Newport Folk Fest 2011! BAM!

Thanks to miss HikerinHeels, we ventured to the Newport Folk Fest 2011 lineup announcement party. It was at the Middlesex and sponsored by Magic Hat and Bacardi. A delicious treat! But, but, but! The best part was obviously the line-up. I went last summer without expectations and it blew the rest of my (relatively awesome) summer events out of the water. The line-up was incredible, the venue unbeatable. We didn't see a bad act the entire time we were there.

And this year looks just as good. An incredible line-up featuring some big names, some smaller ones and some favorites. Two bands played last night, Brown Bird (they were great!) and the David Wax Museum, whom we saw last year and features a kick-ass jaw bone player (not a joke). Spoiler alert: both bands are playing this summer.

Do you want to see the whole lineup AND my smiling face? Check out this video I was a part of. It was a super fun concept and I was pumped to be a part of it.

Newport Folk Festival Lineup Announcement (official) from Kitchen Sessions on Vimeo.

Celebrate the Little Wins

We've been talking about personal growth a lot in my apartment recently as we all seem to be in a state of flux. We caught up with our old roommate who has (in the last 8 months): moved cities, started a new job, begun filing her nails, chopped off her hair, gone gluten-free, upgraded to a smart phone. Phew. Exhausting. But all things to be proud of. 

And I'm proud of mine: This week, I bought shorts from J.Crew. Now, maybe this isn't a big step for you, but it is for me. 

And I'm ready for summer. Just need to accessorize with some chunky jewelry and summer scarves.

Don't forget to celebrate the little victories in your life.

Some things I believe

Today is better because that's what I've decided. And here some things I believe in to make that true:

 

Take a breath.

Yesterday's makeup is better than no makeup at all.

Wild flowers make everything better. 

By Lucia Mauri

 Make room for love. 

Catch someone doing something right. 

Keep a sense of humor.

Today

Today I have an overwhelming sense of ickiness. I feel like I'm not doing enough: not meeting enough people, not taking the right care of myself, not making enough progress at work, not being creative, not giving back. I'm struggling to spend time with all the people that I want to see, excel at my budding little career and all meetings all the other tremendous goals we set for ourselves. 

I guess what I'm struggling with today is a lack of balance. I'd really like to fit in a weekly yoga class, but where? I'd like to be sure I'm moving in the right direction, but how? I'd like to be involved in a theatre, be invested in a professional organization. Be on the move. I'd like to cook more, or spend more time on this blog, or think about what I want to be doing in 5 years, but honestly, sometimes when I get home from work I want to be done. 

And, I feel like I am on the move. All the time. Certainly, I'm not the only person struggling with this. I know that. But today, it's consumed my day. 

Frustratingly, it seems like everyone else has their shit together. And I know, really, that's not true--they probably want to swing by a yoga class too, or make a line of stationary. But I surround myself with these fantastic, well-connected, on-the-go people who seem to do it all. And I feel not good enough.

How will I make everything fit? Or, more importantly, fit the way I want it to?

Send hugs. sorry for the rant.

Things I like

Love this new site, the Straight Leg-which touts itself as the man's guide to being stylish without loking gayish. This is totally a real thing--sometimes the hipster trend sends the skinny straight(ish) male right over the edge. Wear your scarves carefully, straights. Also, ladies & gays, please remember to apply Tom and Lorenzo's advice "Say what you are wearing outloud before you go outside." This may help you from wearing "A fur vest with my acid-wash denim shorts and my black suede booties with my fashionable headband." Hmm...

The folks at the Straight Leg categorize male outfits with one of three labels: A Tom Cruise head (gay), A Jude Law head (borderline), or a George Clooney head (straight, obvs.). 

They have some handsome, stylish dudes featured like this guy. 

Glamour Shots

These are some fantastic pictures of my ancestry--primarily my father's family. These include his parents, his mother's parents, and a whole lot of glamour. I'll point out those I know and other notable items from the photos. Please take note of the striking resemblance of my young father and Ralph Maccio.

This is my dad on the left, with his parents. There are 12 cups on the table.

Same family, years later. Note the resemblance to Ralph. Also, my grandmother's stoll has a face still on it.

This is my poor grandmothers 1st Communion photo. This should be outlawed.

This is my poor graeat Aunt's 1st Communion photo. This should also be outlawed.

I'm not quite sure why my great Aunt is sitting upon a Shetland pony. Hit me up with your best idea.

This is my great grandfather with my great Aunt.

This is me, wearing my great aunt's FABULOUS dress.*

 

 

 

 

*If you see me in this dress in the future, pretend you haven't

Monday Find

My sweet sister, Allegra,  was certified to scuba dive in the Florida Keys. Hanging in her room is a sticker she bought there. It's a pink (eek!) turtle dive flag made by Barefoot Customs. They make all kinds of variations of the true dive flag including a turtle dive flag, a lobster dive flag, and ...wait for it... a Texas dive flag.

I'd consider putting one on my car. Feast your eyes!

traditional dive flag

Cute plays on the traditional

Meet me in St.Louie

I'm here for a few days with my family to see my lovely sister Allegra in 12 Angry Women, a female- adaptation of 12 Angry Men. Regular life will resume shortly!

please?

I'm just not sure why this kitchen doesn't belong to me...Can you help?

From the incomparable coco+kelley