The 20 Something Society

So, it’s official.  We are having  a big family vacation this summer.  My mom lives at the beach and we all are meeting there and staying at a condo about three minutes from her house.  My grandparents live about an hour away from her – we are about six hours away – and my uncle, aunt, and cousins live clear across the country.  With work and schedules and everything its hard for us all to be in the same town at the same time.  So this took some planning.  I have a few months but I’m still pretty pumped.  I hope I can do some shopping before the trip  (I just discovered that I don’t really have any summer clothes that aren’t too big)- and that this gym membership and personal trainer usage will get me lookin good!

Here are a few beachy images that have been cathing my eye lately.

Source: ohhelloyouprettythings.tumblr.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: starbucksandchanelbags.tumblr.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: onepearlbutton.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: ffffound.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: inchmark.squarespace.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: google.ca via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

So I am back from my little trip to Chicago.  I was there for a photography workshop which was so fun, so informative, and so worth it.  It has really given me a new little push of excitement.  I got to meet a lot of people who have the same passion as I do and want to learn more.  I got to meet people that I work with (online).  And I got to see people who have taught me in the past and will continue to do so.  I was also able to travel with a couple of gals who I work closely with weekly and we really had a lot of fun together.  We all took a ton of hipstamatics and Imma gonna share some!

We flew out Saturday, checked into the hotel, ate some Chipotle, and went to a welcome party!  Sadly we didn’t get any outfit/party shots.

Started and finished this within the hour.

Chicagoland!

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn – and I gotta say – it was nice.  Awesome fitness center, great breakfast, coffee AND flavored creamers, to go cups, sleep by number beds, and really nice bedding.  My husband thinks I’m nuts because I tend to base my hotel selection firstly on the fact that they better NOT have bedspreads.

Sunday was an all day long workshop with the ladies.

just a few of the nice ladies!

Charlie – the incredibly creepy and real looking practice newborn.

After that we had dinner and finally saw Black Swan.  The movie was SO good.  The costumes were beautiful.  The dancing was spectacular.

Monday we awoke to another day of workshop, Chicago deep dish pizza for lunch (!) and then flew out of Chicago just in time to miss the big blizzard.

Started this on the plane.

Some portraits I took during the workshop.

Today I was straightening the kitchen some and decided to take my Cafe Du Monde coffee can out for a little photo shoot.  We bought this on our honeymoon trip to New Orleans!  I have been wanting to go back ever since – maybe next summer….  This summer we are planning on going to visit my mom at the beach and to Atlanta.

While I was daydreaming about New Orleans I dug up some new orleans and saints centric stuff from the files.

New Orleans area code cards from Etsy seller jetsetpaper.

Street music.

“The Quarter” by Etsy seller montagyoo

Beignets

By Etsy seller jillianaudreydesigns

Who Dat banner from Etsy seller jjspeakman

Fabulous Saints headpiece from Etsy seller lovemarigold.

That New Orleans iron lace.

New Orleans view from a streetcar window.

Every few months I just want to go camping.  I haven’t been in YEARS!  And The Husband has never been.  He’s a self proclaimed inside boy.  I think if I could only get him to go camping during the fall, he’d like it.  It’s not hot, there aren’t bugs everywhere, the air smells nice.  I like the idea.  So.  If we can find some time this fall, we should go.  Ya hear that babe?

I would love a vacation.  Just some relaxation and fun with The Husband.  We haven’t really taken a vacation since our honeymoon.  I was on Facebook the other day and some pictures popped up on my newsfeed.  The pictures were…..of Egypt.  Specifically, Dahab.  And can I just say, I want to go to there?

I borrowed these pictures from her so you all could drool over them as I do.

This one makes me cry tears of joy.

Even the camels are smiling.

And I’ll buy these…first two from Anthro, hat Juicy Couture.

This past weekend we went to the hometown for my little sister in laws high school graduation, we celebrated mothers day while we were at it.  Whenever we go home it is always BUSY!  There are so many people we want to visit..and we NEVER have time to see all of them on every trip.  On top of visiting family, and the graduation ceremony, my sister in law was still taking IB exams!  One on her graduation day, and one the morning after.  Here are some hipstas from the weekend.  First off.  I got my birthday turtle cake.  My Granny made it and it was delicious and it is all gone.

Saturday was a long car ride, presents from our local comic book/horror movie convention Mobicon (from the father in law), and a puppy besties visit between Klaus, Ace, and Bea.

Sunday we attended her baccalaureate ceremony.  It was held in the auditorium at the school…which is our alma mater .  It was nice to see the school, old teachers, and to sing the alma mater – complete with jazz fingers.  We had brunch with mother, father, and aunt in law afterwards.  We all ate way too much and I had the best peach tea I have ever tasted.  That night we spent a little bit of time with two of our oldest buds and their pup. We went to Blockbuster Video (its been years since I’ve stepped foot inside of those doors) and rented Zombieland!  Good times.

Mother In Law Feets.

The husband and Bea Bea!

Monday was graduation!  We visited with out of town family members and then headed to grad, which was held at our college alma mater.   We were able to see the new bell tower, sister in law and her friends finally graduate high school, and sing the alma mater again.

Our thoughts on the bell tower: Why do we need a bell tower? So we can get sniped?

Tuesday we caught a quick Cracker Barrel breakfast and hit the road.  Man, do I love perusing the little store in the front of the Cracker Barrel.

And the father in law gave me three of their old cameras.  And they are awesome.  Here is my favorite one.

I took a second run on the elliptical and did some thinking…..I’m leaning towards Williamsburg unless The White Stripes or Tom Petty come to Bonnaroo.

The husband and I have been planning a trip for next december to Williamsburg.  You know, colonial reenactments, cold weather, warm beverages, cozy sweaters….yada yada yada.

Etsy Black Luna Vintage

But, we started rethinking our trip.  Maybe Bonnaroo 2010 instead?

These people need to play for me.

Hi peoples!

I just spent the weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama (where my mom lives) to celebrate her wedding.  I was her maid of honor and photographer.  We didnt get to do alot but we did get to see and spend time with family members so we had a really good time…just wish we could have stayed longer!

We arrived at my mothers house on Thursday evening – hungry and tired.

This is my mothers backyard.  Am I jealous?  Why yes, yes I am.

We feasted on baked chicken and peas and played beauty parlor with my new short hair all while watching the football game.  The Steelers were playing and they are my new step dads team so they were pretty pumped.  

Friday we took the pup to the beach for the first time.  He wasn’t as impressed as we thought he would be and he wanted NOTHING to do with the water.  We walked four miles on the beach that morning.  I didnt take my camera because it was going to rain!  BOO!  We then went to the resort Caribe to scope out the site of the wedding, which was beautiful.  On the way there I realized……I FORGOT MY FRIGGIN DRESS IN HUNTSVILLE!!!!!   Yes…six and a half hours away and the only thing I forgot.  I panicked and demanded we go all the way to Huntsville and back for my perfect dress.  Which didnt happen.

My perfect beach wedding dress that I didnt get to wear.

So we took a little last minute trip to Cordova Mall in Pensacola, Florida where I found a suitable dress at Dillards.  All I have to say is I’m glad I was the only bridesmaid.

New beach wedding dress.  Not me in it.

I then pushed my regular healthy eating to the side and indulged in some Mellow Mushroom.  I let the husband pick the pizza since he had to drive to Pensacola for me.  Can you guess what he picked?

Mighty Meaty!

My grandparents, Uncle Danny, Cousin Ernest, and a close friend of the family Jeannie arrived that afternoon so we headed over to their condo at The Beach Club.  We ate boiled shrimp, listened to tunes, then watched Hot Fuzz.

It was windy on the balcony.

This is one of my favorite movies if you havent seen it, please do so. 

Saturday was the day of the wedding.  There was dancing.  There was Sushi.  There was a crooked cake.  There were lots of pictures.  There were sore muscles.  I will post some pictures when I am done editing them.

We left today after eating more shrimp, along with some crab claws and hush puppies, at Docs Seafood in Orange beach.

Docs is a place where the locals go, its my moms favorite place to eat seafood.  Our server was at the wedding the day before!

We’re leaving for Gulf Shores tomorrow, we will head back home on sunday.  I’m not sure what is going to be going on with the internet access, so we’ll see.