Ladybug Summers

Ah the alarm moves back forty-five minutes in the summertime.  No school, just swim team and volunteer work.  The mornings bring a spirited swim practice that is sure to wake me up.  It might be the cold water or the beach boys blasting out of the old boom box, whatever the case, swimming gets me ready for the day ahead.  I might be sitting at my computer (getting inspired by other blogs), or Hula Hooping outside, maybe taking pictures- practicing for photography. 

Which I guess brings me to my point,
I practiced my photography yesterday.  While I am still completely ignorant to all of the lighting rules, and exposure tactics, I have got to start somewhere. 

Here is my starting point.

H Mart, Not a Tacky Curtain Store

Attending a boarding school exposed me to many different cultures, Russian, Indian, Korean, Mexican, Japanese, etc.  During my visits in the dorm rooms, I would see many different snacks, mostly Japanese.  I always envied them, they had the soda I could only find at Epcot in Disney World.  Since I am not aware of the name, it has been difficult for me to find these snacks.  Not anymore.

Today while on the way to pick up a special order of fabric, I noticed a sign, it read, H Mart.   H Mart I wondered, thinking it was probably some tacky home furnishing store with ugly curtains.  I was wrong, H Mart is actually a wonderful place if you happen to love Asian snacks, sodas, and fruits.  H Mart is certainly a SUPER-market.  It has a multitude of everything from Korean face cream to my favorite Japanese soda.  We couldn't stay long, my mother had a hard time with the odor of the fish, I certainly enjoyed my time there.  I was so excited, frantically looking from aisle, picking up anything that I recognized or just looked good.  

They even have a food court.
You can find locations and shop online here

Brimfield- Less than a month away!

"Brimfield, a Massachusetts town of some 3,000 people, slumbers for eleven months of the year. Then, for a week in May, July, and September, Rip van Winkle awakes and the town explodes. The Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Shows, the largest outdoor market of its kind in the country, spring up on the fields along Route 20, the town’s main street. The faithful arrive early, often before dawn, waiting patiently for the gates to open. Sun, rain, cold, heat, and mud—nothing will deter them. (One couple actually got married at the gates at 5:45 a.m., before the shows opened, and spent their first day of married life inside.) There is something close to a stampede when they are finally let in. A photograph catches an image of a woman whose feet are literally off the ground, airborne, winging her way to what? Where do they come from? What are they looking for? And why Brimfield?
......
For all but three weeks of the year, the flat fields along each side of Route 20 in Brimfield lie fallow and vacant. Then, as spring eases into summer when the grass is thick and verdant and the trees heavy with leaf and blossom, the Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Shows perform their annual renaissance.

Long columns of trucks, vans, and cars rumble into the small town through the night. They fan out over the green acres and draw up at their designated sites. The ancient cycle of plowing, planting, reaping, and rearing cattle is forgotten as the largest alfresco antiques and collectibles market in the country begins to take shape. Tents are planted, signs sprout, and stalls take root. Doors are flung open. The dealers tumble out shouting greetings to each other as they set up their booths and unload their vehicles....."

Taken from Brimfield by Angelo Dounoucos and John de St. Jorre

It was only two years ago that I learned about the massive Brimfield flea market from Essentially Lilly: A Guide to Colorful Entertaining.  Upon reading about Brimfield, I was instantly intrigued and asked my dad if he could take me. It has become a tradition for us and we now look forward to it months in advance.  There are many treasures hidden among the 6,000 vendors at Brimfield.  It takes multiple days to comb through everything, but it is well worth it.  Some of last year's treasures included a few vintage Lilly Pulitzer items, a lovely pearl necklace, and a beautiful set of pens.  I have also acquired quite the collection of vintage Cosmopolitan magazines- my favorite one with Marilyn Monroe on the cover.  The thought that the Brimfield starts in less than a month (July 13) is very exciting and I can't wait to see what treasures I come across this year.

Dream Closet

Don't you just love these! I can just imagine, perfectly organized J Crew cadigans and ample space for the Rain Boots and Jack Rogers.

Can't stay away

I know I gave an official goodbye and all but...

Please, It's summer! I have too much free time now, I have time to blog again. Unlike my previous attempts at blogging, I actually believe I might have some things to talk about rather than posting my English assignments for lack of a post. (Yes, it's on here, it's my first post ever)

This could go two ways:

1.) I keep blogging and I feel good about posts. I go back to commenting on blogs I like ☺
2.) I post for a little while and either I am blogging for nothing and give up, I run out of topics and give up, or I just give up in general.

Let's hope this isn't Nostalgia and I actually do want to blog again.

Happy Summer!

Official Goodbye

I have commitment issues.
Yes to writing.

I have tried many blogs (maybe ten under three different accounts). I put the most time into Fashionably Late and I will miss posting. Official goodbyes make me sad, but having a post from last year about Bastille Day is an even worse goodbye

I spent hours upon hours on the design, I tried so hard to comment on other blogs everyday. I wanted followers... really badly. I guess it's nice knowing someone appreciates your work.

How I have changed from when I started this blog:
-I decided I had a new dream school... I got accepted and will be attending this fall
-I have adopted a new style- Jack Rogers, Lilly, Vineyard Vines, and J Crew
-I love the following TV Shows:
- Glee
- Burn Notice
- Gossip Girl
- Cougar Town
- Modern Family
-I am taking my love of poetry and photography more seriously- I got a little apprenticeship at a local photographer's place (I might have posted about that)
- I found out my shoulder injury cannot be fixed by surgery
- I got a coveted spot volunteering at the hospital- the gift shop

Well, have an awesome summer, fall, winter, and spring!

I might post in the future you never really do know!

Sincerely,
D