Balloon Glow

Last weekend, there was the Balloon Glow. It's this big thing that St. Louis does every year in Forest Park, our version of Central Park (except it's better because, well, it's not in NYC. And I love NYC, don't get me wrong, buuuut I like that St. Louis is smaller). On Friday evening, all the hot air balloons get inflated and they glow, from the fire breathing that makes the balloons into balloons. And then on Saturday they "race" somewhere. I don't know where. I didn't go on Saturday. But I got some sweet shots from Friday.

Energizer bunny. People are in awe because of this but I wasn't all that impressed.


Pretty sunset with balloon silhouettes










I was fascinated. A St. Louis veteran, and I had never been to the Balloon Glow. I'll definitely be going back every year.

Today is a Rainy Day.

I already observed at SLUH this morning and got wet. Already. And it's only 9:38.



I took this picture from my window last year. It was cold that morning. And it had obviously snowed, previously. And there was fog. I looked out the window, felt compelled to take a picture, and promptly fell back into bed and went to sleep.

Wish I could do that right now...but wish me luck, because I'm giving a speech on DIY in my public speaking class! Wheee!

My exciting news.

I'm not having a baby (thank God), getting married (?), or have a brand new fancy job. But this is juuust the type of excitement I need. Little college girl and all, I mean.

Recognize this?


No? Well, how about THIS:


That's RIGHT, I got a Gocco Press. I am super hyped. They normally go for anywhere from $200 - $400 (on eBay or online stores), but I got mine for $25. That's right. I was pretty darn impressed with myself.

Kids Flea Market, at the Magic House. Seriously. I was hoping to get something like Pez Dispensers for my collection, or some cute little art supplies or something. Nope. Got this. Was going to ask for it for Christmas.

The kit does NOT include bulbs and there is only one screen, so I need to order some more supplies online. Then I will get going. I'll keep you updated. When I make my first invite or napkin or whatever, it'll be on here.

Oh this is just too good.

Stolen from Bridgett. And fast, too.

The rules:
A) Go to Music Outfitters
B) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year
C) Annotate your list:
Bold the songs you like, italicize your favorites. Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about), and change the font color to red if you would lunge violently at the radio and break one or more fingernails trying to change the station as fast as possible.

1. Bad Day, Daniel Powter
2. Temperature, Sean Paul
3. Promiscuous, Nelly Furtado Featuring Timbaland
4. You're Beautiful, James Blunt
5. Hips Don't Lie, Shakira Featuring Wyclef Jean
6. Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield
7. Crazy, Gnarls Barkley
8. Ridin', Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone
9. Sexyback, Justin Timberlake
10. Check on It, Beyonce Featuring Slim Thug
11. Be without You, Mary J. Blige
12. Grillz, Nelly Featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp
13. Over My Head (Cable Car), The Fray
14. Me & U, Cassie
15. Buttons, The Pussycat Dolls Featuring Snoop Dogg
16. Run It!, Chris Brown
17. So Sick, Ne-Yo
18. It's Goin' Down, Yung Joc
19. SOS, Rihanna
20. I Write Sins not Tragedies, Panic! At The Disco
21. Move Along, The All-American Rejects
22. London Bridge, Fergie
23. Dani California, Red Hot Chili Peppers
24. Snap Yo Fingers, Lil Jon Featuring E-40 & Sean Paul Of The YoungBloodZ
25. Lean Wit It, Rock wit It, Dem Franchize Boyz Featuring Lil Peanut & Charlay
26. What Hurts the Most, Rascal Flatts
27. How to Save a Life, The Fray
28. Unfaithful, Rihanna
29. Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol
30. Lips of an Angel, Hinder
31. Everytime We Touch, Cascada
32. Ain't no Other Man, Christina Aguilera
33. Dance, Dance, Fall Out Boy
34. Gold Digger, Kanye West Featuring Jamie Foxx
35. Money Maker, Ludacris Featuring Pharrell
36. Ms. New Booty, Bubba Sparxxx Featuring Ying Yang Twins & Mr. ColliPark
37. (When You Gonna) Give It Up To Me, Sean Paul Featuring Keyshia Cole
38. Photograph, Nickelback (I hate, genuinely, EVERY Nickelback song.)
39. Because of You, Kelly Clarkson
40. Stickwitu, The Pussycat Dolls
41. I'n N Luv (Wit a Stripper), T-Pain Featuring Mike Jones
42. My Humps, The Black Eyed Peas
43. Where'd You Go, Fort Minor Featuring Holly Brook
44. Yo (Excuse Me Miss), Chris Brown
45. Walk Away, Kelly Clarkson
46. Laffy Taffy, D4L
47. What you Know, T.I.
48. Dirty Little Secret, The All-American Rejects
49. Savin' Me, Nickelback
50. Don't Forget About Us, Mariah Carey
51. Sexy Love, Ne-Yo
52. U and Dat, E-40 Featuring T-Pain & Kandi Girl
53. Far Away, Nickelback
54. What's Left of Me, Nick Lachey
55. So What, Field Mob Featuring Ciara
56. Do it to It, Cherish Featuring Sean Paul Of The YoungBloodZ
57. Black Horse & the Cherry Tree, KT Tunstall
58. There it Go! (The Whistle Song), Juelz Santana
59. Shoulder Lean!, Young Dro Featuring T.I.
60. Unpredictable, Jamie Foxx Featuring Ludacris
61. My Love, Justin Timberlake Featuring T.I.
62. Shake That, Eminem Featuring Nate Dogg
63. Pullin' Me Back, Chingy Featuring Tyrese
64. Bossy, Kelis Featuring Too $hort
65. Chain Hang Low, Jibbs
66. Smack That, Akon Featuring Eminem (but it's only because of Aimee.)
67. One Wish, Ray J
68. Sugar We're Goin' Down, Fall Out Boy
69. Gimme That, Chris Brown Featuring Lil' Wayne
70. I Know You See It, Yung Joc Featuring Brandy 'Ms. B.' Hambrick
71. Who Says You Can't Go Home, Bon Jovi
72. Too Little Too Late, JoJo
73. Touch It, Busta Rhymes
74. Rompe, Daddy Yankee
75. Deja Vu, Beyonce Featuring Jay-Z
76. Life is a Highway, Rascal Flatts
77. Call me When You're Sober, Evanescence
78. Jesus, take the Wheel, Carrie Underwood
79. Show Stopper, Danity Kane
80. Get Up, Ciara Featuring Chamillionaire
81. We be Burnin', Sean Paul
82. Hate Me, Blue October
83. You and Me, Lifehouse
84. Beep, The Pussycat Dolls Featuring will.i.am
85. I Think They Like Me, Dem Franchize Boyz Featuring Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat & Bow Wow
86. Say Goodbye, Chris Brown
87. Waiting on the World to Change, John Mayer
88. Soul Survivor, Young Jeezy Featuring Akon
89. Pump It, The Black Eyed Peas
90. When I'm Gone, Eminem
91. Hung Up, Madonna
92. Stay Fly, Three 6 Mafia Featuring Young Buck & Eightball & MJG
93. Love, Keyshia Cole
94. When You're Mad, Ne-Yo
95. Why You Wanna, T.I.
96. Stupid Girls, Pink
97. Feel Good Inc, Gorillaz
98. I'm Sprung, T-Pain
99. Do I Make you Proud, Taylor Hicks
100. For you I Will (Condience), Teddy Geiger

Okay, that was nowhere NEAR as fun as it should have been. I don't even know half of those songs. Seriously. I wonder if I picked a year in the '90s, I would do better. I probably would.

I just plugged in 2002 (the year I graduated from grade school), and I actually know probably 90% of those songs. And smile when I see their titles, because it reminds me of summers that I was obsesssssssed with the Backstreet Boys. Oh I was so cool.

PS: I have some exciting news for later. But I need pictures to go with it. So you have to wait. Haha!

Another commercial

I can't help it. I watch TV from time to time, and I see these commercials...U.S. Cellular has some person with a really great talent to make me have tears in my eyes after every commercial.

6 Unspectacular Things About Me

As tagged by Bridgett

6 Unspectacular Things About Me

1. I have coffee spot birthmarks in three different places on my body
2. I'm gonna be hanging out in high school for the rest of my life. Yay!
3. I very much enjoy most things turquoise - jewelery, paint color, almost anything.
4. Meteorology fascinates me. I've seen the Milky Way twice and loved every second of it!
5. Sometimes I wish I had blonde hair (I don't know why)
6. I wish I spent more time being creative.

So, I now tag:
Laura B
Lauren K
Sonrie/Rosemary
Laura BEE (have to be specific
-and-
Jo

Directions:
1. link the person who tagged you
2. mention the rules on your blog
3. list 6 unspectacular things about you
4. tag 6 other bloggers by linking them

Wheee!

Things I am Going to Wear When I'm a Teacher

typewriter necklace - as seen on creature comforts


1-2-3, A-B-C shirt @ fredflare


fairytale skirt - madewithlovebyhannah


this whole shebang - j.crew


flora cashmere dress - jcrew


olive coat - littlehouses


And I would hang this up in the classroom somewhere:

here, from willbryantplz's flickr stream

Oh man

I want this so bad. These workspaces/home shots look amazing. I would like to recreate them pronto, if I had the resources/space. As seen on the Nesting blog.

Another engagement!

But this one is super exciting - Steve and Mary (Steve, being Pete's twin brother) RECENTLY PROPOSED to longtime girlfriend Mary!


I'm super excited for them. Together, they are two fun people so I know their wedding/reception/whatever good stuff they have planned will be delightful and exciting!

Congrats, you two!

Soon-to-be-a-Redhead?

Thinking of dying my hair, a color like this...



As seen on kristatomic. The model's name is Julia Bedard. She's a pretty lil thing, huh?

SPOTTED

Adorable collection of vintage popcorn bags. Would look great in black frame.

Purchase at gogoabigail's etsy shop

Labor Day Weekend

I had a really great time this labor day. Me and Pete headed down to Camp Ondessonk, his old place of work, and played all weekend with friends (old and new) - archery, swimming, hiking, canoeing, shimmying down waterfalls, making boondoggles, and sitting around campfires. It was SUCH a good time.

I am a 100% city girl, so I was a bit nervous at first. But it was just so amazing being in nature 24/7...even if I was wet the entire time from sweat, and even if the mosquitoes were being insane. It was SUCH an amazing weekend.

My favorite things were probably:
1. Laying in the parking lot, watching stars (and seeing seven shooting stars!) for an hour one night
2. Archery. I'm good with a bow and arrow!

3. Hiking (hiked to a beautiful waterfall (that wasn't in service, but oh well) and then climbed down - one of the most thrilling and exciting things EVER

4. Catching up with people I don't get to see NEARLY as often as I would like to - Laura, Jason, Emma, Kyle, Danno, Carrie, Katie, and of course, MOLLY!

Jason, Laura's future hubby


Me, with a big rock

5. And then...DUH, there was that whole Prom dance thing...

Pete, Molly, Me...it was icky hot outside


Me and Danno


Me, Laura, Molly [shoutout: Congrats, Laura, on your amazing win!]


Jason and Laura, the happy couple


Katie and Carrie

So much fun! I was happy to be home, in the air-conditioning, but the night we got back I looked up at the sky and saw like five stars, compared to the thousands upon thousands I saw previously (did I mention I saw the Milky Way?!?! I SAW IT! The second time in my life, since I saw it once at the Grand Canyon...)

Truly, a magical place to be.

Hmm.

Still really weirded out by this. Spotted on kirtsy.

From the site: "The “product“ is a kind of protection against rape, somewhat similar to a tampon in that it’s user carries it inserted into her vagina. The basic idea is that the woman carries the protective device in her vagina. In it there is a sharp pin which has a penetrating effect on the perpetrator’s penis in the event of a rape. The construction is such that the pin still cannot injure the bearer."



My oh my, my blog has turned a bit political today!

Election

I've never been one to involve myself with politics. It's too messy, too confusing, too much mudslinging, and really...everyone acts like a bunch of immature 4-year-olds.

But I've been watching a ton of coverage - lots of both the Democratic and Republic National Conventions. I am still researching the facts of both candidates (but I mean come on, I'm totally leading towards Obama. I'm in college. I have mostly liberal thoughts. It really all makes sense), but today I found this music video, and it gave me goosebumps and put tears in my eyes.

Getting those feelings really tell me something, though. I can feel, deep down, just how important this election is. And when I see and hear Obama speak, I just feel...comfortable. I feel safe. He restores my hope in this country, he really does.

And seriously, all this comes from a girl who REALLY has never had an opinion in politics. No, seriously. Ask anyone.

Check out this video. It's pretty fantastic.