September Word of the Month: Vintage

VINTAGE: September was all about learning about the past and what's appropriate and what's not to carry in our futures.

6&1/2 Vintage mantras we live by:

Morgzz age 4

   1: Some things are better with age- think cheese, wine, men who understand that there actually were two different George Bush's in office.

 

2: Don't grieve your old, broken things. Preserve them, repurpose, or toss. This includes old clothing, music tastes, and relationships.
 



CT age 3

3: Learn the difference between reminiscing and dwelling. It is appropriate to remember the past and feel good. The bad memories are only there for learning purposes only.
 

4: Say no to sex with the ex. He's the wrong kind of antique. Instead, opt  for a thrift store shopping spree that will remind you of the good parts of the past.
 

5: Nostalgia is just the perfect deja vu- enjoy your adolescent memories. Take time out to watch an old movie that might remind you of your childhood. Yay!
 

6 and it's so important it deserves another .5:  Look how far you've come as a person. Where were you a month ago? 5 years ago? Progress is amazing. You are a product of your previous experiences and

what you have chosen to learn from them.

-The 6&1/2 Team

September Spotlight: vanjessmusic

These girls are so talented, please check out their youtube page.

I am hoping to get an interview with them soon, so stay tuned.

I want them to jam at my half birthday party.

here is a vintage tribute medley

and a new school tribute medley to one of our favorite artists, Frank Ocean

CT

September restaurant review in October: Republic Coffee

       Today I am cheating on a plan, cheating on the blog, and cheating on my friendship with Cassie. She doesn't know; she's out of town. I guess this is my way of telling all of you: sorry, Cassie. Ok see, it was our plan to try a new coffee shop/wifi hotspot each month and then at the end of the year evaluate and discuss to pick our "home plate". For the month of September, we were housed and cared for in Republic Coffee. The chicken salad is decent, the hot chocolate is better, and the service is friendly enough. For October, we've packed our bags and headed to a new location: Otherlands on Cooper. Let me just say this: I don't do well with change.

      So, today - Cassie is out of town and I was supposed to stick to our plan with or without her. I packed my weathered, tiny green notebook, my work laptop, and my fading felt-tipped green pen and started to drive the long way from East Memphis to Midtown. I took Walnut Grove. You know where this is going, don't you?

       I couldn't help it. Honest. When I approached Republic, the parking lot was only half full, whereas I rationalized in my mind that it would take me too long to find a spot at Otherlands. And really I only had time for a blog and a cup of hot chocolate. So... here I am. Not moving on. Not wanting to. (although, I did just spend all of September preaching forward motion- whoops)

       I am sitting in my favorite booth - the one on the far west side right next to the restroom. I have a perfect view of the Burger King Cinnabon billboard, which used to make me angry when I first started dieting because I just knew it was there to smirk at me. I didn't even mind that they may be out of just about everything that I tried to order. To date, they have been out of Coke Zero, Diet Coke, wraps, portabella mushrooms, potato salad, Splenda, barbeque sauce, and avocado. I might have missed something in that list, but regardless - it had become a guessing game of sorts to see what they might be out of on any given day. At least they always had grapes for their chicken salad. At least there's that. Small victories.

      The waitress I had today was the one that I think I might like the most. She's not the friendliest. And she's not the short bitchy one either. She's the one that would walk away without saying anything until she heard Cassie mutter things about the service under her breath. Then, instead of just letting it go, she came back to our table and jovially apologized and addressed our concerns. You see, their credit card machine and all fountain drinks were out that day and she had to write everything by hand. I liked her from then on. She was very human to me. I like people who can apologize.

     So why am I here? I am justifying this by making this my restaurant review of the month. The food is okay.  Bacon can be particularly good, but remember - that's only on some days. I think they try out different pig varieties, chefs, oils, and food suppliers every five minutes. Don't come here expecting the food to be predictable. It won't be. The service may be great, then again, they may not see you sitting there drinkless for hours.

     But they have board games! Wait - whoops. Just looked up and they are no longer there. Let me walk around and see if they are just somewhere else. Yup! Back corner - score! They even have a "Friends" trivia game, y'all! And a book selection that includes a tell-all about Monsters, Inc.! And let's face it, the atmosphere is cool as shit. It's a dark, middle English tavern coupled with a metropolitan northeast American coffee shop. And they have cool art always. The coffee is good. And it feels like home. So don't expect me to avoid coming here all month, because that just won't happen. Sorry, Cassie.

 

One thing you might want to know, however: If you accidentally leave your card there, they will cut it up. You can't even leave it for a second. I repeat - they WILL cut it up. After all the reflecting I have done on this restaurant I have done today, I realize that I cannot fairly review it. It is like a member of my family and I am too biased. Next month I will do better. I promise.

Grade: N/A

- Morgzz

Vintage Grown Up Things: Hot L Baltimore

Ok, so I'm not an actual adult.  In fact, I'm 23 and I'm borderline reckless.  However, I'm composed and   I drink coffee and I always wear a watch.  I also own 4 pairs of what some would call "slacks".  Nevermind how much I enjoy Cheetos Puffs or the frequency of which I leave home without brushing my hair, these details are unimportant.

Appreciating local art is a cool "grown-up" thing to do, and one I do quite often.  This month, I'd like to spotlight a little show at Playhouse on the Square, "Hot L Baltimore".

6.5 things that kick-ass about this show

1. Amazing set, just a gorgeously conceived idea that is as functional
2. Stunning character development
3. Sweet 70's costumes- loads of denim
4. It's pretty short, sweet, easy to digest
5. Boobs! Yep, you heard it here, folks.  A topless woman is a great ticket seller.
6. It's NOT a love story! Um, how often can we say this about a piece of art?
6.5 My friends are in it.  I realize that makes me biased, so I can't give it a full value on the list :)


Intrigued? I hope so! It's a great production, go see it.

CT

September Blog of the Month: Chronically Vintage

 

Jessica, author of "Chronically Vinatge"

    In keeping with the vintage theme, the cross-poll blog this month is a cool blog called "Chronically Vintage" written by this cool chick named Jessica. It features everything from vintage fashion to vintage home decor to even vintage recipes! How cool is that?! According to her about me section of her blog, she refers to herself as "a lifelong lover of all things antique and vintage, especially those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s."
   Check out her blog Chronically Vintage about which she says "this blog is my visual scrapbook in which I record and share my thoughts on the multitude of sources, people and products that inspire and feed a modern gal's addiction to the past. I also post about the vintage clothes, hairstyles and make-up looks that I adore wearing. Stay a spell and have a blast as we explore the incomparably fantastic world of vintage history and fashion together."      
Pretty cool, huh? Take a little tour and tell us what you think! If you feel so compelled to give Ms. Jessica a shout out, don't forget to tell her who sent ya, ya hear?

- Morgzz

Vintage Relationships: Resist the urge to "fall back"

 

 

A month ago, I walked out of a bar, stood in a sketchy alley, and talked to my brand new ex bf longingly and with a heavy heart. The next night, I better acquainted myself with a super awesome guy , and unknowingly hopped on a non-stop "moving on" flight. There were LOTS of in-flight beverages involved, of course, but I made it to my terminal with all of my luggage.

I can honestly say that this has been my easiest break-up to date, and a kick-ass month of growth. My friends are amazing, the super awesome guy is still super and awesome, and my days and nights are full of happiness and free of worry. I'm learning constantly. That is what dating is all about. It's like getting samples at Costco. If you like it enough, you'll go buy it. If not, at least you got a taste of something you know you don't like. It's up to you to wash that bad taste out of your mouth and try again, ladies.

I'm in this odd transition between adolescent and adult dating. I want to date men now, REAL men who wear watches and floss their teeth often. I didn't know this a year ago. I also didn't know how great of a catch I was because I spent my single months grieving my past relationships when I should have been loving myself. See, I've always been a dweller rather than a reminiscer, and it was bringing me down.

In conclusion, getting dumped sucks, but accepting defeat is the ultimate self-betrayal. Don't do it. Pick up the pieces and repurpose them a la Pinterest.


It's the perfect time of year to turn over a new leaf, they happen to be everywhere.

CT

 

CT and unnamed ex, circa 2009. Blast from the past.

 

Vintage Relationships: Extracting the Good

Me at age 7 with my first boyfriend, Shawn Harper. This was the beginning of my tendency to date someone just because he asked. It's taken a quarter of a century, but I have finally at long last broken this nasty, foul-smelling trend. 

My friends and family could tell you that I have not always made the best choices when it came to dating.  They could tell you that in the 8th grade, my boyfriend un-invited me to the Pearl Jam concert and tried to ask my step-sister to be his date instead. My family could also attest to the fact that I dated a guy who celebrated my 20th birthday by letting me download a song on his Napster account and taking me to Wal Mart to let me pick out a $5 movie, which I bought. Unfortunately, the last guy I dated was so crazy, needy and attention-hungry that my family wouldn't dare even mention him. They don't even call him by his name, only "red sweater guy" because he wore a red sweater the one and only time I allowed him to meet my family. He was my biggest mistake to date. Because he was also my most recent, you have to wonder whether I have really even learned anything after all of my years of dating disasters. But, hey - I am an eternal optimist and I truly believe that it was because of these disasters that I now know my worth and therefore, it's all uphill from here. So, because the word of this month is "vintage," I am reflecting on taking the good things from my past relationships and upgrading them into the future. So, here are my 6 & 1/2 things I am taking with me into my bright dating future:

1. Music. Most of the guys I have dated have had good and similar taste in music, so I now have a great compilation of tunes that I will take with me, no matter what memories might have once been associated.
This deserves it's own mini-6&1/2things list 
1. "Did Ya Ever Look So Nice" The Samples 
2. "Angel" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 
3. "Dancing in the Moonlight" Thin Lizzy 
4. "Solar System" Vigilantes of Love 
5. "Blinded" Third Eye Blind 
6. "Half Light (Eddy TM remix)" Athlete 
6.5. "Thinking Bout You" Frank Ocean (only gets a .5 because I no longer associate this one with an ex) 

2. My ability to go with the flow/ patience level. I am happy in most situations. I have found out recently that it actually takes quite a lot to make me uncomfortable. That does not mean I should put up with crazy person nonsense (*read- red sweater guy). It only means that I have the ability to have a great relationship with a drama-free guy.

3. At least a couple of great friends. There are at least two guys that I dated at some point that I consider great friends. One of the hardest parts of a break up is losing a friend, but when you know that you are better off that way, why not just take the romance out of it and keep a good buddy who understands you? I rather enjoy these friendships actually and am very thankful for them.

4. Handy Dandy Know-How.  I learned how to change a tire because an ex was upset and slashed my tires. We were young and have since made up, but this was not the most fun thing to learn in July in Memphis. I was 19 and had never even heard of a car jack. I thought Triple A was just an extra special version of Alcoholics Anonymous.

5. Good memories. Prom. High School graduation. Frat parties. Sorority formals. Couple Halloween costuming. Beach trips. Skiing trips. Music Fest. Dave Matthews concerts. Wedding. Having babies. Watching airplanes land. Fun late night talks. These are memories that I don't want to let go of because they remind me of growing up and other good things. Not letting these go. Ever.

6.5 Important Lessons. Just because a guy is a good guy, it doesn't mean a relationship will be a good one. Compatibility is a must. I know now what I have to offer someone and I don't think I'm too terribly shabby. I should expect the same from any guy I date. Sometimes you have to go searching for things when you don't really know what you are looking for. It is only when you have found enough of what you DON'T want that you actually begin to understand what you do. I know now exactly what I want. And I will only date those who seem to fit that profile. And right now, I'm extremely excited about the future.

-Morgzz

Vintage Products: The scoop on retro photo apps

Ok, so we all love Instagram and with damn good reason! It's cute, it's simple, and it's acceptably voyeuristic #hellyeah

However, we here at 6&1/2things want to spotlight some other neat apps that offer similar editing tools minus all the stalking benefits of IG.

By the way, I just interrupted this post to IG a pic of my cheese grits. So boom.

Camera+ is a cool editing app that allows sharing to Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. It has nearly double the effects that IG offers, and includes your entire photo, whereas IG's cropping is whack and leaves me forehead-less on many self-pic ventures. It's not free, but it's worth the $0.99 to use their "70's" and "antique" settings!

Hipstamatic- from the root words "hipsta" (artistic and skinny) and "matos" (willing) is yet another cool app. I find this app quite difficult. Can I get a tutorial here? It offers some awesome combos of lens, film (1969, 1982 styles included!) and flash options that create some super great pics. Along with saving your creation, the app documents what choices you made, allowing for easy recreation of a look. My hang up here, is that all editing is done pre-photo rather than post-photo. It's like an arranged marriage. With Hipstamatic, you can share with FB, Twitter, Tumbler, Flickr, and IG.

Use them all, or choose just one, either way, vintage photos are fun! I just gave you 3 reasons to spend more time on your phone. You're welcome.

CT

 

Vintage Fashion: Cross generational gifts

Vintage fashion will forever be the greatest cross-generational gift.  Whether you stumble upon a piece in your Grandma's attic, a thrift store, or a cool neo-vintage website, the combination of style and nostalgia has the same effects of a beautiful marriage, I assume.


Because you NEED some new fall statement pieces, look to the women who invented glamour.

Faye Dunaway: Super Beauty

Faye Dunaway inspired coat- Modcloth






Twiggy

is giving such

good hat!

Check out this hat and others!

Hats are such an easy accessory to spice up a fall outfit, or to cover your dirty hair- whoops :)



CT

Vintage Fashion: Totally Geek to Totally Chic

So, I have this theory about fashion. 

Anyone with at least a decent childhood will occasionally find themselves searching for that special piece of nostalgia to bring back feelings from a way simpler time. For anyone in the fashion industry, this means bringing the swag from back in the day to the runways of now. Currently, a ton of our top stylists, designers, and buyers are dudes and dudettes in their 20s and 30s, right?  Their childhood decades were the slammin' 80's and early 90's, and guess who the fashion icons were back then? Christy Brinkley, Madonna, Princess Diana. And who could forget about Cindy Mancini? For those of us born in the 1980's, we believed in Can't Buy Me Love's Cindy Mancini. We were inspired by her. And we totes bought what she was selling: cool, calm, real likability.  And although dressing fabulous might bring you new friends, it's always best to listen to Cindy, "Whatever happens to your popularity, stay yourself. Don't change to please others." So break out the fringe, aztec prints, and lots of cheerleader denim, and most importantly, don't forget where you came from. 

Cindy Mancini Fashion Style Icon by moharriman featuring a leather shoulder bag

Calypso St Barth lace shirt
calypsostbarth.com

Oasis denim skirt
$16 - oasis-stores.com

Steve Madden wedge boots
asos.com

Z Spoke by Zac Posen leather shoulder bag
couture.zappos.com

Kirra feather jewelry
laylagrayce.com

Gathering Eye printed scarve
$31 - generalpants.com.au



Also - as a special treat, click on the tiny Michael Buble icon next to Cindy's name for a lovely remake of the old classic, "Cant Buy Me Love."  And here below is a video dedicated to our lovely inspirational lady of the moment: Miss Cindy Mancini. 

- Morgzz

Vintage movies

I happen to be a vintage film fanatic.  In high school, I had an incredible film teacher who sparked my appreciation of westerns and noirs.  Then in college, I took a film class that was based solely in noir study.  So I'm taking it upon myself to share my vintage flick picks.  Grab some friends, some New Belgium Red Hoptober (my 2012 best fall beer), and enjoy!

M (1931)

Modern Times (1936)

Double Indemnity (1944)

Laura (1944)

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Strangers on a Train (1951)

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1967)

The Godfather (1972)

American Graffiti (1973)

Caddyshack (1980)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Fight Club (1999)

Can you tell I really like crime themed movies?

CT

Vintage Music: Back to the Future

My Papa played with Elvis. He ruled.

 I may be a lot of things, but computer whiz is not one of them. I made a DEEElightful playlist for you guys and now I am having trouble making it launch right up when you link to our page. Sorry about that, sweet peas. On the plus side, all you have to do is click on the playlist button to your right --> and it will launch in a new window. Inside this playlist, you will journey back into the 50s where big band was still trumpeting in the spotlight and women were finally making their voices heard. Ride the turntables with me through each decade and revisit the days when music first began to change the world. It's magical, I promise you.

And as a BONUS (?!) I have collected 15 of the greatest cover songs of all time for your listening pleasure. They are catalogued here for your downloading enjoyment. Some of them may be slightly difficult to find, just a warning. I find it much easier to google each song and find them that way. These are amazing and they speak for themselves. Download. Listen loudly. Just do it. You can thank me later.

1. "Valerie" by Ra Ra Riot (Steve Winwood cover) 
2. "Benny and the Jets" by Haley Reinhart (Elton John) 
3. "Kiss on My List" by The Bird and the Bee (Hall & Oates) 
4. "D.D." by The Weeknd (Michael Jackson) 
5. "Is this Love?" by Corinne Bailey Rae (Bob Marley) 
6. "I Want You Back" by Discovery (Jackson 5) 
7. "Free Fallin'" by John Mayer (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 
8. "Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay" by Sara Bareilles (Otis Redding) 
9. "Friday I'm in Love" by Dean and Britta (The Cure)
10. "Dreams" by The Kills (Fleetwood Mac) 
11. "Time After Time" by Boyz II Men (Cyndi Lauper) 
12. "I'm Going Down" by Vampire Weekend (Bruce Springsteen)
13. "I'm on Fire" by A.A. Bondy (Bruce Sprinsteen) 
14. "Dearest" by The Black Keys (Buddy Holly) 
15. "Your Song" by Ellie Goulding (Elton John) 

Please note - these are not meant to be downloaded in order, otherwise I would have spent much more time on sequence, as we all know how important that is:). These are pop-friendly, and should be enjoyed by anyone from your hipster little sister to your old-fashioned grandma. Have fun.

My Granny Margie took me to my first concert in 1990.

- Morgzz

September Food Mood: Chicken Salad

So, you should know, I'm not a "foodie" by any means.  I actually happen to have very closeminded tastebuds, but in 2012 they've been branching out a lot.  I had chicken salad for the first time in July, actually.  I was in Gulf Shores with my ex and his family and his sweet, stay-at-home mom made it for lunch one day.  I resisted until hunger got the best of me and then reluctantly tried it.  Upon processing and accepting my newfound love, I went back for seconds, of course.  So began my binge...

ooooh heaven is a place on earth

Here's a report card of what I've tried in the past 3 months

Republic Coffee (our restaurant feature of the month): B-

If you try it, I suggest ordering it on the Croissant rather than in its wrap form

It's a grape heavy version, which usually frightens me, but I really like it.  Also, walnuts- great addition to any CS (I abbreviate like a cool kid).  The reason it received a low B is because of inconsistancy.  I've probably ordered this dish 4 times in the past 2 weeks (no way do I have an obsessive personality) and everytime it is slightly, but noticably different.

Holiday Ham: A-

Be still my heart!  Holiday Ham has such great quality CS paired with the freshest bread.  It's almost too good to be true.  AND the Union Ave location has a drive thru- GET OUT!  NO grapes in this, but just the right mix of green onions, celery, and almonds make this pretty delicious.  Under 500 calories? Why yes, it is. 

Bogie's: A

Another, kick-ass, totally fresh option.  The reason I love it? Terragon! What a surprise! Bogie's has such a stacked menu though all around, but please promise me you'll try this yummy sandwich on your next visit!

Young Avenue Deli: F

Umm, hey, you didn't follow ANY of the rules here.  Sometimes, that yields excellence; not in this case.  I don't know exactly what was in it, but I definitely spit it out.  The consistency is pretty horrid.  It doesn't even stick together.  The base is some sort of spicy thousand island and the chicken is of the grilled and diced variety.  Not cool. 

These opinions are soely mine and mine alone, I realize.  Go out into your chicken salad exploration with an open heart and mind.  Feel free to share your food feelings with me!

CT

September Diet Plan: No Cookies

Hi, all. My name is Morgan and I am not overweight. I am an overeater, and when I say overeater, I do not mean that I eat too much. I mean that I eat too much of bad. Most everything that I consume has either a high amount of sugar or a high amount of fried garbage on top. So, you know - my organs are in awesome shape. Truth is at 32 - this is the time to stop. So, here we go. You all ready to be my accountability partners? Slap on a name badge and clock in 'cause it's time to wuuurrrrkk.

Diet: No cookie binging.
 

Treatment plan:

Week one: after purchasing a package of cookies, allow one full week before finishing the contents.

Week two: after purchasing a package of cookies, only allow yourself to consume four in a week and offer to share with others. Historically, this last bit has been difficult for you. If you can maintain this step for a month, you may eat two bonus cookies. Please note* you may not opt to buy a separate package if the prior one was finished by offering to others. Do not look for loopholes here.

Week three: after purchasing a package of cookies, immediately toss in garbage.

Week four: do not purchase package of cookies.
 

Hypothesis: Not purchasing cookies at all seems unrealistic. Go for week two guidelines being the ultimate goal. I also believe that you will in fact use your discipline in this area to further your dieting to include other healthier options.
 

Back-up options: Buy a pad lock for the pantry and only give out the combination to your oldest daughter who has more sense than you do. Or, open up package of cookies and dip them all in hot sauce and pickle juice.
 

Exercise plan: Volunteer to pass out space blankets at St. Jude Marathon. Your arms will be tired and you may even feel tired from watching the runners. Maybe by next year you could feel motivated enough to do the actual race. Maybe just maybe you will earn yourself a cookie then.

So, that is my diet plan. My goal is to lose 10 to 15 lbs by Dec. 1st. I have already lost 7 lbs, mostly because cutting out my biggest temptation empowered me to make even better choices overall. Once I started this plan, it was easier to order sandwiches and not eat the bread, eat just the cheese off a pizza, and only have frozen fruit bars instead of ice cream sandwiches. I promise you this has worked. Pick out your biggest temptaion, see how well you can conquer it and you will feel so good, you will just keep going. Wish me luck!!!

-Morgzz

Vintage Beauty: Old Hollywood Waves

The secret to Old Hollywood hair? A New Revlon tool... the Double Barrel Waver! Okay, it may not be new to the market, but it is new to my house and I cannot help but adore this mighty invention of the hair gods. I will admit to using it for everything from creating hippie style surf hair to giving it a little disco lift with a deep middle part. If I am feeling super ambitious, I will even use it to crimp my hair for a true 80s vibe. But my ultimate fave way to use this magical appliance is to create this Old Hollywood glamour style shown here by these two classic beauties, Rita Hayworth and Amy Adams.

I've found that it only takes three simple steps to achieve this look! Killer-diller!! (strange slang from the 40's meaning 'good stuff'). Here's how: 

1. Start about two or three inches down from your roots and start doing slight waves until you reach the ends. You may have to use a separate curling iron to curl these ends under. 

2. Choose which side you would like to part, and part it toward the middle to far end of your brow. 

3. Add a spray shine and tuck one side behind your ear and you are good to go! 

-Morgzz

Vintage Beauty: 90s Lip service

Summer is such a sad time for lips. Gloss, Chapstick, nude-- BORING! Luckily, fall is all about putting your best pout forward. These sexy 90s models have gorgeous mouths and sure know how to show them off.

I personally have a huge crush on Nars lipsticks. I typically don't kiss and tell, but here are a few of my favorites!







Sheer: Beautiful Liar, a fun spiced coral



Satin: Bilbao, a shimmering topaz



Matte: Red Lizard, a full powered red



You can grab your new best friend/fall staple at Sephora for $24.


CT

September: Events at a Glance

   I have to be honest with you and tell you that I am not a huge fan of the month of September. The weather is nice, the leaves are starting to turn, and the fall fashions are ramping up. So what's with the mad hate, yo?

   I guess we will start with the fact that my birthday lies in the middle of this month, and it never is a one day affair. It usually begins with a big planning to-do about how this is a perfect excuse for a party of some sort. Then, plans with the family start being made and before I know it, my Spetember is full of activities that I am not sure I wanted in the first place. Suffice it to say, I am not a fan of turning older, either.

   I also do not like the prevelance of Fall festivals and fairs during this month because with all the excitement about fall coming, the weather never gets the memo. It is always way too hot for 1) an all day outdoor festival and 2) my preferred fall fest wardrobe.

   And then there is the subject of sports. Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of sports. But football... in Memphis... well, what can we say? I do not have a team to really root for, so I get bored and impatient for a much more thrilling basketball season.

   Not many more people have the same problems with September that I do, so they are off galavanting at some fall festival or football game. Thus, that leaves me bored, alone, and without another activity. An activity that I would have loved to rub in their faces when they get home all sweaty and gross after the fair took all their money or their football team lost yet another easy game.

   So... with that said, I will begrudgingly offer you a September events 6&1/2 checklist so that you can cross off the necessary activities for this month and continue on to the best month of the fall season: October.

September Events that I would not hate as much as the others:

1. Cooper Young Festival - Sept 15, 9a to 7 p. If I must festival, this is where I festival. The people are fun to watch and the items are more original to buy.

2. Big Scoop Ice Cream Festival - Sept 29, 11a to 4 p. Seriously, who says no to ice cream?

3. Levitt Shell concerts. Emmylou Harris plays on Sept 22!!  

4. Strawberry picking @ the Agricenter the whole month of September. This could be a cute date activity. Follow up by making homemade strawberry short cake!

5. University of Memphis vs. UT Martin @ The Liberty Bowl, Sept 1. Likely the only game they have the potential to win all season long. Still no guarantees.

6. Instaparty Memphis, Sat. Sept , 7p. A party for Focus for the Good, a nonprofit in support of photography and the arts.

6.5. A weekend getaway to a cool city like St. Louis, Nashville, Little Rock, or Atlanta. I only gave it a half point because I can't really count this as something to do in Memphis, now can I?

So that be it. I'm more of an October/May girl. Sorry for the non-September love. You will thank me come October, I promise you. I will have more for you to do than you know how to handle. Prepare yourselves and clear your schedules so that you can join me, maybe, yes??

- Morgzz