a word for wednesday

i created my first gif!  it's so simple and i can't believe i have waited so long to actually try and do this, but i am so stoked to share this with y'all.  a few weeks ago, we did a holiday shoot with mary kate for some new product we're launching at fig. 2 {which i'm also very thrilled about}.  the images were so fun i just had to do a little something with them.

so today's word for wednesday comes from this song by p!nk {i feel like she's singing while in cirque du soleil}.  it's a good reminder that we're not much different than the person next to us, that it's sometimes good + healthy to take risks and just have a good time.  and in case you were wondering, it is fun to throw glitter in the air – maybe you should give it a try this week!

thanks again to the brilliant mk for the original images.

xoxo, m

{style} polka dots

it's safe to say that i've been into polka dots lately.  okay, okay and maybe the beach {though now there's been a chill in the weather & it feels like fall} i love that they're a versatile print which can be classy + fun at the same time.  the last j.crew catalog and the newest kate spade pattern of the month got me back on the polka dot train, so here are six of my picks!

 chambray towels // circle shoulder bag // notebook // blouse // lime shirt // pencils

and if you're in the mood for something to blow your mind, look no further than andrew chae from tim be told's acoustic version call me maybe – enjoy!

happy monday!

happy friday!

photo from what katie ate

burgers are up for tonight's dinner with the youth kids.  thinking about unique toppings to bring for everyone besides the regular suspects.  perhaps some salsa, mushrooms, eggs, or peanut butter?  what do you put on your burger?

 

earlier this week I went to a Kina Grannis concert at the 9:30 Club in DC.  it's been a while since my last concert, and I forgot how much I love them!  I saw Kina last year in Houston and loved it, but even back then she played a solo act and this time around she had a cellist with her and it was phenomenal. cello's are my favorite.

anyway, here are some big music festivals coming up this summer!  what are your picks?

+ Sweet Green's Sweetlife Food & Music Festival :: Saturday, April 28 :: Merriweather Post Pavilion :: Columbia, MD

featuring kid cudi, the shins, explosions in the sky, fun., delta spirit, and more

+ Pitchfork Music Festival :: July 13-15 :: Union Park :: Chicago, IL

featuring feist, vampire weekend, tim hecker, and more

+ Lollapalooza :: August 3-5 :: Grant Park :: Chicago, IL

featuring red hot chili peppers, the temper trap, passion pit, delta spirit, florence + the machine, and more

+ Outside Lands :: August 10-12 :: Golden Gate Park :: San Francisco, CA

featuring stevie wonder, foo fighters, norah jones, regina spektor, fun., metallica, andrew bird, and more

+ Mixtape Festival :: August 17-18 :: Hersheypark Stadium :: Hershey, PA

featuring kelly clarkson, backstreet boys + new kids on the block, the fray, carly rae jepsen, and more

have a happy weekend!

it's a good friday.

*original photo by glaser via surfermag

i've been introduced to ben howard.  vicki introduced me at work the other day and we watched this ridiculously awesome music video of keep your head up (lyrics quoted in the image) which is our new favorite song, and discussed how we could replicate that water slide in a less complicated way.  if you have any ideas, shoot them my way!  i loved it so much, i went home and bought the album.  here's the vid, your weekend links & my week in instagrams!

+ got a bad case of the allergies?  read health.com's ultimate allergy guide for some tips and buy some effective allergy remedies suggested by real simple.  luckily mine haven't been too bad this time around, especially with living in a new area and all.

+ i love the work of jen gotch (she has an awesome, refreshingly simple website).  her new store, oh snap, recently went live where she sells primarily polaroid scanned prints.

+ love them baubles?  i just heard of jewelmint, a website where you can buy jewelry for $29.99 each.  you create a style profile by taking a quiz (basically clicking images/brands that you like) and they select suggested accessories for you to purchase.

+ i'm looking to fly to houston in june from either dc or nyc (it's cheaper to fly from there, and all i have to do is take a bus).  any tips or favorite sites to search for deals?  right now i'm using priceline and hotwire.

this past week has been a jumble of the great and not-so-great, but mostly great.  here are the highlights!

happy weekend & happy easter!

The Hunger Games

For the last time, it is not a game about being hungry.  I like this tweet posted by TexasHumor, "We've got Hunger Games in Texas. It's called fightin' to be at the front of the buffet line."  So what, I don't live in Texas anymore, but Texas lives in me - ha ha.  I know, I'm hilarious...

Anyway, I know The Hunger Games is all over everything, but I just have to say that this is one of those books you have to read - guy or girl.  It's a really good read (though I haven't finished all 3 books yet), and it's a great story about sacrifice, strategy and courage.  There's a lot of hype about this movie, and (perhaps unfortunately) my expectations keep getting higher every time I watch one of these videos.  I'm not going to add any of my own speculations about it, but if you don't know what it's about yet, I suggest you watch this trailer.

destination: charlottesville

Grab a cup of jo, sit down in a cozy chair...relax.

*original image by Lara Jade

It's peaceful here, and that's what I love.  The lulled murmur of cars that pass, families with young kids getting froyo, and couples with their dogs walking through the park...these are the things you miss in life when you run too fast and surely I've done so.  I can hear the birds calling, writing songs as the brittle winter branches stretch and awaken to a bright Spring day.  Their close-to-withering leaves seem to squint at the harsh, but oddly familiar rays of the sun.  It's nice to finally notice things again.

Charlottesville was wonderful, a breath of fresh air and a time of peace.  Driving is always something that just makes me feel free.  When I moved to Houston for college, I got used to the 3-4 hour drives  to Dallas or Austin.  The drives in Virginia are particularly beautiful, though.  I'm a little of both - city and country.  I love me some Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, but I still need a dose of the city's bright lights every once in a while.

happy weekend!

Not gonna lie, this is really what I would love to do this weekend.  Too bad it's been raining here, I have no such dock to read on, and it's been a while since I've gotten to simply sit down with a good book.  At the very least I have Kinfolk (more on that another time).  Anyhow, it's been a busy week, but a good one nonetheless.  Looking forward to many things in the near future!  Here are some links for your weekend:

music for the morning

Good morning, friends!  Just thought I'd share a few songs and videos that I'm loving lately.
  Of course, I must first honor Whitney Houston.  I'm sure everyone is sick of hearing her songs replayed on the radio, but this cover by the multi-talented Ben Rector is fantastic.  He's going on tour with NEEDTOBREATHE this Spring!

Happy Friday + Valentine's

Not gonna lie, it's been a long week in every sense of the word.  I wish I could transport to this place, drive around these roads to the sea and watch the sunset with a cup of tea warming my hands.  Mmm...

{Sorrento, Italy via sunsurfer}

It's that fateful weekend of Valentine's Day - one of my not-so-favorite holidays because everything is atrociously red, but I will say that I love the abundance of chocolate around.  We're having a Valentine's banquet at church tonight and I'm anticipating lots of desserts!  Here's a few links for your weekend:

video: (piano/cello cover) rolling in the deep - adele

I don't know about you, but I'm a fan of covers. I think there's something refreshing about hearing another person's take on a song. Though there are more than enough horrible youtubers out there, there are a handful that I have come to love and one of them is The Piano Guys. I find Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson's piano/cello covers particularly incredible and perhaps you will too!

currently

It's a bit overcast today, but I'm here again at Northside Social with my chai latte. The past few days have been particularly eventful. My hands are a bit worn from dealing with thorns and floral tape at Holly Chapple's floral shop, my feet a bit sore from running around the beautiful grounds of Airlie from this weekend's wedding. This week ended well as I hit some major milestones like watching Bad Boys II and The Matrix for the first time (yes, yes, I know...cue jaws dropping). And though I'm not the biggest sports fanatic, Texas pride definitely runs in my blood. Go Cowboys! What else is new?

"texas love" by rooted in paper

{swoon} reverie market & ben rector

Danni of oh, hello friend is one of my favorite bloggers who inspired me to start my own inspiration blog. She's another one of those people that I admire and respect in every sense of the word, and now she's opened up her own shop! Check out the beauty of Reverie Market and send her some "eprops" and feedback. This is definitely a spot I'll hit up when I want to splurge on myself.

the vintage style pocket watch necklace, $24.50

these are a few of my favorite things

(1) If you couldn't already tell, I love quotes. Witty. Sentimental. Genius.
By smart, seasoned, respected people, children, and comedians alike.

(2) Music from Audrey Assad, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, and Sara Bareilles.

 

p-p-p-party every day

Who doesn't love a good party? I believe there is always a reason to celebrate. In this case, it was to celebrate the end of a season. Cathy and I decided to throw an intimate party for our friend's band, Tim Be Told (check them out if you haven't!) as they closed their tour in Houston.

We made a map plotting the cities they had gone to & made labels for the food and beverages on chalkboard paper. You can find these 4x6" postcards at Paper Source (Cathy and I's frequented favorite store).

Eric graciously individually squeezed each lemon to make a delicious watermelon lemonade (smitten kitchen). So, enough of the prep pics -- here are some snaps from the party!

 

The main menu included honey barbecue ribs, oven-roasted asparagus, mixed salad, mashed potatoes, fried eggrolls, korean ribs, kim chi & seaweed.

video: joya + emre {wedding music video}

This is ridiculously cool & unconventional. Check out joya and emre | wedding music video from David Robin on Vimeo. My favorite part is when they have all the old folks say "dirty bit" -- so hilariously cute! The couple, bridal party, guests & even the planners look like they genuinely had a really great time. How fun!

video: silkscreen t-shirts {matt wertz}

i've been taking a silkscreen class this semester that has been loads of fun. learning the process, designing the art, picking and mixing the colors - all a very time-consuming process that produces a beautiful product. matt wertz posted a video about his shirts for his new album & how they are made. take a look at the silkscreening process!

Matt Wertz Promo from Lincoln Supply Co. on Vimeo.

music monday

one of these days i'll be broke from purchasing music.

especially these next two weeks, there are so many great albums releasing that i'm excited about.

release date: march 15

matt wertz. definitely feel-good acoustic pop. the kind you drive to with your windows down. you can listen to almost all his new tracks on itunes ping. take a listen & check out his website for tour dates!

**i'll be at his concert in houston helping at the merch table with the mocha club!

[favorite tracks: everything's right, 5:19, with you, tonight]

*anticipated tracks: someone like you, easier tonight, don't come easy

release date: march 22

i love, love, love shawn mcdonald, but am a firm believer that these songs of crying out and redemption don't come easily. his story is incredible, and thus produces such. listen to the title track "closer" streaming on his website.

[favorite tracks: take my life, captivated, simply nothing, gravity]

*anticipated tracks: closer (haven't heard any others yet)

release date: march 22

since summer '08 i've been hooked on tim be told's unique smorgasbord of music styles & downright honest lyrics. this album addresses a wide range of issues from doubting God and his goodness to  relationship struggles to human trafficking. check out my earlier post about their music and pre-order.

[favorite tracks: turning, perfect, all of me, analyze, third wheel]

*anticipated tracks: miscommunication, humanity, lament, compose me...if i'm being honest, all of them

any other new releases slash artist suggestions i should know about?

thursday therapy

for everyone having a crazy pre-spring break week,

here are some ways to get a little therapy for your stress.

if you're a coffee drinker, Starbucks is having Tribute Days from March 10-12 (2:00-5:00pm).
here's the deal: if you buy a drink, you can get a Petite for free! of course, while supplies last.
watch the video below for more details

if music helps you get through life, you must check out tim be told.
their music is inspiring, heartfelt, and filled with honest messages of hope through struggle. they're currently doing a pre-order for their new album entitled Humanity (first 300 orders). their title track is already amazing; i can't wait to hear the rest! you can take a listen to their older tracks on youtube. **please don't download illegally! one of my best friends' is the drummer - support your artists! (:

{photo from tim be told}

and they're also currently on tour! check their website (link above) to see when they'll be near you.

if you just need some words to give you a reality check, here are some photographs from the notebook doodles that i hope will encourage you tonight to press on and keep on truckin'. life is more than just about you. there is hope to be found. you are loved.

music monday: happy valentine's day!

if you haven't heard this song by kina grannis, you definitely should. it's called "valentine" and today you can download it for free!


did you catch the grammys yesterday?
still not sure how i'm feeling about gwneyth paltrow & cee lo's "forget" you performance...the muppets went a little too far for my taste. and my heart definitely melted inside when Will and Jada Smith were cheering on Jayden when he performed with Justin Bieber & Usher. what was your favorite performance?

i definitely loved this one the most. 3 amazing rock solid artists...i love collaborations.

free downloads from amazon for valentine's day as well, including a song by one of my favorite artists - dave barnes


also, noisetrade always has free albums of mostly non-mainstream artists. you don't have to pay, but they do ask for a donation if you can afford it slash are willing to give.


take advantage of these free deals & please, please do not download illegally.

use websites like youtube, pandora, or grooveshark to listen to music if you're not willing to pay.
support the artists you love by buying their albums & songs, especially the ones who aren't on repeat on the radio.
</soap box>


whether you're single, attached, undefined, or in a sticky situation,
know that Jesus Christ loves you unconditionally, deeply and abundantly each day.
happy valentine's day!
<3 meg