Museum Muse

 
Last year I was selected for a Summer internship with the Royal Ontario Museum. It was, hands down, the most definitive experience of my life thus far. Up until this opportunity I was certain I was certain that I would be applying for my masters in archaeology, and then subsequently complete my PhD. I thought that I would be doing fieldwork during the Summers and teaching during the school years.

  

Designing displays 

Photos by N. Ali

Now I am looking forward to applying for a masters in museum studies. Sure, the degree is adjacent to my original plans but changing course, for me at least, can be difficult. But the major difference is that I no longer see myself as a lifelong academic. That of course does not mean that I will not be a lifelong student.

While working as a summer intern with the Department of World Cultures at the ROM I had the chance to get up close and personal with ancient artifacts. As part of the programme a colleague and I under the guidance of my mentor and ROM Fellow, Dr. Kate Cooper designed and implemented temporary displays to go out on the museum floor.

Colleague and I designing the displays

 

Dr. Kay Sunahara putting our temporary displays in the Greek and Roman galleries 

Photos by Dr. Kate Cooper

This past weekend I visited the galleries again and to my surprise these displays are still out!

It seems I will be returning to the ROM now: I've been asked to join a team of educational volunteers in the hands-on galleries. The ROM has been a bit of a sanctuary for me all throughout my undergrad as I often escaped to this museum to study and, when I had the luxury, wander the galleries. I'm excited to be learning, and I'm excited to be teaching, and most of all I'm excited to be back.

A Canadian Reception

Last year my sister married the love of her life. Heather and Timo are a perfect balance for one another and I couldn't be happier for them. Their wedding was held in Amsterdam:

Seeing as how most of our family is in Canada, Heather and Timo hosted a second reception here in Toronto just last weekend. My mother has a wonderful garden and it was the perfect setting for their Canadian reception. Just as in their wedding our family buckled down to do some good old-fashioned DIY.

While Mum and I handled the garden and decorations with help from our family friend Wes, Heather and Timo handled the food. Timo is a chef back in the Netherlands and cooked up a storm of pulled pork, enough potato salad to feed a small nation and our favourite bean salad from the Ottolenghi cookbook. Heather made the cake, just as she did for their wedding day! (Talk about stressful. Can you imagine making your own wedding cake?) Their wedding topper, the iconic Dutch kissing kids was the perfect choice. 

And, of course my boyfriend performed admirably as he was interrogated by my family. How one person can charm a crowd like that I'll never know.

 
 

Oh hey Ajay

        Au Revoir!

"Tacky" by Weird Al

Alright, so I like to think my sense of humor is pretty fabulous but if we're being honest I'm sure everyone thinks the same of themselves. I love satire - most every kind. Weird Al has, in his days, pumped out a few parodies that make me titter but his new "Tacky" is so accurate and on point with his references to social media and fashion faux pas I just had to share it.

Is it bad that I actually dig some of these outfits? Yea probably.

Trend Report - Pineapple Express

Every season it seems designers fixate on one everyday object and make it a theme in a fashion. Fruit prints have exploded onto the Summer scene and none more than the prickly pineapple. This sickly-sweet fruit is showing up everywhere and is the perfect addition to your Summer wardrobe if you plan to stay on-trend.

From top to bottom, left to right: dress from Forever 21, earrings and necklace from Ann Taylor, hairbrush from Forever 21, scarf from Ann Taylor, dish from Tiffany & Co., shirt from Tommy Bahama at Hudson's Bay

Be sure to check out more finds available in Toronto on the board "Pineapple Express" by Britton Diaries

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Going Dutch

I'm proud of my homeland; the Netherlands is a beautiful and inspiring country. And yet I hesitate at times to tell people where I'm from. Inevitably I am faced with the following: "How's the Red Light District?" "Smoke a lot of dope?" "What do your parents do?"

It frustrates me that the first thing people jump to is the seedy stereotype of Amsterdam, which I will have you know is vastly overstated. I may have only been a child while growing up in A'dam, but I go back regularly. The tourist industry booms every season, rain or shine, and it saddens me that so many people who visit have a singular purpose.

There is so much art and culture in the Netherlands, so much history and beauty in such a small country and I wish that when I told people I'm from Amsterdam their response would be "Wow it's so beautiful there!" "Have you seen Rembrandt's work at the Rijksmuseum?" "What is the food like over there?"

My brother-in-law, Timo, who is visiting with my Sister from the Netherlands just asked me what I was writing. "When people ask me 'How is it living in Amsterdam' I tell them it's like biking through a fairytale every day."

On Safari

Perhaps it has something to do with my degree in Archaeology and the romantic idealism I may have toward 19th century exploration but there are few things that draw me in more than a safari lifestyle. It is the perfect classic look for a dusty August as we move into the fall.

All pictures via The Stylish Academic

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