I didn't need a sword. I had other skills...

My Halloweenie celebrations were delightful!

I swigged back the last of my dayquil (I've been trying to kill another cold I caught earlier this week. Even the pharmacist told me I didn't look very good today when I asked about when I could get a flu shot) and headed out the door in my cute wench/pirate/gypsy costume (I can't really say I know what I went as, but I just loved wearing the purple taffeta vest!).

The evening started at Laura's where we had a "super foods" dinner of baked sweet potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts, collard greens, and Barbie was sweet enough to bring over steaks.Earlier that afternoon I had made caramel brownies and so we were set for dessert too.

Once done with dinner and our costumes were adjusted for maximum presentability, we piled into the car heading to the Rouge Gallery art showing above Ciao Mambo. It was fascinating! (I am still thinking about the print of the decomposed deer).

After meandering through the macabre works and creative costumes we went down to the restaurant for drinks. (Being the wild woman I am, I had a nice cup of raspberry tea to soothe my throat)

From there I met up with Caitlin and Steve and a few other friends. It was low key,but enjoyable to be out.

Now that Halloween is officially here, I have been spending my day relaxing. I recently came back from the bookstore with new treasures! I hope you have been having a lovely fall holiday!

Hairstyles and hipskirts

Straightened 

Naturally curly

I went in on Thursday to have a haircut. I knew I would have a substantial trim  and was looking forward to an aline/wedge style cut, but boy oh boy did a lot come off! Where I was once able to pile my hair on top of my head for a bun, I now have little to no ponytail at all. Interestingly enough though, I LOVE IT!

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Then on Friday night I went over to Caitlin's to meet for dinner and help them prepare for the Hell of a Halloween party at the Shrine. (They had the most ingenious costumes--miniskirt overall outfits the girls made to go with super fun hats to be Mario, Luigi, and Warrio). I was thinking I would kinda chill for the night being that I didn't bring any costume and wasn't in much of a mood for dancing.That was till they started chanting my name and Caitlin pulled out her belly dancing clothing. Soon enough they had styled a fantastic outfit for me to wear of gold pants, a black hipskirt with rows upon rows of gold coins, and a bellyshirt with a sweatheart neckline and mesh. I drew on heavy eyeliner and added gold earrings. I was set!

That is until I realized I locked my keys IN THE CAR!! (Oh shit!) Luckily the guys were able to hack in with a hanger and screwdriver (I am sooo thankful for their skills! They will be paid handsomely in baked goods). 

Once that was worked out we got to dancing! It was such a fantastic time! Caitlin, Beth and Kali won first place for the costume contest and even snagged $40! Congrats girls! I just danced the night away (I think Caitlin's hipskirt has magical powers, and like milkshakes, it brings all the boys to the yard) It was the greatest of fun and I think I could go dancing all the time :)

Check out their cute costumes!

I'm making a new duvet!

I have been listening to my Bitter:Sweet pandora station--it is seductive and wonderful. Add one to your playlist now, dolly, you won't regret it!

I am working with teals, greens, and purples as my color scheme. I find the floral fabric to be resplendent! I love the layers of colors and the very organic movement of the flowers and greenery. This will be the focal point of the duvet. Then, with the help of my mom, picked out the iridescent tone-on-tone purple polka-dot. How wonderful! These will be the body of decorative pillow cases. Then for the border around the floral fabric I'm looking at adding a patterned teal-green. It will be a soothing and sensuous cover to slumber under!

Also, while at Fiberworks (I start drooling just thinking about all of the fabrics I love in this store!) I picked up this sweet little cupcake oven mitt pattern! I am so very excited to make these too! I'm sure I'll make a whole rash of them because it takes all of two fat quarters to put those little gems together. (Be prepared to get one in your stocking)

I'm drinking from nature's bounty!

Sorry dear readers that I  have not posted anything in a while (kudos to those of you who check on what I'm writing. That makes me feel splendid!). Lately I've been spending my time either reading Greek epics and  Shakespeare or out with friends having drinks (Either way there have been lots of  dead bodies involved...just kidding I leave that to Euripides!). Not to say that I'm becoming some kind of literary lush, but I think I am! I've been enjoying meeting lots of new people--everywhere from the coffee shop to the railyard. I'm developing some close friendships and am opening myself to opportunities. It's soo peachy!

Along with  my copious amounts of reading and cocktail consumption, I bought these wonderful tumblers. (I pretty much swoon over anything nature related) Ta-da! 

Ruffly Ruffles

I tried my best to get a picture of it, but most of them resulted in looking down my blouse (not classy), so you'll have to enjoy the more detailed shots of the vest or just be lucky enough to see me wearing it!

 Grandma Bev is the sweetest! When I left her house last night after my mom's birthday dinner, she sent me home with two tiny cans of 7UP because my tummy had been bothering me. It did just the trick!

Also, Grandma Bev has the most wonderful ceder closet where she tucks away costumes. At one point she worked in the Billing Studio Theater's costume room. I loved it there!! Oh the hats and dresses made me swoon! Over her many years of acting and working at BST she collected some wonderful garments. I have been dressing up in this gauzy layered vest from the time it brushed the ground as I strutted the living room in clicky, dress-up heels. It has always been my most favorite piece in the closet.(Is it weird that I daydream about wearing it?!) Every time I opened the wooden door and was embraced by the clean, pungent scent of ceder I would dig through the feathers, polyester, beads, and layers of fabric to find the vest. Last night I asked if I could have it and she gladly gave it to me. I am a happy girl :)

Now I need to complete (or rather start!) my short story critique on London's "To Build a Fire", read Hamlet, finish Euripides' "Trojan Women", oh and take a look at my online human geography class (it's been over a week!). I just have to tell myself that learning is fun when it suffocates me! blah! But, at least I have my beautiful vest to write in :)

Wedded Bliss!

This past weekend I spent in Sonoma, California. My cousin Trish was married! It was a beautiful ceremony and out-of-this-world delightful reception!

I have lots of pictures for you to enjoy! I'll describe each as I go, but just so you have a general idea of my week Thursday night the Nugent house was filled with tantalizing smells of Mexican fare and rich colors while close family and friends of the couple, Trish and Bronson, mingled. As a surprise, a mariachi band added extra excitement to the already festive affair!

 Friday afternoon rolled around. Treecy, Madi and Maggie enjoyed the ladies' luncheon while I gathered with Lizanne, Joe, J.R., and Kenzie for wine tasting. After receiving a long list of local wineries, we called Hanzell's to see if we could get in--it is the premiere winery in Sonoma. After providing them with a blood sample and description of our socks we scored a tour and tasting! We toured the grounds tasting grapes as we wandered and then went to the library of wines dating back to its establishment in the 1950s to have our tasting. From there we went to Gundlach Bundschu where we were served by a former West High Graduate--what a small world! Also, we saw the decanter in use. It is a vessel which the wine is poured through, much like swirling the wine in the glass, to aerate the sample. (It could have been my bubbly disposition from the sipping, but it looked like an ovary to me). Later that evening we gathered to enjoy dinner at the Swiss Hotel. It was splendid, filled with garlic, and made us an hour late to the cocktail party! The cocktail party took place in the Nugent's historical barn (also the place where Treecy and Mike, Trish's dad, were married 15 years earlier). Too much fun for one day!

The Saturday rolled around. We were shuttled to the site--Trish's mother's property--overlooking rolling vineyards and nestled within green foothills. It was a touching and sincerely sweet ceremony. The guests were then escorted to the house by a bagpipe player. We had cocktails on the patio while the bridal party wrapped up photos. The bagpipes then signaled for the party to head down to the tents where there would be dinner and dancing. The evening was filled with laughter, wonderful dinner courses, drinks, incredible music and dancing. The late night revelers then moved back up to the house where In-n-Out burgers were brought in to satiate our dance-crazed bodies. A few guys wandered around with champagne bottles while others gathered around the fire and then others just passed out on the floor. It was one hell of a party!

Enjoy the pictorial description of my wonderful weekend!

Lizanne, Mattie, and Kenzie outside of the winery of Hanzell

Kenzie, Lizanne, and Mattie in front of the vineyard of Hanzell

J.R., Lizanne, Joe, and Mattie in front of Hanzell's vineyard. The oldest in the new world!

Mattie, Lizanne, Joe, Kenzie, and J.R.

Tasting wine at Gundlach Bundschu

Mike, Suzie, Mattie (in the blue dress!), Debbie, Randy, Jimmy, Liz, Joe, Lizanne, Brittany, J.R. at the Swiss Hotel

Jimmy and Liz at the Friday night cocktail party in the Nugent barn

J.R. sneaking a taste of the cake ;)

Joe and Lizanne at the wedding reception

Debbie, Mattie, Treecy at the cocktail party proceeding the wedding ceremony

Mattie and J.R.

Sarah and Mattie at the after party

Kat, Mattie and Sarah

Sarah and Mattie on the dance floor :)

Mattie and Treecy

The beautiful couple! Trish and Bronson