A time to be born, and a time to die.

I will be taking a little break from my blog to be with family. Today I found out that my dear grandpa "Popa" passed away. After nearly a month in the hospital from a broken hip, his body just couldn't recover. It was his time.

That doesn't make it any easier, though.

The tears still flow, even though my mind is filled with great memories of his life.

He dipped my passie in his coffee when I was 1, and I've been addicted ever since.

He was a huge Civil War collector and did question me about the "damn yankee" I brought to meet him. After a beer with the hubs, he gave his stamp of approval.

He has a Purple Heart for his amazing bravery in fighting for our country.

He was a wonderful father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

First time meeting Cooper

Great-grandparents
East Coast visit tradition - The Cracker Barrel meet-up.
You better believe I will be fashionably dressed for his funeral. Every time I saw him, he would tell me how "in" my outfit was, and all about the trends he read about lately.

Popa, you will truly be missed, by me, and so many others that loved you deeply.

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 5:8

Fashion Friday - Makin' love out of nothing at all.

I have this great project inspiration that requires gray t-shirt material. I had figured that I would need 2 men's t-shirts, but just hadn't gotten around to getting them.

When I was out shopping this week, (after my 5 week break...yay me!) I found this H&M dress for $4.

As you can tell, it's PLENTY of material.

Even though it is my size, there is seriously enough room for a couple of me to get in.

But, I was seeing some potential

And I decided to wear it before slaughtering it.

Gray thread, a needle and 5 minutes, and this massive dress was a cute top.
So easy, a caveman could do it. I forgot to take pics of the actual process, but all I did was bunch up the sides to the length I wanted, and hand stitch on the inside.

Get a good look at it now, because hopefully by this time next week, it will be in pieces!

Outfit Deets:
Top/Dress - H&M

Liquid Leggings - Walmart

Heels - Steve and Barry's

Necklace - No clue

So, my challenge to you is, get something out of your closet that you don't wear, and play with it. You may have a new fav right in your closet!

Word Vomit

{via}

Me? Never.

Ask my family and they'll tell you I've always been weird with my words. When I was about 8, I created "Molly's Expandatory Vocabularyistic". Basically just added extra syllables to every word to piss people off.

On a long road trip, I read the label on the seat belt and started calling my sister Porta Bebe for almost an entire year. (Sorry, sis)

I was that kid.

I am not one to swear, really. (Although, I'm completely convinced that comedy is way funnier with some wordy durds.) I do have a wide assortment of ridiculous things that I love saying.

Hot Mess

Anyone, anything, anytime can be a hot mess. Used at my discretion.

Holy Mother

Used to be holy crap, but that got booooring.

Shart Ton

Obv. without the swearing. Generally referring to the toys all over my living room.

Totes

Because it's fun. And abbreviated. And reminds me of a cute purse.

For Serious?

Just a question out of shock and awe. Directed mostly at the hubs.

Skank

Anyone who looks like they should be working the corner. Or anyone (gay or straight) staring at my man. Or Rozlyn.

Word

And to that, the hubs replies with my Momma's name. Yeah, were dorks. And yes, it technically should be HIS Momma's name, but we roll our own way.

Sexy Beast

Initially just called Cooper that. I know, weird. Now anyone I like can pretty much be a sexy beast.

Legit

Because seriously, it's too legit to quit. (hey, hey)

Dirty Pirate Hooker

What I call the hubs GPS, who he named Ashley. I will, however, call anyone who crosses me that. Like my sister's, if they don't loan me their clothes.

What are your fav random words?

Weekend in {tons of} pictures.

We decided last week to take a last minute trip to Lake Tahoe this weekend. We threw together stuff Friday morning and were off. I must say, California drivers are as ridiculous about snow as they are about rain. We were creeping along until we stopped dead.

For an hour and a half.

Cooper didn't seem to mind because he was watching Shrek.

The hubs took a nap.
We watched the snow fall and saw bare booties making yellow snow.

I didn't get pics of that, although, I did try. Hehe.

People even made snowmen on the side of the road.And eventually, (7 hours later) we got there.

Good thing our room was worth the wait.

This was 11pm and Cooper was still up
But that didn't stop us from breaking out pizza and vino.
The night time view from our balcony
And the next morning.
We stayed at the Marriott Grand Residence right in Heavenly Village.
They had shopping, restaurants, and an ice skating rink!
The gondola to the top of the mountain.
We spent lots of time driving around and playing in the snow

Because the scenery was incredible.
On our way to go tubing
And after the boys flipped out of their tube.

Throwing snowballs off the cliff.I would rate Tahoe in the top 2 of places we've been, the other being Maui. If you ever have the chance to go, do it!

The whole weekend was perfect, until we watched the Jets-Colts game, and the Jets lost. And then I had to make pie for the hubs, and snuggle him while saying "there's always next year" over and over. Guess I'll put my jersey away for now!

Hope you all had a fab weekend, too!

Fashion Friday - Workin 9-5

Sometimes, I just wish I was a working girl so I could dress up every day. I know it would get played out, I just think it would be fun.

So today, (today being Wednesday) I decided I should just dress up. I would walk around Target at least looking like I was some executive that just happened to be on lunch break with my baby.

MAJOR FAIL.

It was windy. And pouring rain. My umbrella kept flipping inside out. And I got soaked. I was running with a baby, who was also wet. And I found out that if you have bangs, and go out in such weather, you will look like a wet dog.

Lucky for you, I took these pics before I left.

Mercy, I just realized like my whole outfit is from Target.

Outfit Deets:

Lace Top - Target

Black Jacket - Target

Black Tuxedo Pants - Express

Shoes - Target

Earrings - Lia Sophia

Fashion Friday is brought to you by the fab, Summer!

Some guest fashion and some fashion with a purpose.

The always fabulous, Summer, asked me to do show off some fashion at her blog.

The Fashion Friday mastermind. The amazing writer of Le Musings of Moi. The mommy with a drool worthy closet.

Yes, it's this gorgeous lady.

I'm trying to find the words to describe this girl without being disrespectful.

Head over and check it out, and if you aren't a follower of hers already, just do it. You're gonna love it over there!

In other news, a friend of mine from back in the day has started an amazing company called Know Me Love Me. They sell shirts, and for every shirt you buy, one is given to an orphan. Incredible, huh? Whats even better, is that the shirts look like this:

They have several styles to choose from for men and women, and they are a really good price.

This is their first week with the website up, so they are offering a 20% discount.

Just enter the coupon code LOVE at checkout.

You can follow Know Me Love Me on Twitter to keep up to date with what they are doing.

Now go check them out and buy a shirt! You will look good while doing good!

Weekend FUN!

Long weekends are awesome! We started out Friday with a playdate at the most amazing place. It's kindof like Chuck-E-Cheese, but WAY cleaner and more age appropriate. The room we played in is only for kids up to 5, has food delivered at the time you request, free WiFi, Starbucks coffee, and big comfy leather chairs. It was perfect!

Hopefully he will like to cook with me!

That's a huge inflatable slide.
After Cooper told me "I need Ty", we thought we should get together.
We always have fun with Lisa and Ty!
Don't they look so cute playing together?
Coop really loved this pink car. I didn't show the hubs this pic. Hehe.

Sunday, It was off to Sacramento to watch the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!

We hung out with our great friends there, but I didn't bring my camera. Boo.

So excited for this next weekend!

Sorry if you're a Colts fan. I will be hardcore rooting against you!


Today was rain All. Day. Long. It was so nice, though, because Coop slept until 9:45! I'll go tanless for the rest of time if I can sleep that late every day. It was perfect.

Hope you all had a great weekend, too!

101 in 1001 - Finally!

The mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The criteria: The tasks must be specific (no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined.

Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: January 5, 2010

End Date: October 2, 2012

BOLD - completed

Italics - In progress

Foodie

001. Try 20 new recipes. (0/20)

002. Create 2 new recipes. (0/2)

003. Grow and use an herb garden.

004. Host 1 dinner party. (0/1)

005. Bring dinner to a friend.

006. Make Christmas cookies for all my neighbors.

007. Keep a food diary for 2 weeks. (0/2)

008. Cook breakfast 4 Saturday mornings. (0/4)

009. Make hubby breakfast in bed 10 times. (0/10)

010. Cook Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon.

011. Cook 5 additional recipes of Julia Child's. (0/5)

012. Bone a duck.

013. Eat salad before dinner every night for 2 weeks. (0/2)

014. Try Thai food.

015. Make my Granny's homemade Chicken and Dumplings.

016. Drink no alcohol for 1 month. (0/1)

017. Eat at a sushi restaurant.

018. Make one completely raw meal.

019. Eat an oyster.

020. Make dessert for dinner twice. (0/2)

021. Have a picnic.

022. Give a huge tip to a good waiter.

023. Try 4 new restaurants. (0/4)

024. Make pasta from scratch.

Family

025. Baby #2.

026. Move back East.

027. Take the 40 day Love Dare. (0/40)

028. Pay for the person behind me in the drive-thru.

029. Play Basketball with the hubs 6 times. (0/6)

030. Learn to play a sport with a ball and not be terrified.

031. Go on 6 dates with the hubs. (0/6)

032. Have professional family pics done.

033. Surprise the hubs, big or small, 5 times. (0/5)

034. Have an Adopt-a-family for Christmas.

Mommyhood

035. Write a letter to Cooper every month (0/34)

036. Send 4 drawings from Cooper to Grandparents. (0/4)

037. Take Cooper to story time at the library.

038. Scrapbook Cooper's first year.

039. Take Coop to the park every day for 2 weeks (0/2)

040. Take Cooper to the Zoo.

041. Get Cooper completely potty-trained.

042. Let Cooper pudding paint.

Bloggin it

043. Meet a bloggy friend.

044. Do a DIY.

Physical

045. Get to goal weight. {6 months}

046. Run in 3 races. (0/3)

047. Work out 4 days a week for 1 month. (0/1)

048. Learn to swim.

Travel

049. Go to European.

050. Road trip to Washington and Oregon.

051. Have a girls weekend trip.

052. Spend a weekend in Lake Tahoe.

053. See the Mets play at Citi Field.

054. Take a spontaneous weekend trip.

055. See the Grand Canyon.

056. Take a road trip.

057. Climb the Statue of Liberty.

058. Go camping.

059. Go to the beach.

060. Cross 4 more states off my "I've been to" list.

061. Go barrel tasting in Napa.

Personal

062. Read 20 books. (0/20)

063. Send 15 pieces of snail mail. (0/15)

064. Donate my hair.

065. Redo 2 pieces of furniture. (0/2)

066. Not make any clothing purchases for 4 consecutive weeks. (0/4)

067. Watch a TV series I have never seen on DVD.

068. Buy and not kill a plant for 1 year. (0/12months)

069. Give Blood.

070. Volunteer. (Not sure the deets of this, yet. Ideas?)

071. Rent and watch 2 foreign movies with subtitles. (0/2)

072. Wear my hair up for 7 entire days (0/7)

073. Sew 6 things. (0/6)

074. Go to 5 baseball games. (0/5)

075. Have 4 girls night outs. (0/4)

076. Play in the rain.

077. Not go on Facebook or Twitter for an entire weekend (0/1)

078. Go to the range and shoot a gun.

079. Get a nursing job again.

080. Organize the garage.

081. Have a garage sale.

082. See a sports game. (other than baseball)

083. Do 10 crafty projects. (0/10)

084. Read at a coffee shop alone 6 times. (0/6)

085. Sing karaoke.

086. Play the lotto.

087. Plan a surprise party.

088. Eat dinner by candlelight.

089. Get my teeth whitened.

090. Get a fancy schmancy letter opener and use it.

091. Send 5 "happies" (unexpected gifts)

092. Throw a theme party.

093. Paint a canvas.

094. Get rid of all clothing not worn in 2 years.

095. Go to a drive-in movie.

096. Send a written song to a record company.

097. Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet.

098. Finish my Hawaii scrapbook.

099. Go ice skating.

100. Go fruit picking.

101. Inspire someone to start a 101 in 1001 list. (0/1)

Fashion Friday - Never leave the house style.

I'll be honest here. There are some days I never even leave the house. I love to get dressed up anytime I go out, but if I'm just home, I don't want to put out the effort. I do like to have something other than pajamas on when the hubs gets home, though.

I'll be real and show you my minimal effort stay at home garb. Brace yourself.

{But look how much better I would look if I were wearing heels!}{My everyday jewels}

{Never wearing white socks}

{My fav part of this hoodie}

Outfit Deets

Jeans - Old Navy

Gray Tank - Target

Slub French Terry (Doesn't that sound better than sweatshirt?) - J. Crew (Courtesy of Jen!)

Socks - My stocking via Target

My Everyday Jewels are:

1. Wedding Ring

2. Diamond Studs from my Daddy - Nursing School Graduation

Tiffany & Co Paloma Picasso Collection - All from the hubs.

3. Necklace - New Years 2002

4. Earrings - Nursing School Graduation 2004

5. Ring - Valentines 2008

And that's all folks! If you are the UPS man, you will find me at home, with no shoes, and in something like this.

I am realizing that this post should not even be considered fashion. I hope Summer doesn't ban me...

Fashion Friday is brought to you by, Summer!