Tag Archives: Friends

Fall, Sentimentality, and
a My So-Called Life Party

Oct
19

Posted by: Maggie

I’ve decided to make this Fall Week at Making Me Cranky. I know, I know, you are all saying “Maggie, fall is an entire season lasting three whole months. Is it really necessary for you to devote a particular week to the season? I mean, does that even make sense?” Well, you can all suck it. I mean, to answer your question, I am dedicating this week to fall for a very good reason, thank you for asking. I began working on a few posts that I’d call a little over-the-top sentimental. And the thing is, I’m not usually the sentimental type, at least not when I blog or speak to anyone in any kind of public setting, ever. Maybe just when I sit at home alone and cry over episodes of Oprah or while watching Annie Hall (my favorite movie ever, by the way) or while driving alone in the car listening to Antony and the Johnsons. Oh, and don’t tell anyone that I do that, I’ve got a reputation to maintain.

But here I am getting a little sentimental in my blog posts and I had to wonder why. And I realized that, oh yes, Fall has arrived! The Santa Ana’s are making me feel a little crazy, a little excited about life. There is the old familiar hope of new and better things to come that has always arrived with the start of a new school year. And there is the reminder of falls long past filled with family and friends and love and delicious warm food and drinks.

Oh there I go, getting sentimental. Well, you’ll have to deal with it at least for just this week and then I’ll attempt to get back to normal before I make you all sick. Hey, maybe we should just call it, “The Rain Has Made Maggie’s Brain a Little Soft and Squishy Week”

Anyway, on to My So-Called Life. I’m sure everyone remembers how much I adore My So-Called Life and how much it reminds me of fall. Well, my dear friend Amy also had a great affection for the show so last week she threw a little party to celebrate the show and the season. It was filled with wine, delicious spiced apple cider, caramel apples, great conversation, and lots of laughs. Not to mention plenty of drooling over Jordan Catalano.

It was so much fun! It’s great to just have some girl time once in a while. We got through the first three episodes and Amy promises a future invite to watch the next three. I can’t wait! I love these ladies:

Amy hiding behind her mug of apple cider

Christine wielding a caramel apple

And, the guest of honor, Angela

Comments: 2
Categories: Friends, Maggie
Tags: fall, Friends, My So-Called Life, nostalgia, sentimentality

Fabulous Friday: Teegan Photography

Aug
14

Posted by: Maggie

For my second Fabulous Friday (by the way, did you notice that I have a thing for alliteration) I decided to feature a friend with a business that I love: Teegan Photography. Amy, the owner and photographer, is a good friend and a great photographer.

She and her husband moved back to LA from Phoenix a little over a year ago, and I am so glad they did. They have been such good friends to us and we have had so much fun with them. I have felt incredibly lucky to have Amy and her photographic skills present at some of the important events that have occurred in our lives in the last year.

She was the photographer for Josh’s sister Beth’s wedding and she was there for Eleanor’s first birthday, and she always has her camera with her when we are just hanging out having some Menchie’s or watching a movie for New Year’s Eve.

I have also been able to use Amy for some family portraits that we did last May shortly after she and Andrew moved back from Phoenix, for some headshots for the website of my new job (you’ll have to wait until next week to see those), and we just did an amazing portrait session with her for our anniversary (you’ll also have to wait for those, but I promise they will be worth the wait, they are soooo freaking gorgeous!).

Here are some beautiful examples of Amy’s work:

Aside from the great family photos, the best thing for me about having a friend who is a photographer is that it has reminded me of how much I love photography and challenged me to pick it up again. I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that when I was in high school I wanted to be a fashion photographer. Well, hearing about Amy’s work with her photography business, and reading both her professional and personal blogs has really been an inspiration for me to improve my own skills and rekindle the passion that I had for the art form.

I love that Amy and I have such different styles. For example, when I asked her permission to feature her on Fabulous Fridays and to send over some images for me to use, I looked through the portfolio on her site and chose some of my favorites in case she wanted some suggestions. I love that only one of the images she chose are what I would have chosen (and it was actually one that I did suggest, I’m not sure if she would have chosen it otherwise). I love a well designed and posed image and am a firm believer in using processing software to get the look I want from an image. And Amy has a very photojournalistic style. She is all about, as she says, “capturing the story as it happens,” and prefers to keep her processing to a minimum. This difference in styles really helps me to look at her images, my own, and those of others from a different perspective.

Amy, thank you for the images above, for your friendship, and for being a constant source of inspiration!

p.s. I hope you don’t mind that I snagged your headshot from your site. I realized that this post wouldn’t be complete without it! And since you have already left for Idaho as I’m writing this…

Comments: 2
Categories: Fabulous Friday, Friends
Tags: Amy & Andrew, Fabulous Friday, Friends, photo shoots, photography

The Graduate in the Cemetery

Jun
23

Posted by: Maggie

Saturday night I had a date with my amazing friend Amy. We went to law school together, but have only seen each other a few times in the year since graduation. It was so nice to spend some time with her and catch up. I got to hear all about her exciting life starting her own criminal defense solo practice! She’s very impressive.

I met her at her gorgeous Silver Lake apartment to get a tour of the place and then we headed out to Hollywood Forever Cemetery for their Cinespia summer film screenings. The Graduate was playing, which is one of my very favorite movies. It’s at least in my top 5.

If you’ve never been you HAVE to go! It’s one of the best parts about summer in Los Angeles. They always play fantastic classic films. Everyone arrives with their lawn chairs and blankets and picnic dinners and movie treats. There’s always a little bit of audience participation, not so much that it’s annoying, but just some clapping, screaming, and hooting at appropriate moments.

Amy was the best date ever! She, very thoughtfully, made us a vegetarian feast to enjoy. I swear there was enough food to feed four and I think we finished most of it between just the two of us. We decided that next time we go, we have to get a little better at our picnicking like some of our fellow movie-goers who bring tiny tables and candles and fancy chairs.

Thanks for being such a great date Amy! Love you! By the way I still have Sound of Silence in my head-”And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains, within the sound of silence…”