mr. alan, i can't wait for fall!

steve alan's fall line is to die for.

remind me to purchase some red tights.

okay, i realize that we still have a month left for summer to redeem itself.

i'm still holding out hope for some decent weather.

just in case it decides not to deliver, i'm pulling for a crisp new england fall.

hippity-hop, a-hip-hop

i know, i know . . . i am just so cool.

i'm generally not one for rap.

but every now and then, an artist comes along and i can't help but be interested.

cage happens to be one of "those."

it probably is to his credit that shia lebeouf's directoral debut

pretty much rocks.

i'm pretty sure i saw that "follower" kid play an ax-murderer on law and order svu before.

crazy.

HEY YOU- URGENT ADVOCACY NEEDED!

From the Director of Public Policy & Adocacy at Lutheran Social Services of New England: In the next few days, the US Senate Sub-Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Committee will focus on funding the US Refugee Resettlement programs. New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg is a member of this committee. It is imperative that as many New Hampshire residents as possible contact him about this matter AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You can do this by either sending a message through his web site http://gregg.senate.gov, (click on "contact") or by phone (202) 224-3324. I think everyone is aware of the financial struggles associated with trying to do an adequate job of refugee resettlement. Now is the time to send a strong message to our federal policy makers that it is time to finally support this program at a reasonable level. The "sticking point" seems to be an impression that last year's congressional appropriation was $633.4 mil, thus the President's request for $740.7 mil appears to be too large a jump. But this is NOT the case. The actual budget for refugee resettlement last year was $706.1 mil due to a carry-over from unspent funds which accumulated during a time of low numbers of arriving refugees. Copied below is the message I recently sent to Sen. Gregg. However, use your own words when writing or calling. "Dear Senator Gregg: I am writing to you as a citizen of New Hampshire and also as an employee of an organization which contracts with the federal government to resettle refugees in New Hampshire (Lutheran Social Services). As a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Sub-Committee, you will soon be addressing the part pertaining to the funding for “Refugee and Entrant Assistant” in the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). You need only look at a few articles in the Union Leader or Concord Monitor to realize that this program has been faced with significant challenges in New Hampshire, as it has been all over our country. The funding provided to agencies like Lutheran Social Services to accomplish this job has been grossly inadequate for many years. As a result, volunteer efforts and donated funds have been used to fill the gap. That capacity has now been mostly depleted and the local communities are becoming increasingly stressed by the need to find ways to assist these new arrivals. Accusations of “dumping refugees” are frequently seen in the press and heard on the streets. This is a federally mandated program and the federal government must provide adequate resources to do the job. "In FYI 09, Congress allocated $633.4 mil, to which was added a carry-over of $72.7 mil for a total operating budget last year of $706.1 mil. For 2010, the President has requested $740.7 mil, a less than 5% increase. Some interpret this (INCORRECTLY) as a larger percentage increase based on the $633.4 mil congressional appropriation in 2009, leaving out the fact that $72.7 mil was then added from un-obligated prior year funds (which accrued due to fewer than budgeted refugee arrivals). "I urge you to please advocate within the committee the need to fund Refugee Resettlement at the modest level increase requested by the President, $740.7 mil for FY 2010."

~~~

family, friends and others out there reading,

it is so important to support this effort to save funding for the us resettlement program.

not only is the refugee resettlement program hugely tied to our nation's foreign relations,

but it {most importantly} extendeds an opportunity

to the persecuted to live in a safe, secure environment for

perhaps the first time in their lives.

resettlement is a chance for refugees to begin anew.

please help.

i love wedding photography

work by

jonas peterson.

pretty much a huge fan.

thank you, once wed, for this fine discovery.

el perro del mar

today's music obsession.

i feel like i could listen to "how did we forget" for hours upon end.

love of love. love of life.

my girl amy and i have been chatting a lot lately. i am totally amazed by this girl.

she just came back from an extended stay in kolkata where she worked as a volunteer with children

raised in brothels.

she is one tough lady.

we met on our trip to india this winter

and connected in a way that transcends many relationships in my life.

she is kind, thoughtful, funny as all get out {a blast in an indian club, let me tell you} and overall inspires me to be better.

many of you already know of my sincere passion for foreign missions.

i don't know why i feel called to serve in this way.

it sometimes seems like the least likely of ministries for me.

after all, isn't half my blog about shoes????

it's a privilege to be able to serve people who have seen and experienced

so much in their lives.

it's a privilege to know how blessed i am to be born an american woman

with the world at my fingertips.

it's also a privilege to learn that we're all the same.

regardless of race,

religion,

socioeconomic status

or

spot on God's planet.

we are all his children.

so . . .

i've started a blog at work.

it's called

share the story. you can learn all about refugee resettlement in nh.

you get to snoop in on my work life {if you're into that sort of thing- haha}.

i hope you like.

and if you're moved to get involved in an effort to support those in need,

go here to support a little girl fighting paralysis from polio.

no sleep tuesday morning and fashion weekend high

couldn't sleep at all last night.

completely restless,

which is odd because i was back in my own bed,

in my own sheets with my own pillow

after a pretty draining day of travel with bestest.

walking with luggage, subway, amtrak {i sat next to a sweet, sarcastic, knitting nun with the

 funkiest laugh i've ever heard}, 

bus and then car to home.

yipe.

so, after a night up with my thoughts . . . 

~~~

again, no time to truly get into detail right now.

but another super-cool part of this weekend?

sunday's visit to

model as muse

at the met.

an iconic 1990's vogue cover by tajiana patitz

it was very much a little girl's dream come true to be in the presence of

vintage balenciaga, chanel, yves st laurent . . . and on and on.

tons of amazing photographs,

antique vogues and bazaar magazines,

fun music

and, overall, fashion to drool over.

it was a great afternooon.

just as fun was seeing

roxy paine's exhibit on the rooftop of the met.

maelstrom is pretty stinkin' fun-

kids running in and around the sculpture,

folks taking pictures,

new york skyline in full-on view.

pictures to come soon for sure.

hello again, nh

bestest and i are back from nyc.

i must say, i fell in love with the city over the weekend.

and i am hesitant to admit {but will anyway}

that i am kinda sad to be back in nh.

sorry, granite state.

too tired to write anything much about the trip tonight.

a 4 hour train ride turned in a 7 hour journey home today.

boooo.

however, everyone MUST see this:

fuerzabruta

at the dayrl roth theatre.

flippin' amazing.

go go go go go.

two made me gulp twice

a card for nasty business occasions

or

a not-so-greeting-card

{yikes--- note to self: never give nor receive one of these.}

via rare bird finds, butter & sugar

where is the world is carmen sandiego?

. . . or me and bestest?

we are in new york!

via the rockstar diaries there is no one with whom i rather paint the town red. i'm armed with about 10 rolls of film {yipe!} and waaaay too much luggage for only 4 days. i can't wait to share when we get back. that is, if we come back. ~~~ have a lovely weekend!

a thursday laugh, love grammie

my grammie sent my mother this link

about a week ago.

mother shared it and i laughed so hard that

i had tears in my eyes.

i hope you laugh.

courtesy of the wonderful grammie connie.

a mother's plea

you can tell your mother is ready for grandchildren when

she tries to be your guest blogger:

" dear future-husband,

please reveal yourself, or at least your approximate location

so i might find you."

she really is adorable.

~~~

i want to copy this look in a mad, bad way:

the sartorialist

i am so glad this look is still cool!

the pipeline {i heart refinery29}

and i've pretty much decided to keep the hair long

so i can do pretty things with it like

miss chloe sevigny.

~~~

must pack tomorrow after small group for NYC . . .

only 1 more day!

brothers grimm?

these pieces remind me of Brothers Grimm tales

in fact, they very much remind me of

a book my grammie gave me when i was quite small--

different fairytales from around the world.

it wasn't until i was older that i realize how gruesome they truly are.

funny how that happens.

anyhow . . .

the artist is kelly louise judd

and i discovered her

via my love for you is a stampede of horses

you can check out more of her

kinda creepy images

at her etsy shop.

the line-up

bestest and i leave friday on the train for NYC.

we are very excited to get out of NH for a litle while.

here are our potential plans thus far:

coney island, per bestest's request

a possible visit to serendipity 3

{delight!}

and because we love theater and music,

possibly

fuerzabruta or

the awesome 80's prom

{both incredibly different- and nothing like anything in NH}

and of course, the main event

Model as Muse

bestest and i have decided to pretty much

go with where the wind takes us

so i'm sure all {except the exhibit!}

is subject to change on a whim.

p.s. we still need to find a place to go to Sunday morning service.

we are taking suggestions.

hello, weekend!

i found this lovely photograph of sister

during her time at oxford university last fall.

she is so beautiful- definitely post-worthy.

{don't hate me, sister}

funny story:

dreamt that i was late for work last night

{all to a soundtrack of "woman in chains" --- yes, random, i know}.

woke up this morning--- late for work.

no tears for fears playing in the background though.

that would have been pretty cool.

happy weekend!!!

~~~

5 days til' NYC with bestest!

hair advice needed- asap!

the hair has gone through a progression since college

and clearly

so has my personal style

{despite popular belief, you can find yourself outside of the collegiate world}

here is a little history:

2004-ish

anchor-girl days

{ewwww- never again shall i wear that much makeup}

2006 lots of ponytails

2007

yes, yes- that would be a pixie cut

2008-2009

the big "grow-out"

now

shoulder length with fun bangs

{worn by pretty much everyone now. . .

jane birkin hair pretty much the new victoria beckham}

debating going back to super-short {maybe a little agyness deyn?}.

it was a pain to grow out, but it was just so cute!

thoughts?

hair appointment on thursday,

so feedback necessary!

a marriage made in heaven

music & fashion.

for better . . . and many times, for worse.

a fun little blurb from refinery 29.

i enjoyed it.

a new crop?

garance dore, your post makes me want short hair again.

remember when? ah, the days.

on another note . . .

i have fallen in love.

no, not with a boy {alas}.

but with this . . .

how can you not fall in love too after seeing this? and this

i crave in a big way.

~~~

tomorrow is friday.

1 week until NYC!

domestic dance party.

i'm in the mood for a dance party.

instead, i'm using my day off to wash 8,000,000 loads of laundry and clean.

in my head, i'll be cutting a rug with these little dance shoes:

cheer up!

yesterday, i had to deal with a domestic violence issue

with some clients.

i am still sad about this.

{my sun has also decided to hide

and that doesn't thrill me too much either}

here are some things that cheer me up when i'm in a gloomy mood.

as elizabeth bennet said, "for i dearly love to laugh."

a darling recipe:

had this for a bit . . . origin unknown . . . but it is SO SWEET

graffiti worth reading:

via art pixie

wall appliques:

via harmonie-interieure

pretty hair {how did she do this???}: via a cup of jo an outfit i'm determined to copy:

via the sartorialist

photographs that say something:

i've had this image forever- don't know where it comes from

food from the weekend {yummy- repeat please?}:

and more comforting than any of these silly images

is knowing that i have a God who loves me more than i can fathom,

family that is priceless, unique and faithful

and friends, cute as buttons, and probably the fiercest lovelies

i've ever met.

to steal one of brother's fave phrases,

"cheers."

~~~

9 days to NYC!!!!!!!