3.31.2014

A Reminder

Trying to keep things in perspective lately. 

Last week on Grey's Anatomy, they asked "Do you know who you are? Do you know what's happened to you? Do you want to live this way?" Three questions from a silly TV shouldn't make you think this much, but they did. 

Feeling very introspective lately. 

3.27.2014

Not Knowing

... when all these people will be together again is painful.

3.26.2014

Morning Musings (10th ed.)

After days of teased hair and heavy eye makeup, there is nothing better than a fresh wash and no eyeliner. 

Sometimes it's hard for me to relenquish control. Because if I let someone else control it, and they mess up, it's like sort of my fault, right? But sometimes, you gotta know when to let go. And know that when they mess it up it willl be their fault, not yours.

I have faith / trust issues, obviously. 

Weddings are fun.

And is it bad that I think paying $3,000 for a 'social media concierge" isn't totally unreasonable?

Clear calendars are a rare treasure, and one I'm possibly uncomfortable with.

"You're starting to realize not everyone is as good as you." - This is a painful compliment. Replace the "as good as" with "as loyal as" or "cares as much" and you basically have my eternal life struggle. On the flipside, I hope I'm never the reason people feel that way.

Being let down, disappointed and discouraged is way worse than being pissed off.

Is it patio season yet?

What if you are less afraid of getting hurt yourself, and more afraid of hurting others?

Deep morning musings this time around, sorry. 

3.20.2014

Pinafore Throwback

Not me, obviously, but found this photo at our 105th Anniversary this weekend. I just adore it.

3.17.2014

Waiting for Dinner

Celebrated my sorority's 105th anniversary on Mizzou's campus this weekend. I'll never tire of walking into 900 S. Providence. It was my home for three years in college, and despite some changes, it will always feel like home when I go back.

I love hearing stories from the collegians now (no one hangs out in the dungeon anymore?!) and from older alums (the mailbox room used to be a switchboard that freshman had to work?!). I love thinking about our shared history – girls sat in that house and listened to news about WWII on the radio, they watched the moon landing and followed news of JFK's death, and when I was there, I camped out in that room waiting for news that Obama had been elected President. That legacy is just staggering to me.

This weekend, of all the memories, the one that stood out to me the most was waiting at the top of the stairs for the dinner bell. Gathering around about 5pm, sitting on that green carpet, debating whether you wanted whatever variation of chicken we were having or just a big salad. Wondering what was for dessert. Hoping it was those giant chocolate chip ice cream cookies.

I don't know why that's what I was thinking of all weekend. There are a lot of things I knew I would miss about DG (Pinafore, milk on tap, bagels, the portico, the front yard, studying in the Heritage Room, watching E! at lunch, naps in the yellow room, etc.), but that act – the waiting on the stairs for dinner – was so mundane, so ordering, so boring at the time, I never even thought I would think about it again, much less miss it.


3.14.2014

When I'm Driving

"When I’m driving the highway by myself is when I write best." - Willie Nelson

3.12.2014

Extensive STL Dining and Drink Guide

"Fancy" 
Niche in Clayton
Syndey Street near Soulard
Libertine in Clayton
Farmhaus in South City
Cielo in the 4 Season's downtown and Vin de Set near Lafayette Square both have awesome views of the Arch. Only other place to get that is 360, which is douchey. 

Cool bars that college kids don't go to / Good for drinks and apps
Olio new the Botanical Gardens - wine and apps. The burrata is awesome. It's in a rehabbed old gas station. 
Taste in CWE- cocktails and apps (don't feel weird about getting the fries bc they are amaze balls)
Bridge downtown, wine and beer
Sasha's on Shaw (bonus points for being in my neighborhood and having a patio). Note that there is a Sasha's in Clayton by the big Amoco sign. That's more hoity toity Clayton moms and dads. 
33 Wine Bar in Lafayette Square (not positive they have food....)
Brennan's in CWE (again, not positive they have food....)

For brunch
Brasserie in the CWE
Half and Half in Clayton
Mud House on Cherokee
Pastaria in Clayton - Also, for dinner, the best Italian in the city that IMO tastes more like Italy than anything on the Hill.
Local Harvest on Morganford (weekend brunch only)
- Less fancy brunch options are Benton Park Cafe near the AB Brewery and Soulard Coffee Garden in Soulard

Whiskey bars
All of these opened in the last three months. I guess whiskey is trending in STL:
Planters House near Lafayette Square
Gamlin Whiskey in CWE
Small Batch in Midtown
Whiskey Ring on Cherokee

"Hipster"
Silver Ballroom = pinball on Gravois near Bevo Mill
Fortune Teller Bar on Cherokee. 
Amsterdam + The Dam, soccer bar and hamburger place attached. On Morganford near TG Park. 

Tacos
"Fancy" tacos would be Gringo in the CWE, Mission Taco in the Loop or Seoul Taco in the Loop (*See also "Food Trucks")
Legit/normal tacos on Cherokee Street - Tower Tacos or La Vallesana.
- Other favorite non-taco-specific Mexican includes Pueblo Solis in South City, Milagro in Webster, Las Palmas in Maplewood, Chavas in Soulard

Donuts
Normal - World's Fair Donuts near Botanical Gardens. Cash only. Lady that owns it has a beehive. 
Hispter donuts - Strange Donuts in Maplewood, also open late night. 

Sammiches
Blues City Deli near Soulard 
LeGrands in South City
Mom's Deli in South City 

Burgers
Bailey's Range downtown
Russells on Macklind has an awesome burger, but only at dinner. And their desserts are AWESOME.
Stacked Burger Bar in South City
SOHA on South Hampton

Pizza
Good Pie in the Loop. Wood-fired pizzas. 
Pi - Downtown location is kinda of cool if you want to spend anytime downtown. It's in the new "MX District" on Wash Ave. 
Black Thorn Pizza in Tower Grove South. Deep dish is awesome but call ahead and order bc it takes for-ev-er. 

Breweries
Urban Chestnut - 2 locations. New one in the Grove or older one in Midtown. Both legit. My favorite. 
Civil Life in South City is my second favorite to UCBC
Schlafly Tap Room or Bottleworks = the classic. 
4 Hands near Soulard
AB Biergarten is actually pretty cool, too

Food Trucks
Seoul Taco, Guerilla Street Food, Cha Cha Chow and GoGyroGo are my absolute favorites. If you only have time for two, choose Seoul and Guerilla. Seoul is Korean tacos (I recommend the steak tacos and the yogi bowl) and Guerilla is Filipino. Note that Seoul also has an actual storefront in the Loop. 

BBQ
Pappy's in Midtown is the most popular, be prepared for a line. 
Bogart's in Soulard is 2nd most popular, but my personal fave. Again, lines. 
Southtown Pub in South City
Shaved Duck near TG Park for sit-down BBQ/soul food
Spare No Rib near Soulard / Benton Park

3am bars
Beale on Broadway
Talayana's if you're feeling crazy. It's fratty. But just go in with a good attitude. 
Handle Bar in the Grove for dancing. 
Sandrina's near the Hill

Patio
Milo's on the Hill. Bocci Ball, sweet patio, and legit good "St. Louis style" pizza. 
Broadway Oyster Bar. Jam bands, cool covered patio even if the weather isn't great, and split a bucket of crawfish. 
Atomic Cowboy in the Grove.Good tacos, too. 
Friendlys near TG Park. Cash only. 
The Royale in South City
Mokabe's for coffee, strawberry lemonade and sandwiches. Right by Tower Grove Park.
The Block in the CWE. Good for dinner, too. Potted Pig appetizer is my favorite app in STL. 
Sasha's on Shaw, Southtown Pub also have patios... but were already featured in other sections of this list.
Also, I hesitantly add Amsterdam Tavern and Tower Pub to this list. I have been to their patios and enjoyed them, but not in ages so I'm not sure what they are like nowadays.

Coffee
Sump Coffee in South City. Do not ask for cream or sugar.
Hartford Coffee Company near TG Park. I recommneded the Vietnamese Iced Coffee. It's like crack. 
Shaw Coffee on the Hill
Park Ave Coffee in Lafayette Square or Downtown
Foundation Grounds in Maplewood
Rise Coffee in the Grove
Blueprint Coffee in the Loop
Restituo in Shaw is super artsy. Not even hipster. It's hippie. But feels very NYC art scene.
Any Kaldi's

Food that will make you feel like you are at home with mom/grandma - Mama Josephine's in Shaw

Avoid -
- Clayton bars and Wash Ave in the evenings. Especially douchey. Unless you want to feel like you are back at Fieldhouse on penny pitcher night. 
- I used to advise people to stay away from the AB Brewery. Too touristy, and we have way better beer options in this city to show off. If you're out with beer-drinkers, drink local at one of the places advised. If you are with non-beer enthusiasts / Select 55 drinkers like my Dad, the AB Biergarten is actually pretty cool. 
- The Soulard bars you used to think were cool. We're too old/cool for McGurks, Llewelyns, Molly's. If you find yourself in Soulard, iTap is acceptable, or Carson's for karaoke. 
- The Landing. Period. 

3.09.2014

My Weekend Was Awesome

You guys, I had the most amazing weekend.

I'm paying for it now – as I'm way behind on some work that needed (needed!) to be done today – but it was worth it. Starting at Urban Chestnut after work on Friday and ending just now with an impromptu Sunday dinner at my parents, it was just an all-around kick-ass weekend.

And I needed it.

3.06.2014

This Is What I Just Bought At Target

  • three black and white shirts, two of which are striped
  • three pairs of polka dot socks
  • kettle-cooked potato ships
  • tortilla chips
  • salsa
  • queso
  • an orange dress (orange?!)
  • two (two!) boxes of Magnum ice cream bars
  • whitening toothpaste
  • BB cream
  • hair ties
  • a 10-piece pan set 
  • dog food
  • striped paper straws... because, why not?
  • brightening face masks
  • granola bars
  • canola oil
  • self-tanner
I think I'm having a quarter life crisis. 

Morning Song

Hurt so bad 
More than I expected that it would 
Worse than that
It seems to be lasting just a little 
Longer than it should 

This song was blasted on repeat in my headphones as I drove through West Virginia a few weeks ago.
Appropriate that the video premiered today, based on feelings yesterday/today.

Red Rocks countdown: 128 days.

3.04.2014

Questions

Should I get a new car?
What kind of car should I get?
What should I wear to my brother's rehearsal dinner?
Should I ask for a plus one?
How should I wear my hair for the wedding?
Do I have enough money?
Should I book a hotel for my brother's wedding?
How long does it take to get a dress altered?
How much does it cost?
Should I get a maid?
Where do I put my storage in the basement?
How much does a stackable washer/dryer cost?
What kind do I need?
And how do I install it?
And can I afford it?
Where is my passport?

3.03.2014

Kittens Inspired By Kittens


Will never not LOL when I watch this.

Would Rather Be...

Watching True Detective. I'm 4 episodes behind!
Learning to ride a bike.
Snuggling with Maverick.
Planning trips.
Drinking in the streets of Soulard again.
Cleaning my house.
Putting away my Christmas tree. Or at least, thinking about putting it away.
Taking a bath.
Getting a massage.

3.02.2014

The Perfect Top Knot

Always comes when you're doing nothing and seeing no one. 
Thank god for Instagram. 

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