BJ and I were fortunate to travel to Brooklyn over Labor Day weekend for our friends’, Cassie and Jamie’s, wedding. There was sunshine and breezes the whole time; I can’t remember when I last slept with the window open. I wish our trip had been much longer, but we squeezed in plenty of eating and visiting in those 2.5 days. After the beautiful ceremony and reception, the highlight of the trip was meeting our friends for brunch. These trips are also a little bittersweet because they are a reminder of how dispersed our old ND community is. So we live for these mini reunions.

I shot with an inexpensive film camera during our trip and will post them soon*, but this was the invitation cover BJ and I made for the couple.

Update: A few good pictures from the camera. I think I had the focus setting wrong so a lot were blurry.

* One of our bags was stolen on our last night, and I thought the pictures were lost forever, but Vanessa found it lying in a neighbor’s trashcan. Unbelievable!

We celebrated my youngest sister Thuy’s birthday a few days ago. She’s been working up a storm to get ready for her second year at SCAD and I’m excited to see what she has in store for us.

Wrapping up this week and then we’re heading out to Brooklyn for the weekend. Of course, we still haven’t done laundry, purchased a washer and dryer, or packed. It’s going to be a busy night!

Multitasking: Grading and relaxing

She was super-concerned when anyone was in the water

We also really enjoyed driving around with Trang and Ben through the smaller streets around our neighborhood. All the homes were pretty old, well kept up, and small but beautiful. It’s funny how we grew up in Houston, yet we rarely ever got to explore down here. (I’m a late bloomer—I got my license at 22!)

I can’t wait for this weekend! We’re going on a quick trip to Brooklyn for our dear friends’ wedding. Unfortunately it’s only for two nights, but we’re looking forward seeing fellow Domers and visiting places we missed on our last trip like Cog and Pearl.

all pictures taken from family’s phone camera

Whoooeeeee!

My little sister’s illustrations.

I have a crush on Vanessa Paradis and her Heartbreaker Chanel wardrobe, especially the wedding dress.

I survived my third first day of school! Perhaps next year, I’ll remember to load up on cough drops and tea cause my throat is hurtin’. So happy to see familiar faces, not so happy about the huge zit that popped up (Something me and the kids can bond over?).

A few things that have made the day easier: a new haircut after almost a year, surprise back issues of Lula B ordered, a frozen lasagna warming up in the fridge from Trang, and hearing Eastbound & Down playing downstairs.

It’s been a little slow to get my room ready for Monday. So after playing volleyball Saturday morning, I recruited BJ to come to school and pitch in. (Thank you1 Thank you!) We hung up some chalkboard decal, work by Andrew Bannecker, Mike Perry’s zine, Readymade WPA style posters, and one of my student’s NAHS promo poster to balance out the more traditional posters in the room. And B made sure the students could see my slight name change.

This piece from Steven Alan would fall into the “this is what I would wear to our backyard reception in Yakima next September” category. But I will probably get some more wears out of my other dresses and add a cardigan or sweater. We’re super excited for our trip back to B’s hometown as well as spending a short bit of time in Seattle.

*It’s okay, he’s amused.

My back-to-school shopping will be limited, so I’m looking for versatile pieces that could be dressed up or down, worn in the classroom or out to dinner. This hand-dyed wrap dress by Vain and Vapid fits the bill!

I’ve been called Mr. Rogers by a few observant students because you’ll never catch me without a cardigan, hoodie, or wrap because they set the a/c super-high in our building.