imagination station

Most people in Byron Bay seem to be on perma-vacation... and that's an incredible thing if you can manage it. We, however, manage to always squeeze in work when we find the time (noooo/blahhhh/rawrrrr/etc). It's super lame and counterintuitive. However, when your job lands you in a place like this super fantastic music imagination station, it doesn't suck quite as much.

We were hooked up with a friend of a friend who runs a studio/artist haven ON the water in Byron. Pretty sweet gig, ehh? OH, and they have a major beer sponsor that just delivers cases upon cases of beer to their doorstep every month. To say it does not suck would be a slight understatement.  So when we were offered the chance to go chill for the day, we jumped on it. We wandered the 30 minutes down back roads to get to the place and were much better for it. 

They fed us their free beer, we talked shop, we played some tunes (i.e. I was sort of drunk after 3 beers so I twirled around a bunch and looked like a spastic 5 year old), and we met a baby and a dog. Perfect day? I say YES. 

then things got a little hazy on the way home. I think we met a spirit guide in the form of a dog and I forced Ron to take a photo of me muscling up a drunk handstand (hey! at least I remembered to point my toes). It's a miracle what three beers will do to me after all these years of being a fully grown/mostly functional adult. 

listen, I don't judge you and your hobbies.

And with that: goodbye & goodnight!

xxoo,

b

love from Melbourne

One of the hardest things about traveling is realizing that you likely won't live long enough to live in all of the places you fall in love with. By now I've racked up quite a hefty list of places I'd like to lay my head & call home for longer than a weekend.  The latest addition to this list is Melbourne. So far she wins as my favorite city in Australia. Melbourne is chock full of art, cafes, boutique shopping.... and marsupials.

It will take me a couple of posts to tell you all of the reasons I love Melbourne, so we'll start at the top! 

We went to the city a few days before the show so we could do press. Fortunately for us, our amazing publicist set up press that could also coincide with some sightseeing.  She's the best. Our first stop was about 90 minutes outside of the city. Ron had a photoshoot at Healesville Sanctuary with koalas, a baby kangaroo, and a baby wombat. To say we were in heaven is the understatement of the year!  Forget models - koalas in a photoshoot are where it's AT. This town was overly cute to boot - AND we drove past some beautiful wineries on the way there. AND you can ride a horse at said wineries. AND they don't care how drunk you are on said horse. I think we could make a life here. 

I've got some AMAZING food rec's for you travelin' fools... but for now, I'll leave you with these priceless photos of us with our new friends & our first day in Melbourne!

First stop: a Bloody Mary

a walk in St. Kilda - so many kite surfers!

new friends!

yes! lifelong dream.

baby wombat//baby wombat is now our child.

introducing the star of the day. I don't like to choose favorites... but I'm stealing her.

love her

Like I said... much more to come. Time to get ready for a SOLD OUT SHOW in Sydney! Catch you next time... with some foooooood... or virtual food. 

Later,
b

quiet

Sorry I've been so quiet these last few weeks. I posted last week the day of Hurricane Sandy & haven't been back since. We left New York yesterday for LA so we can fly to Australia on Tuesday for the tour. Things have just felt a little off and a lot of excitement for Australia has waned a bit.

I want to extend a very sincere thank you to all of my friends, family, twitter followers and blog readers for checking up on us. It was a scary time, but we were some of the few that were very lucky. However, if we stayed in the East Village apartment we rented (which happens to be across the street from the apartment we lived in for three years), it would be another story. On Sunday, I frantically went to the store with the rest of the neighborhood, waited in long lines, bought water at my bodega, then sat glued to the internet for updates since the TV didn't work (bahhh!). Ron was performing at a private event, so 'Alone Blair' quickly turns to 'Frantic Blair' when left to her own devices. When Bloomberg said they were shutting down the subways in three hours, I knew I had to make a decision immediately. I called Ron, told him we'd be going to Brooklyn to my best friend's apartment, and to meet me there instead. If we had to weather the storm somewhere, I'd rather be with my best friends anyway.

So glad we did! The storm surge reached well past the East Village apartment and power was out for days. Since I lived in the neighborhood for years, my heart breaks for all of my friends still there and all of the local shop owners who I came to know and love over the years. As a New Yorker, if you haven't formed a close bond with your bodega owner and laundry lady, you have certainly done something wrong. Fortunately, the power has been restored to most parts of the East Village at this time, and it seems that subways are starting to be more functional again. However, this area is still in dire need of help as many families who live in subsidized housing do not have the resources to bounce back as quickly.

Obviously, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Staten Island is a mess, Far Rockaway and Coney Island feel like they've been forgotten, and parts of New Jersey don't even exist anymore. I feel guilty as I type this from my hotel room in LA for not being there to help. New York is my home and I'm not there to clean up the mess. Guilt aside, here are somethings you can do to help from near or far!

- EASIEST: Verizon customers can donate up to $50 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief via text! Text "REDCROSS" to 90999. It'll text back with a confirmation. I'm actually pretty sure you can do this with any provider, but you should probably check into that, my friends! You can also donate on the Red Cross website HERE.

Other places you can donate to from the comfort of your couch are listed here.

- NEW YORKERS: I'm sure you've seen it, but if you haven't, this is your one-stop shop for ways to help around the city http://www.nycservice.org/

- NEAR OR FAR!: NY Cares is an amazing organization that I've personally used to volunteer across the city in the past (my personal fave was walking foster doggies, but there are TONS of available opportunities). They have options to donate money OR you can help out with the NY Coat Drive that will desperately need more coats this year. If you live outside of New York, you can get 10 gently used coats and ship them directly to the warehouse (think about how many unworn coats you probably have between you and your friends! Look in the back of your closets!). Look into that HERE.

Finally, while I definitely agree with the city for canceling the marathon (FINALLY!), I do feel for those who flew from around the world and trained for months to be a part of it. Bless those who are using their time in New York to volunteer in devastated areas and make the most of it instead of spending their time angry. I guarantee this will be a time they never forget & once they see the areas affected, they won't think twice about the cancelation.

That's about it for now. I'll keep you guys posted in the weeks to come on our travels, but this was something I needed to get out there. My feet may be elsewhere, but my heart is in New York.

post card: brooklyn

In light of Miss Sandy, I thought this post would be appropriate. Rp and I were supposed to be staying in the East Village for this short NY trip, but the storm forced us to pack up and leave (again!) and head to our friends' apartment in Brooklyn. So, we're hunkered down with water, flashlights, rice crispy treats, peanut butter crackers, champagne, and wine to ride out this storm.

I wanted to come back to Brooklyn, but not exactly under these conditions. 

I made all of these "post cards" one day in the van. Being in constant motion is great, but can also lead to some serious heartache for things you love. One of my last days in the van, I compiled a very incomplete list of things I miss:

Non Starbucks coffee

my girls

Reading Vogue on Saturday morning

Meeting for brunch after 1pm

Weekend mornings alone

YogaVida

Getting my mail

My printer

Small dogs

Vegan restaurants

Dinners that turn into drinks that turn into "Oh my God, it's 3AM & they are kicking us out"

Grape & Grain//Lychee bellinis

a routine

blaming lateness on the subway
my bed

Saturday afternoon college football games with friends who also wound up far from the South

Sunday night HBO + take out ethiopian food (while wearing PJs and a hoodie)

All of my clothes being in one place

Having more than 2 pairs of shoes

Simply walking outside to grab a cab

A book in the park

Complaining about how the neighborhood has changed

Really good Indian food

Delivery.com

Finding fashion inspiration on the streets and on the person next to you in the subway

my bodega

So, Sandy, lets go ahead and get this over with, OK?!? I'd like to get back to my regularly scheduled things.

photo: bike ridin

post card: new york

"I’ve spent more nights sleeping in a hotel room than most people ever need to over the course of an entire lifetime, and I’m not even 30 years old yet. I know which hotel chains have soap that I like, and which places will make you smell like a little old lady when you wash your hands. I’m alone in a big bed with my glasses on, listening to Tom Waits, trying to come down after the show. There’s only one more date left in the US and I’m thinking about how this tour has played out. One night like tonight can make up for fifteen miserable ones…the fans were locked in with the band, and it was powerful. All the nonsense I have to deal with to get onto that stage (unsavory promoters, poorly managed venues, twelve hour drives in the van, missing my family, etc etc etc) feels absolutely worth it when the fans show up like they did tonight. The energy in that room was palpable and it drew a strong performance out of everybody in the band. The reason why I tour is so that there can be more nights like tonight. Thank you New York; you’re like no other." 

- Rp's Tumblr post on the New York show last night

waking up in Montana

we drove through Montana and couldn't help pulling over to watch this sunset. nothing short of spectacular...

do: Lake Shasta!

Oh, hello people of my internet! Glad to see you haven't gone far.

I've decided that instead of another cop out post, I'm going to post a real-live adventure! Whoooo/ hoorayyyyy/back flips!

no pain, no gain in handstands

So, back when we were driving in and around the Pacific North West, we decided to do a little sightseeing and give ourselves a break from the van walls. At this point in the tour (over a month in), we're all a little on edge, and not completely rational. The guys might disagree with me, but that's just their irrational side kicking in. We found ourselves four hours north of San Francisco - the farthest north I've been in Cali. So, what do I do when I find myself in a new place? A handstand of course! However, the grass was so dry here that it actually cut my foot. Ridiculous. Anyway - a couple tours back (before I was a part of the crew), the guys discovered Lake Shasta. They swam in the lake, they jumped off a rope swing, Zach hurt his wrist - you know, the things little boys dream of. So, we went off in search of this magical place. One major problem: that lake they swam in? WASN'T THERE.

Was it a figment of their imagination? Had they gone so tour crazy at that point that they were swimming in dirt and Zach hurt his wrist doing cartwheels? WHAT WAS GOING ON? Nothing made sense anymore. Ron was not discouraged in the least and made us all set out on the had-been lake bottom to find this water.

The beautiful, Lake Shasta

Ron attempting to convince us he was not crazy

Oh, look. There's the water. Lovely. A cesspool of mosquito crap

So we climbed a lake-bed mountain//Dom is king of the world. 

Ahhhh there's some real water.  

Ron isn't completely nuts. Thank God.

Due to the aforementioned cut on my foot, I had to sit on these rocks while the boys swam. I don't mess with flesh eating bacteria, y'all

So instead, I went on a walk alone.

SHASTAAAA

I found boats! and a lovely scene. 

the closest you'll get to my no-make up face (PS - why is that a thing in instagram?). That's reserved for my boys in the van. Lucky guys.
Don't go too far! I've got more just waiting in the wings. However, maybe you should go get a snack or something. I've been known to not post when I say I will. 
Happy Saturday!
comment/love me in the, duh, comments.

Question time!

I got this one on tumblr and thought it was interesting enough to post here. Happy Monday!
wait - what day is it? 
crap. Thursday.
Happy Thursday!

Anonymous asked: Hello! I just have a general "girl" question, I suppose you could say. My boyfriend has started a band and they've been doing local shows and gaining attention (mainly from girls). I never used to be the jealous type--and I'm certainly secure in our relationship--however, I can't help but get a little jealous with all the wannabe-groupies that have been lining up after the concerts. Is there any advice that you're able to hand down to ignore the groupies? Btw, love your blog!

Ahhhh, yes. The groupie question. I actually get this one a lot, so I’ll address it here!

1. break up with your boyfriend & find someone with a normal job.

Doesn’t work? Ahhh, ok. Just realize that dating a musician is not for the faint of heart. It sounds like you guys have a pretty strong foundation since you say you’re secure in the relationship (mostly). So here is real advice:

1. Realize that he is just talking to and taking photos with these girls. Unless you see him slip them a number, that’s all it is. He leaves with you.

2. Don’t freak out when you see them give HIM a number. It is what it is. These girls have been here since forever and will be here until forever. If you guys have a secure relationship, he won’t act on it.

3. If you start to feel really jealous and worried - consider your boyfriend and what he’s like as a person. If you are actually worried that he will sleep with/make out/whatever with a girl who would likely do that with any dude with a guitar who rolls through the city… then you should probably reevaluate your relationship. If there isn’t trust, there is nothing. 

4. Just give it time. It gets easier. Groupies are a fact of life when you roll with a talented dude. 

DO NOT EVER: Roll your eyes at them/give them an attitude/make fun of them/berate your boyfriend for talking to them.

Fans are what make an artist successful. Embrace it! You’re the one who gets him. I love all of Rp’s fans & definitely feel the love in return - that’s why you’re here asking me this, right? :]

PS - you need to get over this now or when/if he goes on tour you will want to jump off a building from anxiety.

sorryyyyyy!

I know I've been a bad little blogger lately. We've just had so much going on since his birthday! I promise I have pictures to show you and things to tell you... but not right now.

Right now, we embark on an 18 hour journey to our August home at the lake. We'll be hanging out with our friends and family, and getting prepped to go back on the road in September (excited?!).

We've had a blast being back in New York & miss it already. However, it's time to get back on track. There are things to organize and yoga poses to hold (going to try to start that up again).

not my photo, but it sure is pretty (thanks, wikipedia)

celebrate

happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!

xoxo

A Love Letter to San Diego

Dear SD,


Did you know? Did you know the fluttering I'd feel in my chest when I first laid eyes on you? Could you feel my excitement when I saw your plethora of adorable restaurants? Did you notice the way my eyes locked on the water once it came into view???


I'm sure you get this all the time... but, I think I love you. I know we've only spent a small amount of time together, but with your reliable, non-humid weather & my naturally wavy hair... I think we could be something really special. 


You're right - I once said this about LA. I'll admit that much... but that was before I met you! LA is wonderful, don't get me wrong - but she's sometimes a bit of a floozy for tourists (and you know how I feel about that). 


I hope you understand, New York will always have my heart... but please know there's a spot open for my winter mistress. 


xoxo,
VB

spotted a Banksy (we think)

our respective reactions when walking along the water

all right fine, a picture together!

me, me, rp + me. 

palm trees/pirates

SO other than becoming a new obsession, the show was good (but short), the hotel was nice, we had nice food, and enjoyed a night of casual drinks. Overall it was lovely. 

Then the van broke down in the desert on the way to LA. What a way to end that story.

later, dudes! Have a happy 4th of July! Hope it's full of jean shorts, American flags, lighting things on fire (grills/fireworks), beer made in our great country, and bare feet! 

Playlist

I promise I am working on some posts about real things... things like BBQ, longhorns on the van, and swimming pools. We're on a long drive today & I'm determined to get a bunch of work done, so no time for real bloggin! Luckily, the work I'm doing partially involves listening to new music, so all time isn't wasted here. PLUS, since it's been a little bit since I talked to you, I thought I'd give you something to get you by... since I know you've missed me.

Today in my ears & things you should listen to!

Passion Pit: Take a Walk & I'll Be All Right

Wintersleep: Hello Hum (checking out the new album & diggin it)

Tanlines: Not The Same (really enjoy the whole album)

Milo Greene: Take a Step (still feeling it out... So far still partial to 1957)

Sharon Van Etten: We Are Fine

POLICA: I See My Mother & Amongster

Twin Shadow: Slow & I Can't Wait (these guys are playing all the same rooms as us, so I can't stop thinking about them!)

Yeaysayer: Henrietta

The Mynabirds: Body of Work

Walk the Moon: I Can Lift a Car


I'm also having a bit of a 90s country session, but you guys probably don't care about that. I care, but you don't.

Welp, that's all the time I have.

Love

...Looks like sweatpants under a bridal luncheon dress for a 6:30 AM flight. Have more updates/suggestions for y'all, but for now we gotta board this plane! Time for brother's wedding weekend! Oh, and does anyone read this?

Canadia! (part two)

See? I knew I could do it. Two posts in one day. This is some pro level blogging right here. I want to finish up telling you my Canadian stories so I can tell you what's happening NOW.

As I was saying, we made stops in Ottawa (Club Saw) & Toronto (The Horseshoe Tavern). These Rp fans were IMPRESSIVE! Amazing energy & sang along to almost every word... love watching the crowd watch my man.

Ottawa - Parliament 

Since I don't get to do a lot when we're only in the city for a night, I try to walk to the show if possible. BUT since I don't know much about these cities, I'm always hesitant to bring out the big camera alone... therefore ya get some iPhone pics. Don't worry, I try to make them artsy for you. I know you love that.

OTTAWA - How did I not know you were so cute and lovable? First of all, a prom was happening when we were there, so you made me all nostalgic, but second - I just like you. I mean, I like you like you. sighhh.

selfer. no makeup, sorrries.

So much so that I took this picture of myself as a dancer in one of your hotel rooms. Awesome. As you'll notice, I've taken to not wearing make up on travel days. Why would I - ya know?

We had a full day off in Toronto, so I did a few things:

1. Let Rp sleep until 3pm because I'm the best girlfriendager in the world. 
2. Got a manicure
3. Walked along the harbor & ate outside in freezing weather because I wanted to do something awesome for the sake of it being awesome. 
4. Ate dinner with the band in one of SIX Chinatowns. Seriously... there are six. 

I have to say... until we got to the night of the show, I wasn't so sure about Toronto. However, the neighborhood the boys played in was quite likable (Queens West... or West Queens West... whatever they call it). 

But enough about ME. Here are some show pics:

Ottawa - Club Saw

Ottawa - Club Saw

soft focusy rp

That should wrap stuff up across the border.  Which is good... because I have to go anyway! See you tonight in Madison, WI maybe? Maybe, baby?