Impromptu Winery Stop

I have been in an odd mood the past couple of days.  Blame it on hormones.  Blame it on work.  Blame it on whatever you like.  But it's been weird.  And sad and weird and just not fun.  Sunday, Mike had a soccer game early which I didn't go to because I wasn't feeling well (and of course it was their best game yet, dang it) and after his game, his after-game ice bath, and a quick lunch, we headed off to run some errands. Realizing that it was only 12:30 and all we had to do was grab some groceries and try to find a new belt for him, we decided hey, we can actually do something fun today if we want!

So we headed off to do some wine tasting.

I know I say all the time why we love living here.  But seriously, being able to just pop on over the bridge to a winery surrounded by trees where we can put up our feet on some adirondack chairs and enjoy tasty wine is too amazing for us to explain.  Side note:  adirondack is a weird word.  Weird.

On the way to Perigeaux Winery, we noticed a sign pointing to the left for Solomons Winery.  With a quick jerk of the steering wheel, we decided to try it out.  It turns out that the tasting room is in someone's house.  And their cat sits in there and looks at you.  And you drink out of plastic cups.  But the wine was actually good.  And we didn't get murdered.  So...that's good?

We eventually made it to Perigeaux and spent the next hour or so sitting out under the trees and enjoying our wine while talking about god knows what.  I may have over-indulged and teared up on the car ride home when Mike complimented me on something, but hey...impromptu winery trips can do that to you sometimes.

This next week, I promise to improve my mood and instead of being fussy about my current situation, I will remember the happy day we had on Sunday out under those trees, wine glass in hand, husband across from me.

Here are some crappy cell phone pictures of our day.

If paperbag pants are wrong, I don't want to be right.

(Can I please take a flattering picture, ever?)

Oh, this guy.

Blogtember - Self Portrait

Today's Blogtember assignment is just to post a self-portrait.  Me?  Take a selfie?  Never!

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Now, I have taken many a flattering and obnoxious self-portrait in my day.  But this one, this one right here so perfectly sums me up it had to be the one for today's post.

I'm eating cheese.

My hair is in a messy topknot.

I'm wearing leggings.

I'm not wearing a bra.

My eyes and forehead look huge.

Yep, that's me!

Blogtember - Favorite Online Shops

Alright, now this Blogtember post is going to be a breeze.  I need to link to my favorite online shops and some pieces from them I want right now.  Piece o' cake!

ASOS

ASOS!!  Oh I love ASOS.  Oh, I can usually not afford ASOS, but oh how I lust after it.

I feel very akin to ASOS because we are both a little weird, a little off, a little too much, but also kind of classic in our own ways.

Also, where else could I have gotten a strapless romper covered in sea horses?

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ChicNova

I don't know much about this shop besides the fact that I want every dress they offer and they seem to have perfected the schlump.  You know, that perfect amount of baggy without being TOO baggy.  Ohhhh they do it sooo well.

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ModCloth

I am a blogger after all.  I think that's like a rule that you love ModCloth if you blog.  But really, I love to be a little bit retro and I love a good work dress that can transition into day-wear and they are pros at that.

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(Hey Modcloth, make your pictures easier to put in a blog, will ya'?)

Etsy

Yes, I'm counting all of Etsy as one online shop.  Because I can.

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MartofChina

I haven't actually ordered anything from here yet because it kinds of scares me.  But if it's for real...oh man do they have some cute stuff for cheap!

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Blogtember - When Your Life Took A Turn

Today's Blogtember post is supposed to be about a distinct moment when your life took a turn.  Here goes!

I was generally always a very self-conscious person.  I was not pretty not ugly, not skinny not fat, not great at anything not horrible at anything.  I just was.  And I hated myself for it for a very long time.  And I was filled with jealousy of those that were pretty/skinny/great/yadayadayada.  (And what a waist of time that was, I tell you.) When I try to describe myself as shy and self-conscious, I always picture my highschool friends laughing because they will remember crazy/loud/funny Val.    But the reality is, that was a mask that I wore.  And I wore it well.  If I can't be as pretty and skinny as you, I'll be funny and loud and make fun of myself and then I'll have friends.  I may not be getting asked out on dates, but people will think I'm funny and like me.  And it worked for a long time.

The distinct moment I remember my life taking a turn was when I dropped out of college and took a job as a flight attendant in New Jersey.  Now, in hindsight this wasn't a GREAT life decision.  Not finishing school on time and taking a normal 9-to-5 job has hindered me in a lot of ways and ugh the debt and ugh the stress.  But still, it did change my life in ways that are for the better.  I left Bakersfield to get away from that old Val that wore the funny girl mask; to get away from a boy that was making me feel even worse about myself; and just to get away.

And I did.  I moved to New Jersey and made a new group of friends and became this other Val.  I wasn't wearing a mask any more.  I was just me.  And this weird thing started happening where I had confidence and people came to me for advice and guidance.  I wasn't covering up insecurities with jokes.  I was just being me.  (And kind of a trashy me, but I mean come on...it was JERSEY.)

And obviously Jersey didn't work out.  But I got so much out of it.  Confidence, independence, and just the realization that I could be who I really was and not worry about what people thought.  (Duh)  So that was my moment.  As stupid an idea as it was and as much as it didn't work out, I'm so glad I did it.

This is Jersey Val. Jean dress, cleave, hair poof - the works!

And side note:  if I hadn't moved to Jersey, I wouldn't have been home when I was that winter for Mike to ask me out on our first date and the rest is history lalalalala.

A Boat Ride

The other day at work I went for a boat ride.  The museum I work at gives cruises during the warmer months and I figured, as a new employee, I had to spend an hour of my work day trying out the cruise...right?

It turned out to be a gorgeous day and I would take that cruise again and again if I could.

It definitely beats sitting at my desk in front of a computer all day.

Here are some photos I snapped during the cruise.

Blogtember - A Time You Were Afraid

For today’s Blogtember post, I’m supposed to tell a story about a time I was very afraid.

I get scared a lot.  I’m a CHICKEN.  Like, I still don’t like the dark.  If we’re getting ready to go to bed and Mike turns off all the lights in the living room before I've left the room, I freeze in fear and don’t move until he turns a light back on.  It’s pretty pathetic.

But when I try to think of a story to tell about a time I was really afraid, there’s only really one.  I was walking Tuffy behind our apartments by the creek back when we lived in Chico.  It was about 5:00 pm and it was still lovely and light out and I wanted to walk him along the creek back to my office to visit the accountants who were working late during tax season.  This shirtless, methy, shaved head, tattoo covered guy was walking a little bit behind us and I picked up my pace to put more distance between us.  And then he started barking at us.  Like a creepy, methed out dog.  And instead of running or changing course or you know, anything else, I turned around and said something sassy to him.  Not a great move because then he started CHASING me.  He started screaming things about how I better watch out, he’s going to get me, calling me the N-word, weird weird awful stuff.  So I started running and pounding on apartment doors and this lovely little old lady let me in.  And then Tuffy peed all over her porch.  Poor scared pug.  We called the police and since he was literally walking towards the part of the creek that was across the street from the police station, I’m hoping they nabbed him.

I still can’t believe that lady let me in.  In this day and age, I could have very well been some crack head playing a trick on her just to get in her apartment.  But she didn't even hesitate; she let me and my scared little dog in and was kind to us and gave us her phone and was genuinely concerned.  After he was far away enough gone and I was off the phone with the police, I ran home and called Mike to come home early while I barricaded myself in the apartment.  

(We went back the next day and brought her a potted plant and cookies.  That lady seriously rocked.)

And from then on, I never have sassed, flipped off, stank-eyed, or anything else a crazy person on the street.  And I carry mace.

Because being sassy ain't worth getting choked to death on a public walking path while your pug watches, okay?

(Too dark?) 

Blogtember - Advice

So for Blogtember's topic today I'm supposed to drop some hard, cold, genius knowledge on you.  Or, as classy people word it, useful advice.  Here goes!  (I'm a trainwreck half the time, don't listen to anything I say)

Go to the gym.

No seriously, that's my advice.

I hate working out.  HATE it.  But I also hate being overweight and if I don't watch myself I get a pouch and my pants get really tight and I muffin top and it's really gross and I get really sad.  And I know a lot of people have that exact same problem.  But we don't do anything about it.  Because we're lazy.  Or embarassed.  Or nervous. Or we suck at it.

But seriously, just go.

No one at the gym is thinking, "Hey look at that fat girl use really small weights on that machine.  She sucks."

They're all just thinking about themselves, their workout, how they look, and other daily nonsense.  Every time I see another person at the gym I honestly think, "Good for them."  Because I know how hard it is to get off your ass and go.

(Unless they didn't wipe off the machine after using it.  Then I'm thinking, "Sweaty bastard I hope you break a toe.")

I did this ab workout today for the first time because my stomach is getting smooshy and my pants are tight and it's been making me sad.  And let me tell you...I was AWFUL at it.  So bad.  Mike gave up on timing me and got up and walked away at one point.

And I felt like shit afterwards.  The usual tirade flew through my brain, "You suck.  You're too fat.  You'll never be good at this.  You should quit."

But I finished the workout and shuffled my sad butt over to where Mike was using a machine and said a few self-pitying things and then got that same sad butt on a machine and kept working out.  Because that's what you've gotta do.

So just go.

You may look silly or not be able to do things, but at least you went to the gym and tried.  And it will get easier.  And some days will feel awesome.

And, statistically, there will probably be an awkward midget chick with too much belly fat trying to do windmills on the mat next to you and I promise, she's not judging a damn person in that joint.  She's just trying not to die.

Reasons I Will Never Be Cool

Here are some reasons I will never be cool:

Because I think this trend is stupid.  Rings are meant for a couple of fingers and pushed down.  These top rings stress me out.  Because I am old and uncool.

Because I won't ever understand any cultural references to Gossip Girl or the new 90210 and it bums me out that teenage girls are watching shows like this.  My 90210 and Saved By The Bell chicks dressed like normal people, weren't stick thin, and weren't banging multiple dudes.  This generation is so screwed if these are their role models.

Because I won't understand any references to these guys either.  Sorry.

Because I think the cult of Crossfit is generally pretty obnoxious and unsafe.

Because I will never be the type of blogger who takes high quality photos at the farmer's market, thrift store, or just everywhere really.

Because I haven't joined the mommy club and probably never will.

Because I love styles like this, but can never quite pull them off.

Because I would rather spend my nights watching this with my husband than doing pretty much anything else.

Because I am too lazy to do cool manicures....ever.

Because....as evidenced by this post, I'm kind of a snarky bitch and would rather be so than be cool.  That cool?

Blogtember - 3 Months Off

For today's Blogtember post, we're supposed to talk about what we would do if we could take 3 months off of our current lives and do anything in the world.

This one was easy.

I would do this:

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and this

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and this

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and this

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I would pack up my things and my husband and I would travel Europe.  But not in a backpacky, touristy kind of way.  In the lazy, eat whatever we want, walk wherever we want, drink whenever we want, stop and sit and just look at the sites, and spend days sitting on terraces reading books kind of way.  

That would be a perfect 3 months in my mind.

Anyone want to fund that for us?