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Sound intriguing? Or just plain gross? These are things I saw in Seattle. On Saturday Peach and I went to Northwest Folklife Festival. Folklife is this huge free festival held annually down near the Space Needle. They have a ton of live music, vendors, crafts, and hippies. The weather was perfect – sunny and mid 70s. About 5 minutes after we walked in, Peach pointed out a “honey bucket” to me:
“PLT, is that a porta-potty?” Why yes, yes it is. In Georgia I’ve heard them called Porta-Pottys, Porta-lets, Porta-Johns, even Johnny-On-the-Spots, but honey bucket? I laughed for 5 minutes, but really it was because if I think too long about the naming convention used here I want to vom.
I know what you’re thinking: “Great, can’t wait for the dingleberry explanation.”
Actually Dingleberries (in this sense) are quite good! You get to pick the fruit you want and then what chocolate you’d like to coat them with (milk, dark or white). They even had cute names like the “Hallie Berry” and the “Berry White”.
Aside from the honey buckets and dingleberries, the rest of the festival was very cool…and by very cool I mean very good people watching. Men in leggings, men in fairy wings, boys with a cardboard sign selling hemp cookies. Music everywhere. Except for a few clausterphobic/cluster fuck moments, a great time was had by all.
This kid is so cute! (Who cares if he looks terrbily sad since his dad is clearly just using him to earn a buck. Just kidding..sort of!)
Shake what your mama gave you! There were multiple vendors selling the belly dancing skirts that made noise when you shook. I kind of wish I had gotten one now 
Very fun accessory.
Kids (and adults) enjoying the fountain!
It’s not the kissing couple that should capture your attention. Hint, it’s the man in the leopard print blue leggings with suspenders.
I took some video of all these kids playing percussion instruments that I wanted to show here but the type in compatible w/ what WordPress will accept and I’m too tired/lazy/technically un-inclined to figure it out right now. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have more luck.
More Seattle recap to come. I’m blocked from WordPress again at work which right now is probably a good thing since I need to get back up to speed. Later, Darlings!
Back in Atlanta after a tumultous (read: hungover) morning. My flight left Seattle at 7 am Pacific time which means I had to get up at 5 am. I went to bed at 2:30 after my last hurrah in Seattle. Once I got home I took a 4 hour nap on the couch which explains why I can’t fall sleep now. A recap of my trip and photos to come…but I did want to share a very new music obsession of mine that I just acquired today. The plane had 90 something XM channels and I heard this song by Griffin House and was immediately enchanted. Turns out he’s quite a looker as well. I’m a fan…clearly!
Enjoy! The is “The Guy That Says Goodbye To You Is Out Of His Mind“. How can that title not make a girl feel damn good?!??! *swoon*
Check out some more of his other tunes & videos on his myspace page here.
Hello from Seattle! My friend Peach works at MicroSoft so today I ate lunch with her and some of her co-workers, got a tour of the campus, visited the company store and vistor center and now am chilling in the lobby while she’s in a meeting. After she’s done we are off to Greenlake. Until then, I figured I’d catch up on some book reports. Since I read these books a few weeks ago and my memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be, these will probably be pretty short 
First up: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Story Overview:
Two lives intertwine as a result of a book written in pre-war Poland. Alma is a thirteen year old girl living with her widowed mother and younger brother Bird (who thinks he’s the Messiah) in New York. She was named after the main character in a book called “The History of Love”.
Meanwhile, octogenarian Leo Gursky is also living in NYC doing his darndest to be seen. He willing spills his coffee at Starbucks or talks loudly in the middle of a movie theatre so that he is noticed. Leo is a locksmith by trade, but a writer in his heart. He came to the US in search of his high school love only to find her taken.
These two both have inordinate sadness in their lives and are struggling with how to get to a point where they can be happy. This struggle connects these two strangers…
Would I recommend it? Why/Why not?
Yes, so long as you don’t mind unconventional writing styles (4 sentences on the middle of one page. One word sentences like “But.”). The whole time I was reading this book it reminded me very much of Jonathan Safron Foer’s writing. I discovered in my research afterwards that Nicole is his wife! This was cool to find out, but it also kind of bothered me some since the style and story set up themes are so very similar (Jewish, New York, an old characater and a young character, WWII survivor, etc). But if you enjoyed “Everything is Illuminated” and/or “Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud”, then I think you’d enjoy this book as well. There is one aspect of the book that was a bit hard to comprehend and I found myself going back to check certain passages. In my research, I found that this aspect pissed off some of the readers, but I wasn’t too terribly bothered by it.
What I took away:
Nothing I can recall! I just enjoyed that it was a beautifully written and sometimes heartbreaking story. Maybe just a reminder that everyone wants to be noticed.
Book #2:
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Story Overview:
Jacob is at the end of vet school when an accident changes his pre-determined life plan. Running away from school he randomly hops a train only to discover he picked a circus train. Through a happy accident he gets the job of circus vet and meets a myriad of characters – both human and animal, deranged and normal, sweet and ill-tempered.
The story is told in two point of views – both Jacob’s, but one as a 23 year old and one as a 90 year old living in a retirement home.
Would I recommend it? Why/Why not?
Absolutely! I loved this book. While the ending was not exactly feasible/realistic in my humble opinion, the book was intriguing. The author definitely spent a lot of time researching circuses (esp. in the time of the Great Depression). The corruption and treatment of people and animals in that time period is truly interesting (though sometimes hard to read about).
What I took away:
It’s called the high road for a reason – not everyone can take it. Though I wouldn’t classify this a “moral compass” book, there are passages of doing the right thing when stuck between a rock and hard place.
Up next:
I am almost done with Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. This book is about the World’s Fair in Chicago in the late 1800s. At the same time the fair was being created, a serial killer was on the loose. This book is definitely very interesting, but I have a block against non-fiction so it’s taken me awhile to get through it.
I am almost done with Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. This book is about the World’s Fair in Chicago in the late 1800s. At the same time the fair was being created, a serial killer was on the loose. This book is definitely very interesting, but I have a block against non-fiction so it’s taken me awhile to get through it.
On the plane yesterday I read “Girls in Trucks” by Katie Crouch from cover to cover. I’m not going to report on it as it’s the closest to chic lit I’ve read in a good long while, but I did enjoy it. Definitely a good plane or beach read. Especially if you’re a southern girl
Where did last week go?!?!?
I have been so busy at work trying to make sure I have everything wrapped up in a prettly little bow before I leave for my trip tomorrow! I am so excited I can hardly sit still. But a lot has gone on since my last entry.
- I ran my 5k on August 9th. I finished in 30 mins and 18 secs (or so I think – they still haven’t posted the damn results)! This is about 30 seconds slower than my last run, but this course had a lot more hills. Steep hills at that. And there were over 13,000 people at this race so the first half mile was dodging the slowpokes and the walkers. Come on peeps, move to the right already! Anyway, thanks to those who donated! My goal of $125 was surpassed – as of today I have $285 in donations! Thank you thank you thank you!
- After the race I drove to my hometown to surprise my mom for Mother’s Day. I bought her two hanging planters and pretty flowers to go in them. I made both her and my grandmother lavendar eye pillows. It was a really good visit. I didn’t realize how much in need I was of some mommy-time. Yes, I’m almost 30 and I still need my mom sometimes. She gives the best hugs – I come by it naturally
- I scoured etsy and bought these two cute vintage dresses:
from etsy seller AuntNormasCloset
from etsy seller leasvintage
I already got the cream one and am wearing it today – I’ll have my sis take some pics when I get home. Which is a nice segue to my next bullet point…
- I bought myself an early birthday present just in time for my trip – a new digital camera! I’ve been wanting one for awhile now and I settled on the Kodak M380 (currently on sale at Target for $180).
my new baby
More on this after I’ve had a chance to use it, but I am excited and love the color!
- I won the traveling wrap dress contest hosted by Katy over at ALifeFulfilled:Atlanta! I’m up for the challenge (as many were presented here)! I’m going to get some special red wine just for the occassion
- I am two books behind in my reviews. I’ve been reading like a damn fiend. I think maybe I’ll do these on the plane tomorrow.
All right my darlings, I’m off to create my packing list (I hate packing and “packing light” is a concept lost on me). Hope you all had a great start to your week and I’ll talk to you soon from Seattle! xoxo
Fellow Atlantan and fashionista Katy from A Life Fulfilled: Atlanta, inspired me to check out the local Goodwills. At first I was hesitant, but after seeing the great finds she’s accumulated, I was up for the challenge. I went this past weekend and got 6 items for $23. I thought it’d be fun to make a little game out of guessing which articles of clothing came from Goodwill (hence the title). Can you tell?
Outfit breakdown:
blue short sleeve button down – Ann Taylor Loft
denim blazer – Ann Taylor Loft
mustard pencil skirt – Saville
navy belt – Jones New York
If you guessed the skirt, belt and shirt, then you’d be correct. I believe the skirt was $5, the shirt was $4 and the belt was $2.60. Not bad at all, my friends! Admittedly this outfit is a bit boring, but I work for a very conservative company who, up until a few years ago, mandated that women wear hose (I would not be working there now if that dress code rule was still in play). That said, I’ve been on the hunt for high waisted pencil skirts lately. I love love love MadMen and totally want Joan’s wardrobe (and really Betty’s too for that matter). Tangent – when is season 3 going to start!!??! This mustard colored skirt is my second pencil skirt from Goodwill. I love it – even if my sister said I resembled a Century21 real estate agent! But she did agree to be my photographer so I’ll forgive her. Maegan, seriously, how do you take your own pics!?!?!?
with AirTran tickets.
Two weeks from today I’ll be leaving on a jet plane to see my girl Peach in Seattle. I usually have some sort of outing once a month and this year I’ve only (so far) gone to NC….and that was in January/February. Needless to say, I’m going batshitcrazy and a trip was definitely in high demand.
Peach moved to Seattle in March 08. I went to see her last year almost at this exact same time – hopefully the weather will be just as wonderful as I remember it to be. I had such a great time out there exploring the city,seeing some college friends who had moved out there, frequenting Pike Place Market, and obviously hanging out w/ Peach! She even let me guest post on her blog – my first experience in the bloggy world!
Having something this wonderful to look forward to makes my heart very happy
I was a bit hesitant to start this book when a friend recommended it to me after seeing my “list”. A couple years ago I tried to read Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer and didn’t get very far. But my friend really liked it so I decided to give it a go….that and it was a short book.
Story Overview:
Set in the 1980s, Missy (real name Marietta) is a young Kentucky girl hell bent on getting out of her small hometown. After making it through high school without getting pregnant she’s already bypassed the biggest barrier of getting “stuck”. She has no set destination in mind when she leaves her home at 19 or 20 and heads west in her old VW Bug and her savings.
Somewhere in Oklahoma her car breaks down near the outskirts of an Indian reservation. Without going into too much detail, an Indian baby is thrust upon her and in her tired daze, she takes her. She finds out very quickly that the little girl was sexually abused. She names the child “Turtle” since she grabs on fiercely and won’t let go. Missy changes her own name to Taylor and together Taylor and Turtle continue their journey west until they land (and stay) in Arizona. Missy-turn-Taylor meets the rest of the characters in this book here and her new life begins, not without complications, of course.
Would I recommend it? Why/Why not?
Yes. While I thought some of the plot lines lacked depth at some points, I really did enjoy the story. I liked how Kingsolver described Kentucky and the overwhelming desire of Missy to get out of there. Very reminiscent of my small town – that feeling of needing to get out was very relatable to me.
What I took away:
The Missy/Taylor character is definitely a salt of the earth type of person. She’s got a tough cookie exterior, but she’s guided to do the right thing by her strong moral compass. When the irony hits her that she has spent the last 5 years of her life avoiding babies only to have one forced upon her, she laughs! Her selflessness is enviable. A good reminder to self to not be so judgemental and that it’s called the high road because not everyone can reach it.
Up next:
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
I think smells are supposed to be the best memory triggers, (I could be making that up, but I seem to remember this from one of my psych classes), but since I’m such a visual person, I think my triggers are mostly tangible ones.
Case in point, last week I was searching on etsy for some more vintage finds. A lot of the items under the vintage category are sewing patterns. I came across this pattern and started laughing…I swear I had this dress when I was a little kid.
pattern is sold by ricracandbuttons seller on etsy.com
And since my mom made most of our clothes up until 3rd grade or so, I emailed my mom with a link to the pattern and said “I swear you had this pattern!”.
Mom’s response:
That’s the dress you had on in your first grade (I think) picture – you had thrown up before they took the pic and the teacher had taken off the pinafore – I guess your childhood is now considered ‘vintage’!!
Thanks for bringing up the throw up incident of 1st grade – I remember it all too vividly. Later on I get another email from her:
I think I got ahead of myself about the 1st grade pic – I went and looked at it and the dress had short sleeves and was mostly white w/fine red lines - that one had a pinafore that you threw up on so it’s not in the pic - but I’m not sure that’s this pattern. You did have a red checked dress that was exactly like the one in the picture (I think this was in preschool) – it had the long sleeves just like that pattern - but I can’t remember a pinafore with that one. Oh well, guess they’re both vintage classics now!!
To which I responded:
I love how you keep mentioning the part about me throwing up – thanks! I did remember that much :)
I knew this was going to drive my mom nuts. She’s very afraid of getting Alzheimer’s as it runs in her family so she does all sorts of puzzles (Sudoku, crosswords, etc) to keep brain working. Sure enough, last night I get another email from her:
Look what I found – you had that dress on in the family pic we had taken when we came home from Austria. I was looking for a small one to scan (the 8×10 is on the wall in the hallway) when I found these two Polaroids – looks like you wore it under a red jumper as well as all by itself! Thought you’d get a kick out of these. Love, Mom
I feel bad that I drove my mom a little nutso, but I know she was happy to place the time/era of the dress. Plus, I like the pics that she took the time to scan and send to me…and maybe I’m just a little happy that my younger sis looks like a little boy in the picture on top – hee hee
