"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring."

Talking about one of my character flaws is always an easy way to begin a blog post. They are so abundantly clear that I find talking about them to be a real ice breaker. So, I will begin today's blog post in the same ol' fashion:

I complain...alot.

Typically, my complaining involves simple things like being stressed, not getting paid to sit here at the gallery and post on my blog, or feeling fat from the french fries I ate for breakfast. But -on particularly special occasions- when the sun is shining and I feel skinny and I don't have obligations and I'm not being a jealous girlfriend, I find one last thing to complain about---the weather.

In fact, when I moved here, that was all I could talk about. Being from the south, I have a low tolerance for snow, spring lasts about a week, and then there is summer. Let's not get me started on summer. Okay, let's get me started.

It's a million degrees, the asphalt and buildings trap in heat and humidity, there is no beach on Manhattan, no where has central air conditioning, and on top of this, I don't have a car and I'm forced to go walk around it in all day.  This is the attitude I had all last summer and, needless to say, I wasn't very pleasant to be around. However, now since I have lived here a while and I have my bearings, I am really starting to appreciate summer in the city I now call my home. And even though temperatures are beginning to climb back up to that million degree range, I have found a lot of neat, summertime things to make me happy (not including cold showers and naughty things involving ice cubes).  So here are 5 of my favorite things that have come to my attention in conjunction with the changing season:

1) ICE CREAM SUNDAES!!!

Whether they include bananas like mine (featured on the left) or Reese's Pieces like Eric's (featured on the right), we both agree that the ingredient that makes a sundae best is blueberry jam:) Don't judge me!

2) FROZEN ADULT BEVERAGES!! (seen here featured with ice cream sundaes)

The one here was made from 2 different types of vodka, frozen peaches, and some juice concoction and was utterly disgusting. However, for the most part, frozen drinks are delicious, refreshing, and make you forget that you have two degrees and you're working five days a week for free and no one understands you and you'll probably never get married and your bones are metal and you always have stains on your shirt and the only person who wants to talk to you is:

3) THE TALKING WATER FOUNTAIN ON THE HIGHLINE!!!

Artist Julianne Shwartz created these water fountains as a public art piece called “Digital Empathy.” In this piece, various water fountains, bathrooms, elevators and sinks talk to you! They say both public information and speak words of love, concern and support (like "kissing improves dental health" and "don't eat yellow snow"). I think the one above is telling the inner city youth where the basketball courts are!

4) NEAT POPSICLE FLAVORS!!

This nice young lady stands outside all day in the heat and sells organic popsicles with unique flavors (like pina jalepeno). Last time I was there, she told me I looked pretty so tipped her! I usually only give homeless people money for calling me pretty but her $4 popsicle and her $1 compliment really made my afternoon. Here is my mango/chili flavored one:

5) SLUSHIE TRUCKS!!!

Recently, I have developed a taste for scotch and strong beer, paralleling these interests has come a strong hankering for hydrating post-party beverages. Nothing is better than Kelvin's Slushes. They also are doing interesting things with fruit flavors like citrus basil and lemon guava. To prevent next-day nausea after an evening of gallery and bar hopping, I ordered a ginger mint one for lunch today!

I think it needs to be noted that after trying the olive oil trick as well as Kombucha tea, this drink is the best hangover cure I have come across yet (although it must be paired with a breeze, laying in the grass, and a 5 o'clock glass of white wine).

And there you have it. Clean, summer fun that does not require a beach, a towel, or someone having to pee on you because you got stung by a jelly fish.

Anyways, my intern stipend is burning a hole in my pocket, I'm going to go buy the waterfountain and me a round of popsicles. Happy Friday!!

“The only place in the world that nothing has to be explained to me is the South.”–Woodrow Wilson

I've always been the type of person that can stress myself out quite easily.

A few months ago, I almost cried because I had to meet Rose for facials and massages at the Setai Spa (a really sweet Christmas present from my brother) and didn't have time to get my eyebrows threaded beforehand.

So, needless to say, I have breakdowns on a day-to-day basis. Not that I don't love New York, but I lead a very wanton lifestyle that consists of two internships, trying to find a real job, finishing school, homeless people yelling on the subway, moving out of my apartment, attempting to get to yoga, paying homeless people to call me pretty, trying to see as much art as possible, meeting new friends and keeping my old ones, learning how to walk in heels, not washing my hair, oh yes, and always finding time to paint the town red more often than I should.

Consequently, I am always surprised to go home and remember the laid back manner of living I was brought up with (and no longer am accustomed to). I also have the opportunity to see all the new and exciting things going on down there.

Because both the Banjo-B-Que festival and my sister's engagement party were happening this Memorial Day weekend, I decided there was no excuse for me not to fly to Georgia for a visit. Here are a few of of the new and innovative trends happening below the Mason Dixon line:

First, let's begin with Cuisine. A few noted Southern delicacies:

Crawdaddies. My daddy's favorite! (I'm not sure what they are exactly but they look like gigantic termites):

Next, BOILED PEANUTS!! Anyone who knows me, knows these are my favorite. However, times they are-a-changin' and they are now offered in spicy cajun flavor:

And, of course, one cannot forget Bar-B-Que (especially at a festival honoring it). Because I am a vegetarian, I was not able to enjoy any of it but I was honored to have my sister teach me about the new ways in which it is cooked. These are called Green Eggs. They are apparently a ceramic cooker (a kiln, maybe?) with a handsome and decorative design used to produce to juiciest, most succulent food you've ever tasted.

At the Banjo-B-Que there were gaggles of the gadgets as far as the eye could see:

Some even went as far as to decorate them. Here is one designed to look like, none other than, A PEACH:

Now that I've covered my culinary discoveries, let's take a look at transportation.

From antique Fords to the latest from John Deere, tractors are still in high demand:

 What better way to celebrate life than to decorate a hearse (note the Driver has Huge Testicles plate):

And in an effort to save our natural resources, a revert back to horses as a means for transportation
(but be sure to park them in an appropriate place or you may get put in the stocks):

Finally, for those of you interested in fashion, camouflage paired with a matching coozi, black shirt, and chain wallet seem to be all the rage:

You will be the best looking guy at the pig races:

And there you have it, Memorial Day Weekend in Augusta, GA.

And as much as I make fun, I had a wonderful time relaxing with my family, enjoying nice weather, and getting back in touch with humble upbringings:)

Here is Sarah and me spending a lovely afternoon (in our 48 hour dresses) by a Tiki Bar in Neptune Beach the day before I flew back:

Congrats to Sarah and Riley! And may I suggest a watermelon seed spitting contest at the wedding?