AN ELEPHANT ROOM IN THE SKY

Note: Many thanks to my little sister, Colleen, who came up with the title for this post.

For 24 years of my life I was blessed with a great light. Philip Anthony Pfeifer: a German man, an accountant, a devoted husband, a loving father, the world's best grandfather. Philip Anthony Pfeifer, my Papa.

My Papa was a storyteller, a poet, an artist. He was a treasure map maker, a sea captain (or rather, a Lake Keowee captain), a spoon-nose-hanger. My Papa was an emailer. He was a trickster. He was so very, very wise. He could have excelled at anything he chose to do - & he chose that to be us.

Today, my Papa was aptly described to me as the Center of our Familial Universe -- & all we, his beloved ones, gravitated to him & rotated around him like the Sun. My Papa held each of his (nineteen!) grandchildren in his heart in a special way. & we felt it. Through the many years on his lap, in his arms, listening to his stories.

My Papa was always happiest when we were all together. & though many of his (seven!) children were with him at his passing - in the coming days, the rest of us will be flying, driving & running from every corner of the country to South Carolina. There, we will gather to celebrate together, one truly remarkable man.

My Papa told the best stories. But I think he would agree: the greatest one he ever told lives on. It's alive in those he left. We're here to continue the script.

Raise a glass, to a man who is bigger than words, my Papa. We are forever yours.

#ROOMIEZ4LYFE

Flashback to about this time in 2008. People still called me Little Annie Butler & I had just been randomly paired with a roommate for my first year of college at Miami University. She was an Indian girl named (& this is really how I thought it might be pronounced) Anne-JOL-eeee koh-TAG(like the game)-al.

Fast forward six years & I know that's not at all how you say her name, but also, I know I can't imagine any part of my life without her. This past weekend we asked my mom to come down to our house in Columbia Tusculum to document... well, us. Today is our last day as roommates.

Skirt: Ann Taylor
Shirt: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Dolce Vita via Nordstrom Rack
Fedora: Borrowed from Anj 
Leopard Bow Clip via TJMaxx

(p.s. I call this move the shopping cart.)(p.p.s. It doubles as my gangsta' dance.) (They see me rollin', they hatin'...)

Dress: Madewell 
Sandals: Target
Fedora (pictured here): (old) / Free Bird Fedora (pictured other places)/Borrowed from Anne via Nordstrom Rack.

It's definitely going to be weird. Anj just graduated with her Speech Pathology Masters from the University of Cincinnati & is moving to Hyde Park. But before we knew she was staying in Cincy, I signed the lease at my studio in Mt. Adams.

Yet, somehow through our incredible six years of growing up together [my first beer, the start of her serious relationship with (my now favorite) Dave, our many late nights studying/laughing/crying/jamming out to Hootie & the Blowfish (me) & Taylor Swift (her), etc, et. al.] I've come to realize that true friendships outlast the house you live in. In fact, they outlast everything.

We got a few honks while taking these pics. I think, because it looked like we were in the midst of an engagement shoot (The bride! En blanc. Groom: black.) (I totally see it). Though not quite on point, it was a photo shoot celebrating a different kind of eternal love, of the #Roomiez4Lyfe variety.

Raise a glass (or a fedora!) to our impossibly entwined lives. & go hug your best friend.. because if you have someone like this in your life, you'll want to hang on to them forever.

P.S. Moments after meeting, our moms made us pose for a picture in front of a tree by our dorm (hollla 131 Dodds Hall!). The result was so awkward & hilarious that we decided to continue the tradition.... forever. Take a quick second to be entertained by the below :D

Photography: Jackie Butler

STYLING IN: CREATURES

What's up, y'all!? Time for round three of Magical Simplicity Style Posts. (These aren't getting any less fun, just be aware :D) This summer is all about the creatures. Am I right?! Elephants, tigers & birds... oh my! My closet is starting to look like a zoo!

Photog: Jackie Butler 
Sweater: Talbots via TJMaxx
Pants: Paige Denim viaNordstrom Rack
Shoes: Leopard Skimmer via Madewell
Earrings: Free Bird Earrings via DuBois Bookstore at Miami University.

I happen to love creatures. They make me feel like a free spirit. & it dawned on me one morning when I was running (a few shocking moments) early for work, how fun it might be to to wear creatures from head to toe.

It WAS, in fact, a lot of fun. & thus, I give you: leopard feet; butterfly pants; robin shirts; & tiny birds for the ears. You know, if I were to write myself into a fairy tale, I think I'd want to be a woodland fairy. & I'd probably be wearing this outfit... or a tulle skirt... to match my wings.

Happy hunting (but only for clothes), darlings. Keep your eyes open for creature prints popping up this summer, I think you're going to see a lot of it :)

HOW TO: BRIDAL SHOWER GIFTS

My friends are starting to get married. Isn't that fun?! It started off with just a few acquaintances. I'd see it in my newsfeed, stalk the pictures on Facebook, throw a "like" here & there, but now I'm actually getting invited to the weddings... & the bridal showers.

I've been to a few showers before, but always for my cousins. So for you"my friends are getting married & I don't know how to do Bridal Showers alone"  newbies like me, I thought I'd write down a few steps for the Bridal Shower... just in case you need them :D

1.The RSVP: Don't forget to RSVP. I almost did. That would just be rude.

2. Shopping: Usually I follow my mom, sister, or cool coworker (Is there anything Katie Hayden can't do?) around the store like a lost puppy while they expertly maneuver through aisles & registries. Sometimes, I even let them do the shopping alone & throw in my monetary share later. But good news! I have seen the other side! & it's not that scary :D  My friend was registered at Pottery Barn, which, lucky for me, is right across from J.Crew & Madewell at Kenwood Mall (hellllllo, new white cotton pants). I just asked for her registry at the checkout counter, wandered around aimlessly until a nice lady nametagged Marion offered to help me, & Voila! The rest is antique silver salt & pepper shakers + pewter napkin ring  history!

3. Wrapping: Like most things in my life, I waited til the last minute for this. But if my many cousins' showers & weddings taught me one thing, it's to never underestimate the power of cellophane. It's a little known fact that everything looks better when you can sneak a peek through polka-dots.

4. The Card: I totally forgot the card. BUT I did have these amazing golden clothespins. Perfect. They remind me of the bride (sparkly & fun!) & also dressed up the fact that I forgot a card. Note: even if you don't think you have a reason to own golden clothespins, invest.

5. The Bow-quet: Of course you can never forget the Bridal Shower Bow-Quet. (The bride uses this at her Rehearsal in place of real flowers). (Here's a tutorial in case you don't know what I'm talking about.) You'll want to include ribbons or some unique feature to your gift wrapping that will make a fun little flair on the bow-quet. Like golden clothes pins.

6. Arrival: Voila. Drop that gift off at the door & grab yourself a mimosa. You deserve it.

WHEN WORDS FAIL

I don't have a lot of words to describe the relationship between father&daughter. Don't get me wrong, a few specific scenarios definitely come to mind (cheetos!) (wild dancing!) (& these other similarities I brought you last year...). But when it comes down to the essence of father&daughter, well, I don't believe our human language has the capacity to say all that it is. What I can say is this: at the end of the day, when even words fail me, your arms remain strong. Happy Father's Day, every day.

Photog by: Jackie Butler