jp was invited to see the fray play at red rocks on the friday of my birthday week. so of course we decided to make a big night of it. we got a babysitter for ramona, went to a fancy dinner at linger, and braved the rain and cold to the outdoor ampitheater. it was my first time at red rocks and jp’s first time there to see music performed. i’m glad lashley told me to pack a hat and mittens along with my rain jacket, otherwise i would have been miserable (and someone mentioned i shouldn’t even think of wearing my stilettos to a concert there: thank you!). i didn’t know at all what to expect and me, being the diva i can be, was expecting the friends & family section to maybe be, um, covered? but it wasn’t but we were bundled up and it was so so worth it. have you been to red rocks?! it is amazing and gorgeous and one of the best musical experiences despite any crappy weather.
i listened to how to save a life pretty much on repeat my junior year of college (along with james blunt’s back to bedlam and great lake swimmers’ self-titled [it was a very depressing year]) and so, though i’m not on the up and up with all the fray’s newer songs, it was really fun hearing the ones i know and love. they’re great performers and even did a mini concert on top of the sound stage (we were at the bottom of the sound stage to the side) where they played the three best songs of the night: be still (on their new album, scars and stories), how to save a life, and a cover of my favorite yeah yeah yeahs song, maps. yes, i have embedded them all here bc they are worth listening to, especially the first and last ones.
(in the background, if you watch this maps video, you will hear the sweet but very drunk los angelan next to me who throughout the night and especially during this song kept exclaiming “my mind is blown! my mind is being BLOWN!” sheesh.)
guys, i haven’t been to a concert in so long and it is still quite rare that i get to spend alone time w my main main. this was one special night! i even got my dancing moves on a little bit. afterward, we headed over to williams & graham for the after-party. i, of course, felt really cool and honored that we were invited to attend this event but, trust me, it’s not as cool when you have a baby waiting at home. the important people had just started arriving when we had to duck out to relieve our sitters of their charge and us of worsening hangovers in the morning. which means we pretty much hung out with each other until we had to go home. which was pretty sweet actually.
and actually, it wasn’t hangovers we had the next morning since we didn’t even drink that much. it was: we-are-too-old-for-staying-up-this-late hangovers. 1:30, y’all. i was in bed at 1:30. living. it. up. the following is the screen shot i took at the bar after jp and i gave each other high fives for living on the edge and staying out so late.
first ones to arrive. first ones to leave. classy. happy birthday to me! thanks for the sexy night out, jp. i love you.
my crazy little ramona,
for photos for this shoot, and for mothers day, i had intended on taking you to the woods. i had wanted to take you to the mountains and show you how your papa and i explore. but, alas, the days got away from us as they are wont to do and i was forced to explore other options. and, as i resigned myself to this adventure–thinking what sort of exploring is done in the urban jungle we tread miles in every day?–i was surprised to realize that, yes, in fact there is always much exploring to be done wherever you are at. wherever anyone is at.
explore (and love) where you live. introduce yourself to your neighbors. invite them over for bbqs. play outside with the other kids. frequent and support the local shops. walk the blocks. find new parks. travel by bike trails and follow the river to new places. be an advocate for your community. live where you can do these sorts of things.
explore communication. explore your expression. explore your creative outlets. talk to lots of different people. learn languages. learn music, even if you never learn to play. read books and blogs and magazines and news sources. learn the latest technology but don’t always rely on it. write letters. say what you mean. do not mince your words. always be kind in your speech. never sell yourself out. mean what you say. stay true to your art.
explore food. try everything at least once. don’t be afraid of the weird stuff. find what you like. know what you love.
explore simplicity. live deeply, live fully. you need not a ton of money or resources to do so. in fact, that may hinder you. explore what it means and looks like to live simply. simplicity, in its many forms, opens up a world full of small joys. and you will be richer for it.
explore tradition. respect what others do in their cultures and in their religions and in their families. create your own traditions and rites and rituals, especially when you grow up and have your own family. you don’t ever have to do something just because that’s how it’s “always been done” but understand that how it’s “always been done” is really important to some people.
explore your style. never let anyone tell you how you should look, act, or feel. that is up to you.
explore your fears. i, my dear, am afraid of vomit. and then i had a baby. and i learned i had to get over that. and i did. i am also afraid of small talk. but i have learned that it serves me well in social networking situations, which i find myself in a lot with your papa’s line of work. whaddya know? now i have met some great friends whose friendship started off with some awful sort of small talk where we both had to get over the mostly-ever-present hump of talking about uninteresting things to get to know someone. and long ago i had a great big fear of not being loved. but then i met your papa and allowed him to show me what being loved looked and felt like. and here we all are now. i have not a clue what your fears will be but i urge you to not let them make you feel small.
love, mama.
read other letters to ramona bean over here, here, here, and here.
this post is done in collaboration with sakura bloom. the sling i am wearing is the simple linen in wheat. the beautiful photos are by JP (taken on his trusty iPhone) and were taken out and about in the lower highland of denver.
the hand-painted infiniti scarf i am wearing is a rory brinker, a new company getting started by a dear friend of mine. the tagline for rory brinker is “wear love around” and i am proud to be wearing this scarf around the places that i love. you can also check out more photos of rory brinker scarves on their facebook page.
my sweet ramona bean,
this photo series pretty much sums you up right now: always on the move.
you, my friend, are the light of my life. you shine with energy, charisma, and curiosity. you are a mover and a groover; persistent, strong, determined. you took a slow motion side roll off the front steps today and i was really impressed with your recovery — even with the bloody gums you got. it didn’t seem to faze you and you still are intent on mastering those steps. or gravity. you are tough.
yesterday we went to a new playground and i sat you down on the edge of the sandy play area. it didn’t take you two seconds to figure out you wanted to explore. you were away from my side in a heartbeat and crawled right toward the group of older kids playing. then you made your way to the bottom of the slide and stood there, playing with and eating sand and talking to whoever would listen. i came to get you only when it looked like a bigger child was going to come tearing down the slide. your independence, your fearlessness, astound me.
your noises are becoming more and more varied and pronounced. there’s a sound you make that sounds like “otto” and you use it correctly. sometimes. but we’re still giving you time to figure out what you really want to say.
you discovered dancing. whenever i turn on a record you bounce your body to the music. you do the same for the silly songs i sing you. sometimes the only way i can get your attention is by singing about a spider or a peanut and then you’ll look at me and beam and bounce and clap your hands. you clap and shake and wave and–my favorite–give kisses when asked. it’s amazing.
food finally makes sense to you. pickle spears, yogurt, spicy salsa, eggs, beans, guacamole, vinegar chips, anything really except for fruit. you eat it and seem to enjoy it. it appears this correlates with the appearance of your two top teeth. they give you a little more mastery over the food now that you can chomp it up instead of just gumming it. i love to watch you eat.
papa and you have developed (and continue to develop) an extremely special relationship. he receives the biggest smile from you when he gets home or whenever he walks into the room. you love when he flips you around and roughhouses with you. and he’s the only one that can get you to do that really big laugh of yours. he is the best papa ever. you and i are lucky ladies.
i celebrated my first mothers day this month. you honored it by peeing on my head first thing in the morning (note to self: velcro diapers only have so many uses in them before you can expect to wake up to find your baby standing up against the head of your bed with her diaper half off, pee flowing on your face and pillow). what a riot. that day i held you close and whispered in your ear many times, “thank you for making me a mother.” we really were meant for each other, all three of us.
i love ramona. oh yes, i do. i love ramona. oh yes, it’s true. when you’re not with me i’m blue. oh ramona, i love you.
i love you. love, mama.
*see ramona at other months: nine, seven, five, three, one, birth.*
twas a full week. i love birthday weeks. but i need a really long nap. also, if anyone knows a better way to insert and format instagram photos into wordpress i’d love to hear from you. should i be using a third party app? (psst: click through to see that i didn’t completely screw up the formatting. also, click the images for larger, less distorted versions).
elsewhere:
- i’d like to make a fort like this for ramona in the backyard.
- i’m coveting beautiful and way out of my price range white tops. also this. and this.
- pj pinned this idea for a washi tape use and now i need to step up my organizing game!
- consumer reports posts an article on what to reject when you’re expecting. bravo, consumer reports. it is my hope that expectant women are aware of and given all their options.
- jp’s restaurant planning/demo-ing/constructing/styling is in full throes. i like these lights for over the tables. but maybe that’s been overdone? suggestions?
- drea over at maiden metallurgist always has thoughtful views. i like her response to time’s most recent cover.
and the winner is: my beautiful neighbor, jenny! (random.org picked 4 outta 7.) i’m gonna wrap up that geode for you real cute and walk it over to your home with the babes. i think that will be a fine excuse for a long overdue date, yeah? and what fun you and avery will have breaking that thing open!
i love birthdays. i love celebrating mine and celebrating the birthdays of those close to me.
i also love tokens of love: both giving and receiving them. so in honor of my birthday, (which was yesterday but i’ve been living it up all weekend and plan to live it up right up until mother’s day), i’m giving away one DIY breakable geode from ironwood. the website tells you absolutely nothing about the store but i’ve mentioned its magical powers before. basically it’s filled with whimsy and love and magic potions (geodes and succulents and local art and vintage goods and textiles and everything i love about knick knacks and life). and if you’ve never cracked open a geode, well, i’m trying to help you out with that.
bc everyone needs a little magic in their mailbox on their birthday — a little lovely trinket to find a special home on their windowsill or bookshelf 😉 and i’d love to pass it on.
please leave a comment below saying what tradition you love celebrating on your birthday (or for others!). this is open until friday morning, 8:00 MST, at which time i’ll pick a winner and announce it!
(p.s. the photo above was taken from the ironwood facebook page. this is not a breakitopenyourself geode but that would be really sweet if it was.)
welcome
