the smallest things...

It's always the smallest things that mean the most.  

Progression

This past week continuing into this week, has been big for me.  This past weekend I was given the opportunity to work with an amazing photographer, Nadine Rovner http://www.nadinerovner.com .  Even though, there were times that I felt like I should just put my camera down and give up in envy of her talent, I know that's not fair nor neccessary.  I was in awe pretty much the entire day and I learned so much, with so much more to learn.  I cannot wait until the next time I get to observe her and her team.  So yea...pretty awesome.  Opportunity, yea. 

In the shadows, of my wknd experience I was able to book my own wedding gig.  I was able to meet the couple last night, who are super amazing, and get to work out all the details.  This is my first big one, my first solo wedding.  Ehhh.  Tons of stuff to do in preparation, but I cannot wait for it all. 

I'm overly excited on my life right now. 

This week on Instagram

Williamsburg

Justin and I decided to head to Brooklyn for the day to check out Emeli Sande and Selah Sue.  We got on the road a little later than we had expected which gave me less time to catch up with my love Kerry while we were out there.  Regardless we got our quick hour of catch up before she showed us to this amazing vegan spot, Bliss Cafe. 

If you have not been to Bliss Cafe, GO.  I could have just sat here all day and ate every meal.

Everything is vegan and incredibly delicious.  I tend to not eat out much because there are always a limited number of vegan dishes, most of them being the same repeated dishes at every restaurant.  I cannot explain how sick I am of seeing Tofu Scramble or Seitan Sandwiches of some sort.  Well, whatever that is another topic...which I probably will never discuss, simply because I would just be not only annoying myself but possibly every person reading about it. 

The point is, Bliss Cafe got so creative with their dishes.  Basically, they thought like a vegan and developed their menu like a regular?? cafe.  They turned every normal dish you would see on a menu "vegan."  They even used creativity, yes you heard it, to cook some veggies and pair them with different sauces and add on options.  It's that simple people.  There is so much you can do with a vegetable.  Wow.  Who woulda thought?

Anyways, I was super excited about the vegan nachos because they had sour cream (dairy free) on them.  As a young fat American teenager, I would eat sour cream off of the spoon if it was available.  When I made the decision to give up dairy I never thought I could go without it.  Well I have, but I have missed just the consistency of sour cream on my tacos, nachos, burritos, etc.  I have not had a vegan version of sour cream yet so I was stoked.  And they were gooooooodddd.

Next up, I got my entree, which I could have skipped considering I was already full from our nacho plate.  However, it was amazing, and I stuffed my face until I could not take anymore.  We sat there for like an hour and half trying to fit as much food in as we could.  The Harvest Plate was so amazing and I highly suggest getting it if you ever venture there.  The Lemon Miso Tahini dressing was the perfect addition to this dish.  And the tofu was perfectly done, which I rarely ever say. 

After dinner we headed over to the Cove, which was also creepily awesome.  $1 beers and the Goonies (in Espanol) on the big screen.  I mean come on.  Best ever.

Finally, we made it to the show.  Selah Sue opened and I was amazed.  I could not even grasp the sounds that were coming out of this beautiful girls mouth.  I will for sure become slightly obessed with her for the next few months.  I cannot wait for her album to drop sometime in the near future.  She is so different and creative with her vocals I can't stand it.  Check her out.

Emeli Sande.  The vocals.  The lyrics.  Everything about her is beautiful.  I tend to forget how important lyrics are to me.  Whenever I hear music that I enjoy I ask myself what draws me to it.  Well with Emeli it is her talent to tell a story and to make you feel the emotion in each particular song.  I identify so much with her words making every minute that much more special to me.  There were moments that were so powerful I found myself on the verge of tears.  I loved it.  Every single second.

I am glad to have ignored my annoying sickness and pushed on through my adventure to Williamsburg with Justin.  Williamsburg is such a cute little part of Brooklyn, hipster or whatever, I love it. 

My Kind of Love

This video just reminded me so much of my aunt Lisa.  She always gave me that kind of love and taught me how to give it right back.  Recently I have been missing her so very much.  More than I can say in words.
I remember her prepping to get her mastectomy and her being like..."I'm really sorry Laur I feel bad for saying this (don't take offense), the doctors asked me if I wanted to have one or both boobs removed.  I told them hell, take both.  They looked at me funny.  I told them, shit, my neice Laura is flat and she's still gorgeous.  Take em.  Take em both"
She reminded me that no matter what you look like, no matter who you are, no matter what you represent, if you are you, just YOU, then that is just perfect. 
Be you.  Be who you are.  And always remember to give that "kinda love."

Shit in your hat and punch it.

I needed to get away. 
Real Bad.
So I did....

Not far but to the most dreaded Seaside Heights, NJ.  I'm pretty sure I vowed to never return to this beach town after my experience last year, however, for Fran I made the exception.  Even though I left Philly in the most rotten mood, I returned with different feelings.

Let me just first say that it is always special to catch a friend in their element.  I mean, you learn alot about your friends by doing the normal friend things, but it is not until you see them with their family that you begin to see exactly why they are the way they are.  Pretty fucking awesome dynamic I tell ya.

Anyways, Danielle's family was as amazing as I had expected.  Fran's of all Fran's I have to admit.  Grandma and Grandpa were just the best, the absolute best.  Grandpa reminded me a lot of my own, making him even more special in my heart. They cooked me the most incredible Italian dinner since my time in Italy.  I felt like I was right back in Roberto's backyard, it was perfect. 

It was Grandma, for sure, who got me.  This woman is incredible.  I know now why Danielle looks up to her so much.  She is everything you want for your family and more.  She holds everything together and is just the most precious trash talking sweetie pie I have ever met. 

Grandma and I got to talking a little bit about life.  Just talking to her for 30 minutes cleared weeks of frustration from my mind.  I am  not sure if I could explain to her how much this meant to me, but it did.  Some people just hold so much knowledge without even knowing that they do.  So...thanks Danielle, for your Grandma, cause she cleared my mind and warmed my soul.

I will for sure have to invite the entire family to my life party.

Cheers to the Battipede's.

lost.

When you’re lost in those woods, it sometimes takes you a while to realize that you are lost. For the longest time, you can convince yourself that you’ve just wandered a few feet off the path, that you’ll find your way back to the trailhead any moment now. Then night falls again and again, and you still have no idea where you are, and it’s time to admit that you have bewildered yourself so far off the path that you don’t even know from which direction the sun rises anymore.