a little southern visit

My mother and aunt are here for a visit this week, and I'm over the moon about it! Help me convince them to stay won't you? My evil plan is to convince every person I care about to live with me- I mean, it's totally doable.

 Today we went to a local Williamsburg spot for lunch-it's called egg.  It is sooooo so soooo good. Have I mentioned they serve tea? They have real, southern approved sweet iced tea.

(these were emptied about three minutes after this photo was taken.)

I love the minimalism inside egg-it's all crisp white walls, and simple wooden chairs. Today, they played a lot of Marty Robbins, and we all had pretty classic American staples for lunch. My fries were to die for! I have a togo box full of fries in the fridge for midnight tonight....

The best thing about egg by far is they provide you with crayons...um HELLO.
I drew all over our table, and loved every minute of it.

 

My aunt Gigi won the artwork prize for her portrait of Elvis! Although, I did like my love note to Ryan Gosling...you never know if he will sit at the same table after I've gone....

 

so happy to have these women in town

hello october

bright orange leaves cover the sidewalk on my street
stoops are decorated with small pumpkins, scarecrows, and plenty of spiderwebs
little kids are wearing hats and sniffling on the way to school
girls are wearing tights with their work dresses
coffee cups are in each hand on the train
I've got my scarf on and LIPSTICK.

this fall I am obsessed with lipstick!

 

     
I love changing up my look with each new season, and right now for me it is all about a bare face with bold lipstick. My coat is a beautiful color red, so with a little lipstick my outfit looks finished and well put together... regardless if I am clean that day or even matching- what are you wearing this fall?

moving

" I knew that I would have to be brave. Not foolhardy, not in love with risk and danger, not making ridiculous exhibitions of myself to prove that I wasn't terrified-really genuinely brave. Brave enough to be quiet when quiet was called for, brave enough to observe before flinging myself into something, brave enough to not abandon my true self when someone else wanted to seduce or force me into a direction I didn't want to go, brave enough to stand my ground quietly."
Piper Kerman, Orange is the New Black

so I've succesfully moved into my new place! let me tell you moving in New York is not a fun process-mostly it has been a lot of work. Also, leaving my little buddy  Bart has been rough you guys :(ultimately this place is muchhhh better for me to say the least, and he is so loved he won't even notice I'm gone! how about one last post with his sweet face? ok? ok.
He loved all the boxes... a little too much... he went crazy and had to be banned from my room. He then threw a fit and let me know how devastated he was for thirty minutes.

Okay so I promise updates on my new apartment soon! I have lots of space saving suggestions for all you fellow tiny room people xo

that chill

New York is feeling an awful lot like fall dear reader. Today, I even needed a light jacket! This weather makes me want to sip on coffee, wear tights, and listen to lots of Dylan. I think "To Ramona" is one of the nicest letters/songs ever written in the history of the world. Every year around this time I find myself putting it on repeat. you should do the same

Tonight, I stayed in and crafted-yes, I know I am officially becoming that weird cat lady. I told myself I would never buy yarn, but then it was cold out and I broke down.
whatever. I am pretty happy with the end product! let's hope it keeps away my bad dreams for years to come :)

"I can see that your head
Has been twisted and fed
With worthless foam from the mouth
I can tell you are torn
Between stayin' and returnin'
Back to the South
You've been fooled into thinking
That the finishin' end is at hand
Yet there's no one to beat you
No one to defeat you
'Cept the thoughts of yourself feeling bad"

some thoughts mid week

"Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door."
Emily Dickinson


I've been thinking a lot about vulnerability-not by choice mind you.
I want to make movies that matter for the rest of my life. That in a nutshell is my dream...and to marry Ryan Gosling. It all goes together though because he likes to do that too-

In order to fulfill this dream, I have to be vulnerable all the time. I must stand in front of total strangers, and ask that they choose me. I have to ask  my acting coach if he likes my choices for the scene. I have to ask casting directors if they think I "fit the role".  I have to ask the other person in the scene to trust me. I have to ask myself to be open and feel scared and exposed in order to ring true. I have to ask people watching to believe that I am someone else.
it sucks. it really, really sucks.

Some weeks I walk to my apartment, and things simply feel hopeless. Sometimes being here feels like a complete joke. Sometimes, I feel far away from everyone I love and everything I know for no reason at all.  Sometimes I feel like a fraud. There always seems to be one more obstacle between me and this lofty goal. This pure idea I've held onto my entire life. I'm not saying I want to be famous, or have everything figured out-I just want contentment.

This picture was taken when Mom and I made the trip up here to interview with talent agencies. I was very unsure, and I was being told a lot that coming from the south was ridiculous. I was burning my safety net in Memphis for this whim. We didn't have a great trip- I was very stressed, people were sort of crazy and rude due to the superbowl going on, and  it was also freezing! So one night at our hotel around midnight we made the decision to just make the best of the three days we had left in town. Naturally, I proposed a "you've got mail" pilgrimage!
 This picture is on the steps of the restaurant where Joe sees Kathleen Kelly. It's sort of the perfect place to show I didn't know how anything would work out-much like the scene in the movie. It was a romantic, wild trip, but my lows were very low.

I look at this picture sometimes, and try to remember that so many good things can enter when you choose to be vulnerable-not just heartbreak. I was told yes the day after this photo was taken. I found an apartment about a month later-I am typing in Williamsburg where a new friend just called to invite me for dinner tomorrow. I now know the area in this photo, because my dialect teacher has an apartment around the corner from that restaurant.

 I found a life here that I didn't think would happen at all. I'm  frustrated today over how difficult things can be... how hard it is to stand and ask...how difficult it is to not be home when things are happening there, but I know that things can change in one night. It's always better in the morning.

those summer nights

It's my birthday week y'all! 

 I turn 24 on the 25th-can you believe it?! I can't. 

Since this is a big week I will be posting a favorite or two every day! Friday will be a super special  edition "Friday Favorites" called...dun dun dun.... "Friday Favorites OF ALL TIME".

Turn down for what? 

To begin this week of favorites- I present to you a fantastic summer video-a song that makes me feel joyful-sung by someone beautiful the ONE...the ONLY...YONCE! Who I totally love like XO.

This album was released shortly before I made the big move-

I remember, I made a trip with Mother dear to apartment hunt in the city, and we had to take two flights. You should know, I get scared on airplanes... I watched this video about 50x on a very turbulent flight, and it is the only thing that distracted me! 

Also loving that New York is like the smallest town ever. Don't believe me? 

I bumped into a girl I used to work with in Memphis this afternoon, and neither knew the other was living here! How does that happen? HOW? I don't know, but it did.

Onward to birthday week!

cheers to Monday pals

shuffle

Dress in weather appropriate gear-
today included my (brother's) oversized, white Dublin tee//Mississippi charm necklace//high waisted black short-shorts//catbird threadbare rings//white star spangled converse//ponytail

grab bags
today's included my catbird tote holding all my junk//small fossil bag holding money and subway card and phone and keys? keys.//jane's closet bag

Make sure I have my keys

turn off the light 

turn off the ac//turn off one fan// turn up my room fan

goodbye kiss for Bartholomew as he goes to take a nap in the bathroom

make sure I have keys and lock the door!

down one flight and out into a wave of heat and blinding sun

hellos to the barber (lil ant') and neighbor (george) and weird dog on the corner

chapstick/sunglasses

 avoid being hit by a bike

down one flight and stand on subway platform smelling weird smells and drip off all makeup and feel gross and eat breakfast bar

welcome a wave of hot air and shuffle into subway (stand clear of the closing doors beep)

enjoy the air conditioning and the smell of the boy next to you who is wearing amazingly good soap? cologne? magic? everyone normally smells awful what is happening 

and off into more heat

up  two flights through the throws of humanity and so many strollers and shopping bags and guitar cases and there is a puddle on the floor still after a week?

step onto the hot pavement and smell fresh flowers and pizza and walk 

in.more.heat. 

Around Here

Around here....
I am trying to catch up on some new albums out right now-listening to Lana Del Rey and Lykke Li consistently like all the moody girls should. 
I'm so in love with this song. 
especially the words "yeah my boyfriend's pretty cool, but he's not as cool as me."
does it get any better than that statement? NO, it doesn't. really. great sentence-
think about it.

 

by the way...hope you had a wonderful 4th!

I went to a sweet little BBQ in Brooklyn with good people, and then watched the fireworks over the East River. I couldn't have hoped for a better first holiday in my new city.

 It was though, I must say... oddly.. COLD. The fourth of July-yes Independence Day-was windy and cold! So much so that people were wrapped in quilts as the fireworks exploded overhead. It was strange. 

We played a few great games of water balloon toss, but as the sun started to set it got incredibly competitive! No one wanted to get wet, because sitting in a damp t-shirt in the wind was miserable! It should have been a welcome relief from the heat, but no luck there. 

STILL it was a great night-did I mention we ended with sparklers? 

Here's a couple snaps  - 

  

 

 

Friday Favorites

 Happy Friday!
I walked more this week than I ever have since living in New York. I was super proud after learning 4 city blocks make a mile.  I spent time with some great friends, and I am working all weekend (yay retail)! Bart was extra cuddly this week, despite the humidity.

Okay I really love this store. It is down the street from me in Brooklyn, and I always find myself in here on rainy days. 

some snapshots this week...
1) new pretty dress from Pema
2) Bart loves watching the world cup-USA! USA! USA! no biting!
 3) my flowers died, and now this week there is a new bud  
4) quiet moment around 7:00 on a weeknight in the apartment listening to music

 

       

I am burning my lovely pink candle and my pretty fig leaf candle ALL THE TIME. 

my room smells amazing y'all.

also I randomly met a psychic who told me I have a lot to look forward too! 

(not her below- this is Carly who sometimes sends me things like this)

reading:
 "girls compete with each other, women empower each other."

did you see the elephant on Jimmy Fallon this week? because you should. 
as well as, the roots on a rollercoaster


cheers to this weekend! xo

got some splainin to do

soooooo I missed Friday favorites! 

promise this Friday's addition will be jam packed to make up for the loss

meanwhile...

Happy Monday friend! 

It's a been a long weekend for me BUT, I did see some cool stuff here in the burg.

Want me to tell you about it? Okay, if you insist! 

(you will see I took a couple of pictures of strangers, but it was to show you how wonderful they are not to be mean or creepy)

First off, I went to a bar on Saturday night that is dog friendly, a.k.a. Magical puppy land.

A bar where no one needs a leash, the music is loud, and it is time to run around having a good time. A bar where I tried a pickle back-have you heard of this? It's weird.

Second I saw this man:

  

glued to pride and prejudice on the train-

if you don't think he seems great we can't be friends.

Also she

belted out the Star Spangled Banner opera style at 10 a.m.

For some reason I'm only wearing dresses lately?

I am a Denim obsessed girl. Not sure if I'm gravitating towards all dresses because it's hot outside or a better way to hide my shape when feeling insecure? All I know is I have worn a dress every day for eight days straight!

Bart

went on a trip to upstate new york this weekend, and is still tired from all that fun.

On a hot summer night in Cooper Park, some pals in Brooklyn made hot dogs and s'mores. this scene got brought up a lot.

hope your week is going well xo

friday favorites

We survived another week!  Now on to the favorites

I loved this sweet post Natalie wrote.

I really love all the random Brooklyn inspiration.

 

I always have these covers on repeat KOL-dancing on my own...JFlynn-papa was a rodeo

I just finished a "chandelier" project, and I'm happy with my result. I hope to do a post on my space soon!

 

I loved going to this little arthouse theatre in the middle of the week on a rainy day.

 

Last but not least the world cup is going on!

Happy Weekending pals xo

typical

Hey it's stupid bloody Tuesday!

 

I had to wake up far too early this morning, and then ride the train with two classes of seventh graders going on a field trip. There was a lot of excitement let me just tell you. I must ask though..who goes to school in June?! Is this a thing in New York? There are kids in the high school across the street from me as well...questions. I finally got to my stop, and shortly into my walk I saw this hair shop...I'm pretty much obsessed with the rainbow bouffant. They actually all looked amazing.

I wasn't able to get pictures (rushing), but next door was a doggy day care with huge glass windows-I saw like 20-30 adorable puppies running wild. It destroyed all bad feelings about being up early. 

I finished my errand, and on the way home stopped in the grocery store to pickup a few things. I will never get used to the line at Trader Joe's. I understand it moves quickly, but it is still insane. This was at like 10:30 a.m annnnddd it is a week day.

I guess it was worthwhile because today dun dun dunnn I made lunch.  I can bake all day, but I don't cook. It stresses me out, and I'm constantly scared of a potential fire. However, today I prepared bbq chicken and pineapple quesadillas that actually turned out really well. sidenote: Bart helped.

 

Then it was back to the heat to run a few more errands. I hate weather like today-100% humidity and completely indecisive-looks like rain but not a drop has fallen. Tonight I'm enjoying some down time with fellow Brooklynites. typical

Friday Favorites

Congrats friends we made it to Friday! 

I've got several faves this week so let's get to it shall we?

I saw this teepee (!) in Williamsburg and the picture does not even begin to do it justice :

 

this store: pink olive  in Brooklyn is great for stationary-I'm in love with it!

these family pictures from the wonderful wedding last weekend:

I could watch this video all day every day: emma gets a puppy

PLLLUUUUSSSSSSSSSSS BEST OF ALLLLLLLL: "The Fault In Our Stars" is out!

which brings me to my last favorite...this song...the BEST song on the soundtrack that can break your heart into a thousand pieces: no one ever loved

Happy Weekending Pals xo