Category Archives: Personal

Our Wedding Venue!

February 5, 2016PersonalBeaux Arts architecture, historic building, Kentucky bride, Lexington, location location location, wedding planningBeth Berger

I’m so excited to have a venue booked for our wedding that I just had to share! Chet and I will be getting married this summer at ArtsPlace in downtown Lexington, KY. Built in 1904, this Beaux Arts building on the corner of North Mill Street was originally a YMCA. However, in 1979 it was converted into an arts center and I spent much of the 90’s taking ballet classes in it’s studios and studying down in the basement during workshops offered by Lexington Children’s Theater. A couple summers ago, we popped inside for a quick peek while strolling around downtown. I showed Chet one of the ballet studios I used to dance in but I was really taken aback when we saw the first floor art gallery (pictured above). The light pouring in through those unique windows was perfect and bounced playfully off the gorgeous hardwood floors. I thought it would be an absolutely lovely place to host an event. Later, I suggested the space as a venue for a work event and as that event played out I fell even more in love.

While researching possible venues for the wedding my mind just kept wandering back to ArtsPlace! And I’m so pleased we went for it. We’ll have the art gallery and performance hall (also pictured above) for our big day. The performance hall actually used to be the gym when the building was a YMCA! But I love how it’s been transformed into a light and airy space. Tall ceilings and lots of windows.

Now that this piece of the wedding planning puzzle has been sorted I feel a lot of the other pieces will start falling into place and I’d love to keep this blog updated about how we get on, if you’ll indulge me! Besides the venue, we’ve sent out notes to a few people to let them know how important they are to us and that we want them to be involved as we make this commitment to each other. Sort of informal save-the-dates, if you will. And then I’ve also designed the actual save-the-dates so that they can be sent out later this month!

We’ve just begun this process but I’m so excited to dive in!

Where did you get married? In a church? At the court-house? Outside? What did you love about it? Spill the details below!!! Not married yet? What’s your vision for the perfect venue?

(Pictures via LexArts website.)

Invest in Yourself!

January 29, 2016How to's, Personalhappiness, identifying your passions, making time for yourself, self care, self love, self reflectionBeth Berger

It can be difficult in the midst of all life’s many commitments to find meaningful ways to invest in yourself and the things you love. Life is busy. How can we utilize the little pockets of time – tucked-in between work, relationships, and keeping dirty dishes from piling up – to their greatest effect? How do we know what will truly make us happy? What sorts of things are worth it? Worth giving of our time and of ourselves? The answers to these questions are highly personal but with a bit of reflection you can start to identify some areas. Once you do, COMMIT. Invest in yourself!

We do all sorts of things over the course of 365 days. But what did you do last year that you look back on with fondness? Maybe you recall knitting a gorgeous scarf for your sister or throwing a really rocking party. Whatever it was, the fact that you can remember it a year later and it STILL brings you joy means it’s probably a pursuit worth repeating. When I look back on the past 52 weeks, a lot of my fond memories involve outdoor adventures. Not anything complex or super planned. Just afternoon trips to nearby hiking trails, laying on a blanket in a park, walking through city streets casually stopping to admire architecture, and splashing out into the ocean. To invest in myself I need to play outside.

Action – Start brainstorming some memories from last year and make a list of those things you remember doing that still bring you joy.

Sometimes your path leads you down unexpected detours you must traverse with extra caution and care. When this happens, and times get tough, what sort of magic do you cloak yourself with to see yourself through to the light at the end of the tunnel? Whether you’re the sort of person who needs cheering up or relaxing or full-out distractions…what are the things that make you feel like YOU, that give you the tiniest sense of stability on those rocky detours? My journey has certainly veered a time or two. I’ve found walking to be the greatest compass to lead me back. Just the right mix of motion, introspection, and endorphins. I also love throwing myself into projects that require a lot of research. Solving lots of little mysteries to put together a bigger picture makes me feel useful and makes me feel like ME. To invest in myself I need to move my feet and move my mind.

Action – Journal about a tough time in your life and what sorts of things you turned to see yourself through. How did you stay in your magic?

Everyone has most likely uttered something to the effect of, “You wouldn’t understand unless you were ….”. Something that feels like a “Secret Society” because it is so unique to those involved in it. Maybe it sounds like you’re speaking a second language when you talk about it. Random story: The other day Chet borrowed my camera to take pictures of his new computer keyboard with custom keycaps. When I scrolled through his images I noticed there was a shot of his keyboard next to a shoe. Puzzled, he explained to me that it was common in the “keyboard community” to post pictures of your most used keyboard next to your most used shoes. LOL WHUT? ….but I love it! Just the fact that he knows that…and then DID it means he’s in a secret society that’s worth it for him. Secret societies let you see the big picture. One of my favorite secret societies is competitive forensics. I competed in speech & debate for 11 years and coached full-time for 3. I still love so many aspects of this world because these are my people and they speak my language. To invest in myself I need to spend time with my secret societies.

Action – Chat with a fellow secret society member about all the ways other people just wouldn’t understand.

My mind wanders to the most random things. I’m sure yours does, too. We’re dreamers after-all. It’s when patterns start to emerge in these thoughts that you should start taking note! Are you constantly thinking about a certain comedian? Art supplies? Clever hashtags for your Instgram? Are your thoughts drifting to hiking trails, dance routines, your favorite store, your favorite band, your next meal? Maybe there’s a reason. Maybe these thoughts are your flowers! I have a few go-to’s when it comes to day-dreaming and random Googling: capsule wardrobes, historical medical practices, tiny homes, backpacking, and obscure subcultures. An over-whelming need to DO something with these thoughts was one of the main reasons I started this blog. To invest in myself I need to spend time in my garden and pick a few flowers to share with others along the way.

Action – Identify three ways you can get recurring thoughts out of your head-space and into REAL space and then FOLLOW THROUGH! How can you spend time in your garden and share it’s beauty with others?

One of my favorite pieces of advice about finding ways to BE HAPPY is to look to your childhood. Looking at yourself as a child through adult eyes can be truly inspiring when it comes to where you should invest. What made you happy when you were little? How did you love spending your time when responsibilities were at a minimum and time seemed to stretch out into infinity? I loved making things out of cast-offs (I even told my parents I wanted to be a recycling lady when I grew up because I thought that meant turning trash into art), traveling (I was fortunate to see a LOT of places before my 18th birthday), dancing ballet, and reading lots and lots and LOTS of books. So what does that mean for me now? I like doing little DIY projects(like Pocket Letters) and exploring new-to-me places. I don’t go en pointe any more but an almost daily yoga practice makes me feel stretched and strong in much the same ways as ballet. And I read as much as I possibly can. To invest in myself I need to pay tribute to my child-self.

Action – Make a plan. What childhood favorite can you do daily? Weekly? Monthly? Set up a schedule and stick to it. Make your child-self proud!

—

What are you doing to invest in yourself TODAY? Is making time for yourself something you’re striving for in 2016? Leave a comment and let me know!

Strike a (power) pose!

January 11, 2016Brainpower, Personalcareer tips, communication, confidence tricks, science, TEDtalksBeth Berger

In her TEDTalk “Power Poses” Amy Cuddy explains how striking a new pose can change how powerful you feel. It’s true that people with power–media moguls, Olympic victors, monarchs–showcase that power through confident non-verbal communication. They stand up straight, take up space, maybe even reach their hands up high or relax with their feet kicked up on their desk. But Cuddy wondered if the reverse was also true. If expressing these same sorts of powerful poses could make a person feel power.

IE) If POWER —> POWER POSES, could

POWER POSES —> POWER???

Her study pointed to ABSOLUTELY! After asking participants to stand in various “power poses” for just two minutes, Cuddy found they experienced higher levels of testosterone (the “confidence” hormone) and lower levels of cortisol (the “stress” hormone). As a result, she encourages people to use her findings when they may need a dose of confidence or find themselves in a stressful situation.

Instead of hunching in a chair scrolling through notes on your iPhone, spend a few moments before a big interview stretched out as big as possible in the nearest bathroom stall. Have a big presentation at work? Close your office door, kick your feet up, and stretch your arms behind your head.

When I first watched the video of Amy Cuddy’s presentation, I really needed it. I wasn’t feeling all that powerful. I needed to find a job. I needed to make friends. I needed to do all those pesky-scary things that come with being in a different place from the one you’ve been in for seven years. In fact I was feeling pretty powerless. I’m sure my non-verbals weren’t doing a great job at hiding that fact.

But Cuddy’s “fake it ’til you make it” advice made a lot of sense. I knew from years of dance and competitive speech & debate that my body and my posture and my physicality could speak volumes and impact other’s perceptions of me. But now I realized I could turn that knowledge on it’s head and impact my perception of myself. I started doing yoga regularly (warrior poses are fantastic for this) and I began to make the conscious decision to take up more space.

Fast forward a few years and a few promotions (score!), Cuddy’s instructions began to sink in. I was in a position of power at my job and when I needed to communicate and exemplify that power, even if just to myself, power poses fit the bill.

My go-to posture in this new position became the same pose Cuddy opens with in her presentation; hands on hips, wide stance. Think: Wonder Woman. If I needed to persuade a customer or discipline an employee or haggle with a vendor, I was ready.

One unruly and frequently belligerent customer found himself getting familiar with my new stance of choice. When he was around trouble usually followed. So I wanted to feel powerful when confronting him. I also wanted him, and my employees, to know I. meant. business. I would saddle up to the scene, hands on hips, stance wide, spine straight. After finding himself on the receiving end of a Wonder Woman a few too many times this dude started to get…how shall we say, comfortable. He actually started mimicking my moves and mocking my posture.

“How dare he?” I thought. “Would he behave this way with a man?!” But each time he did this I continued to hold my ground. (Even when he would refer to my pose with such colorful language as “sassy” or “bitch.”) And then after his brief ridiculous displays were over he would follow my instructions, apologize, calm down, or rectify whatever other issue he had instigated.

These interactions proved to me the veracity of Cuddy’s claims. Because this dude was clearly threatened. A human twice my size with the ability to get twice as loud was threatened by my 5’3″ frame, soft voice, and calm demeanor.

I stood powerfully so I felt powerful. And this guy, for whatever reason, didn’t like that.

But guess what? My body didn’t need to speak apologies for HIS wrong-doings. Just like yours doesn’t need to speak apologies when you’re feeling powerless in front of a crowded room or when you’re feeling powerFUL.

So, yeah. Stretch your arms over your head before that interview, take up space, be noticed!

It feels pretty good.

If you’d like to implement the benefits of Power Poses, may I recommend this yoga video or this one. If you want to pose for a few minutes before an important, stress-filled happenin’ then check out this helpful chart.

Finding Delight in 2015!

December 31, 2015Personal2015, a look back, blogging, memories, my favorite blog posts, my year in review, new yearBeth Berger

2015 has been an absolutely amazing year. So much happened (!!!) but I still can’t believe we’ll be on to a new year in just a few short hours. I’m so excited for everything 2016 holds in store but for now, CHEERS TO 2015! The year I saw my brother marry the love of his life. The year I watched my sister star in a musical she wrote. The year I cheered as Chet earned his PhD. The year I got engaged. And the year I packed up my Subaru and moved down to the very southern tippy-tip of the U.S. of A. I’ve made so many wonderful memories this year with my friends and family.

Having a blog is such a cool way to look back and reflect on all the neat things going on in my world over the past year. I’ve never been too great at life documentation. The commitment of keeping up a scrapbook seems over-whelming. I’ve tried to pour my heart out to diaries and journals to no avail. At the end of the day, I like writing and creating for other people. Not just myself. So, thank you! Thank you for checking out my corner of the internet once in a while. Thanks for reading what I have to say! It means the world to me…and it encourages me to write things down, cherish my memories, and feel blessed with good fortune.

I promise to keep posting in 2016! I hope you’ll swing through (and say “Hello!” if you do). But now, as we close the books on 2015 here on the blog, I’d like to take a look back at a few of my favorite posts from this year!

15 favorites from 2015:

Life Lessons: Handwriting A memory of a childhood decision inspires me to take a more assured path to self-improvement.

No-recipe Recipes Meals to turn to again and again when you’re too lazy to get fancy but too awesome at ballin’ on a budget to hit up a restaurant.

4 Career Building Tips for the Newly Hired How to make the most of your big kid job.

Restaurants are not Food Culture A lot of my year was spent working on the local food scene in Lexington; this post was inspired by the people, places, and food I encountered along the way.

My Reverse Bucket List There are tons of things I still want to do but sometimes it’s fun to reflect on the things I already have!

Photo Diary: Wedding in Savannah, GA Andy and Dawn get hitched!!!

We’re engaged! Chet asked me to marry him (on his own birthday no less!) and I SAID YES!

We moved to Miami! I left behind The Bluegrass State and now our home is in The Sunshine State.

5 Tips for Writing Killer Emails Sometimes you just gotta address your pet peeves via a blog post!

Showing off my new home workspace! Now that I’m working from home I thought it was important to create a functional and rad work station.

Full. The Musical My sister is a bad-ass. That’s all there is to say!

It’s my birthday!!! (+50 facts about ME.) I turned the big 3-0 this year and also shared some little nuggets about myself for y’all to enjoy.

I stopped paying women compliments on their appearance and here’s what happened. This was my most read post of 2015!

November Stitch Fix Stepping out of my comfort zone and taking a whole LOT of selfies in front of a full-length mirror…what can I say, I love Stitch Fix!

Delightful New Orleans Wedding Our dear friends Carrie and Ganer tied the knot and we had a blast celebrating their love.

And a few awesome guest posts:

DIY: Peppermint Christmas Wreath Katie Nedvidek showed us how to make an adorable holiday wreath on a budget.

In Defense of “Go Set a Watchman” Katie Berger shared her thoughts on Harper Lee’s new book.

I talked to a woman for 4 hours on the train. Rachel Wigginton told a super touching story about an encounter with a stranger.

mid-week round-up #44 Adam Swanson took the reins for a link lovin’ Wednesday feature.

Cooking up a taste of home. Sheryl, Ashley, Katie, and Carrie tell us the foods they prepare for a little taste of home.

Happy New Year, my loves! I hope you find lots of delight in 2016!!! ❤

The Christmas Tag

December 14, 2015Personalchristmas, facts about me, holiday traditions, tagged post, tis the seasonBeth Berger

Let’s talk Christmas!

My friend Ashley, from Deep Curves Ahead, asked me to participate in this Christmas themed tag and share a bit about my holiday traditions. Check out her post, read through my answers, and leave a few of your own Christmas facts in the comments below! Happy Holidays!!!

Favorite Christmas Film? Last year, Chet and I went on a Christmas movie watching spree! We watched everything from The Santa Clause to Love Actually and everything in between. My favorite probably goes to Home Alone or The Muppet Christmas Carol. As for Christmas Specials, I love Charlie Brown! And all the old claymation Christmas movies just take me right back to childhood.
Ever had a white Christmas? I remember a few growing up. I’m currently, however, experiencing the warmest holiday season of my life down here in Miami. (I went to the beach on Saturday and have the weird tan lines to prove it!)
Where do you usually spend your holiday? I typically spend Christmas with my immediate family in Lexington, KY. This year Chet and I will be heading to Louisiana for our holiday R & R. We can’t wait!!!

Favorite Christmas song? I will always and forever contend that Diamonds by Rihanna is my favorite Christmas song. Although I also enjoy all the Christmas songs in Home Alone. Sidenote: My Favorite Things from the musical Sound of Music is NOT a Christmas song. Diamonds? Yes. My Favorite Things? No. Got it?
Is your tree real or fake? Fake. We upgraded to a 7 foot tree this year (Thanks Target sale!) and I love it. Here are a few of my favorite ornaments…

Best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? Ahhh! So hard! I’ve been spoiled with so many wonderful presents over the years. As a kid the Playmobil Dollhouse probably takes the cake (although I remember getting strangely jacked about a can of Tinker Toys…even though the gift tag was made out to me AND my siblings which, anyone with brothers and sisters knows, is sometimes a recipe for disaster). Last year Chet gave me a computer he built himself which still blows my mind.

All-time favorite holiday food? My mom makes a cheese-ball that I could, no lie, eat in one sitting…if I wanted to and had enough Ritz crackers to spread it on. (I would pay the consequence for that much dairy. Alas!) I also love all the cookies my grandma used to make, especially Peanut Blossoms. Yum!

What made you realize the truth about Santa? As with most things I don’t really need to find out but end up doing so anyways, I found out the truth about Santa from snooping. I happened upon a receipt from a toy store and thought “Hmmmm….wonder what was purchased for MOI at this establishment…” On Christmas morning the toy I saw listed on the receipt was under the tree…but it said it was from Santa, not my parents. It didn’t take long for me to put two and two together after that.
What makes the holidays special for you? The holidays offer a much-needed chance to slow down and simply enjoy quality time with your loved ones. This opportunity to re-connect is so special to me. I love making memories with the ones I love during the Christmas season.
What’s better, giving or receiving presents? Giving! I love shopping for others–contemplating the perfect purchases and anticipating their reactions. So fun!

How do YOU celebrate Christmas? Share below! I hope you ALL are having a wonderful holiday season.

Delightful New Orleans Wedding

November 17, 2015Personal, Travelbesties, Cafe NOMA, destination wedding, DIY nuptials, favorites, gumbo, Louisiana, Magazine Street, polaroids, road trip, Sur la Lune gets married, vacation rentalBeth Berger

My dear friends Carrie and Ganer got married in New Orleans on Saturday and had such a thoughtful, dynamic wedding. I was beyond grateful to be present for the magical few days they lovingly created for their friends and family. The entire trip was fantastic. I laughed until my belly ached until the wee hours each day. I cried fat, happy tears when the bride and groom exchanged vows. The whole experience, piling a bunch of lovely friends into a house for a few days and capping off the stay with a wedding ceremony out on the front lawn, reminded me of Ernest Hemingway’s words, “We ate well and cheaply and drank well and cheaply and slept well and warm together and loved each other.” It seemed so fitting that as they became husband and wife, the word HOME glowed brightly just behind them. Because that’s what Ganer and Carrie create wherever they go.

Here are a few highlights from the trip…

Roadtrippin.

Chet and I split up the drive from Miami to NOLA (and back again). We aren’t gluttons for punishment and…he did all the driving (#blessed, #copilot). We stopped in beautiful St. Pete both ways to enjoy some sister time at Starbucks. I LOVE that my lil sis is so much closer now. She agreed to take care of her nephew-kitty while we were away and it was so nice knowing he was in good hands. We also enjoyed our stopover in Gainesville, which supplied us with a delicious dinner of Japanese food and 4 hours of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Bless you hotel cable. In the car we listened to a ton of NPR, many episodes of the podcast Criminal (highly recommend), and Hotline Bling on repeat. On our journey home we stopped at one of those quintessential-Florida “Citrus Centers” to cash in on a free cup of fresh squeezed OJ and a tank full of baby gators on full view.

The Mansion.

We rolled up to this house and our jaws dropped. I can’t believe we got to stay in such a beautiful mansion. Massive Southern porch, grand dining room, landscaped grounds, billiards room, gorgeous kitchen, cozy basement den. It had everything and MORE. And it served as the perfect backdrop for Carrie and Ganer’s nuptials.

Louisiana touches.

More than just an amazing wedding, this trip felt like a real New Orleans vacation. I was scarfing down a catfish poboy pretty much as soon as I arrived! We enjoyed the night life on Frenchmen Street on Thursday. Friday, Chet and I explored the shops and sites on Magazine Street. Ganer’s mom made a massive pot of delicious gumbo for the rehearsal dinner and after the wedding I cut myself a big ol’ square of bread pudding. Suffice it to say my Cajun (and slightly home-sick) fiancee was in heaven…while I just enjoyed the awesome excuse for a vacation!

Sweet friends.

I spent our time in NOLA relishing in the presence of so many sweet friends. I told Chet as we drove away from the city that I had felt so blissfully unplugged during our whole stay. I wasn’t on my laptop once, my phone remained tucked away in our bedroom for hours at a time, social media was an afterthought. This means my digital coverage of our adventures was pretty lacking but the sweet memories definitely outweigh. (Plus, there was a super talented photographer staying with us and I can’t wait to see everything she captured!) I loved having so many of my favorite people in one place! After moving all the way down to the tip of the U.S., I do not take this occurrence for granted. Our social interactions have been lacking this Fall but now my love tank feels so full.

Lovely love.

I’ve long admired and found inspiration from Carrie and Ganer’s relationship. Seeing them showcase their love for each other in such a meaningful and grand way was so special. Their vows, and the ceremony itself, embodied the passionate, warm, giving and creative human beings these two are. I also enjoyed listening to our friend Ben officiate, the readings fit for a truly forensics wedding (Black books! Spliced!), and all the lovely toasts spoken in the couple’s honor. All the little details of the day and all the thoughtful words shared amongst loved ones made me so excited for my own wedding!!! Eeps! Time to get plannin’!

A wild and wonderful party.

Dancing and laughing with your friends never gets old. I remember dancing and laughing with friends when Ganer first showed up in Bowling Green. He ended up at a little house party in my very first apartment and immediately started making eyes at Carrie. I remember dancing and laughing with friends the night Ganer introduced me to Chet at a local dive bar. How thankful I am for those nights, and now this one too.

When you’ve got such a delightful crew by your side, so many wild nights lead to wonderful consequences.

Congratulations Carrie & Ganer!!! Thanks for letting me be a part of your magical wedding. I’ll never forget it. Chet and I love you to the moon and back!

P.S. Want a behind the scenes look? Check out Chet’s vlogs. The Trip and Wedding Celebration Part 1 are up now…and more to come!

A Very Beach-y Birthday!

October 19, 2015Personal30, Florida, gift haul, Homestead, La Playa, my birthday, seafoodBeth Berger

Hope you had a great weekend! Here are a few pictures from when we celebrated my birthday (LAST weekend), if you’re interested. Above is the view out to sea from Homestead Bayfront Park, my new favorite place on the planet!

We drove down to this little gem first thing on my birthday celebration day. (I was sipping on a tumbler of hot coffee when we first set up camp on the little beach.) The park features a marina, tons of fishing spots, picnic places galore, and an atoll pool with a sandy beach. We spent the morning and early afternoon soaking up some sun and floating in the restorative salt water.

I love the park’s quirky features, like this colorful sign (It’s all so close!!) and the decorated lifeguard huts.

It’s the perfect place to spend a whole day–I can’t wait to go back again and again! (Maybe with a penny board or some fishing poles…) And you can’t argue with views like this one.

After we had our fill of beach lounging, we dusted off our sandy limbs and headed up to La Playa Grill, which overlooks the atoll pool and the ocean beyond. We ordered up a couple coronas…

and I munched on this AMAZING order of Fish and Chips (with tropical cole slaw!). Chet had a Playa Burger which he said was one of the best burgers he’s ever had! Full and happy we left Homestead and headed back to Miami to run a few errands and prepare for the next fantastic meal my birthday had in store for us!

A few weeks prior, I jokingly requested Crawfish Etouffee Potatoes for my birthday meal knowing full well we wouldn’t be able to find crawfish in Miami. But lo and behold! Crawfish showed up at our front door just in time! Chet had them shipped (in a styrofoam cooler packed with dry ice) from Louisiana. You might remember my love affair with this particular dish began on my birthday last year! It is the thing that dreams are made of.

We rounded out the celebrations with Nutella birthday cake and a glass of Pinot Grigio. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day or a better way to ring in my 30th year.

P.S. I can’t resist giving you a peak at the WONDERFUL presents I received! Aren’t they glorious?! I am the luckiest! (The book “When We Were Romans” and the docu “Surfwise” were presents to myself because #treatyoself.)

P.S. 50 facts on my birthday and Chet’s birthday (when HE surprised ME!).

It’s my birthday!!! (+ 50 facts about ME.)

October 10, 2015Personalbirthday, blessed, life lately, my year, random facts, thirty years oldBeth Berger

Goodbye 20’s…HELLO 30’s!!! That’s right ladies and gentlemen, TODAY IS MY 30th BIRTHDAY! I’ll fill you in on the celebrations in a later post. Just know, I am very spoiled and lucky and each year, amazingly, keeps getting better than the last. I’ve had quite an exceptional 29th year…I learned a ton on the marketing team at Good Foods Co-op, celebrated a fantastic holiday season with my family and my love, made lasting memories with friends, saw my brother get hitched, watched my sister’s artistic creation come to life, spent lots of quality time with the Mama (usually over some delicious dish that she dreamed up and expertly prepared), checked things off my Lexington Bucket List, GOT ENGAGED(!!!), and moved to Miami with my lovely fiancee. I can’t wait to see what this next year holds. Life is good, y’all. xoxo

In honor of my birthday, I thought I’d just go balls to the wall and really make this post ALL about me. Haha! So, in case you were curious, here are…

50 Facts about ME!

My favorite store is probably Target. Chet and I typically go there every Sunday and even though I don’t buy something every single time we go it’s a nice tradition and a fun place to wander through on boring afternoons.
My first pet was a guinea pig named Annie that my family got after my brother and I had the chicken pox. She loved to eat carrot sticks and would squeak whenever she heard the fridge door open. She lived a very long life in her cage which sat on top of a hutch in our dining room.
I don’t have cable. Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, and YouTube are enough to keep me well stocked with plenty to watch. I had none of the above OR cable my last two years residing in Bowling Green. Instead, I checked out a stack of DVDs from the Warren County Public Library each week, a ritual I now miss.
My mom is a vegan and an amazing cook/baker. I love her pizzas and cupcakes but she can “veganize” just about anything, including a McDonald’s Big Mac, which I also adore.
I danced classical ballet until my sophomore year of college and loved going en pointe. I still walk quite turned out due to the ingrained muscle memory and years of training.
My dreams are never very fantastical and typically feature real people doing normal things. I used to dream about the holocaust a lot (I read WAY too many concentration camp/WWII books as a child) but now most of my nightmares involve a lack of preparedness (ie. I’m entered in this speech tournament?! Uh oh!)
My brother, sister, mom and I have a group text called Bergers Being Bergers. The messages within consist primarily of emojis.
My (condensed) birth story: I was delivered by a nurse because the doctor didn’t get there in time.
I’m the middle child which I thought was a disastrous fate as a kid but now I think it’s probably the best place to be in the birth order. My brother is 2 years older than me. My sister is 5 years younger.
I’ve lived in Lexington, KY; Vienna, Austria; Dublin, Ireland; Bowling Green, KY; and now Miami, FL.
I prefer to read books with a female narrator and/or main character. Similarly, when someone suggests a certain movie to watch I may ask, “But are there any girls in it?” I think this comes across as childish but I don’t really care. I need lady representation if I’m gonna invest my time.
I consider myself a lifelong learner and have always enjoyed more self-directed studies. My interests are vast and ever-changing!
I never get bored of oatmeal and consider it a comfort food.
When I worked at Western Kentucky University my office only had walls ¾ of the way to the ceiling (ie. a cubicle situation) and I could throw things over the top of the wall to my co-workers. In retrospect, it was a pretty plush work space, even more so because I shared it with some of my best friends.
This time last year I was in Louisiana eating beignets and listening to Cajun music.
I prefer quilts over comforters.
I went to Catholic Heart Work Camp for 2 summers in high school. While there, we renovated houses for underprivileged families. We used power tools with little to no training and sweated our butts off but it was a really heartwarming experience. I would highly recommend a similar experience for all whiny, bratty teens.
I like to carry a small backpack instead of a purse because having my shoulders off-kilter for an extended period of time makes me grumpy.
I love hanging out with one other person or a small group much more than a large group. Whenever I’m at a restaurant with a large group of people choosing where to sit at the table gives me a lot of anxiety and I always feel like I’ve chosen wrong.
The plot line of Downton Abbey bears a striking resemblance to what went down in my Playmobil dollhouse. Although, a giant rodent never appears in the show and I was always letting my pet mouse loose to roam the dollhouse halls.
I try not to leave the house without water and a snack.
I’ve worn glasses since elementary school and my first pair were a super round, quintessential 90’s, wire-rimmed set that were oh so sexy.
The advent of 3-way calling definitely ruined a few of my middle school friendships.
The in-flight movie on my first international flight was Mr. Holland’s Opus. Other memorable airplane viewing: a bio-pic about Jackie Joyner Kersee that finished before we’d even taken off (delayed on the runway) on a trip home from Germany with my dad (2 thumbs up!) and enduring the same movie to AND from Buenos Aires, Argentina (I don’t remember what the movie was but 2 thumbs down for the situation!).
I’m incredibly indecisive. Sometimes paralyzingly so. Yet, in a crisis I can make split second decisions and stick to them.
When I was really little I fell down my Grandparents’ basement steps and got 2 black eyes. I’ve also broken my collarbone falling out of bed, broken my wrist when I slipped wearing ballet tights on a slick kitchen floor, sprained my ankle going up steps backstage at a dance recital, and tore my MCL when I fell on a patch of ice. The summer before my junior year of high school my platelet count dropped so low (due to ITP) that I was covered in petechiae and bruises for weeks.
I was an early adopter of smart phones (my first was a Blackjack) but I listened to a disc man far longer than would have been considered socially acceptable and still use the radio as my primary means of music consumption.
I don’t like mushrooms or olives because their texture bums me out.
Some of my favorite plays I’ve performed in include; Peter Pan, Oklahoma, The Crucible, and Night of the Pterodactyls.
My favorite events to do in college forensics were Informative Speaking and Prose Interpretation. Essentially, I love telling a story.
I’ve taken full and immediate advantage of the fact that our condo complex has a pool! HelloOoOoO South Florida!
I love the feeling of cracking my hips and cleaning out my ears.
Aside from a few streaks of color (Read: orange) at 16, I’ve never chemically altered my hair. As a result, it’s super healthy and one of my favorite features. However, due to a general lack of hair knowledge and laziness, I typically don’t do anything with it.
My dad once had a meeting about hemp with Woody Harrelson.
My favorite nail polish color is navy blue.
Growing up, my family went North for vacations instead of South. We spent our summers on Lake Michigan.
I blush really easily. Many times a flush will come over me due to second hand embarrassment. So, if you see me pink-cheeked, it could in fact BE YOU! 😉
I drink 2 cups of coffee every morning.
I’ve never had to spend the night in a hospital.
I’m thankful to have grown up in a generation where it was ok to set off on your bike for an adventure in your neighborhood as long as you were home by nightfall.
I love the smell of lavender and rosemary.
The last time I was sick I had either food poisoning or a 24 hour virus and my recovery involved watching every single episode of Catfish and eating saltines.
I hate going to the dentist.
I prefer volumes to be set to an even number.
My favorite fast food meal is the #5 from Jimmy John’s. My favorite food to MAKE fast involves throwing whatever I have on hand on top of toast.
Coaching speech made me a better listener, researcher, and writer.
I really want to go to Mexico City next year. I really want to go to Iceland in the next 5.
I love, love, love to laugh and love to surround myself with funny people. I’m so lucky that Chet is literally the funniest person I know.
I have no shame when it comes to tracking down a piece of knowledge. Read: Gossip. I just like to know things!!!
I’m obsessed with my cat, Wink, and think ragdolls are the best feline breed to ever exist.

Full. The Musical

October 5, 2015Personal, Travelceleb sister, drama geek, Florida, Full the Musical, musical, playwright, Tampa, theater, world premiereBeth Berger

Last week I had the pleasure of traveling to Tampa to see my sister star in, Full, an amazing musical which she also wrote and produced! Katie played a high-school girl grappling with recent tragedy, young love, and her own demon’s brought to life right in front of the audience’s eyes. After several readings created a lot of buzz, Jobsite Theater presented the WORLD PREMIERE of the show at the Straz Center of Performing Arts in downtown Tampa. The result? A beautifully acted and expertly staged presentation of an honest, well-written script.

As any proud sister would, I’ve enjoyed reading other people’s thoughts on the show and it’s impact. Here are three lovely quotes:

Michael Canon Henry (writer): “Ms. Berger has an open, expressive face that makes her wonderful for all sorts of roles (in my book, at least; I’m not a theater critic). Of course, she’s good mostly because she works at it.”

Molly Miller (mother): “I saw Full. the musical. last night. What an amazing show! from the opening line to the very end it caught me, and held me. As the mother of a teen age daughter I was especially delighted with the authenticity of the dialogue. A beautiful and heartbreaking story. I can count on one hand the number of times I have cried in a theater, and 2 of them were last night. The song lyrics were spot on with the production, and the actors had amazing voices. Each and every character was cast perfectly, so meshed into their roles that I actually felt more like a voyeur than an audience for a lot of the show.”

Broadway World: “I recommend Berger keep writing and exploring the musical genre because she’s a strong, intriguing songwriter with an interesting, twisted world view. And she has a keen ear for snappy dialogue. She may be known for being a local performer, but now she’s become something else: a real writer.”

Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with the world, Katie! Your story is so important and you bring delight to us all! I was lucky to see this first staging but I can’t wait to see where else this show will take you.

P.S. I love this shot of my mom and I with Katie after her show…

Related or whuuuut?

P.P.S. Check out the official website for Full the Musical HERE and enter your email for a FREE download of one of the tracks from the show!

Thoughts on public transportation.

October 2, 2015Personal, Travelcar culture, commuters, ride the rails, stories about me, streetcars, subwaysBeth Berger

My recent train trek to Tampa, coupled with the absolutely shitty nature of driving ANYWHERE in Miami, has gotten me thinking about transportation. We live in an overwhelming car culture in America. And to be honest, it kinda bums me out. Why are we still waiting patiently for alternate transportation to “catch on” as the rest of the world’s developed nations are whisked away on high-speed rail? Why is the train station in Miami, a pretty major city in the ol’ U.S., a relic of the 1970’s? Why do so many Americans willingly sit in the drivers seat for hours long commutes every day? Why, when planning a trip out of state, do I have to consider plunking down a credit card charge equal to my month’s rent to get a coveted spot sitting on a flying metal tube? Now, it’s no secret to those close to me that I despise driving. I’ll gladly hand off my car keys to anyone willing to chauffeur me for the day. I would much rather amble down the highway in a bus with a stranger falling asleep on my shoulder than have to endure a long road trip as sole captain and passenger of my hatchback. I also have a pretty long-standing love of trains, streetcars, and other “we’re all in this together even if this means a B.O.-smelling journey”-transportation.

Story 1

When I was 10, my family lived in a cozy apartment on Lazarettgasse in Vienna, Austria. Nestled next door was Zur Goldenen Kugel, a dimly lit restaurant with a mascot dachshund who would visit diners at their table. My bedroom window boasted a lovely view of Allgemeines Krankenhaus, which literally translates to “General Sick-House.” At night I would watch the lights flicker on and off in the various hospital rooms. Right up the road was a streetcar stop. Here’s where I would board the #5 streetcar, ride 3 stops, switch to the #13 bus and journey to Mariahilfer Strasse for dance class. I would make this journey by myself. I feel like this would blow a few helicopter parents’ minds in this day an age. But at 10, I felt perfectly fine tackling this trek twice a week. Sometimes I was accompanied by my flamboyant, Castillian Spanish-language tutor but the majority of the time this was a solo adventure. These rides opened my eyes to the city and it’s people and were a great way to catch a few moments alone when my days were otherwise spent cooped up and home schooled in a tiny apartment.

Story 2

Just days after George W. Bush declared war on Iraq, I was riding a train with 3 of my very best friends on a day trip to an Irish seaside town. Completely clueless and naive to the rest of the world’s current perceptions of our home country, we didn’t know our accents could cause offense. Which is why we were totally blind-sided when a belligerent, red-faced local angrily approached us, cursing our presence and our president. I wouldn’t say we had been behaving poorly or talking out of turn on that particular train ride. But we WERE teenagers and there WERE four of us. I’m sure we were being as loud as one might expect four teenagers to be when they’ve been handed a little freedom for the day. He spat out his belief that we should have the sense to be silent when everyone on the train hated us so much for where we came from. He questioned our choice of clothing as misguided patriotism. (Puzzlingly, we were all wearing hoodies but only one of them was red so to this day I wonder about this part of his tirade.) We would get on more trains and buses in the days that followed but perhaps a bit more cautiously than our previous teenage fearlessness had dictated.

Story 3

Riding the subway in New York City with my mom and sister, another family consisting of mother and two children, rushed into our car and sat down across from us. The little girl sat in a stroller, her brother perched next to her on the bench reading chapter books emblazoned with public library bar codes. She started to get fussy and squirmy and as her mom lovingly tried to distract her I realized the little girl lacked mobility in her appendages. She whined and pleaded to be let out of her stroller. Her mom, with exhaustion in her voice, said, “Not here, mija. You’ll fall.” In a last ditch effort the mom held out her cell phone in front of the girl and I watched in awe as the girl played one of those games like Candy Crush, maneuvering around the screen with her chin and lips. The game would *ding* indicating success and the little girl and her mom would dissolve into peals of laughter. Meanwhile, I was overcome with how lovely this mother was. I wanted to grab her hand and tell her “You’re doing a good job!” I wanted to tell ALL mothers the same. Riding in a cramped, rush-hour subway car on the way to get a slice at Russel Simmons’ favorite pizza joint, I was reminded of how many good people there are in this world. How many heroes go unsung.

Public transportation and train travel could be a crucial part of the solution to our nation’s economic, energy, and environmental problems. Every segment of American society – individuals, families, communities, and businesses – stands to benefit from it. Yet there are so many political and infrastructural barriers standing in the way. And even if those hurdles are crossed, erasing the car culture deeply ingrained in the American psyche could prove difficult. A culture obsessed with everyone in their own little box, driving down a highway cramped with exhaust breathing 18-wheelers and government money. Perhaps alternative transportation will never be plausible in America because of our refusal to sit next to or around people that don’t look like us.

And isn’t that sad? Because by sitting with people who didn’t look like me, I learned responsibility and an independent spirit would be integral qualities in helping me achieve my goals. Sometimes the journey is sweeter solo. Keep going. I learned actions have consequences and that too often we must spend time answering for actions we didn’t even insight. Don’t take it personally. Keep going. I learned you can see goodness and beauty in an otherwise ugly world you just have to open your eyes and look. The view isn’t always out your window and the journey is sometimes the best part of the trip. Keep going.