Happy Fourth of July

I hope everyone enjoys a fantastic and safe holiday!

Today, I'm headed to the 20-something annual family golf outing, the city parade and a few picnics. I hope there's plenty of watermelon, beer, hot dogs and silly costumes.

{image via}

Book Review: And Then There Were None

Lately, I've been trying to explore all things literary. Instead of my typical depressing non-fiction choices, usually focused on war or ill-treatment of groups of people, I decided to give fiction a try.

I haven't read a mystery since my slight obsession with Trixie Belden and the Boxcar Children during my Elementary years, so I thought it was the perfect time to try the genre out again. My mom has over a hundred mysteries on her shelves easy. Probably hundreds actually. (She has at least two copies of every Agatha Christie murder mystery.) Since Christie captured my mom's heart so easily (along with millions of other readers- she is by far the bestselling murder mystery author), I decided I would read her first.

I read Agatha Christie's novel And Then There Were None. And I can honestly tell you, the book was ten times better than the movie or anything else it spawned. Her writing is clear and simple, but you can tell she is weaving a twisted mystery behind it. The characters are so well-written and the story so thought through, that the entire time I was trying to solve the crimes, I kept changing my mind. It is full of fantastic, mind-boggling little twists.

I think next, I'd like to meet her character Hercule Poirot and see if I can solve the Murder on the Orient Express before him. Just fantastic writing.

{image via agathachristie.com}

What to do with your bridesmaid dress

"And the best part about it... You can shorten it and wear it again."

"That's so true."

-27 Dresses

But, honestly, it's usually not. I'm lucky enough to absolutely LOVE the dress I'm wearing in my friend's wedding next weekend. Very lucky. I've been to several weddings in years past that I've actually been a little surprised and appalled by the bride's choice in dress. They were definitely not re-wearable. I'm thankful that my dress next weekend is a gorgeous midnight purple that I will definitely put on again.

While looking into weddings for my bride, I came across a silly little book about what to do with your bridesmaid dress after the wedding. A few suggestions were so funny, I thought I'd share...

"Show up for jury duty in it- you'll be back in your office in 10 minutes

It's just right for tea in Savannah

Wear your dress to guest host Wheel of Fortune

If you're bored, wear it to your little sister's prom

The athlete in your life would love a custom jock strap

You can never have too many hair scrunchies "

{101 Uses for a Bridesmaid Dress by Cindy Walker}

Pride.

Before Gay Pride Month comes to a close, I thought it was important to honor it properly. Everyone should be guaranteed equal rights no matter gender, race, sexual orientation or other groups with restricted rights.

Earlier, I mentioned that my cousin wrote a poem to honor Gay Pride, dedicated to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders. {And more specifically, his brother, Charlie, and his partner, John.}

You Know Who Else Had More Than One Father? America!

Here in America, we have built quite a myth
It's one Americans should all be concerned with
It's the myth of family, and what that entails
As if kids couldn't be raised by two loving females.

Opponents say children need a mom and a dad
"Two mothers? Two fathers? It would just end up bad.
There's a model fam'ly you should strive to achieve."
Ward and June Cleaver? Jerry Mathers as the Beav?

With a divorce rate of nearly half and rising
It is difficult not to find it surprising
That we do not yet allow same-sexes to wed
And enjoy the same right to a marriage they dread.

"It just isn't right to have multiple fathers."
No matter the stats or how little it bothers?
"Nothing is conceived by multiple fathers -- duh!"
Oh? Not even a li'l place called... AMERICA?

America is a child with fathers galore!
More than two or three, and ev'ry one of them fore
They broke from mother England to raise us this way
And that's back in a time when happiness was gay.

But then the debate turns to a biblical sell
"It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" they yell
And yet the forefathers include, would you believe,
Multiple Adams and at least one guy named Steve.*

There wasn't an Eve in the whole congregation
Except for the night before founding this nation
That prides on equality, colors that don't fade
It has all the makings of a gay pride parade!

The Declaration and Constitution in mind
Let's thank our forefathers and their eye for design
Think on their queerness; America, for the win,
The same-sexiest fam'ly that has ever been.

*John Adams, Samuel Adams, Stephen Hopkins

Chicago's 41st Annual Pride Parade

{Wish I could have made it to the parade. Looks like they had amazing costumes and support.}

Also, Brent Sopel, of the Chicago Blackhawks, brought the Stanley Cup to the Pride parade to show his support.

{Drawing by Maggie Dosemagen, all photos via Chicagoist}

bachelorette parties

along with wedding season comes... bachelorette parties. a perfect excuse for cosmos and dance floors.

now don't get me wrong, it can be a great time. i've already received invitations to a few parties... complete with a pole-dancing class, lingerie party, dinners at fancy restaurants, dance parties, drinks and games. i'm excited to see many friends that i haven't gotten to hang out with in a while, but, to be perfectly honest, i'm not really excited by the whole bachelorette party deal. i'd almost rather just enjoy a bottle of good wine and even better conversation with friends. sounds a little too mellow to be a bachelorette party, huh?

i guess that's s sign that i'm growing up.

i'm sure bachelorette party season will be fun though.

{image via}

sailboats

don't they just make you want to pack a bag, hop in the boat and sail into the sunset. if only. {i'm so jealous of my friend zach who is doing that very thing this very moment... through the greek isles.}

mount rushmore smooching

my sister and cousin are teaming up on a project for an art publication. he's writing a poem and she's doing the drawing to accompany it. the topic: gay marriage. it's an absolutely hilarious poem that makes you think of gay rights in a different way. i love it.

here's a sneak peek at the artwork:

millennium park stroll

my friend and i took a stroll down to millennium park yesterday. it was an absolutely beautiful day to spend outside. the children looked like they were having so much fun that we joined in, took our shoes off and walked through the water. such a little pleasure, but it made my afternoon. {well, that and bill.}

sometimes i miss being a kid and splashing around in the water.

I Know Why the Caged Bird

The caged bird sings

with fearful trill

of the things unknown

but longed for still

and is tune is heard

on the distant hill for the caged bird

sings of freedom

Incredible. I’ve heard so much about Maya Angelou over the years but had never read her work. Finally, I decided to pick up a few of her autobiographies. {Well, it's really only one autobiography split into four books.} I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was incredibly written, but the story told was amazing. The obstacles she overcame in her life were immense but nowhere in the book does she ask for sympathy, but instead embraces her past as fond memories that brought her where she is now. I think I finished her first book in less than two days; I couldn’t put it down. I have a few books waiting for me next, but I’m sure I’ll get to more Maya Angelou soon.

She is an inspiration.

"Love is that condition in the human spirit so profound that it allows me to survive, and better than that, to thrive with passion, compassion, and style."

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."

"A cynical young person is almost the saddest sight to see, because it means that he or she has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing."

{image via bbc}

first day of summer

today is officially the first day of summer and it's finally beginning to feel like it. wonderful.

summer means: watermelon. fireworks. golfing. sprinklers. popsicles. lawn chairs. picnics. lemonade. ice cream. grilling out. movies in the park. outdoor concerts. festivals. zoo trips. sandals. sunshine. dresses. and so many more fun things.

{image via}