Visits and friends.

I had the best weekend. Austin friends from all over (Austin, Durham, Boston, DC) came to town to celebrate Kara's birthday (and pulled off the greatest surprise ever) and see each other since we all moved away. We cuddled, laughed until we cried, drank tons of booze, ate delicious things, acted like tourists, did tarot readings, had terrible/amazing ideas like stick and poke tattoos and underwear handstands, and generally just died of happiness. Sometimes I'm sad that most of my friends/favorite people are so far away, but it makes times like this that much better. It was perfect.

Lately.

Lately my life is full. Full of faces I love, sisters and babies and closest friends. Full of reunions. Full of homemade dinners and desserts. Full of beautiful trees and leaves and weather. Full.

Bijou and I had a sleepover last weekend. We stayed up late, ate ice cream (twice), watched Jem and the Holograms, went to the park and played with one of my oldest, closest friends, Jason, and his girls. I thought it was going to be my temporary baby fever cure as it usually is (she is my heart, but babygirl is a handful) but it actually just made it feel like, wow, this is what it's all about. Walking around the town center holding both of our hands, swinging her in between us like my parents used to do to me. Waking up early to her poking her head in, a huge smile plastered across her face, crawling into bed with us and saying "Auntie Sarah, I'm SO happy I woke up here!" and making bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches together. 

This week my best friend moved home and I couldn't be more thrilled. We haven't lived in the same state in three years and it has been so refreshing to be together and talk about the stupid stuff we did when we were 16 and sing at the top of our lungs to our old favorite songs. Being apart for so long resulted in a lazy friendship of texting and emails, so to go back to seeing each other a few times a week is so much fun and I feel like we have been renewed. And when Chris, her boyfriend, is around, it just completes it. Him and I are basically the same person (Sorry, Alyssa) and we just talk talk talk talk talk. He gets me on everything, even spiritual stuff, which makes everything feel right and united.

Monique's boyfriend came home after being away the entire year and I feel like I'm going to burst with emotion because of it. We didn't expect him to be home until next summer, but a fabulous turn of luck/fate/whatever it may be, brought him home this week. I really didn't think it would effect me so much, but waking up and finding out I literally felt my heart swell. I'm just so so so so happy for him and my sister and Malakai and their beautiful little family. He's been around for years and years and I have always loved him so much, and I still can't get over seeing his face around the house and out with us. It's perfect.

<3

Durham !

This weekend Kara and I took a trip down to Durham to see Haley for her birthday. We had the best time! Kara is the best road trip buddy because she talks as much as I do, I don't think there was more than 30 seconds without speaking the entire four hour drive. Brian Kelly drove up from Athens to join in on the celebration, and I got to see Nicole again for the first time in two years! We spent Saturday talking, laughing, eating (pretty sure I ate 700 cupcakes and the best burger I've had in months) and drinking, and Sunday was the perfect lazy lady day. I can't even explain how happy I am that so many Austin friends are close by now, just a few more to work on and I'll have everyone I need!

Goodbyes and stop-bys.

I think it's safe to say this week has been fairly exhausting. Chuckie's Uncle David, who we spent a ton of time with while we lived in Atlanta, passed away last week. It was totally unexpected and hit everyone pretty hard. We drove down to Georgia early Thursday morning to say our goodbyes and spend time with family. It was so good to see everyone again, but it was sad not having David there, who was always the one putting a smile on your face. Even though living in Atlanta had a lot of negatives, I'm so glad we had that time there to spend with him (and the rest of the family), and I'm so glad he got to share our wedding day with us (which was a huge deal to him as well). 

On a lighter note, we stopped in Durham on our way home to see one of my favorite ladies, Haley, who recently moved there with her sister. I cannot express how happy I am to have her in driving distance. She just gets me and I've missed her so much. We made friends with the owner of an awesome bar and had a fabulous brunch.

Chuckie has lost over 30 pounds in the last few months so we also went on a little shopping trip. As much as I love shopping for myself (number one choice, let's be real) I LOVE shopping for him. I have no idea why, maybe because it's like grown up barbies except Ken is not a California fucking creeper. All I can say is he's looking pretty god damn sharp, especially now that he's a Real Adult with a Real Job and isn't just wearing khaki dickies all the time (the bane of my existence). 

For now I am so glad to be home and in bed, cuddling with the children and my flan, finishing up my book (Gone girl, which had me saying OH MY GOD WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!?!? over and over again. I recommend it), and preparing for my work week to start (which I'm ready for, WHO AM I!?!). Goodnighttttttttt!

DC brunch, booze, and zoos.

This weekend Chuckie and I ventured up to DC to hang out with a few fabulous ladies I know. Kristen picked out Firefly for brunch, a GF-friendly restaurant that was delicioussss. 

Mushroom & cheddar omelette, home fries

Several mimosas later we decided to go to the zoo. Let me tell you what, I love the zoo, LOVE IT, but every time I go all the animals go into hiding and we see maybe 10% of the animals. WHY? WHY ANIMALS? Let me also tell you that walking around a zoo in 90 degree weather after a lot of mimosas probably isn't the smartest idea. We lasted maybe an hour before we were all "soo... about those bars up the road...". 

Possibly my favorite couple ever.

HOW CUTE ARE THEY? I love this so much. 

BTW that panda is me.

We went to a few different places, I got a delicious brownie (the first delicious one I've had IN MONTHS, THANK YOU BABBY JESUS), ate some delicious mussels, and everyone had beers the size of their heads.

It was such a great day. I love those ladies so much and the two Charles were so in love. Now I just have to set a plan in motion to get Eva to visit her grandma in Fairfax more often...

Sunday was rainy and gloomy, so Chuckie and I cuddled up to watch the Hunger Games. It may not have anything on the book, but I will still watch it 700 times in the next year, I'm sure. I then had THE. BEST. reading of my life. Holy crap. One of the ladies I know who does spiritual work was so impressed with him that she asked him to come into town and give readings and I'm so glad I got to have one. Five minutes into the reading he stopped what he was saying, looked at me and said, "why are you so afraid of ______?" (one of my Big Time Issues) I probably picked my jaw up off the floor ten times during the reading. He helped me realize A LOT and I feel like it was just as much a therapy session as a reading. I'm going to be doing some work with him soon and I'm SO excited. I think this was the extra push I needed to get off my butt and start doing some of the work I need to be doing and I'm so looking forward to it.

July, so far.

July has been pretty busy but great so far. Chuckie and I started planning a potential October vacation, one of my best friends came to visit for a week, I had dinner with one of my oldest, closest friends, had an excellent girls night with some potential new (and old!) friends, spent a ton of time with my babies and had excellent lunch dates with my love. I haven't had a single want-to-kill-myself stomach ache since going GF (although I've had plenty of regular/acid reflux/nausea from neck pain stomach aches, but I digress) and although I'm still a grumpy asshole about it most of the time, I'm learning to adjust. 

Next weekend we're heading up to Philly (and surprisingly going to try to convince myself to move there? Side-eyeing myself, to be quite honest) to celebrate Chuckie's birthday. Things are good.

perfect iced coffee

A fabulous post

I had a great post written up for today (by really great I mean it's about tv and vampires) but then my friend, Tanie, wrote the best blog post I've seen in a very long time and I think everyone needs to read it. It also includes a FABULOUS video by Bronny. Props to you, ladies, you go Glen Coco!

Austin & friends

Austin was just as amazing as I thought it would be. The Sunday night we got in we met up with a few friends at one of my favorite bars (Liberty) and it was like falling in love with them all over again. More and more friends showed up and I felt surrounded by love and laughter and happiness, I can't even explain it. In my one year in Austin I made more long lasting, true friendships than I have in my entire life. A lot of these pictures are shitty quality but idgaf because these nights were amazing and need to be remembered here.

Shirley, truly one of my soulmates

By Wednesday I woke up with strep throat, but really I think it was just me giving myself an excuse to not worry about finishing all the wedding related things I had to do. My sisters flew in that night which resulted in typical sister + three baby craziness. Thursday was supposed to be ladies night out but being on antibiotics and not feeling so hot we ended up walking around first Thursday (one of my favorite Austin events) and eating at the food trucks. My baby cousin Catarina came in with my sisters and I was so, so excited. She's 16 and the most loving, mature, wonderful girl I know. The absolute complete opposite of everyone I knew when I was 16 (including myself). She was so excited to be in Austin and I tried to show her the best time I could.

Friday I got to spend the day with a lot of my Portuguese family. We walked around downtown, ate delicious lunch, and sat out at a wine bar and enjoyed the beautiful weather. I don't see my family very much anymore but I love, love, love them. They gave me a sense of real culture my entire life and my Uncle Joe (Catarina's father who has always been my favorite uncle) has a way of making every situation more enjoyable and making you see the better side of life. This is a man who goes on and on about how beautiful and wonderful his family is and how he's the happiest man in the world, wrote "be happy" on our wedding check and reminds me that even if things aren't great in my immediate family that we're like his daughters and he'll never let us be mistreated. It gives me so much hope to see that he has never lost his spark, no matter what life has thrown at him. /sappy

Friday night was "gay night". Every single guy friend I have in Austin (unless in a relationship with a close girlfriend of mine) is gay, not to mention my brother in law was coming in that night and he needed to experience Austin's gay scene. It was FABULOUS. I had the best time laughing and drinking and watching the boys dance in cages and eating whataburger at 3am.

 I got to spend a ton of time with Sandra (who was a good friend from VA that I convinced to move to Austin, stupid, stupid me because now I need her back in my life)  and even though every picture we took together was terrible quality I just can't help but absolutely love them because she's one of the best ladies I know.

Saturday I picked up & had lunch with Alyssa, one of my few best friends who I haven't seen in two years. Even though I do pretty well not living close to friends, it was great to see her face after all this time. We had a rehearsal dinner with all the family which was interesting but also really nice. Niec spent the night so we could have good girly time on my "last night", and made me cry with her gifts (I swear, I haven't cried in a few years but anytime we're together and have one of our special (aka ativan) nights, I cry. It's amazing.) 

I wish so badly I could pick up Austin and move it to the east coast. The city, the people, the lake, the food, everything. It is an almost perfect town for me other than the fact that it's stuck in the middle of Texas. We're playing with the thought of moving back, but I know it's not the right step for our future (although the step that I know is right is the one I'm majorly struggling with). I just hope I can visit every year and keep these friendships and moments and memories alive. 

Wedding post tomorrow!

THINGS.

Today I want to talk about awesome things. 


Tanie, one of my favorite ladies I've met through the internet made me the BEST banner in the entire world. 

Tanie's photo, I'll take one when my room doesn't look like butt

LOOK AT IT. It's OMBRE GLITTER.  It is the greatest thing in my bedroom right now.  Instead of being an asshole like half the people on etsy, she keeps the cost super low and makes them incredibly fast.  I'm obsessed.  I want my entire house to be filled with banners and bunting and I want her to be my bff/mom/craft partner. 

The Keurig single cup coffee maker.  Chuckie got it for Christmas and I. Love. It.  I don't even drink that much coffee but I insist on making it constantly because I'm amazed by it. It's so fast, it's so delicious.  Right now I'm drinking tea because I didn't have to heat up water for five minutes and steep tea.  It's just ready instantly.  The cups are expensive but I plan on buying every kind of coffee and tea and hot chocolate ever. 

Due to my extremely busy life lately, I've been doing a lot of daydreaming.  I've sort of decided we should settle in Asheville (although it would probably be a good idea to actually go there before I decide my life) so I've been looking at houses online constantly.  Asheville happens to have a ton of my favorite style houses (cottages & bungalows) so I'm like a twelve year old boy looking at porn all day.  That leads me into my daydreams of owning my own business so I don't ever have to have a boss EVER AGAIN.  I think about the set up and all the cool classes I can take and all the weird hippies I'll meet.  If I want to go on vacation for a week I CAN BECAUSE I'M MY OWN BOSS.  If it snows and I'm scared to drive GUESS WHAT? I CAN CLOSE.  It sounds like heaven tbh.  Hopefully we can get this plan in motion soon (and hopefully it'll start out with a visit to the city in the next month or so). 

>:(

My positive outlook and fun for July lasted five whole days, until the rug was pulled out from under us yet again.  I'm still trying to keep my head up but it's hard when the person you love the most can never catch a break.  

The weekend was still successful with a girly night on sixth street, breakfast sandwiches at 3am, a housewarming party with lots of laughs, and a fourth of July full of friends, pools, food and fun.