Because you can't say "OMG, you look so cute!" to yourself

(blog title for you, Ren)

If you have seen me lately, you know that my hair has gotten light--kinda like this....
I blame the highlights I got earlier in the summer and between running and riding, etc, homegirl's got some sun bleached action goin' on. I'm teetering on blonde territory.

Anyways, I have an appointment with my Make Me Pretty Right Now Gal (aka, hairstylist) and I need your help!

Should I stay light red a la Kate Winslet, or, go dark??

Sierra Boggess--love her color.


Darling Emma Stone.

Cute as a button Ellie Kemper.
So, what say ye?

Should I stay light, or, embrace the darker side? HELP ME!

(images from here, here, here, here, here and here)

THE Dress

As promised, the post on THE DRESS.
The first day we were in London we made plans to go to Buckingham Palace, for the sole purpose of seeing THE Dress. That's really all I needed, but, in order to see the dress, you do the whole stateroom tour which only goes until the third of October, so, much like the Globe, our timing was perfect.
My dads travel sensei who suggested Oz to us had been in London over the summer and tickets were sold out in advance, so she never got to see the Palace or THE Dress, thus, I feel wildly superior and smug, considering she travels all.the.time.

Anyways. Buckingham Palace really is all that and a bag of chips. It's quite amazing to see all these places that have been depicted in movies, that you read about, that you see pictures of. It really is jaw droopingly beautiful. The tour takes about two or two and a half hours, again, I could have stayed all day.

Of course, there are no pictures inside the palace, but, we can all use our imagination, yes?

There was the Throne Room and the pictures of William and Kate from their wedding-- I'm telling you, that wedding has done wonders for the monarchy and for the economy! Hell, I wouldn't have cared much about the tour had it not been for THE DRESS.

(from here)
(and here)

Do you think Kate was all "Granny Liz, I want to get my wedding gown preserved, could you recommend someone?"

And then The Queen was all "Nonsense child, we shall display is in the palace-- after all, you did wear my tiara-- and you didn't want to keep those earrings did you? We shall display them in the ballroom and charge people to see it! It's a completely brilliant plan."

Or something like that? I like to think so.

Anyways, you walk into the ballroom and the dress, veil and tiara are there in the middle like a gorgeous beacon of lace and style and I stood there staring for a good ten minutes.
(from here)

There is also a video of Sarah Burton talking about the dress and showing how it was designed, and that was very interesting--I totally watched it ohhh, three times. You round a corner and there is a row of huge video screens playing clips from the wedding. I don't know what it was, but, that music from when she entered the abbey just gets me every time!

The dress really is stunning in person. It's just so perfect and lovely. And, homegirl is literally the size of my pinky finger-- the dress is so teensy!! My dad, who didn't know anything about the royal wedding and who later argued with me on it's location was actually rather impressed with the wedding spectacular at the palace-- after all, it's a piece of history.

After the tour we walked through the gardens and then we went over to the royal mews, which, for me was fun, hello, horses!


They had all the coaches there and the car that took Kate to the abbey and a few of her majesty's horses. Very cool. Also, those horses live better than I do. Not surprising.

The State Coach.
The car that took Kate to the Abbey!
And, the mews still function like a normal stable community with many people living and working there. Yes, hi, I live at Buckingham Palace. I die! But, I guess that falls in the territory of the Beefeaters living at The Tower. How did I miss all this on career day?

We had so much fun touring the Palace exploring all the royal nonsense!

That said, when can I go back?!

Till I Hear You Sing

I've been in a real state this week, and I'm not sure why. Just blah.

When I get in one of my moods, I tend to find something and latch onto it as a coping mechanism.

Currently, it's the Love Never Dies soundtrack (of this I blame my sister) (also, whatevs about the plot, the soundtrack is friggin awesome). Specifically, "Till I Hear You Sing".

I'm telling you, it's the anthem to my damn unborn child (which, let's be honest, is probably the real reason I'm seventeen different kinds of pissy).

Oh hi hot singer man!


It's sung by Ramin Karimloo, who is one of the newest additions to The Five ("but it's laminated!"). (you know I have a thing for a man who can sing. See also: Patrick Wilson and duh, HUGH JACKMAN)


(video from here) (swoonworthy Ramin photo from here)

The day starts, the day ends
Time crawls by
Night steals in, pacing the floor
The moments creep,
Yet I can’t bear to sleep
Till I hear you sing

And weeks pass, and months pass
Seasons fly
Still you don’t walk through the door
And in a haze
I count the silent days
Till I hear you sing once more.

And sometimes at night time
I dream that you are there
But wake holding nothing but the empty air

And years come, and years go
Time runs dry
Still I ache down to the core
My broken soul
Can’t be alive and whole
Till I hear you sing once more

And music, your music
It teases at my ear
I turn and it fades away and you’re not here

Let hopes pass, let dreams pass
Let them die
Without you, what are they for?
I’ll always feel
No more than halfway real
Till I hear you sing once more

I'll be ok.

The husband is going camping tonight, so, I have an evening of Hugh Jackman, et al planned.

It will probably also include veggie pizza and ice cream. I know, I live on the wild side.

Sorry to be a debbie downer today.

I promise, next week, we will be back to yapping about London, and more specifically, THE DRESS. I'm kinda hyperventilating just remembering it! Squee!

Maine-tastic

This last weekend, I had the opportunity to run a marathon relay in gorgeous Bar Harbor/Mount Desert Island, Maine.

It wouldn't have happened without my sweet friends Sarah and Danielle. We had an out of control great time in Boston, and I knew this trip would be no different.

I was right--it was a blast! We had super yum food, an amazing course, too much laughter, lots of singing, and lots of fun!
The bridge crossing onto the Island.
Tourist ahoy!

As promised, I led us in a sing along that consisted of Les Mis, Phantom, The Sound of Music and Brigadoon.
"Christine, that's all I ask of youuuuuuu!"/"One day moooorrrrrree!"/"Do re mi"/"Go home with bonnie Jean".
I have mad curling iron singing skillz, yo.


The Royal Sisters! I don't know if you can really see, but, the shirts have crowns on them. Brought them back from Buckingham Palace. Oh yes I did.
Oh ya know, Danielle's just painting her nails before the race. Team Green!
What up, mile 7. Supposedly, there is nothing between me and Europe at this point, except water. Which brings me to: GET ME A BOAT!
Danielle and I ready to run.
My Maine Girls! Love them so much!
Mmmhmm. I ran 13.1 miles with THIS as my scenery. And by "ran" I mean stopped every five seconds to take pictures, duh.
Start line!
Danielle's hot legs.
Look, fall!
View from the top of Cadillac Mountain--the first place in the continental U.S to see the sunrise.
Bar Harbor view from Cadillac Mountain.
Duh.
Somes Sound, the only fjord in the northeast U.S. You know I love me a good fjord.
Bar Harbor sunset.



I know!
If this doesn't scream New England fall, I don't know what does!
Driving the course--AFTER the race! It was hilly as all get out, so, uh, probably a good thing that I didn't know what I was getting into.
Traditional post race ice cream.
Danielle basking in her 26.2 glow.


Pre dinner photos.
Standard.
Clearly, I think I'm still in London.
That's my girl, Sarah KILLING IT. She had an amazing race and I'm so proud of her.

I can't tell you how good the salt air was. Therapeutic for this beach baby for sure!


Our first post race photo. I had the best time and would never had the chance if it wasn't for these two. Love you both to the moon and back!
I had an amazing time and can't wait for next year! Thank you, Maine for being so.much.fun!