Dreaming

(Circa 2007 by boy; perhaps, I'll tell you the story someday)   

Oh Africa, how I do love you. Travel is such a luxury; don't you think? I hope I am never remiss in remembering. To cross the ocean divide and experience all that is the great continent of Africa is truly something to be grateful for. And, Isak Dinesen's words from Out of Africa always take me right there . . . 

The cure

I am counting the minutes until the my toes hit the sandy shore. Don't you just love this print from society6? I want to jump right in it. 

The dress

The wedding planning is going . . .going . . . ok, it's not really going. Anywhere. But, I did just join Pinterest and from what I hear, the planning is easy as pie after that. Right?

So, let's talk wedding dress. I am thinking whimsical, romantic, antiquated, lacey, simple, dreamy, ethereal, vintage, clean. I know, I know, I really need to narrow my focus. Oye. Here are some that I'm oohing and ahhhing about . . .

(source unknown)

The stone

 

In the past year, I had only sent boy one jewelry designer, mentioning that anything from Miss Sarah Perlis would suit me just fine. In the midst of conversation a few weeks ago, he appeared oblivious to this request and couldn't recall that I had sent him anything. I shook it off, reminding myself that he had good taste and capable to find a jeweler himself.

Movie Night

The outdoor movie night was a hit, or at least, I think it was! I didn’t let the dreary day of clouds and raindrops get me down. After surrendering to the fact it would not be a back lawn filming, I grabbed my toolbox and nailed the sheet screen right to the porch posts. A few strands of lights, candles, gin martinis and homemade kettle corn in these oh so cute popcorn buckets (mine were from Target) really made the evening. Some of our guests stayed until the wee hours of the morning so we featured Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark and Back to the Future, and guests mimicked the nostalgic lines of ‘Indy’ and ‘Marty McFly’ all evening.  

To the lake, we go.

Only one week until glorious days at the lake, and I am so looking forward to . . .

The 'Story'

(the only photo of us I snagged in the moment*)

That wasn’t very nice of me. I promised you ‘the story’ yesterday, and I was a no show.

Before I go on and on, you should know that Philip and I have known each other and maintained a heart-wrenching but amicable friendship for quite some time. Though, from the end of year one to the end of year three, we were apart, divided between states. He in Washington D.C. Me in Boston. It was a tragic three years; just ask my sister.

On Sunday morning this past weekend, Philip had planned to invite me to a morning of Eastern Market activities. Have you heard of D.C.’s Eastern Market? It is a girls' dream- jewelry vendors, fruit stands, boutique pop up stands, and cafes close by with delectable brunch selections. Well, I walked right into his trap, on Saturday  afternoon, I pleaded that we go the market over the weekend, since we had yet to visit this summer season. I should have known he was up to something as he smiled and nodded agreeably. 

Choosing the specs

My glasses arrived! I ordered them on Sunday, and they arrived on Wednesday afternoon. Warby Parker, you know what you're doing. I think I've narrowed it down, but I would love to hear your opinion. I know they are all fairly hipster, but over our Long Island weekend, I tipped glasses with a 50-something classic beauty; and she had round frames. Ever since then, I have been wanting the "Noreen"/slash Annie Hall look.  

Oh, didn't I tell you . . .

Readers, I have a secret. It's been a little over two months since I started this blog, and as my 50th post, I thought I would share a little, delightful secret with you. I know you thought my weekend was just this, but one other thing happened.

Outdoor Film

(photo via)

This weekend, boy and I are hosting friends for an outdoor film, and I just. can't. wait. I'm stealing all my brilliant ideas from Claire of The Senses Five; check out her post. I have the perfect cove nestled in my backyard for the screening, so hopefully the rain will hold off. Fingers crossed!

Summer Must Haves (4)

I stumbled into an Anthropologie this past weekend and beelined towards the back of the store; you ladies know what I’m talking about- the sale section! Oh Anthropologie, I do swoon over you, but not your prices. As I raced to the back with blinders on, I spotted this hat out of the corner of my eye- I die.

Weekend Snapshots

A weekend at home

(photo from our weekend in Long Island) 

What are you doing this weekend? I have little to no plans, and as sad as that may sound, I am fairly elated! A dinner with boy tonight, lunch with a friend tomorrow at Teaism and possibly a matinee showing thrown in there somewhere. Crazy plans, I know! I will however be . . .

New Specs

(these are not my glasses; I wouldn't subject you to that)

I am in DESPERATE need of new glasses. My current specs date back to 2008, and as much as I thought the teal blue tint was cool then, it's just not cutting it in 2012. I'm considering some frames from Warby Parker; have you heard of them? For every one pair they sell, they give one pair to someone in need. I can't imagine a life of not clearly seeing the world. I have vivid memories of squinting at the blackboard in 5th grade, and as unhappy as I was to become a 'four eyes', I did not have to worry about access to eyeware and vision care.

 Here are some of the lenses I'm thinking of . . .

*Monroe

*Begley  

*Sinclair

*Percey

P.S. You can choose five pairs, try them for a few days at home, and then keep the pair you like. Genius! 

Long Island Photos (2)

On Saturday morning, boy hit the links while I slept in and enjoyed copious amounts of coffee over conversation with his cousin. Fascinatingly enough, the 6am wake up on Saturday mornings does not seem to bother him if the golf course is his destination. After his return, we took the North Ferry to Shelter Island for lunch and the chance to put our toes in the sand. We dined at the Sunset Beach restaurant; very "shi shi", but an experience nonetheless. The evening closed with a friend's birthday celebration and midnight cocktails on the back deck; a lovely way to end the weekend. Patricia, thank you for a wonderful time!     

Long Island Photos (1)

Long Island was a wonderful weekend getaway; have you ever been? Heading out on Thursday evening, we decided to break up the drive with a stop in New Jersey to see Philip’s sister and her husband. With an arrival time of 10pm, you really have no choice but to drink whisky cocktails at an Irish pub with an open mic trilling behind you. We had a great time; thanks Kathleen and Lane for letting us crash!

Highway to Love

We had a lovely weekend away; photos coming soon. But in the meantime, this magnet found by boy completely exemplifies my love for him. Road trips are such a true testament of a relationship's solidity. The collective 14 hour drive to and from Long Island was immersed in wrong turns, accusing shouts, misunderstandings, then followed  by murmured apologies and laughing at the ridiculousness. The moments in between were made of off-key singing, reading to one another, mutually needed coffee breaks and continuing to learn about and from each other.

More photos coming soon . . .

A Long Island Weekend

Philip and I are heading to Long Island tonight for a long weekend at a family beach house. I am so looking forward to getting away and to a new place, no less. Here are some things I'm packing and looking forward to over the weekend . . .

(1) My guilty pleasure reading on flights and beach getaways is always Vogue; how about you? (2) I just picked up a 70's inspired crochet beach cover-up similar to the above from TopShop (3) I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I love Bobbi Brown's beach body oil; it's perfect for a weekend on the shore. (4) I was unable to find a photo that exemplified gumption, because that's what I need to pull off my new suit via Haute Look (5) Are Long Island Iced Teas hip to drink in Long Island? I hope so. 

P.S. Summer Must (1), (2) and (3). 

America

How was your 4th of July? Mine was oh so lovely. I presumed I would be thrown off by the random vacation day smack dab in the middle of the week, but it turned out to be grand. I spent my morning and early afternoon with time at the gym (which never happens!), flipped through magazines and indulged in a little holiday-deal shopping. In the evening, boy and I headed to the home of my childhood friend, Courtney and her husband Joe and their lovable golden retriever, Piper. Some quick snapshots below, however I'm afraid they are not very patriotic, sans red, white and blue, fireworks and sparklers. To make up for my lack of all American posting, check out links to some of my favorite bloggers' 4th of July posts.


*happy birthday July by HipHipGinGin 

*photos of a 4th of July weekend in Washington D.C. by rockstar diaries 

*nothing more American than the best apple pie you'll ever have (with Caramel) from Cup of Jo 

*the uniform: American summer from Tomboy Style

O brother

Did you know I have a brother? Did you, all my avid blog readers out there? Which, let's be honest, most likely consists of three friends that are too sweet to not read. Well, I do have a brother; actually, two older brothers on either side of my older sister Meg, who brings my readership up to four. Siblings are such a funny thing; aren't they? You spend almost 18 years with these people, doing everything and going everywhere together, and then poof, one sibling spreads their wings, leaves the coop and then you really have to work on that friendship. Brandon (or affectionately known as Bub or Bubby) and I have had our years of waning closeness, our share of misunderstandings and miles and miles between us, but we have also had some really great moments. As adults, I feel as though sometimes, we're re- learning each other all over again. 

He visited this past weekend, and we caught up on life over a late night plate of Johnny Rockets' burgers, fries and of course, cherry cokes. 

Mr Dylan Thomas pretty much sums up siblings, “it snowed last year too: I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea."

A-Z of Unusual Words

Check out these interpretations of unusual words by the Project Twins. I wish I would have had something like this when I was studying for the GRE years ago- oy. How about a fanfaronade? Swaggering; empty boasting; blustering manner or behavior; ostentatious display. In my city, fanfaronades are in ample supply.

P.S. How about tarantism or pogonotrophy? 

Busy Busy

(photo via) 

My morning reading led me to the article The 'Busy' Trap today, and I could not stop nodding and amen-ing in between sips of coffee. In a city hustling and bustling as Washington D.C., it is so easy to fall into the 'busy trap', or you 'll end up feeling lousy if you're not an exclusive member of the "oh, I'll have to check my calendar" club.  As Mr. Kreider puts it,  your life cannot be 'silly or trivial' if you're always listing off your numerous to-dos and responsibilities followed by an exhale of exhaustion. It's just more cool to be busy, right?