Sparks, Nevada. And their ribs...

For the past few years, my family has spent Sunday of Labor Day Weekend at the Rib Cook Off in Sparks, Nevada. Right up there next to Reno. If you've never been to the Reno area you can't really imagine what the sweltering heat is like with hundreds of large barbecues roaring in a small vicinity. 

It's hot.

Anyway...meat.

I'm honestly not a huge fan of ribs, but there are stalls, after stalls of ribs and barbecue from around the country, so I had to give some a try. The barbecued corn is delicious.

[see below]

So sexy.

That mound of "Texas Taters" is pretty good too. But I don't like salt. So I hit it up for about 4 chips.

The BBQ chicken though? I'm all over that.

We took a break during the middle of the day to save ourselves from heat stroke. Some of the group went gambling, the other, myself included, found refuge in the air conditioned movie theater and saw 'Our Idiot Brother'. Which, by the way, was insanely cute/funny/enjoyable.

cute family members.

Afterwards we walked around through the crowds/masses of people. 

Looking through the shop tents and flea market set-up.

Drinking margaritas.

Standard things, really.

We left the joint full. Extremely full.

Homegirl was car sick the entire 2 hour drive home.

Totally worth it though for my corn, chocolate covered strawberries, and margarita...so healthy?

Until next year, rib lovers. 

kendall's visit: part one

so as you know, about two weeks ago, kendall arrived on the scene here in germany.

it was her first time in europe, and i was so excited to share my city with my bff.

we didn't take a ton of pictures (weird, i know. i take pictures of everything), but we did have a lot of fun between hanging with cajus, going out with friends, and our trip to amsterdam!

here's the first installment of our journey:

we went on nature walks, hung out with cajus, and took him to the park.

i think that kendall and i may have had more fun though.

the parks here are not as cool as the ones in the u.s...

i had to.

how could i not.

little man loves trying to climb in my window.

we enjoyed the last day of maiwoche, and the cocktail station.

 blurry, but i love it.

 here are some views from the elevator going up to a roof top bar.

she liked that it roughly translates to black man chocolate.

 pretty skies,

and amusing nature walks.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

next up: drinking+amsterdam!

oh, hello.

oh hi blog friends.

i'm alive.

just been here with the bestie, kendall, in germany.

i picked her up from the airport on saturday, then did something any good friend would do:

loaded her into the back of a van and headed to the maiwoche for day drinking.

 i know, i know, i rock.

anyway, we are fine, having a blast. 

and headed to amsterdam tomorrow! 

my favorite place...so stay tuned.

prettiness.

p.s- thanks mama for the fab cam. everyone...it's navy blue!

maiwoche

this is going to be a super quick post because i have a massive migraine and want to sleep somewhere dark and cold.

wasn't that a lovely intro?

i thought so...

+++

maiwoche, or may week, is taking place right now in osnabruck, and last weekend my friend sylvia and i went downtown to meander through the festivities.

 funky, handmade treasures.

always exciting to browse the stalls of trinkets.

i chose to edit all of these photos with a vintage feel.

i love vintage carnivals.

and i love that my iphone took all of these pictures.

i'm convinced this guy was america.

 no german would wear the adidas, cargo shorts, and leather loafers combo

...maybe they would, but i haven't seen it. 

my most favorite picture.

the church, the stripes, the carousel, all wonderfully mixed together.

the may pole :)

in the old town city center.

 more bunting, maypole, churchiness.

lovely.

my choco-strawbs were super delicious.

and we went by scooter!

i was afraid at first, but now i've seen the light.

must. purchase. vintage, vespa.

+++

again, sorry for any typos and general lack of quicky-ness.

i feel like my brain is pulsating against my skull.

too much?

sorry.

but it's the life of a person with migraines,

'holla if you feel like you been down the same road.'

yes i quoted eminem, i'm so weird...mmmkkkay, bye.

deutsch karneval...

all around the world, this past weekend was carnival.

no exception here in deutschland.

(yes, i did feel the need to make a fun banner for this event...)

oh! it was so much fun!

i, of course, love any reason to dress up, drink, and dance.

the night started with a pre-party at our house, with karaoke, of course.

(here i am with osama bin helge+wolfgang the waiter)

my friend, begi, came too.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

dani and wolfgangs' friends came over, and they are so fun.

especially helge and wolle.

wolle was mozart/paul revere/a pirate

and helge was a terrorist.

naturally.

dani was a ladybug, an i, a bee.

i heart singing.

even though i'm super horrible.

when we all finally went downtown, i think i sang 3 karaoke duets.

but i can't remember...

it was like halloween, but better.

maybe because i'm only used to american halloween house parties.

where guys don't participate.

and 16 year old girls look like strippers.

...........

maybe because here in germany, everyone participates and is out on the streets drinking by 10:00am.

and rocking awesome outfits in bars, pubs, and clubs later that night.

............

way better than halloween.

(i used, like, three of the same photos twice. ugh i hate when that happens. oh, and also, yes that was a purposefully inappropriate use of the word 'like')

rockin' the casbah. rock the casbah.

group shot lovin'.

love this shot.

+++++++++++++++++

later we met up with paul + henning.

and stay at the club for.ev.er.

but in a good way, we were having a blast.

.................................................................................................

then, for more fun...today in kindergarten, cajus' and his classmates got to dress up and party

such cuties.

cajus' was a devil.

there were mermaids, princesses, fairies, vampires, spidermen, firemen, cowboys, pirates, witches, skeletons, and more!

hope your weekend was just as colorful and fun.

---------

hugs.

hay.