Kentucky Derby Party Hats from Mom 2.0 Summit

I look for any excuse to wear a hat, they’re so satisfyingly British. Hats are the main reason I want to go to the Kentucky Derby someday, so I was pleased when I heard there would be a Kentucky Derby Party at Mom 2.0 Summit, where I was speaking last week.

Here’s me doing a bang-on impression of my grandmother in my travel hat:

I’m so silent-screen furious.

The hat is technically the remains of one of those giant feather/afro wigs that I got for $10 at the flea market. Here’s what it looked like originally. I flipped it inside out, put a plate down on the middle of it, and cut around to see if I could get out the cute little poof in the center without the whole thing falling apart. It worked.

It’s super lightweight, obviously, and it travels in a tiny cardboard box because the feathers just fluff out when I open the lid. I secure it with little bobby-pin Xs, so I can wear it underneath a chignon, right on top of my head like a fascinator, or over one eye for a more vintage look.

I took photos of my favorite hats from the party, and I wish I’d asked for everyone’s info. If you recognize someone I don’t link to, let me know their name in comments please.

Continue reading “Kentucky Derby Party Hats from Mom 2.0 Summit” →

Aftermath

It’s a light rain. I’m floating alone in the swimming pool, when a red-tailed hawk cuts through the clouds above me. I think of him hours later, after the long drive home. My hair still smells like chlorine.

Photo by David Bell

Life List Inspiration from Go Mighty

Have you checked in on our 31 Inspiring Women interview series on the Go Mighty blog? Do it! This week, we’d like you to meet:

Dottie Guy, an Iraq War Veteran who now works for the VA as an advocate for other Veterans, and a damn good photographer.

Yasha Wallin, Berlin-based arts + culture writer and Creativity Curator at GOOD Magazine, AND Editor at surf magazine The Usual.

Sarah Han, a producer at The Bold Italic, who says “These days, I’m more focused inwards – tweaking the things I already know I am, already have, and care deeply about.”

Kendrick Brinson, a freelance documentary, commercial, and editorial photographer based out of Atlanta, Georgia.

Sonya Yu, a tech marketer turned freelance photographer who says, “To stay focused on achieving goals, I recommend surrounding yourself with those who support and inspire you.”

Meanwhile, in the community:

-Caitlin is making huge progress on one of my favorite goals on Go Mighty, and she has a question for you in her latest update.

-Retta is learning to make something too. Her story made me realize that I don’t consider attempting anything that involves math or a tool box. I need to take a shop class.

-And, Sarah! I want to squeeze you and crush you like a grape. Sarah is our most recent Go Mighty Class Goal Grant winner, who just completed a sweet goal for her foster son.

If you haven’t joined Go Mighty yet, please take a minute to head over and sign up. Once you’ve registered, you should receive your invitation via email within 24 hours. Yessss.

Mighty Thirst: Watermelon Chill

You know how watermelon season comes and you sit out on deck in your swimsuit, scoop out watermelon with your hands, and then rinse the juice off with the hose? Gah! This drink is making me excited for summer.

Watermelon Chill

-4 tsp frozen watermelon, seeds removed
-Juice of 1/2 lime
– 1 shot vodka

Put everything in the blender and turn it on until the drink is… blended. Pour it into a glass, garnish with mint and a melon ball, drink it until it’s gone. Wait a few minutes until you feel like a slightly more pleasant person, then make another one.

Here’s to spitting seeds out on the lawn, warm water from a hose that’s been coiled in the sun, and washing your feet off before bed after a day of padding around barefoot. What are you toasting this week?

I’m making 100 cocktails as part of my Life List. This is number sixteen. Here are the rest:

1. Shots in ‘Cots 2. Avocado Bourbon Shake 3. The Vacation 4. Sassy Lassi 5. Cherry Bing 6. The ABC 7. Toddy Shots 8. Cafe Picante 9. Gin and Juice (Box) 10. The Neighbor 11. Halloween Spiked Cider 12. Bloodthirsty Mulled Wine 13. Killer Bloody Mary 14. Bourbon Pumpkin Shake 15. Tangelo Cooler

Epic Playdate: Yeah. It Was OK, I Guess.

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai.

This weekend, Hank and I took a road trip south to attend the Epic Playdate Hyundai put together. If you were following along on my Instagram, you may have noticed that it was so amazing it crossed over into absurd.

A bunch of blogger friends were there — Rebecca of Girl’s Gone Child, Heather from Dooce, Liz from Say Yes to Hoboken, Jordan from Oh Happy Day — and each of us was responsible for a kids activity on site.

There was beach blanket volleyball.

And balloon swords.

We made paper rockets.

And did the kids up in tinfoil armor.

I hosted a paint fight, which I was super nervous about because there wasn’t a clear way to clean up afterward, but Wet Wipes took care of most of the mess, and no one bit or punched anyone during the fight. That I know of.

Throughout the whole event, all the adults kept gawking at each other. Several of us have experience putting stuff like this together, and we couldn’t believe how much work and thought went into it. Attending without having to lift any boxes was a little odd for all of us, I kept feeling like I should be refilling the lemonade or finding someone a Bandaid.

We’d all traveled to be there, so they set up a campsite for the families. When evening came, we headed over the hill for dinner, and gasped when we saw the view.

Most of the kids ran around on the beach, and Archer and Hank sat talking for hours about Star Wars and what the world would be like if the Force was real.

It took those boys about an hour to start plotting how they could hang out together again. If you’ve watched Archer grow up over on Girl’s Gone Child, you know he’s is a thinker, and Hank is too, but it was startling to see how similar they were even in their mannerisms.

Isn’t it so gratifying when your kid gets along with the child of a friend you love? Rebecca would see them playing together, yank my sleeve and say, “Are you seeing this? Where is my camera?”

Speaking of which, here’s Rebecca in her natural state.

Well, one of her natural states.

Having all our families together was like being at the best wedding on record.

And then? Then Brett Dennen showed up to sing us campfire songs.

Of course he did.

If you have no idea who Brett Dennen is, he’s one of my favorite musicians and also a good guy. He does lots of benefit shows, and I’ve posted about him a few times. His was the first show I ever went to on my own because none of my friends were free, and I was too disappointed at the thought of missing him. After a long day of surprises and squealing kids, finding him at this event was disconcerting, like waking up in a Saturday Night Live skit.

Brett sat down by the fire to sing to a bunch of exhausted kids and glassy eyed parents, and I scrambled over to get Hank.

“You know how mom goes to lots of shows? This man with the guitar is one of my favorite singers, and I really want you to come hear him with me.”
“No thanks.”
“Baby, I really want you to hear this.”
“Mom-mom, I’m playing.”
“I know, but I think it will make you feel happy.”
“I do feel happy.”
“…”
“I’m gonna go play flashlight tag now.”

GAH! I resisted the impulse to grab the back of his sweatshirt and use my weight advantage to force my musical tastes upon him. Barely, but still. Instead I found a glass of wine and walked back over to the fire where Brett was sitting on the ground singing kids songs.

Families peeled off for bed until there were only a few of us left, so I finally said, “I feel a little silly asking this, but there are like four of us here. Can we sing ‘Sydney’ together?”

And Brett said yes.

So this is me and Brett Dennen, singing one of my favorite songs from my last two years of music delving. That, my friends, is a deathbed flashback in action.

Eventually Hank ran back barefoot and asked for water. So Brett chatted with him while I found a bottle of water, and his shoes, and then we said goodnight and headed up the stairs to our tents.

And whoa, about those tents. They were exactly like that episode of Gillmore Girls where Rory goes with Logan to that Life and Death brigade party and they seal their love by jumping off that platform with open parasols…

…Don’t you think?

All of it made me feel so grateful for my surreal job, and my sweet kiddo, and the creative community that over the years has come to feel like an extended family. I like you guys. I’d jump off a platform in a ball gown with you any day.

If you like this post, you might also like:

Movie Night at the Barn
Life List: Giant Food Fight? Check.

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Huge thanks to everyone at Hyundai and Federated Media for putting this together, and for including me and the little guy.

A Life List a Day on Go Mighty

Project!

Every day for the month of May, we’re featuring a woman who inspires us on Go Mighty. We’ve asked them to share 10 goals from their life list, as well as a bit of their own story, the inspiration behind their goals, and advice they have for others on staying motivated.

Today’s interview is with Tina Hardison, a designer who’s worked with everyone from Chronicle books to Apple to IDEO. Her Life List is about balancing career goals with adventure. Go have a look.