Quarter Life Crisis

Last year I distinctly remember my friend Micah wishing me a happy 24th birthday and asking me how I felt. Being the slightly-OCD person that I am, I thought 24 was a really solid, even number which gave me a positive outlook on the year. "Ask me that next year," I joked, "25 is a really scary number."

Well, here we are.

Someone else asked me this year, "if you were talking to your little self, do you think you'd be proud of who you are?" - albeit it a very serious question for a birthday celebration, it's worth giving some thought. When people told us as kids that we could be whoever we wanted to be and go wherever we wanted to go, I always believed them. So as my little self looking forward, I think that I'd be proud of the fact that I've taken some chances, learned some lessons, and made a pretty joyful life along the way.

Quarter life crisis? Eh, not so much. It's hard to call anything in life a crisis when you're surrounded by such loving, encouraging and fun people! Birthday plans took shape early this year after rumblings of the fact that I'd never been to Billy Bob's, or owned my own pair of boots. (I think I was called the most "unTexan Texan, ever.") A group of my closest and dearest coordinated a night out in cow-town with a trip to the stockyards for Joe T. Garcia's fajitas and ritas, followed by a Miranda Lambert Concert at the World's Largest Honky Tonk.

My (new) vintage boots, courtesy of Mom!
These babies hadn't seen the light of day in over 30 years!

As I've become accustomed to the past few years, the tone of my birthday was set my a wonderful little snow storm. In New York, it was fun and we were familiar with it, but 12.5 inches in Texas made for a nice little surprise. It also added slight complications to the weekend. I've maybe never laughed as hard as I did while 3 girls in boots & dresses tried to push a BMW out of the snowy Billy Bob's parking lot...only to end up on our knees while the tires spun.

The snow also brought along the illusive snow day at work, and a mid-week sleepover due to power outages! As expected, Robbie was prepared with pizza and cookie cake.

A Brulyssa cookie cake & a New Moon cake?
I think Robbie made enemies in bakeries across Dallas for these novelty items.

All week, Kristen and Robbie had made a point that they wanted to give me my gift on Thursday night before the big day. A little worried that this gift seemed plotted and planned, I obliged and excitedly tore open the Nordstrom bag. If you're unclear on what kind of friends I have, here is a perfect example. In the expertly wrapped box was a birthday outfit - my favorite color blue dress, in the right size and fit, accessorized with a slimming chunky belt.

In case you don't know me at all, let me explain just how special this is. I'm the type of person that anticipates an event like this for weeks, and an hour before stands in my closet frustrated and hopeless because I have nothing to wear. (And sure enough - I had plans to leave work early on Friday and make a quick mall run.) And how many people do you trust to buy you clothes?! I would trust no one else to outfit me perfectly for my 25th birthday celebration; it is pretty much equivalent to me trusting them with my life. I'd do both, for sure.

Flowers, massages, cupcakes, books, cards and facebook messages. I have the best friends and family I could've ever known to ask for. What could I possibly have to be in crisis about?

When It Rains, It Floods

The title really has no reference to the massive snow storms blowing through the Northeast right now, although I do wish I was enjoying a fresh New York City snow. You know, the kind that's so pretty before it turns to black slush and ruins your shoes.

I've had a recent influx of free music, all of it worth sharing. During my routine Starbucks run this morning I picked up a couple of "Pick of the Week" cards. I love Starbucks for a lot of reasons, but this ranks at the top! I love that they pick really quality songs and artists to feature; I don't feel like they're trying to sucker me into downloading some completely obscure and bizarre track that I'm going to spend an hour trying to figure out how to delete from my iphone. Right now you can pick up Corrine Bailey Rae's I'd Like To Call It Beauty and Spoon's Mystery Zone. Both have been added to my current rotation.

Also, I downloaded a free compilation cd prior to the holidays with great stuff from some up and coming musicians. Since then I've gotten lots of freeby offers as they are starting to release new stuff. I haven't listened to all of this yet, but if you're looking for a "try before you buy" kind of deal, check out Matthew Mayfield, Meiko, and Josh Ritter for some free downloads.

And I have to give credit where credit is due. I watched an episode of The Buried Life this week on MTV with Kristen (our resident MTV expert) . I laughed, I cried (actually, I just teared up - barely) and then I downloaded no less than 3 songs from the single 30-minute episode. MEEP! I couldn't help myself! As much as I like to take shots at MTV, I have to say that their music selection is always shamefully spot-on. Plus, I'm gearing up for my annual trip to San Diego (can I call it annual if it's only my second?) and I'm building my SoCal playlist. I'm not sure if it was the tunes or just the show, but it all seemed very California to me. Plus, they're adorbs.


Check out Walking On A Dream by Empire of the Sun, and don't be scared by their anime album cover - just turn a blind eye. Also Stacy Clark's Strange and The Temper Trap's Love Lost. Also worth noting, Miike Snow's Burial and Animal.

The Freakin' Weekend

Work has been kind of slow this week. That is by no means a complaint, merely a statement of fact. It's a week like this that reminds me why I work.

The WEEKEND!

Isn't that why you have a job? To afford yourself a social life? For a single 20-something professional, your week is a bit like a roller coaster. Let me provide you a visual.


I guess it's a tale as old as time, because Loverboy nailed it perfectly back in 1981, before this world was ever graced with my presence.

Everyone's watchin' to see what you will do
Everyone's lookin' at you
Everyone's wonderin' will you come out tonight
Everyone's tryin' to get it right

Everybody's workin' for the weekend
Everybody wants a new romance
Everybody's goin' off the deep end
Everybody needs a second chance

Can I get a fist pump for Friday?

Lollapalooza

This weekend has felt like my own personal Lollapalooza, packed with concerts and car jam sessions. And in my world, “packed with concerts” also indicates that the weekend was abundant with opportunities to swoon. But that’s probably just me.

I’ll start off with a mention of John Mayer’s Storytellers that aired Thursday night. I melt at the thought, but I wasn’t too jazzed about the songs he chose…I have a lot of respect for his talent, but I could’ve done without hearing Your Body Is A Wonderland.

Friday evening, we piled in Robbie’s car and headed for burgers, a fried ride and a local school benefit concert. We were enticed with the promise of Megan’s boyfriend’s uncle playing the cowbell for a classic rock cover band. With all the great images and high expectations that come to mind at the thought of someone playing the cowbell in real life, we were committed with the hopes of something along the lines of Will Ferrell in his tiny tee. Although it was entertaining, we bailed early with our cowbell fever cured and headed for a local pub that we knew had a jukebox. As the entire kickball team filtered in, Kristen quickly worked her jukebox magic and roused the crowd with some Queen and Otis Redding.

Saturday morning, Robbie made good on a promise that he would get us copies of all the new music he got for Christmas. Enter the new Timbaland and Kris Allen cds! From Saturday morning on, Kristen and I kept Kris Allen’s Alright With Me on repeat as we rotated between Volvos. Maybe it was just all the magic that a Saturday brings, but I would challenge you to play that song on repeat and not at least feel the urge to snap! (I also highly recommend Bring It Back.)

Saturday evening was another benefit concert for the Bethesda Young Life Organization featuring Dave Barnes and Matt Wertz. Thus began the real swooning (and an impromptu marriage proposal via twitter). I have been a huge fan of both of these guys since college; so much talent and such great hearts. They shared a lot about their own stories, played some of their favorites and made lots of jokes. But Dave Barnes singing Grace’s Amazing Hands is nothing to joke about…you could see the girls going down in the audience one by one.

With a spring in our step, we scurried out of there (listened to Alright With Me about 3 more times in the car) and claimed a couple of extra tickets from some friends for the Yo La Tengo concert. I have to say that my favorite part about it was that the lead singer (age: still TBD) was married to the lady drummer and the band had been together since 1984. When he got crazy and starting distorting the amps about 13 minutes into a particular song, I’m sure her heart swelled behind her drum set. It was also the type of concert where the anonymous guy in the fedora felt comfortable enough to light up a reefer as he pleased…I guess that’s the life of a real rock ‘n roller.

I’ve also got the new Vampire Weekend cd to chew on, but I think I’m re-prioritizing my Sunday to include a serious nap before the Grammys red carpet begins, so more on that later.

Hope your weekends rocked too!

My Song Is Love

Tragedy has consumed the world in recent days. Sitting in a safe and comfortable place, it's hard to see and understand that these images are a reality for so many people in Haiti right now. It's all I can do to restrain myself from adopting a Haitian child.

I took some time tonight to catch up on the "Hope For Haiti Now" celebrity telethon that aired this past weekend. The images are nothing short of gut-wrenching, but there are tremendous stories of faith, survival, hope and perseverance. One of the stories they featured was of a Haitian man who stood outside of the building, where he knew his wife was trapped, for days on end, never giving up hope that she was alive. On day 6, he found her; and she came out singing.

There are so many great organizations that are gathering funds and aiding in the relief and rebuilding efforts. But this Hope For Haiti album is a new way to give and further your passion. Some of the most incredible artists of our time have gathered and added their spin on old classics. 100% of proceeds go to support the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, and Yele Haiti Foundation.

If you need a little more convincing, listen to Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris's version of Hallelujah or Jennifer Hudson's Let It Be, or Coldplay's acoustic medley of The Message. "Stranded (Haiti Mom Amour)" features powerhouse musicians like Bono, Rhianna, Jay-Z and The Edge. I assure you, you'll never get this many names on an album for this price, for a cause as great as this.

A Sweet Disposition

I don’t do resolutions. One of the key things I lack as a person is self-discipline. I’m not a runner; I’m not a dieter; I’m not a consistent blogger. Therefore, making a new year’s resolution is like setting myself up for failure – and I have a serious fear of failure. So when the inevitable question flies my way, I take the edgy and confident approach of “I don’t do resolutions.” transitioning my position from failure to trend-setter.

Truth is I’m not inspired by a calendar date. I think inspiration finds you at the most unexpected times and places. After a low key weekend of spending quality time with friends and watching really romantic movies (and football!), I found myself full of hope and optimism for the New Year.

In a frenzy brought on the arctic blast and 1* wind chills, I booked a flight to California to spend 4 glorious days with my two best girl friends.

Kristen introduced me to this blog, which entertained me for hours and restored my faith in love and fun. They give me hope and fulfill all my crazy ideas about life.

I read this tonight in a magazine: "The most elusive of men, Mr. Right is difficult to locate but well worth the effort. Many women settle before finding him, so go out with your friends, be yourself and he will appear. Mazel tov."

Trivial they may be, but here are the few things I can commit to doing in 2010:

I’m going to keep my hair long (until I’m tired of it), because it makes me feel girly.

I’m going to finish reading the Harry Potter series (currently in book 5) and also try to read lots of other, more mature books too.

I’m going to pray more.

I’m going to keep testing the waters with indie music, because once you get past the weird stuff, it’s really, really good.

I’m going to invest in my loved ones, because the ROI is immeasurable. (And it’s not like I have a 401k to invest in.)

I’m going to be happy for others when they’re happy, and celebrate in their accomplishments.

I’m going to turn 25.

I’m going to figure out how to turn off the closed caption feature on my DVD player.

I’m going to keep writing this blog, because every time someone notices that I haven’t blogged in a while, and they see this as a negative thing, I get a tiny surge of joy.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found in you," declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-4

Christmas Vacation

I'm a bit of a competitive person. It's usually less about the prize and more about the glory/bragging rights. However, sometimes such a competition comes along where you just can't help but wanna win. This is one of those times.

For those of you who are not prone to celebrity stalking, you may not be aware that John Mayer is conducting his Second Annual Interfaith Baking Contest. With the grand prize set at 4 meet and greet backstage passes, an autographed guitar and the Christmas sweater he wore on the Ellen Show, I can confidently say, I want to win.

Always supportive of my unhealthy addictions, my creative friends jumped in to help brainstorm a winning idea (last year's winner was a cake in the shape of the legendary leg lamp). The brainstorming session went a number of directions; a cake of John Mayer glittering like Edward Cullen; a cake of the infamous Borat swimsuit was another runner-up. But in the end, we stuck with what we know best - Christmas movies and great one-liners.

With Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie on the brain, we went to work. It was a real group effort with lots of creative input: Mix vanilla and chocolate frosting for a realistic flesh color. A mini Swisher Sweet cigar would be a nice touch. Toast the coconut to make more realistic chest hair. I've never been more proud or so full of Christmas cheer. Here's to hoping JM gets our humor!

The real Cousin Eddie: our inspiration.

The Swisher Sweets took it up to a whole new level.

It's all about the presentation...and the lighting.

I think the Antler Mug is a nice touch.