A Tale of Two Cities in the Press!

 Some of you may recall that my beloved alma mater, OU, ran an article about my job at the Academy on the http://www.ou.edu/ homepage a few months ago. 


Well, now a new version of that article has made it in the summer edition of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication alumni magazine, The Pulse, and our blog gets a shout out!  The caption on our photo reads: Annie (right) and her best friend Mary both graduated from OU in 2008 with degrees in public relations and went to work on opposite coasts but kept up the friendship via a blog at http://annieandmary.blogspot.com and got together in person at the 2010 Oscars.


(Author's note: Mary graduated with a double major of letters and art history, NOT public relations).


Isn't that cool?  Ha!  I was aware that they were planning to run a little article, but the big picture and mention of our blog was a total fun surprise.  :-)  You can read the full article here (page 41, in case it doesn't automatically direct you there).  Enjoy (and Boomer Sooner).

Currently listening to: Ingrid Michaelson

Why: This talented folksy singer-songwriter is absolutely one of my new favorites.  Her endearing, cheeky, intelligent and relatable lyrics are amazing and her pretty voice is effortlessly smooth. It’s hard to pick favorite songs because they are all so good, but for the sake of an introductory download, allow me to suggest: “The Way I Am, “ “The Chain”, and/or “Be OK.” (But really you should just download her entire discography… you can thank me later). ;-)

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East Meets West

Mary's visit to LA came and went entirely too quickly and was jam-packed with fun, fun, fun.  I love how we can go months without seeing each other and then immediately pick up exactly where we left off. :-) 
We thought a fun way to jointly post about this wonderful weekend would be for me to post all the photos I collected throughout Mary's visit, and then let Mary do the captioning (in this color, for clarification purposes.) So without further adieu...

Night #1: After suffering through a Friday evening yoga class (Annie is like, one of those super weirdo new age West coast hippies now, or something...), I was desperately in need of a marg. Solution: El Coyote Cafe. Home of cheap mexican food and delicious margs on Beverly Blvd. This was Annie's 8:11 Twitpic. 

Night #1 Continued: The Edison. A downtown power plant-turned lounge... so cosmopolitan. The libations were artfully crafted, the decor was jazz club meets modern art museum, and the walls were highlighted by silent film projections... I give it an A+. (Our friend Garrett met us there, which made the experience even better. We love reunions of friends here). 

Day #2: Brunch at The Ivy. This Beverly Hills hotspot needs no introduction... unless you live on Mars.  We enjoyed a delicious meal (Annie tried Stone Crab Claws for the first time!) and some interesting people watching, and then Annie, Jessica, and I headed down Robertson for some retail therapy...

 Ethan, Jordan, Haben... oh my! This Nice Jewish Guys of the month calendar at Kitson made me consider my bashert. I actually purchased this calendar and then surreptitiously placed it in Laura and Sophie's bathroom in NY... I wonder how long it will take them to notice. 

Day #2: Later that afternoon, we met Annie's roommate McKenzie for a movie at the super cool restored old cinema in Annie's new neighborhood of Los Feliz. I don't really know what to say about this movie... (In fact, this was my 2nd viewing- after the first time I said, "I never want to see this movie again." Well, guess who got coerced into seeing it again?) We all agreed that we love Julia Roberts but aren't particularly fond of the protagonist, Liz Gilbert. Either way, it is fun to watch her journeys and travels to exotic locales. 

Night #2: Annie, Jessica, and I headed downtown for some cheap Sangrias and Mediterranean cuisine at Spitz. While parking we encountered the crazy fool pictured above. He made an illegal u-turn, effectively cutting us off- but when we saw who it was we didn't mind as much. Annie waved, enthusiastically. Hahaha. 

Night #2 Continued: Jessica, Annie, and I in front of the Emmy's red carpet, the night before the event. As you may know, the reason for this visit was a certain concert (see below). The concert venue was located in the same complex as the Emmy Awards, allowing us this truly Kodak moment. 

 

Night #2 Continued: At last- the reason for my trip (except for the whole visit Annie and Jessica factor...), the reunion concert of our favorite highschool/college band, Something Corporate. This piano rock band based out of Southern California epitomizes youth as we know it. Hooking up, sleeping in, frenemies... this band touches on all things adolescent. The lead singer and love of our lives, Andrew, has a few other side projects, including the band Jack's Mannequin, which have now become more full-time projects. Alas, while we can always have more Andrew McMahon, this may be the last we see of Something Corporate... He even tucked in his shirt for the occasion.  

Annie, Jessica, and myself at the Something Corporate concert. AMAZING.

"I always catch the clock, it's 11:11, and now you want to talk..."

Annie chose these pictures, so I assume this is the band playing her favorite song, possibly of all time, "Konstantine." This nearly 10 minute piano ballad is an epic tune, and if you haven't heard it, I insist you download it immediately. It will tug on the heartstrings you never knew you had. This being the last concert of the last tour, Andrew prefaced this song, "this might be the last time I play this song in a while."... heartbreak. 

The signature Andrew McMahon piano stomp. 

Day #3: Brunch at Luna Park. Two words: Bottomless mimosas. Oh, and one more word: S'mores. 

At LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) in the John Baldessari exhibition. I went a little overboard giving Annie a brief history of Conceptualism- obviously she was paying attention as she snapped this photo... Shameless plug to Angelenos and NYers: Go see John Baldessari at LACMA and this fall at the Met!! It was a fantastic survey of this highly influential artist's work. 

Night #3: Emmy Watch Party at Eva's apartment... almost as good as going to the actual award show. We had fun watching the show- and we even made the official Emmy Awards cocktail! 

Night #3 Late: Upright Citizens Brigade's "Shitty Jobs" show. Annie never talks about this comedy club, so I'm sure you have NO idea what I'm talking about... just kidding. If you read this blog, then you know Annie's FAVORITE thing to do on a given night is attend the UCB Facebook show. Even though UCB originated in NY, she felt it was important for me to have the LA experience- and thus, we attended this Shitty Jobs show, which included hilarious improvisations of an audience member's worst job. Maybe next time I go, I can tell my shitty jobs story... ;)

Day #4: On the last day, Annie had to work, so I went on the official WB Studio Lot Tour, before meeting her for lunch. The tour was so fun- they drive you around in little carts to see different sound stages, sets, archives, and their museum. My personal favorite part was seeing Austin Powers' Shaguar. Groovy baby, yeah.   Then, Annie and I ate lunch at the commissary by Conan O'Brien. Check and check. 

Though I was sad to leave and Annie was sad to let me go, we had a wonderful reunion weekend. 

We hope you enjoy this shared post, and we certainly enjoyed sharing our reunion memories with you!

Love,

annie and mary

PS- Now Playing: If U C Jordan by Something Corporate. This was the last song played at their show, and it was pretty awesome. This clip includes the famous piano stomp... Enjoy!

Together Again!

LOOKS WHO'S IN LA...!!! 

It is going to be a very fun weekend.  I love my best friend! :-)

Goals and Observations.

“Annie week” (as Mary refers to the week of said person’s birthday) was lovely…full of beloved friends, fun parties, and a “shocking number of birthday greetings this year” (also via Mary). ;-)

At my birthday dinner, moments after the manager gave me these balloons and announced that it was my birthday over a loudspeaker. Ha!

24 was extremely eventful with many BIG life changes (as mentioned in my last post), and I can only imagine that 25 will be pretty eventful as well.  Here are some goals for myself while I am this unique quarter-century age…(in random order)….

• Go to San Francisco.
• Visit Mary in New York (again).
• Do yoga at least one time a week.
• Go on a cruise (again).
• Read for pleasure.
• Rest more.
• Buy a new car.
• Visit C-Gunn in Austin.
• Keep my new apartment organized/simplified.
• Ride bikes along the beach.
• Go to my brother’s graduation from OU in May.
• Blog more. (holla!)
• Enjoy this year to the fullest. J

Two years ago I went on an amazing 5-week mission trip to Costa Rica.  I didn’t know a single other person on my team when the trip began, but by the end, I had made some lifelong friends.  I had a fun mini-reunion with four of these friends as the cutest couple of all time, Wesley and Emma, tied the knot in Alabama this past weekend. 

The wedding had the perfect mix of vintage-country-fun-classy-charm, just like the newlyweds themselves.  

Barrett and I had a blast dancing the night away...

...as the talented Zoesch was working his magic taking these gorgeous photos....

Here are some random observations after this wonderful wedding weekend…

• First class is AMAZING! Completely unbeknownst to me prior to boarding, I was on first class on my way to Alabama. Wow. I used to think ridiculous leg room, warm towels, gourmet meals, and free-flowing champagne/wine were things of legend.  Now that I have experienced the glory, I will truly never be the same.
• Outdoor wedding+August+Alabama=CRAZY HUMID HOTNESS. Yowza. It is legitimately impossible to escape being a sweaty hot mess in this setting. 
• Deep Southern accents should almost be considered a different language. Seriously… it does not sound like English at times.
• Perfect loves (like Emma and Wesley’s) really do exist, and it’s sweet (but also a weird mix of encouraging/nauseating) to witness. 
• In the South, it is not uncommon to eat fried okra twice in one day.
• Short weekend trips across the country are extremely exhausting.
• I miss my Costa Rica friends a lot. Reunions are so very sweet (and go by entirely too quickly)!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Teague!  You darlings are the best.  I love you a lot and I’m so glad I got to share your special day with you.

Currently listening to: She & Him.

Why: (to keep with the bullet-point theme of this post...)

• Zooey Deshchanel
• Catchy
• Retro
• Summery
• Fun
• Two thumbs up. :-)  

PS—Mary is coming to visit me tomorrow! Cha chiiing.

Happy Birthday Eve to Me.

I literally cannot believe that I am turning the big 2-5 tomorrow... how in the world did I get this old?  It just doesn't seem feasible that I should already be in my legit mid-20s. As I was discussing the crazy phenomenon of my upcoming age with my sweet mom a few days ago, she said, "I became your mother when I was 25..." Yowza!  So very weird.

Despite my disbelief and slight disdain regarding my upcoming age, I am excited for my birthday. Maybe it's just because they are a good reason to celebrate with friends, but I really LOVE birthdays. They are just so fun and joyous... which I really need right now. Tomorrow I am having dinner and drinks with some close friends and then going to my favorite comedy show. Friday I am inviting almost everyone I know in the greater Los Angeles metroplex for a fun gathering at my favorite bar, Lola's. Should be fun! (I'm sure a post-bday party report will be soon to follow on the blog). ;-) 

Thoroughly (as you can see) celebrating last year's birthday at Lola's. (I told you, I LOVE that place).

This dawn of a new quarter century (geez louise, that is daunting!) is coming at a really unique time where essentially almost every single aspect of my life has changed dramatically in the past couple of months. It just seems appropriate that my age should change right along with it...

New job. 

New apartment. 

New part of the city. 

New roommate. 

Parents moving to Houston. 

Break ups. 

etc...etc...etc.  

All of these intense changes are very overwhelming (to say the least), but I'm trying to make myself see the excitement and blessings in them as well.  While changes are often scary and totally push us out of our comfort zone, they also definitely make us stronger and allow for opportunities we would have never experienced otherwise. 

Wow, I originally thought this quick little post would just be a "whooo! It's my birthdayyy!!" type post, but then I got all unexpectedly deep and a bit sentimental.  I really AM getting old! Ha.

I'll end on this lighter note: Cheers to the next quarter century, and bring on the celebrations... hooray birthdays! :-)

Happy Two Year Anniversary, Los Angeles.

This is the gorgeous dessert I enjoyed tonight as I toasted to my 2nd anniversary in LA.  

(Just kidding... I found it on google images...) 

But, truly, July 28th marks the anniversary of me first setting my timid feet into the beautiful Los Angeles sand after making the daunting drive from Oklahoma all by myself two years ago.  While I'm not celebrating this momentous occasion with corny (albeit impressive) food art, I thought an appropriate way to pay homage would be a nice little walk down memory lane.  So, without further adieu....

Two Years in LA by the Numbers

•     Number of apartments lived in: 2 (1 month in Hermosa Beach, 23 months in Miracle Mile, and currently    in the process of moving to #3 in Los Feliz!)
• Number of plays/musicals seen: 8

• Number of Oscar ceremonies attended: 2
• Number of jobs I held simultaneously for a brief period of time: 3 
• Number of days before I realized I wasn't a super-human and quit one of the aforementioned jobs: 2
• Number of movie premieres attended: 3

• Number of boys I've dated (and by dated I mean to have gone on more than 2 dates with…haha): 3
• Number of trips to NYC to visit Mary: 3

• Number of trips home to OK to visit the fam: 5
• Number of professional LA sporting events attended: 2 (1 Lakers game, 1 Dodgers game)

• Number of freaking earthquakes (that I've actually felt): 3
• Number of times wine tasting: 1 

• Number of times I've been in the audience of television show tapings: 5 (Jimmy Kimmel Live (twice), Ellen, SYTYCD, and Dancing with the Stars... all of which have been when mother is here visiting...haha)
• Number of New Year's Eves spent in Hollywood: 1

• Number of times I've seen my 2nd favorite band, The Sounds: 2

• Number of times I've seen my all-time favorite band, Jacks Mannequin: 4
• Number of dinner parties hosted: 3

• Number of hours spent in my car: too many to count :-( 
• Number of hours spent on the beach: too many to count  :-) 

Five Most Memorable LA Moments

5.) Getting a Christmas present from Victoria Beckham, my gym buddy. ;-) (A bottle of perfume that had "To Annie, Best Wishes from The Beckhams" written on the box). 

4.) Being front row center to Jack's Mannequin "Secret Show" at the Viper Room. 

3.) Going to two charity events/parties at the Playboy Mansion (which I know sounds crazy and scandalous... they were actually very classy and amazing parties, if I do say so myself...!) 

2.) Talking to Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins) at the gym. This happened in February of 2009 and my heart STILL beats fast when I think about it!

1.) Going to the Oscars the past two years! And to pinpoint the most memorable moment of my most memorable moment, if you will, talking to Meryl Streep at the Governor's Ball this year! (For more deets on this and the rest of my Oscar experience this year, click here). 

What a lovely (slash random) walk down memory lane that was! Cheers to you, LA... thanks for an awesome two years. Excited to see what fun memories the next two will bring. 

Currently listening: Angel Taylor

Why: I've been really into female singer/songwriters lately, so when I stumbled upon Angel's debut album (Love Travels) on sale for $6.99 on itunes a few days ago, I didn't stand a chance.  ;-)  While she still has some maturing to do in order to reach the levels of Norah Jones or Ingrid Michaelson (whom I looove and whom Angel toured with this spring), her music is definitely enjoyable and relatable. (A few tracks even have Christian undertones, which I found to be a pleasant surprise). I especially like the track entitled "Chai Tea Latte"... I'm not sure if it's the former barista in me digging the title or the all-too-familiar theme of wanting a guy to man up and ask you out.  Either way, I give it two thumbs up. 

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Luck Be A Lady Tonight

I recruited my amazingly hilarious friend Marissa to roadtrip it with me and as luck would have it, another dear friend, McKenzie, was there nannying for 2 weeks (God bless her). Here is a photographic journey through our fun-filled weekend (sidenote: I just bought a new camera and I'm a bit excited about it)....

Another friend from LA, Erica, was randomly there. She worked some amazing connections and got us VIP passes to surpass the crazy long line at Tao. It's an awesome huge club at the Venetian. Fun indeed.

We laid out at our hotel pool Saturday. And by 'lay out', I mean that we hung out in the pool so as to not completely die/melt in the sweltering 100+ degree heat.

We went to the Beatles Cirque du Soleil show "Love" at the Mirage on Saturday night. So amazing! 

It was bit of a sensory overload at times... so many awesome things to see and hear at once. It was unlike anything I've seen before... two thumbs up for sure. Here's a 30 second video to give you little preview of its greatness...

After the show we had drinks at the Beatles Revolution Lounge and a delish din at Kokomo's at the Mirage...very cool settings and very wonderful food/drinks.

We then went to Jet where we enjoyed and took full advantage of several free drink passes given to us by eager promoters (like the kindly gentleman pictured below). 

We then relocated to Ghostbar which is on the 55th floor of the Palms. We danced, made some new friends, and enjoyed the expansive views.

C Gunn and I decided we had to gamble at least a little bit, so we hit the tables. She tried her hand at craps (which ended shortly) and then we moved on to roulette. I was only going to allow myself to spend $20 (I'm not too keen on throwing money away... call me crazy...), and since there was a $10 minimum bet, I thought I'd be out in a hot minute. Luck was indeed a lady to me that night, however, and I ended up leaving with $52. Cha ching!!

And that ends the photographic journey.  As you can see, it was such a great weekend! I miss my college friends A LOT, so anytime I get to see them is wonderful. Vegas defnitely redeemed itself for me this time around. Viva Las Vegas, indeed. :-)

Currently listening: Andy Davis. 

Why: Do you ever completely accidentally stumble upon a song with lyrics that are 100% applicable to your life at the moment? That happened to me this week with this talented musician I discovered in college when he opened for Matt Wertz.  His piano based singer/songwriter style is very enjoyable, and the lyrics to "Bigger Than Us" were absolutely perfect for me this week.  My very favorite song of his, however, is "Union & 3rd". So, so pretty. Definitely check him out. 

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Being only a 4 hour drive away (on a good traffic day) or a >1 hour flight, Vegas is a regular weekend getaway for Angelenos. I, however, have had absolutely zero desire to make this jaunt through the dessert after a less-than-wonderful experience in Sin City for my 21st birthday (but that's a whole 'nother story....) This changed when one of my best friends/roommates from college, C Gunn, informed me that she would be there for a work conference and asked if I wanted to meet her there. I hadn't seen her since this same conference sent her to LA last summer...SO, Las Vegas, ready or not, here I come. ;-)