So if you’re the type to look at the glass as half-empty, you might have said that the first day of The Great Googa Mooga was a big flop. The biggest issue of all was the horrendous lines and TOO MANY PEOPLE. It was built up as a food and music festival (with an emphasis on the food) so many people went hungry figuring they’d just eat when they arrived. Well, it turned out the line for a grilled cheese was close to an hour and a half wait. And the other vendors were similar or worse. GROSS.

Cell phone service was also horrible and getting in touch with friends was next to impossible, so I’m thankful we all arrived together and designated a picnic table as our “home base” right from the start.

And yeah, I might have waited in line far too long to pay $12 for 4 bottles of water (gotta stay hydrated, people!), only to arrive back to “home base” with the rest of my crew more than ready to hightail it outta there. “BUT I JUST STOOD IN LINE FOR 45 MINUTES AND BOUGHT TWELVE DOLLARS WORTH OF WATER WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT TO LEAVE??????? But the reason was legit. The baby was too hot (Bailey brought Luke!) and everyone had pretty much had it with the lines and crowds.

We had no idea it was going to be such a crazytown. Literally, CHAOS!

So sadly, The Great Googa Mooga ended up technically being a great big disappointment.

BUT honestly friends, has the glass really ever been half empty for me? I think not.

Let’s review some things I took away from the Googa, half-full style, should you ever decide to go yourself:

1. First of all, you must go to the festival with your friends. And stoop sitting with your besties is ESSENTIAL.

If you’re going to be in Brooklyn, then you better do some stoop sitting. And while you’re on the stoop, you might as well take some pictures. DO IT! You will not regret it. This I am sure.

2. Take photos while you’re at the Googa Mooga.

I found it was the perfect place for instagramming. TONS of interesting shots and tons of great people watching. Also, the day’s weather was to die for.

When you’re waiting in line for food? Take pictures.

Getting angry that the beer and water line are together and taking FOREVER? Take pictures.

Taking pictures is ALWAYS the answer. The fact that I was getting sweet pics was making the chaos so much more bearable. This is truth.

3. BABY’S FIRST DIVE BAR!

Drink beer at a bar until you feel better about the Googa fail. Three bevy’s should do the trick. Drink and laugh and just be yourself with your friends. Love on the new baby and love on each other. You are together, after all!

4. Love it up in Brooklyn.

Get excited when you come to the Soldiers and Sailors Arch at Grand Army Plaza and take a picture. Stop by Barn for wine and a cheese plate. Eat Thai food at Song and have a little more wine for good measure. Eat drink and be merry. Raise your glass to a great day.

5) Cheers to good conversations and happy times and sleepovers.

Cheers to keeping in touch.

Cheers to friendship that lasts.

Cheers to a day well spent with people that you love.

Cheers to Googa Mooga weekend 2012. ♥

I arrived in New York late last Thursday night practically giddy with excitement about the weekend ahead of me. A weekend with my best friends? I’ll take it any day.

Have you ever spent time in Brooklyn?

It’s such a fun spot, with all of the awesome and none of the crowds. And it was nice to have a change of pace, too, since the last time I visited the city. My friend Rebecca lives in Park Slope and I spent the day Friday with her and her oldest friend from childhood, Sharon.

We had a blast, just the three of us, sipping coffee and popping into shops. Beck’s just one of those people who’s easy to be around. The kind you end up laughing with over the littlest things, plus she’s always got a killer story to tell. Oh, I love her stories. When she’s through telling them I always end up thinking one of two things: Only you, or, only in New York.

And Sharon? I feel like I’ve known her for years. Love that in a new friend.

We were totally spontaneous on this day and every one of us was loving it.

I feel like I’m an excitable person, and Sharon and Rebecca are too, plus Sharon was visiting from San Francisco, so she was eager to experience anything and everything that came her way. About halfway into our morning, while thinking of possible things to do, Beck offered up the idea of going to Coney Island.

Do you know it?

Think world’s famous hot dogs and lots of amusement park rides.

Well, I was sold! Plus, I’d never been before, so what better time than now? I’m a firm believer in the whole “live in the moment” mentality, and it was easy to see my companions were too, so in no time we were heading toward the subway and on our way to the land of fun. I decided last night Coney Island is getting it’s own post because 1) I took a ridiculous amount of pictures there and 2) it’s just that special.

Here’s some of my favorite shots from Friday in Brooklyn:

Brooklyn on the whole is just really, really cool.

I love the architecture and the coffee shops and the bakeries.

And the Ample Hills Creamery is one. of. a. kind.

YUM!!

Oh!, and were you wondering about that guy in the swim trunks??

Yeah, he’s as amazing as he looks.

And clearly, very ready for summer.