I've been crossing my fingers for a while hoping that someday Bri and Angela would bring blogshop to Phoenix. A couple weeks ago I took advantage of an even better opportunity and hopped up to Seattle to have some bff quality time and cross this class off my creative bucket list.
I can't even begin to tell you all the info that is crammed in my head, in the margins of notebooks and scribbled on random scraps of paper. I learned more about photoshop magic in 10 minutes at blogshop than I did in 2 years of trying to "figure it out". And that studio. That city. That.Goodie.Bag. Guh.
What a week. That's all. Being around such smart, creative gals was amazing. Maybe one of the best things I've ever done. And I've done some pretty great things. Forgive me now while I change up the layout of my slice of the internet daily as I play around.
love.lauren
I'm off to the beautiful Emerald City to see my best gal and do a little bit of this (!!!!). Sometimes you just gotta do it.
love.lauren
and even more, I cannot wait for the soundtrack. NPR is streaming it as a first listen, check it out!
love.lauren
I have another list of epic blogs for you today friends! Who doesn't love to dive into some snazzy, fresh new reading materials!?
Oh Joy!
Joy's site is FULL of pretty things. I can't stop looking. And lets be honest, we'd all die to work/live/hideout in her epic new studio.
Cupcakes & Cashmere
Emily's stuff is always so, so good. I think I found her when I was drooling over some Max Wanger photos and saw her wedding. Heart shaped lawn? Stop it.
Cup of Jo
Joanna's blog was one of the first ones I ever read. It's consistently great and it's kept me hooked for years. Even to the point of completely embarrassing myself when I ran into her and her husband on a trip to NYC (fangirl!).
Breakfast at Toast
I don't remember how I found Danielle's blog, but I immediately loved her style (and that adorable casted rescue pup!). She continues to be a favorite, and I'm a superfan of her newest venture, the everygirl.
Emily Henderson
If you love pretty things, you'll love Emily Henderson. I was obsessed with she was on HGTV Design Star, and when she hosted Secrets of a Stylist, and now reading about her thrifting skills (she's a craigslist wiz!) and house adventures is one of my favorite things to do.
love.lauren
I'm a sucker for a good movie. Generally indie. Sometimes a little weird. Always with a great soundtrack. Here are some of the best ones I've seen lately:
A.C.O.D
Girl Most Likely
Before Midnight
and While We Were Here
Big Sur
Muscle Shoals
love.lauren
You guys. This band.
I've seen a lot of music live. Everything from Jay-Z and Kanye to Tom Petty to The Avett Brothers. There is nothing that I love more. And Sprit Family Reunion is the best there is. I know that's a bold statement, but no band I've ever seen gets a crowd wrapped around its finger and singing and dancing and stomping like they do.
The Brooklyn-based band rarely (never) comes to the West coast. I first saw them at Newport last year, and I was hooked. When I found out they were playing up north in my favorite college town, I planned a road trip to Flagstaff without missing a beat. Then their van broke down (#indiefanproblems). The show was cancelled.
Busted van aside, something must have convinced them that the West coast has it's advantages, because they've tried again and popped up a number of times in the last year. When I heard they'd be playing at Way Over Yonder, I couldn't wait to get there.
There they were, crammed together with all their instruments on the smallest stage in existence. And they killed it. It took five seconds for the entire crowd to enthusiastically join in. People who heard them from the pier streamed in to check them out.
Because when Spirit Family asks you to sing loud and stomp your feet, you do it. No questions asked.
love.lauren
When the Newport Folk Festival decided to give a West coast weekend a go, I got excited. I was clicking "buy" on tickets before I had finished reading the tweet about Way Over Yonder.
Because I love Newport.
I wasn't sure it would be the same. I loved being at the Fort so much last year that I was worried my dreamy expectations would be left unsatisfied. I didn't want that wonderful feeling of musical perfection tarnished.
Good news is, it wasn't.
My dad spent many moments last year hinting at how jealous he was that my sister and I got to go to Newport. When I told him Jackson Browne was headlining, he nearly lost it.
And when I came home and told him I had spent an entire set listening to Joel Rafael while standing next to his musical hero, that was it.
My dad is fairly trusting of my musical tastes and generally thinks I'm a pretty cool adult that is fun to hang out with, so it was only fitting that he be my partner for Way Over Yonder.
We packed up and road tripped it over to the Santa Monica Pier, and spent a couple days listening to great acts like Brett Dennen, Shovels & Rope, Neko Case and First Aid Kit in the ocean air. I fell in love with new folks like the Eagle Rock Gospel Singers and Frank Fairfield.
And I got to practically sit on stage while my very, very favorite folk outfit, Spirit Family Reunion, shook the floor with their talent (I love them so much they'll get their own post...stay tuned!).
And on Sunday afternoon, when we wandered in and found Joel Rafael singing a set to a small, quiet crowd, I looked around, remembering the magic of Newport. My eyes landed on an unassuming guy in a baseball hat and shades, again enjoying his friend's set. I tapped my dad on the shoulder, pointed to my left, and then got to watch as he walked over and shook the hand of his musical hero.
And my dreamy expectations lived on.
love.lauren
