i'm back...

for the last 24+ hours i've been trying to put into words how i spent my weekend.

sadly, i do not think the words i have can do it justice.

i participated in an ace camp with erin loechner titled 'living a fulfilled life of creativity'.

i stumbled upon the workshop info a while ago and with slight hesitation signed up immediately.  normally i ponder, dread, go back and forth, and then eventually forget about something until the date has passed.  but i bit the bullet and signed up.  that was a big step for me because let's be real, i quit most things i start.

but something about it made me sign up.  it was probably the fact that erin was teaching it.  she's a sassy, petite little ball of sunshine with the biggest heart you'll ever find.  she's totally the one you want to be your bff, your maid of honor or the one around when you break up with your d-bag boyfriend.  but mostly she's full of inspiration and lots of ideas.  she'll be your cheerleader or your ass kicker, whichever you need.   or both perhaps?

besides erin, i met some of the most amazing people i have ever met in my life.  like, friends for life people.  getting to know them and gaining insight into their lives is something i will always take with me.

the group (from ace camp's fb page)

that is all for now but i will update more later.....thank you ladies!

dindin with the ladies

we (angie, alisa, shellie and rachel) ventured out last night to a new restaurant called piebird.

recently opened and a neat idea.

the pimento cheese empanadas were fantastic and messy.

the five of us devoured them.

most of us got their hand pies which are small round savory pies with different ingredients.

2 of us, myself included, ordered the vegetarian black bean pie as one of our choices.

the first one was delicious.  the 2nd one turned out to be lamb.

i HATE lamb.

oh well... they were nice about it and brought us out new black bean ones.  apparently they had lamb pies the day before and they look identical.  the place is new and there is always a learning curve.

pool party fun

angie got a pool last summer but i missed out on all the fun because i did not live here.

finally got to see it this past weekend.

the weather was fantastic.

something i haven't seen in ages living in portland.

even the dog had to swim.

then she had to chill.

carrie's wedding reception

one of my dearest friends, carrie, got married last week in the mountains of north carolina.

carrie on the wedding day (photo via carrie)

carrie and tad celebrated their marriage with friends and family this past sunday (april 24) at humble pie restaurant in raleigh.

tad, ayden (step son) & carrie at reception (photo via carrie)

unfortunately, i was having too much fun to take very many pics.  dammit.

dinner

tapas courses:  spinach tart and fried green tomatoes

l to r:  shellie, alisa and adair

danny and jenn

l to r:  kara, angie (bending down), carrie and shellie

first dance

overall it was a super fun night catching up with everyone.  the food was great and carrie and tad looked extremely happy.

so happy for them!

japan

as some of you know, japan has a special place in my heart.  when i was about 6, yuki and yoshi moved in across the street.  yuki was lee's age and yoshi was my age.  they lived in the states for only a few years but remain lifelong friends of our family.

my friend jody, myself and yuki is on the right.  waiting for the bus.

yoshi waiting at the bus stop.

yuki lived with my family for a year during her senior year of high school.  my sister then lived in japan for 4 years.  my mom, sister and i traveled to japan for yuki's wedding.  i've been twice and want to go back.  there is also hideki and his family.  so many people to worry about...

i love japan.

the recent tragedies going on there are heartbreaking.  earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear meltdowns, radiation, etc.  it's awful.

it's hard feeling helpless in the states.

i've donated to the red cross and so can you by texting REDCROSS to 90999.  It will automatically add $10 to your cell phone bill.  for more info, go here.

i also love what w + k are doing.  they designed a print to raise funds for japan and it can be yours for only $25.

buy it here.

holiday-ed out.

it's been great catching up with people all week - jennifer, matt, kristin, etc....and of course seeing people at the get togethers.

on sunday my sister "hosted" some of her chapel hill/durham friends in what's become an annual "invite yourself over to my parent's house" thing.

oh and when i say "hosted" i mean, it was my sister's idea but i did a ton of the work.

it was fine though because i love all the people and it was FUN.  and i love having a party.

we made a ton of food.  and when i say "made" i mean we cooked some and bought the rest.  let's be real.

i did make 10 dozen veggie sausage cheese balls and red velvet cupcakes.

10 f*$king dozen.

ridiculous.  but they were GOOD and so worth it.

i wish i'd taken more photos but i was working on food and drinks all night.  oh well, fun times were had.

here's lee and deb serving the cupcakes:

anyway,  the party was:  my fam, deb, kat, john, revy, berkley, aninda, dino, rocco, rich, jessica, franklin and last but not least, frances.

lee, deb and jessica:

aninda and dino:

lee and rich:

deb, revy, berkley and rocco:

deb in her awesome yellow coat:

too bad deb had to leave early...she missed out on the slumber party with lee, kat, aninda and myself.

i don't think i've laughed that hard in a long time.....

happy birthday to the wilson sisters (kat and aninda)!

remedy diner xmas party

the last week and a half have been a blur of seeing friends, get togethers and parties.

oh, and no sleep.  and it seems to have caught up with me today.

i feel on the verge of coming down with something like my sister did but hoping that's not the case though.

last week was the remedy christmas party.

it consisted of a dj that liked to sing, some karaoke, dancing and people watching.  really good people watching.

oh and alcohol.  lots of alcohol.

good times.

here's kara rockin' david bowie:

carrie and chad:

justin and rachel:

carrie and rachel:

tommy lee, carrie and alisa giving someone the finger:

angie and chad:

crowd shot:

dancing people:

i will refrain from posting the anymore drunken debauchery.

but it was good times.

ladies night secret santa

went to shellie's tonight for a secret santa cocktail party with the ladies.

it was angie, carrie, rachel, shellie, alisa, jenny, julie and kara.  i hadn't seen them all in 6 months or so since i moved.

it was fantastic to see everyone.  i'm kicking myself for not taking more pics.  but damn it's impossible when there is a dance party going on.

here's carrie:

jenny having a swig of wine:

carrie:

carrie and i:

alisa and carrie:

and then the dance party began...

angie, shellie and kara:

angie, kara and shellie:

and for fear of being de-friended, i won't post the rest.

i love you guys...

inspiration

woke up today uninspired.

so i went in search of some inspiration and once again ended up taking another look at ann humphreys hooping videos.

she's a badass with a hula hoop.  and she's a chapel hill girl.

i so wish i could do this...here is one of my faves...



and this:



simply amazing....

She & Him - Thieves (Music Video)

watch this!

beautiful song by She & Him.  beautiful video is directed by my friend Norwood Cheek.  check it out here.