Tag Archives: Pictures

Spring Break: Of Doorkeepers and Gardens

wpid-wp-1426385085975.jpegSpring break was absolutely amazing for the sole reason that I didn’t have to go to school. I got a break from the drudgery of lectures and a butt ton of work. I never had to set my alarm. It was amazing. Of course, going down to St. Louis to visit my sister and bro-in-law was also a delight. One of the things I was most looking forward to over this particular trip to St. Louie was a visit to the Thaxton, a speakeasy downtown complete with 1920’s decor, a live band, back alley entrance, and a good time. Or so I’m told. Nowhere on the website did it say 21 or older, nor had my sister and her husband ever been carded when they went. But when we all went, there was a different doorkeeper, and he asked for IDs. Thanks Mr. Doorman. I just want to dance. All dressed up and nowhere to go. So we all journeyed back to the much smaller St. Charles where my sister resides and went to a coffee bar for a late open-mic night.

Although I tried not to think of it as school, I had to go to some place environmental for my science class. So I went to the botanical gardens. Let’s just say, I want to live in a rainforest dome. Think of it. Just heading over to the bamboo grove to cook some dinner or curling up in a hammock surrounded by trees covered in orchids.  Perfect. It’d be like a Swiss Family Robinson paradise. (fyi, that’s one of my childhood favorites.)

1920's

 

Back to The Union

About two years ago, my best friends and I traveled to The Union in Naperville, IL for a Vespers concert. A few weeks ago, The Vespers came back. *woot woot* My friend and I were able to make the trek to see them, and it was amazing. Since their new album just came out, they played a new set. If you haven’t ever heard of them, check them out now. They’re kind of the best. And Kally rapped. boom!

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Lovely gal

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Fall Concert

Here’s a throwback to one of the most beautiful events I’ve ever hosted. We had planned on having a bonfire, but the winds and cold temperature prevented us from doing so. I had thought that the whole shed was going to act as the stage for the concert, but since it was so cold, I moved the whole event inside. I’m so glad I did!

There was something so satisfying about taking a dirty, cluttered shed and turning it into a charming, cozy venue for my band Jacquelyn. It took a whole day to clean out the shed, move the tools, beehives and odds and ends it held and decorate it.  Joey’s neighbors grow pumpkins, and they let us borrow as many as we wanted. Joey and I both had Christmas lights that we used to light the place up. I brought mason jars that I had painted and lit candles in them to make the place glow. The rustic touches of the shed just added to the charm of the night. It was a bitter 35 degrees outside, but the shed had a furnace inside and we had a pile of blankets for people to cuddle with. The chill just brought everyone closer together as they held cups of hot tea and hot chocolate.

The outside of the shed

The outside of the shed

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Mason jars and the white Christmas lights for our makeshift stage

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Originally, I was going to move the hanging chairs out of the shed, but then I put a pumpkin on one of them and decided otherwise.

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The blankets and pillows

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Utilizing the tool rack

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Telling stories in between songs

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Our guest artist: Ashley Bjork

Thanksgiving

Here’s a few photos from a lovely trip to St. Louis. Let’s just say it’s weird going to your sister’s house. That she lives in with her husband. When did all this happen?