life lately according to my iphone

i cannot believe that october is almost over. birthdays, both mine and my sweet little niece (a very happy first year of life to her) have come and gone. fall slowly decided to make her presence: leaves changing, pumpkin-flavored-everything took over foods and drinks alike, and weekend mornings spent drinking coffee and eating muffins with boyfriend became somewhat of a tradition. 

leggings, boots, and scarves have been brushing off the cobwebs and make such wonderful appearances on a daily basis. layering is back and better then ever.

and school - the first marking period is over! my mind is boggled at how fast time is flying by.

i cannot believe that october is over.

which means that - in my mind - the most wonderful time of year is approaching. i said i would hold off on christmas music until november 1st and i have held up my end of the bargain (except for that brief lapse of time during a very long drive to new york, and by all rights, it was boyfriend's idea). if life could get more hectic it is about to, and i simply cannot wait.

to all of those in new york, new jersey, and other areas greatly impacted by hurricane sandy, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

lately

life in all of it's iphone photo glory, from morning coffee and first birthday parties to reuniting with girlfriends and fall finally making its grand entrance.  welcome back october.

  

  

    

  

  

lengthy inhibitions

maxi dress ny&co(old); cardigan LOFT; necklace oldnavy; clutch j.crew factory; sandals target

seeing as i rank in at a whopping five foot, zero inches, i never in a million years would have thought a maxi dress would be an article of clothing in my closet.  but two years ago i found this little number at new york and company and figured i'd give it a whirl. with a few alterations in the length department done, i packed it up and took it to the beach. i'm not sure if it was the sunkissed skin or the encouragement from my brutally honest sister - but the dress was a hit and i've been in love ever since. i figured, if i'm confident, who cares if i'm a little guy in a long dress, i love it and that is all that matters.

this number has been proven versatile: worn alone, with a light cardigan, and even a long sleeve shirt underneath. and it hasn't hurt that i've gotten a smile or two from that waiter at the restaurant either.

now, go and enjoy yourself on this very first day of august (say wha?!) and keep on screaming your lungs out for team usa. i'll be rambling more about the history making, voice losing, and tear shedding that occured last night, tomorrow...U S A!

perspectives and chocolate milk

tank h&m; skirt aerie by american eagle; sandals kohl's (all from earlier this season)

it is amazing what a good nights sleep can do to one's perspective. i went to bed in a terrible mood. and that mood was amplified by the fact that i didn't fall asleep until probably well after 12:30 a.m. but when i woke up (besides contemplating why i had a dream about chocolate milk) i felt a wave of unbelievable gratitude. a shift in perspective by about a million degrees. a sense of calm.  the sunshine that was streaming in my window certainly helped as well.

this little number in all of its poor photographic glory was worn one night on vacation. it was hard to narrow down which maxi skirt i wanted to take along with me but i definitely made the right decision. light-weight, breezy, i could just eat it up!

speaking of eating, err drinking. time for that glass of chocolate milk.
to catch a glimpse of a few more vacation pictures, head on over to my sissy's blog, one more time.

when in rome, do as the romans

  
   
baby S finally learned how to beat the rebel forces with a light saber, and how to rock her very own pair of stunna shades. and sand? pshhh...sand is nothing to little S. she crawls on it like she doesn't have a care in the world.
also, ask her any yes/no question in the book -- with a one grunt response for "yes" and two grunt response for "no" and she can answer it.
 
 
 

there is nothing i look forward to more as summer approaches than our family, all together, in one place - the beach. it has been this way for as long as i can remember and it is nothing short of amazing each and every year. this year i was even more excited knowing that this meant ten whole days with everyone i love most and no drives to new york or skype calls to see their faces.
i could ramble on forever about vacation. what we did and all. but instead i'll let the pictures do the talking with a little assistance from some stories.

the stories my family tells, as we are all circled up in the usual seating arrangement that our beach chairs seem to find, revolve around, but are not limited to:

-- my father and his small accident with the paring knife. four stitches later and he is water-banned for at least forty-eight hours. which led to the discussion of the "finger condoms"...which you can only imagine where that led to...i don't make this stuff up.

-- the time my cousin forgot she had nail polish remover on the top shelf in her bathroom and proceed to spill it all in her hair and eyes and face when she had to be in work in ten minutes. oh, and having no idea how it would react to her meds her psychiatrist prescribes her.

-- good cat, good cat, hideous.
-- the trials and tribulations of a pedestrian.
-- bejeweled and bedazzled walkers.

-- the time my aunt j's cat brought a bird in to the house. and it was still alive. and flying.

-- the time my aunt j and uncle j told my dad to pretend he was blind and would walk him and ran him straight in to a pole.

-- conversations my grandmother and grandfather used to have.

-- the time my aunt j went out with some of the cousins and my aunt k. the "low" song came on. and everyone went low (and my aunt j, can't get low unless she has some assistance - thus she demonstrated). and when they all came up a lady emerged high above the crowd as if she was being carried. it was my aunt k.

-- that one time my cousin picked up a girl at a gas station and fed her triscuits.
-- that one year that my uncle decided to wear a speedo and pose baywatch style on the beach for all to see.

         

p.s. if you'd like to see more of my vacation, which i know you do, 

visit my sister over here on her blog!