Hanging with my buddy Beth a few years ago.
All posts tagged Lifestyle
Chris plays fetch with a random dog
For my birthday, Chris and I hiked Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park. On our way to the trail, we made a furry friend!
Pretty fly (for an iced guy)
This past weekend, I visited my boyfriend, Chris, in Washington D.C. to celebrate his birthday. Naturally, I decided I should fly 1,000-ish miles from St. Louis with a homemade birthday cake for him. (Obviously.) This may seem like a bit of a hassle, but it surprisingly was not. Was it hilariously awesome? Affirmative. People ate it up. Not literally… but some wanted to.
Let me break my cake traveling process down for you: First, I had a man help me with my luggage for the “safety” of the cake. Then, when I was checking my bags, a group of Southwest employees ganged up on me saying they’d have to confiscate it. (And might I add that they kept disturbingly straight faces at first. Definitely threw my NOYOULIESTOPTRICKIN radar off.)
While waiting in the security check line, a man inquired about the future owner of the cake and demanded repeatedly that he [Chris] better downright appreciate it. (It’s cool, stranger man. You couldn’t have known that I have the sweetest guy alive.) Then the security guard announced to all with a chuckle that both laptops and special cakes should be placed in their own trays. And while the cake was moving through the X-ray machine, I heard her say, “I’m going to need to taste test this one.”
As I was boarding the plane, a fellow traveler stopped abruptly, cackled and proceeded to ask me 7.524 million questions about the cake. Once I made it on the plane, the flight attendant clapped and announced I’d brought cake for everyone while I walked down the aisle. And throughout all this, countless small children eyed the flying cake up and down with lust.
And all this took place before 7 a.m. Whew! Now I know how to make friends at the airport.
You are always on my mind, Thai food. Always.
Oh yeah. So iced. So fly.
Why does this cake exist? Because Chris does a wicked impersonation of Kermit. Yes, this is one of the reasons I’m dating him. (Really? Yes.)
From catalogue to cards
As I approach a hectic week, I decided taking an hour this evening to light a candle, put on Christmas music and be creative without expectation was completely necessary. I received a beautifully designed and printed Toms catalogue in the mail this past week. So, naturally, I had to cut it up. (Better than looking at it once or twice and then throwing it away, right?) The result: three merry little cards.
Friendly paper-sliced cards
Materials + Process: A Toms catalogue cut into strips and pasted with a glue stick on blank greeting cards
Atmosphere
Music: “A Very She & Him Christmas”
Candle Scent: Balsam & Cedarwood
Outfit: PJs
Craft Night: The Bookish Pumpkin
A lovely pumpkin I made out of an old book during craft night with my friend, Tabby. Woot!
Mercy, mercy
This past Tuesday, I went with a few friends to see Matt Nathanson perform at the Pageant. One of the best concert I’ve been to. For shiz. This has a little to do with the fact that Matt Nathanson is a crowd-pleasing, booty-shaking, talented hot tottie. Yep… partially because of this. But it’s moreso because my friends and I were right up front by the stage.
Usually I get to concerts casually late and stand toward the back or balcony areas. I’m a chill observer– happy to be there, but not fully jumping-in-the-party engaged. (Or whatever.) And I think, “I’m glad we’re not crowded in the front,” or, “It’s nice that we came late and can leave a little early to beat the crowd.”
But I learned during this concert that getting there before anyone’s playing and being bumped around by crazy weirdo fans and not being able to leave at any point for the bathroom or a drink and staying the whole time is completely fantastic. All of these little inconveniences weren’t inconveniences at all in the moment. I was too enthralled to be bothered, and being up front brought me to a higher level of energy. I was upclose and personal with the artist, and I could feel his passion. In a way, I felt honored to witness his gift so closely.
So, I guess what I’m saying is that I’ve officially converted from a mature fan to an excitable, screaming groupie-esque fan. And strangely, I’m cool with this…
Where’s Waldo? Find my face… go!
Reppin’ Florence + The Machine
Stillness
Today I feel removed. Soft. A quiet observer. With movement around me, I feel still.
Today feels like a muted sigh. I’m sad that I won’t see Chris until Thanksgiving. Bothered, really. I miss him. I’m peeved at myself for being unproductive. My room is a mess. I should go to the gym. I should eat better.
I should get out of this funk.
Or maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe I should just be as I am. Let myself fail according to my standards. Be mediocre and not grow as a person today. Maybe it’s okay to blog this and accept that it’s not my best post.
Maybe it’s okay to be still and not expect anything of these moments other than them simply being moments.
A part of me feels that this mindset is apathetic. Wasteful. Am I not living to the fullest?
Another part of me feels a little flicker of excitement not to be striving. Not to be on target. And not to feel guilty about it.
Perhaps it’s 100 percent okay to be still today.
A visual prayer
*All photos are my own. (Welcome to my brain.)
This is strange, folks.
Hey all. Strange Folk Festival is happening today (Sunday, Sept. 25) until 6 p.m. in O’Fallon Community Park. Indie crafts, live music, cupcakes, BBQ, beer, alpacas and general awesomeness included.
