Free Happiness.

I HEART the Public Library.

When I became unemployed, I searched for ways to entertain myself on the cheap.

My sister suggested I visit my local library.

Now, I am completely obsessed.

Where else can you get music, books, movies and magazines for FREE.

You see, I am in love.

That's it. Just a little shout out to SHPL.

Thanks for providing me with hours of happiness.

Muddy Music.

A few weeks ago, Morgan and I headed (ankle deep in mud) to the

All Points West Music and Arts Festival in New Jersey.

The festival was right on the water with NYC and the Statue of Liberty as our backdrop.

See our lovely lady liberty in the lower right hand corner? Right at the end of the balloons. So pretty.

Morgan got her first taste of The Black Keys live {oh love}.
She also attempted to turn me into a Coldplay fan.
{I hate to admit it but I think she was successful..."green eyes" is what got me}

It was a mudtastic day.

I want to ride my bicycle.

I want to ride it where I like.

One of my favorite parts about summer is being able to spend time riding my bike.
You never know what you might discover.

Vermont, Part Two.

"Bob and Peg's Front Porch"

in West Wardsboro, VT.

Best corned beef hash I have ever had.

Best Maple Syrup Sausage I have ever had.

Best stuffed french toast with blackberries, blueberries and

cream cheese I have ever had.

The Best.

Vermont, Part One.

This weekend, we went to Vermont for a joint birthday celebration.

Morgan's birthday is today!

Campfire, best friends, s'mores, ghost stories, sparklers, canoeing, games.

A perfect weekend.

Candles and Spanks.

Older.

Happier.

Blonde-er.

Today, I am 28!

Happy Schooliversary.

A few good things about being required to wear black everyday:

1. Black is always back.

2. It's incredibly slimming.

3. It tends to give that oh-so-chic look even if you (me) really are not oh-so-chic.

and

5. Lint roller companies stay in business. Hoorah!

p.s. Today is my one month anniversary as a "Future Professional" (aka Paul Mitchell student)! Time is a-flyin'.

(pic: taken on my first day of school)

Reason One, Why I Finally Heart Long Island.

Caumsett State Historic Park.

We spent the Fourth of July riding bikes and planning out our lives as the future owners of Caumsett. If for some crazy reason that doesn't work out...

we decided we'll just pitch a tent and wait for the park rangers to kick us out.

You Work, We Play.

An Empty theater.

Only one of many good reasons why having Mondays off is awe-some.

Another one, Mikey changed his schedule so we could celebrate awesomeness together.

25 Times Too Many.

I recently asked my dad, "how many times I have moved in my life?"

We started counting.

1 apartment here, 2 there, 3 houses on the same street in that place,

4, 5, 6, 7...keep counting...

and finally we reached it...

25 houses in 27 years.

Now I get it. This is why I am jealous of people that get angry with their parents when their old bedroom is turned into a gym AND why I always get frustrated when I have to play that game where you find out what your "stripper name" is. The one where you have to take the name of your first pet and street name. I can't remember.

I'm sick of moving.

It's my fault, even after I left the final house I shared with my parents, I kept moving (almost yearly) to a new apartment, a new borough, a new town.

and finally I found a place I loved.

One Mikey and I filled with memories

and yet we are moving again.

This time so that we can progress, save money, live out our dreams and hopefully have a place that in 20 years, I will be able to remember what street it is on.

But one thing I know I won't forget...

the place we called "our first home"

Will Run For Dessert.

My idea of working out is running to my local Italian Market and buying a cannoli.

Then, eating my cannoli while I walk home (in full workout gear}.

yum.

Seriously, this is what I do.

When I lived in the city I would run to Magnolia Bakery.

Let's just say, I'm really good at maintaining my weight.

A Dollar and A Dream.

This Weekend, we celebrated

Mikey's birthday at Belmont Park.

If you have never been to a horse race, you must go.

No big winners here but so much fun!

My Replacement Security Blankie.

Last night, I realized that I can't fall asleep

unless Mikey Mike's in bed with me.

I think I'm attached.

A Rainbow's Nightmare.

I almost became a dress thief today.

It's been awhile since I have wandered through anthropologie.

Drool ran down my chin as I gawked at these colorful summer dresses.

As I stared at one dress in particular, I contemplated grabbing the rack and making a run for it.

My shoplifting thoughts quickly faded when I reminded myself that I am required to wear all black, all day, everyday, for the next seven months {school uniform}. At least I'll look skinny, right?

I scanned the store.

No black dresses.

anthropologie was safe.

I wouldn't be arrested.

Though, I can't help but think that I would have looked

awfully cute sportin' that green striped dress in my mugshot.

Dreamy.

We spent Saturday afternoon pretending

we were the only two people left in this world.

For it is Destiny.

{my sister and I circa 1986}

In exactly one month I will be a full-time student again! {Holla!}

Six weeks after I begin classes, I will be taking scissors to strangers hair...

if you would like to be one of those brave {but surely satisfied} individuals please visit me here.

I am confident that I will make you look Fab-O!

Green.

These Arizona eyes have still not adjusted.

p.s. In case you're wondering...

that beautiful thing up there....is a castle!

It took me an hour to sneak up on the grounds and take a picture of it

{even though you can stare at it for hours right here}

Wouldn't it be an amazing place to throw a costume ball?

Feelin' Fortunate.

For the past four months I have been unemployed.

but, I am lucky.

I am surrounded by an amazing group of friends and family.

My sanity was saved when they rescued me from the cold NY winter.

They let me vent and cheered me up when I was down.

And

They bought me chinese food.

twice.

That means, two fortune cookies.

In each, a message I took as greater meaning.

In each, a message that came true.

In each, a little hope.

In each, the understanding that sometimes the little things can give you the strength to get through the big things.

In each, the realization that if it wasn't for the people that gave me a roof, made me smile and offered me a meal, I would not be where {or who} I am today.

so...to you {you know who you are} I say,

thank you.

I Know Kentucky's Secret.

This year, we celebrated Dos de Mayo.

An excuse to spend a lazy Saturday with friends.

We ate guacamole,

drank {lots of} mexican beer,

the girls kicked booty in Cranium Pop 5,

the boys accused us of cheating,

when really, the girls are just well versed in pop culture

AND

we discovered that...

everything seems more fun when wearing a hat.

Rain, Rain Go Away.

Fact:

The weather forecast = my mood forecast.

My sister says, she can tell what the weather is like in New York simply by the tone of my voice.

p.s. clearly, I am in need of some sunshine...my skin is translucent {yikes}

It's OK to be Jealous.

The only time it is acceptable to wake me up in the middle of the night...

when it's Mikey just wanting to kiss me and tell me how proud he is of me.

I love my boyfriend.

Bring on the Sun.

this. weekend. was. beautiful!

Lucky for me, the stunning and hilarious Morgan,

invited me to her house in Oceanside, NY.

We soaked up the sun, caught up on life and watched boats drift by her back porch {nice}.

Since it was my first time in Oceanside, she decided to show me around.

We headed to "The Nautical Mile" in the neighboring town of Freeport.

A mile of seafood heaven.

We ate at Bracco's Clam & Oyster Bar.

And this...

was the BEST crabcake sandwich I have EVER eaten. ever.

{yum!}

Shake Me.

Today, I am

Dreaming of what the future might bring

and wishing I was {back} on vacation in Mexico.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for FREE Ice Cream.

We went to Ben & Jerry's Free Scoop event on Tuesday.

The line went out the door but when it came down to deciding whether to wait OR go buy a cupcake around the corner...free won!

They mixed up our cones {explains the evil stares}

This picture made me realize how strange it is to eat ice cream.

Some people lick.

Others bite.

Mikey and I both seem to use a slirping technique.

It's sort of like kissing a stranger.