First Installment of Boston Re-Cap

Hey People!

I'm back from a fantastic weekend in Boston. Here is the first pic from the extravaganza: Us ladies with the two Yip Yips (from Sesame Street) that we met on the way to The Place (Boston's Michigan bar) to watch them unfortunately lose (Go Blue!) to Penn State.

Halloweeeeen!

So as you all may or may not know (depending on how often we talk or you check my Facebook), I am using a voucher from United Airlines and heading to Boston for this upcoming Halloween weekend to meet JP and Molly (my Michigan gals). It's a much needed trip as I am feeling a little deprived of the girl talk. But, we're stuck: we are in need of a genius group costume for the three of us! Any ideas?

So far, this is what we've come up with...

Ron, Harry, and Hermione

Witches from Hocus Pocus

Birds of a Feather (Who Flock Together)

Cali-fun-ia

Yes, I am a (Northern) California native. I was born there. My sister was born there. My mom, my grandma, my great grandmother were born there. Her family was born in the Sierra Nevadas, I've seen the family plot. My grandfather's family came to CA during the Dust Bowl of the 1920s/30s. We have long established roots there. I'm very proud of it. I love the landscape, I love the culture, I love the food :) But I don't always love the people. And I think this pretty much sums up why. Thanks to my newly-made Californian friend Jordan for sending it along. I know that she and her boyfriend have not and WILL NOT turn into annoying center-of-the-universe Californians... but instead stay the progressive San Franciscans with modest Midwestern hearts that they are.

Lookin' for a Good Deal?

Hmm...so now that my birthday has passed, it means that someone's isn't too fary away. I spotted this record player online and am hoping to get some in-put. It's pretty basic, but hooks up to a computer to convert songs in Mp3s which is really what we're after. And for only $71.95 and free shipping, I think it's a pretty good deal, right?

I am 22 today

Yep, pretty hard to believe! Friday night, after a long (but great!) day of class, I met Mark in Elmhurst and his parents treated us to a delicious meal at Kona Grill. Saturday, after picking up Mark a new pair of shoes, we watched the Hawkeyes beat the Blue and Maize (although we struggled a little in that last quarter!).We then took the train into the city and dined at The Purple Pig. It is a tapas style restaurant with an amazing cheese and wine selection (their slogan: Cheese, Wine, and Swine). We had to wait about an hour and a half to get a table, but I think we would both agree that it was worth it. We ordered three plates: pork blade, chorizo stuffed olives with a garlic sauce, and bone marrow crustinis. It was incredible, and the perfect amount, and we both agreed that the bone marrow was our fave.

After two and a half days of intense birthday stuff, today (my actual birthday) was pretty quiet. I stopped at Old Navy this morning and picked up these items, the total being under $25!

Then I came home, checked my Facebook salutations (I was curious to see what would be the outcome considering that I don't have a "wall"), ate some lunch, and then decided to head up to Lincoln Park to try Sweet Mandy B's. The line was long, at least 20 people, but it moved fast. And oh my goodness, was it worth it. Since I had red velvet cake on Friday (which is my favorite), I decided to go with something a little more adventurous and I ordered the almond cake with chocolate frosting and a cup of coffee. It was so delicious, but the cake was too crumbly (not very cohesive). I then walked around a bit and stumbled across a sampl sale store called Thread Lounge. They have two outposts in San Francisco as well, with pop-ups all over the country, and they had great things from Tory Burch, Milly, and others. If I find a cheaper place to live, I'll definitely start shopping there :)

Best Birfday Present Evahhh

So I’m not really the mushy-gushy type, especially publicly (like I will bawl my eyes out watching Titanic…but I don’t advertise it). But, I had to write something about this: today, at approximately 2:20pm Central Standard Time, I received the best birthday present from a pretty amazing boy. To avoid an overdose of saccharin, I will refrain from elaborating. But ahhh…sometimes it’s nice to be reminded of how sweet life is.

Go Hawks!

We are NOT all in for Michigan...unless Jordan or Molly are reading this in which case, I'm always in for Big Blue :) The Hawks will be challenging the Wolverines this Saturday in Ann Arbor and considering that it is my birthday weekend, I have a feeling we'll be watching intently with a case of beer and (hopefully) some snacks (mmm...maybe some cheesy bread from Mrs. S...).

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WHO BLOGS ABOUT THEIR DOGS. HOW LAME!

Run Chicago Run

I hate to admit it, but I'm at a Starbucks (more like Star-LOTS OF-bucks) on Wabash and Jackson sitting on the patio with my $3.05 coffee drink. A young Indian guy just asked me to look up directions for Basil Leaf Cafe. He is supposed me meet some friends there to celebrate his completion of today's Chicago Marathon, sponsored by my beloved Bank of America. The marathon attracts up to 45,000 runners the Kansas City Star cites. NBC Chicago claims one ran barefoot. And after checking out a map of the course provided by the marathon's website, the course looks nothing short of daunting. Runners kind of annoy me (I dunno...they posses some runner thing that I don't have--maybe it's resentment or jealousy). But no amount of Nike/Asics/Saucony inside-edition type mentality can taint the fact that the feat they accomplished today is nothing short of astounding. So my hats off to you 45000.

Bekah Garrison

For Today's (or really it's night time now) post, I am featuring the photography work of a friend of mine named Bekah Garrison. Bekah and I met when I was 14 at my first job at a (kinda crappy) bakery in Des Moines. From our khaki pant uniforms to becoming independent young women, I've watched Bekah's photography grow and morph (she was a year older than me in school and I would watch her work on the walls of photography class). Below are a few excerpts of our conversation, and below is some work that Bekah was kind enough to let me share with you here.

I've attached 3 photographs....my favorites change all of the time. The first is of the downtown sculpture in the sculpture garden. It was taken in the evening during 80/35. I love the lighting in this photo, the clouds, the people on the hill, the slight reflection on the sculpture. That sculpture is sort of a staple for Downtown Des Moines. I've already printed it to take with me when I move...so I always have a favorite place of mine with me.

 

The second is a photo I took quite a while ago. I love this photo for several reasons. First, is that I have a love affair with black and white photography. I will always be on a quest to find the perfect lighting for BW photography. Second, this photo comes from a series I named Green Chair Project. The chair was my grandmothers, and after she passed away I started a project of photographing it around Des Moines. This was in the dead of winter on the railroad tracks downtown.

 

The third photo is of a plant outside my house in Hawai'i. I love the LIFE in this photo. The dew, the light shining on the plant, the greenery. So lush! It was the first place I have lived outside of the state, so it brings back great memories of the house.

I suppose I always knew I wanted to pursue some area of photography, I just hadn't gotten a feel for if I wanted to do it professionally or recreationally. This past summer I have been working as a Photography Assistant at Meredith. To be around like-minded people - all passionate about photography - really gave me the extra boost I apparently needed to kick things off. I'm working on my first website currently, and I hope to have in underway before I move back to Hawai'i. 

I have been quite surprised by how open people are to having a younger photographer be in charge of capturing their wedding day, their newborn's first photos, senior pictures, or any special moment in their lives. I feel people are more willing to embrace a younger generations view point, and actually are looking for something different. 

Now that I have become more committed to building a website and getting my work out, a lot of my time has been taken up. I have shoots lined up pretty much every week until I leave, so unfortunately my friends are taking a bit of a backseat. Considering I am self taught, I do feel this is my "college time". I never had those late night study sessions, or week long paper binges, so perhaps this is my time to work my arse off a bit :) 

THANK YOU BEKAH!! So great to see alternate paths that other 20-Somethings are taking in this topsy-turvy world. I do not have a link to her website yet, but you can find her on Facebook here.

Sick of Being Late

My boss Lisa (great lady--find her on LinkedIn) sent me a great article published today in the Wall Street Journal about how cell phones (and CrackBerries and iPhones and . . . ) have somehow made it excusable for us to always be late. Specifically, with mobile phones, wireless internet, and emails, we can easily inform anyone (a friend, boss, potential friend or boss . . . ) that we are running late. And this seems to pardon the fault. And so what we're left with is a culture always behind schedule who is not paying attention to those human relationships that deserve the respect of an on-time rendez-vous. Those people you're always delaying? Well, they might start to get ticked that you can't even see them when you say you will.

This article spoke to me on a lot of levels. But I thought it was particularly interesting in that it relates to something my dad always says to me: in an age where we are all so connected, we've inadvertently distanced ourselves from everyone, especially those closest. So even if it's not that you're always emailing your girlfriend letting her know you will once again be late for your coffee date, maybe it's a LinkedIn message to a potential client asking to reschedule or a text to your boyfriend when you really can't talk on the phone because you're on the train. So my challenge to you: go retro and do communications the old-fashion way. Make a plan, write it down, and follow-thru. Don't back out at the last minute. Not for coffee, not for a first date, and not for that important meeting that could land your pitch a win.

Moozic

My dad sent this link to me. It's a recording of Tyrone Davis' Turn Back the Hand of Time. He said that it would be great for a sultry night of lounging around with others. I'm thinking I'll have to add it to the ubiquitous birthday iTunes mix that I shall now begin preparing for myself.