weekend wonders.

saturday morning RDG // sunday morning RB

my absolute favorite summer pants from heidi merrick (sea pant in flume) // sand // true story

my kind of blues

weekend wonders.

29th  birthday style.

a brief note about gratitude for my birthday: wow. what a whirlwind of love, laughter and light. my deepest thanks to everyone who helped me usher in 29 with a big bang. to have all the people i love, surround me, in the same place and the same time, has overwhelmed me with gratitude and thankfulness. this life of mine is blessed with so many amazing human beings, and we all got to celebrate together and that was pretty much the best. i look forward to carrying the light of this weekend with me throughout the year as i shine bright like a diamond (sorry, i had to). there are literally no pictures from my party, but i don't think it's possible to capture something like that. all those important people from every aspect and stage of your life, communing in the same place, it's a really special thing and it makes me understand the depth of love my friends and family have for me. mine for them is infinite. as added extra awesomeness we got to stand on my porch and watch headlamps dot mt. penn like firefly's as more friends competed in the dark and dirty and then enjoyed the fireworks from the fightin' phils game. surreal.

so here's to 29, i'm gonna be iron like a lion in zion.

- picked up that pretty lady at the airport (best birthday gift EVER) and headed straight to vedge and scored a table for two for one of the best meals of my life. new favorite restaurant. 

- spontaneous trip to rehoboth to bask in the sunshine and see the ocean. 

- rocking my iron lion zion necklace from sorrelli with my susan golembiski designs party frock; birthday girl party outfit success!

what i want wednesday

[image via Beeradvocate]

I can't take credit for finding this, but I HAD to tell you asap! My awesome trail buddy and fellow deadhead Rod sent me the tip-off, and honestly, I can't believe I didn't know this until now! The Grateful Dead and Dogfish Head are making a brew together people! Read this to get the full scoop. I seriously feel like I might explode with excitement and anticipation - since it won't be out until NEXT October. Obviously, this what I want, like, right now. So I'm scheduling my weekend in Rehoboth now so I can have a front row seat at the brewery to taste this beauty.

In the meantime, we'll just have to listen to this and wait patiently. How much do we love that they named it American Beauty? Sigh.

weekend wonders

[the birthday girl at her private pizza party | sun, sand and homemade cinnamon rolls | white party]

Life's a Beach

[ac beach last weekend]

I've been a bad blogger and not pre-posted anything for next week while I'm on famcation! (and I'm not fancy enough to have guest bloggers.) So it looks like you're on your own! But if you really can't live without me, feel free to follow along on instagram at mskelleytoyou. Have a great week!

Ode to Dad

[me and dad at rehoboth beach circa 2008]

(first, let's take a moment for an Ode to Christin because I SCHEDULED A POST FOR SUNDAY! whoopee!)

But now to business (it's going to get personal on here, that okay people?). My Dad called me out. Laid out the past five months of my life in plain view so I could actually see what's be en going on. And you know what? He told me I'm doing a great job at pretending I'm happy most of the time, and he was so sincere about it it brought tears to eyes (just like it is right now). But he also told me he knows the truth. He knows how sad and broken and lost I am. But he also knows that I will be happy again.

 Sometimes you just need someone to state the obvious (especially when it's your father, you seem get more clarity.)

My instructions? Let go. Close the door. Move on. Since my Dad can read my mind, he did address that I'm doing a great job trying, but I'm trying not doing - my little toe is keeping that door open, just in case. Just in case you love me and realize what a terrible mistake you've made and you come galloping in...wait, wait, that's the fairytale version.

I live in reality (at least I try to). And I don't need saving.

I spend so much of my time trying to do and live the three above-mentioned items that it feels as though I should be riding off into the sunset right now of self-actualization. But the truth is it's like trying to move a 1960's metal desk up three flights of stairs in a Victorian during the summer . SLOW GOING. The panic set in when I realized I thought I was being my authentic self these past few months when really I'm pretty much a mess just muddling through one day to the next.

Well, you know what, right now that is my authentic self. And I'm going to love it anyway. Because everyday you get up and do it. Do your best for yourself. You know what that self did Thursday? She got her ass out of bed at 5:45 to take a spin class. Got home and made a delicious breakfast in her adorable apartment - showered, washed, dried AND styled her hair - put on a cute outfit - and for two hours today she felt like she really had her shit together.

And for two hours she did.

And maybe that's okay. Maybe it's okay to make that the standard. To be okay with yourself in your skin for as long of an interval as you can. Because you know what? My Dad is okay with it. He loves me anyway. He helps his 28-year-old-trying-to-figure-it-out-and-wear-cute-clothes-at-the-same-time-and-eat-organic-food-and-save-the-world-daughter buy a car because basically if she does it on her own, she'll be broke. But he helps her find a way. A way to do it, without doing it all for her. Giving her the best gift ever: independence. He helps. He always helps, no matter what, in any way he can to make my life sweeter and easier (even when I don't deserve it).

He still comes to my races, even though he thinks I'm bonkers for running that many miles. He's never missed a game, concert, recital, birthday or family vacation or any other occasion that I deem important. He has only ever asked that I do my best, always. He always reminds me to keep it simple and that life is good. He tells me to go for it when I'm not sure if I should take the trip or invest my whole heart. He still helps me sign the car papers and hand in the keys to the old jeep and wipes the tears from eyes, instead of laughing at my silly connection to this car, because it's like losing a best friend (oh, the irony). He teaches me to kind and generous and loving and open, no. matter. what. by leading by example.

So this is my ode to Dad, he simply is the best on earth and I would be lost in the woods without him (but probably not because he bought me a new headlamp for Christmas and a RoadID bracelet for my birthday). And of course I don't acknowledge this nearly as much as I should (and he will never read this post). So his father's day present this year (along with some vegan turnovers from Fields and French Hens) is my resolution to let him know how much he rocks as often as possible. I spend a lot of time doing that for other people, when at the end of the day my Dad is the one who deserves it the most, and is always there, forever and always.

Oh, and to keep trying to be more like him. That's another resolution.

So thanks Dad, for seriously, everything.

xx
christin

Better When We're Together

[Back Row: Darryl (cut off - oops!), Sara, Christina, Chris, Me (ek!), Elizabeth. Front Row: Alyssa, Brittney, Stevie]

In honor of my quickly approaching annual family trip to Rehoboth Beach, I would like to take a moment to pay homage to the Tallia family. Fourteen years ago this coming Saturday our families met, beach house next to beach house, and have been life long friends ever since (even if we do only see each other once a year). Stay tuned for an updated group photo and lots more sunshine-y posts from the seashore.