She grew up in a Indiana town...

If I could play a theme song right now it would be Noblesville, Indiana by Los. I wish that was one cd that was still in my monsterous collection. But alas, it is not.

I can’t tell you how happy I am to be back home. So I won’t. But you should know I am happy, and loving it.

Cookouts: Let me tell you about something that excites me. A little joyful thing called the cookout. Cooking out (BBQing or grilling out as some of you out east refer to it) is one of the great things about back yards and being back in Indy. I’m talking grass, lawn games, beers, burgers, potato salad, watermelon, shenanigans, corn on the cob, lawn chairs, the works! I went to a grand total of 4 this Memorial Day weekend!

Pennycuff played in Broadripple on Saturday night at Peppers, which is a place I have not frequented in years. Not a damn thing changes around here, and I am so thankful to come home right back to my life-long friends and feel like I never left. Pennycuff rocked it out, and we cut rugs on the dance floor.

I skipped the greatest spectacle in racing because it was going to be so hot, and I really wasn't interested in the crowds and lack of shade, or the greatest spectacle in racing if I'm being honest. So I sat poolside all day instead, and then even got to try my hand at a Sharpie tattoo on my poor friend Ricky, who trusted me to do the right thing. Which I did not, but he forgave me as he said he knew I only gave into the peer pressure around me.

Laura, Me, and Ash representing Stony Creek Elementary

Charlie serving Ashley...she didn't know what to do

Pennycuff

my first tattoo - Indy 500 style

hard to believe i won the drawing competition

the hammer with balls

My little brother’s all growed up

I went to visit Michael and his classroom in Lafayette today. I felt like a celebrity. All the kids bombarding me and asking, are you Mr. Kraft’s sister? Hey, are you Kelly? Are you Sarah (no Sarah in the Kraft fam btw). And then shaking my hand and getting down on one knee and telling me how lovely it is to meet me. They are adorable!

Now, imagine if your day was full of little voices constantly yelling your name and asking an overabundance of questions.

Mr. Kraft, is that your sister?
Mr. Kraft, can I go to the bathroom?
Mr. Kraft, can I get a drink of water?
Mr. Kraft, what kind of award am I getting?
Mr Kraft, he’s teasing me.
Mr Kraft, is that your sister?
Mr Kraft, can I go to the bathroom now?

Continue to imagine these voices asking all these questions at the same time, over and over again all day. And try to imagine yourself with the patience to handle this day in and day out. I could not do it. I give mad props to my brother. Though he doesn’t always have the patience, he sure has a great amount of sarcasm that helps him through the day.

Word up to all you teachers. I admire you! Especially you Mr. Kraft.

Retirement at 28

I love this temporary retirement. Here is what I did today.

Woke up at 8:30.

Made breakfast.

Rode 40 miles working on my spandex tan.

Showered.

Went to lunch with 2 of my oldest friends.

Took a nap.

Played with Cameron.

Watched a movie.

Went the whole day having no idea that it was Friday.

Planned a weekend of nothing but cookouts.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

i could get used to this

check out my new home office....this is the life

last days in nyc

ran myself ragged and sleepless for my last weekend in nyc. it was totally worth it.

last day of work lunch with my ladies ang, rach, and kel
best random friday night dance party at an unsuspecting sushi restaurant (this is alissa, jerome, and bianca's reaction to the idea of their first jager bomb
down low "tonight's gonna be a good good night"
romey, will, me and alissa
my favorite annual party luke and meranne's bocce tourney - luke giving us the low down
luke gets iced as he is giving us the rules. i can't believe i just blogged about ice-ing
insert any balls joke here
charles working out the underground ice
our attempt to dress eric up as a european
calling the karaoke place to make sure all is well
last brunch with my favorite astoria ladies at cafe bar
after comedy show on my last night we end uop at tortilla flats for bingo. i win a shirt, calendar, key chain, and shot. bianca takes said shot for me
mar imitating my bendy arm dance
kiki calls chris from the back of the bingo card
can't explain the happiness i feel that my last night ends in karaoke - b and mar rocking it out
mar and kiks
"just a small town girl..."
air guitar
nothing like closing down karaoke at 4am on a monday night

true story

At family dinner at the Jersey Kraft house tonight:

Anita: "Holy Toledo!"

Robin: "Why is it Holy Toledo?"

Me: "Well it wouldn't have the same effect if you said, "Holy Cleveland"."

Rob: "Oh Yeah"

Jim: "Or it could be for Toledo, Spain"

Me: "Oh yeah, or just a toldeo"

Jim: "Yes, a toledo" (confident that I could be right)

Me: (giggling) "Or wait, it's actually a torpedo"

Upon further Googling - it is in fact Toledo, Spain.

good night moon

Remember that book? At the Kraft house, we used to read it as kids before bed every night.

Well, I'd like to read you a different version of that book. I call it Good Night Man. (and by man I mean the Man, as in Stick it to the Man)

good night desk

good night chair

good night staring at that computer over there

good night cubicle

good night working late nights

good night blinding flourescent lights

good night blackberry

good night bad coffee

good night great weather i never see

good night politics

good night

good night 10 minute lunch hour

good night status reports

good night too many cooks

good night snackable bits and meaty hooks

quads in times square

Last night my jwt ladies took me out to dinner at The View Lounge (yes the rotating restaurant on top of the Mariott Marquis, and yes it's our 2nd time being there). We overate, and all felt like shit today. Let's just say it's hard to control yourself at a dessert bar when you're all turned around (pun intended). And also, yes, i now know to wear a black bra with the above shirt - in case you were wondering. If you weren't, well, now you know.

Then tonight, the ladies of the best quad in advertising were reunited (also in Times Square) for dinner and American Idiot. And per usual, we giggled quite a bit. I shall miss this power foursome. Love you gals - don't let the addiction man get you. We got to witness the star power that is being on broadway...autograph signing outside the theater. It honestly just felt kind of awkward.

Also tonight, I shed my first tear about leaving...to Green Day's "I hope you have the time of your life", and I do. It was really something.

* these going away dinners are reaking havoc on my wasteline.

last day of work: hopes and dreams

so tomorrow is my last day of work at an office for the foreseeable future. though it really doesn't seem like it's happening, i just had this moment of extreme excitement upon realizing that as of tomorrow, i'm a free woman, and i'm really doing this.

after bursting into dance, i told two of my co-workers of my dream for my last day...it's depicted below (and yes, i know, i should definitely become an art director)

i am really hoping they can pull it off.

(note to reader: this is not a person pooping. it is obviously rachel walking from the water cooler doing the moonwalk with robby-rob on a leash doing the worm all the way to my desk)

i believe in you guys

right foot blue

Prospect Park + blankets + Twister + Catchphrase + hula hoops + dogs + baby + best friends + sun + warm weather + volleyball + newsies serenades = one of the best days ever

I feel so loved - thanks for coming out y'all!

The Past Few Months

So I've been maybe the worst blogger ever for, oh, about the last 4.5 months of my life. No pics from Spain, no last months of NYC, no JWT info. I know that all 5 of you who occasionally read my blog are dying to know what's been happening. So here's a hodge podge of photos documenting it....you can rest easy now. (from most recent to further back)

luke gets another year older - we dance around a table
gearing up for a bike & build filled summer
this is the hard hat dance i made up
on our way to build some houses
i made the yankee hat more famous than a yankee can
who knew cpr class could be so fun(ny)
angela and i hit up the high line, it rains, and this is our rain gear (and yes i am wearing arm warmers)
walking the brooklyn bridge with mr green jeans
cams riding the new bike
max and cam finally meet
indy krafts in brooklyn
we're not as little as we once were - my bro and i trying to fit in the back seat of a smallish car
my best gal cam comes to visit for coll's wedding!
sleeping on the train home after a long day of ride-riding
easter sunday at coney island
wonder wheel
doing times square tourist style
a trip to the circus results in tickets to the UD game - goooooo dayton flyers!
colleen's bachelorette party
i got my hair did - 13 inches goner
party at the grace hotel - like watching a human aquarium....don't get in that pool!
keiji has a party at the new crib...speech!
kathleen and i tearing it up with some swing dance lessons
kristina emulating the lady sleeping at the bar for swing night

new years eve in madrid with ashley - times square style
my peeps from oasis reunited in seville
best flamenco ever - carboneria
seville - sean, me, and josiane - good tunes, good times
becky and i at the arts and sciences center in valencia
beautiful skies in barca
gaudi at night in barcelona
in nyc before heading to espana