What I'm Reading Wednesday

Lately I've been doing copious amounts of reading while awaiting my departure from the good ole US of A.  What have I been reading?  Well, I'm glad you asked...

and



They're both by mystery writer Tana French and, lemme tell ya, this woman is legit.  Both novels feature characters from Dublin's murder squad and geography plays a heavy role in each.  French's haunting descriptions of the Irish countryside make me want to visit Ireland ASAP.  Not to mention that her characters are incredibly real; as in, I would want to be BFF with Cassie Maddox...or possibly date a guy like Detective Ryan.  When it comes to murder mysteries, there's an ever-present threat that the novel will rely on blood and gore to liven up its descriptions or inadvertently create the flat, one-dimensional, hard-ass detective character(s) so prevalent in made-for-TV movies.  Not so with Tana French.  Even if you're not a fan of the genre, read these books now! I'm not quite finished with The Likeness yet, but I cannot wait to finish it!



Cheers, Brooke

Gamma Phi just got Beta!

This past weekend I found myself back in Tuscaloosa for a bridesmaid dress fitting (for the wedding of none other than a friend from my first study abroad trip to England!).  Anyway, on my way to the fitting as I drove down University Blvd., I was able to see the Bid Day festivities...let's just say I was majorly  slighlty jealous of the little freshies just beginning their college careers and starting their journeys into "sorority land."  This was the first rush since I graduated last December and I was feeling a little nostalgic.  During my time at the Capstone, joining Gamma Phi Beta was definitely one of the best decisions I made.  Aside from swaps, date parties, and formals, I made some amazing friends.  I was so blessed by the opportunity to be not only part of a sorority in general, but this sorority in particular.  And not only did I form amazing relationships with my sisters while at UA, I'm proud to say that I've kept in touch after graduation as well.  I'm so proud to call my fellow alumni my sisters and see where each has gone since graduation; from marriage to grad school to teaching abroad, we're a group of young women that has gone on to be incredibly successful in our personal and professional lives.  But not only am I proud of my pledge sisters, but of the girls still currently at UA...Saturday's Bid Day garnered in a pledge class of 101 new baby penguins! Now I think that deserves a Roll Tide!

Here are some pics of my time as a Gamma Phi at UA:

with my Big Sister, Larkie, at a football game 

 senior Spring Break cruise: Senior Frog's in Cozumel, Mexico

 Mardi Gras in New Orleans

 Tacky Christmas

 Faunsdale crawfish boil

before performing in the Greek Week lip sync competition



Cheers, Brooke

This Time Last Year...

This time last year I was about to embark on another big adventure: a semester long teaching internship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.  I cannot believe it's already been an ENTIRE YEAR since landing in South Africa, meeting my students at Pearson High School, and having the experience of a lifetime.  Africa is definitely the place to go if you have any fears you want to conquer; whether it's flying alone or swimming with sharks (!) there's a first time for everything and Africa is absolutely the place to do it.  Trips abroad like this one are the perfect opportunity to become more independent and adventurous.  I have so many memories from my trip to SA that I will never forget and can't wait to create even more in England.

 a vineyard in Stellenbosch

 shark cage diving

mommy and baby at Addo Elephant Park 

riding an ostrich...yes, I said an ostrich

Any education majors interested in interning abroad: feel free to email me for more information on the program I went through (brookepandp@gmail.com).  It was an amazing experience and one that I think everyone should have.  I'm looking for to my time in grad school, and in the UK in general, being as equally challenging and rewarding as this trip was!

Cheers, Brooke

A Refreshing Happy Hour

So, why "Pimm's and Proper" you may ask.  Let me introduce you to my favorite British beverage...one I became well acquainted with during my initial trip to England:

It's light, refreshing, and oh-so-perfect for those lazy summer days.  Invented in the 1840s by the London bartender, Mr. Pimm, this gin-based drink is absolutely deeelish.  Here's a very basic recipe I found online; almost all are very similar, however, I prefer mine with chopped apples and strawberries mixed in rather than the cucumbers. 



Ingredients

• 2 oranges, cut into half-moons
• 2 lemons, cut into half-moons
• 1 Persian cucumber or one 3-in.-long piece English cucumber, washed and sliced
• 2 cups Pimm's No. 1
• 4 cups Sprite or other lemon-lime soda
• 6 to 8 large sprigs mint, crushed gently, plus a few loose leaves

Preparation

• Fill 2 pitchers 1/4 full with ice. To each, add a layer of orange slices, a few lemon slices, and a layer of cucumber slices. Repeat the layering. Pour in the Pimm's and Sprite, dividing between pitchers, and mix with a long-handled spoon. Poke mint sprigs and leaves down into drink. Divide drink among 8 tall glasses, with a few slices of fruit and cucumber in each glass, along with some mint leaves.
• Notes: Persian cucumbers are small, thin-skinned, virtually seedless, and very tasty. They're sold at well-stocked grocery.



photo by French Tart

Enjoy!

Cheers, Brooke



The Final Countdown

As of this week, only a month to go until I trade...

for

 

and

 for

and, finally...

for





Cheers, Brooke