Stressed is Just Desserts Spelled Backwards

Usually my theory for life.
Generally the more upset/ stressed I am, the more cookies I eat.
 But not recently.
I've actually  been dropping weight.  Mysteriously, because I haven't had a lot of time to work out recently.
A normal person would be concerned, and I am, a little.
But, I haven't been feeling sick, or crazy panicky stressed, and it might be just because I hate school food,so I'm sort of letting it slide.
Plus, as a coxswain, mysteriously losing a few pounds isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I'm gonna keep my eye on that, though.
And to be honest, I am feeling kind of anxious about things.  Mostly school.
I wish people didn't have to put so, so much stress on school and grades.
Like, I AM smart.  Just because things in my brain go backwards and maybe I'm not the most studios girl ever.
But I'm a fast reader and I remember facts.
Just because I can't add my way out of a paper bag doesn't make me stupid. My brain is creative and I'm generally pretty gifted with vocabulary.
I'm just not "smart" in the typical ways.  I can draw and I can recite endless historical facts or stories.  My brain just doesn't like to be forced into the forms schoolwork takes.  It doesn't like to focus on things that are boring or theoretical and if there's a chance that it might get reversed, like s-a-w and w-a-s and 12 and 21, I'd just rather not bother.
So I guess I am really stressed about school.
Also, certain people lecturing me on being responsible an studying... not necessarily helpful.  It's not like I go around asking people to solve quadratic equations wearing fogged up glasses, or something.
Ugh

Stressed is just Desserts Spelled Backwards 
Playlist:

promises- Nero
closer- Tegan and Sara
Float On- Modest Mouse
sleepyhead- passion pit
curse of curves- cute is what we aim for
superboy and supergirl- tullycraft
F**k and Run- Liz Phair
Meant to Live- Switchfoot
There's a Class for This- Cute is what we aim for
She's so mean- Matchbox 20


uh, sorry for the rant.
I'm just full of rants these days

Valentine's Day

I know Valentine's Day was a lo-ong time ago.  I also know I've been super busy and neglecting my blog.
And so, without further ado, I present to you my belated Valentine:


So, even though I missed Valentine's day, I'm dedicating this Valentine's Day to my team.
Because one: I'm single and
two: even if I did have a special someone in my life, would I love him more than crew? Would I love him more than my team?  Doubtful.  Highly doubtful.

Mary Whipple (US Women's Olympic Coxswain and all around amazing person) always talks about how important it is for coxswains to remember they're part of the team. She says being a teammate comes first.  And I got to hand it to her, the best part of crew is well... the crew!  I can honestly say that in the one year that I've been on this team, I've absolutely grown to love my rowers.  I mean, do I sometimes want to kill them? Yes.  I'm sure they feel the same about me.  I mean, rowers out there, who hasn't wanted to throw their coxswain out of the boat once or twice?
But the point is, the rowers (and fellow coxswains!) are great and I love them and each of their crazy personalities and quirks to pieces.  They work crazy hard and are all great athletes and team members in their own way.  I love what each individual brings to the team, and I couldn't ask for better friends.  I've grown to feel so accepted over the past year and I can't wait to see what spring season brings.  Good thing it's starting in less than a week!  It's never easy, but we always make it through, as a team.

So, team.
I love you guys, and happy (late) Valentine's Day.

-Emme

Gee, I've never heard that joke before.
#everysingledayofmylife

Urban Bohemian with Madison Harding

Urban Bohemian with Madison Harding by emmier featuring wood wedges

Florida Sunshine

Florida Sunshine by emmier featuring a chambray blouse

Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, a blizzard is predicted and the entire North East is freaking out!  

I am so sick of cold weather :( .  

I'm always cold.  

I have enough trouble dealing with airconditioned buildings when it's 80 degrees out.  This "winter" business is a bit much.  

Fortunately, all I have to do is make it through February, and then I get a week in Florida!  Well, it's not exactly free vacation (lol) it's our spring training trip, but it's good enough!  I'll take it!  

Actually, I love the spring training trip. It's a lot of fun

I'm also in love with everything here.  

Madewell may be the death of me.  

The Ten Commandments of Curly Hair

My hair is curly.  Not just curly.  Super, super, super tightly curly.  I have thick, insanely tight red curls.    You know the weird little sections in drugstores for "ethnic" hair.  That's my hair.  What's my ethnicity supposed to be?  Ginger?
Anyway, I maintain that hair this insanely curly makes any girl an expert hairstylist by age 20.  
The other thing I've noticed is that in magazines, advice for styling curly hair never seems to address really curly hair. So what are girls with REAL curls supposed to do? Like, side note, girls in magazines.  Real curly  hair doesn't behave well!  Can't we have some sort of pro-curl love out there?  Can't we have good hair advice?
Without Further Ado, I present to you:

The Ten Commandments of Curly Hair

1: Stay away from heating tools:  Just say no to that hair straightener

2: This might seem gross, but if you can, skip the shower.  Showering every day dries out hair.  Showering every other day is great.  Showering every three days?  Not everyone can do that.  You have to sacrifice two days of slicked back buns for one day of the greatest hair ever

3: Speaking of slick, there is no such thing as too much hair product.  Seriously.  The curlier your hair, the more you can load it with.  

4: If   you want  slightly looser curls, sleep with your hair in braids

5: aerosole hair sprays tend to make curly crunchy.  Ad a general rule, stick to clear, light hairsprays ( I like Dove an FrizzEase.  The more liquid they feel in your hand, the better.

6: brush your hair and apply product immediately after your shower

7: The ocean is literally the world's greatest styling tool. I'm not talking beach waves or salt spray, I'm talking actual, sea drenched curls drying in the sun.  I have no idea why, but they always end up looking AWESOME!  (This is your cue to ditch life for awhile and go on a beach vacation. All sorts of crazy things become suddenly socially acceptable if you do them for a good profile picture on facebook.

8: Curly girls are the only people on the planet past 1980 who can pull off a side ponytail.  The trick is to keep it loose and messy and not too, too high.  A low side ponytail is also super cool.

9: Bad hair days happen.  When all else fails, drench it in some deep moisturizing treatment and twist it in a ballet bun or a topknot.  This is a style.  It is called Model Off Duty and you will rock it with your chin up.  If you're headed somewhere fancy, add red lipstick and and an all black outfit and you will be all anyone talks about for weeks.

10: CONFIDENCE!!!!
I know this is hard, believe me.  I used to hate my hair and I find it really hard to be confident somedays (that's when I refer to tip #9).  If you have really, really curly or super kinky hair you might have been picked on a lot in grade school or had a mom or a grandma fuss over your "unmanageable" hair.  It's important to remember that everyone has flaws or things they don't like about themselves and curly hair is really unique and gorgeous.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Guess what guys?  

21 years ago on this day, I was born!  

And everyone was like, " Hey. Why's this baby a ginger?  We're Italian Jews.  There hasn't been a redhead in this family since... ever." 

It's a mystery we're still trying to figure out.  (Come on, Mom, just admit I'm adopted already).  Of course there's always the Scottish that could account for that.  

Ok. 

In honor of my birthday, let's break down my crazy heritage.  

Well, first, if we're going to by what I have the most ethnicity of (I'm pretty sure that's not how you're supposed to say it) there's Russian Jew.  Technically, Lithuanian Jew, but I'm pretty sure my ancestors had hauled ass out of there before Lithuania had a chance to become it's own country, so I guess in their minds they're Lithuanian.  Well, actually they're Jewish first, Lithuanian second.  Also, they are dead. 

Second, there is Italian.  My grandma is Sicilian and she will put a curse on you if you get on her bad side.  Really.  I've seen it happen. 

Third- at this point things start to break down and get a little foggy.  What we're talking about here is my maternal grandfather.  Presumably, he's Polish, with possibly a little French/German.  (Someone in his family was from Alsace Lorraine, and really?  Have they ever decided what country that's part of?  Here's the foggy part.  There are certain family stories (potentially verifiable and a very suspiciously Scottish last name for a "Polish" family that indicate that the Napiers are not Polish.  Hello? The Napiers?  Also, according to my great grandfather who I've never met, we are Scottish, and being older than the rest of us, he would know.  

And so there is the incredibly complicated answer to the question of what the heck is this kid doing being a ginger.  

You are welcome.