BLAZER REFASHION

A while back, I snagged a honeysuckle pantsuit at the thrift store and proceeded to make sassy shorts out of the pants. Since then, the blazer has been sitting in my closet, unused and uninspiring. But after a few sessions browsing Pinterest, I had the idea to make it into a summer jacket. Perfection!

(And the perfect project to kick-start my "Do It Your Own Damn Self" pledge.)

1) First order of business, chop those sleeves off! It's infrequent we need long sleeves on the Space Coast, and the sleeves are too short on me anyways.

2) I want the length a bit shorter, so I cut it off just above the pockets. It's a shame they have to go, but I can always add them in later, depending on how the fit turns out.

3) The cut looks boxy on me, and I want to make it fitted. Wear inside out, pin the back, run the pinned section through the machine, and et viola! Ready to assemble.

4) Roll hems twice, pin, and sew in place. And run the iron, just to finish it up.

5) Flash your sass!

(I am a dork.)

(And, hooray, Pinterest!)

.

BREEZY FLORALS

It is such beautiful weather here. Temps are getting back into the 80s, but the breezes are wonderful. I love how casual this outfit is. Not much beats a flowing skirt, cotton tee, and flats. Hope life is wonderful for y'all!

Top: H&M - well made and so comfortable
Skirt: Kimchi Blue - found on great sale
Flats: Forever 21 - ancient and much loved
Earrings: don't remember, possibly F21 or a gift
Sunglasses: UO
Hair: attempted a fancy braid on wet hair, that did not turn out well, so got the banana clip

NURSING SCHOOL LESSONS TO APPLY TO LIFE

• Comfortable shoes beat all else.
• Smile, no matter how bad your day is going. Someone else is having worse.
• Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork. You are not Superwoman. You cannot do it all by yourself.
• Don't forget to take time for yourself, or you won't be any help to anyone.
• It depends.
• Friendships come from unexpected places. Keep an open mind and heart.
• Prioritize.
• You will not find the answer in a book.
• Knowledge is power. Arrogance is not.
• Clean hair. Clean nails. Clean clothes.

GETTING SERIOUS (FOR ONCE)

Confession time, lovers. (Yes, again. So predictable.)
I could care less about labels.
It's not a very shocking admission, after all the exposition I've shared on my immature love of Forever 21, and considering how many people in the world don't give a crap either way who designed what you're wearing. But I feel like, being a blogger who could be considered "fashion oriented", it is somewhat outside the norm. But I don't really focus much on fashion as I did in the beginning. And I've never really known much about the industry.
Personally, I go more for comfort or what attracts me. Since I have a tendency towards the quirky and magpie, with the wallet of a match girl, my exposure to designers is from gossip rags or the rare Ebay find. Yesterday was a girl's day with mom, shopping in Orlando. When we went into the Gucci store, I felt like an intruder in my DF shirt and UO jeans. Yes, I could appreciate the beauty of the bags, scarves, and shoes, but I didn't have a feeling to save up the money to possess the beautiful pieces. They do not fit into my lifestyle.
And that's ok.


(Also, Marilyn in the Orlando/Kissimme area, your vehicle is ready at Oberry's. And the dude you gave your phone number to out on the town is desperate to get a hold of you. Just a heads up, though; he calls at all hours of the night, and may have a drinking problem. Good luck!)

ZOO DAY

Today, mom and I took H to the zoo! He had a great day petting goats and alpacas, feeding lorikeets and other birds, not shying from the giraffes, eating pickles and fries, and watching the spider monkeys. He fell asleep while walking around the Natural Florida exhibit, but was up and ready for more before we had finished our lunch. (By the way, Brevard Zoo has an amazing pulled pork sandwich... they stuff it with coleslaw and french fries. SO GOOD.) I'm loving my week off from school, and can't wait to do a few more relaxing things before classes start again. DIYODS coming up!

SEAFOOD MARKET

Today I went to a small seafood market a few miles away. It is wonderful and so eccentric... like my lovely little town. The ceiling is sprayed and painted to look like the surf is breaking above your head, so you are down with the catches. And the quality of the local and imported seafood? Mmmmm, so good!

JOY.

I've decided I need to post little lists of things
that make me happy, as a reminder of what a great
life it is, and keep my natural pessimism in check.
I think this is an excellent way to do so.


{My beautiful river view. Photo by me.}

1) Support from my beautiful family.
2) Painted nails.
3) Homemade desserts.
4) DIYs.
5) Beautiful sunsets.
6) Cupcakes. Strawberry lemon with vanilla butter cream icing.
7) My leopard print flats.
8) Unexpected pictures of my nephew throughout the day.
9) The first cup of coffee in the morning.
10) Looking in the backyard and finding a heron sitting in the pool.

STRANGE

I could have sworn my week between semesters
would be with more relaxing. Granted, the night
out Thursday with friends was amazing, and
spending Friday volunteering at graduation
was rewarding. But since then, it has been
nose back to the grindstone! (And no listening
to Grindstone... Fantasma's off at Basic! So
proud of him, but miss him too.)

Anyways, I'm grateful to be back to blogging,
and hopefully will have a better balance next
semester between nursing and fashion. One can
only hope! Happy day, lovers.

WE DON'T NEED NO WATER

Thursday night, I went out with some classmates to burn
our aggravatingly useless study guide for Fundies. It took
hours to complete, was required for a grade, and when it
came down to effectiveness in preparing us for tests, it failed.
We made sure that we passed the class before commencing with
the burning. I mean, it only makes sense.

And how frigging awesome are my classmates? I love you guys,
and look forward to going forward with you for the next year!

MOLDOVA WINS

For the first time in almost a year, I've gotten more hits somewhere outside of the USA. Hooray, Moldova! Thank you so much, and tell your friends about me. I'll continue to churn out the ridiculous and untimely posts. Because I love you that much. :D

I'll try to pop in as often as possible, but I'm not going to make promises I can't keep. Until I find a way to juggle everything, the blog will be taking a backseat, but I do intend to come back.



And remember......

VOTE BULLMOOSE 1912

NABLOPOMO: FREE STYLING

{Image courtesy of Google Images.}

I am very open about my sexuality and sexual drive. That isn't to say that I throw it in people's faces, or flaunt my body for the sole purpose of advertising my availability. There are people who are not as expressive or out with their sex, and I don't want to make them uncomfortable. But if I'm asked, I'll answer honestly.

The evolution from shy Catholic schoolgirl to brash, sexual woman was a very bumpy one. Lots of weird mutations. (Darwin, holler!) Where I am at right now, I owe mostly to my rape counselor. She helped me take the times where I was most vulnerable and hateful of myself, and guide me to embrace and celebrate my sexual being. Without her, I know right where I'd be, because it has happened.

Before seeing her, I was an out-of-control flirt who was almost daring a man to try and pick me up. I went home with a former lover one night, one who I knew how he would treat me, who was gentle, and sweet, nothing like what I was fighting. On the way to the hotel, I broke into uncontrollable sobs, puked my guts out, and bailed out of the car. I called a girlfriend and begged her to come find me. It took hours for the tremors and crying to stop. The fear stuck around for weeks.

I'm still not totally past the experience, but I can function and succeed in my life. I've had lovers since my time with her, and have even managed a relationship or two. I think that because of my experiences, that I see the power and importance of owning your sexuality, before others try to define and use it for their own ends.

They won't be as careful of it as you will.

NABLOPOMO: What is your earliest memory?

I'm three years old, dressed in a little sailor outfit, sitting in my sandbox at home. Eating sand by the handful. Aw, yuss.


{Image found via Google Images.}

NABLOPOMO: FREE STYLING

On Thursday, I finished the first week of classes. It is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. This is the beginning of my professional life, and the change from free-form college courses to private university structure is something else. I only developed my taste for fashion at eighteen, so to be told I cannot wear jewelry, nail polish, perfume, or have styled hair is a strange jolt back to my tomboy days.

Obviously, there is a reason for the strict dress code: clinicals. When you are scheduled to work the psych or dementia rounds, you don't want to set off the clients; be it a smell, color, or easily accessable weapon. I'm not saying that all our rounds will be spent getting attacked by clients, but we strive to reduce that likelihood and keep the clients feeling as unthreatened as possible. However, since clinicals aren't until the beginning of February, there is plenty of time to adjust.

I've been looking at nail painting tutorials, posts, and even downloaded a virtual nail salon app on my phone, just to satisfy my need for pretty nails.

In the end, strict dress rules are so worth it.

<3

NABLOPOMO: Do you wish the start of the year was in a different season? Which one?

I am competitive, so I enjoy the start of the
new year being so close to my birthday. I only
wish that I was born shortly after midnight on January 1st.

Blast!

{Plus, winter in Florida isn't what most people
would call... well, winter. So, overall, it
really doesn't matter.}

NABLOPOMO: What is your favourite start-of-the-year tradition?

{Image courtesy of Allposters.com}

This may sound strange, but my family doesn't have a real start-of-the-year tradition. But, since my birthday is in early January (today, in fact!) my family usually goes out for dinner. We are waiting until Friday to go to dinner this year. I can't wait to relax with my family and hold my nephew. Even if he is teething and grumpy.

One of my personal traditions is to once again try my hand at love.

Ah, youth.

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.

NABLOPOMO: What did you do on New Years Day?

2012 began with a beloved tradition: house party with friends in Orlando, where all the men dance to "Moskau, Moskau" by Dschinghis Khan at midnight. We've only done it for the last three years, but it is a fun way for my close girlfriends to get together and let our hair down. Not all of us make it each year, but it's always fun to mingle with college and high school friends. The consensus is that Melbourne girls know how to go big.

This year, I dressed down in a halter, leopard leggings, and motorcycle boots. My best friend and I arrived a bit after 10. I brought along a handle of Zombie rum drinks. That was my first mistake.

The second mistake was drinking half the handle in under two hours.

I was very irresponsible, but I did not throw up, drive, or hook up with anyone. In fact, one of the guys was so nice, he let me crash in his bed while he took the floor. Even though there was more than enough room for him. Thank goodness I know such wonderful people.

After waking up at 7:30 that morning, I drove an hour home, and crashed to nurse the zombie hangover. I also surveyed my phone for potentially damaging drunk texts/dials. Luckily, I only sent one scandalous text, which went to a lover; he wasn't offended. The rest of the day was spent cleaning up and reading my textbooks until dinnertime with family.

My brother cooked a lovely meal of ham, black-eyed peas, and collard greens. The taste of humility imparted by the black-eyed peas was no match for the hangover. We talked, and passed around my nephew, who is becoming quite the mischevious little charmer. And he's getting his first teeth!

For the first day of 2012, it was a rather tame one. One in which I hope heralds the coming of even-keeled times in my life. I look forward to continuing my education tomorrow, taking more steps into the realm of adulthood, and maybe, just maybe, finding the courage to begin imagining my own family.

Someday.

***

{I have embedded the video for "Moskau, Moskau" for your viewing pleasure.}

A CHALLENGER APPEARS!

I signed up as for BlogHer's January NaBloPoMo, where the basic gist is to blog daily. Every day of the month. The topic, as you can see in the sticker on my sidebar, is beginnings. What could possibly be more appropriate?

January 2nd will the the second anniversary of the blog. So much has happened, both good and bad, and I've had the fortune of joining a community to share my voice, hear other's, and develop wonderful relationships that I would have never known about if I had kept my worldview limited to my town. I never would have had the courage to do half the things I've attempted in such a short time.

Not only will January 3rd be my 25th birthday, but it will also be the first day of my nursing program. My confidence and self-esteem were so shattered by my experiences at the University of South Florida. I had no idea how much of a husk of my former self I was until I found the strength to take a risk. In January, I decided to apply for the nursing program at Keiser University. I studied intently for the TEAS test in February, the math and English comprehension tests in late February, and the interview process, all required prior to the decision if I would be accepted. I heard of my acceptance and began the few prerequisites in May.

You've read a few updates on my school progress, but only those who know me in real life have seen the change as my confidence returned. I'm happier than ever, and have even seen the return of my old sass and sparkle. Piss and vinegar, I think my mom refers to it.

So, this is my new beginning. My journey through the first month of being a nursing student.

See you on the other side!

I LOVE THIS LITTLE DUDE

Love. Love. LOVE.