WORD TO YOUR MOTHER

I finally downloaded my camera from Christmas. Found a few snaps of my Christmas outfit, so here we go: another OOTD. I love this. It was basic, relaxed, and super easy. I just wish I had the head-to-toe, but the camera is usually used to capture H being adorable. Oh well!



Top: Banana Republic - Santa has great taste!
Jeans: Forever 21 skinny jean
Heels: Guess - half-size too big, but I love them anyways.
Jewelry: all gifts from family & BFF.


Happy Saturday, lovers!

MADRE DE DIOS!

Happy second birthday, Fashion Rihab!


Thanks to all of you for your continued love and support. I'm excited to see where the next year leads.

MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Have fun and be safe!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE

The last two weeks have been non-stop. My uncle in California had a serious health issue, which prompted my mom and two aunts to fly out there to be with him and his wife. He's pulled through the worst of it, and the women returned home Wednesday. So, to make sure our Christmas would be as low-stress for mom as possible, I did everything possible to get her Christmas shopping, wrapping, etc, done before then.

And today, we can all relax and celebrate another successful holiday survival.

May you all have a blessed holiday time, and enjoy your loved ones.

HAPPY HANUKKAH!

For all my Jewish readers, may you have a blessed Hanukkah.

JUST THIS JUSTICE

The Casey Anthony verdict is all over the place, and I am way too emotional to discuss it. I'm glad the circus is over, but my heart goes out to the ones who loved Caylee. Nothing brings justice in the murder of a child. The only justice would have her alive and well, about to turn six. Poor thing.

So much for not talking about it. Anyways, in the happy frivolous world of mine, I'll be taking a nice vacation this weekend. Three days in the Keys with a few friends, Cuban music, tequila and Kino's. Perfection. Expect beachy OOTDs and some big ass photo posts when I return.



While I'm away, I'll have some fluff posts scheduled.

Party on!

IN MEMORIUM

For the USA readers, I hope you had a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend. It's one of the holidays that means much more to me as an adult then it did as a kid. Twenty years ago it was a day off school and my best friend's birthday. Now, I think of the men and women who serve this country, who fight for this country, and who've died for our country. My political protests mean nothing without their sacrifices, and I never let a day go by without thanking them for the America I live in.



{Best friend and her boy.}

On Saturday, there was a surprise party for my best friend at the Outback attended by her family and a few of our friends. She almost didn't go out to dinner with her boyfriend because they had a late lunch, and she wasn't hungry. Oh, her face was priceless. After dinner, the friends and siblings went bar hopping.




{Almost-Brother-In-Law, BF, and Brother. Jagerbomb. Yeah.}




{Steve Jobs is taking over the youth.}

The next day was her birthday BBQ. We played Liar's Dice with horrible pirate accents, drank lots of beer, and tried not to cry at the sight of fifteen year olds setting up a beer pong table. (They filled the cups up with pool water, but knew what the game was. Depressing.)


{THAR BE THREE FIVES YARR}



Top: Forever 21 | Jeans: Hugo Boss DIY | Shoes: Converse | Earrings: Forever 21




Back to the grind......

I AM THANKFUL FOR...

...an amazing family and wonderful friends who love and support me. Without your love, I would be a huge mess.
...weightlifting at the club. I'm weak, but soon will have my beautiful biceps and triceps back.
...challenging myself with these accelerated classes. I've missed school more than I thought.
...air conditioning.
...crazy senses of humor. Belly-achin' good time.
...cooking. I feel so happy knowing I'm providing my loved ones with nourishment and a pleasurable memory.
...my mom. I love you so much. Happy Mother's Day!!!

HAPPY EASTER: FLORIDA STYLE

Sunrise Service on the beach. Have a great day!

OH DANNY BOY...

I'm working today, and not sure if I'll have time to post my St. Patrick's OOTD, but I wanted to wish you all a very happy St. Patrick's Day! Have a wonderful night, and be safe!

(I'll be raising my mug and singing my favorite Irish drinking songs. Expect appropriate Tweets to come in tonight.)

FEBRUARY 14TH

It's coming soon. Those of you who are loved up will get your day of grossing out us single folks. Most of my gals are disgustingly cutesy and adorable with their beaus. You know what I'm talking about; PDA everywhere, baby talk, saccharine sweet nicknames. I'm happy for them, and, to be honest, a bit jealous.

Anyways, if I were going for a date night this Valentine's, instead of dancing and bar hopping, I would wear the following Polyvore creation. (This is also assuming I have oodles of money to waste on one date-fit.)

VDate by fashionrihab featuring gold jewelry

DRESS, 206 EUR
BOW PUMPS, $795
Designer Handbags, Wallets and More at Avenue, $55
Dallas Prince Designs 8.01ct Pink and Green Tourmaline and Diamond 14K..., $1,690
Wishbone Necklace, $875
House of Harlow 1960 Coin Drop Earrings in Gold, $97

How friggin' cute are those shoes?! *Sigh* Why oh why do I have such expensive tastes?

HAPPY NEW YEAR('S EVE)!

Image from Andre's Mortgage

I hope your celebrations are festive and full of joy! Maybe some passion? Dancing? Friends? However you celebrate, be safe!


I've got the Death Plague, again, so my night is going to be remarkably tamer than last year. Considering I got into a few fights, only one that came close to blows, had ill-advised New Year's smooches, sent some wild texts, and mooned everyone still awake after 2 AM, any thing less would be tame. I'm hoping to dance on the beach with my bestie, maybe send off some fireworks, and maybe ill-advised texting.


My New Year's Revolution is to continue to bring the irreverent, irrelevant, and sassy commentary. I hope you continue to check out the blog, and thank you each for your silly, sassy and caring comments. I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for hearing from y'all. Thank you for the encouragement.

Be safe, and I'll see you after the hangover wears off.

OOTD: CHRISTMAS EVE

Top: Forever 21 fitted Tee (L)
Cardigan: Forever 21 (L)
Skirt: LOFT petites jacquard (12P)
Socks: Forever 21 (OS)
Flats: Forever 21 leopards (8)
Earrings: Target
Rings: Forever 21 (gold) and thrift store (silver & turquoise)
Bracelet: gift (from ten years ago!)
Sunglasses: Forever 21 from ages ago
Hair: freshly trimmed & highlighted, blown out



Merry Christmas! I'm getting ready to run out the door for the next big dinner, and of course, another OOTD post on tonight's outfit upcoming!

Enjoy yourselves, and be safe!

I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS

Despite moving to Florida at seven months old, I've had a few white Christmases. Only once, that I can remember, did my family actually celebrate the holiday in Wisconsin. There was enough snow to make a snowman bigger than I was with my dad and brother. Other years, we've had Christmas back home, but made time for a vacation to see the families and muck about in the snow. Tobagganing and (unsuccessfully) snowboarding during the first snowfall of the winter. Snowball fights with cousins. Playing in the stark white woods behind my aunt's house. Having snow shoved down my parka by Brother. Ah, memories.


The year we celebrated Christmas in Wisconsin, I was four or five. We exchanged a few gifts before driving up; my gift was a babydoll that could crawl and cry. She crawled and cried all the way to Illinois, before dad took her batteries out, leaving me to cry the rest of the drive. Once we arrived at his sister's house, and the batteries were put back in, all I could see was white. The snow fascinated me, as it was the first time I'd been around it since infancy. (I was born during a blizzard, and it was barely snowing when my family took me home that February.) On Christmas Day, all of dad's family was there, swapping gifts, telling bawdy stories only Brother was old enough to get, filling the house with what I've always associated Christmas with. Big, loud, chaotic love.



This is from that trip: my baby cousins and I cocooning ourselves in the guestroom.


A lot of traditions have changed since then, (we let dad pick the tree for a few years and wound up with some festively decorated palm trees and bamboo, for one) (totally going to find and post pictures of them) but that's not so bad. Donating at every Salvation Army bucket. Secret Santa for a family through the church. Baking cookies for CITA and other outreach programs. An annual donation to the Sharing Center. A family Christmas Eve dinner, then Brother and Sister-In-Law bring the pups over to unwrap gifts before we go to Midnight Mass, followed by Christmas dinner at an aunt's with gifts for the families.


I'm looking forward to the big, loud, chaos tonight. May you and your families enjoy your Christmas Eve.

SILVER {BELLS}

Some of you got a peek at my Christmas tree in last week's OOTD post. Mom and I decided on silver balls and pinecones, so we hit the park to scavenge for fallen cones.


We hit the motherload. 50 pinecones in ten minutes. That's just what we kept; there were bazillions of the things all over the place!


A few cans of spraypaint, some hot glue, ribbon and ingenuity later.....












The waves of cold fronts are messing with my perception of a Florida Christmas. I woke up one morning to this:



Thank you, sprinklers, for the present. I was too busy scraping the layers of ice off my windshield to take pictures of the icicles hanging off of my car, but it was pretty wicked. Nothing like the Northerners are experiencing, but dang disconcerting for us down here.



Next year, I'm thinking blue LEDs, a white chiffon garland, and seashell ornaments. Maybe some fish netting bows.


What decorations do you have up?

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

All the gifts have been wrapped, lovingly placed under the tree, and family dinners abound. Too many dinners, it would seem. Thank goodness my health insurance covers my gym membership, I'll definitely need it after this holiday stretch!




I doodled out my Christmas clothing attack, but things like fluffy, shedding dogs are going to throw a monkey wrench into that. Oh well, as long as I get some snaps and can make an OOTD, I'll be happy.

I hope that you and yours, that celebrate Christmas, are also planning your holiday festives to enjoy. Snuggle up. Grab some nog or hot chocolate. Keep an eye on the children and critters. And bring on the mimosas!



A mix of the songs I listen to while wrapping. I was tempted to make a list of rappers, but my sense of humor lost on that count. You're welcome.

'TIS THE SEASON

Today marks the last day of sanity for me. (Yes, yes, you can go ahead and crack 'Were you EVER sane?' Get it out of the way.) My grandma LOVED Christmas. The family togetherness, the smell of pine, the lights and decorations, the huge dinners, the cookie exchange, everything. This will be only the second year without her, but it takes so much effort to do all the things she so loved.


I'm glad that we are still making as big a deal about the holiday. Mom has shared some great memories of Christmases growing up in Wisconsin, and funny tales about driving in the snow. We've got our lights partially up outside, and even set them to flash to music. (Lights and Sounds of Christmas, Home Depot On-line) Brother delivered our real North Carolina pine tree, which is soaking in a bucket, and smells sooooo good! Mom's setting up her Santa collection, and our decorative mini-Xmas trees are scattered through the common areas. Mom listens to her crooner's album, while I rock out to punk Christmas covers. Soon enough, we'll be baking cookies for the exchange, decorating the tree, arguing about how to hang stockings, and driving to look at all the decorations on the Space Coast.


I look forward to the hectic last-minute gift hunting, wrapping each gift, and attempting to make Dad's hard-to-guess. (He almost always gets each gift right before he unwraps. Tricking him is a game and tradition.) I especially look forward to all the parties and celebrations. According to my meticulously kept list, I've finished shopping (yeah, right!) and just need to knock out the rest of the Joyeux Noël.


For my Hebrew and Jewish readers, Happy Chanukah! Enjoy your holiday, and have a few latkes for me please! Mmmm... latkes.


As for the rest of us, Happy Festivus!


Photo courtesy of Joe. My. God.

BLACK FRIDAY

Holy Toledo, what a feast! Because of the Death Plague, yesterday was the first day I've eaten solid food. (Yes, my gastrointestinal habits are what you all come to hear about, I know.)


My favorite has always been my mom's rolls. They're so good they caused a family fight; one year her older sister said she could make "Patty's rolls just as good, if not better" for Thanksgiving. At the time, mom would make six dozen, which was never enough for the thirty-odd people. But when my aunt made four dozen of them, there were plenty left over. Somehow, she made them dry and crumbly, when they should be moist and flaky and delious. She hasn't spoken to my mom a whole lot since then.


Since I'm feeling better, and old friends are in town, it's the perfect day night to let our hair down and get wild. (Not only is my hair always down, but I always have a wild undercurrent.) OOTDN to come!


Enjoy your turkey comas and parties! And, as always, party safely. :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Cousin Reginald Catches the Thanksgiving Turkey - Norman Rockwell 1917

While no one in my family would ever do this (at least not without major physical injuries to at least six members), I'm fairly certain this is how my coworker Hunter is getting his family's feast.


Happy Celebration of Massive Genocide Day! While I do find the celebration slightly lacking in taste, considering how PC we Americans try to be otherwise, I also realize that it's pretty much become wholly commercialized. Besides, like every other holiday celebration in Florida, it never feels quite like the appropriate season. For example, our weathermen were excited to say that we will be experiencing a COLD SNAP for Thanksgiving Day! Getting all the way down to 77 degrees! Meanwhile, my Wisconsin relatives have six inches of snow already.


I'M SO JEALOUS.


Anyways, the family is gathering, pies and tortes are baked, turkey is roasting, side dishes steaming, and booze is flowing. I know not all of you lovely readers are celebrating this holiday, but I wanted to say how thankful I am to have each and every one of you. Since January, so many of you have read my small corner of the world, and shown your affection, caring and friendship to me. I would have given up on this venture long ago, if it wasn't for all the kind words I've received.

I love you all, and will continue doing the silly things that seem to crack y'all up.


*kisses and sasses*

HALLOWEEN: REVISITED

Since I received my replacement USB cord in the mail today, I finally was able to download the very few Halloween shots taken! Unfortunately, my assistant photographer wasn't accustomed to my camera, so almost all of the shots were blurry, except for the first one! Yay!


I loved my costume, and worked to make it ghetto-fabulous. That last trait came in handy as the first night I wore it, a chick spilled beer all over me. Oh, Halloween and drunken revelers. How I love thee.





I went as Boudicca, Warrior Queen of the Inceni tribe. She's such a fierce femme, I've got that name on my Future Baby Name list, just in case. (Oh, my poor future children.)







My darling bestie, the sexy mummy. Her concept was amazing, and very resilient.


I wish I had taken my camera out on the town with us, because there were some seriously awesome costumes. A seven foot tall Bender from Futurama, Ruffio, A few couples dressed as The Dude and Maude, and a whole mess of slutty pregnant chicks.


As my favorite "dress up" holiday, I'm already planning for the next three-day Halloween weekend.


That's your silliness from tonight, lovelies!