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!

Sorry For Lack of Posting....

...but this chubby cheeked cutie (and school) is to blame. My nephew was born at 1:38 AM this morning. Holding this squirming little one was life-changing. Love him to pieces already.

My little June Bug. :)

10 THINGS THAT MAKE ME SO VERY HAPPY

1. The first sip of coffee in the morning.
2. Driving or walking by the river at night.
3. Firm hands lightly tracing my back, as if they might break me.
4. The feel of stubble.
5. The smell of old books, any books, as you turn the pages.
6. Walking the beach barefoot at night.
7. My current tattoos and plans for future ink.
8. The joy of cuddling my loved ones.
9. Feeling my nephew kick. *love*
10. Cooking a large meal full of passion, fun and laughter.


Have a beautiful week, lovers!

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!!!

OUTFIT OF THE DAY: MAYBE, BABY

{My beautiful Sister In Law opening the car seat/stroller.}

This weekend, my aunt and family friend, Dar, held a baby shower for SIL. There were delicious sandwiches, tasty snacks, and so many cakes! (Notice how most of my posts mention food at least once?) After this baby is born, the whole family is going to have to lose the baby weight!









{I have the worst posture. And sympathy pounds!}

Top: F21 tank
Skirt: Macy's
Shoes: Target
Necklace: F21
Earrings: F21
Ring: gift

FRIDAY FRIDAY

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. The family celebrated with riverside dining and a HUGE chocolate cake. Happy birthday, Daddy! (And I love El Caminoes. Finding one around town just makes my day.) Squidlips is a great restaurant with AMAZING seafood and drinks. Since we still obey the Catholic edict of not eating meat on Friday, the best solution was to devour local seafood. Their menu is imaginative. If you are ever in the Melbourne area, you should really check it out. And have a Green Parrot cocktail for me!









Top: Forever 21 raw edge tank
Jeans: 7 For All Mankind 37" inseam
Shoes: wedges from a Chinese Ebay store. Super cute!
Earrings: Forever 21
Purse: Forever 21 beach bag. Great, cheapie.

And yes, I had a few large Green Parrots by the time I posed with my sister-in-law.




{Before anyone freaks, she's chewing a toothpick.}

I'M BACK {MISSING YOU LIKE CRAZY}

Did you like how I left y'all with a bittersweet tribute to my grandma for a week? I absolutely didn't plan on doing that, but life in the Ari-niverse has been hella chaotic. (More so than usual!) During the winter months, work is usually slow since we have mild winters, but with all the cold fronts plus residents who don't know how to deal with multiple freezes, we've had lots of calls for plumbing dilemmas related to colder weather. Great for business profits, not so great stress-wise, dealing with frantic customers and overworked technicians not accustomed to high job volume this time of year.


As for the homefront, I've been cooking a bunch to deal with the stress. (I am doing my German and Italian genes proud on that score. Mangia, mangia!) When I'm not cooking, I'm studying for the upcoming TEAS test for my nursing school application. I need to pass this test, then have an interview with a panel, before finding out if my application is accepted or not. I'm very nervous, but excited!


I'm also busying myself for this:





My nephew! I have no clue how to read ultrasounds or sonograms, so I'll trust the technician on this count. I promise to keep from going baby crazy in the upcoming months, but the whole family is stoked to meet this little dude!


I'm easing my way back into blogging and fashion, so expect periodic updates, until I'm back to full steam. Hopefully, it won't be long until then!


Happy Humpday!

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.

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.

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*

DEAD IN THE WATER

My camera has been in for repairs since September 22, which makes it more difficult to get the shots for the blog. I'm transitioning into using my own photos instead of stock or Google images. Yeah, I have impeccable timing.

Throw that in with my increasingly bizzare life, and it's a wonder I haven't run for Bora Bora by now. I hope that one day, these stories will make for a bitchin' biopic.

So, hopefully Saturday morning will be calm enough for me to update with an OOTD, Lusting For, and Currently post(s). Rokk on, darlings.


Old snap taken by my friend Shini at our pal Bexican's birthday. Love you beeches!

OUTFIT OF THE DAY: FOOF AND FUN

I can honestly say that despite my tomboy, rough-and-tumble exterior, I am very much a princess. Princesses aren't automatically girly-girls. I draw inspiration from Boudicca, Cleopatra, Freyja, and Teuta of Illyria, to name the top women on my list.

I do have an affinity for queens and warrior goddesses. I don't know if this is because I was really into history and mythology as a kid, or because I was raised in a matriarchy family. Probably both and then some. Ah, good times.

Anyways, while the family was in town, we went out to dinner at Squidlips. Silly name, but delicious food and drinks right on the river. I ordered the Green Parrot, a fruity vodka cocktail. It's so bright!

Mom and Bri looking for shells, lizards or crabs.

I managed to eek out an Outfit of the Day from our trip. Hurray!

Romper: gift from Jess (Brooklyn Industries)

Shoes: cheapies from Wal-Mart

Earrings: Forever 21

Purse: Coach

Polish: Shrimply Devine

Hair: Air dried with two spritz of kms california Sea Spray

I love the BI romper. It's a silky material that swishes and flows along the body, providing a perfect summer night cover. It's a deep indigo-purple on top and black bottoms. (Sorry for the B&W, I didn't change the setting before passing it over to Mom to take the snaps.) I felt like a fightin' princess. Thank you Jess!

The lovely young woman I'm posing with is my cousin Alex. She was so tan she looks like the native Floridian! And that's what I mean when I say I am a Floridian Albino.

Have a lovely day!

YUMMY YUM YUM

The family is going out for seafood and martinis tonight. I'll make the mother unit take OOTD pictures, and I'll practice my Ansel Adams technique on the deck. Hope the weather cooperates!


Pictures later tonight.




"Tummy Tum Tum" performed by The Dollyrots. Quality isn't the best, but I've had this stuck in my head all day.

GEEZ OH MAN

It's about to get super busy at la Casa de Rihab. Not only is the A/C business kicking like Jackie Chan, but my social calendar is packed to the max. There's some family coming to visit Friday, Dad just got out of surgery this afternoon, a few friends have moved closer since graduation, and I apparently pass out my phone number like kittens during Karaoke Night. Add Family Night with Brother, Sister-In-Law and the pups, plus work and the start of classes, and I'm going to need either another 36 hours each day or enough caffiene to kill 10,000 people three times over.



I can feel my teeth vibrating already.



On a fashion note, the Bet Your Sweet Bippy shorts came today! Deconstruction on them tomorrow. :)

Cripes, Monday Already?

Well since Spain clinched the World Cup title from the Netherlands, I have nothing else (sports-wise) to distract me, so expect more posting in the coming months. Until football starts. Ohboyohboyohboy.



That being said, I leave Wednesday for Cousin's wedding extravaganza. It'll be plenty of fun, since all I know about it is that there will be an open bar, and it's a Native American ceremony. And knowing my family, that's going to be a doozy. There's very good odds that at least two of the men in the family will be wearing headdresses and carrying bows with suction cup arrows.



We are the Special Ed of families. That's just Dad's side; Mom's side is flat out slap ass crazy. Yeah, Brother and I never had a chance.



Since I will be gone for a few days, I've scheduled some automatic posts to share some nifty things with y'all while I'm away. I'll update with pictures and tales when I return on Sunday. Hopefully have some OOTDs in there as well, depending on how the family responds to my attire.



Ohboyohboyohboy.