Summer Adventures: London

Buckingham Palace

Before heading off to Cambridge for the summer, I enjoyed a long weekend in London. I haven't been  in years so it was amazing to go back and experience it again. Although it rained a bit (of course!), the weather was perfect for going out and exploring the city. I was able to visit a few churches (including Southwark Cathedral where John Gower "The First English Poet" lived and is buried), tour the Tower of London, catch the matinee performance of Wicked, wander the market on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, and squeeze in some shopping on Oxford Street. While it was a jam-packed weekend, I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Hyde Park

Picturesque Garden in Hyde Park

Goofing Around at the Tower of London

The London Eye and Aquarium 

Houses of Parliament

On Portobello Road

Summer Adventures: Cambridge

( photo from here)

All my bags are backed, I'm ready to go...

I can't believe the time have finally arrived for my trip to Europe! This summer I'll be studying abroad at Cambridge University. I'm so excited to get over there and start meeting new people and seeing new places. It's going to be one memorable summer! Stay tuned for posts about my weekend excursions!

King's College  (photo from here)

Summer Adventures: Bonnaroo

  

  It's hard to believe that an entire week has passed since my long weekend at Bonnaroo. It's been 5 years since my last trip and man have some serious improvements been made! While the stages (and their hilarious names: What Stage, Which Stage, This Tent, etc) remain the same- the 'roo crew has upgraded the water stations and food vendors, added more shady areas for afternoon sietas, included a mini beer festival/tasting area within, and even added more activities (from hulu hoop making to art classes). This year's lineup was incredible- making it very difficult to catch all of the acts I was interested in. Luckily, I managed to fit most of them in while discovering a few new artists along the way. Some of the highlights from my weekend include:

1. Meeting the owner of this talented dog:

2. Enjoying an amazing Tennessee sunset every night

3. Hearing Phish perform with Kenny Rogers and play this song:

4. Discovering new artists to add to my itunes such as:

    - Punch Brothers
    -  Santigold 
    - The Devil Makes Three

5. People watching in the afternoon sun

Sweet Summertime

Walking the Mall

      Even though I've been out of school for weeks at this point- it's just starting to hit me that June (and summer) have arrived!  I've managed to keep myself busy with mini trips here and there before my big trip across the pond to study at Cambridge (more to come soon!).
     Recently, I went to D.C. to visit the city and catch up with one of my favorite girls, Grace. We spent our days walking through museums and different parts of D.C. (of course stopping at boutique restaurants for lunch and drinks along the way). I had such an amazing time and can't wait to go back! But until then, I'm going to continue soaking up the sun and making the most of the remainder of the summer.

Outside of the White House

At the National Portrait Gallery (by Nam June Paik)

Dinner in Old Town

1L of a Year

It's amazing how quickly time flies when you're having fun (or at least super busy). I can't believe it's been a full year since I graduated from SLU and that I'm 1/3 of the way done with law school...crazy!
This year has been full of changes (some better than others), but all in all I couldn't be happier with the way things are going. And I can't tell you how excited I am to put away my books for the summer!

Some  highlights from the year include:

- Getting Frank, who always adds some fun to my day to day life

Frank's First Day at Home

- Meeting new law school friends, without whom I would have never survived this year

Some of my Favorite Girls

Section 2 Pre-Halloween Party

- mini vacations from St. Louis to South Carolina

New Years in Nashville

St. Louis Mardi Gras

Day at the Beach

Summer Style

      With finals starting in less than a week, it's hard to let myself think of anything other than property laws and potential tort claims...but I've already started to crave summer (can you blame me?) Nothing sounds more appealing than a sweltering summer afternoon spent by the pool in Palm Springs inspired prints. While taking a moment to fantasize about my life post-finals, I remembered the upcoming Trina Turk capsule collection for Banana Republic.

         
     Due in stores this June, the 60 piece collection will  feature an array of summer must-haves, from flirty dresses to printed swimsuits and plush beach towels. Inspired by the Palm Springs "cocktails by the pool" lifestyle, the collection promises lots of color and Turk's signature bright and bold prints. It's as if the people at Banana Republic read my wish list for summer- can't wait to see the collection in person!

Record Store Day

Tomorrow is Record Store Day! I'm going to miss going to Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis this year, but I plan on checking out some local stores in Knoxville. I encourage you to go out and and support you local record store tomorrow- many will be running special deals or hosting fun events. If you're not sure where to find a participating store- check out the record store day website to get more info!