This, that...and that

I have to do a shi-ton of homework tonight, but here's what I've been wearing/been up to. 
Sunday:
We went with Isaac & Lissi (our neighbors/friends) to see the Royal Rumble (LOL!) on pay per view at this local pub. It was....comical, to say the least. It was slightly chilly outside, but perfect for shorts with tights. I took advantage. 

Cashmere (a percentage) shirt: Old Navy (super old)

Shorts: ModCloth

"Yall" necklace (yup, rockin' it again): Chryssi-Lou's etsy shop

Monday:
Again, the winter is warming up here, even though it is in the 40's (ahem, Amber, haha). I guess I was just so traumatized by my first 'real' winter here last year that the fact that it's not currently in the teens means "warm" to me. So, I wore shorts again. These are totally different from the top ones, in case it's not too obvious. This is how Mikey takes my pictures, and it pisses me off. I'm never ready and I end up looking like a goof. I decided to show you the "quality" of pictures he leaves me to choose from.

Sweater, shorts: Urban Outfitters

Tights: Target

Flats: Bakers

Today:
Has been super draining. I'm beat. And I have a 3 hour break between classes every Tuesday and Friday, so I ran errands until I had nothing left to do but study...only I didn't feel like it. So I laid in my car for the remaining 45 minutes and turned on the radio.  "If It Makes You Happy" came on while I was looking through the sunroof windows of my car, and I swear I was 19 years old again, driving down a strange highway in Mississippi with the new girlfriends that I'd made in technical school for the military. It was insane how I felt like I was in two places, in two different eras of my life; it was so awesome to be able to relive such a random memory again. It always & only comes to me when I hear this song. But that's the way it usually goes.

Ramones tee: H&M

Jeans: American Eagle

Suspenders: UO

Cap: ??

Shoes: T.U.K. creepers

They're chipping and ready to be wiped off now, but here are the nails I've been sportin' for the last few days. 

Polka dots! I got the idea from here

Finally, I know I've said it a ton, and posted plenty of pics, but I just LOVE my school. This of course being my favorite building on the campus. The Mansion. Today was a beautiful day as I strolled across the grass and between big old trees. I had to get a picture. I don't even care how many of the same ones I have. Each picture was from a different day. A different moment I was having. 

I'd miss the crap out of it if I ever had to...err, move. 

Goodnight, dolls.

Love,

Roni

Red Tails date

Mikey and I, being Air Force veterans, knew about the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and were really interested in seeing a movie based on them. Last night we finally ventured out to the theater and saw Red Tails. We enjoyed it, but there were definitely many cheesy and awkwardly delivered lines/dialogue. But I think this movie was made to be like those old cheesy war movies, so I won't be too critical. On the other hand, like a reviewer of the movie said, I just wish that they would have done more of a justice to what these guys really went through and accomplished. Even though the movie was long, it didn't quite do that as well as it could have. Mikey thinks they should have made it a tv series where they could really expand on the Tuskegee Airmen's story. I agree. But again, we did very much enjoy the movie and I did have some tears goin' on at the end. I'm such a baby. 

I had to take my new shoes out for a spin and let me tell you, we walked around for about two hours and they never gave me the sense that I was walking on 4 inches. Flats, I tell you! They feel like flats.

You can't blame a girl for trying to strike a sexy pose, ha!

Blouse, pants, vest: Ruche

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell via ModCloth (thanks baby!)

When we got home from the movie Mikey showed me pictures of the real Tuskegee Airmen, that I never knew he had! Apparently they visited the base he was deployed to in Iraq. My husband's squadron there was actually also called the 332d squadron, and they were the Tuskegee Airmen, too, named of course in the original group's honor. Mikey didn't get to meet them, unfortunately. They were in Iraq just before he got there for his deployment. But there were a buttload of pictures of the T.A. visiting with the Air Force airmen and checking out the predator planes on the computer's share drive. Here's one of the Tuskegee Airmen standing in front of Mikey's squadron sign. How cool is this?!

Welp, we're going out for wings and a beer. 

I hope y'all have had a relaxing weekend. I know I have. I'm just not stoked about returning to school tomorrow. I'm still in winter break mode. :)

Love,

Roni

"What my baby wants, my baby gets" - I love it when he says that

My husband surprised me with some shoes today! Not just any shoes. Shoes that I've been obsessing over for weeks. They are the Jeffrey Campbell dog tapestry mary janes that ModCloth has adorably named the "Woofing It Heel". There are lots of different tapestry prints in JC shoes right now, but my faves are the kitty and dog ones. I really, really wanted these particular shoes in the kitty print, but ModCloth was only offering them in the dog print, and hey, I have two crazy pups of my own, so of course I'll take these! I just don't want my favorite little fat cat to be jealous. Danzig, you know you're my whole heart.

This is my 6th pair of Jeffrey Campbell's and I just love the new box these came in! His shoe boxes, like all his shoes, are so unique. 

CLICK to see the shoe deets all up in yo' face!

Look at all those puppies! Lassie and friends.

feels like walking in flats, honest to God!

So, after I screamed and pranced around the apartment in my new heels, I sat on Mikey's lap (mall-Santa style) and asked him why he bought me the shoes. He said, "Well, because you just wouldn't shut up about them; I knew you really wanted them." Awww. So what did I learn here? Baby will continue to get what Baby wants as long as the trap keeps yappin' away when something pretty is for sale. 

*            *            *             *

Umm...check out our dog Jaxon. He's got contortionist tendencies. Although, this isn't even one of his awkward resting positions. 

Before I go, my friend Ashley not only has an awesome collection of JC heels, but she owns the cat tapestry damsel shoes, and they're super cool! Which by the way, if you're a fellow shoe addict like me, I'd recommend staying on top of Ashley's blog, as she posts shoe reviews, and lets us know of all the neat, new shoes out there almost every day, where to buy them and she shares discount codes if she finds them! I personally go to her blog (daily) to get my shoe fix and see if there's anything I should take advantage of, because she always knows where the sales are. 
Oh! I owe y'all a tour of my new closet. I tried doing a video tour of it last night, so as not to flood your internets with a bazillion pictures, but I kept sounding like a moron and re-filming, therefore making myself sicker than a dog when I played the clips back...I get bad motion sickness. I'll probably have Mikey record me tomorrow and have a post for y'all Sunday/Monday-ish. 
Have a great Saturday night, lovelies! 

If Gene Kelly is the King of rainy days, then I'm the Queen :)

For as long as I live, I'll never be able to not think of this amazing scene when I enjoy my most beloved, wet and dreary days. Today was no different, and on my three hour break between classes I grabbed lunch to-go, ate in my car while listening to new music, recommended to me by my long-time friend Chris, and watched the rain come down on my windshield. Ahhh, now that's my kinda moment. Here's one of my favorite songs that he shared by a dude/group called Frank Turner. Its upbeat, grooviness took me back to my Vegas days when I danced my little toosh off night after night, next to some of the raddest kids in the world (Irena), to the fantastic sounds of local bands like Gone For Good, SavageKat, and The Skooners. Oh, if only I had a time machine sometimes. A lot of times. I just miss so many pieces of my life and would give anything to go back and taste them again. 

Clearly this is my favorite hat at the moment. Thanks Mommy!

Raise your hand if you're feeling colorful today!

Dress: Ruche (similar one at ModCloth)

"Yall" necklace: Birthday gift from Chryssi (similar one in pink!)

Cardi, tights & flats: Target

Belt: H&M

I have a shi-ton of pictures of my closet (it's finished!!!) to share with y'all later. For now, we're heading out for sushi. Mmmm. Don't hate. Get you some, too!  :D

Love,

Roni

My birthday came early!

One of the sweetest ladies in the world, my dear friend Chryssi, called me tonight to let me know she had mailed me an early birthday present and she ordered me to open it as soon as it arrived. Y'all know I don't like opening Christmas gifts early and my birthday is no different; however, this was an order, and she was kind enough to send me something in the first place so of course I'm going to do as she wishes. ;) Mikey just so happened to check the mail really late tonight, since we forgot to check it earlier, and my gift from Chryssi was in the stack! This is what my old roomie sent me:

The super sweet note that wrapped one of the gifts...

"Never forget where you came from. A Texas girl at heart.
It's one of my favorite things about you!"

And this is what was inside. :))))

handmade by Chryssi! visit her Etsy shop here!!

2nd gift, wrapped in a lovely letter...

"Every girl should sparkle on her Birthday!" -- Agreed!

glitter peter pan collar!!! I've seriously had this on my lovelist forEVER now!

Handmade by Chryssi! Visit her Etsy shop here!!

This was the best ending to an already delightful Thursday. Thank you so much, Chryssi! You're my favorite crafty gal - always have been. Remember when you helped me make decorations for my squadron Christmas party in 2009? :) That was so much fun. I miss living with you. I miss your monkey bread. I miss Skyping each other when we were only a [bath]room apart! Ha! I miss our coloring book parties in our living room: Wizard of Oz on the tv, a crayon in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. We were so cool! Like little kids who can legally drink. :) Thank you for being so thoughtful. It's only one of my favorite things about YOU. <3

Friends, be sure to check out Chryssi's shop on Etsy. I'm sure you'll find something you like!

Welp, I better do my homework now that it's midnight. 

Goodnight, dolls.

Love,

Roni

So many birthdays!!

I've been gone a while. My apologies; I blame it on school, which has been going just dandy, by the way. Well, with the exception of one bloody accident, but I'll mention that in a little bit. 
On to the birthdays!

Isha is the sweetest little thing ever!
She wanted to wear the dress & coat we bought her  as her bday outfit 

Last week was little Isha's 5th birthday and this past Saturday her parents threw her a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's ("Where a kid can be a kid!"). It was super fun, my favorite part being when she grabbed my hand and wanted me to play some games with her. We were skee-ball champs!

After eating pizza and playing games with the kiddies for a few hours, we headed to our next birthday party. Our cousins (mine by marriage) had a combined celebration going on since their birthdays are so close. Happy Birthday, Coral & Arthur!! Having more people to call "my family" is one of my favorite things about marriage. I love the Buckel familia. 

Here's the quirky, almost clown-ish, little number I wore that day. I decided to combine some of my favorite things: stripes, polka dots, bows, and hearts. I thought I might've looked silly, but the get-up garnered many a' compliments from randos. Sweet! Turns out my inner Steve Urkel was pretty happenin'.  

And of course, since I got me an iPhone that day...instagram:

Shirt/suspenders/: Urban Outfitters

Jeggings: American Eagle

Bow: it came with a tunic

Candy Dipped brogues: ModCloth

Monday was one of my best friend's daughter Ava's 2nd birthday! I was there for her birth and wish I could have been there for this sweet occasion. I hope your birthday was every 2 year old's dream, Ava! 

Steph, me & a newborn Ava: Vegas -- Feb 2010

Tuesday was my best friend Michelle's 28th birthday! I love her to death. She was the first person I called a best friend when I joined the military in 2002. I don't know what I would have done without her friendship so many times. Michelle, warm 28 up for me, I'll be there in two weeks (yikes!), and I'm with you in spirit when you celebrate this weekend. 

P.s. You're aging like a fine wine. 

Michelle & I: Oklahoma City -- circa 2005
I miss these days.

And today is my brother Danny's 27th birthday!!!! He and I stay the same age every year for 2 weeks and 1 day, so it's always pretty frightening when he gets to share my current number; it just means I'll be retiring it before I can even blink and exchanging it for one bigger. I love you, Danny, you're the most amazing guy and an even better brother. I pray that your day is absolutely wonderful. 

home for Christmas: Texas 2011

Before I end this post, I want to tell y'all a story. One that the more I tell keeps sounding further from the truth. But I assure you, this really happened! 

So, on Tuesday as I was about to head to my 8:30 am class (mind you, it was the 2nd day of school), I crept into our bedroom to give Mikey a kiss goodbye without waking him up. I leaned in above his head and accidentally kicked the golf club that is kept near our bed; well, the golf club clanked our metal bed frame and at that same time the construction workers right outside our bedroom started their daily sidewalk jackhammering thing. What happened next? Between the loud clank of the golf club and the perfectly timed drilling into concrete, Mikey jolted up in a panic...his dome went right into my chin, and my top teeth cut into my bottom lip. As if it wasn't big enough already! Nope, now we add a blood clot and swelling/throbbing. It hurt! I knew it was an accident (and he felt SO bad), but my first reaction was to smack him and storm out the house. Slamming the door behind me, of course. (I'm a bit of a drama queen sometimes.) I was so embarrassed to be introducing myself to new professors and students while looking like Tina Turner during her Ike days. (I love you, Tina!) So before anyone even had the chance to see my lip and be like, "Uhh...we can get you some help", I told them what 'really' happened, assuring everyone that my husband definitely does not beat me. I told Mikey that I did that, but he thinks I pretty much just told everyone that I do make excuses for my 'abusive husband'. Haha Oh well, whatever. I thought it was such a funny, freak accident kind of story, so I wanted to share it with y'all. My lip is healing well, LOL, just some under the skin, dried up black blood. Pink lipstick is not covering it up at all. What have we learned from this? Either A) not worth the risk of kissing your hubby goodbye while he sleeps or B) shout "HEY!" to startle him awake and then go in for the kiss. hehehe :)

Sweet dreams, friends. I hope y'alls week is going super duper!

Love,

Roni

Hooray for roll overs! And I'm not talking minutes.

I have some fun pictures to share with y'all from both birthday parties Saturday, that thankfully the snow didn't interrupt. However, I've got some school prepping to do tonight since we go back tomorrow (yay!/boo) and don't really have time to upload lots of pics, so instead I want to quickly check in and leave y'all with something sweet. I've mentioned a time or two (or even a hundred) that my sister in Texas sends Mikey and I pictures and videos every single day of our nephew Nathaniel. Well, this weekend my little love bunny rolled over on his own! No one put their hands on him and tried to barrel roll him this time; nope, Nathaniel decides, mid-laugh, to show his mommy what he can do all by his big boy self. Good job, baby! You made your auntie Roni cry with pride. I wish I could've been there. 

Mommy blogger-friends out there, I'm sure this takes you back to when your little cupcake did this big deal thing, too. :) It's so precious the littlest things that make your heart spill over with love.
Watching this video, I couldn't help but think of a song that my Mommy and I sing in little kid voices, laughing uncontrollably, but the song itself is so nostalgic, relatable/true, and makes me cry every time I hear it. I know my sister is one that holds tightly onto every moment she's having as a new mommy, and I'm sure lots of people are, so if you don't have a problem with country music maybe you'd like this pretty song. 
Have a wonderful week back at your places of responsibility, and may your hearts be happy. 


Love,
Roni

The Lovecats ♥

[Post title = after this awesome/pretty song. The Cure rules. This video is questionable.] 

Mikey & I have been acting like a couple of newlyweds lately. I don't know what's going on. Maybe it's the weather? ;) But we both love it, and have jokingly said that it's freaking us out. I mean, we can be cute together, but we've been bein' wayyy too lovey-dovey. Even for us. Then again our 3 year wedding anniversary is coming up in March...hmmm. Last night, after our ice cream date, we came home, shared the recliner, drank a couple of Bud Lites and watched "Garden State"...just like the way we used to do in the first year of dating/marriage. I missed doing a 6 pack of beer + a movie with him. 

Today was 27degrees, but that didn't keep us indoors. We walked around Montclair, our super cute neighboring town, had dinner & dessert, shopped at Urban Outfitters, and then grabbed a quick drink while watching a punk band at Clash Bar. Good Friday! Tomorrow he's starting on a project he insisted on: making me a more space efficient closet! Yay! I'll do before and after pictures as soon as it's finished. My closet is my favorite room in the apartment; my girlfriends that have been over know why. It's a whimsical wonderland. 

At dinner tonight

I vintage'd out today. A big ol' linebacker lookin' dude at Clash Bar complimented my outfit and complimented Mikey for being married to "a lady who knows how to dress", LOL. Humongous, scary lookin' guys that end up being teddy bears always make me smile. 

click to enlarge - durr

60's vintage mod coat and 80's vintage dress: Speakeasy Vintage (Montclair, NJ)

Belt: Ruche

Tights & flats: Target

Hat: gifted from my Mommy

Purse: gifted from my sweet neighbors (Isaac & Lissi)

Details: I love the way the collar & cuffs of my dress come out of the coat. Also, you can't see from the cell phone pix, but the skirt part of the dress, cuffs and collar are all gingham print, while the sweater bodice part is checkered.  

What Mikey wore today: the shirt is new a/o tonight (from our trip to UO). Not only is it a cute flannel, but it's completely functional for cold weather! The interior lining is all fleece! Mikey didn't even need his coat after he put it on. 

Here's what I picked up at UO tonight. I only shopped the sale section, since I'm buying an iPhone 4S tomorrow. Uh-ohhh. Thanks Khalilah, for being the voice that helped me decide that I wanted to give this super trendy phone a try. I'm officially a conformist. ;)

I've been dying over this sweater. & these kitty slippers were only $5!! 

It's supposed to snow here tomorrow. *ugh* I hope it doesn't cancel our plans, because we have two birthday parties to attend: Isha (the little sweetie that turned 5 a couple days ago) and Mikey's cousins (I call them my cousins too). I'm excited for the fiestas tomorrow as this is our last carefree weekend before school starts on Monday. 

For now, we're gonna have a couple beers & some hookah with our friend/neighbor, Isaac. 

Goodnight, friends.

Love, 

Roni

Late night ice cream date

9:30 p.m.

me: "You wanna go get some ice cream?"

Mikey: "Sure, like pints at the gas station?"

me: "No, I wanna go to Applegate's and get cones, and eat them in the car since it's cold outside. We can make out, too."

Mikey: "Okay!" 

mint chocolate chip

rocky road

we purposely put ice cream all over our lips, lol

Because it's moments like these that make married life so much fun. 

Today ♥

Coat: Kenneth Cole

Dress: Red Dress Shoppe (it's so warm & heavy - perfect for really cold days)

My day started and ended on a good note - I love when that happens. :)
^one of the greatest songs in the history of music. in case you didn't know. [click on it]

Here's why "today" was so great:

When you get mail & it's not a bill.
From Anthropologie: "Go ahead and treat yourself to some me time". I think I will!

15% off coupon for my bday next month

Mexican food for dinner w/Mikey 

This was when I started receiving strange text messages, one right after the other, over and over, with each friend/family member telling me to "please stop farting". I was like, "WTF is going on here?!" Turns out Mikey made a false status asking our friends to text me that in hopes that I'd reactivate my Facebook account to defend my non-farting honor. It was pretty funny, I'll admit. :) *and let me clarify, I'm not one of those, "*gasp* I don't fart!" girls, I just wasn't doing so at that moment.*

Does this look like the face of a Mc Farty Pants?? hehe

I got to talk to one of my deployed bffs

Chappie is currently deployed, but she has lovingly called me nearly everyday while she's been over 'there', and I just want to say to you, Chap, that it means the world to me that I'm one of the few people, next to your family members (of course), that you make phone calls to while you're a million miles away. I love you.

Chap & I in Destin, Florida: June 2011

One of our favorite little girls turned 5 today! 

Happy Birthday, Isha! Mikey & I love you to pieces. *Just so there's no confusion, Isha is one of our neighbors' 4 daughters. But we love her none the less. :)*

You can't tell, but she's wearing the polka dot jacket we bought her. She loved it.
And of course we got her a pretty little dress to match.

We stayed upstairs with Isha's parents/our friends, Isaac & Lissi, and finally watched "Rise of the Planet of the Apes". Holy moly, that's a great movie! (Ash, I know you've been telling me to watch it for a while now!) I hate when I take forever to watch/read/listen to something super awesome - I feel so...late. 

Oh, my apologies for being back to cell phone outfit photos. My camera had a little problem, so with it being brand new, Mikey sent it in for an exchange, but Sony's not making it anymore since the newer model is out. So, we're getting our money back and buying the new-new one, even though mine wasn't super old or anything...technology: there's just no keeping up with it! :)

Wishing you all a terrific Thursday. 

Love,

Roni

"Grief is love's unwillingness to let go"

Recently Mikey and I were strongly encouraged, almost forced, by his brother to watch a documentary called "Dear Zachary: A letter to a son about his father" (the title of this post was said at one point in the doc); we watched the film tonight and my eyes are still incredibly red and puffy from having cried as much through this movie as I did when I saw "The Notebook" - ladies, you know what I'm talking about. It's not an ordinary love story; it's about the love in friendships and how a man's friends remembered him after he was gone. It's a crime story. It's tragic in so many ways and the two parents in the doc are, like a reviewer on Netflix said, "angels masquerading as people". This film was unbelievable and truly moving. And it's TRUE, hence documentary. I recommend you all watch it (it's currently streaming & avail. on DVD on Netflix). It'll break your heart, piss you off, and inspire you. Be sure to have a box of Kleenex closeby. Mikey and I were a couple of emo babies when the credits rolled. 
I took away a few things from this, but one of the biggest was the testament of friendship, and the way this guy, and every one else that spoke, loved their friend...to tell about him after he's gone. I could see myself doing something like that in honor of my best friends. And like most people, I only wish to be a happy memory to all my family and friends after I'm gone one day. All the moments that we share with people we love is so precious, and that alone made me cry so much tonight. I could ramble about this for a while, just watch it. But don't say I didn't warn you on its extremely heartbreaking content.

found @ dearzachary.com

With love and sending BIG hugs,
Roni

Oh, it came out in 2008, so there's a good chance some of you might have seen or heard about it. I can't believe I didn't hear about it until now.

My fiery red mane from 2011 (I miss it)

Dear [new] friends,
This is what I looked like for a while last year. I MISS this hair. (And apparently so do all my neighbors!)  I don't so much miss the maintenance/upkeep & cost, but the nicknames that I got from friends & strangers were pretty lovable. Especially being called Ariel -from The Little Mermaid- by a few kids at the airport and grocery stores. 

I took so many cell phone pictures!

I admit: I was a huge narcissist when I had this hair! It was so rad.

The following pictures c/o Royal Flush Photography, who randomly approached me on 5th Avenue in NYC one day and asked if he could 'shoot' me. It was the hair. Which was fading at this point.

Central Park - June 2011

I seriously should have redyed it for the shoot. I hated it in this shade.

closeup of my tattoos (I love Halloween, zombies, bats & my black cat tribute to my baby Danzig)

And here's a picture of what my hair looked like right before I went really red (as shown above). 

I loved both colors. I have a ton of "my favorite red head moment" pictures, but I'll stop here. I just wanted to share this with you, so it's no surprise if I go wild on my head again this year. I'm so tempted.

Um...by the way, it's snowing here! WTFUDGE. 

Love & bearhugs,

Roni