K.P.K. (Kelly) and Sweet D (Me)One of the best things to happen to me in 2013 was Kelly moved to Red Bank. I kind of already had decided we were going to be best friends and had put some good face time in with her family – I helped her out of a jam on her birthday with her mom and brother and I helped her move into her 3rd floor apartment on a day that was hot as balls in July without any AC with her dad. After that it didn’t take long for her and me to develop a co-dependent heterosexual relationship. We were so enamored with our friendship that we gave ourselves our own celebrity couple name: Jelly (Julie + Kelly). Brangelina got nothing on us!
This year was our first Jelly Christmas together. Naturally I wanted to do something special for her to celebrate the occasion. But what to do? I was going to frame a picture of me and her from my birthday (pictured below). That didn’t seem enough. I wanted to do something a bit more special for my fantastic lady.
One day at work Kelly put a baby picture of herself up at my desk (pictured below). I was looking at it and talking to Renee when it dawned on me. What is something special that I could do for my best friend Kelly? Well, duh! I could paint a celebrity couple painting of us!
So I got to work on it, covertly asking her random questions via text: What is your favorite color? Blue. What is your favorite outfit? Black jeans and a regular v neck shirt. I used knowledge I already had about her – she wears gold jewelry – and I started painting.
When I finally finished it up Sunday night, I was so excited to give it to her but knew I had to wait until our dinner date Thursday. This past Thursday we went to Goldie’s in Asbury and enjoyed a delightful Prix Fixe dinner and exchanged gifts. Kelly, knowing me so well, got me black nail polish and top coat, a jewelry dish for all my new rings (a dish I almost bought myself earlier from Anthropologie. She knows me well!) and a journal. The journal was by far my favorite present. Kelly told me she thought I should start keeping a journal because I have amazing stories. I had to agree with her on that – one day I’m sure my offspring will want to know about the shenanigans their mother got into in her youth.
Then I got to give her my present. I saved the painting for last – first giving her a Markel towel, then vitamin c packs because I don’t like when she is sick, and then the framed picture of us. I was so excited for the painting. I think I was smiling like a total idiot as I handed it to her. She loved it. She didn’t think it was weird. It was a success!
As with all painting that I do, they require a write up. So this one is an ode to Kelly. I am very lucky to have her in my life and we will be friends forever. Also, she is an excellent wing lady.
Some of the reasons I like Kelly:
- She’s allergic to Christmas Trees
- She teaches me helpful life skills – how to season things and how to paint my nails so they don’t chip
- She likes to dance
- She knows how to cook
- She is lactose intolerant so she will go to vegan restaurants with me
- She encourages me to better myself
- She is always down to party
- She likes cuddling on the couch and watch movies
- We can talk about anything
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