ladies and gents.

on saturday six of us boarded the train, nips (that's northern for mini bottles) in tow, sandwiches pre-made and cocktail treats pre-mixed, and headed on up to portland, ME for the Gentlemen of the Road festival. the day promised good music by a variety of bands, local food favorites and plenty-o-beer. but when we arrived, we were treated to a complete game changer that took our day to an e-lev-en: backstage passes a-la family member spencer lamb (thanks, spence!)

a day of music that was already going to highlight our summer quickly turned into a dream come true as we downed beers, played ping pong and threw cornhole alongside members of the bands. i was already starstruck hanging with mumford & sons, but as soon as they hopped on stage, i pretty much lost it. i'm a huge fan of their music - specifically the lyrics which i just find so beautiful - and on top of that, they rocked it harder than anyone i've seen in a long time. to this southern gal, these fellas from the UK who played their hearts out to 15,000+ of their new england fans, were the epitome of gentlemen.

official passport into the festival

@sammytb playing around backstage w/a larger-than-life 'stache

mumford and all the other bands gathered on stage to finale w/ the weight by the band

me & @alysonkaroly hanging with the bands side stage

cambridge/somerville ladies representing

the third + final

there's a part of me that wants to scream "how-oh-HOW is it september 1!" but most of me can believe the cold hard fact of this passing of time. the summer has gone all too quickly, but it was an amazing one for sure.

e + i are approaching our last summer retreat with friends for labor day weekend, and when i return to cambridge, i'll be expecting (and wanting) some fall-like temps and i'll begin looking out for the first sign of falling leaves. my favorite season is upon us + i couldn't be more excited for the change. e starts his third year of law school today. every year i do the same two things: take a picture of him departing to class; and reflect on what the last school year brought us while wondering what the coming one will hold.

i won't forget the sadness i had two years ago when we first arrived. the loneliness that just didn't seem to go away quickly. i'll never forget thinking, "these three years are going to be a long stretch."

now, i can't stop saying, "these three years just aren't enough."


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a talk of two cities.

my how the time has flown! here's a run-down of what's YOU'VE missed:
a quick cheers for the end of 2L, a (not-so-quick) FANTASTIC two-week trip to costa rica followed by a (two-tear) goodbye to e as he flew down to DC to begin his summer internship. all this punctuated by a one year anniversary celebration - whew!

two lonely weeks in cambridge later, i made my way to DC over the weekend to visit my hubby and check out a city that may very well be our future home. between catch up with good friends, making new ones, bites of delicious food (including ripe tomatoes), and swigs of some fine brew and sweet tea, i took in the sweltering southern temps as well as the lively surroundings in each neighborhood we visited. all the while thinking to myself, "what if i had to start over, and what if it was here, could i do it."

of course the answer is yes. the answer to that question, no matter the place, will always be yes. with e (and gus) by my side, i can start over anywhere. but it's a thought i won't let stay in my head for long.

i prefer not to acknowledge the fact that i may very well be staring down the barrel of our last year here in cambridge. i would much rather spend my time here + now enjoying backyard bbq's, long days and summer temps with our beantown buddies.

i'll spend these months trying to have just as much fun (and more) this summer as we did last. i'll enjoy the fact that the boston skyline makes me smile, my neighborhood feels like home and the hydrangea are starting to rapidly bloom along each street. i'll get ready for a best friend's wedding, a week at the beach with my family + e's return to our little apt for the second half of summer.

and i'll save my "what-ifs" for a rainy winter day.

i could be LOST

after spending one blissful, warm, relaxing + absolutely lazy week on an island in the sun i came to one conclusion:

if this gal were stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the caribbean, she'd be...just fine.

of course i'd need a few things: sunscreen, a hat, an iPod that never needed charging, a natural water source, a bottomless bottle of vodka, an endless supply of mint (to make my new fave which they called a "guaracha." very much like a mojito but swap the rum for vodka...delish.), the twilight series + of course, my husband. (what? too much?)

but really, i could do it. some people get bored, need a change of scenery, need new company. but me, i'm at home with my toes in the sand, my face in the sun, the ocean in my view + eric by my side.



5 things i missed while on vacation:
1. daily skype with sister
2. daily "coffee" with caroline
3. daily chats with the parents
4. 70-degree weather that apparently hit boston while we were gone
5. gus

5 things i miss since i've been back:
1. the view from my beach chair
2. everyday, uninterrupted, with e
3. abundance of (ripe) fresh fruit (papya! mango! kiwis!)
4. the warm temps + sunshine
5. cocktails around the clock!