Hi friends, how's your week going? Life on Wednesdays is back in action - here are a few things I've been doing the happy dance for lately:
This past Saturday night B and I headed downtown to see Amos Lee at the Balboa Theatre, and WOW. Wow wow WOW.
We started listening to him in our early college years but have never gotten the chance to see him live before. We actually almost didn't buy tickets because one of us must have dreamt that the show was sold out. Thankfully my tendency to overdo it on the quadruple double-checking paid off, because there just so happened to be a pair of tickets in the orchestra still available. BAM! Ours.
Sequined factoid: Buying tickets online is a surefire way for me to whip myself up into a frenzy. It doesn't matter that I have a full nine minutes to enter my name, address, and payment info. Just the presence of the countdown clock in the bottom corner is enough to get my heart going and the typos flyin'.
Back to Amos. What a voice! If you've never had a listen, I so encourage you to check him out. His soulful sound spans genres and his songwriting is stellar (...I also may or may not like alliteration). I'm pretty sure there's been a mash-up of "Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight"/"Windows Are Rolled Down"/"Chill in the Air" on repeat in my head ever since.
Not complaining.
3. I finally joined the ranks of some pretty fab women in my family and bought myself a ceramic milk/cream carton.
My great-aunt Lucy was the consummate hostess, and there was no chance you were leaving her table without loosening your belt a notch or three. After one family meal packed with Italian goodness (of which there were copious leftovers), my mom stepped into the kitchen to find a fully roasted and dressed turkey sitting on the stove top. "Ohh, just in case there wasn't enough food".
Whoa.
Point being she ran a tight ship in the kitchen, and REFUSED to place the regular milk carton on the table while serving dessert. Milk in a ceramic carton, though? No problem. The ceramic carton tradition was then passed down to my mom, who still uses one she's had for-ever on special occasions. Now I can feel all fancy-pantsy, too. 🙂
Oh, and P.S. - Anyone else jazzed The Voice is back? YAY.
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
OMG that ceramic milk carton is TOO gorgeous!!! This is one of my goals in life - to own one when I move out! Where did you buy it?
Alyssa says
Thanks!! And I bought it at Pier 1, on sale! Even full price it was around $5. Love that store for cute little props. š
Kloesunny @ Kloe's Kitchen says
Love the milk carton! Your Aunt Lucy sounds like my grandma, such wonderful people. The kind that always making sure everything is just right for others. Love the post! Happy late Wednesday! š
Alyssa says
They definitely sound like they're cut from the same cloth, Kloe. š I think my Aunt Lucy would barely sit at the table during dinner because she was so busy filling (and refilling) everyone else's plates, making sure the food was still heated, cleaning dishes, preparing the next course, etc. We would always try and get her to sit and rest, but I think she truly enjoyed making everyone happy (and full)!
Happy Wednesday to you, too!
Deb says
That Anthro website is just so tempting! So many spectacular buys! If I go to the bother of filling a carafe with coffee for the table I also dig out a cream pitcher to use. This would happen only on the weekend which demands celebration! The ceramic milk carton is certainly weekend worthy!
Alyssa says
Anthropologie is SUCH a danger zone! I make sure my wallet is in a different room when I browse online, and I head straight to the sale section if I'm in one of the stores. Beautiful, beautiful things though.
And Deb, I so agree - weekends certainly are cause to celebrate! Love the little touches you use (a carafe and cream pitcher) to make it special. š
Ashley @ My Midwest Table says
The cookie jar is all sorts of awesome. Not sure what that type of design it's called, but my great-grandma used to have a bird clock in that brushed-paint style. My 8-year-old self was obsessed with it.
Love the story about your great-aunt Lucy! Her idea about the ceramic carton is fabulous, and I love yours! Definitely fancy-pantsy. š
Alyssa says
Isn't it great? My grandma had a cookie jar shaped like a bear that was in that paint style, too - maybe that's why I'm so drawn to it?
And thanks! She was a force to be reckoned with when it came to being a hostess, that's for sure! I'm certainly happy to carry on the tradition. š
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Oh my gosh, I panic when I buy concert tickets too! And that timer counting down saying "tickets will be released in 45...44...43...42..." So nuts. Reminds me of trying to get N*Sync tickets back in 1999. Haha!
And I love that ceramic milk carton! So cute!
Alyssa says
Haha! Panic time for sure! I went to the American Idol Season 1 tour back in the day and I remember being a basket case because I had to be in school and my mom was going to buy the tickets. I think we went over the procedure a million times the night before!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Can I just say that I am so in love with that ceramic milk carton?
Alyssa says
Ohh, I am too! I haven't put it away yet so I can keep staring at it. š