All I'm Saying Is, Put Down Your iPhone. You Deserve a Real Date.

I grew up watching black and white romantic classics with my grandmother – think Roman Holiday and From Here to Eternity. While this did solidify my obsession with Audrey Hepburn and teach me the value of a perfectly tailored dress, it also left me with unbelievably high expectations of meeting someone new and subsequently, the first date. We should meet somewhere adorably unexpected – a coffee shop, on a business trip, at the park – then he would take charge and plan our night – picnic, dinner for two at a new place, hot air balloon ride because he knows a guy – where we will inevitably discover random common interests. 

The reality? Your friend from work/church/yoga knows a guy who is "perfect for you" because he's "super funny"so she has him look you up on Facebook. There's no candlelight, only the illumination from your iPhone as you read the short, vague message from Mr. Breezy. He asks for your number and you send it, under the pretense that he'll call and there will be no more typing. He texts and asks you for coffee/drinks/to watch basketball at his place and you're supposed to what…swoon?

It's 2013. I get it. I love my Apple products just as much as the next twenty-something and you don't even want to hear about the time I thought I had lost my iPhone to a carny cray's water spill at Bonnaroo. Google, Facebook, Twitter and yes, Linked In, are excellent tools to make sure your prospective date isn't married/a serial killer/repulsive, BUT you have to stop there. Investing too much time in analyzing someone's online persona is guaranteed to mess with whatever might develop when you actually spend time with that person. You start to rule him out because of what, he wore a man tank in 2004? 

Whatever happened to sitting across from someone and hearing firsthand where they work, what music they're into, where they went to college and where they ate amazing mexican last night! The eye gaze, the body language, the chemistry! I propose that we step away from the crutch that is social media and date the old-fashioned way called conversation. Besides, getting to know someone new and the anticipation you feel shoot out your fingers and toes is what it's all about, right? 

XOXO,

B

Budget B.

Sunday night I got my life together aka hit the gym, did laundry, cooked a meal and made a "budget." Well, sort of. I'm too ADD/FUN to make one of those daily excel spreadsheet types that I'm sure Dave Frightening Ramsey no doubt endorses. I do, however, like to set goals for my superfluous spending in the coming months based on activities and social events I want to make sure I'm fully prepared to own.

So whilst watching Beyonce's doc I made a running list of items and events worth saving my rubles for - here they are, in no particular order:

Bonnaroo 2013 tickets

Warby's

A trip to Parlour & Juke for a trim and some mint tea with Marwa

She & Him at the Ryman tickets

JT & Jay-Z tickets, wherever they decide to play I am there

Lollapalooza 2013 tickets (are you seeing a trend here?)

Hair Chalk (for said music events)

Some sort of fancy workout for the month of April/May, i.e. Pure Barre, HotBox

Laser hair removal

Spring Dresses

THESE 

xoxo,

B

Yep, I was right.

Chris Thile really is a genius.

I have always been a fan of his mandolin-based, bluegrass sound, from his solo albums to his latest and greatest with The Punch Brothers. He was the perfect conversationalist when we watched Super Jam at Bonnaroo together, going on and on about his love for the Ryman while randomly breaking out into small jigs. So yes, while sometimes he looks fifty shades of awkward I find him hilarious and above all, mad talented. Also note that my friend and life coach, Beth, has a serious obsession for him that far trumps my 12 yr. old unhealthy obsession with Justin Timberlake. 

So whether you're a fan or not, it's time to give the man mad props for being the youngest of 23 people awarded a $500,000 MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" Monday. The news came as a complete surprise since recipients don't even know they've been nominated until they get a phone call of congratulations - nominators remain anonymous and winners have to wait two months before telling the world.

My favorite is that it took several attempts to get Thile to actually answer the phone since he's awesome and screens unknown numbers. His tour manager finally googled the number and when MacArthur popped up they called right back...after Thile picked himself off the floor of his Ryman dressing room. 

So basically he is deemed a genius and will receive $500,000 over the course of 5 years to do whatever he wants to do. Word on the street, aka Rolling Stone, is that he plans on purchasing a vintage 1925 Gibson F5 - there were only 200 made - and funding a new bluegrass quintet of sorts. 

I don't care what he does as long as he keeps making great music and doesn't shave his head. Congratulations, Mr. Thile. 

here's to you, Bonnaroo.

Another year, another Bonnaroo: the Manchester music festival's 11th run but the first for this girl. Why had I never been before? Timing mostly and a fear of the cliches: too hot, no shade, way too many people and not enough showers. Thanks to those fears and about a million suggestions from Bonnaroo veterans, my girls and I were basically prepared for the apocalypse. However, when we arrived on Thursday after the quick drive from Nashville, complete with an OJ Simpson-esque car chase, we were pleasantly surprised. No long lines or scorching heat! Just music. And lots of crazy outfits. Perfection. With 80,000 people in one place for four days you hear a lot - here are my favorites from the weekend.

"If you from the South, make some ------- noise!" 
- Ludacris' highly effective opening line.
Alright so I was just as perplexed as the next girl when I heard Luda Luda would be playing a set, and in a tent no doubt. Sure, Bonnaroo might not have been his target audience but people showed up, singing and dancing to all of his hits while he ran around like a crazy homeless man. Entertaining? Absolutely. Were the chicken and beer balloons and stripper pole necessary? Probably not. But it was Ludacris.

"I just want to go into this tent and scare some people." - Kenna

"Be careful, they might scare you back." - Chelsea

(They then walked past the tent and noticed a couple potentially conceiving a Bonnaroovian baby, if you will. Awkward.)

"It's because it's just so ----- sparkly." - tiny girl, hula hooping during the RubbleBucket's set.

Alright so after hearing a little Radiohead we headed to a baby tent to hear a funky band with the best props and crowd-surfing tuba-ist. Before their set this tiny girl was intensely hula hooping in the middle of said tent. As she got more crazy with it more people sat down and watched, including one gentleman who sat by us and struck up a conversation.
Guy: "Hey, what's your best trick on that thing?"
Hula: "I don't really know." (continues to hula, drops the hoop, then starts again)
Guy: "You know I don't want you to think I'm a creep because I keep staring at you hula hooping."
Hula: "It's because it's just so ---- ------ sparkly."

"I want to see everyone take off everything they have and put it in the air!" - Major Lazer
I am only one person but I did not see anyone take him up on his nudity offer.

"I feel a lot of love in the field." - Seth Avett, after errybody sang along to Murder in the City.

"He's just so cute I want to put him in my pocket!" - Kenna, referring to Trampled by Turtles front man, Dave Simmonett.

We all know my love for these boys, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint. We worked our way to front and center, ending up by a girl named Katie from Minnesota who had never heard their music, and after they completed their own sound check they play an incredible set full of favorites and a nice cover of "The Weight." They need a bigger tent next year, Bonnaroo.

"Hey, do you have time to cook my 'shrooms?" - Random dope to the "cooks" at a food truck.

"She pulled up in her Cadillac." - Me, noticing some of the older crowd pouring into the field for The Beach Boys.

"He has a few missed calls and two messages." - Chelsea, referring to the young man passed out in the sand in the middle of the Other Tent with his phone on his chest, totally oblivious to the massive crowd awaiting the show to start.

"Where are you staying tonight?"- Punch Brothers front man Chris Thile at Superjam ft. QuestLove.

Curiousity and a member of The Roots led us to this show, not knowing who would be the highly anticipated special guest. We weaved our way to a nice spot close-ish to the stage and incidentally next to the Punch Brothers and a bottle of wine. Chris started talking to us, asking about tennis and telling us that D'Angelo was in fact the special guest. (!!!) Lots more conversation and shenanigans and then it was time for this girl to peace out. I went to say bye to Chris and instead of a high five he basically picked me up with a bear hug and asked, "Where are you staying tonight? Why don't you come with me?" I laughed and left with my girls.

"I am getting Verizon the second we get back to civilization."
- Me, referring to AT&T's ridiculously bad service

"Does anybody know where that compound with the baby doll head is at?" - Kenna trying to find the "landmark" to lead us to our car and home to our cozy cabin.

Despite and in spite of it all I'm a fan. Bonnaroo won me over and I can't wait to see what next year brings! Maybe cotton candy and the return of Grace Potter? Until then.

xoxo

tighten up, spring.

Hello my name is Katie and I have been a very negligent blogger as of late. I attribute my brief absence to activities including but not limited to editing chapters 1-4 of my book, half-watching and 100% making fun of the dopey Bachelor finale and driving to Alabama on a weeknight to see Jack. Hey, we are all busy and fall short. Which leads me to this profound thought: spring weather is nice.

Spring in this part of the country means perfect temperatures free of that humidity we come to hate by early June - days filled with puffy clouds and plenty of sunshine. Music sounds better with the windows rolled down. Every food group tastes better whilst enjoyed on a patio or deck, and honestly, I've already forgotten what it was like to not be able to feel my face as I walked to, well, anywhere. The con of this storybook weather is that it will soon transform into a stifling summer and we will undoubtedly curse the sun as we are unable to function without a pool or handheld fan. So in honor of living in the moment and simply because my brain thinks in lists, here are some perfect activities to enjoy during this time of atmospheric awesomeness:

1. Go to the park. Contrary to popular belief you do not have to have a dog or a child to enjoy a nice outing to the park. Take a blanket, a beverage and reading material. Company optional.

2. Go run. Outside. Stop saying you're not a runner and go! Just don't run on a main road like some of the hardcore marathon-training "I run at 9 pm on Woodmont wearing all black" runners do. It's poor form and it's dangerous.

3. Buy tickets to a summer music festival. It's a win/win situation. You buy tickets in advance and they're typically cheaper, and you're guaranteed a ticket... AND you trick your brain into getting excited about being at an outdoor music festival in the summer heat. Case in point, Bonnaroo. We bought our tickets weeks ago and my brain is envisioning listening to Aziz be hilarious on a sunny, 72 degree spring day. I'm sure it will be closer to 102 degrees but don't tell my brain that just yet.

4. Eat outside. I can think of about 35 places within a fifteen mile radius that offer outdoor seating so no excuses.

5. Dress for the occasion. Put up the blah black and winter sweaters. Keep it light and add some color! Boys, you too. Seersucker allowed.

Happy Spring! Here's to freckles and plenty of buttercups. xoxo.