attributed this to the large college population and remembered that I had something that sometimes resembled an umbrella. I'd be fine. And I was.


Until today. I woke up to the largest puddles I have ever seen. The parking lot to my apartment complex looks like a lake. I'm sorry I doubted you, Athens. Time to go shopping for rain boots.


I can't say that I'm disappointed. It's still shoe shopping.

My first favorites are black.
Like most everything in my closet, but these have puppies!

Terrier Rain Boots

I've often thought that rain boots SHOULD be bright and fun. The weather they put up with is just the opposite. Splashing about in an homage to the sixties would get me through the fact that my eyeliner is streaming down my face.

Kamik Janis Plum

Endless.com has tons of rain boots. Free overnight delivery. Looks like we have a winner. Thanks, Bri.

And! Not that I have anything personal against Target (besides this, that and the other), but they DO have a gigantic selection of boots.

I must admit they're adorable, too.

Hello Kitty, peacock feathers, animal print, anchors, fruit, polka dots, ponies! Oh, my...all this girl stuff gets me excited.

It's like giving cotton candy and handful of tickets to a child at the fair. Thanks, Amanda.

And the best umbrella I've ever seen? Maybe.

This one's not bad either.

My brother wants a Blues Clues sweater. That's what he said. I think he said it because he thinks my blog is silly. Or that I couldn't find a shirt like it. Either way, now he has to wear it.

Columbiaknit "Blues Clues" Shirt

[It was a] Happy Valentine's Day.

I procrastinated writing this blog. I actually planned on making a playlist for the most romantic greeting card holiday of the year. One he could listen to and maybe find some new favorites. With a whole bunch of I love you's throughout. That would be a part of this entry, but it is not. Instead I only had time for a few construction paper hearts and poems scratched out in Sharpie. And dinner!! I had time for dinner.


I cooked Valentine's Day dinner. That's right. I did it. Without wearing the vintage inspired apron I just HAD to have. Giant baked potatoes stuffed with broccoli and cheese. Tomato basil pesto pasta with corn and black beans. All topped off with vanilla bean ice cream with dark chocolate and berries. I gave myself a pat on the back. Since moving in with my lovely boyfriend I haven't had to do much in the kitchen. I was afraid I might have forgotten how to boil water. Well, turns out I remembered.

[This is not Valentine's Day dinner, but close enough. I made it.]

If you haven't made a pesto before it's ridiculously easy. There are more than a handful of simple recipes floating about the internet. All you need to know though is the list of ingredients. Use common sense and your taste buds for the rest.


- Olive oil
- Parmesan (or other similar) cheese
- Garlic
- Basil
- Salt and pepper


As for the basil I prefer fresh to dried, but usually end up using half and half. That way I conserve the fresh stuff to use in another dish. 


There you have it. It's done in seconds. 


I think I'm going to start using these. The only way I can safely assure I'm being taken seriously in the kitchen.

Diamond Ring Measuring Spoons

Just ridiculous enough for me to think they're wonderful.

Another thing I feel inclined to share are these chalkboard kitchen cupboards. Sure they'd make the kitchen messy, but isn't that the state it's always in anyway? I say it's a fair trade.

Partly cloudy. High of sixty-four.

1. Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn and John


2. Inside and Out - Feist


3. Do You Wanna Dance - The Mamas and the Papas


4. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend - The Ramones


5. This Boy - The Beatles


6. Kids (MGMT Cover) - Ben Lee


7. Big Break - Emma Burgess


8. Time to Pretend - MGMT


9. Windows are Rolled Down - Amos Lee


10. Bohemian Rhapsody - Jake Shimabukuro

I'm always reading. Doing crosswords. Picking at my nail polish. Anything to keep my brain and hands busy. I've found that employers typically frown on this type of behavior. Not exactly productive. Bringing coloring books to work isn't exactly something covered in the handbook, but still. 

The Colour-In Dress seems like the solution to it all. Berber Soepboer is the genius behind ideas like this and the Replacement Dress. It allows you to swap out certain pieces of fabric to re-invent your look in a second. Twenty-five year old kindergarten kid friendly.

A place for all crap and all crap in its place.

Darling, I'm a mess.
Scraps of paper litter my purse and are taking over my apartment. Phone numbers on napkins and addresses on index cards. Mostly though these pieces of paper are filled with "ideas and inspiration". Little bits I stumble upon throughout my day and find too good to let go. 
[I thank God for Post-Its everyday.]


Thanks to my friend, Kristina, I now have an adorable solution to my problem. 
Something to control the overflow.

ModCloth - Personal Assistant Organizer

...and it's because of that crap that I bring you this. 

A little love for your ears. 

1.) Warpaint - Undertow [2010]

There's a reason I listed this song first. It's sweet and haunting with a line stolen straight from Kurt Cobain's mouth. Currently the line up features all females, but in the past they've worked with members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

2.) Ben Folds - Password [2010]

The first song I heard off the Lonely Avenue album featuring songs by Ben himself and author Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity, Speaking with the Angel, etc.)

3.) A Camp - Algebra [2001]

Nina Persson's side project. (The Cardigans)

4.) Sarah Jaffe - Better Than Nothing and Clementine [2010]

5.) Avett Brothers -  I And Love And You [2009]

6.) The XX - Night Time [2010]

7.) The Knife - Heartbeats [2003]

8.) Eric Clapton - Travelin' Alone [2010]

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