i’m behind as hell.  (is it ok to use the word “hell” in the first sentence of the first post on a new blog?)  
what the hell.

so we’re going to play this game where i play “catch up,” and i bombard you with photos and information, and you’re going to pretend i’m not posting about the first three days all at the same time. got it? it’s pretty simple, right?

i don’t know if i believe in omens. i’m still confused by that one, because hours before i hit the road for phoenix to pick up amber and rory from the airport, the world received the michael jackson news. almost immediately after that, i sat in traffic on I-10 for about 45 minuted for no apparent reason. (ok, it was road construction, but in all honesty, that stuff is stupid – who really cares about interstate upkeep?)
the third horrifying incident of the day came when the 75-mph bumper-to-bumper traffic came to an immediate halt right outside of phoenix due to an accident blocking both traffic directions and the median. (you’ll be glad to know my car can go from 75-to-stop in under 2 seconds.

all in all, i was about an hour and a half late in airport arrival. luckily amber and rory are patient people though. and they also found the over-priced airport bar, so we’re still on speaking terms.

here’s the confusing part though – since then, everything’s gone perfectly.
so my current opinion on “omens” is “eh.”

what happened in phoenix? we met up with jasmine and tracy at the paisley violin cafe in paisley town, had some beers and some yummy sandwiches, and raided their shop.

(it’s called Butter Toast Boutique, and is honestly one of the most amazing vintage shops i’ve ever encountered.)

check out the shoes, dude

their shop is deserving of constant swarming. if you are anywhere in the phoenix area, swarm that place, seriously. (it doesn’t hurt that the shop is part of the cutest little cluster of historic buildings, all grouped around a to-die-for courtyard. i heard rumor that shows are played in the courtyard on a regular basis, and you can eat yummy food and drink yummy beers and wines in said courtyard. i believe you can also get your hair cut in one of the above-mentioned buildings. just go already, ok?)

amber tried on the cutest vintage romper and i kind of want to pinch her for not buying it. the up-side is that it’s still haunting the racks of the shop, so someone should go grab that thing NOW.

don't you wish you could be hot-as(s) amber?

need more convincing? i procured the most perfect outfit at their shop. (um, including a pair of low-heeled navy-blue peep-toe sandals. yes!)

my face looks funny but the dress makes up for it

what happened for the rest of the evening? i can’t really remember. but it looked like this: