Today we made a journey outside of Moscow to a flea market. It was huge and cheap. I couldn't tell you the name of it, or even the train stop. But I enjoyed it.
A while back I bought a old Russian camera. I absolutely love it. It takes the most amazing pictures. I would like to take care of it but I just lug it around in my purse. I was hoping to find a case for it and I did. It fits perfectly and it was only $3!! Great find, right?
I also bought this vintage bag that I'm going to use as a purse. I really like it. It was around $7.
Then I found this beautiful scarf. I paid less than $2. :)
It was a great day with friends. Came home with some fun stuff. Tomorrow is the honey festival. I stumbled upon it with a friend the other day. We were walking through the park and I didn't know that the festival had moved. I bought a huge jar of Acacia honey. It's delicious. They had all kinds. Here are a few pictures that I took. Hope to get more tomorrow. And maybe some more honey too. :)
"Whoever drinks honey, will not get sick." It sounds better and rhymes in Russian. :)
Well, I have lots more pictures that I will hopefully put on here or on facebook sometime. I'm really enjoying being back and I'm looking forward to many more adventures this year. I actually added more to my "To-Do List." Here you can see My To-Do List for Year 3 in Moscow. That's all for now. Bedtime for me.
So I had a little free time in the metro today, waiting for some friends. I've been wanting to make a video like this for a long time. I really like. Every time I watch it, I see a new pair of shoes that I didn't notice the first time. I love the character of each person, seen as they walk past. At first it looks like a video of just feet...but if you look closer you can see the people.
This city amazes me every day. I'm living in a city of 15 million (or more) people. I am just one.
Ok, so I'm new to this crafty thing. Usually when I'm doing crafts, that means I'm making noodle necklaces with my kindergarteners. :) This time I decided to make a holder for my earrings. I went to IKEA yesterday and bought a frame. I found an old shirt that I don't wear and cut the lace off of it. Then I stretched it across the back and stapled it in. Then I had fun taking pictures of it.
I just love my little angry owls. Doesn't he look angry?
This is a little detail that I decided to put on. Last year I threw away some clothes but before I did, I cut all the buttons off of them (and I also saved the fabric for school.) I glued some of the buttons on the corner. And the silver rose with the pearl used to be my favorite pair of earrings. I lost one when I was in Paris and I just couldn't throw this one away. I decided to use it on here. Glad I kept it.
So I left America again. Before I did, I travelled down to Minneapolis with my parents and my little brother. We had time to go to the MOA. I love going to the Mall of America. It's a little overwhelming too. First we decided to eat dinner. I chose Panda Express which provided me with a fortune that I believe is quite accurate. :)
I rather like it. :) Then we split up, boys and girls. The boys went to the amusement park to ride "one" ride (which ended up being three. The girls headed to Forever 21. :) I love that store. I could spend hours and hundreds in there. My mom and I decided to look over the amusement park and saw my dad and Alex float by on the log flume. haha. A bald head and a black head. hehe. Then we lost them again and decided to go to Starbucks and people watch. "Look at her shoes. Why would anyone wear those?" "Do I look like that?" "I'm going to look like her when I'm old." "That was a weird couple." "That kid's going to get spanked when they get to the car." You know, things like that.
This was the view from the hotel window that night. Beautiful, I think.
The next day my flight left at 1pm so we had time for one last run to Target and Wal-mart. We also eat a big breakfast at Perkins. It was so nice to not have to be at the airport at 5am.
Once I got there, I tried not to think about the fact that I was leaving for a long time. I already told my mom that she was not allowed to cry this time. :) I also told my them that once I check-in, we will say our goodbyes and they have to leave. No more watching me in the security line and waving. It just makes it worse. It really does. It's not embarrassing or anything it's just more like torture. So after I checked in, we walked over to the escalators, they said goodbye and no one cried!! :) I think I saw my mom starting to tear up but they were already on their way down the escalator so it was not to bad. I was proud of us.
I didn't bring my guitar this time so it was a lot easier to walk around. I get tired so easily carrying that around. I had some time before boarding so I went to Caribou one last time. Iced cold press coffee with white chocolate. Very good. There wasn't any seating so I walked over to Starbucks. :) I sat and read "The City of Ember." I really liked that book. I recently watched the trailer for the movie that came out in 2009, I think. I was NOTHING like the book so I'm not going to watch it. I think it will just make me mad.
Once I got to Washington D.C. my other flight was already boarding so there was no layover time there. That was nice. United is not as nice as Singapore and you don't have 50+ films to choose from. They automatically play 5 and you can tune into the one that you want. I saw an independent film and decided to try it. OH MY GOSH. I can't really describe this movie other than it was crazy. And great. And I think everyone should watch it. Here is the trailer and I think it will convince you, too.
Right??? I don't know where you can rent it, but find it online or something and watch it. It was so good.
Once in Moscow I knew that I would have problems. When I got into the line for passport control, I do my typical thing and doubt my choice of lines. I look at the other one and think, "That one looks faster. Yeah...I think it's faster. Should I switch?...no just stay here...no...I think I'll switch." And then I DO switch. Right when I switched, the passport control officer of that line went on break. I'm not kidding. He left! So of course, my original line was faster. Then I switch again. Anyway...it took over an hour. I could see my luggage going by over and over. I just knew that someone was going to steal it. Once I get up to the window the officer tells me to follow him. Apparently there's a problem. I get taken to the back. I try to explain that my valid visa is in my old passport but I also have a new passport. I guess when your passport is no longer valid, the visa inside it is also no longer valid. But this is only in Russian. I called the Passport office here in America twice, making sure that this would not be a problem. They said, "No, no, just give them both passports. It's fine." I wanted to say, "M'am, have you ever been to Russia??" Once in the office, the man told me to pay him $50 and sign this paper. I told, "I am not paying you any money or signing ANYTHING until you call the embassy and THEY tell me that I have to do this." Turns out he was telling the truths and wasn't just trying to get a bribe out of me.
I made it to my apartment and now I'm sitting here, relaxing. Tomorrow we are going to the airport to meet the new teachers. I'm excited and looking forward to starting a new year here. Then on Wednesday we're going to IKEA. This involves a 30 minute metro ride and then a 30 minute bus ride to the outside of Moscow. Then the insanity of walking around IKEA and finding everything that you need. And then making the journey back while carrying everything that you bought. It does discourage you from buying too much, though. I'll leave you with this fun picture I took while driving through Minneapolis. I really like it.
Since being back in Moscow, I've started to feel like this is really a home to me. Because of this, I've started to organize my apartment so that it's more like a home and not just a place I keep my stuff while I live here. I found these great ideas on Pinterest and also another craft blog that I found. (Sorry that I cannot give credit where credit is due because I can't remember the name. I'm sure they're not the first to think of it anyway.)
For my bracelets, I put them on a bottle that I kept. (by the way, I collect bottles from time to time so this puts some of them to good use.) :)
This summer I finally got some cosmetic brushes. I've never owed any. I saw this idea on Pinterest. The container is a little too big I think but it gets the job done. I just happened to find it in my apartment not being used. I like the coffee bean idea. But I think when I go to Ikea soon, I'm going to look for a large size coffee mug. I think that would be cuter. A coffee mug with coffee beans in it to hold my brushes. :)
I'm also going to try this idea to organize my earrings. I took this picture off the internet. When I go to Ikea I'm going to try and find a cute frame. I've also seen it with lace stapled in behind the frame. Not sure where I'm going to find lace or wire. We'll see.
Here's a list of the things that I would like to accomplish this, my third, year in Moscow:
(in no particular order)
1. Horseback riding outside of Moscow
2. Hockey game
3. Spartak soccer game (a Moscow team who is notorious for fighting and being hooligan-y. :)
4. Shashlik outside of Moscow
5. Buy a nice Russian doll for myself
6. Go to the ZOO! (even though I've heard it's really depressing)
7. Tour the TV tower here in Moscow and go to the top!
8. Spend as much time as I can with my Russian friends!
9. A Cafe crawl (much like a pub crawl minus the drunkenness)
10. Go to a concert.
11. Go ice skating. (still haven't done that!)
There will be more additions, I'm sure. Hopefully this year will be happy and productive. Here's to another school year and to...To-Do Lists!
I don't mean to post only songs lately. I have some blog posts I've been meaning to write...but for now this song popped into my head and decided to share. enjoy
Sigur Ros is a band from Iceland. Their name means "Victorious Rose." This song is in Icelandic. I put the lyrics in English at the bottom. You have to watch this video. It's somewhat captivating. I think you will enjoy it.
smiling
spinning in circles
holding hands
the world is a blur
except when you're standing
dripping wet
completly soaked
no rubberboots
running inside of us
wants to burst out of the shell
wind in
and the smell of your hair
i hit as hard as i can
with my nose
jumping into a puddle
wearing no boots
completely soaked (dripping wet)
wearing no boots
and i get a nosebleed
but i'll always stand up again
(hopelandic)
and i get a nosebleed
but i'll always stand up again
(hopelandic)
Last night I went to see "Crazy Stupid Love" with my mom. It was a good-ish movie. I didn't enjoy all the people sleeping with other people but, hey, that's what movies seem to be about these days. I was most impressed with the song choice during the credits. As I was walking out of the theater, I heard this beautiful ear candy coming from behind me. I had to find it. I found it and here is it for you.
