feel something

For Ava Evans, from Elliott

A custom made, personalized denim jacket designed specifically for Ava:

Distressed denim, medium wash

“get it girl” embroidered across the back of the right shoulder

Pink and red lilies stenciled & sewn along the left hip around the back

“Ava” in pink sequins on the inside right panel, along the lining

Red sequined hearts scattered down the length of the right sleeve

Front decorated with assorted enamel pins & sew-on patches

Inside left panel under the pocket: the leopard print heart patch picked out by Dylan.

With attached note to Dylan (unsigned):

Tell Ava I said happy birthday. She doesn’t need to know who made it, just that it’s hers. Good luck with the party this weekend, tiger -- I have a feeling you might need it, 😉

(PS - Under the pocket, over her heart.)

Gabriella: She is such a rockstar! It couldn't be easy to keep on top of that especially with our trips being back to back. I am seriously so excited though! Are you?

Gabriella: Can I please give Sandra the biggest hug? She is making me such a happy camper. There is something so nice about being able to treat yourself on trips.

Gabriella: Not at all I'm up for either! It might be nice to be able to get to enjoy the city before we have to get to work. The paparazzi could get some good clear photos 😉😂 What do you think though?

Elliott: I am excited -- I miss the city, even if I enjoy the peace and quiet more than I thought I would.

Elliott: Careful there, Dias, you'll fuel her girlcrush, 😉 I'm pretty sure all this is more because I'm bringing you along than for me.

Dylan: You know it! I do feel good about how that turned out. She’s invited a couple kids she met at the pool. It’s gonna be rager over here Sat. Lolol

Gabriella: I hope you have a lot of time freed up for me to go on and on about you 😉💖

Gabriella: Well you rocked it! Now I know who to go to if I need tips on how to host more parties and cook outs. You really are a person of many talents!

Gabriella: Now that is a great idea! I have an office that I have a piano in and it is amazing to have a space for music. Now a studio? That would be even better!

Gabriella: It really is pretty easy! I've gotten very creative over the years and learned so my tricks. I didn't know I was able to win the heart of a publicist I'm impressed with myself 😂 You are seriously the best you know that right? Even if we'll be working some of it, I'm sure it will be the best get away.

Gabriella: Thanks for the heads up! I swear sometimes the cameras show up at the worsts times so any moment where I can be prepared I'm thankful for! I mean I would hope so! Seeing our smiling faces in the city should be more than enough for them!

[jump to present]

Elliott: I got an email from Sandra, fyi -- the apartment should be fully stocked by the time Leah and Anthony get there, and she's going to freshen things up for us between when they leave and we fly up.

Elliott: (And she promised me at LEAST three different types of ice cream in the freezer, 😉)

Jackie: Everyone ends up here and almost everyone is nice and talented. It amazes me everyday!

Jackie: Oh my gosh you have? That seriously just warms my heart! There are many bright and radiant people in Sanders.

Jackie: I wouldn't mind at all, I would love that! That is so kind of you, Elliott. No matter what comes from it I hope you know how thankful I would be for that. I have my instagram, youtube and I even have a website of my work as well. If it would land in front of the right person that would just be a dream come true.

Elliott: I hear part of the reason there's so many talented people here is a St. James Performing Arts Academy -- would you have anything to do with that, Ms. St. James?

Dylan: Awesome. Can't wait to see these other bars!

[next day]

Dylan: I might've pulled the impossible and booked a flight for Ava's best friend and mom to fly here Friday night. Ava doesn't have a clue!

Celeste: YOU ARE. we could get matching fake ids it would be cute

Celeste: wait really???? more money???? i will try anything for it. i guess im going to be opening the glitter again!!

Celeste: it is a lot, ngl, but it suits you. like i cant imagine you with out the super cool alter ego

Elliott: Is that a hint that you want to go clubbing with me sometime? 😉

Elliott: Oh, absolutely — especially if you’re working nights and weekends. Go for full femme fatale drama, maybe with a red lip.

Dylan: Fine! I’ll stop asking and wait to see what you’re up to.

Dylan: Here’s one question that needs an answer. Want to meet for a couple beers tonight?

Elliott: You can be patient, I know you can, 😉

Dylan: The bottom right

Dylan: Why can’t I ask questions? Lol Does that count as one? Or that?

Dylan: 😋

Elliott: The leopard print one? HA. I can see that.

Anthony: I personally thought they had terrible taste.

Anthony: True, plus I love spending time with them. Even stopping by there on the way to New York next week. More like Leah wants to hear the terrible songs I wrote and my song book is there but I Wanna introduce her to mom and dad!

Anthony: Of course, Tessa is the best sister we could ask for :)

Elliott: I can feel the brotherly love from here, Ant.

Elliott: As long as you're bringing home a friend and not a boyfriend, you'll be okay. I always feel like Mom gets EXTRA quirky when it's a significant other.

Deal, I’ll give you the full VIP access and also allow you backstage. Huge deal. Dude, she’d freaking love that…it’s more the need to keep mom from showing any baby pictures or tell embarrassing stories!

I do enjoy the VIP treatment, ha. You might be in trouble if she and Dad end up bonding over his record collection, fair warning. And you should know by now that nothing stops Mom when she gets going. You should probably keep that in mind for when you bring a guy home someday, 😉

Zoom party… yeah. That can work. There’s a couple kids on the block that are around her age. You already know I’m buying her new clothes for her bday and besides the cake I’m tapped out with ideas. She said no to me playing DJ. I miss the days when she liked themes. Those were easy.

If I had an arcade and bowling alley, and a bar to go with it, then you may never see me out of the house unless for work or store runs. lol

Has she gotten a chance to meet many other kids her age so far? It’ll be easier once school starts back up, I assume. I mean, I could send you a playlist, but I might not be exactly in tune with the musical tastes of a savvy 12-year-old girl either. (...Check your texts, btw.)

You total homebody. You’d have to emerge from the fun house eventually, you know, if only for the multitude of parties in town that you keep missing...

Elliott: I need you to pick one and not ask questions.

Elliott: [ https://bit.ly/30w5K9U ]

You’re awesome bro! I’ll make it up to you one day, promise. We’re going on Wednesday. Yup! Leah wants to stop by New Jersey and meet our parents..how fun will that be? 

Tickets to all your shows one day, that should do it, 😉 Ooh boy, brave soul -- Mom and Dad aren’t that intimidating, just don’t let Dad talk her ear off about music.

Almost twelve and reminding me daily about her birthday next week. She wants her friends from back home to be here for it. Hate I can’t make that happen for her. Think you can do that call in half an hour? 

Mama Evans gets a win for this. I expected florals and BRIGHT colors in every where. She managed to impress me. It started as a joke about sending the vid to HGTV people…I just might do it anyway. See what comes of it.

C’mon, 12 is her last birthday before she’s a teenager, you’ve gotta make something happen. Zoom party, maybe? You betcha, I’m just hanging out on the back deck all afternoon.

You non-believer, you. I told you it wasn’t bad, even if there’s no koi pond. Or bowling alley. Or arcade. Next time, maybe, 😉 And then HGTV can film it.

Celeste: not to get into bars. to whip out at parties and be like LOOK AT THIS COOL SHIT

Celeste: i have never had a reason to be adventurous before. AND I LOVE GLITTER. I ACCIDENTALLY GOT IT ALL OVER MY SISTERS APARTMENT ONCE AND SHE HATED ME.

Celeste: oh SHIT. i mean im not READY BUT MAYBE ONE DAY I WILL BE!

Elliott: I can't say that I've ever flashed my ID to look cool at parties, but then again, I never had an ID that said "Super Rockstar" on it, either, so I'm probably missing out.

Elliott: You're young and cute and work behind a bar, that's definitely reason to be adventurous. Bet we can double your tips with the right combo of smoky eye and body glitter.

You should be the one to relay the message to her. She may shriek flail later about it because it’s a praise coming from YOU.

Dogs were married and I might have missed it? That camp job got in the way of a lot of things! I’m not and now I’m home they probably won’t be anymore. Unless I have a housewarming party. Everything’s put away and it looks like a nice home. Not that it was a wreck or looked dilapidated! 

I would, but apparently she’s almost 12 years old and doesn’t have her own phone, 😱 Oh, the humanity. Put her on sometime this afternoon and I’ll thank her in person for forever capturing that look of surprise on your face.

That’s what you get for being a responsible, proactive children’s educator, man. Dog weddings go missed, and you have to throw your own housewarming party, such a shame. Are we chalking up a win for Mama Evans on the house reno then, hmmm?