so that happened.

so. things have been quiet around here, huh?  i'm a bad blogger, but i've been doing a pretty good job with the living part.  this has been the most busy summer in years, and i'm loving it. i've actually been doing things and enjoying things, and it feels really good.  

i intended to blog about every single one of these things, but in the spirit of catching up, i'm going to just dump it all here. i may go into more detail later on, maybe not, but here's what i've been up to this summer.

my mom turned 60 and we went to the zoo. we did this adventure ropes/zip line course, and it kicked our butt. but we kicked it's butt too, so it's all good. everyone's butts were kicked.

i got married!

 

it was a small ceremony with a few family members, lunch at olive garden, and cake back at our house.

and it was great - a very very nice day.

 we went to nags head in the outer banks for two days our "mini-moon." 
(we're going to disneyworld in the fall for our honeymoon.) we got upgraded to an oceanfront balcony,
ate lots of good seafood, and even a rainy morning didn't dampen our spirits.)

we spent a lovely evening eating and cuddling under the aptly named Honey Moon.

we left nags head and headed to carrboro, nc to see First Aid Kit at cat's cradle.

they. were. amazing.  i was astounded by how good they were. 

and then i kind of got obsessed for about a month. (they're coming back in the fall..

and we pretty much planned our honeymoon around their tour. haha.)

Johanna and Klara

i also got obsessed with the whole gold thing they had going on. (their new album is called Stay Gold.)

especially the shoes... i had a front row seat to these shows, and i couldn't stop thinking about them. 
i had gold shoes on the brain, found johanna's shoes on amazon for a song (and i had a gift card) and now they are mine to be on my feet whenever i like.

FAK's instagram

i took them to work to show mah ladies.

  spacehog came to town, and rock was had. i was so stoked they were in my actual town, 15 minutes from my house, that i wasn't even mad they only got to play 5 songs. (it was a 4-band show and they were the low band on the totem pole.)  and there was even an upside to the short early evening set... we were home in time to eat chipotle in front of the tv! haha... (we watched some eve 6 too.. i felt simultaneously ancient and a teen again.)

Jonny Cragg and Royston Langdon

mark had to work, but i got us some sparklers and those bomb snap things you throw on the street.

the next day i also bleached my tips, relaxed at a local park, went to the library, made smores (ok, one smore) in the backyard, and picked mark up after work for a stargazing country drive.

the next weekend we drove down to the jamestown area (across the river from there) to this state park pool we like.  it's huge and never crowded.  the drive down through the country is so relaxing and sweet.

it's never a bad time for L.M.M.

we also get to ride the ferry on the way back.

Jamestown ships reproductions

i took off a few days this week.. wednesday through friday.

first up, old 97s. in town!  so yeah, my two favorite bands came to town this summer, no big deal.
(squeeeeeee!!!!)

wednesday, we drove up to charlottesville to see this english band mark likes, The Clientele.
they have a very laid-back 60s pop sound, but very shoegaze-y.

i amused myself before and after the opener (Borrowed Beams of Light - not bad) taking selfies in the stage lights.  i really like the Southern (venue). it's pretty much a basement, but with paper lanterns, lots of places to sit, and a low stage. we saw Rhett Miller there in april and it was fabulous.

i kept trying to sneak photos of mark. he wasn't terribly amused.. haha.

thursday, my heart was conflicted between staying home, saving money, and not driving to BFE, or driving to BFE, spending lots of money, and seeing Beck. with Jason Falkner on guitar, whom we happen to love big time. but man, it was up near Baltimore, and i didn't know if i was up for it.

so we went.

these are the faces of people who are just happy to effing be there already. mark's is the face of one who is finally getting sustenance (in the form of panera), and mine is the face of just paying $75 a seat because she just drove 3 hours and spent another almost hour trying to get cash and food, and honey badger does not give ANY effs.

Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger opened, whom i was looking forward to, but they didn't play anything off their first album (that i heard - we were a little late).  our seats were flipping fabulous though, and worth every penny.

the photos we have don't do them justice - they actually looked closer than this IRL.

i'm not the biggest Beck fan, or really a fan at all, i guess.  i liked his singles, but don't have any of his stuff myself, so i feel i can't really call myself a fan. i had a slightly holy experience on Manteo island that rainy morning on our honeymoon, driving around listening to his new album, Morning Phase, while mark napped in the passenger seat, and it really stuck with me. it's just a really, really good album. 

but let me tell you. Beck puts on a Show. it was really fun and entertaining, and he's so energetic, and funny!  who knew.  i would definitely, definitely see him again.  and it was especially fun to see Jason play again, even if it was only as support. and we didn't get to see him after, like a bunch of other people on facebook are posting about (disappoint!) but i'm glad we went up for the show. (even if we did get home at like, 3.  effing DC traffic, snarling up the roads at 1 in the morning.  *siiiigh*)

***

so i guess that's it.  i'm sure i'm forgetting something, but that's pretty good for two months, right?  especially two of my months, as i'm usually a lazy couch potato/sloth creature. it's a new me, people! 

here's to more summer adventures, and time to write about them all!

Shirleys

wow, i've been m.i.a. for over a month? what have i been doing?  a whole lot of nothing much.. just workin' for the weekend and then sleeping in.  i bought some toilet paper today, so that was pretty exciting.  i think the weather has been keeping the man down, the man being me.  it's been harshing my mellow.

i did get a little time to chill outside today, and i relaxed, started reading Divergent (again), and took some photos of one of my favorite neighbors.  Shirley. Shirley the squirrel.

i know some people think they're tree rats, but i happen to love squirrels.  with their fuzzy little flicking tails, pouncing in the grass.  they're just so cute!  growing up in so cal, i didn't see a lot of squirrels.  actually, i don't think i saw any.  when i visited mark here for the first time in 2000, i couldn't get enough of them; i'd literally squee every time i saw them hopping around in his backyard.  one time i saw one running along a telephone wire and could hear a little cartoon "dinka dinka dink" in my head.

i've gotten pretty used to squirrels in my almost 8 years of living here, but i do enjoy my yard squirrels. since they all look identical i've nicknamed them all Shirley, and will call them as such as i walk to and from my car.  they like it, i can tell.  so here's some photos of Shirley for your enjoyment.

i might have thrown her some granola bits i had in my car.

i'm thinking those teats mean she has babies?  cute squirrel babies?

at one point she chased another squirrel up the tree and onto and over my roof. 
i am assuming the one that came back is the same Shirley.

Shirley checks out my porch.  Nothin much there, Shirley.

so cute!

 

also, and i cannot stress this enough, these are excellent:

peace out.

what's in the purrrrrse?

you read that title in brad pitt's seven voice, right?  because that's pretty much all i hear when someone asks me anything starting with "what's in the.."  i promise i don't have any heads in here though.

i've seen these posts since the dawn of time/blogging, and never done one.  but i'm remedying that fact tonight, and i can just imagine the cheering from the blogosphere.  (sounds just like crickets! *grin*)

ya'll know i like to keep it real,so these are all the items in my purse at the moment. no fair leaving all the cute things and putting the tampons to the side.  so now, i give you... my purse.  live and unadulterated...

thar she blows!

so yeah. i have a dumb phone which i use on the regular (can't afford the data fees on an iphone), an iphone (for music/photos/apps/wifi uses), and an itouch (an old one for extra music).  iphone earbuds which i only just realized a couple of months ago that i can control my music from, and it is awesome.

i also have about 37 lip products (ok, only 11) which multiply like rabbits as i tend to clear them all out then put them back one by one as i'm going off to work on any particular day.

pacifica lotion, perfume roll-on and solid perfume in tuscan blood orange, because yum and this is my winter/cold scent. perhaps some sharp eyes will note the clearance sticker on the lotion because $2 at marshall's will not be denied.

coupon case, wallet, checkbook (rent) and pen, harajuku lovers mini notebook (for my lists and musings) and harajuku lovers mirror.  the mirror is reflecting my pink puffed dots pajama pants.  i'm comfy like a baby!

drugstore, including pills, emergency tampons (i like the instead softcup, for the record), hair clip.

odds and ends include a guitar pick (not sure why i have that or where it came from), a penny that fell out of my wallet, and a clear button.  which i think came off my pants and work and i've yet to put back on.   gum which i am addicted too, but oddly mostly only at work. i frustrate chew. trident layers is the bomb, as we used to say in my day. i like the cherry/lime the best but this candy cane one is good too.

it would have been cute if my aligning their bottoms had actually done that.

my one guilty pop culture pleasure.

oh, and the purse is by roxy.  i'll have to remember to do a post about the other lives i would have led if i'd had multiple chances.  one of them is surfer girl. (i might have made mark go with me and my mom on my 22nd birthday to see blue crush.)

your turn!  what's in your purse?  (and no fair editing!)

world market "window" shopping

i saw some tasty jewelry at world market last week, and if i were a rich girl i'd have given my wallet a workout.  i don't think i'd ever fawned over the jewelry section there for quite as long.  i took one photo of something i liked, and then i ended up just keeping it out because i kept seeing more beautiful goodies.  i'm trying to save up and pay off at the moment, so i didn't get anything, but i was sorely tempted.

i love these wrap watches, and the spring sorbet colors.  they had a dark teal
one on clearance for half-price, but i just couldn't pull the trigger on that one.

this delicate linked ring is interesting.  but the only finger it fits on is (as ichie crane would say) "espoused to another."
and p.s. what can i use on my dry dry cuticles and dry finger tips???

if i'd bought anything it would probably have been this one.  i really like old brass patina, even if it's faked.

i just love coral and aqua/mint. i don't really have any chunky necklaces, but i could happily own any or all of these.

normally yellow would be my first choice, but this lemon drop-colored stone is just so pretty.

i make my own fun.

and now for a few extra-curricular photos:

this deer print scarf is dear. but i'd take out the stiff posable wire inside.

what a sweet bird ring or necklace holder.

i have a sort of love/scorn relationship with the mason jar popularity, but i do like this lamp base.

these tin containers were really reasonably priced (under $10?).  i would totally use these in the bathroom.

we don't have a bar (i drink liquor maybe up to 3 times a year, mark never, and have company about as often)
but i would totally use this deer head as kick-ass necklace display.

and for your convenience, i've linked to some of the above, or similar.

World Market Jewelry

week in review - january week 5

1.  looked at a lot of shoes online...

Shoe Blues

...to go with this dress:

Adrift on a Cloud Dress

2.  mark joined me for lunch one day...

... and we had panera.. yummers.  i've been ordering the fontina grilled cheese and tomato soup on the regular, but the sandwich needs a touch more flavor.  i usually salt it.  next time i go i'm going to see if the big kid grilled cheese is still on offer.. that one has bacon and a different mix of cheeses.  the soup is delicious and tastes almost like a tomato sauce with a hint of red pepper than your usual creamy soup.


3.  returned some stuff to target...

Minty

and re-bought them online during their 2-day 20% off sale.  hooray!

4.  discovered a new favorite on netflix:

he's kind of a genius. mark and i cracked up so many times watching this.  and with his neuroses, attitude, and ways of thinking, could be a long lost relative of either mark or me. or both.  (i don't think we're related, but you never know.)  i'm so glad we have more episodes to watch.


5. watched a cute movie...

...while writing this post.  i didn't expect it to be so cute and entertaining, but it was worth watching.  i'm a little confused about how they got away from the [spoiler], but i'm not gonna think too hard about a kid's movie.


6.  finished one book...

...and started another.

i've read the first maybe 7 or 8 times, but i think i've only read the second once.  which is nice for a change.  (i'm a voracious re-reader.. i like what i like.  and you can't always get to the library at 11 pm, you know?)


7. had my shoe size beliefs challenged..

i'm still not sure how i fit my size 10s into these blowfish size 7s, but it's cool.  they were on clearance for $5 and i almost bought them just on principle, but they really were too uncomfortable to wear for doing.. anything. 


8.  picked up some fun tweezerman harajuku lovers items..

i have some of the emery boards, but at $2 a pop it's hard not to take advantage and stock up.  (i also have some full-size ones, which i like, and some mini tweezers, which are amazing.  seriously.. tweezerman.. buy them.)

 9. observed wildlife in it's natural habitat...

(i did that vertical filming thing.. i'm sorry.  so shame. much apologies.)

wish i had had my real camera!

the median of a side street i commute home through.. this little guy (my mom studied ornithology and between that and the internet, we decided it's probably an immature cooper's hawk) didn't give two hoots i was filming him from the car 4 feet away.  (hoots.  haha.)  he was too busy picking at his (what i assumed were) varmint vittles.

10.  snow day
 

ugh.  i should have thought this list out better; i wouldn't have ended with this one.  i used to love snow.  being in so cal i'd only get it when i'd go to albuquerque for the xmas holidays or when we'd go up to big bear to ski.  now that i've had to live with it for a few years, i'm totally over it.  it's pretty when it's falling.  and i'm at home snugged up on the couch.  and that's about it. 

this was pretty much my drive into work.

i kid.. it wasn't too bad except on my street.  i slid a little going into work.  but i was a little annoyed that work didn't delay opening or at least let us wear jeans.  c'est la vie.

they're predicting more for next week.

i say no.


what did everyone else do this week?