Inside MASS MoCA, Looking Out

Last Thursday I delivered some ELM cards to MASS MoCA (read about that story right here!). While I was there, I spent some time in the museum.

I took this picture from the third floor. Look at how beautiful my hometown is! Mountains, gold, and steeples in the background, and a fiery red maple right up close. I love this picture. It's a keeper. 

Where Have I Been?

It's been just under a week since my last post, but it feels longer. I just haven't been taking many pictures. Simple as that. 

I spent yesterday afternoon working from HBS, since I was nearby after running some errands in Inman Square and Harvard Square. I took this picture from the 3rd level of the parking garage, as we were leaving campus. I really needed a day in a different environment; a day of sun and a sparkly sunset.

*Today's Lost in Thoughts is inspired by graffiti. Read it here.

Moving Day In Allston/Brighton 2010

September 1st makes me really happy that we like our apartment so much, because otherwise we'd have to battle the masses of amateurs driving big trucks and sit in a lot of traffic waiting for people to unload those trucks. But it's not so bad when you're just on onlooker with a camera!

If there's one thing I've learned from observing moving day for the past few years, it's that everybody has way too much junk. There's so much trash lining the streets on the first of September; it's pretty gross.

We made it through another moving day. And we've officially been living together for 3 years! See more photos of the big day on flickr.

Also, have you checked out today's Lost in Thoughts?

Pink Orchids

Do you like orchids? I do! They're sort of mysterious, and there are sooo many varieties; it's fascinating. I learned about them (though I've forgotten most of it) when I read The Orchid Thief several years ago.

I got this three-stemmed bouquet at Areej + Uzair's wedding (second night). They were on the cocktail tables, and they were so beautiful. At the end of the night people were grabbing up the big rose arrangements from the dinner tables, but I made a beeline for one of these little vases.

*Need some inspiration for your Thursday? This week I'm daydreaming about the surprises I've been finding on my daily walk. Check it out on today's Lost in Thoughts. 

Surprise Balls

My brother's birthday was May 31, and my sister's is tomorrow. A few days before Max's birthday I learned about Gina Namkung's surprise balls on Poppytalk. Inside layer upon layer of crepe paper there are little prizes and trinkets that fall out as you unravel the ball. They're so amazing! My absolute favorite thing about getting gifts is the unwrapping, and a surprise ball is all about the unwrapping. To me, it's the ideal gift. So I set out on a mission to make them for my siblings. 

First, I went to the toy store and got prizes and candies to wrap up. Then, I went to the party store to get crepe paper and a few little extras (like chicken stickers -- how totally awesome! -- and star confetti). Then I wrapped and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped like a mad woman, wrote a birthday card on yellow heart, and shipped it off.

I planned for the package to arrive mid-way between their birthdays so they could open them at the same time. They arrived last week. I was on the phone with them while they unraveled and discovered their little treasures. There was a lot of laughing; I think the surprise balls were a success!

*Today's Lost in Thoughts is full of loveliness. 

A Lovely Entryway

Most days, I take a 2 or 3 mile walk after work. I really need it after sitting at a computer for 8 hours. I have a few different routes, but I usually pass by this house at least once.

The gated fence and trellis are just too sweet! It looks like it leads to a magical home, and that makes me so happy. Look at those hot pink roses peeking through the fence on the left. Adorable.

I took this picture a few days ago, before it got all cloudy, rainy, and dreary.

Want more fun? Lost in Thoughts is full of playful inspiration today.

Fun Fountain

In case you're concerned after my last post, I just want to let you know that I feel better than I did on Tuesday. That first day was just hard. But I've been working and making dinner and going for walks and working some more and talking to Eric, just like always. But now our talks are on the phone. It's even been exciting to learning about his new apartment and hearing about the office.

As I said, things here are carrying on pretty much as usual. And since it's June, that means it's starting to get hot in this apartment (where I live and work). The heat usually starts in the late afternoon, and when it's muggy like it is right now, I want a splash of cold water.

Maybe I'll just have to make a trip back to this fountain.

Or hop in the shower.

*Check out Lost in Thoughts today; it's inspired by Eric's adventure in Philly.

Boston In The Springtime

As I mentioned Monday, Eric and I spent Saturday wandering around Boston. We started at the Public Garden.

Then we spent some time in Beacon Hill, and visited Boston's most photographed street (at least that's what I've been told).

By that time I was getting hungry, so we walked to Newbury Street to look for some lunch. We ended up grabbing some burritos and taking them to Copley Square so that we could enjoy the beautiful weather.

After that we met friends on the Common and after awhile we headed toward the water in search of a nice sea breeze.

While we over there, we saw so many kids having fun in the sun: it was a perfect day for a carousel ride or a romp in the fountain. It was actually just a perfect day.

*Check out Lost in Thoughts today!

One Year Down, One To Go

You guys. Do you know what happened today? Eric took his 5th four hour final of the semester, which means he has officially completed his first year at Harvard Business School!

Just over a year ago we found out that he was accepted; I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. In that time

• we spent more non-work-related time in Cambridge (even though HBS is on our side of the river) than the previous 3 years combined
• Eric read thousands (my estimate) of pages of cases
• we had to make shelf space for giant binders filled with the aforementioned cases
• we attended two (!) formal dances (see pictures here and here)
• we were reminded how awesome it is to have spring break
• we made some wonderful friends*
• we both laughed and learned and grew

Oh, and in case you couldn't tell, I'm really proud of Eric. He has taken school seriously and has embraced the case method; I know that he learned a lot and enjoyed his classes. Next year will be really different, but I think we're both looking forward to seeing how it will all unfold.

*Speaking of friends, I wrote about my HBS book club on the ELM blog today.

Tongue

Here's another horse from Blue Star Equiculture, the same farm I mentioned yesterday. It's a cool place that takes in old and unwanted working horses.

This guy kept licking the fence, but I don't know why. It was pretty silly.

*There's a new Lost in Thoughts on the ELM blog today. The video features Eric's classmate, Jevan, singing Yellow at the a capella concert we went to in April. It's definitely worth watching!

Ears

On Saturday, Eric and I stopped by a horse farm on our way to UMass.

Guess what. It was awesome! We got to spend some quality time with some horses and ponies. Yeah, that pretty much made my day. Visit flickr to see more horse ears.

*I updated the ELM Etsy shop with some new stuff. Check it out!

Stage Crew Dance Team

On Saturday, Eric and I headed to UMass Amherst to see my sister's dance team perform. Before the show, we met up with my sister and Eric's brother for lunch and ice cream.

My parents also came for the show, so we sat with them. Emma was great, of course. I always feel so ridiculously proud when I watch my sister or brother do something cool, like dance or play an instrument. This was one of those times.

Emily is closest to the camera

Emily is closest to the camera

Emily is in the center of the front row, in pink

The show was the Curry Hicks Cage (a gym on campus), and there were a number of teams and clubs from UMass and nearby high schools performing. We didn't stay for the whole show; it was just toooooooooo hot. I felt so bad for the dancers in costumes with long sleeves. The sweat was just dripping off of everybody, the audience included. Despite the heat, I think we all had a good time. A really, really good time!

*Today on the ELM blog: custom bridal shower invite + a few pictures from the party!

On Campus

On Friday I spent the day at HBS, and it was awesome. In the morning I drove to school with Eric and I participated in a panel for incoming partners (accepted students' significant others). Five of us talked about our different experiences job hunting, offered advice, and talked about the amazing resources HBS has to offer partners.

The rest of the day I worked from school. It was so nice to be around people! I felt super smart, too, which was an added bonus. I was even able to have lunch with Eric while we listened to a few of his section-mates talk about living, growing up, and working in China. It was really fun and I learned some things.

After Eric's classes ended, we walked around campus and took pictures the school's windmills (top), flowering trees, and pretty buildings. It was just such a great day!

*Check out Everything Little Miss on papernstitch!

Cloudy Spring Day

Yesterday, I took the morning off from my day job and brought some of my newer ELM designs to Rugg Road Paper Company (they ordered some cards last spring). They liked my stuff and placed an order; I'm so excited! If you're in Boston, they should be available in the store in 2 weeks or so.

Anyway, yesterday was a cloudy day, but that didn't keep me from noticing all the stunning trees in (on?) The Common. Isn't spring the best?!

After my jaunt downtown, I had a few errands to run in Brookline before getting back to work. While I was walking home, I was dodging raindrops every now and again, but it was really fun (and awesome to spend some time away from my computer). Plus, I saw some more trees in bloom.

I took these pictures with my blackberry.

Open 3/30/10

I'm 27 today, and I don't feel old at all. In fact, I feel young and amazed that people consider me a grown up. When I was little it was always a little disappointing that I didn't feel different, but now I'm used to it. I suppose it would be sort of shocking to wake up and feel like another person, since growing, maturing, and aging are gradual processes that happen over the course of weeks, months, or years. Plus, I'm still me (even if I have grown up some), so I imagine that I'll always love opening presents (almost more than what's inside), eating sweets, and making wishes - you know, all the things that make birthdays special.

On Friday, I got a letter in the mail and I was super excited. I knew right away that it was a birthday card from my gramma, but I didn't open it because it had instructions on the back:

Well today I opened it as soon as I got out of bed, and it made my day. (Thanks gramma, you're great.) Then I opened the gifts from my family, and my day got even brighter. (Thanks family, you're great too.) And then Eric came home to have lunch with me and a birthday package from his parents was delivered! (Thanks Schwarzes, you are also great.)

I've been getting emails and phone calls and texts and facebook/twitter messages all day. I feel so loved, so I thank you all! Some of you have expressed concern that the rain might be ruining my special day. I want to assure you that it never has and never will. I was born on rainy day and I've had very few sunny birthdays (I think I could count them on one hand). I've grown to expect and appreciate the rain, especially since it usually leads to a little more of this:

And that's just wonderful, isn't it? I'm so glad I'm a spring baby. Happy birthday to me! ★

*I wanted to share my day with you, so I'm offering 27% off sales of $10+ in the Everything Little Miss shop. Click here for the details and the coupon code.

Quidditch In The Park

Yesterday Eric and I spent some time downtown. The weather was beautiful, so we walked around quite a bit. As we passed through The Common, Eric spotted a Quidditch game. A. Quidditch. Game. What great fortune! In case you're living under a rock, Quidditch is a made-up game from the Harry Potter series that's played while flying on broomsticks. These days there are leagues and they play competitively. On broomsticks. On the ground. You better believe I took pictures.

Unfortunately, we couldn't hang around long enough to see the snitch in action. I wish we could have though, because I've heard that sometimes they glue a yellow ping pong ball to a cross country runner and try to catch him. I would have loved to have seen that. Click here to see a video about the sport (via @evolution20).

*If you live in or near Cold Spring, NY, a selection of Everything Little Miss cards is now available at The Country Goose!

Spring Break {Part 2}

Saturday we went for a short hike in the woods. The great thing about hikes on the Vineyard is that the goal is always a beautiful beach. As we approached the sand we saw a few rock sculptures. This one really seemed to defy gravity.

After spending some time exploring the water's edge, we continued our hike. We climbed up a small hill and looked out over the ocean. The trees are all bent from the sea breeze.

After the hike, we went back to the house and we all read/napped on the beach for a while. The weather was just amazing; I still can't believe how beautiful it was. In the evening we headed to The Net Result to pick up some lobsters and oysters for dinner (I had fried clams and coleslaw since I'm not a huge fan of lobster fan or oysters).

While we waited for the lobsters to be steamed we walked around Gannon & Benjamin's looking at the boats they're working on. It was so cool! The tools they use look like they've been around for a really long time.

Eric's grandfather joined us for our decadent dinner. He's an amazing guy, and he told us some really interesting stories. Eric and Mike ending up talking to him for long time after dinner while Brooke and I cleaned up and played some games.

Sunday, I woke up to watch the sunrise. Everything was so quiet and peaceful. I spent a few hours sitting in a sunny spot on the couch reading and enjoying my last morning of vacation.

After everybody else got up and ate breakfast, we cleaned up the house and spent some time in downtown Vineyard Haven. Most of the stores were closed because it was Sunday + the off season, but I did manage to get a gift for a friend (I had something specific in mind and her birthday was soooo long ago). After lunch it was time to say good-bye. It was hard to leave! It was warm enough to spend the ferry ride outside, which is always the best.

Eric and I will be back soon enough (I hope!). See more pictures of our trip on my flickr.

*It's Thursday, so head on over to the ELM blog for some sunny inspiration.

Crimson Afternoon

Inspired by the fun I had during Poppytalk's Spring Coulor Week, we went on our walk yesterday in search of crimson (Eric's choice). We saw a bunch of people wearing bright red shirts and scarves and jewelry. We saw a crimson skirt hanging on a rack of clothing that was outside for a sidewalk sale. We saw strollers and awnings and cars' taillights and front doors. But here are my favorites:

Oh snap! Gotta go!

Check out today's Lost in Thoughts if you have a moment.

Pretty Purple

Today, Spring Colour Week is celebrating purple. In anticipation, I took these photos around dusk yesterday while we were out for a walk.

It's been fun looking for specific colors in my daily life. Why don't you try to find some purple today? Tomorrow's robin's egg blue, so have fun finding that too!

*Today's Lost in Thoughts is vintage-inspired, so pop on over there and have a look.

Spring Weather + Problems Focusing

Another camera broke on Friday. First something on the inside was getting stuck and blocking 3/4 of each photo. Eric fixed that with some fiddling, but the focus is all out of whack. Auto-focus doesn't work at all, and manual focus lies to me.

It's a few years old, and we've been told that getting it fixed is just about as pricey as upgrading, sooooo we ordered a new one. It should be on its way! Picture-taking and blog posting will resume in a few days. In the meantime:

Since it was so warm today, I thought I'd share a little piece of spring. I had the windows open all day, did you? [I took this picture in 2007, but edited it today so it's a little different.]

*Check out my latest origami project on the ELM blog (images are a tad blurry because of the broken camera with focus issues).