Apartment Decor Project #3

I'm starting Phase 1 of a new project: Bedroom Curtains. We have two large windows in our bedroom. The walls are pretty plain and not pretty, but we don't want to paint them since we rent. I decided to spruce up the joint with some nice curtains. We recently bought a new duvet cover (dark gray from IKEA) but otherwise our room is a total snoozefest. Curtains were a bit of a challenge since Abe doesn't want anything too girly (I'm willing to compromise a little since I want him to like it, but since I'm taking the initiative my vote overrules).

I took before photos are that especially hideous (note 2 piles of dirty laundry) to make the effect more breathtaking. I'm making my curtains from Amy Butler's pattern from her Lotus collection that I picked up from Purl Patchwork on Sullivan Street this afternoon.

I need to pick up some blackout lining and then hopefully I'll have a new set of curtains this weekend!

Gay Pride Parade NYC

On Thursday we realized that this weekend was the Gay Pride Parade in NYC. I had not been in past year, but my boyfriend passed through last year on his way to work and was very excited. It was perfect timing because I had a good friend in town for the weekend and we were looking to whoop it up. So on Sunday afternoon we sucked up our hangovers and headed to Christopher Street. Out of the group of us only one is gay and I think he was probably the least pumped up out of all of us. Last year I went to my first NYC Marathon (sad because I've lived here for 5 years) and it was a battle to not hysterically cry. There is something about cheering people and all the energy in the air that made my emotions run wild. I something similar when we first got to the Pride Parade. I'm totally behind equal rights for gay and straight people, but besides that it is a wonderful feeling to be around so many people pouring out positive energy. Next year there's talk of marching in it...

Red Sox Fever

For Father's Day I look my dad to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. I hadn't been there since I was a little kid so it was super exciting. I forgot how small the park is compared to all the other stadiums (especially compared to Yankee and Shea, which are the only ones I've been to as an adult).

I had a little trouble with the bartender on Yawkey Way when I showed my NY license. My dad explained that I am Massachusetts bred and still a Sox fan and bartender smiled and put out his fist for me to bump.

We dranks some beers, wandered around the park, cheered on Manny and Ortiz, and ate Cuban sandwiches. I think the highlight of the day was when my dad spotted Luis Tiant hanging in from the Cuban sandwich counter, El Tiante, which is named after him. My dad said hello and I took a picture of them together.

All in all it was a pretty great Father's Day. The Red Sox won 1-0, Barry Bonds didn't hit a home run towards breaking the record, we met El Tiante, and we left the game just in time to beat all the traffic on the Mass Pike.

Keeper of Secret

Warning: This is kind of gross. A couple weeks ago I picked up a sailor's knot bracelet when I was at the beach (Jersey Shore). I get one of these every year. I think it goes back to childhood when all the cool teenagers would wear them (especially lifeguards), but I still think they are the greatest summer accessory. Plus I decided that my look for the summer is "yacht chic".

Anyway, the problem is that mine is starting to smell like stale water. I know, it's really gross. It's a bizarre topic that doesn't typically come up in conversation, but when it does it's so funny because everyone knows what you're talking about. I mentioned it to a few of my friends and I got comments like "...it doesn't take long for those things to take on the scent of a cast after its been on your arm for a month." and "just wait till you go swimming in the ocean a little, sweat some more - those things are the keeper of secrets."