Dream Dinner

Outstanding in the Field has been blogged about plenty, but I found myself daydreaming today about attending one of their once-in-a-lifetime dinners. I even looked into a few dinners that would be close enough to road trip to. Doesn't it sound like the perfect way to spend a warm summer evening? It'd be a great splurge for a birthday or anniversary dinner.

Photos via Outstanding in the Field.

A Gender Reveal Party

My friends Chelsea and Trae are expecting their first baby late this summer, and just last week were able to find out the gender. A few days after their sonogram (it must have been killing them!) they invited friends over for a little party to find out "Wat" color icing would be inside the cake. They asked me to make the reveal cake, and I was honored and excited to be the first to know if little Baby Wat would be made of slugs, snails and puppy dog tails or sugar, spice and everything nice.

Thankfully, friend and ridiculously talented photographer Trent was in attendance to capture everything in these lovely photos.

{The proud-papa-to-be bought out the pink and blue decor section of the local party store.}

{Big sister Pippa looks a little nervous}

{both sets of parents watched the reveal on Facetime}

{pink icing!!}

For some reason, it surprised me when they knew what it was after making the first cut. I had pictured the blog-perfect moment of them pulling the slice out and then knowing, but they got a little sneak peek when the knife came up with pink frosting (everyone screamed!). At that point, Chelsea couldn't even finish cutting the cake, she was so elated to find out that it's a girl. Friends had to remind them to keep cutting, their parents couldn't tell what it was yet! You can see it in the video on their cute baby blog.

It was such a fun night, and so special that Trae and Chelsea wanted all their friends to be there with them to find out. Hurry up, Baby Girl Watlington, we're all ready to meet you!

All photos courtesy of the talented and generous Trent Bailey.

Nebraska Jones

You guys are listening to Kimbra, right? I feel like she's all over the place these days, so I doubt I'm the first to tell you, but if you need an album to shake you out of a funk (musical, mood, or otherwise) please go purchase her EP right now. If you need convincing, watch the one woman blow-your-mind-amazing show she put on at SXSW in the above video. (Plus, anyone who can pull off a pair of Beetlejuice pants is worth your time.)



My friend Murph introduced me to Kimbra by making me watch her "crazy dancing video with creepy dolls" of the same song she performed at SXSW, Settle Down. I'm obsessed with how she sings "Nebraska, Nebraska Jones." Any music you're are listening to on repeat lately?

Update: also, watch this one. It's official, I'm obsessed with her.



Top video via Maggie at Mighty Girl.

(A Woodsy) Weekend in Pictures

{lake reflections}

{mossy tree + tiny waterfall}

{majestic mountain lion gazing at a disco ball}

{lake champion}

{early morning blue}

{misty morning lake}

This weekend I went upstate on a retreat with my church. It was great to be out of the city for a few days, although I didn't really do anything of note. I looked at trees, marvelled at stars (want to spot a city-dweller in the woods? they're looking up), watched fog roll in and out over the lake, and sat in the sun in my pajamas. Totally relaxing and refreshing. Hope your weekend was the same!

Remember the Illustrated Missed Connections? The illustrator, Sophie Blackall, illustrated a poster for the MTA's Arts for Transit program. The poster will be in subway cars throughout 2012. I can't wait to see it in person, her characters are so fun and so full of life and story.

Abstract

I know next to nothing about art, but I've been loving all the abstract paintings that Kate finds. What do you think of abstract art? I don't have any at the moment, but I feel like it could change with your mood and look different as the light in your home changes throughout the day.









I think abstract art could be a step towards overcoming my genetically-inherited decorating disorder: it's nearly impossible for me to commit to hanging something on the wall. My mom is the same way (my sister jokingly calls her nothing-on-the-walls decorating style "serial killer chic"). Now, if only most of these pieces weren't already sold.

Paintings via Kate's Pinterest. Painting 1, painting 2, painting 3, painting 4, painting 5.

(Things I Saw) Weekend In Pictures

{a bunny in a boutique window}

{a man rolling around in some sort of metal ball}

{blue sky and sunshine}

{abandoned dino hat}

I was hoping to do some photo-worthy things this weekend, but I ended up having one of those productive but not very restful weekends. And no one really wants to see photos of all the laundry I did. But thankfully, Manhattan is pretty much always something to look at, even when one is just running errands or tiredly schlepping home with high hopes of a nap.