Thanksgiving

Hope you loves out there had wonderful Thanksgiving weekends! What did you do? Here's what I did:

1. Hang out with fam (see pic above...I look quite coy.)

2. Eat 2 Thanksgiving meals (fiance's family and my family living in the same state= full bellies)

3. Go Black Friday shopping (because I needed a dress for a Christmas party this coming Friday)

4. Study (sort of...)

5. HAVE FUN.

Now, to descend into a black hole of despair, to emerge victorious on December 16th.

Rihanna on domestic violence.

This is such a heartbreaking and honest interview. I think that Rihanna deserves a lot of respect for speaking out.

I have been volunteering at the Boston Medical Center for the past few months, interviewing women in the emergency room about their ideas and experience with domestic violence. The stories that I have heard are heartbreaking.

Domestic violence is an issue that I think deserves a much bigger audience. It is something that we, as women are warned about, but once it happens to us, we are expected to keep silent.

Nobody wants to be a victim. Nobody wants to admit that they have been emotionally or physically abused.

But how can we speak out when traditionally, the course of remedy to leave your abuser isn't so easy? What happens when you love the person who is abusing you? What happens when, the person you love is so violent, that even a restraining order won't keep them back?

This is not a simple issue, but somehow, we miss this point. In Massachusetts, one in every 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner every year.

How do we change, because something has to give. It is NOT okay to condone or trivialize domestic violence issues.

Please take a moment visit Jane Doe Inc., for more information.

What I wish I had right now.

Some macaroons from Laduree would be so very good at this moment {11:29 p.m.} in time. I have got to find some way to get these babies for my wedding. Can there be such a thing as a macaroon cake? or a macaroon tree? Ah, I miss Paris.

The Heidelberg Project

The Heidelberg Project is this amazing community project in Detroit, Michigan that I happened to come across while futzing around on the internet. What a great program.

Check out some history:

The Heidelberg Project, bearing the name of the street on which it exists, was started in 1986 by Tyree Guyton. He was assisted by his grandfather, Sam (Grandpa) Mackey (deceased), and his former wife, Karen Guyton. Tyree was raised on Heidelberg Street and, at the age of 12, witnessed the tragic effect of the Detroit riots - from which he claims the City of Detroit never recovered. Though once racially integrated, many neighborhoods have become segregated urban ghettos characterized by poverty, abandonment, and despair.

Armed with a paintbrush, a broom, and neighborhood children, Guyton, Karen, and Grandpa began by cleaning up vacant lots on Heidelberg and Elba Streets. From the refuse they collected, Guyton began to transform the street into a massive art environment. Vacant lots literally became “lots of art” and abandoned houses became “gigantic art sculptures.” Guyton not only transformed vacant houses and lots, he integrated the street, sidewalks, and trees into his mammoth installation and called his work, "The Heidelberg Project", after it's location on Heidelberg Street.
Despite numerous awards, the city demolished parts of the Heidelberg Project installation in 1991 and again in 1999. Still, the Heidelberg Project continues to exist, evolve, and grow - providing hope and inspiration to the local community and the community of the world.

Today the Heidelberg Project is recognized as one of the most influential art environments in the world.

To donate, and check out more facts, go here.

And for real, here's my costume.

I'm actually in between two of my bridesmaids, Korto and Sarah
{a.k.a. Roller Derby Girl and Ladybug}

Where's Waldo?

I had waaaaaaay too much fun dressing up this Halloween. Can you tell?

A special wedding.

Photos from top to bottom: The Branford House, Groton, CT; bride, groom, best woman, and groomsmen; handsome devil; beauties in blue; exchanging the rings; BEST PHOTO EVER; and the damn good looking siblings of the bride.
Photo Credit: Me and my trusty Panasonic Lumix...I may have found a new calling.

Hi old friends!

MY apologies. I have been the worst blogger in the history of the world for the past few months! A little over a year ago, I started this blog solely because my boyfriend had one and he didn't think I would keep up with it, so...CHALLENGE, it was on. And I kept with it for such a long time! However, life got in the way, blahblahblah, and I felt as if I couldn't keep up with my old habits as much as I used to.

What's funny is that I miss writing every day on this thing. Even a little blurb here and there, it was something I actually looked forward to doing. But...I lost my spark for a bit, and didn't really feel as if this blog was really contributing anything of substance. I've seen my lovely friends' blogs blossom into really well thought out, beautifully written pieces of work. And mine, well...let's just say, I'm not so good with the words. Or staying on topic. Or writing interesting posts.

But, screw it. I started this blog for me, and yeah, I kind of do want readers, doesn't everybody? I want to be one of those popular, funny bloggers who are invited to blogging meetups and are experts on all sorts of things. I WANT TO BE THE FACE OF THE INTERNET.

Sort of. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this blog, while not important for anybody else, has been a really great way for me to express myself, and I miss that.

So I'm going to try and get back to blogging regularly. I need some expression in my life, other than making really bad law-school jokes about being a tortfeasor.

Glad to be back.