Love is a Verb

Back in May we were invited to a screening of the documentary Love is a Verb at Navy Pier downtown.  The film is about Fethullah Gulen and the Hizmet movement.  The film's web site explains that Hizmet is a social movement of Sufi-inspired Sunni Muslims that began in Turkey in the '60s.  Hizmet is the Turkish word for service, and that's really what it's all about - giving back.  It was interesting to watch the film and to think about some of these ideas.

Christmas Necklace

Don't tell my mom, but this is one of her Christmas gifts.  I made it using some marble beads that one of my husband's colleagues brought back from their trip to Turkey a couple of years ago.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and an optimistic 2014!  I'm going to enjoy my Christmas break and be thinking of what direction I want to take things in the new year.  I think it may be time to change things up a bit!  Stay tuned...

Friday Featured Art: Hagia Sophia Mosaic

I've been thinking again about our trip to Istanbul over spring break.  The Hagia Sophia Museum (Ayasofya) is one of the most incredible places I've ever seen.  I loved the beautiful mosaics, like this one of Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist.  (I took this picture.)  If you go to the Hagia Sophia web site, there is a beautiful aerial view of the museum.  The yellowish roof peeking through the trees on the left just might be our hotel - we were that close.

Sour Cherry Juice

We recently found a great store near us that carries Middle Eastern foods: Mediterranean Oasis.  When we went there, we bought so many things from Turkey that the owner asked if we were Turkish!  One of the things that we love is the sour cherry juice that they drink in Turkey.  Yum!

Spoonmaker's Diamond

Thinking about the Queen's Diamond Jubilee reminded me of something fabulous that we saw in Turkey.  Topkapi Palace has an incredible collection of jewels.  This 86-carat diamond is known as the Spoonmaker's Diamond.  It is stunning.

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: ggbytech

We've been thinking about Turkish Delight lately and wondering where we could get some authentic treats.  I found someone on Etsy!  Their lovely candies come directly from Turkey - ggbytech sells Turkish Delight and hard candies, and it all looks delicious!  (This kind is pomegranate and pistachio.)

Turkish Tulips

An interesting fact about Turkey is that they're the ones who gave Holland tulips. Yes, they started the whole craze. I really love that tulips are a symbol of Turkey. This unusual variety is called the Istanbul Tulip (tulipa acuminata). It has pointy, knife-like petals. You can see a similar pointy tulip in the official logo of Turkey tourism, below.

{Istanbul Tulip photo from plant database.}

Uludag Gazoz

I know this looks like a really weird word, but it's actually a kind of soda. Uludag Gazoz is from Turkey. We found some at the Middle East Bakery & Grocery in Chicago. It's kind of a fruity Sprite. Yum!

Pottery Barn Iznik Collection

Pottery Barn has a new line based on Turkish designs from Iznik. My husband visited Turkey last summer, and it was fascinating to see their use of flowers and bright colors in design. I really like these pillows.