Swiftie for LIFE

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I pre-ordered Taylor's 1989 from Target (bonus songs duh!) the minute she announced it. That was all the way back in August and October 27th seriously felt like it was light years away. Ok maybe not THAT far but it didn't feel close. So I impatiently waited. I focused on other new music that had come out. (This fall has been so busy in the new music department!) Then she released two songs a couple weeks before the entire album. I bought them both EVEN though I had already pre-ordered it. Eh whatever. It's my money! She started posting lyrics on her Instagram feed and I watched videos about her secret sessions and it made me SO EXCITED. Like teenage girl excited. I feel like I'm supposed to be ashamed of this at twenty nine years old but I'm not at all. Dave Grohl gets it. I'm very open about my Taylor Swift obsession/love/girl crush/BFF from afar. Sure I like a pop song here and there, we all do. WE ALL DO. But she is just so much more. She seems so genuinely awesome and that mixed with actual talent (she writes, sings, and plays multiple instruments) makes for one hell of an artist. Whether her music is your cup of tea or not, you have to admit she's got way more going on than any other artist on the radio and beyond. I got my pre-order tracking info. last weekend and proceeded to check it multiple times a day. Monday aka release date arrived and my CD showed that it was in Orlando!

Ok awesome! I would probably have it by the time I got home. Wrong.

Ok, no problem, I'll definitely have it Tuesday. Wrong again.

I finally got it Wednesday even though it showed that it had been in Orlando since Monday AM. What the hell UPS/USPS?! I was driving Dustin and I to get dinner so he ripped the package open for me and popped in the CD. He loves the song "Bad Blood" so we played that one first. I got butterflies of excitement the whole drive. I mean, every song is just perfect. It's all so 80s pop but still so Taylor. I love her full leap into a whole new genre of music. It fits her well. I've had the CD on repeat in my car. On my phone. On my computer. I have her songs with me everywhere I am. I can't get enough. Dustin even recorded audio last night of me singing (to myself in the bedroom) while he was watching TV in the living room. When he played it for me I was so embarrassed. Embarrassed of my singing voice. It was like he overheard a private moment between Taylor and I. It sounds so stupid when I type it out but whatever.

At this point I definitely have my favorites but I don't dislike any of the songs. It's one of those albums you can listen to beginning to end not just skip around to a few different tracks. I'm so in love with New Romantics. Also, Blank Space. And Bad Blood. Oh hell, I can't choose. I love hearing the background of the inspiration behind some of the songs. For example, You Are In Love is a song she wrote about Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff's relationship. It's the sweetest song. Lena loves it so much she's already picked it as her future wedding song. This album/CD/work of art is perfect.

Thank you Taylor. You are a delight.

Here are my favorite lyrics from each song:

1. Welcome To New York
Took our broken hearts, put them in a drawer
Everybody here was someone else before

2. Blank Space
You can tell me when it's over
If the high was worth the pain
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
'Cause you know I love the players
And you love the game

3. Style
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time

4. Out of the Woods
The rest of the world was black and white
But we were in screaming color

5. All You Had To Do Was Stay
People like you always want back the love they gave away
And people like me wanna believe you when you say you've changed

People like you always want back the love they pushed aside
But people like me are gone forever when you say goodbye

6. Shake It Off
I never miss a beat
I'm lightning on my feet

7. I Wish You Would
I wish we could go back
And remember what we were fighting for
I wish you knew that I miss you too much to be mad anymore

You always knew how to push my buttons
You give me everything and nothing

8. Bad Blood
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love

Oh it's so sad to think about the good times

Band-aids don't fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show

9. Wildest Dreams
Say you'll remember me standing in a nice dress staring at the sunset

10. How You Get The Girl
Remind her how it used to be
With pictures in frames of kisses on cheeks

11. This Love
This love left a permanent mark
This love is glowing in the dark

12. I Know Places
'Cause they got the cages, they got the boxes
And guns
They are the hunters, we are the foxes
And we run

13. Clean
You're still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can't wear anymore

14. Wonderland
And life was never worse but never better

15. You Are In Love
You keep his shirt
He keeps his word
And for once you let go
Of your fears and your ghosts

You kiss on sidewalks
You fight and you talk
One night he wakes up
Strange look on his face
Pauses, then says
"You're my best friend"

You can hear it in silence
You can feel it on the way home
You can see it with the lights out
You are in love

And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words

16. New Romantics
We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom
Honey, life is just a classroom

What My Friends Wore: Katie

I'd like to preface this by saying thank you in advance to everyone who participates in this little blog series of mine, especially Katie for being number one! I am so excited to see, share, and get inspiration from my friends' wardrobe.  I'm sure this has been done on other blogs before but this is my own little take on it. I'm hoping on sharing a "What My Friends' Wore" post about once a week depending how many girls/outfits I get. Woo! Virtual high five to fashion, fun, and friends!

Like I said, Katie is up first! She sent me this photo earlier today and my initial reaction was what I fun take on a seemingly casual outfit. I love how she dressed up a regular ol' pair of jeans and a baseball tee with heels and a fedora. This is something I would have never thought of but it really works well. I'm also loving the neutral color scheme. She might as well model for S&T because now I want to go spend all my money there. Work it, gurrrrrl! You look amazing from head to foot!

Fedora: Sophie & Trey

Baseball Tee: Sophie & Trey

Jeans: American Eagle

Pumps: Payless

A Gentleman's Brawl

It was another great weekend. It's actually rare that weekends aren't great because even if life is shit at least you have sleeping in late, catching up on DVR, and not having to shower or wear any pants. Weekends are my jam. I went to several stores over the weekend on the search for two particular pieces of clothing for my work appropriate Halloween costume. I was able to find one at the mall and Dustin found the other at Walmart today. So now I'm set! 

Saturday night, we went over to Sam and Pat's so we could all head to the Solar Bears game together. We stopped for dinner at Ale House first. I've been there twice. Once for a birthday party where I brought in Starbucks while everyone else drank beers and shots ant what not and the other time was with my mom. It's decent but it's certainly not one of our go-to spots. I got their clam chowder soup and ate the entire thing. I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! Noted! But their fries were crap. 

We headed to Amway and made tons and tons of dong references because how can you not when you pass by Dong Imports on Colonial Drive. Exactly. It's humanly impossible to not giggle a little or for 5 minutes straight. We parked, we walked, and we were seated. It was extra exciting because Sam and Pat had never been to a real hockey game. I mean, the Solar Bears aren't in the NHL or anything but it's as real as any of those games. It was fun watching them experience it all for the first time. The cold air, the pucks hitting the glass, the refs getting knocked over, and of course there's nothing like witnessing your first goal. 

Sam and I had gone to get drinks and snacks and while out and about we ran into Shades (the mascot). It was his birthday so everyone got their own pair of SB glasses. Dustin actually really likes his and has worn them every day since. Ha! So we asked Shades if he'd take a photo with us and he was totally game. One of their dancers was really sweet and took the photo. Boom! 

As we were walking back to our seats Sam and I got to see the Solar Bears score for the first time. The whole place (all 6,000 of us) went wild. We watched the back of Dustin and Pat stand right up and cheer them on. There is nothing like being a part of the action when your team scores. They scored a couple more times but in the end they lost 5-3. Womp womp. It was such a fun time. We are already in talks to go back to another game sometime soon!

What I Wore #10

I don't know how to say it other than this outfit made me feel really good about myself and those days are always a little extra special. It was a regular ol' workday Thursday. I had no plans that evening but I wanted to wear a dress and tights and so I did. The whole ensemble was so comfortable and perfect for this cooler weather we've been experiencing. I'm so happy to finally be in layering weather! I got lots of compliments on my dress. I've had this thing for at least 5 years and it's held up amazingly well. I have a feeling I'll be strolling the streets of Savannah in an outfit like this (if not this exact one) come Thanksgiving! 

Dress: Target

Sweater: Forever 21

Tights: Target

Oxfords: Target

Dustin Says

I'm really starting to like Taylor Swift more. Her looks and personality are better than ever. Everything is going right for her. 

Your hair looks like Bill Murray's in Kingpin.

I don't trust anyone who uses the word "chillin".

I walked into 7-11 and the cashier guy was listening to some Forever 21 song. It was hipster as hell.

He's a special kind of idiot. 

I hate that you just referenced the movie Ghost Ship.

Found

12 Sex Things Men Really Don't Give a Crap About

A Few Things You Think About In Your Late 20s

Hey ladies, get out there and vote!

Review of I Can Make A Mess's 'Growing In'.

6 Facebook Statuses That Need To Stop Right Now

Hey Taylor, you can totally stalk me! And invite me to her secret sessions!

17 People Confess Their Reasons For Never Having Children

Jimmy's 'excuses' reminds me of a few people who are always too busy.

Pens and Paws!

Between Two Ferns with Brad Pitt.

You don't own me!

"Great Gatsby, boho, rustic", she explained to BuzzFeed News. "I mean, how many fucking ways can you dress up a damn mason jar?" A Parks & Rec themed wedding!

This chart apparently shows which music smart people and dumb people like.

Another great Taylor Swift interview. (Psst, I like writing letters too. Pen pals?)

Weekend Part II: Pig Butts & Pumpkin Guts

The girls asked months ago if we were going to carve pumpkins together come Halloween time in which I told them "totally!" - and so Katie and I picked Sunday for her and the whole family to come over. She even brought the newest member of their family, Piggybank aka Piggy Smalls. He's even cuter in person! Especially his little butt and tail. Ha! She put him out on our back porch with litter box and all and he just walked around as we got started on our pumpkins. The Zinzi family opted to paint theirs so I laid out a big thing of packing paper. Katie painted hers white with multicolored glitter polka dots and Tommy drew the Giants "NY" on his pump. The girls' pumpkins almost have an ombre look with a dash of glitter. Obviously.  Dustin and I sat down on the other side of the porch getting our carve on. Dustin decided on Bane and I carved Mike Wazowski of Monsters Inc. fame. Piggybank would just walk around us all while we worked. He had multiple paint patches on him from rubbing against the girls pumpkins. Then he'd come over and hang out on our side of the porch where he ate tons of pumpkin guts. He would even try to eat the pumpkin on our carving tools. Dustin and I had to hide them all so he wouldn't hurt himself by gnawing on a knife. He also kept trying to root pretty much everything. Tommy had told us he sometimes will bite him so I was all scared he was going to try to bite a toe but he never did. Although he did make me squeal a bit when his wet, cold nose touched my thigh.

Once we were all done with our pumpkins we moved the party inside. Well, all but Piggybank. We left him on the porch and he literally fell asleep in his litter box until they left.

I've been going through hours of old videos (I got old tapes transferred onto DVDs then put those on my iMac) and finally got all the "Katie" videos on one DVD. I mean I have video of before the girls were even born, when they were babies, and so on. I wanted her and Tommy to be able to have their own copy to watch whenever they wanted. The six of us ended up watching the whole thing in our living room. Aubrie was sitting next to me and said "Wow, I was SO cute" and then Kierce would say "Where am I?!" and we'd all respond "You weren't born yet kid." It was a lot of fun going back in time for a bit but also kind of sad. Old movies capture moments of time but they are also confirmations that things are constantly changing. It's still nice to look back on how it used to be.

Dustin got our turtle costumes out for Aub and Kierce to play with. They looked awesome as Raphael and Donatello! But boy did Tommy get a beating from those plastic weapons. Ha! And to make matters worse (for us)/better (for the girls) Dustin brought out our Nerf guns. For not having any kids, Dustin and I really know how to bring it in the toy department! Of course the girls went nuts with them. There were foam darts flying all over the place. Tommy got a few in the eye, Katie had some stuck in her hair and I just kept trying to take cover! It was a lot of fun. So much fun the girls were not very happy with me when it was time to put them away. Ha! Oh I remember the days of the pout! I was princess pout!

It was a seriously fun afternoon. One for the books blog for sure. 

 

What I Wore #9

I know this isn't the most outrageous outfit ever in existence. It's actually no where close but for me it's a little bit of a departure. I like pushing myself to be more creative about the pieces I put together and stepping out of that comfy little box I used to live in wardrobe wise. I bought these pants while Dustin and I were in Siesta Key and they are the most comfortable things ever. EVER. They are perfect for period bloating and cramps or if you're going out to a big dinner because...wait for it...stretchy waistband! I think all pants should have stretchy waistbands! They really make you feel 10x better about yourself. Also, the material is so light and soft. 

Sweater: Forever 21

Blouse: Old Navy

Pants: Forever 21

Sandals: Sophie & Trey

Weekend Part I: Get In Loser, We're Going Shopping

I hadn't seen Sam in what felt like forever so we made plans to spend Saturday together. We didn't really have a destination. We just kind of went along for the ride and went where the day took us. It first took us to Drunken Monkey which is this cute coffee shop. I go there for the sparkling Apple Juice though. I bought 3. One to drink and two to bring home and drink later. SO GOOD. Sam got a coffee and we both nibbled on various crumb cakes. As we were leaving I did my best 90s-wall-pose next to a colorful wall of art. We were just joking around but I actually really love the photo. I love it so much it will be the cover to my untitled debut album. It will just be the audio book of my blog. Ha! I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm going to stop right now.

Anyway...

Then I had this idea. Well wait a second. I've actually had this idea for years but Saturday it finally came to fruition. I thought it would be silly/cute/fun/awesome/symbolic for us (SAMantha & ASHley) to pose in front of the Sam & Ash music store. AND IT WAS. We first went inside hoping for some giant 'Sam & Ash' sign that a store clerk could snap our photo in from of but they didn't really have anything. We made friends with Jordy and chatted about our little plan. He suggested we stand next to this hashtag sign so we did. It didn't have quite the effect I was going for. Thanks anyway Jordy! So we went outside and took a selfie with the sign in the background like a bunch of nerds! But I mean, we had to. HAD TO. The sign was practically begging us. 

Backstory: Ok there's the obvious - BFFs since 1990 & our names are on a giant store sign. Totally cool! But then there's the little story of the first time Dustin and I were going to meet as told in this post. The short and short of it is Dustin and Pat came to Orlando and I was going to meet them but fell asleep like an idiot. Well, Dustin and I ended up meeting a couple weeks later and the rest is history. And then a few years after that Sam and Pat met and yeah it's all very much like a romantic comedy. Can someone write a script based off of this story? All I ask is Sam and I get to walk the red carpet with Tom Hiddleston at the premiere. Totally fair!

We stopped by Dear Prudence and then ate some lunch. I then got to introduce Sam to SamFlax. I don't know what was with all the Sam stores but it just so happens anything named Sam is awesome. I think it's just a rule of the universe. We walked slowly around the entire place because there's just so much to freak out over. On the way to Blue Bonnet we stopped by our elementary school. I swear that school has hardly changed at all. We were just going to take a photo in front of it but then we started walking the halls like we used to. So many memories came flooding back. I  remember playing "Saved By The Bell" in the auditorium when it was empty and rollerblading through the halls together. I remember exactly which classrooms I spent the most time in and where my post was during my patrol days. It was just really fun being there again. The place where we really started to grow into who we are. The place where our friendship began all those years ago. Talk about full circle.

circa 1993/1994ish

We walked into Blue Bonnet at the perfect time - right in the middle of a puppy party which was fantastic. We just hung out and watched Elaine and Frankie play with each other. It was the cutest! It was hard for us to leave but we had to move on. Some jackass was parked right behind Sam and it was hard for her to tell if she was about to hit them or not so I got out of the car and directed her. Right as I was about to open her door she said "Get in loser, we're going shopping." And it was just so perfect that we both died laughing. We walked up and down Edgewater and stopped in a few more shops before going back to her place. It was such a fun day of nothing and everything, giggles and heart to hearts. 

 

Blood Work with the Blood Jerk

Yesterday morning I woke Dustin up at 6:45 on his day off. He had offered to go with me to get my blood work done weeks ago and the day had finally arrived. We got there 5 minutes early. 7:10 AM to be exact. I signed in and we sat down in those ugly blue chairs. Dustin caught up on hockey on his phone. I tried to read some blogs to distract myself as each person was slowly called back. After 30 minutes of nervously waiting, my name was finally called. I asked the guy "Is it OK if my husband comes back? I'm not good with this kind of stuff..." and he said "Yeah as long as he behaves himself". Whatever the hell that means. I really hate when I can't tell if people are trying to be funny or are just weird. 

The guy had us wait in a very small room. I sat in the seat and Dustin stood next to the door. More waiting. Then it was finally my turn. I shifted in the seat with my heart pounding. The guy told me to uncross my legs and take my sweater off so I did. He asked which was the better arm for veins. I told him they both sucked. So he went with the left one. Tears started rolling down my face. I felt panicked. It was hard not to squirm around. I tried to take deep breaths but it came out like I was gasping for air. The guy kept saying things like "you've got to calm down", "you have to get over it", "it's all in your mind", "it's not like i'm cutting off your arm". I just wanted to scream at him FUCK YOU. I'm sure he meant well. I get that he's just trying to do his job and I wasn't making it easy on him. I get that. But when you choose to be in the medical field it should be mandatory to have some fucking compassion. Not everyone is good with needles. Or blood. Or whatever. We all have our little quirks. I totally agree that I needed to calm down. I WAS TRYING TO. I absolutely know it's a mental thing. It doesn't mean I can just wave a wand and it goes away. As he stuck me I started crying harder. He took the needle out because the vein was no good. He wrapped my arm as I told him I felt like I was going to pass out. Zero empathy from this man as he just looked at me. Thanks dude. Dustin was still next to the door because the room barely fit the 3 of us. I had hoped he'd be able to sit next to me and hold my hand or let me bury my face in his shoulder but the room was too small. So he just stood in the corner trying to talk me down from my panicked state. My faint feeling turned into nausea and I told the guy I was going to throw up. He let out an annoyed sigh and told Dustin to take me to the bathroom. So I "threw up" which was more of a dry heave since I had been fasting for 12 hours. There was nothing in my stomach but my body still went through the same motions. After 5 or so minutes in the bathroom I started feeling somewhat better. That's when Dustin took me to the water fountain. I could hear the guy say to Dustin "She should have drank a lot of water before coming..." as if that would have solved everything. Anyone who knows me at all knows I drink a ton of water on a daily basis, not just when I have some medical issue. After I drank EVEN MORE water I went back into the room for him to try again on my right arm. 

At this point I was not only worn out and panicked but I was fucking pissed. I sat down and turned my head and grabbed a chunk of hair with my hand and closed my watery eyes. I don't remember exactly what I was thinking about but I just tried to focus on anything else. The guy was able to get blood out of my right arm pretty quickly. As he wrapped my arm up he made a comment about all of my tattoos assuming that it's the same thing. IT'S NOT. When you get tattooed you are there willingly, the needle is completely different and it isn't pulling anything out of your body it's putting something in. After that insensitive and naive comment he then went on about how there are people in hospitals who don't even know their blood is being drawn and how lucky I am that I get to walk out of here. Of course I know there are people struggling with way worse things than I ever have but that doesn't mean that I matter less. That doesn't mean that my phobia of blood work & my anxiety doesn't deserve acknowledgement. We all have stuff. Yes, to the outside world it may seem trivial, it may even be trivial but it's still real and it's still something we are struggling to overcome. He made me feel like I was some drama-loving little baby who just needed to suck it up. I absolutely wish I could walk in , sit down, get my blood drawn and walk out like the other people that I saw there that morning but I'm not. At least not right now. 

I can't remember a time in my adult life where I've had a good experience giving blood. I've passed out or gotten sick every single time. But the difference with those times is the fact that the nurse was always extra nice. They'd get me ice and put it on my neck or bring me a cup of water. They'd have me lie down or even have another nurse come in and hold my hand while they drew my blood. Those are the things that help me get through it. All I need, all anyone needs is a little kindness and understanding. 

I got through it as I always do. Dustin helped me walk to the car and he drove me home while I drank Gatorade (which I ended up spilling all over my shirt - HA!) and ate muffins in the passenger seat. He joked around with me and made fun of the asshole which made me laugh. Dustin has a way of always making me feel better no matter what. His humor gets me through life much of the time. I'm so thankful for him. We made it home and before I left for work I cleaned up my shirt and tried to pull myself together.

Thank you Sam for the many funny memes but especially this one.
Thank you Rachelle for this hilarious/cute video.
Thank you Katie for the hilariously inappropriate memes and adorable Piggybank photos.
Thank you Nicole for checking on me.
Thank you Dustin for everything, always.

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9/10/14
I missed all the ladder climbing and dock walking. #DawsonsCreek

9/11/14
I just saw a book titled "Thugs & the Women Who Love Them" for sale on FB. I mean, it sounds like a page turner. Tempted.

It straight up kills me to have to take out a perfect stitch but no one likes crooked pockets.

I'm emotionally attached to my iPhone case. I'm already mourning the future loss of it.

9/15/14
Surge is coming back! That and Fruitopia remind me so much of middle school.

9/17/14
This is probably a duplicate tweet but WTF is up with Parenthood/Parks & Rec only getting 13 episodes each for their final season?!

9/19/14
You can save everything from your phone from photos to videos yet you can't save a voicemail without downloading an expensive app. Really?!

Just found a great white dress that would be so cute for a bride on ModCloth. Too bad I'm already married. Dustin, let's do it again!

9/20/14
"We need to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter. But work is third." -Leslie Knope

9/21/14
It's still a million degrees here in FL with 1,000% humidity but I"m decorating for fall anyway! Wreath! Banners! Candles!

Watching that Dawson's Creek student government episode where all the candidates promise "walkmans in study hall".

9/23/14
"Prank calling is what we did in the 90s to amuse ourselves. We didn't have instagram or candy crush." - Jen Kirkman/I Seem Fun Podcast/Episode 41

9/26/14
Hey mother nature, could you chill out on the rain? This is the one weekend I actually have plans outside!

9/27/14
I don't get cigarettes but I really don't get e-cigarrettes.

9/28/14
Oh you know, just spending my Sunday sobbing over a heartbreaking book.

10/3/14
A stranger called me brave for keeping my iPhone 6 in my back pocket. It's got a case and I would never just sit on it. Come on people.

10/5/14
Dustin and I just had to work as a team to scrape the batch of cookies I made off the sheet. I still don't  understand where I went wrong.

10/6/14
Picture Seinfeld's Elaine dancing on an elliptical. That's what is happening next to me right now at the gym.

10/9/14
So much new music to listen to over the next few weeks. I need more ears!

10/10/14
I just had an urge to clean all the grout in the entry/kitchen. I'm going to go to bed and see if the urge passes.

10/11/14
Coffee is seriously the biggest placebo. Just had a PSF and could easily nap for 2 hours. Actually having trouble staying awake. Pfft.

10/13/14
How cute is Ben Feldman?! I never noticed it when he was on Mad Men but I see it now on A to Z.

I just got a reddit account! Does this mean I can sit with the cool kids at lunch tomorrow? (Don't tell them I have no idea what I'm doing)

Downtown Deland

FRIDAY: Cupcakes. Cupcakes. CUPCAKES. Dustin and I used the last of our Yum Yum coupons to buy 6 delicious...YOU GUESSED IT...cupcakes. I am thrilled that Drunkin' Pumpkin is back! Mmm. MMM. I also got their Hootenanny Harvest Apple which is TO DIE. Dead. R.I.P

SATURDAY: Dustin and I planned on seeing Gone Girl to start out our day but since the earliest showing was at 11:05 (We love a 9 AM movie! We're like seriously old people.) we decided to grab breakfast first. We went to a little country establishment known as Cracker Barrel where I cleaned both of my plates of Apple Streusel French Toast, eggs, and bacon. Yeah that shit was the bomb. I have blogged of nothing but food so far but you know, that's the beauty of having your own blog. You can just ramble about the most mundane topics. Anyway, we saw Gone Girl with our super full stomachs. It was SO GOOD. It was just as batshit crazy as the book. I've got to say that it's the best book to movie ever - probably because the author wrote the script too. I can't even think of one thing that she left out. It was as close to the book as you can get.  Also, Ben and Rosamund are amazing in it. Ahh, go see it! Well, read the book then see it. Actually it doesn't matter since they are basically one in the same. 

SUNDAY: I met up with Katie and the girls in Downtown Deland around 11. We have had the Deland Indie Market on our calendars for months now. We've both wanted to go since they started having them about a year ago but for one reason or another neither of us had been. It was similar to the Big Bang Bazaar in that you just walk from table to table checking out each vendor - except this one was in a huge warehouse and wrapped around outside down the block. And yes, it was hot as hell. I typically stay away from all outdoor events when the weather report is 80+ degrees but I couldn't pass this little shindig up. The vendors were great. From vintage clothes to jewelry to hair accessories. I mean they had it all. But even more fun than that was getting to walk around with Katie and the girls. And speaking of the girls, I was super impressed with how well behaved they were. Not that they aren't usually but having to walk around in the heat with very little whining deserves a medal! As we walked around we stopped in a nearby shop that also sold alcoholic bevs. Half of the place was housewares and the other half was a bar which was pretty awesome. Katie ordered a sangria and I had a sip since it's the only alcoholic drink I actually like even though I never drink it. That thing was strong. By the time we walked over to Firehouse for lunch Katie was really feeling it. I was dying laughing when Aubrie said to her "Mom, your face is getting really red." HA! After lunch, Katie showed me around the rest of downtown and introduced me to all the little shops she frequents. She even bought me soaps which smell like a dream! There was a moment when we were in one of the shops that Kierce ran over to me, hugged my leg, and said "I love you Miss Ashley" and I just melted. Attention customers, clean up of melted Ashley on aisle 4!  Katie is raising some seriously sweet girls.  As we walked back to our cars we were pretty sweaty and gross but damn what a fun day! The sweat was totally worth it. A perfect Sunday spent with some of my faves.

'