the concert

~creative~

pierre-auguste renoir 1919 "the concert"

"why shouldn't art be pretty? there are enough unpleasant things in the world"

~clever~

everyone has there go-to, favorite book, the one you have probably read at least seven times. well mine is the bell jar by sylvia plath. if you know anything about it, well yes, it is pretty morbid and a little disturbing but i think it is one of the most well-written and interesting books that i have ever read. it is loosely based on the author's own life and her struggle with depression. everyone has a little crazy in them and that's why i think everyone girl can relate to this book. but beyond that she offers a fascinating insights into the 1950s world around her and you really feel as though you are there in the authors mind. as i felt i was going crazy in high school and was beginning to ask myself some very real questions, the book helped me wrestle with those questions and even brought up new ones. it represented a period in my life and therefore a constant part in my present. whether the bell jar is or isn't your cup of tea, it is important to cultivate a list of your favorite books. read often and read widely but always know those couple books that truly speak to your heart and have had a hand in shaping the way you think about yourself and the world around you. 

~charming~

since my family are huge wine drinkers, as evidenced by my past weekend with them, i thought i would share some tips on how to serve wine. now red and white wines are to be treated very differently. red wine should be left standing for about twenty-four hours before serving in order for it to be at room temperature. red wine bottles should also be uncorked in order to let the wine breath about one hour before serving. this lets the oxygen mix with the wine and activates the aroma.

white and rose wine on the other hand should be served slightly chilled, at about 50 degrees fahrenheit. one hour on the shelf of the refrigerator should bring them to this point. white and rose wine have a very delicate fragrance and therefore should not be uncorked until right before serving. 

happy wining.

~clean~

while there are many components to maintaining a healthy diet, calcium must certainly be apart of it. calcium is crucial to maintaing healthy and strong bones which we will definitely all be thankful for in the future. but in addition to that, insufficient calcium can lead to blood clots whereas proper amounts of calcium can help you lower cholesterol and maintain your cell environment. there are many ways to get calcium besides just milk and diary products- you can also take calcium pills, or fish oil and many juices contain calcium. one of my favorite ways to maintain my calcium is through viactiv. these delicious chews contain 100% of the daily value of calcium and come in four great flavors of milk chocolate, raspberry, caramel, and chocolate mint. lets just say calcium is often the favorite part of my morning.