Self-Portraits in Seattle

Hello everyone,

I trust that this post finds you all as fine as a fiddle on this lovely autumn day! School is keeping me busy, but I did steal away a few minutes to snap a few self-portraits in my new apartment. Also, in honor of the changing seasons, I thought it would be nice to take a moment to consider what I love most about fall!

Fall loves:

-fall adventures where the leaves go crunch! crunch! crunch! under my feet

-cool mornings with warm afternoons

-pumpkin bread (I'm hoping to attempt to make my own soon!)

-carving pumpkins (baked pumpkin seeds are the best!)

-sweater weather :)

What about you? What are you looking forward to (or are already enjoying) this fall?

Ta-ta for now,

AK

I Can Hear the Bells...

Hello everyone,

MY BEST FRIEND GOT MARRIED THIS PAST WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm jazzed about it, can you tell? :)

Anne's wedding was absolutely beautiful- it was small enough that everyone felt included, but large enough that people could split off and connect without detracting from the other elements. The entire event was classy, from the wedding venue itself (art museums for the win!) to the dress (holy lace, and those buttons!!) to the reception area (natural light and open space with modern elements, count me in!). Most importantly, I think it succeeded in both being an enjoyable event for the bride/groom AND the guests. I had fun, I cried (but not during my speech!), and I laughed harder than I have in a long time. My friend Trevvor summed up the mood perfectly when he commented that he had "been to weddings where the bride and groom spent a half a million dollars, and (he) didn't have nearly as much fun at those weddings as (he) was having at Anne's."

Love you Anne!

-AK

Better Late Than Never- The Opportunities We Almost Miss

This past Monday we dyed eggs. My mom, my dad, and I sat in the kitchen and drew faces onto chilly eggs with Crayola crayons. We experimented with melted wax and with onion dye (it makes a parchment color that is rather pretty, however the eggs also end up smelling like... well onions), and we laughed at our egg-shaped portraits. Like children we played and laughed and explored the limitations of a simple egg-dying kit. When our kit proved faulty (we had three greens), we giggled and my mom pointed out that "at least they are a pretty green." 

Then, when all the eggs were gone, we drifted through the kitchen erasing the signs of our activity. One by one we bid each other adieu and headed for the comfort of our beds. I believe we each went our own ways filled with contentment that only such a spontaneous and happy gathering can bring. Oddly enough, it was this moment, done a day behind and rather unplanned, that has become my favorite mental snapshot of this Easter. 

Always leave yourself open to opportunities such as this one. This is a lesson that I often fail on, but one that I am constantly being reminded of. The moments are often small, but they have a great potential for shared joy. 

 Sincerely ,

AK