changing the world. brb.

after a whopping five nights back in my own bed, i'm hitting the road again tomorrow, this time heading to our nation's capitol for the next week or so. it's time for our annual lobbying trip on capitol hill, and it's all hands on deck down in dc.

*stand back! i'm about to let my nerd flag fly*

it's basically my favorite week of the year, as i get to play blogger-in-chief, documenting all the great things that happen when a couple dozen of our members roam the halls of the capitol, demanding that congress pay attention to some crucial issues. it's a crazy long week, full of 18 hour days and crappy hotel food, but it's also inspiring, exhilarating and satisfying like no other part of my job. 

i know, this post isn't quite as exciting as a instagramed photographic journey through austin for sxsw, but i daresay it's slightly more important. wonder if we'll encounter any surprise big boi concerts in dc?

so pardon the absence for the next week, as i'll be stormin' the hill with america's best and brightest. but for now, enjoy a small sample of my dozens of hipster iphone photos taken down in tejas.

fitz and the tantrums!

big boi concert at seaholm power plant

south by san jose at the hotel san jose. sigh. love.

p.s. care to make a difference in the lives of vets returning from iraq and afghanistan? check out www.stormthehill.org.

friday, i'm in love (#nerdalert)

was it just me or was that the longest week ever? thank god for democracy... and three day weekends to celebrate various presidents! oh also, ya know, representative government and all that jazz. but really, the true value is in this upcoming holiday. and how do i plan on spending that extra 24 hours of freedom? with an extra yoga class and some extra cooking adventures, of course. yes, my life is just that exciting. also looking forward to a surprise birthday party on saturday, and possibly a date to that party... anyways, during this ridiculously long week, here's what kept me going:

the hairpin

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as a long-time regular reader of gawker and jezebel (by regular reader, i mean they were both always open on my browser, and i probably got half of all my news from them), i have struggled with their redesigns. ugh, i mean i hate them and i haven't even visited either site in a week. but that left me without my daily dose of well-curated content. enter the hairpin (and its older brother, the awl). it's my new favorite place on the interwebs. need an intro? how about rumors i've heard about anna wintour? or, might i recommend my personal favorite series, letters to the editors of women's magazines? thank goodness for finding a new mental health hq online. read it, love it, spread the word. the hairpin rocks my socks.

janelle monáe

oh hey, remember the grammys? yeah, i blocked most of them from my memory as well. but, i do have to thank the recording academy for bringing janelle monay into my life. "tightrope" is my official morning "strutting down madison avenue" song these days. oh yes, that's what i do. i'll admit it. but hello? have you heard this song? it's the jam. plus i dig her style. 

warby parker

there is literally (LITERALLY) nothing worse than shopping for glasses. it is never a pleasant experience. i always thought it was one of those things that you'd never be able to buy online - and then, enter warby parker. my new obsession. and while guys might not make passes at girls who wear glasses, i'll be channeling my inner rachel maddow and rockin' these babies when they arrive next week. oh yes. nerdy chic indeed. plus, now i can wander around brooklyn and finally look like i belong! zing. pics to come!

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happy three day weekend!