the universe rings true

We played wiffle ball for my final Family Home Evening.
I am really not good at wiffle ball.

But my dad pitched until I hit it, and we even scored some points,
and the sunlight was just right and the grass was just green enough
and above us the clouds were lit in deep gold and silvers
and we were barefoot and laughing

and I think maybe I've never been happier.

{ oh happy day. }

cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels

{ peonies are my perennial priority. image via etsy. }

There have been far too many pretty things to ignore these days, what with summer thunderstorms in the afternoon and Regina's new lyrics in my head all day. And as we head into the weekend and my final Friday here at home, I've collected a few favorites that are making my procrastination and panic a bit more bearable:

1. HEAR: Far, of course---especially Eet and of course Laughing With, but I'm a big fan of The Calculation and (when it's that signature Spektor vocal-play you're looking for) Dance Anthem of the 80s.

2. SEE: Brothers Bloom, one of those films that breathes beautiful inside+out and then gets absolutely no credit for the job. Brilliant performances, stunning set, and writing to run the gamut of intellect and imagination. An instant Top Ten in my books.

3. SMELL: Dolce+Gabbana Light Blue, bought as Liv's birthday present and stolen for today's dinnerandamovie.While it's not knocking my Burberry Brit off the shelf quite yet, this scent is seriously stellar in a range from citrus to floral. Definitely one to detour for the next time you're cutting corners through the department store and stop for a quick spritz.

4. READ: The Guardian, because when it comes to exclamation marks I tend to side with Fitzgerald, so this Stuart Jeffries article says it all. (full credit to saltbox girl for the heads-up on this one)

5. EAT: Rooster Dumpling+Noodle Bar. Might be biased, too, but I'm pretty sure the Thai Basil Rice would be top notch even if Ren didn't happen to work there. Top that off with their range of Boba bubble drinks and Rooster takes the indecision out of dinner dates altogether. Only two words left to say here: Go. Now.

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SEE ALSO: This pretty post over at Brunette Bombshell,
which made me nod and smile and think so true, so beautiful, so beautifully true.
The almost too lovely music from newcomer God Help The Girl,
which reminds me of the best of Lawrence Welk
and slow summer sunlight.

ribbit.

In an inside joke so storied and exaggerated we don't even know how it began, us girls of E.P.I.C. find frogs of the utmost importance. So it was only natural that we head on over to the Natural History Museum for a little look-see at their latest exhibit: Toadally Frogs.

Which was awesome. And inspiring. And actually completely educational. For example: Did you know that a group of frogs is called an army? Or that a Goliath Frog is about the size and weight of your average house cat? Or that in China they see the toad, not the man, in the moon?

I didn't. But now I do.

Also: an O-shaped aquarium. Hoorah.

driving down the 101

I took the wheel on this little California adventure of ours, and while sometimes stressful and occasionally downright obnoxious, I can't say these notorious California freeways were much more intense than Disney's Autopia.

Plus, those roads take you to pleasant places like Malibu for breakfasts on the beach and Bel Air for shameless stares and open mouths and The Getty for spectacular scenery and a healthy dose of art and architecture.

That being said, I loathe intensely Los Angeles traffic. But appreciate moments like the boy in the next lane over practicing his magic tricks in the standstill or the road sign for the Museum of Tolerance just as I was about to completely lose it.

spun sugar

You've all heard of Sprinkles, so I'll skip the rave. Basically the thirty-minute line was worth the wait and gave us good time to debate our choice of eight, of which the five most favorite were:

1. RED VELVET
2. COCONUT
3. VANILLA
4. STRAWBERRY
and
5. CHOCOLATE BANANA

We ate half for dinner and the other four for breakfast. Pretty much perfection.

if your heart is in your dream

We went to Disneyland. And it was such the best. Which deserves a lot more words, I know, but I'm usually at a loss when it comes to this place. They've said all there is to say, okay? Happiest. Place. On Earth.

So I'm a total Disney purist--and maybe even a snob--but I did take a try at California Adventure this time around and would give it a sound A based entirely on set and design. We'll have to skip the ride review, however, as my one go at Tower of Terror more or less destroyed any happy thoughts I may have had beforehand. As the photo below documents, I spent most of that freefall screaming at Liv to make it stop (it didn't). Seriously, my feet jumped out of my shoes on that thing. And they were ankle-strap sandals.

Anyway, I lived. But only after a few deep breaths and a round of kiwi tea. Yes, I'm all wimp. And no, I did not go on the rollercoaster, okay?

But I did see the HSM noon-time extravaganza. Twice. Which totally justified Liv missing her actual graduation.

Having had enough excitement for one morning, Liv and I hopped backed over to Disneyland for the classic (and only true) experience. This involved checking off nearly every ride in the park, a moment of panic in deciding which color Dumbo to ride, model shots on the carousel, and quite simply the most humongous sheep we've ever seen. See also: several classic people-watching commentaries, a particularly lovely Aussie boy in line for Pinocchio, the beehives on the Winnie-the-Pooh ride rock like little cradles through heffalump-and-woozle rooms and maybe I could stay there all day.

{ I voted turquoise. Liv said pink. So we chose yellow. }

{ a more pensive pose as horses slowed to a steady trot }

{ seriously. shouldn't this be a horse? or at least a pony? }

But the true magic began as the day came to an end--the launch of Disneyland's newest summer fireworks show titled, ever-so aptly, Magical. Gathered there on Main Street, a day of childhood come to its close, the fireworks set to orchestral crescendoes . . . and then Dumbo has to swing out about the castle to the tune of Baby Mine and well, so maybe we cried. Or just teared up. A little bit. Barely. And afterwards there was confetti in Mickey shapes and fairy dust like we could fly, too, so really--who could blame us?

{ huzzah. }