Family Portrait Sneak Peek!

Here is just a little sneak peek of the family portraits I did in Benson Park with Lexii and her family over Columbus Day weekend. I still have a ways to go, but I am really liking how they are coming out so far!

It was definitely "the" weekend to take family portraits. There must have been three other photographers there at the same time we were. Scouting out locations was a JOB. But we worked with what we got and I think that the photos came out pretty good. 

Chocolate by the Bald Man

I went out for brunch (which actually turned into lunch because we ended up missing our 11:30 reservation) at Max Brenner's on Boylston Street this past Saturday. I had never been so Miya insisted on bringing me. Max Brenner's is famous for its chocolatey concoctions, but also for its amazing food. The food was great, served in a variety of different ways, but the dessert was our real reason for coming. I got a "Choctail" aka a chocolate and coconut-cream milkshake while Miya and Ben split a Euphoria sundae. My shake was served in the "Drink Me" cup an invention modeled after Alice and Wonderland. The sundae was brought out in an enormous beaker (reminicent of the Goblet of Fire) along with two small bowls of ganache. Surprisingly we were all able to almost finish our desserts. I came very close to drinking my entire milkshake and Ben and Miya made a pretty good dent in their yummy sundae. 

Post-chocolate, I was forced to hobble off to work with a MAJOR food baby.

Long Weekends

Long weekends are great. They make the fun part of the week longer and the less fun part a bit shorter (at least on paper.) I find them almost like a sanctuary from the stress of a normal week. The only real downside to a long weekend is how quickly they seem to pass. One second it's Friday and you're free for an extra day and the next thing you know it's time to get ready for the upcoming week. 

This Columbus day weekend was fun while it lasted. I got to see my family as well as a few friends that I hadn't seen in quite a while. I got to eat real food (not from a dining hall), snuggle with a dog, craft my heart out, take some new photos, and simply just relax. I'm so sad that it is over, but I am so happy that I got to see some of my favorite people.

Pavement

Miya and I made plans to get brunch from Pavement, a cool little coffee shop down the street from her apartment. We caught up over breakfast sandwiches (some of the best I've ever had) and cappuccinos. It's always good to see her and reminisce on our time as roommates last year. The food was so yummy! I can't wait to go back!

How to dye with tea

Free People Galloon Lace Halter Bra

So I bought this white halter bra at work about a week ago. It took me a while to decide whether I wanted this particular color or not. I'm not usually one for wearing something purely white at this time of year. I see stark white as something to be worn in the hot months of the summer, and sparingly even then. 

We didn't have the usual off-white or "Tea" color in our store or online. I had heard about dyeing with tea a while ago and decided that this would be the perfect thing to experiment with. 

I had dyed things before, but buying dye can get expensive. Tea comes in such a variety of types and colors. It really makes for the perfect dye.

Step 1) Find an item to dye (preferably something white/light colored)

Step 2) Boil enough water to submerge the item of clothing completely.

Step 3) Once the item comes to a boil add your tea. I wasn't  quite sure what type of tea would be the most potent, so I used the darkest I could find. I just used a cheap black tea that I had lying around. I used three tea bags, but you could probably get away with just two.

Step 4) After the tea finishes steeping, add your item. Stir the item in the tea (with some sort of utensil) until it reaches a color that is slightly darker than is desired.

Step 5) Rinse the item with cold water until the water runs clear.

Step 6) Set it out to air dry. 

I dyed this right before I went to bed the other night so when I woke up it was perfectly dry.

And there you have it! You now have a beautifully, naturally-dyed, vintage-looking piece of clothing.

Love me some dim sum

Jacky's not too sure about what she got herself into.

Jacky and I went out for dim sum tonight. It had been far too long since we had seen each other (2 weeks) which considering how close we live to each other is unacceptable. Over the summer we talked about having weekly meals together and after over a month of being in Boston, I think we have finally come up with a day that works for both of us. 

By noon today, we still hadn't figured out where we were going to get dinner so I sent her text, "Wanna try dim sum?" When she replied "Where's that?" I knew I had to take her. I met her at her apartment and we hoped on the T. We spent the evening catching up over some pretty delicious noodles and dim sum at the Winsor Dim Sum Cafe in Chinatown. Such good food and at college-girl-approved prices.