Phew!

The past three weeks have been the most jammed packed, insanely-awesome, most memorable, and over-stimulated days of my life (thus far)! Starting off with two full weeks frolicking around Europe with my Twinnie, followed by a week of anniversary celebrations, extensive concert going, and shady reunions with lost luggage. I must say, I sure do keep it interesting for anyone actually keeping track...

Europe was absolutely amazing. Though I will try in the coming days (let's be real...weeks) to describe all my adventures in full detail, no photos or words can truly illustrate the culture, revelations, and simple beauties I encountered throughout my most epic adventure yet. That being said, I will still try my best to give you the utmost detailed account of my travelings around Spain, Ibiza, and Portugal.

Sneak peak:
I have a new fruit obsession [peaches].
There are no beaches in [Ibiza].
I have officially made it past the [24th hour]. 
I'm a [bad ass], but we already knew that.

Now, one would think after two incredible weeks in Europe I would return home depressed, with slight separation anxiety after leaving Elizabeth's side, only able to leave my room for chocolate milk, popcorn, and dark-chocolate-peanut M&M's (emotional eating much?). BUT, I did not! I kept going like the busy bee that I am, from one meeting, activity, and fun celebration to the next. I was able to avoid these post-vacation blues for many reasons, including but not exclusively, my full time job that pays me to wake up at 6:30 each morning and interact with the healthcare professionals of America. It also doesn't hurt that I was still feeling the buzz from my European-vacation, in addition to being terribly sleep deprived from all my gallivanting, combined with the delusional state one encounters after crossing 6 timezones–so really I had no choice but to continue on with my hectic routine of work, concerts, running, drinking, and very little sleep.

Though nothing can truly compare to two weeks in Europe (I unfortunately had to turn down a ticket to burning man which would have been pretty darn close) the rest of my summer is shaping up to be pretty sweet in it's own right: Concerts (of course), lake house trips, Baltimore baseball, beach days, and planning some fall festivities including my awesome birthday week.

Not to say that I wasn't enjoying life before my two week vacation, but everything has certainly fallen into place ever since. Sometimes you just need a break from the everyday grind. I am so happy and grateful that I was not only able to take a vacation, but to have the opportunity to experience such beautiful and culturally unique places; I'm a lucky gal.

More crazy photos and stories to come.


Oh, and I finally gave in.

Weddings Vs. Concerts

Wedding or concert? "Who gives a shit? It's a great band, it's a bad band, it's like pizza, baby. There's music in the air!"

This weekend I'm taking a break from my concert going to celebrate the union of my friends Kyle & Ashley in Boston. However, if you are in Philly this weekend are looking for a good time here is the breakdown of amazing concerts you should be attending...

Friday | Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes 

Saturday | M. Ward

Saturday [option dos] | Regina Spektor

Enjoy the great music Philadelphians, Carly and I will be getting our cray on at this wicked cool wedding! Prepare yourself for some epic stories and photos to come =)

Busy Bee

The past couple months I have been crazy busy with work and extracurricular activities. March was by far my busiest month of concerts ever (7), and I received the Award of Excellence at work in April! You gotta work hard to play hard, and I certainly know how to play hard...

St. Patty's Day

 

Dr. Dog @ The Electric Factory

 Delta Spirit @ Union Transfer 

He never looks at the camera (1, 2)

Liz's 23rd Birthday in Atlantic City, NJ

 

 

Reuniting with my La Salle lovers

"It feels so good to be exactly where I was one year ago"

 

Showing the freshmen who's boss

 and of course lots of love & Tom shoe wearin'<3

May should be no different, a wedding this weekend, the Preakness and other Baltimore craziness the following weekend and a glorious 3-day weekend to end May. In fact I already started off this jam packed month with some extra special fun: The Broad Street Run -- a ten mile run down Broad Street in Philadelphia...

 Best long distance race yet! 8:32/mile pace

More photos and adventures to comes, stay tuned ツ

March Madness

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The Black Keys Rocked My World

In case you don't know this already, I'm completely obsessed with the new Black Key's album El Camino. If you haven't listened to it already I highly suggest you do, it will change your life and have you dancing all over your room. The first time I heard the whole album was almost as good as listening to Led Zeppelin IV--amazing and heavenly. I was so excited when Kevin bought me the tickets for Christmas; the past two months couldn't fly by fast enough!

Kevin and I arrived just in time to grab a (large) beer and plot ourselves center stage, awaiting The Black Keys to rock our world. 

Unfortunately I left my camera at home thinking I wouldn't be able to get it through security at the Wells Fargo Center but they didn't even do a pat-down at the door. Slightly annoying since my iphone isn't snazzy enough to take good photos or videos (#firstworldproblems). So enjoy my far away slightly blurry photos...

 

The Black Keys came out strong with Howlin' For You and Next Girl off their previous album, Brothers, before moving onto the new El Camino songs (full set list below). From start to finish The Black Keys had the crowd, myself very much included, dancing all over the place. This rock-star duo certainly knows how to put on a great rock show covering most of the songs off the new album and mixing in some older classics. 

Overall, I thought the concert was awesome! I wish they had played all of the songs off the new album (Sister, Hell of a Season, Mind Eraser, and Stop Stop were not played), but even still there was a great mix of new and old to keep me groovin'. If only they were going to be at Bonnaroo again this year!

Oh, and shout out to the random guy who gave me a free beer! Black Key fans are pretty generous =)

The Black Keys, March 10, 2012 - Philadelphia

1. Howlin’ for You
2. Next Girl
3. Run Right Back
4. Same Old Thing
5. Dead and Gone
6. Gold on the Ceiling 
7. Thickfreakness
8. Girl Is On My Mind
9. I’ll Be Your Man
10. Your Touch
11. Little Black Submarines
12. Money Maker
13. Strange Times
14. Chop and Change
15. Nova Baby 
16. Ten Cent Pistol
17. Tighten Up
18. Lonely Boy
Encore break
19. Everlasting Light
20. She’s Long Gone
21. I Got Mine
*Thanks to The Swollen Fox for helping me find some good vids from last night =)

For some good photos of The Black Keys in Philly check out Philadelphia Weekly - They were a little closer than I was ;)

❤

Yesterday Kevin and I enjoyed an awesome Valentines Day together! Neither of us are very big on the holiday--we usually just exchange a huge pile of candy and call it a day--BUT this year we attended Franks and Deans: Valentine's Day Lovers Ball! Now that sounds super mushy-gushy lovie-dovie but really it was an awesome excuse to pretend like it was the 1950's, singing and dancing along to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs.

It was the bee's knees for sure! I had a blast dancing the night away to some classic tunes, and I must say the Wadsworth Sisters blew my mind away, especially Ali! Phew! Her voice is definitely something to write home about, or at least on your blog (badum ching ::wink::) 

Her voice was magical!

Valentines day or not the gang put on a great performance. It was definitely a memorable Valentines day and I hope they put on some more Frank & Dean shows...I mean who doesn't need a little more Sinatra in their life?!

The Bright Light Social Hour

Last Friday, Kevin and I went to see The Bright Light Social Hour play at North Star Bar in Philadelphia. I had only listened to their music briefly before the show and figured it would be a decent first concert of 2012. Well my friends, I was blown away by The Bright Light Social Hour's performance friday night! From start to finish The Bright Light Social Hour rocked out to the fullest and got everyone full-on dancing.

Some of my favorite songs of the night include Bare Hands Bare Feet, Back & Forth, and Young Man Blues (a Mose Allison cover), though truly enjoyed dancing to all their songs.

I wish they could have played all night but venues have curfews and I had to work the next morning. After the show I was lucky enough to chat briefly with keyboardist/keytarist A.J. Vincent and guitarist Curtis Roush, congratulating them on their amazing performance and talking about their hopeful return to Philadelphia in the summer. I highly suggest taking a quick listen to The Bright Light Social Hour, you certainly won't regret it!

*All photos via TheSwollenFox