you can take the girl out of jersey...

Fun Fact: My mother's family came to New Jersey in the 1670s. My mother is a ninth-generation Jersey Girl, and my siblings and I would have been 10th generation had my parents started out there. My mom spent her summers at the Jersey Shore, and we cringe whenever she mentions that to others. Their summers were quaint refreshing seaside times, rather than....yeah. While she was here I forced her to watch Real Housewives of New Jersey with me, so she could "see what's being put out there" (aka: I could get my guilty pleasure fix). The hair terrified her.

re-cap.

Spring is the eternally busy season....my mom just left after a 5 day visit, coming down for a business meeting, my little brother's 18th birthday, and his senior class banquet. I spent the last week and half frantically organzing a guest list of 20 seniors via facebook messages..although I don't love facebook, it was super useful for contacting people. I love when my mom comes because she does things like revive 3 dead plants I have (I really don't like caring for plants...I have a total black thumb), fill my fridge with groceries, and remove stuborn stains from the bathtub.

Of course for the party decor we had to go to Party City, one of my kitschiest happy places. My brother is now in Hawaii for a week studying Pearl Harbor for his senior project, hence the cheesy but amazing Hawaiian theme.

I am larger,

better than

I thought. I did

not know I held so

much goodness.

-Walt Whitman

I got the strongest urge today for summer to come.

(via)

Wahooo!!!

St. Louis is featured today with a City Guide on Design*Sponge!!

I've lived in St. Louis for almost 3 years now. I was super hesitant to leave my home state and only came for a fantastic job offer that wasn't available in a struggling economy in Michigan. It took a little while, as it does with any new place, but I was just thinking the other day how I feel like I can call St. Louis home. So glad to see this amazing city guide today - some of these places I've explored, but many I haven't - this should keep me busy for awhile!

Pretty Mama

Happy Mother's Day.

sweet pup in late afternoon light

My own paltry hat collection...certainly won't compare to the gorgeous hats at the royal wedding! But I love hats and have a few staples....I wish men still wore fedoras (I bought one for my brother last Christmas to wear to church).

The bottom blue is my favorite sunhat...perfect for the beach in summer. The next hat I got at dry goods store in Memphis...I love it and it's great in the summer too. The red hat is warmer...good with a peacoat in the winter. The top two I haven't found as much use for...the top, in fact, was an etsy purchase on a whim...it's really not functional for anything. 'Cept dressup.

I'm generally not a fan of facebook "repost" statuses

But I loved this one. So I posted it here instead :)

My curfew was the street lights, my mom didn't call my cell, she called my name, I played outside with friends, not online. If I didn't eat what my mom cooked, I didn't eat. Sanitizer didn't exist, but you COULD get your mouth washed out with soap. I rode a bike without a helmet, getting dirty...was okay, and neighbors gave a damn as much as your parents did. Repost if you drank water from a garden hose and survived.

Hipster Dads

Dads truly are the original hipsters, although this tumblr was a little underwhelming. Some funny photos though.

P.S....crazy storms and tornadoes last night in Saint Louis - the airport is closed indefinitely! So grateful that there were no serious injuries...thanks to sweet friends who called to see if I was alright after watching the news :-) This is the third time I've had to take shelter this spring and it's getting old....

walkin' in Memphis, take 2

This weekend I had the opportunity to help chaperone a high school trip to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. It was my second time there (my first being my spontaneous, splurgy Memphis trip last year) and it was even better the second time around. The students were rightfully blown away at the stories of those who fought against such injustice...really it's something every American should see....obviously that's not possible, so I'll begin my little crusade to have all the juniors at the school (those taking US History) go.

Our tight schedule didn't allow for much sightseeing (no ducks this time) but we did get to walk around Beale Street for a little while and treated the students to friend green tomatoes, friend pickles, and chicken wings from here:

Even though I've been to Memphis twice now, they've both been short trips and it only makes me want to return for a longer period of time to soak up more Southern charm, history, and amazing food!

Aqua Notes

Holy Moly!! Aqua Notes!! This was meant for people like me - I do some of my best thinking in the shower!! found @ blackeiffel

shabd

As a 12-year veteran of summer camp, tie dye and crafty things like that make me happy. I love these handmade pieces (spotted at jo) that go beyond the classic neon t-shirt swirl design. Too bad they're beacoup bucks. Here

p.s. @ scarf model: smile. just a little.

well that was awesome

Last night I had the honor of watching my little brother and his wonderful classmates perform this. My brother, specifically, is Professor Harold Hill - a role he's dreamed of since he was 5. It was outstanding...few high schoolers I know are so commited and talented. Can't wait to see it again tonight, and tomorrow night....this weekend is so full of family, and friends, and good...

Surprise Potluck

This Sunday was my turn to host for my book club. Usually we decide ahead of time what people will make (last time we had an Italian feast, since we read a book about Italian cooking), but this time I told people just to bring whatever they wanted and not say ahead of time. I was a little worried we would get all desserts since they are such an easy go-to, but we had an amazing variety - including the person who brought over homemade waffle batter and her waffle iron! Fruit salsa and cinnamon chips, bruschetta, muffins, japanese rice cakes, a fruit parfait....my last minute purchase of trader joe's cookies did not even need to make an appearance!

forgive the non-artsy photos....nighttime+florescent kitchen lighting+hosting duties meant I wasn't playing around with manual settings!

It hit 85 degrees in St Louis today

no big deal.

K. Cop

Best movie quote ever? Certainly Top 10. I forgot how amazingly funny Ahhnold's "accent" makes everything sound in this movie. Thanks, random HBO channel.

so much for that

the great vacation blogging aspirations. gone, along with the vacation. i blame the snow. a 12 inch snowstorm in late march will take the wind out of anyone's sails....but i can't totally blame that. for whatever reason my vacation productivity was at a low this break...but springtime pursuits will be at an alltime high. the next 10 weeks should be a whirlwind indeed.

photo

the long and winding post

This gorgeous amaryllis bulb is blooming in my mom's kitchen. Watching the progression of it every day (each shot = one day; last shot = today) has been the sole spring-like highlight of otherwise unspringlike weather. It has been in the 60s and 70s in Saint Louis; 30s and wet here. Melting snow, mucky mud, bare trees and gray gray gray gray skies everywhere. Remind me consistently to have a spring break coin jar throughout the year, so that I can go somewhere else. As much as I love Michigan, February and March are probably the least tolerable months of the year. It makes me so lethargic - yesterday my brother and sister in law spent about 5 hours straight watching Lost, and I spent about 5 hours watching a Harry Potter marathon on abc family. On the bright side, I reconfirmed that Goblet of Fire is my least favorite plot, and Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire are my least favorite movies. I love Order of the Phoenix a lot more than I remember. Blahhhhh.