what's simple is true

Hey there. I know, it has been a while since I've visited. I was wrapped up with finals and the end of the semester, but I officially finished my first year of graduate school! It feels so soo good. Last August I was hoping I made the right choice, to quit my job, move, and go to school full time. In the moment everything felt so contingent. The earth felt like it was shifting under my feet and I was jumping off a cliff. All of those cliche metaphors for change in your life. But you know what, sometimes we know better than we think we do. Ideas that seem like they *might* be a good idea are actually amazing ones. And if you are lucky, which I often think I am blessed to be, everything worked out for more than the best. 

I went to a graduation party for some friends who will be moving away from North Carolina. In one moment I stopped and looked around and felt so happy. I had amazing friends I had just met 8 months before who felt like family, there was good, simple food, champagne and a bonfire roaring. It was festive and people were happy. I rode my bike to the party which I just had fixed and I think will change my life. Graduate school is hard. There is no two ways about that, but life in North Carolina? It just seems more simple. A self-proclaimed city girl, I can now say that often, simple can be just as good as flashy restaurants and new high heels and taxis. 
 

this is the new year

I think by now we've established how much I love music. This morning I came across this video by Ian Axel which is just so happy and cheerful you won't be able to help but smile. It seems like perfect timing as the year is drawing to a close. 


Lyrics Preview: 
Say everything you've always wanted
be not afraid of who you really are
cause in the end we have each other
and that's at least one thing worth living for


And I would give the world to you. 

girl talk

Girlfriend #1: I love my bed. It is sooo comfortable. 


Me: I'm neutral on mine. It does have flannel sheets on it right now, so it's pretty cozy at least. 


Girlfriend #2: I don't really like mine that much. Mostly because its just me in it. 

possibility

Possibility is one of my favorite words. 

"I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of 

people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was stunned by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, 'Hi.' They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word."

Augusten Burroughs

southernisms updates

There was I was, walking through Harris Teeter, just looking for some skim milk and I came across this: 

Um. WHAT? I thought the Turducken was an urban legend. Apparently they sell it in grocery stores in North Carolina. 

Is anyone else totally grossed out by this concept?

Also, it took me 26 years to realize that a "tail gate" is the back part of a pick-up truck that folds down. I think that says something about my urban upbringing...

Happy Halloween!

It's been a while since I've been excited about Halloween but this year I think it is going to be SUPER fun. Chapel Hill is known for its Halloween celebration. The streets are all closed downtown and then the weirdos come out. Should be a total spectacle. I'm going to be Baby Spice with the 4 other Spice Girls. Epic. 


I went to a party on Saturday and went as Christina Aguilera from Burlesque. Here is the evidence:  

I also had some fun fishnets and red satin heels on. This was the first time I wore a wig and it was awesome!


Love this song from Burlesque:



Happy Halloween!! 

dc meets nc

I walked into a bar where a man in a blue shirt and pink bow tie checked my name off the list. There were deep leather couches, more men in bow ties shaking signature cocktails behind a giant oak bar, and it was crowded enough to feel festive but not too loud to talk. Women were in dresses, men in pressed shirts with the sleeves comfortably rolled up to the elbows.

Was I in DC? It sure felt like it. 

But no, I was at the Crunkleton in Chapel Hill. I think I have found my new favorite bar. 

pic

Perhaps it was the company, some new friends I am making, but I was just totally taken with the vibe. I had a cocktail made from gin, Saint Germaine, cucumber and lime. It tasted like summer with a smoothness to it that most cocktails don't have. 

There are plenty of dive bars in the area that are great to wear jeans to and have a microbrew, but this place just felt special. It felt like an event, not just getting drinks. Totally fabulous. 

raise your glass

I have never had more spontaneously happy moments than during the 2 months of living in North Carolina thus far. This place is magical with all its friendly people, amazing night life, and socially conscious community. 

LOVE. 

flick chicks

Ps- You have to check out this article in the New Yorker about Chick Flick Archetype characters. 

LOVE THIS: 

 pic

"The Woman Who Works in an Art Gallery:
How many freakin’ art galleries are out there? Are people buying visual art on a daily basis? This posh/smart/classy profession is a favorite in movies. It’s in the same realm as kindergarten teacher or children’s-book illustrator in terms of accessibility: guys don’t really get it, but it is likable and nonthreatening...The Gallery Worker character is the rare female movie archetype that has a male counterpart. Whenever you meet a handsome, charming, successful man in a romantic comedy, the heroine’s friend always says the same thing: “He’s really successful. He’s”—say it with me—“an architect!”

All the Charlotte Yorks and Ted Mosbys out there are high-fiving each other right now.

i love this crazy, sometimes almost magic, awful beautiful life

Yesterday was probably one of the best days since I have moved to North Carolina. I slept in, had a lazy morning, then went out to participate in a school of public health field day. I met lots of new friends, got to run around and play for a while like a kid, and enjoy the weather. Afterwards, I went to a potluck for the first meeting of the new Chapel Hill chapter of Dining for Women. It's a pretty cool thing, you gather once a month, everyone brings a dish, and you donate what you'd normally spend out on dinner and the money goes to a featured organization of the month. Everyone brought something delicious and it felt great to give back a little. I'd definitely recommend starting one of your own! 


Afterwards, I went out to this little town called Saxapahaw to see the Lizzy Ross Band. She was like a cross between Miranda Lambert and Regina Spektor. It was a total blast dancing around with a few friends like fools. Also, the venue- phenomenal. I have never walked into a place before and thought, this is where I'd have my wedding. I had that feeling! (I know, boyfriend first, but a girl can dream.) Just such a cool interesting place! 


It was such a stellar day. I am loving North Carolina!

roots and wings

I have been IN LOVE with Stephen Kellogg for about 10 years now. I think I've seen him in concert at least 5 times and he is coming to Chapel Hill next weekend. You can bet your bottom dollar that I am going to see him! Since its a small town, maybe I can convince him to get a beer with me after. 

I really hope he plays Milwaukee. I just found this awesome live version to share with you all. Swoon. Who are some of your favorite artists?

little updates from the south

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! I have been seriously swamped at school and then had migraines 3 days last week. Didn't leave much time for blogging and fun stuff. 


I survived and I have had a really fun past 24 hours. A friend of mine from DC was down here yesterday so we hung out, got some froyo and wandered around Chapel Hill for a while. My man friend made me a delicious dinner last night-- shrimp scampi, salad, garlic bread and chocolate covered strawberries. Yum. Today we joined up with some friends and tailgated before the football game against UVA. UNC won- 3rd game in a row this season! 28-17. I've never been a college sports fan before, but now I am totally into it! It was a pretty rainy and cold day though, so I'm going to cuddle up in some fleecy sweat pants and hit the books. I know, crazy Saturday here. It's payback for taking the last 24 hours off. 


Hope you all are having fabulous weekends yourselves. I think tomorrow I need to do some grocery shopping. I really want to make this chickpea, corn and red pepper salad. Looks like such a great healthy lunch! 

the sisterhood

I feel blessed to have had a life full of fabulous female friends. When I moved to Virginia 13 years ago (!) I spent the first half of 8th grade floundering and then found the loves of my life in a school production of Fiddler on the Roof. Despite the goofy costumes, the girls I met that Spring are still some of my best friends. In college I lucked out with a wonderful roommate freshman year that I really felt connected to right from the start. I also sang in an all-female a capella group and spent a lot of time with those girls both in rehearsal and socially. I've seen them get married and have babies. It's been incredible. Once I moved back to DC a lot of my "homecrew" friends had moved away, but somehow I found a few girls through the guys I knew to be wonderful additions to the every expanding sisterhood in my life. It's been particularly fun to invite them all together to parties and see them get to know each other as well. 

Now that I am down in North Carolina, the fact that I would be studying and learning with a lot of girls was inevitable-- I am doing a Masters degree in Maternal and Child Health. Of course, there will be women. However, I wasn't expecting to bond with them as much as I have. We are all still getting to know each other, but I threw out the idea of a girls night on Saturday and ended up with about 10 of us hitting the town. We went to Good Fellows for a drink and then hit the iconic Top of the Hill where we were all dancing fools. It hit me just how much fun it is and how good it is to just let loose with a bunch of women. I am really looking forward to getting to know them all over the next 2 years. 

 

cougar town

Boots

Saturday night some new gal pals and I went out to a country western bar. We figured that we better get a real taste of the South, and what better way then to go line dancing! This place was just what we were looking for-- loud country music, a bar for girls to dance on, a mechanical bull and bras hanging from the ceiling. Klassy with a K. We got our $2 beers and hit the dance floor. 


After a while my friend said, "Hey that cute guy at the bar keeps looking at you, you should talk to him." She proceeded to drag me over and introduce me. Thanks, Capitan Awkward! Well he started teaching me some line dances and we were laughing and having a fun time. Then he pushed me around the dance floor solo for a few songs. It was a total blast -- it's been a while since a guy who really knew how to dance took me for a spin. 


Finally we needed a break and I asked him where his beer was. He held up his hand with a big black X on it and answered with a deep southern accent: "I'm not 21 yet." 


**Cue sound of heart shattering**


"Wow. I am so much older than you."


"How much, are you 22?"


"Ha. You wish. I'm 26." 


So that was the end of that! One more dance for fun and then the girls and I called it a night. I wasn't honestly considering pursuing this guy but I just realized, Wow, welcome back to a college town. 18 to party, 21 to drink.