My weekend

This weekend brought me lazy days spent at the university pool, evenings cooking with Katie and Natalie and lounging on their front porch, a sunburn, late nights socializing and drinking with my girlfriends, an early morning yard sale trip that turned out to be completely unsuccessful, a delicious $1 hot dog from the newly opened Earth Fare, some fruits and a take home burrito purchased at the new Earth Fare (5% of the proceeds from their first 3 days open went to Beardsley Community Farm, yeah!), a catch up session with my very-intoxicated older bother- John, a vintage guide book on Scottish plaids, a single wooden place mat purchased on sale for the new apartment, a cold San Pelligrino-limonata flavored at Tomato Head restaurant, a sunburn, lots of Macaroni Grill brand-White Zinfandel, and a wonderful, inspirational finish to the book I've been loving; Eat, Pray, Love.

Lately..

I am currently reading (and loving) this book! I wanted to pick it up years ago but never got around to it. I am at the point where the author has just left Rome (aaahhhh...) and is now headed to India.

Lately I have been enjoying listening to the beautiful voice of the Russian born Jewish-American singer Regina Spektor.

summer job

I am hoping for a relaxing, enjoyable weekend. The week days have been particularly exhausting lately. I am an Orientation Leaders for the University and we work roughly 6 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. M-F. This summer I have dedicated my time to welcoming students to the University of Tennessee. I love my summer job. I love the diverse, incredible people that I work with but it is hard to stay energentic with the long days we work. So we get paid to mingle and chat, and answer students (and their parents) questions.

dorm room

This is a DORM room, yes, A DORM ROOM. It is currently home to Maximilian Sinsteden, a senior at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. It was featured in New York Magazine in the Home Design section last month. I love the layers of oriental rugs, the green walls, the random unmatching artwork on the walls, his colorful tie collection, and his mini bar tray table. THIS will be my new inspiration!

My mother. Soon to be 50 years old/young is presumably the most interesting and mysterious person I have ever known. I don’t spend much time with her these days nor do I even speak to her on a regular basis. Nevertheless, the moments we do spend together I truly treasure. Tonight we enjoyed Indian food and Heineken light together. It was so nice to catch up and share stories with each other. She talked of purchasing a “lucky” Chinese bamboo plant for me. Ironically I purchased on just last week when my friends and I look a day trip to IKEA in Atlanta.
I’ll admit that I, like everyone else I know, enjoy spending hours in IKEA wondering through its many home decor departments and loving almost every inexpensive-yet-stylish piece of furniture. However, I also feel that stuffing your home with their items disguises your true personality and distinction as a person and as a home. Maybe that’s just me. Later on I told my mother of a necklace that I’ve had my eye on for nearly a year now. It is a delicate fortune cookie charm on a simple chain. I found it in a lovely shop in Market Square called Bliss. I was going to treat myself to it when I got my first summer paycheck. My mother left the room and came back with a cardboard white jewelry box that, when opened, revealed a small silver fortune cookie charm that my mother had bought for herself just days ago. She gave it to me and I had the perfect silver chain for it already. It is now resting on my neck and I love it even more than I would have loved the one from Bliss.

The Park

A day at the park

Elf

I was elected to play Santa in my sorority's version of "Elf" for Carnicus-a skit competition between campus organizations. Oh, the things I do for Delta Zeta. We won 3rd place.