Forever Friends

Before anyone comments on how wrinkled and unkempt this looks, let me present to you my defense. Bobby and I woke up very early, on one of the hottest days of the summer, and made the 4+ hour drive to Washington, DC. Oh, I forgot to mention: Bobby's air conditioning broke. So, 105 degree weather, no air, and 4.5 hours later...this is what I looked like. It's my own fault...what was I thinking when I got dressed that morning?


The trip was well worth the misery. We met up with my forever friends (the best kind of friends), Lauren and John. You may remember them from my last trip to DC. It's kind of a halfway point between us. Lauren and I have been best friends since 6th grade. John and I have been friends since 2nd grade. Years later, they married:)




At least I wore flats. I actually did remember to bring wrinkle spray, but completely gave up on the idea when we got there. I just wanted to run to the nearest spot with central air. About the bracelet: it's a beautiful leaf bracelet, and arrived with the leaves pressed together a little bit (to prevent breakage, I'm sure). I think you're supposed to spread them out, but I kind of liked them overlapped. Next time, maybe I'll shape them in a different way.

Last time we met in DC, we went to the zoo. This time, we went to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. I love our little halfway meetups! I miss the two of them so, so much. Tell me, are you still close with many of your childhood friends, or are most of your friends newer? Most of my friends are people I've been friends with for a lonnnng time, but I do have some newer friends (mostly through blogging!)

Outfit Details:
You Were Mint For Me dress - courtesy of ModCloth
50s cardigan with crochet details - a gift from my mom
pink belt - thrifted in Cape Cod
Twinkle Toes T-strap Flat - courtesy of ModCloth
Everlasting leaf and branch bracelet - courtesy of Kellyssima
Carpenter Bee Bag - courtesy of Spotted Moth

Love love,
Keiko Lynn

p.s. For one week only, Kellyssima (the maker of my leaf bracelet) is offering a 30% discount for purchases over $20 to my readers! Mention KEIKO when you check out and she'll send a refund via PayPal. Discount does not apply to shipping costs and to items on sale.

Best friends and pandas are awesome.

First things first:

I saw three pandas last Monday. I almost died of happiness.






The whole reason I got to see pandas: Lauren and John. Washington, DC happens to be the halfway point (just about) between my best friends and me. We don't have best friend rings but if we did, they would have been simultaneously glowing. I always miss Lauren, but lately, we were both missing one another so much it was awful. Remedy? A pretty spontaneous rendezvous at the halfway point. It was such a good day. I miss them so much.

John and I have been friends for freaking ever - we grew up just a couple minutes away from one another. I wish I had our second grade class pictures on hand. Lauren and I have been best friends since 6th grade. We bonded over our mutually tragic lives and then it grew from there;)

I played matchmaker for the first and only time when we were 16 (I think?). I use the term "matchmaker" loosely, because I really just not-so-craftily pushed them together. Shortly after the initial introduction, they started dating. Now, they are married; I was the Maid of Honor. They currently reside in Virginia and I'm in New York and I miss them every single day. I hope we can do this more often. It was one of the best days I've had this year!





I know it's a pretty sloppy getup but I've been slacking with my outfit posts. Here's what I look like when I am being very lazy! Lazy has been happening quite often, lately. The pants are too big on me and they don't sit high enough anymore, which makes the legs too long. But they are like wearing pajamas!

Onto the animals!



Pandas!



They were holding hands. How cute is that?


These otters were so funny. The one on the right was crying to us about something. I don't know what he was so upset about; I don't know how to speak otter.


Meerkat. Meerkitty?


Love love,
Keiko Lynn

Edit: almost forgot the outfit details! Blazer and silk camisole - thrifted, ruffled cardigan - Beacon's Closet, high waisted trousers - Urban Outfitters (on sale for $10 a couple years ago) shoes - 80%20, panda ears and panda bag - Smithsonian National Zoo