New Ways To Be Awed Each Minute

So I might have not taken my camera to dinner with me. Instead these were taken with J's phone (and thus can't make the pictures any bigger).

We went to the Shoreline Grill. It's on the water (I didn't realize there was water in Texas. Yes, I know that is a little bit stupid of me, but, I mean... desert... I don't think of water. Add in the fact that J's never introduced me to any bodies of water in this fine state, and this is news.) I picked it based on the marvelous combination of it being listed on both Restaurant.com and on Open Table. I have high standards, what can I say? We sat outside despite the heat.

J's tuna with vegetable couscous.

I had bass saltimbocca, which I would not have expected. But really, what is not improved by bacon and prosciutto? It came with roasted tomatoes and gnocci.

The food was incredible. I was seriously impressed. They managed the very subtle feat of perfectly moist  fish that was filling, but fantastically light. No flavor beat you over the head, everything blended and was paired beautifully. The tuna was plump and ever so lightly seared, while the vegetables added the slightest bit of crunch to the couscous. The saltimbocca was light, barely crispy on the outside, flaky and juicy on the inside. The gnocci were positively creamy, while the tomatoes and spinach added a hint of flavor.

The patio area around the restaurant was lovely and surprisingly lush.

Gap Black Tank Top (Gap)

Black Halo Silk Dress (Shopbop)

White Flower Belt (Off Saks)

Vero Cuoio Tan Shoes (Marshalls)

Arnette Black Sunglasses (Sunglass Hut)

This flower fell off the arbor and literally whacked me in the head. You'd think, eh, a flower, that can't be that bad.. and yes, it looks all innocent, but really, it was a whack. I took it as a sign and wore it home, only to let it die on the counter overnight. Ahhh life and death...

Aqua Ring (who knows where)

Aqua and Red Earrings (je ne sais pas)

Song of the Day: (Snow Patrol- Crack The Shutters)

She Got Nothing Left To Wear

So all of that from last post about the motorcycle ride? Oh yes, let me tell you... It all started with this:

That would be myself and a very beautiful man on a bike. Thanks T! It's actually a black and while print that I photographed and uploaded, so pardon the quality being somewhat crap. 

I had never been on a motorcycle before and I was, shall we say, psyched. It was part of a photo project for school. T was good enough to lend his bike and his body and we went up and down the little bit of road over and over and over trying to get the picture. I really like the resulting photograph, although of course, I can look at it and be my own worst critic if I try. After that, I was a little addicted, although a motorcycle addiction is a bit of a hard one to get your fix on with. When an opportunity presents itself to go for a ride, I try to take it. So when R mentioned 'Harley', I got really excited. We figured out a day and I was barely containing my excitement all week. Of course, the day dawned approximately 12 billion degrees in the shade and only got hotter. This is me. I am really, really hot. 

And maybe a little bit melodramatic. But just a little.

Fanning did nothing.

Arnette Black Sunglasses (Sunglass Hut)

Thank goodness for my shades though. I will never get on a bike without massive eye protection. That and sunscreen. Of course, if you are unable to reach all parts of you that will be exposed to the sun, like say your mid back, well, unfortunately the intention of sunscreen doesn't often translate into protection. I basically went out the door resigned to the inevitable stripe of a burn that was going to show up right below where my hand could reach and above the shirt. Also, boots were such a good idea.

Milly Polka-Dot Top (Ebay)

Guess? Black Shorts W/Suspenders (that I detached) (Guess?)

Vintage Black Cowboy Boots (Clothes Encounters Of A Second Kind)

Pink Socks (Costco)

So I have this thing for wearing socks that don't match my outfit when I wear boots. It's mostly something I do at work because it just makes me smile to subvert the dress code.. even though no one knows but me. It's not like pink is a crazy color, but knowing that that's what was under the boots basically made me walk around all day with the sound, 'tee hee' on loop in my head.

And let me introduce you to the new love of my life.. bag, meet blog... blog, bag. I suppose a little background is in order: I have a bizarre hatred for yellow. Bizarre because it’s not like yellow ever did anything to me. Besides exist. And for that, I shall never forgive it. Well, actually, it (the color) made what’s-her-face go mad, so I guess that’s something. (Ah, I knew the magical internet could illuminate things- The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Linky here if you have no clue what I'm talking about: http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/wallpaper.html and, even better, a few sentences on why she wrote the story, linky there: http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/whyyw.html . We read the piece in a class I took on short stories. One of the most thrilling classes I’ve had. Clearly I missed my calling as an English major, and by ‘English Major’ what I really mean is just someone who sits in an overstuffed and very old armchair, curls up around a good book or volume of poetry, cradles a cup of tea, and reads… oh man, I’m feeling faint just thinking about it. Raptures! But yeah, back to yellow).

I. Hate. Yellow.

B can absolutely attest to that fact. Hated it for years.

I have an aversion to yellow highlighters, yellow candy, yellow clothes especially. I have this perverse thing for a particular kind of yellow stone in jewelry, but I think it’s largely because the color bothers me. I don’t even like yellow accents on things.

And then there was the other day. I was in Marshalls and I fell hard for a yellow bag. I loved it. And hated myself a little bit. I mean, it’s been so long, why now? I just … wanted that bag. In yellow. I literally do not own anything yellow. But who am I to eliminate an entire color from my wardrobe? thought I. Exactly. Clearly I had to get it.

Steve Madden Let's-Pretend-It's-Actually-Tan Bag (Marshalls)

This bag goes with everything I own. It's the perfect size. It has perfect pockets. The 2 sets of straps are perfect. It's the most convincing fake leather. And it was dirt cheap. Love I tell you.

Oh, and the ride? It was everything I hoped and more.

Song Of The Day- Mandy- Citizen Cope

This song is exactly perfect for the sultry, horrid weather we had. It's a shame that sultry refers to such unpleasantness given that it's such a sexy word.

I Can't Believe She's In My Head Again

I always felt mildly (and I do mean MILDLY) jealous of celebrities for being followed everywhere by a slew of photographers. If pictures are worth a thousand words, imagine how many books are written every day in the hundreds of pictures taken of the arbitrary moments in celebrities lives. Ignoring the cultural obsession with celebrity and with the minutia of the daily lives of the various celebs and the pure level of harassment associated with being constantly photographed, it would be nice, sometimes, to have someone recording the little moments, the flickers of expressions that pass breath by breath, and the progression of a day. For sure it would save a lot of pages in diary writing.

I guess all of that was to say, the following was essentially on such day for me. Something happened the night before (what was that.. Thursday? Yes, I am a wee bit behind day-wise) and on Friday I was just.. well, look at my face:

Exactly. A certain person kept telling me that I looked sad, but I couldn't see it until I saw the pictures. I tried to just ignore it, but well... look, it's sad me. I never would have expected that I could pull out a facial expression that could just look so unhappy. And A kept snapping away.

But, unsurprisingly, my mood lifted. Some people just refuse to let you be sad. We went for a short drive before responsibility was going to set in and by the time I was frolicking in the grassy median, I was smiling.

Lily White Black Tank W/Necklace (Marshalls)

DL1951 Skinny Jeans (Chickdowntown)

Alfani Embroidered Pumps (Macys)

Flower Hair Clips From My Childhood

Flowers That Reminded Me Of Optical Wires (Mother Nature)

Wah-bam!

And then we went to the squad to practice for our EMT final. It was long, it was .. long. But it was good and reassuring and necessary and, dare I say, somewhat fun with the people who were there. And by the time we were done, I was laughing. I was also on a motorcycle, which does amazing things to lift my mood. When I really laugh, and I do mean really really laugh, I am absolutely of the throw my head back sort..

I was sitting on the bike in preparation for my ride a few days later. But more on that next time.

I love being able to go back through the day and just see Thursday night gradually lift. Thanks A for being there and for keeping track.

Song of the Day: Coral Sky- Dishwalla

I Wanna Know Everything About You

Old Navy Black Long-Sleeve Tee (Old Navy)

Kensie Reds & Blues Silk Dress (Macys)

Green Socks From Forever Ago

BCBGeneration Black Cutout Shoes (Marshalls)

Black Skinny Belt (Forever 21)

Black Rose Ring (Forever 21)

And this is the marvelous man who helped me out with these photos. Thanks T!

Song of the Day: Take Me There- Rascal Flats

May The Summer Go On And On

This is just going to be a what I wore post. I'll stick these in here and there. Who knows- you might even get a story with the photos.

INC Black Skinny Pants (Macys)

Old Navy Black T-Shirt (Old Navy)

Industry Blue Tie-Neck Top (Ideeli)

Gifted Wide Black Belt

Fahrenheit Brown Boots with Straps (Shoe Metro)

Nope, apparently no story.

Song of the Day: I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You- Black Kids