Snapshots of Train & Those Nights When the Universe is Against You // July 2015

I mentioned in this post, that before we knew my parents were moving away, we had bought my mom concert tickets to see one of her favorite bands, Train.

She, and my littlest sister OE flew back to Kansas for the show. It was really nice to see them, and made it seem like we would continue to get to see them a lot even though they live far away now. :)

We met at the concert and listened to the opening bands Matt Nathanson and The Fray. Both openers were really good! We spent a lot of The Fray's set running around trying to get drinks, and ear plugs, and t-shirts, but it was easy to hear and see from the concessions.

Matt Nathanson was a goofball. He was cracking jokes, and had a lot of commentary that was really funny. It was a good way to be as the first opener. Plus it was entertaining families and others who were already waiting for Train. :) I kind of love some of his music, and he is coming back to KC to play at a bar... maybe we'll go out for that show!

I used to think I hated The Fray's music, but it turns out it's now nostalgic, and that I really do like some of their new stuff a lot. :) Has this ever happened for you guys with a band or artist?

We got settled, and before too long a woman working for Train came out to ask Olivia if she wanted to sing and dance with Train and a bunch of other kids on the stage! WHAT?! That's so crazy. She shook her head and went back to playing Fruit Ninja.. bhaha. When mom heard, she was like OLIVIA, My FAVORITE BAND! You said no?!? hehe

Train came on and their performance was awesome. They sang lots of songs from a bunch of their albums, it was so fun to hear them live, the sound of my childhood car rides. :) We all sang and danced, and had a good time.

I may have shed a tear or two during 'Drops of Jupiter' ... there's just something about hearing a song you love live after loving it for so long. Also, let's keep in mind that this was my year up until (and after) this night....

We were taking my mom and OE back to my grandma's to stay, so we took our time leaving to let some of the traffic get out of the park. We got in the car, exited the park, and a family of raccoons promptly ran out in front of us. We didn't hit them, but it was very hard to see as the park didn't really have streetlights throughout.

We stopped for some waters and ice cream for the ride home. We get ready to take our exit, almost miss it, then get hit by a car... we've never been in a car accident before then. At this point it feels like after months of chaos the universe is trying to tell us something... we just don't know what....

We exchange info, call the police, they won't come to where we are, so they tell us to drive to the nearest police station. We do, and they tell us we're in the wrong place and give us bad directions to the next one. We finally find another one, and get it all taken care of. By this time it's about 2 AM, and I feel so stressed and also awful that this is how my mom's special night turned out.

We make it almost all the way back to my grandma's house, exhausted, so stressed out, when we are coming down a hill on a country highway, and there is a man with his dog walking IN THE HIGHWAY. At least no one else was on the road, and we were able to swing wide around him and get into the other lane.

It was so stressful I cannot even tell you. We've never had any driving situations like this alone or together, and all in one night, with passengers, we manage to have them all. Ugh.

So, I may have cried... because after the busy year, new job, craziness in Alaska, my family moving etc. I had nothing left to keep myself from doing it.

Bottom line: The concert was amazing, I'm glad we had that experience as a family, though we missed you dad! The end of the night and the whole year surrounding it so far sucked. But August, seems to have turned things around. Hoping so much that it stays this way!!!!!!

The next night we got pulled over for the first time for not signalling when a two lane turned into a one lane, but then signalling to make the turn immediately after. Keep in mind, country road, 2 AM, no traffic, new set up for the lanes... He gave us a warning, I'm sure he just wanted to make sure we weren't drunk. I get it, it's his job. But holy cow you guys.

We thought this was the end of the bad stuff, but then we went to Florida.

I can safely say that I have never ever ever been so happy to have an August in all my life. Thank goodness for 'fall'.

Have you ever seen a band that you've loved for a long time live? What was it like?

Have you ever done something like this as a family?

Have you ever had an especially bad year? How did you get past it?

All for now.

XO,

Alexandra

Impressionist France Exhibit at the Nelson Atkins // Kansas City // January 2014

So I am the master of posting about things a month or two after they've happened. All the same, this was so fun that I felt it was worth sharing.

We went to the Nelson for their impressionist exhibit (you might remember the Frida y Diego exhibit? here.) This time we did not win free tickets, but it was still less that $10 apiece. I had known about it for a long time, but we finally made out on the last day.

It was snowing and I was worried that we wouldn't make it out... but the snow just turned out to be a gorgeous and harmless addition to our drive! Though good we waited a bit to leave... we did see a lot of cars in the ditch / median on the way there. :(

It was pretty great! The gallery was filled with Monet, Cezanne, Manet, Matisse, Pisarro, and all sorts of lovely information on Impressionism.

I personally enjoy impressionism and have felt lucky that the Nelson has such a good collection. We have one of Monet's Water Lilies for crying out loud! (as does St. Louis, that post, here.)

We viewed the exhibit including my favorite Monet piece 'Boulevard des Capucines' a wonderful winter cityscape with some interesting coral-red shapes on one side. Many believe they are balloons, which I think is just really fun, especially for a sort of dreary winter painting.

We also saw so many other fantastic landscapes & cityscapes!

We went from viewing the cities, to the more rural areas, to the mountains, agriculture and forests, finally to the sea.

I was surprised to find that I was most drawn to the seascapes!

Something about the French coast became so appealing. I was in love with nearly every piece!

Before you left the exhibit there was a box where you could write a post card 'from impressionist France' and send it. On the front you draw your image and then write a note, the museum mailed them for you! I was busy trying to figure out who I would send it to since the exhibit was essentially over... while Kyle was writing me a sweet postcard. I may have glanced over... and so I wrote him one too. It was fun to look at them later.

All in all we had another fun day at the museum!

Which Impressionist Piece or Artist's Work would you most like to see in person?

I would have say more Degas!

Other Art Posts Here: Georgia O'Keeffe Museum (Santa Fe, NM), Frida y Diego (The Nelson, KC), Canadian Art in New Brunswick (NB, Canada), Saint Louis Art Museum (Main Level).

Thank you for Reading!

Alexandra

Introducing B. Michelle Bake Shop! // Talented Friends

There are few things in life that that make me happier than seeing my friends succeed. Succeed in love, in careers, in starting a family etc. I am lucky enough to have watched one particular friend finish school, marry her other half, land a decent job right off the bat and now start her own business. Not just any business, one that lets her pursue her passion!

Introducing B. Michelle Bake Shop! (webpage link & exciting tip-off below!!) 

I wanted to share with you guys some information about my friend Brittany's new KC area, delivery only, bakery! Be prepared to have a serious cake craving here in just a minute! :)

I can say from personal experience that her cakes are completely delicious. Super moist, extremely flavorful and made with all natural, local ingredients, flavors and colorings. You can't ask for more! She made our wedding cake, ALL of HER wedding cakes and brought cupcakes to our 'Friendsmas' party! 

And both the cakes and cupcakes come in so many delicious flavors! I have personally tried chocolate, peanut butter chocolate and Ginger Bread with Peppermint frosting (during the holidays). I am ordering some lovely hydrangea frosted vanilla and chocolate cupcakes for my sister's upcoming engagement party too! But she also has SO many more flavors that sound amazing, I can't wait to try them! From classics like carrot cake, lemon cake and red velvet to newer, more gourmet combinations like caramel mocha and mint chocolate... there is something to please everyone! 

How beautiful are these cakes you guys?!?!

If you live in the Kansas City, Topeka or Lawrence Areas, consider ordering your next cake, set of cupcakes or cookies from B. Michelle Bake Shop! 

To visit her website, drool over pictures of scrumptious cakes or make an order click here.

If you like what you are seeing, stay tuned.... because I'm working on an upcoming giveaway with her!!!

How exciting!! :) 

What flavor looks the best to you??

Thank You For Reading!

Alexandra 

All cake photos courtesy of B. Michelle Bake Shop.

Bonus if you made it to the bottom!

This is our wedding cake! 

Gorgeous Right??!

Thanks for making our day so special Brittany! :) 

Frida y Diego @ The Nelson & Thoughts on the Importance of Art Education

Growing up I had great art teachers. Even the ones who were strict and kind of mean, they taught me so much. I can remember studying George Seraut, Frida Khalo and Georgia O'Keeffe as just a 7th grader. Then I would gather my materials and create my own imitations of their work. Pointillism was a little over my head at that point, but we all had so much fun using Q-tips to dot our masterpieces. We sketched still lives of cow's skulls and flowers like O'Keeffe and made self portraits after studying Frida's. Looking back only my O'Keeffe style piece gives the vague-ist resemblance of these artists' work.. but wow did we learn! Sadly, this is incredibly water-damaged... but can't you tell it's O'Keeffe inspired?!?! ;)

My world was filled with artistic wonder starting at the age of 12.

Once I got to high school it was even better. We studied German Expressionists and Fauvists, I tried my hand at abstract expressionism and watched a bit of Bob Ross. I joined the art club and between that and advanced courses I managed to take many field trips to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City a mere hour away. We were so lucky, but it never occurred to me at the time.

It never dreamed that some people had experienced boring art classes. or had been given very little cultural context and background to the techniques they were learning. It never occurred to me (until I started traveling) that not everyone has access to a fantastic art museum. Even just within their home state. 

You wouldn't expect a world class art museum to be hidden in the middle of the Midwest, but boy is sure is!

Upon realizing this I have been trying to keep up on what is happening at the Nelson and making periodic trips out with Kyle to explore the museum. Their permanent collection is amazing, it boasts; Monet's Water Lillies, as well as works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Carvaggio, Rodin, Kandinsky, Pissaro, Duchamp, Van gogh, Pollock, Warhol... I could go on and on!

As if this wasn't enough, their rotating exhibits are amazing as well. From June through the middle of August, they had a Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibit. 

I hope you got to see it! It was so amazing!

Seeing their work up close for the first time, was just indescribable. Left: Diego. Right: Frida.

In addition to Frida and Diego's art, there were also other "Masterpieces of Modern Mexico" on display. I was in love with a surprising amount of pieces! My favorite was the one in the middle below, Mujer con rebozo, by David Alfar Siqueiros! So much texture in the brush strokes! Left: nina con naturaleza muerta, by Juan Soriano. Right: I forgot to take a picture to save the info! :( 

There was also a fun gold piece that was gorgeous! I loved this mother-daughter pair!

I also loved this fantastic photograph. It's so beautiful and raw!

So, calling all art lovers: visit Kansas City's Nelson Atkins Museum! It will not disappoint! 

Also: please let me know your favorite art museums!! I'll add them to my travel list! 

To see a review of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, NM, click here.

All for now,

Alexandra