Why Don't We...

Drive into the sunset...

Believe in dreams...

Grow something excellent...

Okay, so I lean a little (a lot) towards the romantic - but I'm a dreamer, and that's why you like me... right? So I thought it'd be fun to unleash some of that on you in the last weekend of October - before daylight savings draws to a close and we get the joy of trundling home from work well past dark.

Also? I know that in many places the harvest is past its zenith, but how about growing something? My friends and I from Saturday Virtues Class have planted flower seeds in recycled soup cans. Some of them are even sprouting - it's the most exciting thing!

Fly On a Wall...

Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn

via Awesome People Hanging Out Together

In related news, I think I'm finally going to invest in a trench coat. ...particularly as I no longer seem to own warm clothes.

Fall and Rise...

Approximately 5 minutes ago a friend told me to check out this video, promising it would change my life. He was correct. Naturally I had no choice but to pay it forward.

Enjoy!

One Fine Day...

21 November 2009 :: 'Akká and surrounding environs, Israel

Sunset :: Bahjí
same same

Bahjí

I had the opportunity to visit two Bahá'í Holy Places this weekend in 'Akká... the weather was perfect - complete with peaceful meditation. It was like a spiritual vacation.

All photos courtesy Sholeh Magzub. I know... and yes, all of my friends really are this talented. Sigh. Lucky me!

The Ides of November...

This weekend was a celebration of all things amazing. Like birthdays (so many I can't count - tallying to 3 parties, though), family (hey Hoffmans!), and picnics.... Matt, Will & I - breaking it down 80s style

Big shout out to the rad playlists supplied by Shaza & Abi

...we couldn't have done it without you. Don't be jealous, we're just rolling down the hill.

...okay, no. Be jealous - it was glorious.

Despite (or maybe because of?) the fact I somehow rolled sideways.

Me.

Someday, Mr. Hoffman, you'll teach me to get the color to pop when I take pictures.

Someday.

Sunset. Haifa. Glorious.

(what, where, why)

Sir Will does a ribbon dance.

Amazing.

My friends are boss.

Woman About Town...

...and other goings on this fine November weekend.

Bayan has finally agreed to read Harry Potter. Praise the Lord - and trust me when I tell you that it was about t.i.m.e! He doesn't much care for the muggles, in fact he reeked of boredom with the story (gasp! I know!) until Dumbledore came on the scene.....

I'm continuing my coalescence of plans for my spring trip to London.

Engaging in some elevated conversation - shaping the discourse of society... beginning with organizing and honing my own thoughts and mind.

Having a huge and overwhelming girl crush on Michelle Obama. ...okay, I think I have a crush on her whole family. Further evidence of why the First Lady is my homegirl:

December's issue of Glamour will honor 12 women as "Woman of the Year." Popular icons that have overcome serious challenges or given back to society are recognized by the fashion magazine. Among the winners are Maya Angelou, Rihanna, Serena Williams, Susan Rice and, of course, Michelle Obama.
The First Lady is interviewed by guest writer Katie Couric, and she gives this great advice to women still looking for love...
"Cute's good. But cute only lasts for so long. Then it's 'Who are you as a person?' Don't look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul. When you're dating a man, you should always feel good."

Courtesy: I Like Her Style!

Going to Bahjí this weekend.... So looking forward! Not least because I have a lot of important decisions looming on my horizon and could use a little consultative and meditative time with God.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon...

Okay - so those are pretty much non-existant here. {Please quell your shock - but the work week begins on Sunday in Israel. Same Lord: different Lord's Day} But! Can't you just imagine. I can.
Love (or otherwise) notes, laying in the grass, enjoying the greenery from within a warm room - preferably with a fire crackling nearby & a cup of hot chocolate in your hand? Oh! Or cider... yeah, hot apple cider.
And a book.

Impetus for this particular day dream: Classic Bride.

Thunder and Lightening and Rain... O My!

I love the rain - and Israel really needs it. It's a win/win situation!

An Ode to My Favorite Month...

Images courtesy {This Is Glamorous}

I love fall (or autumn) - but I love October the best. Such beautiful color everywhere you look, crispy weather but not too cold... There's a softness and a grace present in this month that I think everyone should tap in to.

And with that, dear friends, I bid you happy weekend!

Girl vs. Wild...

On a scale of 1-10 of wilderness preparedness where Ginger of Gilligan's Island fame ranks a one...
And your girl Kate from LOST ranks a ten...

I used to think that I was somewhere around a 7.1 - I consider these figures on a richter scale like we do earthquakes (yes, I'm a Californian to my bones) where 7.2 is infinantly more prepared than even 7.1.

Friends, it turns out that I'm lucky to even rank a 3.4 on this scale of mine.

I went hiking in Yehudia again on Saturday. As per usual there were 10 of us - safety in numbers, mom! - and we fell into roughly 2 groups.

There was the alpha team (yes, they actually called themselves the A Team) and there was the 'B Team'. I was straight the weakest link. Basically the B Team were the people who would hang back to keep me company in my ineptitude. I swear, the whole trip (the 6 hour tour) it seemed as though I was determined to prove my chartable klutz factor (also figured according to a richter scale of sorts) as more than a figure of my imagination. ...not really sure why they doubted my assertions before.

I won't regale you with the bruises and cuts that now liberally criss-cross my legs, or the number of times I fell or my body simply failed to do what my mind new (thought?) it was capable of. Suffice it to say that today is the first day that I can walk without wanting to cry... which is good, because I have water polo tonight!

Holy Meteor Shower, Batman!

In the summer of 2000, the Piper family took a vacation together - we all got on a house boat in Lake Powell and explored the Arizona/Utah environs. The grandparents, parents/aunts and uncles all slept in the cabin - but the cousins got to sleep up on the roof - and every night we'd fall asleep counting shooting stars! Yeah, it was glorious.
So last night there was a meteor shower.... And if you remember the time I told you that my new room in my new flat has its very own balcony (!!!), you can probably guess what I was up to last night. The shooting stars I saw (I only saw 2) weren't as copious as the picture here... but it was still really amazing. Did you manage to see any?

I Love It...

L.O.V.E. (!!!) this song - to the point that I've seriously been listening to it for 2 days .... I'm still not really sure how got on the "Regina Spektor is amazing" train so late in my life/her career - but there you have it. I'm on board now.


Anyhow, another thing I love is this little blog called Le Love. It's glorious - and since we all know how much I love love (thanks for bearing with my redundancies) - it stands to reason that I follow it pretty regularly. (Yay for goo.gle rea.der!). Which is how I chanced upon this little picture that they ffffound (I may be off on my number of ffffff's in that one - never really sure) which seems like it could somehow have been titled "dear Aimee Piper"....
AND here's where I come full circle (whew) the picture and the song/video? Sort of remind me of each other. Enjoy.

Field Trip...!

So I went hiking in this rad little canyon (gorge?) just north of the Sea of Galilee last weekend called Yehudia. It was amazing! Hike down to a snow-melt fed creek (super tiny river) with nice swimming holes and waterfalls....

Let's just say that there are ways and ways of getting down, hmmmm?

Yes, I rocked the second hand soccer shorts and requisite wife-beater/tank-top.

It's how I roll.

Autumnal Updates...

I'm so happy that it's fall! I had to finally put a blanket on my bed last night - this, in conjunction with the lovely cool breeze that comes off the hillside in through my window, makes for super cozy nights this time of year!
It's no surprise that fall is my favorite season - I love the crisp air, the cute fashion, the rosy cheeks and laughing eyes that magically appear in late September/early October. But I have a confession to make. This will surely mark me as a true Californian, or at least a true Piper....
While I love shoes (!), slippers, socks, and even slipper-socks - I can't stand shoes and socks (socks and shoes?). It's like my little toes are saying "Um, hello? Oxygen? We need it. 'k Thanks!"
Sigh. Just saying.
Ps. Isn't this picture the cutest? It totally reminds me of Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.... Found here.