This time for Africa.

I've been listening to Waka Waka by Shakira on repeat. Reminds me of Lauryn Hill and how listened to The Miseducation over and over, in love with the sounds and lyrics. Lauryn is absolutely a style icon of mine. Sometimes it's one item, worn seamlessly. Other times, it's layers and layers of eclectic vintage pieces.

Landing in my lap.

The past week has been full of sunny news: Lanvin for H&M on November 23rd, and Zara now has an online store. Lanvin may force me to juggle my Thanksgiving plans, in the name of all things holy, it's probably worth it. The message I'm feeling: Fret not, it is possible to stay fashionable in this town... where Target is far too accessible.

Labor-less day.

My aunt Esther – Wise NC, July 2010

Happy Labor Day weekend. Today, I think I should reflect on summer...

July through August, in between the chaos and change, a few traditions kept my feet on solid ground. Every July since I can remember, my parents took me to visit family in Wise NC. Even now that my dad isn't with us, my mom still arranges the annual trek. It's as country as country gets... a little world made up of 3 main roads, rocking chairs aplenty, and 50 year old traditions behind every door. Everyone is a bit more pure there... uninhibited and at peace. It's also the final resting place of most of my relatives, which is fitting. BUT, after a few days there, I'm itching for a Starbucks and cell phone reception.




Then, there was the big escape. My girls from high school, affectionately "The Great 8," planned a getaway in Newport RI a few months ago. This was planned well before I decided to relocate... and now being 1000 miles away, the vaca wasn't exactly convenient. Somehow, the stars aligned, and I didn't have to cancel! I got to spend a few days with the girls... Heavily intoxicated, on the shore, surrounded by lobster, wealth and leisure.

And finally, there was the 4 days on Seabrook Island... with KJ's mom and stepdad. I learned a lot about the future in-laws and even more about my man. We can vacation together! That's huge for me. A few years ago, my ex-boyfriend and I attempted a vacation together... we had completely different vacation styles. He was up-and-go-go-go. I was more lets-take-a-nap-poolside. At Seabrook, KJ proved that we just fit. We had the same concept of time and I never felt like I was losing a marathon. It was good.

There's been days by the pool, nights on the grill, some strolls downtown, a football tossed here and there... and it's all been truly good. My answer to the most frequently asked question: "How do you like it in Raleigh?" Simply: "So far, I love it." Summer was the best way to start.

Team player.

KJ has tried to prepare me for football season. He thinks it'll test our relationship. He doesn't think I'm "ready" for the obsessive football talk. While I can't imagine anything breaking us, I can predict a ton of annoyance. I'm already sharing him with his 20 other hobbies. Hopefully he'll compensate in other ways.

Mean girls.

Earlier this week, while grabbing a snack at Panera, I gave my number to a girl who I'd love to go shopping with. Who does that... what a creep show. I think I need other relationships, outside of those I've been handed for being KJ's girlfriend.

And while I was trying to make connections here, I forgot to call my best friend, Shannon, on her birthday. Totally forgot. It didn't even cross my mind. I was away from my cell phone all day, preoccupied with whatever... and I blew it. I'll do better.

Stuffed.

When it comes to food, I have huge voids to fill. Once I've found "my favorite this" and "my favorite that," I'm on a desperate mission to replace them. So far, I've found replacements for my favorite Indian, Vietnamese, and Mediterranean food joints! Unreal! My new Vietnamese place is just 5 minutes away from my office, and has a fridge stocked with soybean milk. I thought for a while that I'd forever crave curry from Bacchus in Soho and beef skewers from old faithful: Thai Angel. I'm so satisfied with my meals here... and I'm not blowing up.

Of truth and trust.

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. –Victor Frankl

It's been 30 days too long. I'm so torn with this blog. It's hard to be completely honest with the world, the blogosphere, whoever's out there. But I set out to tell a story here (hell, we're still in chapter one.) So, back at it!

As planned, I got a job. Graphic design for a non profit that I love. Working in the South has turned out to be... hard. (I'm at a loss for the right adjectives right now.) It's different. Everything is tiny. Trends that are a part of my vocabulary have yet to even take off here. I'm constantly pushing at limits that I've never had before. In short, I'm not sure what's going to happen... but I have a job.

My friend count here is still pretty low. I forget that everyone is friendlier. Coming from a place where is taboo to smile at a passerby... it's tough to even say hi to someone I admire. Lots of missed opportunities. Am I being too hard on myself? Ah.



Some Gloria Vanderbilt love.

Chow Bella.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. –Annie Dillard

Fishmongers! A seaside style fish house in downtown Durham. I can't forget that fried goodness and the cajun tuna. Often, I find things that are "My favorite this" and "My favorite that". Oddly, my time is New York didn't yield too many favorite restaurants. I rarely had time for a normal dinner... It was a take-out lifestyle. By the time I go back, I'll have compiled a list of Foodie Must Haves.


Spending the weekend in Wise, North Carolina. If country folk say they're going to the country, this is it.

Love chub.

The goal is to not gain 40 lbs of relationship weight. It happens... it's almost expected. You're in love, you're comfortable, you eat, you relax. Coming from New York, where I walked a couple miles daily, just out of necessity, I'm even more susceptible to a huge gain.

KJ keeps me active. Sort of. He's super athletic but it doesn't rub off on me. I've debated joining a gym for a while. I really loathe memberships though. (Sidenote: Jessica Hishe's gym concept is brilliant). I went for a run 2 mornings ago. It was scenic, but I doubt the routine will stick. We're a "sporty" couple. weekdays at the pool, bowling on Saturday, horse races on Sunday. If only that burned 1000 calories/day.

I'm So Julia.

Me. And Julia Roberts. Going out on a limb for about a paragraph. As if this whole Raleigh situation isn't already a limb in the midst of hurricane season. (Wow, how quickly I digress.) My life, recently, draws such close parallels to the roles Julia Roberts has played. In no logical order at all:

• StepMom - all of it, literally.
• Charlie Wilson's War - ruthlessly steering negotiations that lead to wins (amongst a few losses).
• Pretty Woman - days with our loved ones, being taught how to select silverware from my place setting, as if I've never... eaten. Or, my resume being questioned, and my breeding, and my social security number 5 times backwards.
• Eat Pray Love - if the movie turns out to be anything like the book, it's dead on. Hiatus from corporate culture, on a mission to experience everything else. Everything. Seeing things for the 1st time.
  
• Mona Lisa Smile - ignoring doubts from friends, because really, I'm the one who has to live this life.
• Mystic Pizza - wishing now that I'd seen it...
  

That's just how I feel today. Tomorrow... I could be Queen Latifah.

Town and Country.

I need to face facts. I've always had the self imposed deadline: Job in Carolina by August. Well, Princess, it's mid-July and time to crack the whip. Mandatory Keena Time is on the agenda, because I've had less time for myself than I thought.

To kick off Keena Time, I'm reading The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (for daily dialogue beyond "Baby, I love you"), working on my freelance site, and researching opportunities. Watching more TV will be a good addition too. KJ's channels are arranged in the most complicated order, the opposite of user friendly, and the cause of frustrated tantrums. Hence, my references to pop culture are fewer these days. Ah, everything!

The distractions are abundant. The flea markets here give me the same "warm tinglies" that I feel when walking down Mott Street in New York. Gorgeous goods all around. So far, I've added some hot 2nd hand treasures to our home. Actually, the goal is to completely redecorate, unleashing this interior design spirit that was cooped up in tiny city apartments for way too long.

Gram and Bananagrams.

KJ's mom (who "popped in" for 3 days, bearing old family recipes and 64127537020 more reasons to love this family) introduced me to Bananagrams. Renewed love of long, obscure words. I played after a few glasses of wine. I wonder if its as fun when sober.

Bananas remind me of Pierre Hardy yellow and the Lanvin's Spring 10 show in Tokyo. I've been meaning to read an article on Alber Elbaz, in an old Vanity Fair of mine.

Land of the free, home of the brave.

I've spent a lot of time on the back porch, topless, with a magazine. It's secluded and relaxing.

Yesterday I discovered that we also have a front porch and it's pretty big. It wraps around the side of the house! To my defense, I've never entered our house through the front door. We also have a swinging bench on this porch and a flag pole where a huge American flag waves. I've been so oblivious. The details of co-habitation are becoming more apparent now that I have the big ideas down... examples:

• We run the dishwasher everyday.
• KJ likes to limit the bathroom toiletries on the countertop. That's a line that I fully intend to cross; women cultivate beautiful products and like to be surrounded by them. A tiny blue bottle of Anti-aging algae from Africa shouldn't be hidden under a sink.
• Mailmen here aren't required to wear uniforms when its 95+ degrees... and they're not rapists.
• There are 4 remote controls for the entertainment center and they don't live in 1 central location.
• I refuse to mix my laundry with his.
• KJ throws shoes (literally throws them) to move them or make space, even after I've explained that mine are delicate.
• We should try to go to bed at the same time, our relationship is far too new to start staggering bedtimes.
  
• The cleaning lady has been taking advantage of him.

Porches/rooftops/terraces are a luxury in the New York... the ultimate amenity. A costly feature reserved for a tiny percentage of city dwellers. Now... I have a front porch, a screened in back porch and a patio. Choices! Love.

That age-old decision, style or substance?

I'm having a hard time managing the gap between my new life and fashion, as the gap grows wider and I feel distant. Unpacking and organizing could be causing it. When I walk into my closet, I see items that I may never need again. That coupled with the fact that I used to see and touch some really beautiful things.

I should add, most of the restrictions I feel are self imposed. There's nothing wrong with a few sequins, some sheer, and a raccoon eye... I'm not looking to become a nanny.

Vanities.

I caught up on some blogs today... one naive "fashionista" writes: I don't chase men, I chase dreams.

Oh please. What happens when the two are one in the same?! And your needs and your wants collide? Let me know what you get here, little one.


That aside... On reading: Working in advertising, I had most magazines at my disposal. Vanity Fair would show up monthly, and while the cover was intriguing, I could never crack it. The voice was too sophisticated maybe. Now, I'm determined to read this freaking magazine, cover to cover... every issue. It's the kind of info and commentary that I want to have... handy. I saved the January 2010 issue, with Streep on the cover. I like her wisdom. And KJ got me the new August issue... I will get through these. (Here's hoping writing it will add some healthy pressure.) I love that I have time to read, and stretch, and rearrange furniture. More on the furniture soon.