Month: June 2011

How do you call your loverboy?

This weekend, I saw the last show of Brett Dennen’s tour. Man, I could do that every Saturday night all summer long.

His tone is unique, kind of a Tom-Petty-meets-Bob-Dylan thing. If you have a chance to see him live, do that. Until then, here are the two excellent reasons to buy his latest album Loverboy:

Here’s a free download of “Surprise, Surprise” off the same album (which you can buy here). I’ve also linked before to “San Francisco,” which is a sentimental favorite.

Hooray for smart people making things that make us happy.

Announcing Camp Mighty!

Nine months ago, I told you I wanted to plan a big event where more people could go to work on Life List goals and projects. Thanks to some heavy lifting by Laura Mayes and the rest of the Mighty Events team, we’re doing it.

Announcing Camp Mighty, a co-ed conference for 150 creative types at the Ace Hotel Palm Springs this November. The concept is similar to the Mighty Summit, but with a few speakers, bigger parties, and more fun activities to help you cross a few things off your list. We’re also raising some funds for Charity Water as a team before the event begins.

Please go read up, and then sign up. I can’t wait to see you there.

MaxFunCon 2011, Affection Recap

I have not been laughing enough lately. I know this is gross. Like someone saying, “I’m bored a lot” or “I don’t really like being alone.” But this year has been heavy, so I’m doing what I can to compensate. This weekend, for example, I did a little catching up.

MaxFunCon is a summer camp for comedy nerds run by Jesse Thorn, who hosts The Sound of Young America. I’ve wanted to go for years, some of my favorite people are regulars, but I always felt shy about it. I’m not a comedy nerd, just a regular nerd, so I wasn’t sure wether it would be my tribe.


Photo by Snijglau

MaxFunCon usually fills up well in advance, but I was on a waiting list and the stars aligned. I found out I could go when I was already in Palm Springs checking out the venue for my own conference (more on that in the morning), so I was only an hour away from the camp. Oddly, Eden had also decided to attend on a lark, which I found out on Twitter the day before I arrived. Roomie up!

When I arrived, everyone was so approachable and genuinely friendly. We were there to meet each other and go home with some new friends, which all of us undoubtedly did. In addition to Eden, I got to see a few more folks who I don’t see nearly enough, like:

Matt Haughey of A Whole Lotta Nothing and Metafilter. I always look forward to Matt, because I know the conversation will be interesting. He’s globally curious and so pleasantly dismissive when he thinks something sucks. This year his curiosity turned toward grooming, so he was beautifully dressed, which was strange because I mostly remember him in T-shirts and jeans. Apparently, he’s been reading Put This On, and it made an impression. I suppose there were early signs.

I like the above photo because Matt appears to be winking, which I have never seen him do, ever.


Photo by Hiroic

Adam Lisagor of You Look Nice Today, Lonely Sandwich, and the aforementioned Put This On. I’ve only met Adam once or twice before, but he is fantastic. His Twitter stream (@lonelysandwich) often feels like someone smarter and more talented is narrating my brain. To wit: “Here is a weakness I have: if you do a fake laugh in order to belittle someone, I will consider you the worst and will never change my mind.”

Scott Simpson of You Look Nice Today, and Your Monkey Called). Scott made a late appearance, so it felt like he’d materialized at a party, and it made me so happy. I was not sober, so I made him promise to bring his wife and offspring to the city so we can arrange for one of them to wed my son. I’m not totally sure what gender(s) his children are, but that’s beside the point. A promise is a promise, and Scott will come through because he is an Eagle Scout. He was probably also a White House Intern and the son of clergy. I’m like a heat seeking missile for that shit. See you in the city, Mr. Simpson.

I also finally (finally!) met some folks I’ve adored and admired for over a decade, like:

Greg Knauss of An Entirely Other Day. Greg has been such a part of my Web ecosystem from the beginning that I can’t believe it has taken this long to see him in real life. I’d begun to wonder if he was some kind of creepy aggregate project by some of my friends. Turns out he’s just been too busy at home to leave the neighborhood much. His anecdotes are as good in person as online:

“So there’s this over-weight 45-year-old woman
standing in line at Rite-Aid. She’s wearing
leopard-skin tights, and waiting to buy a
twelve-pack of beer and one of those backyard
Tiki torches.

And people say Americans aren’t subtle.”


Josh Allen, who I know through The Morning News, and who you may know as Fireland on Twitter. I believe his was the first fictional Twitter stream, and it’s hilarious. We discussed how difficult it is to date when the top Google search on your name returns quotes like, “I don’t remember carrying a kitten in my cargo shorts but the lint trap don’t lie.” Women of America, Joshua Allen is a delight. Though he does kill the occasional kitten.

In addition to jump starting my sense of humor, MaxFunCon also supplied some new people to adore. A brief, incomplete list:


Photo by Scott Simpson

John Roderick, lead singer for The Long Winters. He wrote “Hindsight”, “Are you still training for the big race by hoping the runners will die?” He also taught an excellent songwriting class that helped me rethink how I process emotion. Useful. He’s a ready smiler, and a new dad. In the photo above, he’s wearing my pink scarf as an ascot for the Country Estate Party. I mention this because he made a point of finding me to return it before he left the next day. Nice, right? Yeah, I think so too.


Photo from Zickie Pop

Jordan Morris, to whom I admitted that I hadn’t heard a single Jordan, Jesse, Go! podcast. I know my fellow campers are agape right now, because this is like going to Space Camp and staring blankly when Neil Armstrong shakes your hand. He was gracious about it though, and asked me for hair product recs. I demurred because his giant hair is obviously the entire point. I think if he tamed it, someone would be able to tame his spirit as a result, and then I’d be to blame. I am no Delilah, sir.


Photo by Snijglau

Finally, Josie Long was even more winning than I expected. Onstage, she did a brief, one-woman play on the Bronte sisters, which was hilarious and horrifying, and so hyper-literate, I just wanted to high-five every single person in the audience for laughing. Afterward, I turned to Josh and we shook our heads in silent admiration. Then he mimed tucking her in his pocket.

Huge thanks to Jesse Thorn and the entire MaxFunCon team. These are just a handful of the amazing people I met this weekend who I tucked in my own pocket. It’s getting crowded in there with the kitten.

But you’re not Pink though, are you.

I’m heading to MaxFunCon for the first time this weekend, so I’ve been checking out the speakers. I found this video of Josie Long, wherein she perfectly encapsulates the disproportionate distain I feel when people ignore a party theme.

It also reminds me of a few classic lines from the Gilmore Girls Terantino Party:

Rory: Oh, hey Colin. Where’s your date?
Colin: I went to pick her up, the door opens, and she’s dressed like Mira Sorvino.
Robert: How do you dress like Mira Sorvino?
Colin: You have blonde hair and a name tag that says Mira Sorvino. I just turned around and left.

If you’re also headed to MaxFunCon, send me a note on Twitter (@Maggie) and we’ll have a drink. I will, of course, ask you to wear some sort of costume.

Mighty Closet: Liz Stanley

This is my extraordinarily efficient friend Liz Stanley of Say Yes to Hoboken. In addition to being a total party animal, Liz is one of those people who can complete a cross stitch sampler, repaint the living room, and start a successful small business before she meets you for brunch.

She also has my favorite smile ever.

See?

Liz and I share a penchant for cruise director chic. Her khakis are American Eagle, and the gold striped tank is J.Crew from eBay. As you can see here, her house is just as well curated as her closet.

Liz’s pink ribbon necklace is also J.Crew and her blue blazer is from a thrift store. She says, “Shrunken blazers look hot with almost any outfit, but check the little boys section of your local thrift store for a cheap/vintage alternative to that $150 one you’ve been eying from J.Crew. I always find some great ones to add to my closet there.”

Her pink/gold heels were consignment, and they’re such a flattering neutral. The shine gives them a little more depth than a straightforward nude, and the pink is warmer too. Plus I love how a T-strap shoe always reduces blisters. I wonder if these were originally tango shoes.

Liz has baby-fine hair, so messy updos are a quick option for her. Everyday Princess Leia.

I told Liz I would crop the firewood out of the shot, but then the photo looked less awesome without it. Sorry, Liz. Now everyone will know you use your fireplace. Probably for something illicit.

Liz says, “Once you slip into a pair of high-waisted stretchy jeans like these, you’ll curse whoever came up with the idea of a low rise. There’s a reason our moms wore them in the ’70s, they’re incredibly comfortable. Plus, thanks to J. Lo’s butt, we can all embrace the full size of our behinds in high-waisted jeans.”

The scarf is from Target. If you always wonder how people make cool headbands from scarves, Liz recently posted a tutorial on her favorite turban ties. Go read it.

Her long-chain necklace is the Color Study Locket by Verabel on Etsy.


Bag by Fabric and Handle, excellent for toting your macrame project. Her sandals are Bernardo.

Here’s Liz with a pillow she probably whipped up in the ten minutes before she had a dozen guests over for dinner. Liz, I will pay you to be my wife. Tights by American Apparel, brown boots are Diesel from a consignment store, and the gray dress is H&M.

Liz and I were talking about what makes someone’s style stand out, and her theory is layering. She says, “With a kind of boring dress like this gray one I like to add unexpected pieces like an oxford shirt underneath and bright tights. I’m a big fan of oxfords as an under layer. Just be sure to roll up the sleeves and unbutton the top to prevent looking too stiff and formal.” Shirt is H&M, belt is from a thrift store

This sweet J Crew headband would get lost in my hair, but I love it paired with a chignon or a casual ponytail. Well played, Stanley.

Liz got this ombre silk skirt from a consignment store. She says, ““Elastic waist skirts aren’t always the most flattering on their own. Add a belt to cinch your waist and hide the extra bulk around the hip they’re giving you with a shrunken blazer.”

I’ve noticed over the years that a lot of Liz’s neutral-colored layering pieces feature an understated print like this tiny polka dot blouse from Urban Outfitters. It adds interest, but the overall effect is still classic. The blazer and brown belt are thrifted.

These boots are made for typin’ (by Zara).

Gah! I so covet this dress. She found it at a thrift store in Utah, and orignially it was sleeveless, backless, and nearly floor length, “I’m not a great sewer but I worked my fingers to the bone to refashion this outdated dress into something more my style.” You can see the whole process right here.

Here she’s styled the dress for day and evening.

Liz throws on a cardigan from Express, a the thin belt is H&M for a creative business look.

Also, there’s a removable back panel so Liz can still wear the dress to church.

For evening, she dresses up her shoes. Liz made these sequin shoe clips herself, but you can buy them readymade from Ban.do.

Here’s what the heels look like naked. (My Google search traffic on this post just skyrocketed.)

Add a vintage clutch, and you’re all set for some serious partying. That donkey tail isn’t gonna pin itself.