The Great Gatsby Party >>

**Friends, I took the liberty of using some of your photos in this post. If you want any of them taken down, let me know!

About a month and a half ago three of the five roommates decided to throw a Gatsby party.

We quickly made a facebook invitation (because that’s the way kids do things these days…)

We brainstormed costume ideas, decoration plans and photos for the next several weeks. I was consistently excited when different people kept telling me they’d found their “Gatsby outfit!”

Then on Saturday morning we woke up, fueled ourselves with breakfast sandwiches and set off for Virginia (because it is nothing if not a Saturday morning suburban nightmare filled with craft stores and Party city’s) to purchase decorations. Want to know something wild? There’s a helium shortage! Like, on Earth. A balloon lady actually said to me, “This is the end of an era. The balloon era.” Who knew?! Needless to say the shortage has caused a spike in helium balloon prices ($2 for a simple latex balloon!!) and thus we only got a dozen (which was plenty considering we had to wrestle them into the trunk of a sedan for the trip home. Read: herding cats).

Anywho – despite the fact that there was much more helium on Earch during the Gatsby era, we made do. :) We blew up balloons for the floor, hung gold tinsel and created a photo wall “step and repeat” that was sort of an enormous success. Props to Alice for this brilliant idea and Lauren for total facilitation and persistance in hanging approximately 1 million poster around our house.

I was having trouble finding a reasonably priced dress that I liked so I decided to be a 1920′s gangster… which we’ll agree is a loose character in the Gatsby novel. But ohhhhh, there were some good dresses!

We were pretty clear on the facebook invitation that costumes were required. And really, no one disappointed. To stay in theme it seemed that everyone brought champagne as well…. which meant there was a lot (so much) of champagne.

We played a very—in theme—1920′s playlist for a solid 30 minutes at the beginning of the night (thanks Matt!). Very Midnight in Paris – esqu. After that we mostly just played this on repeat…. I’m only kind of kidding.

I’ll leave you with two of my favorite photos of the evening. I’m sad I only got one photo  with that hundred dollar pinata (empty, but so fun to pose with). Man, I love a good theme party.

Now to see the actual movie…. I hear it’s good!

A WEEKEND TRIP TO LBI

After playing phone tag with my fellow transient friend Chase (do I still need to introduce him?) for most of last week, he finally called me on Thursday night at 11pm and said, “come to the beach!” (Where he lives for a handful [it's really hard to say exactly] months each year). And then I said a few things and mostly he just kept repeating, “come to the beach!” and next thing I knew it was 6am and I was on the road to New Jersey. I left DC against the flow of traffic and I saw the sun come up and I totally had a moment of appreciation for still having my car (I tell ya, the ol’ Honda is having a rough time in the city)…. because there is totally something to be said for a morning edition and a good playlist on an empty highway.

I rolled onto Long Beach Island a few hours later, hugged Chase and Bill, patted Gilligan on the head and got to work (I work remotely on most Fridays). Twice during this weekend I got to see Chase in action in ways that I’ve only theorized about. I’ve always wondered what a “typical” day in Chase’s work life as a freelancer photographer is like…. Whelp, I saw. Edit a few photos, sit on the porch, upload some photos to Dropbox, power wash the outdoor shower, take a phone call on the porch, edit a few more photos, do some more power washing, send a couple of invoices, call it day. Soooo…. kinnnnnd of amazing.

After our day of working and “working” we had a pretty darn fabulous weekend. We cruised around in the convertible, ate clam the best clam chowder I’ve ever tasted, did some solid patio sitting, drank whiskey (only on the rocks!), chatted with townies at perhaps the greatest dive bar of all time, did a little beach combing, pretended we were retired on Saturday morning, rode bikes and even worked in a short photo shoot.

It was interesting to see first hand some of the damage left behind by Sandy. There’s lots of rebuilding and renovating and overall things seem to be returning to normal. The dive bar we went to had a piece of tape a good two feet above the floor where the water line had reached. And in true dive bar fashion they definitely did not redo that the floor that sat under water.

And more pretty photos!

Chase claims that Friday through Sunday were the most beautiful three days on the island this year (you’re welcome!). But seriously, I’ve never lived this close to a beach and I’m wildly excited to spend more summer weekends on the island (which is nothing like the Jersey shore that you might be imagining).

The second time I saw Chase in his element was during a quick photo shoot on Saturday night and I have to say I was impressed. I mean, photography school, worth it. Even if his daytime work is sporadic and amazingly, um, laid back(?) — behind the camera, the guy is in his element. And Chase, I’m available to hold your sun reflector any day (people – I’m an excellent sun reflector holder!).

I had a fantastic weekend. Thanks to Chase, Bill and Gilligan for their kind hospitality. Can not wait to visit again soon.

** the pretty photo of beach glass in my hand is courtesy Chase

Boston

<my favorite photo of boston from last summer’s adventures>

it’s very hard for me to wrap my head around the recent events in boston. completing a marathon and cheering on finishers of a marathon should the happiest of events. i’m saddened and in disbelief but i’m also appreciative of the consistent reminders of the goodness of humanity and the support of a community.

here are a few really good words from people more eloquent than me.

in the continuing awesomeness of social media, bringing us together and sharing information –> i was surprised by how many people i know in boston and also thankful that they’re all ‘ok.’

#<3boston

 

I’m proud.

I have wildly talented friends.

I promise we don’t always have scary eyes.

Rhett and Brendan, my wildly talented friends that make up The Brothers Roberson, just released their first self titled album (which you can find for just $9 on itunes). And guess what? They sold out of all their copies in just 3 weeks (I don’t even have one yet!).

I’ve been friends with Rhett since high school (there was actually a pretty precise moment where I’d say we became friends) and the summer after that I met Brendan… and they’re sort of magical. Like, they can be ridiculously hilarious (sometimes, just ridiculous) and quoting Boondock Saints one moment. Then the next they’re playing a song that they’ve literally just made up — Rhett might be playing a guitar and Brendan’s on some makeshift drum thing and it’s amazing. Next thing I know we’re at a karaoke bar and the entire bar is singing along to their rendition of Wagon Wheel. Add to those shenanigans a few jokes, perhaps a tattoo or two, several shots of whiskey and then repeat. And that my friends, is the Brothers Roberson.

Pretty much I’ve always thought they were a big deal (which is why I consistently ask to be in a music video and always proclaim to be a groupy)… But then late last year they won the Midwest Regional Texaco Country Showdown. Turns out I’m not the only one who thinks they are a big deal.

So then they got to go to Nashville and compete for the championship… they played at Ryman and it was hosted by Jewel… And it was a super big deal.

Their interview makes me giggle.

The whole show will be airing sometime right(?!?! <– I’ll get back to you on this).

I’m just so proud that Rhett and Brendan are doing something they love and are doing it so well. They’ve recently overcome some emotional things in their personal lives and yet they use their music as a way to keep going. This is so cool. I’m way excited to be along for the ride and I can’t wait to see where this adventure leads. Fingers crossed that you hit it big and can quite your day jobs soon!!!

Now for some link love! Like their facebook page! Check out their new website! Youtube videos! And a bonus clip of Rhett covering the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (I don’t think Rhett’s even seen this.) Also – this is like, my favorite (I don’t know why you thought shooting this with Chase was a good idea… Haha!)

My heart is proud (also your songs make me miss Missouri).

Grinch Moments >>

A couple of weeks ago, on one of our few warm days this spring, in the midst of an epic cross-city walk, one of my roommates looked at the rest of us and proclaimed she was having a “grinch moment.” We were post-brunch, on route to an outdoor market with the promise of pickles, watercolor pictures and cocktails on a patio… and she seemed to be happy. Why so “grinchy” you (and I!) might ask?

So the thing is, a “grinch moment…” It refers to the end of the movie Grinch, not the beginning Grinch.

Remember when the “grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day.” Think about the very best, ‘I can’t believe how happy lucky fun and wonderful this exact moment in time is,’ kinda feeling you can imagine. You know the kind? The kind where it’s better to just grin foolishly and hope that you can freeze this heart swelling feeling and keep it forever. Yeah, THAT’S a “grinch moment.”

So I’ve been having a few “grinch moments” lately.

Dear District (and sometime the Commonwealth, because that’s where they hide the craft stores), house I live in, new friends who have gone above and beyond to make me feel welcome and included and home –> ya’ll are making me grin foolishly. I’m a little bit lucky and a lot excited to be living here in this exact moment.

Also, it turns out that so far, employment, it’s sort of great. And since my Mom thinks I should not talk so much about myself (I mean it is my blog) maybe I’ll tell you about where I work sometime soon.

Here’s hoping that there are many “grinch moments” in store for you all!

** Side note –> Today and tomorrow there’s a lot at stake for marriage equality. Learn more here or here. ”Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all,” already.

SNOWQUESTER

my first adult snowday (i’m technically working from home, but giddy none-the-less)! dc public schools announced they were closed last night but OPM said they wouldn’t be making the government shut down call until 4am. i set my alarm for 6:30 (a solid hour and a half earlier than it’s usually set) to wake up and check the website. my roommate beat me to it with a text at 6:20… “closed!!!”

you can’t tell, but the snow had just started last night and donna and i were excited. (also, i’m not a giant, she’s just very tiny.)

whelp, we’ve got crockpot soup to eat and an afternoon snowball fight to attend. high five snowquester, high five!