An Easy and Meaningful Fast

To all of my Jewish readers: Wishing you and your loved ones an easy and meaningful fast this Yom Kippur. May you be sealed in the book of life for 5773.

To anyone whom I may have hurt in the past year, I apologize for this. Since I'm sure you can always use a smile, I leave you with one of my favorite pictures.

A bit of a back story- when we were in college, BFF RAA (now RAG) went out barhopping by Columbia University. (As we did pretty much every other weekend.) We went into Haagen-Dazs for Lord knows what reason, but it was in September, so we spotted this sign hanging there. We didn't get any ice cream, but we did get some pictures of this. Since then, it has been my profile picture of facebook every year for Yom Kippur (when I remember to change it).

Gmar Chatima Tovah.

Scarlet Threads Giveaway

Today, I have a fun new giveaway for you from Scarlet Threads.

Scarlet Threads is a company that makes beautiful aprons and accessories. They utilize seamstresses and artisans in Asia and Uganda and sell them online to give these women a chance to earn a higher wage than they would be able to in their own countries. 

I love this beautiful Sadie Tote for just $20!

This beautiful Daphne Apron is on sale this week for only $13- down from $26. There is even a matching girls' version for a cute mommy and me look!

Scarlet Threads also has a great blog that has weekly features such as delicious recipes, information about the women that make their aprons, and more. I recommend you check it out!

 In their own words:
In case you are new to our blog, Scarlet Threads is a group of women running a fair trade company specializing in fabulous textile products. We are all about the fabric selection - it's kind of our thing! And, we are all about cooking - another thing of ours. So, you put that together and you get an amazing line of aprons - fun and funky or sweet and spunky. What started this movement and what keeps us going as worker bees - and our community coming back to support us - is our mission to provide emloyment (and a path out of poverty) to women in rural Asia and Africa. So, enter the giveaway, and then don't forget about us! We're always sharing recipes, craft ideas, "product development" sketches, photos of our village, and of course product sales. Aprons may be our favorite, but they aren't our one and only! We have something for everyone in our shop. Thank you so much for stopping by, we know we will see you again soon.

 This week, Scarlet Threads is giving one lucky Preppy Girl Meets World reader the chance to win one of their beautiful Daphne aprons.

How gorgeous is that? I love that pocket detail. This would be such a great bridal shower, hostess, holiday, or just because gift.  Don't want to wait to see if you win? Scarlet Threads is giving all Preppy Girl Meets World readers 25% off anything in their store with code lex25. This would be a great time to start stocking up on holiday gifts while doing some good at the same time!


Enter using the Rafflecopter Wigdet below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway This giveaway will close on Monday, October 8th.  

Sunday Social

Hello hello!

I have been sick for the past few days and have hit rock bottom today. So I have spent all day on the couch in my pajamas with Teddy and about a jillion blankets and cups of tea having a Once Upon a Time marathon to refresh myself before the start of season two.

Today, for the first time, I am linking up with Neely for Sunday Social!

This week's questions:

1)  What is something you have wanted to do but are afraid of?

I am one of the most fraidy-cat people that you will ever meet, so there is a whole laundry list of things I'd like to do. To keep this short, I will give just one- learn to swim.

2) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully living overseas and traveling a lot. Possibly with a cute labrador or beagle or bunny if I can bring myself to get allergy shots. (Terrified of needles. Of course.)

3) What are you looking forward to before the end of 2012?

Our trip to Berlin later this month, possibly a pumpkin fest, game nights with friends, possibly a trip over Thanksgiving day break, and lots more Christmas markets!

4) What are your hopes for your blog?

That I get my act together and post pictures from trips we've taken. I realize my life overseas is not that interesting to anyone if I don't ever actually post anything about it.

5) Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city? 

No siree! We are out of here in May 2014! Too early to say where we'll go from here, but we do already have a tentative list of places we'd love to get stationed at next.

6) What is your morning routine?

It depends on if I am working that day or not, and what my schedule is. In general, I am not a morning person, and tend to stay in bed much later than I should. When I finally do drag my butt downstairs, I usually watch Freesat for a bit and either cook dinner and do laundry or go downtown to go shopping and get iced tea. Otherwise, I get ready for TLS to come get me on his lunch break to go to work.

If I am working the morning shift, then I have to get up around 5:00 or 5:30 am (depending on how much I want to hit the snooze button that morning), straighten my hair, and get dressed for work. TLS has to be at work by 7:00, so I usually get breakfast at the Enlisted Club on base and then do my makeup while I wait for him to give me a ride to work.

a new year, a new start

Even if you are not Jewish, this is the season for new beginnings: first days of school, the return of tv shows (my credit cards are already silently crying in anticipation of what our iTunes will be like), and, for some of us, it is the start of the new year.

In Services on Sunday night, our rabbi had us close our eyes and picture the moment when we were at our worst in the past year, and then to picture us at our best. This is a way of summarizing how we lived our year. The crazy thing is- while I know I did good in the past year, while specific low points stick out in my mind, not one single good point sticks out. I guess I know what I have to improve on for next year.

We have been busy preparing for Rosh Hashanah and for our upcoming trip to Berlin. (8 days to go). It will be the first time my parents will see me in just over a year, and I know my mother is going crazy! The last time that she saw me, I was still post-op and dealing with nerve damage in my thigh and using a cane to get around. At this point a year later, I am back to normal and am even down a few pounds! I am so happy for her to see me the way she remembers me and not overmedicated, in pain, and in a hospital bed.

We held a Rosh Hashanah dinner at our house on Monday night for two of our closest friends here. This may be the last time we get to see them as they are moving back to the States in 2 weeks. I've had friends come and go in the past 2 years since we've been here, but them leaving is hitting me harder than most. I have been kind of baby'ish about the whole thing and have resorted to posting comments like "YOU'RE NOT LEAVING ME!!!!" on any of their move-related statuses. Mature, I know.

Speaking of fresh starts, yesterday was TLS's birthday and I just want to take another moment to wish my wonderful husband (not to mention my reason for buying Nutella cupcakes!) a very happy birthday and yet another chance for a fresh start.

Before I go on rambling for Lord knows how long (I guess this is what happens when you don't have time to post for a while), I'm going to end this here and wish all of you a wonderful, sweet new year and a fresh start. Shana Tova Umetuka!