Little Loves: Wire Baskets

Once again, thanks to my dear friend Jessica, I have a new love. Wire baskets. Too cute. Jessica pointed them out to me at Funtiques in Springfield and I've since ran across a couple. It seems like I have too many things in my apartment and they're a cute way to contain things.

 

This wire basket was a thrifting steal. $1.99. Can't beat that! It is now the home of my random pieces of fabric.

I found this sea foam green basket at an adorable new store in Washington called The Painted Home.  It was a bit pricier but I couldn't resist.

I think I shall store my penpal letters and cards in this lovely basket.

Tuesday Tunes: Sara Bareilles

You guys, I'm finally going to see Sara Bareilles in concert!! Ahhh, so excited!! She's amazing. This weekend I got tickets for me, Scott, and a coworker to see her October 16 at The Pageant in St. Louis. Can't freakin' wait!

If you haven't checked it out yet, watch this fantastic video of her song Brave. You won't regret it.

Mobile Link

Monday in the Mail: Cards, Postcards, Sand, & Letters

My penpals have been good to me lately! In the past couple of weeks I've gotten some gems in the mail and I just had to share!

My bestie from high school, Kaylan, now lives in Arkansas with her husband. We used to send cards back and forth occasionally in college and we decided to start again as a fun way to keep in touch. She sent the heart card in the upper left-hand corner.

A good friend from college, Shayla, is now a teacher and we've also become penpals. She sent me a fun note on her teacher paper!

I particularly like this card from my friend Cali. You can probably tell why. She always finds the best cards to send!

And last but not least, a post card from Tori. She visited the Outer Banks and sent me "a piece of the sea."

I love snail mail!

Green Bay Bound...

Later today my mother and I will be leaving to head to Green Bay, Wisconsin so that we can say goodbye to my dear friend Kelly Jo.  I've been trying to prepare myself for her funeral services as I know it will be very difficult and mentally exhausting. However, I'm very grateful to be going and celebrating her beautiful life with her family and friends.  Over the past week, I've realized how many amazing people KJ had the honor of calling her friends.  Several have reached out to me and I'm so thankful that we can all come together for support even if we don't know each other. I'm excited to meet her LA friends as well as reconnect with her high school friends that I met so many years ago. I can't wait to listen to all of their Kelly Jo stories.  Traveling to Green Bay one more time will be bittersweet. We made many fun memories there together; it was a home-away-from-home. I ask for continued prayers for her family and friends as we try to say goodbye.

Kelly Jo's beautiful obituary

Fundraiser in memory of Kelly Jo 

Sweet Kelly Jo

It's with a heavy heart that I write this post. I received horrible news on Saturday that one of my dearest friends passed away unexpectedly Friday night.  I'm not sure I even know how to begin to process this incredible loss. 

I mentioned before a little about how I met Kelly Jo as a 6 year old in Branson, MO and later traveled to visit her in LA in 2005.  I also talked about how she was my original penpal. We exchanged countless letters, postcards, [Lisa Frank] stickers, pictures, laughs, inside jokes, "AOL messenger" chats, and later phone calls, Facebook messages, and texts throughout the years. It absolutely blows my mind that I will not get to make new memories with her. But man, did we make some darn good ones!

I spent the majority of Sunday scouring my apartment for pictures and letters from KJo; I couldn't satisfy my need to feel close to her. I shed many tears, smiled many smiles, and laughed many laughs as I went through this ginormous and amazing pile of letters.

 

 

From the very first postcard in 1992:

 

 

To her last handwritten message after we both graduated from high school in 2004:

 

 

Going through those letters Sunday, I saw our friendship evolve into something powerful and unshakable.  From "What is your cat's name and what is your favorite color?", "What do you want for Christmas?", "I got a new beanie baby for my birthday" to "Sorry I haven't written lately, things have been hectic. My mom found out she has breast cancer for the 2nd time." I was also reminded of her beautiful, hilarious soul. In basically all of her school pictures, she had food stuck in her teeth. On the back of one pictures, she wrote "SHUT UP! I KNOW YOU'RE LAUGHING RIGHT NOW!" She would also make up crazy acronyms and write them all over the envelopes ("NAFAI"= Need Advice Fast About Ian!) She talked extensively about her love for dance, her family & friends, and her dream to move to LA, attend UCLA, and pursue her dream to act and model. And I'm so glad I got to see her follow her heart fearlessly.

 

If we were being honest, Kelly Jo and I didn't exactly know how long we've known each other. In later letters, she asked for my version of how we met because she only knew what her mom had told her. I couldn't really give her any details without asking my parents. It was just one of those things. We've known each other for as long as we could remember. And she was my best friend forever.

 

I'm so thankful for our parents allowing us to see each other as often as they did.  The memories and photos I have with Kelly Jo are absolutely priceless and dear to my heart.

 

After first meeting in Branson, we weren't able to see each other again until 7th grade when her parents drove through my town on a vacation. 

 

Shortly afterwards, my family traveled to Milwaukee so that I could go to an N'Sync concert with Kelly Jo. We began taking trips to see each other every summer; I'd spend a week with her in Green Bay and she'd spend a week with me in Missouri. Those weeks always went by way too fast.



(This was a themed high school dance she went with me to, we didn't really dress like this...)

 

 

During one of her visits, my family took us to Branson and we visited the pool where we met.

 

I'm so thankful for these memories. And I was so glad we could always pick up right were we left off the next time we talked or saw each other.

 

As her family and friends grieve and prepare to lay Kelly Jo to rest next week, I ask for prayers for these amazing people. I am honored to have known Kelly Jo for so long and to have met her wonderful family and friends in Green Bay. We are all better people for having known this beautiful, sweet woman. She brought such a light and joy to our lives and Heaven gained an Angel when they welcomed her this weekend. I hope she teaches them all how to speak with a northern accent like she did me and I pray that they have Cheeseheads and toothpicks up there.

 



 Kelly Jo, I'm quoting you when I say "UR2Sweet2B4Got10." I love you Jo sister. I can't wait to see you again.

 

KJKL
1985-2013

 

For anyone interested in helping her family with funeral costs, her friends from California set up a donation site in memory of Kelly Jo.

 

 





Fair time!

Please excuse my absence as I attend our [5 day long!!] fair!  Last night we saw REO Speedwagon and Thursday night we saw country music singer Justin Moore.

I'll leave you with a pic of me and Scott from last year...the REO Speedwagon concert got rained out last year so they came back this year!

Currently Reading: A Pug's Guide to Etiquette

So technically I'm not reading this book "currently," but I wanted to dedicate a post to it. I got this book in Chicago and quickly had it read within the first hour of the train home.

I love pugs. They have amazing personalities and they're so stinking funny.  My family was blessed enough to have one in our lives for about 6 years. 

Edgar chose us. He just walked up to my mom in the driveway one day, followed her into the house, and stayed. He was the best dog with the goofiest habits. Edgar had a lot of health issues and, unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to him this past winter. It was one of the hardest days ever and I still miss him so much. But he's still with me. Literally. Sometimes I still find his hair in random places. :) I love those little reminders.

I think that's why I love this book so much. It's sweet, funny, and all of it is true. Some of the things reminded me so much of Edgar. Definitely tugged at my heartstrings.

If you have an affinity for pugs or have ever owned one, you need to read this book. It will make you smile and appreciate what an awesome dog you have.

Air Plants

Last week we had a "Summer Party" at work.  I get performance anxiety anytime we have those parties and have to play silly games.  Somehow, though, my team managed to win a rousing game of Pictionary. My prize? This:

 

My first thought: What the heck is it? Sort of a weird prize for work party. Apparently it's an air plant. They grow without having to be attached to anything or planted in soil. They take in their nutrients through the leaves so you are supposed to water them by misting about twice a week. Apparently they also offshoot babies that you can detach and give to friends! I'm intrigued and, after reading this Better Homes and Gardens article, I'm kind of excited for it to start growing offshoots! Now if I can just find one of those awesome glass planters to hang from my ceiling...

Thrifting Find: Metal Box

Over the past couple of years, I've been getting into thrifting little by little. I go to thrift stores often with clients and usually stick to looking for my classics for cheap.  But lately I've been poking around a bit more. Now I tend to look for teacups/teapots, nesting dolls, anything with pugs, globes, maps, and the list goes on and on.

Remember my one line a day journal?  Well I love that project, but the note cards have just sat on my kitchen table for months. Literally. They needed a more permanent home. So this weekend I found the perfect metal box for $.99 while out thrifting.

 

The color is sort of hideous, but just okay enough for me to love it. Even the old piece of tape gives it character. Eventually I might try to do something with it. But for now, I'm just glad those things are off my table.

Missouri Gems: The Muny

Last Christmas, Scott's sister promised that she'd take the whole family to dinner and The Muny to see Shrek as our Christmas present. Sure enough, 6 months after Christmas, the whole Price clan drove to St. Louis, ate at Blueberry Hill (another Missouri Gem!) and headed to The Muny.

The Muny in Forest Park is by far one of the coolest places in St. Louis.  It's an outdoor theatre that features a different musical production each week. According to their 2013 summer program, this is their 95th season. The Muny is awesome in that, if you get there early enough, you can see the show for free! It's one of those St. Louis summer traditions that you just can't miss out on. Plus it's in Forest Park, site of the 1904 World's Fair, which is gorgeous in itself.  Highly recommended if you ever get the chance to see a show there!

Famous Blueberry Hill on The Loop

Outside The Muny

Shrek and the storybook characters

Little Loves: Wildflowers

This summer I've noticed that I keep stopping to take pictures of wildflowers, wherever I am.  I don't know if it's driven by the need to post good stuff on Instagram or what, but I genuinely find them beautiful. God is an amazing artist.

Nathanael Greene Park-Springfield, MO

 

Historic downtown St. Charles, MO

This ol' Town: Sunset on the Riverfront

Our little town is so cute sometimes.  Washington does this fun thing called "Sunset on the Riverfront" every 4th Thursday of the month, April through October.  They have music, food, and drinks at the park right along the Missouri River. Sometimes it's hot, sometimes it's crowded, sometimes they run out of food. And sometimes it's perfect.

June's event was kind of hot and a little cloudy. But not bad.

I'm such an awesome photographer.

Last week Scott and I went to July's event. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous around here lately! Weather in the 80s, no humidity. That's a Missouri miracle! Sunset on the Riverfront is just such a fun thing to look forward to every month. So pretty.



July 25, 2013

Tuesday Tunes: The Daylights, Part II

Remember earlier this month when I introduced y'all to The Daylights? Well, funny story about them.  At the end of June I went back to my hometown for the fair to see some of my friends that were in town.  The first night of the fair, I was sitting with my friends Kaylan and Andrea in the beer garden (classy, I know) and in walk three guys that just didn't seem to...fit in...in Sullivan.  Two of them looked super familiar but I just couldn't place them. Until I realized...The Daylights! I sat there for several minutes, freaking out inside my head, and texting Jessica about what I should do. I'm not good with musicians and talking to people about music. Especially THEIR music. Again, I can be awkward. But I just couldn't let this go. They were on MY turf, after all.

So up I walk, introduce myself, and ask if they were in The Daylights. They seemed surprised to be recognized and introduced themselves. Ricky and Svend.

I told them I had seen them open for NeedtoBreathe a couple years ago. Ricky was super nice and talked to me for a good while about their new album they're working on, NeedtoBreathe's new album, small towns, etc. He said that one of their friends, Brian McConnell, was opening for Dustin Lynch at the fair that night (both country singers) and Brian had asked them to play in his band.  I asked him about their video "I Hope This Gets to You" that I posted on my other blog post. He asked me about the fair and my hometown. It was just crazy. Or maybe I'm crazy. Anyway, he talked until the other guy (the other guitarist) looked at his watch and they ran right up to the stage to play. It was a good surprise and a good night. :)

Monday in the Mail: Chicago Collage

Last week I got a fun mini-package in the mail from Miss Aly! She has the cutest stationary and last weeks' note came on an adorable Kate Spade card.

 

I need to step up my stationary game!  My poor pen pals get letters on $1 Target bin notecards. :)

Also included with the letter was a photo-collage from our trip to Chicago! I love it.

So, naturally, the photo gets a place of honor at my fridge. Thanks Aly!!