On Set: "Hot Damn" Music Video

Last weekend I was home in Atlanta for the briefest of moments, and I had the chance to work on my friend's music video. Actually, I had several awesome friends involved in this project and it was an absolute blast to work with them all day. The music video was for my friend Ryan Snow's song "Hot Damn" which is the first single off his new album, out in July. My excessively talented friend Drew Kaiser directed the video shoot and absolutely blew me away with his creativity, leadership and precision. His entire team at Southern Lights Productions were so excellent and efficient. I've been on many a set and I don't often brag about the efficiency or just overall niceness of the crew. But these folks are truly golden and deserve a shout out. Many thanks to Drew Kaiser, Jordan McBride, Lauren Brock, Jenna Wessinger, Logan Freaking Shawver, Renonda Anderson and of course, Ryan Snow. This was one for the books.

The video was set in 1920's prohibition-era, so there was no shortage of long cigarettes, sparkly-fringed dresses and fake eyelashes. My favorite part of the day? Hanging out with so many righteously fun people. No lie. My gal pal Katie Casper was in from L.A. and we had a great time catching up in between dancing takes. And I had the super cool opportunity to meet several of the artists on Ryan's label, Big Snow Entertainment, including Dana Kelson, Justin Monday and Brittany Young, who were also on set for the day. The only bummer of the entire day? I left my pearl earrings with wardrobe and had to turn around and drive back to pick them up. My silly accident. Oh, and there was a wardrobe malfunction... hopefully that evidence will only end up on the cutting room floor. Haha just kidding. Or am I...?

Major thanks go out to everyone at Southern Lights Productions, Big Love Cuts and Big Snow Entertainment! Can't wait to work together again!

Stay tuned for more photos and the video to come (probably July) and check out this project on my site :-)

Euro Trip: Gear for Consideration

Images Via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

The Goods.
Much like a squirrel, I've been slowly accumulating a stockpile of travel goods over the past eight weeks. Our Euro trip is seriously just around the corner (departing this country June 4th!) and we haven't even finished booking everything. Many of the above items are part of my "SCORE!" collection; some have been bought, some have been generously shared and loaned from fellow traveling buddies. I can't believe how many of our friends have offered up their gear for our use on this Euro Trip. Our friends Elliot and Lena handed over what seemed like the contents of an entire REI store for us to take along. I feel like we just have the NICEST friends who are enthusiastic about helping us have the best trip we can. Many thanks to all of you!

The Latest Additions to the Gear:
// 1. Kavu Bag // Generously given to me by my mother-in-law on Mother's Day, because she wanted to give all her kids presents. For her Mother's Day. Yes, you read that sentence right. She's maybe the nicest person who ever roamed the Earth.

 // 2. Merrell Barefoot Shoes // Genius recommendation from my pal Lena. These are the newest purchase (yesterday!) and I am sooo amped about them. They are light, bend-y and sort of foldable, and have that righteous Vibram sole that somehow just makes the shoe all the more legit. Looks like hiking is back on the menu. Can I get an amen up in here?

// 3. Ebags Packing Cubes // I would kiss Rick Steves right on the lips if I could, that man has helped me plan this entire adventure. His books are a treasure in our household. This is another one of his wonderful recommendations. I pretty much do as he says.

// 4. Tide Travel Packs // I am a clean person. So laundry will be part of my Euro life.

// 5. Aveda Travel Toiletries // A wonderful gift from my BFF Tricia! She knows my need for some minty shampoo, bless that Aveda-lovin' gal.

// 6. Travel Adapter // Another extremely generous loan from my cousin Amber; you rock my face off!

// 7. Acer Netbook // Again, another loaner from our friend Andrew! This is a big one (although super itty-bitty!); it's how I will blog to you from anywhere and everywhere.

// 8. Petzl Headlamp // Stevie lives and breathes by this thing. Sometimes he just wears it around the house, no lie. So... if the lights go out in the city of Rome, have no fear, Stevie (and his Peztl) are here!

// 9. Earplugs // Cuz Rick Steves says I shall need them.

The fun is really beginning... Stay tuned for more!

Spencers at Sea

Beach Time.
I am a smidge obsessed with my family. I'm just going to start by saying that.

We went on vacation this past week to the beach. Stevie and I haven't been to the beach with my entire family in years, and it really hit me when we were all together again. Wow, I have missed this. It's hard to put the beats of my heart into words, but these pictures really capture the essence of this much-needed trip. Babies. Cousins. Corona. Bocce Ball. Seafood. Sand in absolutely everything. Big hats. Small itinerary. Coffee clutch. And a million new miracles to celebrate. Oh, we found the time to celebrate.

I can't find enough words to encompass how much my hurried little heart needed this pause. The sea has a way of getting underneath my skin and smoothing out the folds of my unnecessarily-panting mind. Clarity always surfaces. God always speaks. And my family always, always makes me laugh big. Being at the beach with these astounding individuals is like taking a deep breath, holding it in and treasuring the moment, and then exhaling like a new woman. I am so thankful for them. The tan is a just an added bonus.

// Victory lap. For laying out all day. //

// Are your teeth rotting yet? That's how sweet these folks are. //

// Sisterhood looks like. We just need some traveling pants. //

// Mom and Cousin Amber (who might as well be a sis) // Sun setting like a champ //

// I know. Dorky. All-American. Linen. I don't even care. //

// Kites really don't get enough credit for being whimsically awesome. //

// These people again. I can't get enough. //

// Cousins. Their babes. Gobble gobble gobble. And again I want more. //

// Dad volleyballing like a champ. //

// The family models. // Rachel Lynn and her main squeeze Charlie. //

// Snorkeling (obviously) // Posing (what's new?) //

// Sunset and family love, with a side of Bocce //

// Morning running club (Los cuatro corredores!) // My mother looking like a French bike lady (we've seen too many Hepburn movies) // Views and Seafood //

This is a mere snapshot. My hurried heart finally took a breather and for that I am so glad. With the upcoming transition of this week, I feel like my head is on straight and my eyes are restfully focused forward. I hope you get the chance to vacation with your favorite people this summer. Take the moments you get with them and cherish it. Because somehow we are all growing up SO stinkin' fast.

Love love love.

Why Every Lady Should Visit the Driving Range

Driving Range.
My husband Stevie is an avid golfer. I have this picture in my mind of us playing golf together when we’re old and wizened, donning caps and matching stripey pastel outfits, commenting on each other’s swing. I don’t know why this is a comforting foresight for me, but it is. But there is one problem. I don’t play golf. Like, I have never played golf. But I fear not. I figure I’ve got some time on my side.

Invite.

The lovely gentleman I call husband mentioned going for an outing to the driving range and I immediately said yes. I think he was a bit surprised. But this was the beginning of the fulfillment of my mediocre golf dream. Even mediocre dreams have a place in life, right? I don't wish to be a mega golf star. I just want to swing a club.

Here are a few reasons why every lady should visit the driving range:

1. You Enter the Man Zone.
And that really means a lot to him. Immediately worth it. To see that man smile.

2. You Get To Swing Hard.
My initial swing was straight, and apparently that is something to be proud of. "Good swing," he told me. It felt kinda good to just take a whack at it and see that tiny little ball disintegrate into the sky, proving my arm's power. Letting loose is just kinda fun.

3. You Get to Have Quiet Time.
One thing I noticed in this predominately male area is that there is no chit chat. No chatter. None at all. Women, we talk all the time. We like to discuss. But these men don't talk. It's so silent, and at first, it's a bit odd. I mean, why aren't they talking? There are hundreds of guys out there, all swinging and stuff, but no one is talking to each other. It's so strange. Odd really. But then the strangeness grows on you and all the sudden you are lost in your own thoughts, powered by the rhythm of your swing and entranced by the arch of your ball's journey into the emerald meadow. And it's good. It's a very likeable feeling. I could get used to this. Maybe soon I'll actually play a round.

 

Mediocre dreams, people. Sometimes, just sometimes, it's good to have those, too.

Tulips for My Sister

Oh Happy Saturday.
Tulips are my sister's favorite flower. She blushes when someone gives them to her, even when its my dad. God bless him, he does that often. But Rachel is more than just beautiful. She is suuuuper witty, has a serious sense of style, a sincere depth, a ridiculous attention to detail, and is pretty enough to put the fear of God in you. For real. When I saw these tulips last weekend at the Boston Public Garden, I couldn't stop thinking of my mesmerizing sis and how much she would adore walking through this floral processional. I'm sending her a virtual bouquet today.

My dear sister Rachel is much like her favored flower. She is continuing to blossom this Spring into a striking, gracious and impressive young woman of conviction. Here's to her and her A+ semester.

Harpoon: The Best Brewery Tour I Never Took

Harpoon
A few weeks ago I patronized the Harpoon Brewery with all intentions of touring the establishment and receiving a fine beer education. I took the MBTA Silver Line and happily discovered Harpoon just along the water’s edge. However, I couldn’t enter the building due to the line of folks winding out the door and into the ample parking lot. Apparently I shared something in common with these strangers; an inkling to drink good beer in the newly renovated German-style Beer Hall. Alas, the wait for the tour was three hours, and while I am the kind of girl to enjoy both a cold beer and an educational experience, there is nary a tour in the grand land of Italy I would wait that long for. Here’s the good news: there is no need to take the tour; in the Beer Hall the beverages flows aplenty and you learn (almost) as much. Especially if you situate yourself correctly. It also doesn’t hurt if you’re an obnoxious brunette with a fierce way of peppering the bartenders with perhaps a few too many questions. Here’s how to enjoy the brewery, sans tour.

1. Seat Yourself Near the Window(s)

The Beer Hall is the spot where visitors can enjoy themselves while they wait for their ticketed tour. In my case, I just enjoyed. The Beer Hall houses long, family-style reclaimed oak tables in a relaxed pub setting. On one side of the hall, there are huge paned windows allowing visitors to peek into the heart of the brewery and watch the intricate canning assembly line. On the other side of the Hall are western-facing windows overlooking South Boston’s waterfront views. Both views are grand, so either window spot will make you a happy camper.

2. Get Sample Happy.

In my experience, Beer Samplers lord over any singular beverage in the brew kingdom. The Harpoon Beer Hall offers an extensive draft list, but the real jewels of the menu are the 3 beer samplers. Each sampler offers 4 3-oz. mini mugs, allowing the visitor to taste-test an array of options. This is where you can ask the Beer Captain (their fond way of referring to the bartender) about the different kinds of beer. Like hops? Hate hops? They’ll cater to it. Some of my favorites include the Chocolate Stout, the BarrelSeries Director’s Cut, and the new summer seasonal Watermelon Wheat.

3. Order a Pretzel.

Maybe two. I’ve saved the best news for last. Harpoon serves hot, fresh-baked pretzels (available for purchase) to enjoy along with your beverage of choice. Kiss Auntie Annie’s goodbye, these pretzels are utterly satisfying. Available with six different tasty options of dipping sauce (the American twist on this German classic), these deliciously salty, melt-in-your-mouth pretzels should NOT be avoided. Screw your bikini-diet for the day. Being seduced by these wheaty wonders never felt so right.

4. BONUS: Take Home Taste.

Forget color-blocking and espadrilles; my favorite trend of this season is the rising availability of growlers. Harpoon is no exception. You can taste test a range of brewskies and take home your favorite in a sealed container. Growlers typically come in 64 oz., so not only can you tote your preferred beverage home, you can enjoy it for a time or two to come.

As a proud partner to an OE almost-grad, I am doing my darndest to explore the best of Boston before our time here expires. Harpoon is an excellent spot to visit with your section mates or even your visiting friends and family. Though I’m no longer a student, but I think it’s about time we organized a class field trip. Any takers?

Full Disclaimer: I enjoyed my first Harpoon experience SO much that I went back this weekend with friends from out of town. And took the tour. Look at those sexy beer goggles. You know you want some.

Note: This article was written specifically for the Harvard Business School community. Check it out in The Harbus where it was published this week!

Boston in 48 Hours

This weekend was a joyful whirlwind.

Our dear friends Elliot and Lena came in town to visit and we had a grand time showing off our favorite parts of Beantown. It was 48 hours of serious touring, and it was bittersweet to realize that this would be the last time that we show any of our friends around Boston while we still live here. With our move coming up at the end of the month, we will be bouncing around a few cities (and countries!) this summer and then finally landing in NYC in August. That realization made this weekend all the sweeter.

Spending this weekend with our friends made me realize that many people are weekend travelers. They want to see the best of a city in about 2 days. Since I've lived in Boston for about 2 years now, I thought I would share my favorite itinerary for Boston's sights. If you have an inkling to visit Boston for a weekend but aren't sure quite what to do or where to go, look no further. I've got your back. Here's a doable (haha, sort of) itinerary to give you the highest points of Boston:

Friday Eve.
8:00pm // Arrive Boston. It's dinnertime. Best spots in Harvard Square are Russell House (American-style pub), Park (delicious Northeastern vibe), Bertucci's (slammin' Italian pizza, I don't care that it's a chain), Wagamama (Japanese fusion with delicious fresh juices). Any of these will do. Note: If you're rolling in the benjamins, stay at the Charles Hotel. If you're not quite rollin', stay at The Inn at Harvard, or if you're lucky enough, crash on your friends' couch.

9:30pm // Whoopie Pies at Clover Food Lab. These are made fresh, only on Fridays, and GOOOOD. Don't miss this simple and satisfying dessert. 

10pm // Drinks at John Harvards. Order the sampler, it's always changing and always good. Look around the bar tables and get a feel for the college students in this joint. Pretend you're in a finals club (Harvard's version of a frat) and attempt to sneak into one of their parties. Obviously.

Midnight // Drinks and Live Music at the Plough and Stars, conveniently located within a super short walking distance to our apartment. Order the Dark and Stormy. You won't be disappointed.

Saturday.
8am // Coffee, my Mango Coconut Baked Oatmeal and H20. You will need it for the following:

8:30am // Freedom Trail Run. This 5k-length running tour of the 17 most historical spots in Boston gives you all the history you want, at a quickened pace (it would take hours to walk all the noteworthy touring spots) and this all happens before lunch. It might be hard to pull yourself out of bed after staying out until 2am the night before but it is totally worth it. You will feel so efficient, fit and like you learned a ton. But not too much. Note: I've done this run about 7-8 times by now and it is the best tour by far. Tell Eddie-O that the Hales sent you, he is such a doll.

11am // Harpoon Brewery Tour. After running for 2 hours straight, give yourself a bit of a break and cab it over to this brewery on the Harbor. We waited in line for a few minutes, devoured some of Harpoon's famous German-style hot pretzels and seasonal watermelon ale, and took a delightful tour of the brewery. So. Worth it.

1pm // Wipe the pretzel crumbs off your face. You will need a shower by now. So head back to your hotel/crash pad and take one. Bring a lightweight coat for the second half of your day.

2:30pm // Tour Harvard Business School. You don't have to do this, but since it's my husband's new Alma Mater, our friends wanted to see what it was all about. You could sub in this time and take a tour of Fenway Park or walk Newbury Street. But I'm not gonna lie, the school is impressively pretty. And if you're there in the spring time, you will probably get to see the hundreds of bunny rabbits frolicking all over the campus. I have a strong theory that the school places them there purposefully, because they really add to the precious vibe of the campus. Of course Harvard would have quaint bunny rabbits blanketing their green grasses.

5:30pm // Early dinner at Giacamo's in the South End. Delicious authentic Italian for affordable prices. Get the calamari. And the house pasta sauce is the best. You can make a reservation here (unlike a lot of spots in Boston), so DO IT.

7:30pm // Post dinner walk in the South End towards Back Bay. We walked towards Copley Plaza and saw the Boston Marathon Bombing Memorial. Couldn't stay too long because it was still really intense and a bit too fresh on all our minds.

8pm // Subway to the North End. This is the legit Italian district in Boston, and it is a thriving mini-metropolis of bakeries, restaurants, bars and street musicians. It's a must-see, especially since Paul Revere's House and the Old North Church are located here.

9pm // Cannolis at Mike's Pastry. You will be ridiculed if you come to Boston and don't eat here. Bring cash. And bring your brute face; you've got to find a table in this cramped place and you won't get one by being syrupy sweet.

10pm // Stanza dei Sigari is a cigar parlor next to Mike's. Only if you're into that kind of thing.

Midnight // Sleeeeeeeeep.

Sunday.
10am // Brunch at Grafton Street. So delicious. Order the seasonal cocktail, it's out of this world. You could also try out Cafe Luna or Henrietta's Table, but make sure to make a reservation a few days in advanced.

11:30am // May Day Street Fair in Harvard Square completely distracted us, but it was a lot of fun. Vendors galore.

Noon // Subway to Park Street. Walk around the Boston Common (America's oldest established park) and the Boston Public Gardens (my personal favorite outdoor spot in Boston) because it's totally gorgeous. Feel free to stop by the Cheers bar along the side of the Garden.

2pm // Walk down Charles Street in Beacon Hill. This is the ritzier area of the city, lots of lovely brownstones and boutiques. Imagine that you're one of the fancy people who live here with a little dog. Walk towards the water and find your way on to the Esplanade, a peninsula that juts out into the Charles River.

3pm // Enjoy your last sweet treat in Boston at Berryline in Harvard Square. This is a local frozen yogurt place that has new flavors every week, like fruity pebbles and basil-blueberry. Out of this world. I probably live a bit too close to this place, in all honesty.

Wrap it Up.
I imagine you will be jumping on a flight back to your hometown on Sunday evening. Hopefully this weekend is chock-full of all the good stuff you would want to see in Boston. I think it's a comprehensive, but doable, itinerary. Boston is a resilient, proud and classy town and there is obviously so much more to do than can be accomplished in 48 hours. A few items that would be worthwhile add-ons (in my entirely biased opinion) are Berklee College of Music, the Boston Public Library, the Minuteman Biking Trail and the Haymarket. Anything historical that I haven't specifically mentioned is most likely covered in the Freedom Trail Running Tour.

Have you ever been to Boston? Anything you would add to this list?

Euro Trip: 6 Tips for Trip Planning

Euro Trip: 6 Tips for Trip Planning by oykristen

My husband and I are gearing up for our summer Euro trip. We are thrilled to be backpacking throughout Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France and Great Britain during the month of June. Some of you have emailed and asked me for information on how we are planning our trip. I shall tell you. Get ready to take notes, my friends. It's about to get epic.

1) Talk to Europeans //
Our friends have been unbelievably helpful. Whether they are native Europeans or have just traveled a whole lot, talking to them and hearing about their experiences and recommendations has been ridiculously valuable. Ale from Italy. Oliver, Sebastian, Andrew and Carrie from Germany. Nabihah and Rebekah from England. Charles, Alice and Jonathan from France. In fact, I'm sure if I've chatted with you in the past 3 months, we have discussed this Euro trip. I have been asking everyone and their mom for advice, travel tips, destination must-sees and more. To all of you who have been so gracious to share, THANK YOU. You are making our trip legit.

2) Read //
My gorgeous friend Allie sent me this book in the mail, and I am forever indebted to her for this priceless tool. Europe Through the Backdoor by Rick Steves is the BEST travel guidebook. It's everything you would want; real recommendations (he unapologetically tells you places to skip, like Lichtenstein), gives tons of advice, provides packing lists and sample itineraries, etc. It's amazing. And so helpful for someone who wants to experience the REAL Europe, not just American hotels and food in a foreign city. While I don't foresee eating clotted cream and blood sausage anytime soon, I would like the option... You can check out his website, too.

3) Share GoogleDocs and Excel Spreadsheets //
I'm going to be honest with you. I'm married to an engineer who speaks multiple languages, the most prominent being excel shortcuts. In the interest of building our bond of communication, I have had to learn the language of Excel. We share a Googledoc (with tons of Excel worksheet tabs) that help us stay on the same page while we brainstorm/plan. This is where we did the initial grunt work, manually inputting our dates, times of travel, cities for each day, cost per hostel, etc. As the plan has solidified (i.e. we decided on which citiy we would be in on which day), we have begun to move everything over to the below travel app.

4) Get Hap-APP-y //
There are a zillion travel apps out there, and it can be overwhelming at first, but I would recommend using TripIt to organize your travel. I used this in my past life when I traveled with Chick-fil-A and it was so helpful. TripIt is an app that organizes your itinerary and houses all the travel info you need when you walk into the airport, the train station, the rental car place, the hotel or hostel, etc. Stuff like confirmation numbers (that you always lose and frantically look for in your gmail account last minute) and reservations are at your finger tips in no time at all. I'm all for simplifying. How did people live without apps 20 years ago? Generation Y soooo has it made.

5) Get An ISIC Card //
This was a happy accident. Apparently somewhere in the world I am still considered a youth. THANK GOD. We applied for this ISIC student identification card because they are internationally recognized and give you travel deals in every country. Stevie is technically still a student (for another month, wahoo!) and I am, believe if or not, still a youth! Score. They also have an office that will help you book flights, hostels/hotels, rental cars and rail passes for the discounted student prices. We will take your discount, thank you.

6) Use Pinterest //
My Euro Trip Pinterest Board has honestly been so helpful. I pin everything I want to see while we're abroad. Cities, restaurants, castles, hostels and of course, planning/packing how-tos. Its also a great source for getting excited and inspired when the planning hum-drums come along. I'm gonna be honest with you: planning a trip of this proportion is no easy task. Sometimes it helps me to flip through photos of the Italian countryside to get over the frustration of the lack of English on the German railway site (why is everything in military time? And IN GERMAN?!!) Plus, Pinterest is just really really fun. So there.

I hope this information helps. Our trip is itinerary is shaping up and we ship out in (eek!) 33 days! Have you taken a backpacking Euro trip before? Any advice for the wanderers?