June Network of Nice Hook Ups! Pen pals + Science projects + SEO

It's that time of month again!  Time to counteract that time you snapped at your boyfriend/ate your roommate's ice cream/used the '10 item' line when you totally had 17 items.

Here's the deal with the Network of Nice:

1) Read through these hook up requests. Can you help them? Yes? Email those lovely people.
2) Read through these hook up offers. Do you need that help? Yes. Email those lovely people.
3) If you have been lucky enough to receive help from someone, you write them a prompt and grammatically correct thank you email. Because your parents raised you right.

I need a hook up!

I need to know about opening a restaurant

I'm looking for someone who can tell me about their experiences opening a small restaurant from scratch. Things like building a commercial kitchen, how to learn more about the legalities and expenditures, and any tips or lessons learned. I'd be so grateful for any help I could get. Thanks so much!

chelsywhittington@gmail (dot) com

I'd like an international pen pal

Hi! My name is Allie. I'm 24 years old and currently live at home on my parent’s farm in Central PA. It also allows me to explore all of my different and ever-changing passions – and being that I'm a Gemini through and through. I have a lot of them! Most recently I've been l.o.v.i.n.g getting creative in the kitchen with lots of vegan GF and raw foods! And my latest “kick” has been blogging. I have yet to figure out where I'll land in the future and what kind of work I'll be doing… but that’s part of why I'd love a long-distance penpal – to learn more about different parts of the world and see if there’s a space in one of them for me and my wild heart.

allie.sheetz@gmail (dot)com

I need travel advice about Hanoi, Vietnam

I am heading to Hanoi in late July for 5 days with one other friend. All we have done so far is book our tickets, and decided to spend 2D1N at Halong Bay. If you have any recommendations for the cruise company, accommodation, restaurants/cafes/coffee shops, travel itineraries, tips, advice, please send them my way!

greenteafields@gmail (dot) com

I need a thesis pep talk

I'm an Anthropology student living in Amsterdam and have been trying to finish my bachelor thesis for almost two years now. After all the great advice; just start writing, don't set your expectations too high, schedule studying time, etcetera I am still having a hard time writing. I'd love for someone to help me out through e-mail contact, setting proper deadlines, some motivating words, really just anything. I know I should be able to get there on my own but I just can’t, even though I really can't afford to lose another year to this thesis.

maartjedemeer@gmail (dot) com

I want a writing buddy

I'm a writer in the making and I would love to have a writing buddy to share writing with. I'm looking for someone who can commit to swapping writing on a consistent basis and for someone who has the time to invest in a medium to long term relationship.

carolina.baker@gmail (dot) com

I need advice on becoming a Social Media Manager

I'm moving into social media management for the food and restaurant industry. I would love to talk to an established SMM on how to approach businesses in a non-slimy way and outlining a business module. Thank you! 

glassofwin@gmail (dot) com

I need to know about traveling in France
I'm traveling to Tours, Loire Valley, France this July to take a month long course through my University. I'd love to hear anyone's personal experiences of what to do in the area and the country, as well as suggestions about traveling around France and the EU. I'm a 20-year old student who's never travelled on her own outside of the country before, so any tips on studying abroad and solo travel would be greatly appreciated. I'm also semi-fluent in French, so if anyone wants to be penpals with an FSL learner, I speak english and would love to talk, thanks!

jessica_ryan5456@hotmail (dot) com

I am looking to interview people who made radical changes in respect to health or diet 

If you went vegan or gluten free, lost 100+ lbs, beat cancer, etc, I'd love to hear about it! I love inspirational stories, but I'd love to hear about any situation where people are taking control of their health and well being. I will feature stories on my blog. Include photos only if you want to, not required!

latebloomlisa@gmail (dot) com

I need to know about moving to the UK

I have always wanted to live in the UK, specifically London, and would love any advice regarding how to make this dream happen. If you have any advice on finding places to live, how to move easier, helpful resources, or maybe just fun things to do for a newbie in the UK, all would be amazing. Thanks!

katamaduma@gmail (dot) com

I would like mail from around the world for a science project

I'm a grad student, and my lab is trying to test for PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in inks from around the world. PCBs were used as fluids in electronics until they were banned in the USA in 1977. They are still in use in various countries around the world though. They're bad for the environment, and they cause cancer. There's some evidence that they may be persistent in certain inks/dyes. We're looking for any papers with colorful ink printed on them (postcards, magazine pages, newspapers, bus maps, brochures, etc.) We'd love it if people outside the U.S. would send us mail!

dewani@gmail (dot) com 

I can give you a hook up!

I can tell you about travel and living in rural China

I live in a city called Lijiang in southwest China. I am 28, and I have been here for two years with my husband, a botanist who studies flowers on Jade Dragon Mountain (what a name, right?). If you are thinking about spending time in this part of China, I can offer advice on food, health, hiking, and travel (mostly by bus and train). 

elsamariehart@gmail (dot) com

I can help you with copywriting

Do all of your promotional materials for your biz need a bit of rewiring? Like brain surgery, but way more fun--and with your eyes open? I'd love for us to talk for 30 minutes about what we can do to bring you and your story to life on any copywriting element of your choosing.

fel@feliciaspahr (dot) com

I can tell you about programming

I'm a software engineer in California in the Bay Area, and if you're thinking about learning to program I can give you some starting places. Or if you're starting to learn, I can try to answer questions about programming or software. 

alabamapeach@gmail (dot) com

I can help you with basic SEO advice

I'm a full-time freelance SEO consultant with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses. I can help you with basic advice about how to have more potential clients find you through Google. Of course, SEO is complex and I can't possibly cover it all in a free session but what I can do is have a look at your website, blog or online shop and send you a list of customized suggestions and practical steps to take to help people find you.

ilwen.of.lorien@gmail (dot) com

I can tell you about moving to Sydney + opening an online shop

I moved to Sydney 6 months ago and so I can help anyone new to Sydney or navigating life in a new city in general. I also started an online shop about 5 months ago and can help with general questions such as which platform did you use? How did you create your website? How did you photograph your products? Basically, know that you're not alone in this!

hello@wonder-dot (dot) com

I can help you improve your Etsy shop

My educational background is in marketing, and my passion is indie entrepreneurship. I am pretty obsessed with improving all aspects of my shop. On the daily I am networking with other Etsyians, finding new avenues of promotion, and fine tuning my methods. I'd be glad to offer some shop critiques and insider tips to help boost your handmade business. 

eveyinorbit at gmail dot com 

Want to be included in the next Network of Nice?  Send me 100 words about the hook up you're seeking at sarah (at) yesandyes (dot) org.

Psssst!  On July 1st, Google Reader is shutting down!  If you're reading there, you can follow me on Feedly, Old Reader, or Blog Lovin.'

photo by andjohan, cc

True Story: I Write Fan Fiction

This is one of many True Story interviews in which we talk to people who have experienced interesting/challenging/amazing things.  This is the story of Mel and her love of writing fan fiction.

Tell us a bit about yourself! 

My name is Mel. I'm 32 years old, originally from the Midwest, but I now live in the deserts of Southern California. During the day, I hide from the sun as much as possible, and work as a librarian at a public library, and by night I spend my time reading, scolding my cats, chasing after my husband, dabbling in mixed media and scrapbooking, and writing fanfic. A completely random and irrelevant fact: I have almost no sense of smell.

For those of us who don't know, what's fanfic?

The simplest definition that I can give you of fanfiction ("fanfic") is that it's stories about other creations in media and pop culture. Like, you dig Harry Potter so much that you write your own story about Harry and Ron and Hermione. Or Snape, or heck, Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris. In other words, the root of fanfic is derivative and dependent on someone else's creation. But it gives you a chance to explore facets of the characters or events that the original medium (the book, the movie, the television show) didn't necessarily delve into.

What are the biggest misconceptions about fanfic/the people who write it?

I'm not sure if these are the misconceptions that everyone has, or just me; but I used to be so embarrassed about reading fanfic; forget writing it. In reading it, I thought that I was a dork with no life and unhealthy interests and fixations on whatever subject ("fandom") it was that I was reading about. I think some people may assume that fanfic writers are simply copycats or thieves of other peoples' creations, and that their fanfic productions are simply unoriginal works of subpar writing intended as projections or wish-fulfillment. 

It wasn't until I had some ideas pressing on my spirit and mind that I felt I just had to get out there and "publish" (post online), that I managed to get past my own apprehensions and misconceptions.

Tell us about your topics of choice.

My first fanfic was a "Nolan-verse" Batman story that my husband dubbed "The Never-Ending Story" due to its ridiculous length. The main characters are Batman and an OC (Other, or original, character), but there's a Dickensian cast of secondary characters as well, some of them original, all of whom are mainly focused on a crusade of social justice. The fanfic I'm currently working on is an X-men fanfic, but I'm also kicking around ideas for Buffy, The Avengers, Harry Potter...I suspect that anything I write about will have core themes of social justice, which was what compelled me to "publish" in the first place.

Why do those particular characters/situations appeal to you?

I suppose I simply enjoy the way the characters and plots in those fandoms have been portrayed, thus far, by their creators and interpreters, and I find that the characters, and their circumstances, offer an intriguing platform and mouthpiece for my own spin on them, and what "agenda" I want them to serve. But that's not to say I'm going to write ridiculous stuff that's non-canonical, like a humorous fic about Wolverine planning a Princess Party for six-year-old mutant girls, or a slashfic (don't ask!) about Ron and Snape. I write stuff that could be conceivable and in-character, and therefore, hopefully, compelling to the reader.

Do you write stories and characters of your own creation as well? How does that writing differ from your fanfic?

Some characters within the fanfics are of my own creation, but I've yet to write a complete story/novel that isn't fanfic. I have plenty of novel ideas, though, and will one day focus my energies on those. But since I'm fairly successful in my professional life (modest but stable income, lots of interesting work that keeps me busy), this is simply a pleasing, fun, no-pressure hobby for me to do in my off-hours, and I feel that a "completely original" story, at least at this point, might give me less pleasure than writing my fanfic. Plus, it's far more likely that more people would read (and enjoy) my fanfic than an unpublished original manuscript!

Do you have a particular goal for your fanfic? 

For me, my ultimate goal was, at first, to get my ideas out of my head and onto the "page"--just getting it out there. And that's still the main goal, but now I have the added pleasure of connecting with other fans and writers. Beyond that, a time or two, I thought about printing up my Batman fanfic and sending it to DC Comics and saying, "Here, it's yours. Play with it and have your way with it and have fun."

But I have to be clear on this point: As far as I know, getting a book deal for my fanfic, or selling it, is not an option, legally, ethically, or morally. Fanfic is deeply problematic, because there are copyright issues at play. Some creators, such as J.K. Rowling, are pretty cool and sometimes even flattered by the concept of fanfic, but other creators, like Anne Rice and George R.R. Martin, are very adamant in their opposition to and sometimes even disgust of fanfic and fanfic writers. Anyway, getting a book deal would be profiting off of some other person's creation. (50 Shades of Grey being a somewhat problematic exception, for any number of reasons.) 

What are the best things that have come out of your fanfic adventures?

It was so unexpected...the morning after I posted my first chapter, I got a few really kind and encouraging reviews. And that gets addictive! But more to the point, it's helped my self-confidence in ways I never would have imagined. I realize now that I am a cogent and entertaining writer, and I've connected with a huge community of supportive, intelligent, and talented people! Most of all, it was like opening a Pandora's Box...I got my "creative sea-legs", if you will, and was and still am assaulted with all sorts of ideas - not just for fanfic, not just for original novels, but all sorts of different mediums and arts. When I published that first chapter, I discovered the art of the possible.

What advice would you give to other fanfic writers?

As Hagrid would say, "Better out than in." If you have an idea, write it--get it out of your head and onto the page! Find a supportive "Beta reader"--someone who will read and proof your chapters before you post them, and give you all sorts of feedback and encouragement and helpful, constructive criticism. Remember that there's the fanfic world, and the real world, and keep a healthy barrier between the two. Accept the fact that you enjoy reading and/or writing fanfic, and don't judge yourself harshly. You're not a dork or a loser for enjoying it. There are millions of people out there who are fanfic readers, and if you become a fanfic writer, you'll be giving them a lot of entertainment and pleasure! And you'll learn more about yourself and your own creative journey.

Thanks so much for sharing, Mel!  Do any of you guys write fanfic?  Or read it?

original print (without text on top) by cut it out art, for sale here

Web Time Wasters

What'd you get up to this week, guys?  I went to a bad movie party, brunched and lunched, and co-worked and zoo-went.  The usual!

Links!  Here they are!

I love these!  4 Totally Weird (and crazy effective) Time Management Tips

This is the most organized travel kit I've ever seen.  Like, evvvvver.

I appreciate the honesty of this bag.

I'm really fascinated by this Better Life Index.  You choose the areas of your life that are important to you (community? housing? clean air?) and it'll tell you how your country stacks up.

Welp, I guess I have to go to San Miguel de Allende now.

I've had two Before Sunrise experiences in my travel life.  Here's the story of the real couple behind the movie:

Lehrhaupt was several years younger, about 20. They met in a toy shop, and ended up spending the whole night together, “from midnight until six in the morning,” “walking around, flirting, doing things you would never do now.” As in Before Sunrise, most of what they did was talk, “about art, science, film, the gamut.” Did they kiss? Yes. Did they have sex? The Times went so far as to ask Linklater in a recent interview, but he said he wants to “leave a little mystery.”

Things to eat/bake/cook/drink: spaghetti with parsley pesto, strawberry jalapeno margaritas, frozen blended white russian!

Helpful!  11 secrets to freezing produce correctly (I had no idea you could freeze avocados!)

Sofa fort!

This is the sexiest one-piece swimsuit I've seen in ages!

Two (very different) songs I've been playing on repeat: Bounce // Song For Zula

So.much.truth here.  10 reasons you don't have a job.
4. If you take forever to write back when an employer expresses interest, you are communicating that you are not a speedy worker or at the very least, don't care about giving this impression.

This movie looks hilarious!

This map comparing linguistic differences throughout America is fascinating!  (For the record, I say 'soda' not 'pop.')

I think every day would be better if I started it with coffee from this mug.

I've been looking for the perfect kelly green hobo bag for at least three years so when I saw this, I knew it was worth the splurge. Even better?  These bags are eco-friendly, super high quality faux-leather!  No cows were harmed in the making of this handbag.

Yup.  How To Be A Dick, Because Sometimes You Have To Be
Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, so if someone is dishing out dick casserole, they should be prepared to eat a bowl of dicks in return. This is physics; there is nothing I can do about it.

Old amusement park rides, smushed into a cube?  Oddly beautiful.

Yup. Do you want to be right or do you want to be free?

Well, this is the cutest.  Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy are BFFs and they interviewed each other.
Sandra: the things we’re obsessed with outside of being a mom are the same, too: construction and house renovation…. We’re kindred spirits in that world. If we had a beer den, with Barcaloungers—but our version of that—it’d be great.”
Melissa: “There’d be fabric swatches everywhere. And reclaimed wood.”

Embroidered bugs have never been so beautiful!

Some Yes and Yes posts you might have missed: 15 things every woman should own, Questions to ask yourself when you're thinking of quitting, Favorite Things (like Oprah's. but for real people)

Hope you had a great week!

Vegan cookies + creativity + ditching drama!

It's Saturday.  Instead of running errands and doing laundry hows about you hunker down in front of these lovely links from a few of Yes and Yes's June sponsors?  

Favorite posts:

Simple DIY: Make a Card Garland // Canning & Pickling // Paleo & Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let's be friends!

twitter // facebook // pinterest

Favorite posts:

You have a direct effect on animal welfare // On doing valuable things // Are smartphones replacing pets?

Let's be friends!

pinterest

Favorite posts:

7 Things You Need To Stop Telling Yourself // 30 Free Resources For Your Quarter Life Crisis // A Pinch of Pixie Dust

Let's be friends!

facebook // twitter // pinterest // youtube

Favorite stuff:

Why creativity is important // About Tess // It's that good

Let's be friends!

blog // facebook // twitter 

Favorite posts:

Ditch the drama // Wear your soul on your sleeve // Why I stopped comparing myself to others

Let's be friends!

twitter // facebook // linkedin // pinterest // google+

Favorite stuff:

Why our dresses cost this much: We're a green company // Clutter-free living // 

The Penelope dress (with pockets!)

Let's be friends!

facebook // twitter // pinterest // newsletter 

Favorite posts:

Your financial management Spring cleaning checklist // 4 steps to get out of debt for good //

How to become debt free using the law of attraction

Let's be friends!

twitter // facebook // google+ // linkedin

Want to introduce your face/products/url to 11,000+ people?  For $60 a month?  Lovely!  You can check out my ad info here or drop me a line at sarah (at) yesandyes (dot) org.

Mini Travel Guide: The Mountain West of America

This is one of many Mini Travel Guides in which locals and expats share their favorite stuff! This one comes to us from Lauren.

Big skies, tall mountains, and snowy peaks into July, the Mountain West is exactly what I read about in the history books. Though I never thought I’d live here, after almost 10 years in New York and DC, I decided that I’d try the Mountain West out for a few months. Almost a year later, I’ve backpacked in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and skied Big Sky, Winter Park, and Bridger Bowl. Needless to say, I might be sticking around for a while.

Must Go

Bozeman, Montana

Affectionately known as “Boz-angeles”, this small Montana college town has a mixed personality of wild-and-free adventure types and Ph.D-holding environmentalists. With unparalleled skiing in the winter, and tons of free lectures, outdoor film screenings, and local food festivals in the summer, it’s hard to find a bad time to visit. 

McCall, Idaho

McCall is one of those towns you've never heard of, which is the reason you should visit. About 90 minutes north of Boise, a McCall winter holds skiing, snowshoeing and Winter Fest, which draws 10,000 people for a weekend of music, food, and ice sculptures. Summer brings aqua enthusiasts for kayaking, fishing, and sitting in a cafe on the shore of the Payette Lake, staring into tree-covered mountains.

Breckenridge, CO

Though Breckenridge is a famed ski town, its high season is actually summer. With long, warm days, and clear, cool nights, Breckenridge has that small-town charm and is nestled in the heart of an outdoor playground. Have breakfast on Main Street, get to the trailhead at 9 am, hike for a few hours and then go fly-fishing on the Colorado River, all before dinner.

Must Do

Get thee to a National Park

Put that RV to use and start driving! Wyoming’s got the Grand Tetons, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming share Yellowstone, Utah’s home to Zion and Bryce Canyon, and Colorado has Rocky Mountain National. And those are just the major ones!

Go floating

Here’s what you do: grab your friends, buy a bunch of inflatable inner tubes, pack a few p-cords and your adult beverage of choice and launch into one of the rivers. In Montana, there are the Gallatin, Madison, and Yellowstone, which flow just leisurely enough for you and your friends to spend a day on the water, cold drink in hand, and still making it to town in time for happy hour. Win!

Relax with a soak

With natural hot springs abounding, outdoor soaking is a popular activity at night after a hard day playing outside. Usually only costing around $5, some hot springs have yummy treats, local beers on tap, and live bluegrass music.

Must Eat

Elk

I've been a vegetarian since 2008, but when, within the first week of me landing in Montana, a friend of mine tossed me an elk burger that he had hunted himself the previous fall, I couldn't say no. 

A nice, cold microbrew
The winters are so long and cold here that a local has to get through it somehow. Instead of paying for a mediocre beer in a can, try a local beer or cider on tap. And because it’s local, no shipping is required. Friendly for the environment and friendly for your wallet! 

Cultural tips

People hunt and own guns, but still believe in social equality.

Being from the east coast, I found that the number of people here who own guns and actually used them to be shocking. But, most of these people also believe in social equality, lessening our overall impact on the environment, and other stereotypically “liberal” ideals. 

Expect to be invited on an outdoor adventure rather than to happy hour.

As I was making friends here in the Mountain West, I found that instead of grabbing brunch or 2-for-1 beers, we’d hike after work or cross-country ski on Sunday morning. Better on my waistline for sure.

Travel on the cheap

Campgrounds

If you want to get the most bang for your buck, pack a tent and camp. Since so many people camp out here, some campgrounds are equipped with pools and even hot tubs! Sure, you’re sleeping in a tent, but leave the fly off at night, watch the moon rise, and you’ll forget all about that bedbug-ridden mattress from the Super 8 down the road.

Rent a camper
Cruise America rents RVs to get around between the National Parks. These puppies will cost you some change in gas, but you have the option of traveling AND sleeping in them. And! Walmart allows all RV’s and campers to stay in their parking lots for as long as they want for free. Say what you will about Walmart, but after a long night of driving around looking for a campground, sometimes it’s nice to know that mall police won’t be knocking on your door at 2 am telling you to move on.

Thanks so much for sharing, Lauren!  I know tons of you live out west - what other advice can you share?

photo one by dawn, cc // photo two by thomas green, for sale here // photo three by evil erin, cc // photo four via tapirtantrum // photo five by america y'all, cc // photo five by bhantu.t, cc

Here's That Permission You Were Looking For

We're all clever, self-actualized adults here, right?

Or, perhaps more accurately, we're all fairly intelligent people who are trying to be ever-so-slightly better than we were yesterday, right?
Even if that self-improvement is limited to eating breakfast BEFORE we check email?

I thought so.

And even though we're all pretty smart, it's always good to be reminded of certain things.
By, like, people who aren't our moms or bosses.

It always feels good to receive permission to do the things we know we should/could be doing.

With that in mind, I'm officially giving myself (and you) permission to:

* throw out that shampoo that makes your hair weird, the jeans that don't fit, the classic book you're never going to read

* break up with the lovely, kind, wonderful not-quite-right-for-you person

* go to the party and just drink Diet Coke

* really go for it at work, even if it makes your colleagues roll their eyes and call you a "try hard"

* make your new romantic interest work for it

* make things uncomfortable when someone calls something or someone "retarded" or "gay"

* not fund every single Kickstarter campaign your friends put together

* donate or re-gift that body lotion/candle/decorative tray.  Like, immediately.

* not watch Game of Thrones.  Or have a Twitter account.  Or read Harry Potter.

* quit the job or drop out of the program that's eating you alive

There.  You've got it.  Permission from the internet to go for it.

What are you waiting for permission on? 

photo by martinak15 cc

Totally Affordable + Incredibly Doable: The Clever Sessions

Wanna work with me but can't afford $1,000 for a Solution Session?  Or maybe you need help with some 'smaller' stuff - writing an ebook, getting more blog advertisers, amping up your traffic.  I just launched something totally affordable and incredibly doable!  Pop over to my small business blog to find out more!

Job Awesome: Housesitting

Once a month, we're going to talk about awesome/weird/adventurous jobs that you (maybe) didn't even know existed and talk to people who have done them. If you're sick of your current gig, get to applying!

The idea of getting free lodging in a foreign city seems almost too good to be true, right? If you've ever spent months crashing in hostel dorm rooms and cooking ramen noodles in shared kitchens, you know a space of your own is nothing short of heaven.

But house-sitting is, in fact, a thing. People who live in lovely homes, in busy areas, will happily hand over their keys to someone with good references and a trust worthy demeanor. It’s rare that you’ll actually get paid to stay in someone’s house, water their plants and feed their cats, but you’ll save piles of money on lodging and get out of the hostels for a bit.

Nora has been house-sitting for years and shares her secrets!

Tell us about your house-sitting experiences!

I've been traveling full-time since 2007, often volunteering in trade for my accommodation. House-sitting is one of the ways I get free digs around the world, and I've been doing it on and off since I started traveling. In the last couple of years, I've house-sat in a few places in Canada and England. (the rest of the time I've either stayed with families or volunteered). I expect to do some long-term house-sitting in Europe this year.

Why did you decide to try house sitting?

House-sitting is a great way to get a slice of "home" in a new place, which for a full-time traveler like me is a refreshing (and necessary) thing! It also gives me time to work on my writing, which is how I make money to keep on traveling.

Can you tell us about the application process?

The application process varies from gig to gig, but usually entails a series of emails (with questions and answers from both parties), and providing references.

Do you do anything to prepare for a house-sitting gig?

It's always good to ask lots of questions of the host so you have an idea of what the transportation options, amenities and expectations are. There is no template for what a house-sitting gig will be like!

Can you tell us about an average day in the life of a house-sitter?

This is entirely dependent on the gig! If pets are involved, it's good to keep them in their routines, which vary dramatically from home to home.

House-sitting is very special for me, because it usually gives me lots of down-time for my writing and a kitchen to work with! (I love to cook, but rarely get to cook what I like, when I like, with a fully-equipped kitchen, when I'm volunteering or staying with families or in hostels). Even demanding pets don't take up a huge amount of time and it's nice to enjoy the fixings of "home" - even (or especially!) if it isn't your home. And getting to understand daily life in other parts of the world is a lot of fun!

How much money are you earning?

I don't usually earn money through house-sitting (or at least I haven't yet). But this is a good reason to ask lots of questions of your potential house-sitting hosts; some gigs require quite a bit of work (from gardens to pets), and financial compensation might be well-deserved. In other cases freebies like use of the car, food and facilities might be fair enough compensation.

Are there any challenges with house sitting? 

House-sitting requires flexibility and adaptability. Without these qualities it could be quite a challenge.

Also I can't stress enough that it's a good idea to get to know the home owners and their expectations and to sort out emergency phone numbers etc. It will make your stay much easier and the more you know, the more comfortable the home owners will be about leaving you to care for their place.

Who would be a good fit for house sitting? 

House-sitting requires flexibility and adaptability, since you're always entering a new home and it's nice to respect your new environment. Attention to detail is also a great quality to have; I like to leave the place just as I found it (or better) - from ingredients in the fridge, to cleanliness, etc.

Resources!

House-carers // The Care Taker Gazette

Have any of your ever housesat?  Any tips to share?

photo 1 by nora // photo 2 by slideshow bruce // photo 3 by phillip c

Read // Eat: 'The Great Gatsby's Lemon Cake

You guys! I'm so excited to be bringing back Literary Nibbles - but this time we're calling it Read // Eat. If you haven't been reading Yes and Yes for ages, this is a monthly post series in which we cook/bake/stuff our faces with recipes from our favorite books. But since I'm not much of a cook, I've enlisted the help of Alicia! Alicia writes Jaybird (and formerly of Humble Foodie). When she's not making a mess in the kitchen, she tries her hand at home DIY projects and elaborate picnics. Go be friends! Twitter / Facebook

This summer everyone’s talking about The Great Gatsby. Baz Luhrmann has turned Fitzgerald’s captivating novel into a visually stunning film—all vibrant colors, decadent parties, and dazzling conversation.

If you went to high school in the States, chances are you read The Great Gatsby, which is full of timeless truths and poignant observations about the human condition—none of which I appreciated fully in 9th grade.

But you know what I’ve always appreciated? Food! And thankfully, Fitzgerald serves up moments both tense and tender with a side of stunning 1920s refreshments. From awkward lunches at Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s to modest tea at Nick’s, some of the novel’s most important revelations occur over a bite.

When Nick hosts a tea to reunite Daisy and Gatsby, he relies on the delicatessen to provide a dozen lemon cakes. No wonder he and Gatsby scrutinize them while waiting for Daisy to come over. Homemade lemon cake is a tart and buttery treat that absolutely must be shared. Steep some sun tea and take a page out of Gatsby’s book by inviting friends over for a small gathering.

Gatsby on his house: “I keep it always full of interesting people, night and day. People who do interesting things. Celebrated people.”

Celebrated people love lemon cake.

Lemon Cake from The Great Gatsby

Note: For this recipe, make sure to set out your butter, eggs, and yogurt in advance so they can come to room temperature. I also suggest zesting and juicing the lemons before beginning.

Cake:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided

5 large eggs, at room temperature

1/3 cup grated lemon zest (from 6-8 lemons)

3 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided

¾ cup plain, 0% fat Greek yogurt, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Syrup:

½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

½ cup granulated sugar

Glaze (optional):

2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted

3 ½ teaspoons lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour two 8 ½ inch loaf pans.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, or in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer, cream the butter and two cups granulated sugar. With the mixer on medium speed, add eggs one at a time, then add lemon zest. This will become your batter.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and soda, and salt. Whisk (a shortcut for sifting). In another bowl, whisk together ¼ cup lemon juice, yogurt, and vanilla. Add the flour and lemon juice mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.

Divide the batter evenly between the pans. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the tops, then bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean.

While the cakes bake, combine ½ cup granulated sugar with ½ cup lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook until sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack set over a sheet pan. Slowly spoon the syrup over the cakes and give it time to soak in. Allow the cakes to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Optional: to make the glaze, combine the combine the confectioner’s sugar and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth and drizzle over the tops of cakes.

{recipe adapted from Ina Garten}

This cake is lemony through and through: the middle has a light and sweet citrus flavor, while the browned crust and moist top benefit from the strong addition of lemon zest. The glaze is optional, but if you skip the syrup, you’ll pout like Tom Buchanan when Gatsby introduces him as “the polo player”. Trust me on this one.

Does your favorite book include a dish you can’t wait to try? Let us know, and maybe it’ll become the next Read // Eat recipe!

Psssst!  On July 1st, Google Reader is shutting down!  If you're reading there, you can follow me on Feedly, Old Reader, or Blog Lovin.'

True Story: I Gave Birth at Home

This is one of many True Story interviews in which we talk to people who have experienced amazing/interesting/challenging things.  This is the story of Brandy, her family, and her decision to give birth at home.

Brandy and her son

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I'm a strange balance of extreme maturity and childishness. I think that's why people like me. I could spend hours milling around a bookstore or a library. In fact, most days that's exactly what I do. I was born and adopted in Pennsylvania. I grew up in Virginia and North Carolina. And I lived in the DC metro area for a few years. Besides the traffic, it's my favorite.

Why did you decide that you wanted to give birth at home rather than at a hospital?

My kids are 10 years apart. I had my daughter in a hospital when I was 20. It wasn't traumatizing, but I basically just did as I was told. With my son, I wanted to play a much more active role. My friend had a homebirth a few years ago and I'm embarrassed to say that in a conversation about it, I told her I could never do it, for fear of what might happen. Watching the documentary, The Business of Being Born, really opened my eyes and inspired me to do more research. It's not for everyone. But it really was for us.

How does one go about organizing a home birth?

There are two main options in choosing a midwife: a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). I chose a CNM. I liked the fact that she could write prescriptions and administer IVs if needed, but some people prefer CPMs.

After you choose your midwife, she'll set up appointments for you in her office or at your home. It's not like going the doctor's. You really get to know each other. My midwife often stepped in as a therapist. She also gave me a lot of homework: researching vaccines, tests, etc. The vast majority of them are optional, and come with their own risks and benefits. It is absolutely your job to know what is being injected into your body and your baby.

Tell us about the actual process of giving birth at home.

You can choose a birthing pool, or your tub, if it's big enough. Or even the dreaded stool, which looks like some sort of perverted torture device. If you labor in the pool, you'll need plastic sheeting to save your carpet and a garden hose that hooks up to something in your laundry room. Since much of the pre- and post-birth happens in your bed, a plastic cover for your mattress is essential.

She brings everything else, right down to the emergency Pitocin, should you need it. My actual birth was, let's say . . . intense—14 hours of back labor. Four of those hours were in transition, which is after the baby has crowned. It usually lasts about 45 minutes but I couldn't bring myself to push because his face was on my pelvic bone and it hurt like, well . . . a mother.

At 4:05am on September 9th, 2011 in a blow-up pool in my living room with my husband behind me, rubbing my back and sobbing, I gave birth to an eight pound baby boy. Our daughter sprang into action, calling loved ones to wake them up with the good news. Afterwards, my midwife stitched me up in my own bed and laid my newborn on my breast to nurse. I was depleted, so she spoon-fed me yogurt and then she and her assistant cleaned up the mess we had made. Even the dirty dishes in my sink!

How did your friends and family react to your decision?

Most of them were pretty supportive. I got a couple of emails from well-intentioned friends trying to scare me back to the hospital. The thing many people don't understand is that a lot of the terrifying "interventions" that happen in hospitals were inadvertently created by the way hospitals do birth. Emergencies happen, of course, but women are built to give birth.

Do you think there were any drawbacks to giving birth at home? What were the benefits?

It was costly for us. A homebirth actually costs thousands of dollars less than a hospital birth, but our insurance wouldn't cover all of it. Interestingly, had we birthed in a hospital, they would have.

In the weeks leading up the birth I was scared. The pain and the worst-case scenarios. I didn't know if I was strong enough to handle it all. Honestly, the pain sucked. But now I know I am much stronger than I imagined. And she came back to the house for all of the follow up visits from birth to six weeks. Not having to deal with clothes or car seats for several weeks was definitely one of my favorite parts.

Vodka was also a perk. Things were progressing slowly, my water broke the day before, but I was dilating at snail speed, so my midwife asked if I wanted to take a shot of vodka and get some rest before round two. Friends, the answer is always vodka.

If you had another child, would you give birth at home again?

I think so. Every birth is different. If there were new risks, or if I was carrying more than one baby, I would most likely opt for the hospital.

What advice/resources would you share with couples who are interested in giving birth at home?

Review the laws in your state or country. If homebirth is not your tea cup, there may be a birthing center in your area. Or, you may be interested in hiring a doula and birthing naturally in a hospital. The Business Of Being Born is a great introduction on the subject.

Ultimately, go with your gut. After you've done all the research, decide what's best for your family and your baby and be lovingly unapologetic. Trust your instincts. People are going to give you flack either way.

Thanks so much for sharing, Brandy!  Have any of you given birth at home?  Any questions for Brandy?