Triangle Beach Music Festival: The Ultimate SFP

TBMF has been somewhat of a tradition for my girls and I -- and sadly, S$ will not be coming with RSJ and I this year (boo).  Every year by the end of the day, I'm so exhausted, drunk, sweaty that I swear I will never go again.. then I come back the next year.  Never fails.  Sorry. For. Partying.

The first year, I went with one of my girls CA, who is the quintessential wild child and always a lot of fun. TBMF 07:

Then, 2008 happened.  Much more shenanigans.

 One thing you've gotta remember when day drinking -- you. must. eat. Or you'll die.  I'm sure these were stolen coerced from someone.  Also, why every overweight guy decides to prance around without a shirt is beyond me.  But we're all drinking and having a good time, so I let it slide.. maybe.

But brace yourself for the Port-O-Johns...  Die.

And then before you know it, you're exhausted, drunk, and passed out in a bag of potato chips.  Where are your friends?  Taking photos of you.

TBMF 09, you ask?  Awesome.

Well we've learned some lessons from the year before.  Pace yourself, drink water, and find shade.  Check?  Check.  (Sorry, S$ to play you like this.. but this photo is awesome hahahahah)

 This year should be equally as fun/ridic/something -- and I've got a prep bag prepared precisely for it including all the essentials:  beer, coozie(s), water, food, sunglasses, and sunscreen.  I can't wait to go with RSJ and L$ and have another SFP Saturday.

Anndddd the rest of Vegas.

Day drinking watching the NCSU game.  Dank Mex.  Also, the location of a local bride's reception..?  #killyourself.

My ladies are KILLING it. 

Fab.

Feedem Feedem Feedem #slots.

gah love these girls.  miss them everyday!!

Vegas. For the parents.

Here's our day-time pics of Vegas in our beautiful hotel.  The arrangements were put up overnight (when we arrived) and everything is made out of fresh flowers.  So gorgeous!

And here's our pics for each of our Moms haha:

Vegas: Night One.

So finally I'm posting the Vegas pics -- and I love reliving it!  We went from tired on a late late flight, to looking to amazing in about an hour flat.  And let's head to the slot machines!

Roomates?

So after I graduated from college, I decided that I'd be a big girl and live on my own.  I absolutely love it.  Love the freedom, love that I can walk around in my underwear all day if I want to, love that I can watch what I want to watch when I want to watch, and love that I don't have to compromise my own decor for someone else.

But.  Living with a roommate was a lot of fun.  S$ and I lived together for a year senior year, and even though the room was about half the size of my current bedroom, it was the best time I've had with roommates.  It just worked.  

However.  I've also heard horror stories about roommates as well.  They range from those that eat pizza every hour of the day and never clean the kitchen to having sex above you in the bunk bed while you're trying to sleep.  Granted, I will never bunk again (ever), the former example could happen to me.. or rather, could be me.  I keep a fairly clean house when I want to, but sometimes the dishes pile up in the sink.  I'll get to them when I'll get to them.  Chill.  Living solo means I don't have to worry about that shit.

Today I was going through old pictures of college when everyone had roommates and we were having the time of our life (surely a post of back in the day posts are in the works, but today I'm focused on the question at hand).

So to have a roommate or not?  Besides the benefit of paying less for an apt (which doesn't matter that much in New Orleans.. because the difference is minimal unless you want to live in a downtown loft.. which I don't), is there a significant benefit of it?  

I'm really freakin picky, so if I decide to have a roommate, I have a few questions for her.

1.  Do you like dogs?  (Yes.) Also, you can't have a dog (or a cat, unless you want it to be eaten) b/c Cooper won't get along with them. 

2.  Are you a clean freak?  (Being clean is one thing, but having a roommate for 3 years who always complained to me about not having everything just right is exhausting).

3.  Do you like to watch MTV and Bravo reruns on the weekends when you're hungover?  (yes.)
 
4.  Do you drink?  (Not that it matters, but it's kind of a buzz kill if you're always the sober sally and got those judge-y eyes about it.)

5.  Speaking of judging.. are you a conservative that loves to talk about politics..?  Now I have a handful of conservative friends, and one of my bests is.. however, we don't talk politics.

6.  Do you own a smart phone, and pref a blackberry?  Let's be real here.

7.  Do you like your own furniture?  The answer is no, b/c I'm attached to all my shit and it stays.

8.  Are you lazy, slutty, or sloppy?  I mean roommates don't have to be best friends, but we prob will be some kind of friends, and those kind of girls are not anyone I want to associate with.

9.  Do you cook smelly foods?  Not a fan.

10.  Are you super attached to your boyfriend if you have one?  Awesome.  Pay rent here and live at his place.  Not the other way around.


..well this list was a little therapeutic.  I think it boils down that I'm kinda stuck in my ways when it comes my living space because I've been doing it for 2 years.  I mean, unless you're S$ or RSJ, I'll probs just be just as well living on my own.  I'll be damned if I get a shithead roommate who I have to kick out (once I move in, I'm staying hopefully for 4 years) after the first year.  

and I'm sure all my classmates are wonderful people.. but just not compatible with living with me.  and that's ok.

Happy Monday

[katherine squier]

Judging from how the weekends usually go that involve S$ and RSJ -- I'd bet money (not hard to do in Vegas) that this is what we're doing this Monday morning.  Hung. Over.  Or at least we better be.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Happy Monday!  NC bound Tuesday morning.

Compare and Contrast.

RSJ's new bridesmaids dress for her next wedding (from JCrew):

And mine:

One of us can wear the dress again.  Take a wild guess.

RSJ -- My Heart and My Rock

A few weekends back I went to Greensboro to celebrate RSJ's 24th Birthday. It was absolutely a ridic amazing time, and the only thing that would make it better would be S$ coming down to make the reunion complete. RSJ is one of my very best friends, who is absolutely essential to my life. She is my rock, and the pragmatic one in the Trifecta (S$, RSJ, and me).. and let's be clear.. although RSJ keeps us all level-headed and chill, she is still as bananas as the rest of us. Top night, ladies.
RSJ and LKW. These girls look like trouble.
Bananas. Blackout or Backout.

The Birthday girl getting decorated -- mandatory shots were included (not shown).
LOVE love her.

To sum up the night. We met in Gboro, went out in Winston Salem. Someone (not us, be clear) sober drove us to a friends house where the majority of Surry County's finest went to the afterparty. Flipcup, beers, food thievery (my bad). Woke up. The mandatory Bojangle's trip with LKW (our original ride left us) then to Pilot Mountain for a bit until we traveled back to our cars in Greensboro. Sounds like a whirlwind. and it was. And the best piece of advice LKW's mom gave us upon seeing our hangovers was "Good. Luck." hahaha -- perfect post-grad weekend.

I miss RSJ everyday and wish she wasn't so far away in the mountains and the cold. Stay warm boo! (Also, please move to ATL. Kthanks.)

..what are you thankful for?

Coop.
LS in NoLa
my best girls S$ and RSJ
Hometown best KB

The inevitable question always asked every Thanksgiving.. and while it sometimes seems contrived, I do like the tradition. Here's what I got:

-Wonderful family and friends. I don't know where I'd be without them.

-My blackberry, so I can keep up with everyone even though we're all over the country.

-Getting into med school early in the game -- now I can breathe, and spend my work days dreaming of my new life in NoLa

-my job -- even though I hate it, I got to make money somehow. and my work friends make it so much better, especially when Ping and Peng are obnoxious to deal with.

-a car that works -- it needs to stay with me all the way to NoLa b/c biking in that summer heat is going to be a killer otherwise

-Cooper, my handsome dog. He really has lifted my spirits and is the best dog I could ask for -- even when he's a handful.

-Diet Mountain Dew. for obvious caffeinated reasons.

-My apartment -- even though it's messy at times, it's cozy, and home to me.

-My friends and my ability to travel. Without it, we'd never get to see each other!

So much for the city..

..tell me that you'll dance til the end.
[the thrills]




I know I've been MIA for a while -- and mainly because I've been traveling and visiting friends. RSJ came to Raleigh, and I was so excited to see her! She's one of my dearest friends, and I'm always psyched to see her. All that was missing was S$!

..and the crew I spent numerous late nights with senior year of college came out! I missed these kids so much, and was super psyched for the reunion. Love them dearly.


Then it was off to New Orleans. I had an interview at Tulane (keep your fingers crossed!) and fell in love with their program, their people, and New Orleans in general. The food is delicious, the drinks are legendary, and everyone there is ridiculously friendly. I find out in about 3 weeks if that will be my new home -- and it cannot come soon enough.

Plus, I got to see my dearest friend from my time in Brazil -- LS! She's doing Teach for America down there and after my interview showed me what NoLa is all about. I adore her friends, and had the best time.

It ended up being a definite "sorry for partying" kind of night -- missed my 6:15am flight, but made it home in one piece. Tulane's attitude is "Work Hard, Play Hard" and it is something I can definitely get in line with.

This was also my first "adult" trip. I'm 23, and all my traveling has been done with someone. Friends, family, or new acquaintances. I hadn't seen LS in years, and we picked up right where we left off. In high school especially, I was the super shy kinda girl, and had a handful of close friends -- very few fringe friends. For the most part, that's how it'd been in college too. I'm def more confident, and I think this trip is part of my coming of age into my full independence. I'm doing things on my own, and picking up close friends along the way. If I go to Tulane, I know these new friends will be part of my close knit NoLa clique, besides that of the medical school community I'll be in as well (which from what I can see is pretty fun and tight as well).

..and now it's back to the real world. I'm afraid once I get into school, I'll start to check out of my job, but my boss knows this is just an interim place for me anyways. and I'll get back to blogging on the reg.

Reunion Weekend and some Realizations..

The girls and I haven't been reunited in MONTHS -- and since we're getting older, we're gonna have to get used to it I suppose.. which makes our reunions that much more special and fun (I'm not gonna get all sappy on you -- it's midday). RSJ and I came to see S$ while she was going to a fam wedding. Top weekend for sure.

And I would've posted the pic of us three, but in efforts to not play RSJ on blogger, I'm leaving that one out.

But also, while I haven't dressed up in a while in clothes that are in my "less forgiving" pile -- I realized.. and after repeating that I could not breathe in my dress for the 10th time in the night, it was obvious to me and the girls.. I've gained weight. Not much, but enough to where my jeans are tighter, and I can't fit into some of my conforming dresses without having obscene decolletage. All the times of eating on the go, and grabbing snacks when I'm too busy to cook has caught up with me. I'm not in my peak, even though this is supposed to be my prime. It's all downhill from here, ladies.. and I refuse to let that happen right now. I'm also too poor to buy a whole new wardrobe for my thicker physique.

Up soon -- healthier recipes (goodbye Cheesy Chicken Bake and Cobblers) and better snacking habits. My dog is out of shape as well (he exhausts himself during his grooming routine), so we'll work at it together. This morning's run was pathetic, but we'll get better.

My girls.

These are the girls I miss the most. Pregaming with wine, and getting sentimental. I love these girls with all my heart. Don't judge the momentary brunette-ness. Waayyy back in the day.

DW.. Weekend.

Night out in Asheville:
On Me -- Dress: tibi
On Rach -- Dress: From Fabrique

Roadtrip to Asheville
Shirt: H&M
Shorts: Cutoffs made from Antik Denim
Shoes: UO
Necklace: Ecuador
Wolfpack Football (first game of the year):
Dress: Vintage
Belt: Vintage
And Moms says she doesn't look good in red (lie haha), she was still representing with a "Chuck It" (vintage at this point) red coozie.
Day in the lab:
Shirt: JCrew
Jeans: Earnest Sewn
Shoes: Rainbows

Loves of my life.

These are my best girls, who have been there through everything since the very beginning of college. They're beautiful, fierce, and independent. Road dogs and the best friends a girl could ever ask for.




I'm so happy to have them in my life.. and even though RSJ is in Asheville, and S$ left for NYC today, I know we're going to be fine. I'm so proud of them going off to unknown cities and doing their thing, and figuring themselves out. It's helping me figure out how to do it on my own as well. I miss them dearly all the time.. and can't wait for the next reunion. And enough of the sentiments before I start crying again (it is my role in the group haha) -- because all of this is old news. They're my world, and top shelf.

Mother Goose's HoneyBun Cupcakes

The medical students in the basement labs are leaving for the year -- and to send them off right, we are having a mini-dessert party... and I've decided to bring RSJ's wonderful mother's (Mother Goose) honeybun cake to the party. I've adjusted it a bit.. and made them into cupcakes so their friendlier for a larger crowd. It's delicious and super easy.

Here's how it goes:

Materials --
1 box yellow cake mix
8 oz sour cream (small tub)
1/2 cup water
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 cup brown sugar
3TBSP cinnamon

Method --
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the cake mix, sour cream, water, eggs, and oil all together.. blend well.
The easiest way to fill cupcake cups is to pour all the batter in a large ziploc bag.. then cut off one of the corners (very small incision) and slowly squeeze out the batter into each cup.

The best part of this recipe comes from combining the brown sugar and cinnamon.. mix with a fork for easiest results.

Then add the mixture to the tops of all the cupcakes.. and put a dollop more of batter on top of the cinnamon/sugar.. mix around in each cup.

Bake at 350 for about 17 minutes for cupcakes (30-40 min for cakes). Once they're cool.. I iced them with either strawberry or chocolate frosting with some chunky crystal sprinkles.


Results? They taste as good as they look. Trust. Some of them did seem a tad less fluffy for cupcakes than I would have hoped.. perhaps it was all the oil. Next time I'll def cut down on the oil.. or add some applesauce instead. It's bound to be a hit tomorrow for sure.

In other exciting news.. I got an interview for one of my dream medical schools! Case Western! Its in about a month and a week.. so I have a little amount of time to prepare. Very excited!