♥ 1st Blogaversary ♥

You guys, I made it through a whole year of blogging! We're not going to count that one time I took a whole month off and the times where I took a week or two off here and there like this last week. I had actually thought about this day and this post for so many months prior and it honestly just snuck up on me today, so I didn't have much time to plan anything special, which totally bums me out.
I've put together a crapload of random outfit posts I liked throughout the last year here on RFN. It was fun going down memory lane and reviewing all the shitty quality photos I was first publishing. (Many of us have those.) I either picked these because I particularly fancied the outfit, or I just loved the day they were apart of...some were also picked based on good hair days alone.

So, what have I learned in this first year of blogging? Hmm...

- I've learned that it's best to keep my babbling to a minimum, which is difficult for someone like me -- I'm a chatter box! Y'all should know, I leave a ton of story-book sized comments :) I can't help it, although, I've gotten better compared to the essay length posts - regarding my day - I was initially writing here; no one had time for all that. But, since this is a commemorative type post, I'm due a little babble sesh. 

- I have been constantly reminded that my schedule to blog is completely unsystematic -- I have no schedule. I post and read when I can, like most of you busy ladies. In the summertime, if I'm not out of state, I am on blogs for like five hours a day, unaware of the time ticking by. But here lately, it's getting to be more and more difficult to post even semi-regularly or read. However, that's to be expected while in school, especially if you're a writing major; I read roughly seven books, plays, short stories, or essays every week and analyze just about all of them...pretty exhausting. With that said, I am beyond appreciative of those of you who still come to my blog, even if it's been a hot minute since I've been to yours. Expect me to pop in on you when I can, and PLEASE don't think that I've forgotten you. I have SO many blogs swirling around in my head just about everyday. Am I the only one that randomly thinks about the blogs they need to catch up on when they're out for lunch or in the middle of a lecture? I look at them for what they are: real life stories that I've developed genuine interest for and when I get behind, I'm like, "what have I missed?" Maybe those are just my problems.
- In the beginning I thought it'd be safest for me to censor myself here. I didn't want to offend anyone. Well, I still don't want to ever intentionally offend anyone, but I'm also most definitely going to be myself in my own little nook of the interwebs. I'm a sweetheart, yes, but I've without a doubt got a colorful language that sometimes does a better job of expressing certain matters than words like "doodyhead" do. Words like "shit" and "asshole" are going to find themselves written here every now and then. So far, no one's offended. Goodie!
- I think the most important thing about the last year with this blog is that I'm still doing it for me, because it's fun, and I've made the kind of friendships I was hoping to when I started it. I always told myself this blog would never be about numbers and doing those comical "follow for a follow" things just so I could reach impressive digits; the majority of those comments strike me as unauthentic and automated, especially when they read, "nice bag, wanna follow each other?" or  "great dress, I'm now following, please follow back," when I'm wearing jeans LOL. It gives me the same pleasure to blog for 140 followers as it did when I was doing it solely for the same three friends that were faithfully reading. Not to say it's not wonderful to have all of you, because it totally is! It's just, I follow bloggers' stories because I want to, and I hope that others would do the same. Overall, I didn't/don't want to ever let myself or this blog become insincere, and certainly not automated, if all that makes sense.
I'll cut it here, 'cause I really need a nap before I work on my next assignment. I just knew I couldn't let this day go unnoticed and undocumented, for my own sake. Mikey and I plan to celebrate somehow this weekend. I'm envisioning my new dress (a gift from Mikey for this occasion), cake, and balloons. 

To all of you that made your way here a day ago or the day I started documenting at this web address, thank you for finding me and for choosing to stick around.

Love,
Roni

the little things ♥

Dahlia dress: ModCloth// Cardi: Express// Tights, flats: Target// Dia de los Muertos bag: Cash 4 Chaos (Vegas) 

So, even though I've been bedridden and miserable the last few days (the flu finally caught me) and I'm sniffling and blowing snot into a tissue while I type this, I still felt it doable to make a list of all the little things I've been grateful for this last week:

~Having good curly hair days like the one shown above. I mean, c'mon, look at those bouncy spirals - they're fabulous. And they're all natural. 

~Staying in bed for about 15 hours on a rainy day. It was magical. 

~Pumpkin raviolis. Seriously, I'm not making this up. They were to die for!

~Rediscovering this 6 year old Mexican satchel and using it everyday, even when it doesn't match. 

~Even though having as many visitors as we get throughout the year can be tiresome (we haven't had our home to ourselves since February), it makes me feel really lucky - lucky to have far away friends that haven't forgotten us. We had two friends visit us the last two weeks and have another coming in this weekend. 

~Having a margarita with Mikey at a Mexican restaurant that only plays doo-wop AND country classics. Amber, I'm pretty sure this is our heaven. 

~Winning a giveaway of something I happened to have on my ModCloth lovelist!! Did I mention I never win..anything?

~Getting to take home a turkey-sized dish crammed with strawberry cake, rice krispy treats, and Cookie Monster cupcakes from our friends' kid's first birthday party. 

~Watching a shi-ton of horror movies. Well, more than normal. I recently saw the Thai version of the movie Shutter - it was amaaazzinngly creepy. You can see it on Netflix if you wanna.

~Loving that my Halloween/horror tattoo sleeve is relevant this month. Unfortunately it's getting too cold to show it off with short sleeves. 

Any costume ideas yet? Halloween's almost here!! I've got three ideas for costumes myself and all the pieces are already in my closet so I won't have to spend much money - woo hoo! 

Have a wonderful Thursday, friends. <3 

elephant in the room

The "Walk Like An Egyptian" pose...but not. No, not at all actually. 

Top (came w/belt): Marshall's// Skirt: Ruche// Cardi: Target// Wedges: Cole Haan// Hair bow: American Apparel 

Elephants + Houndstooth! I personally think it works. 

 "pop lock and drop it" pose

Who else here is uncomfortable when things that need to be addressed, aren't? I'm that person that can never just 'pretend' that things are fine. I won't ever ignore what's lurking. I won't refrain from addressing issues to avoid confrontation. Confrontation doesn't always have to be bad.  Sometimes it's necessary. Confrontation, in my experience, really just turns into a conversation that is however-long-overdue (two minutes or two years, it needs to be said), so I associate these two words rather closely together. Announcing the elephant provides clarity - this can obviously apply to a wide range of scenarios from personal relations to social gatherings to professional atmospheres. Although, for some reason, and I don't know why this is, some people are fine with going about their business and sweeping things under the rug. (I'm on a roll with idioms today.) I guess they don't like to shake things or don't wanna "go there." Let me, because I don't do well with nodding my head and smiling to things that don't sit right. That being said, I will only hold my tongue to a certain extent, e.g. timing and place. I have just always believed in being brutally honest, while displaying tact of course....Hmm, I'm gonna end this since I tend to ramble, but you get the idea. File this in your brain space as things to know about me. I'm Roni and I'm okay with confrontation. But elephants in the room? I'll point those suckers right out! :)
I'll be getting to the comments from my last post and reading all your blogs tonight since I don't have school till late tomorrow. The last two+ weeks have been insane in the membrane and I don't like feeling like a bad blog friend when I get behind on your lives. And just in case it's been a while since I told y'all, thanks for reading my little blog.  It means so much to me! My first blogaversary is actually coming up on the 23rd, eep!!

It's Arrested Development

Blazer: Hot Topic (2006)// Tshirt: Target// Skirt, belt, bag: F21// Tights: ModCloth// Flats: Old Navy// Houndstooth Heels (I changed shoes): Lulu's// Bowler hat: Urban Outfitters

This Bluth's Frozen Banana t-shirt is the first thing I bought for myself in what feels like a lifetime. I squealed like a preteen watching a new Justin Bieber video when I saw this shirt in the mens section of Target. It fits like pajama-wear on my frame, but I made do and tucked this baby into a velvet miniskirt for a night of bartending. I was hoping it might attract other Arrested Development fans and encourage some exchanging of favorite Tobias or Gob quotes. It didn't. I overheard two douchebags talking about the banana on my shirt, asking each other about what I really had on my mind, and then bro-laughing when one of them said the word that rhymes with dock, but starts with a C. I finished pouring their drinks and interrupted their boys-locker-room-esque chatter with a simple "were y'all just talking about my shirt?" Their smiles faded and their mouths dropped as they quickly shook their heads and said, "noooo, of course not." (They looked so caught and pathetic.) I told them that penises were far from my mind and that they should spend more time catching up on the brilliance that is Arrested Development and less time looking for phallic correlations in everyday t-shirt designs. One of them spent the rest of the night trying to kiss my ass with small talk each time he came up to the bar, and the other avoided me like the plague, having his friends order his drinks for him. ha!
If you're a fellow Arrested Development mega-fan, please leave one of your favorite quotes in the comments :)  And ermergerrrd, who's excited for the NEW season beginning early next year?!! I am, I am!

Guest Posting...

Hey friends,
Come find me over at Blythe Ponytail Parades today! I'm sharing my Halloween spirit through old costumes and zombie proms. Let's do the Monster Mash together! <3

oldies but goodies

Dress: Ruche// Cardi: F21// Belt: H&M// Tights: ModCloth// Irregular Choice Scottie Dog heels via ModCloth

In keeping on with shopping my closet, I am happy with all the pretty things I keep finding on the shelves and racks (it really is like a store in there - but shopping in a real one would be even more fun). For instance, these whimsical little heels. How cute are they?! I've had them for quite a while now and I still can't get over the scottie dog, the polka dot bows, & the hearts...guh! And this cardigan, I've had forever but only worn once! But this sweet, creamy lace dress I've worn the crap out of. (Shown on the blog once before here.) I suppose this shopping dry spell I'm in has really given me a new appreciation for all those "old" items that were feeling left out. I hate to think these darling doggy shoes ever felt like they were not good enough :) 

Wishlist stuff

First off, I wanted to say thanks for all the good vibes! My school checks came in. Now we're just waiting on Mikey's. The last two months have been extremely tight as far as not having play money whatsoever, but the most important thing is that no bill went unpaid or paid late for that matter, and of course we didn't starve. Whew! You can imagine that during this time I've had plenty of growing wishlists at ModCloth, ASOS, Etsy, Ruche, etc. for when things get back to normal and I can resume expanding my favorite room in the apartment: my closet. Here are a few of my most coveted items at ModCloth:

I can't even explain how bad I need this dress. It kinda brings tears to my eyes.

A dress after my own 50's doo-wop heart; this dress IS "Roni feels nostalgic"  

 This dress could be my junk-food print dress' BFF. 

Red is my favorite color (or so I've discovered by scoping out my closet). I am beyond obsessed with the bow pockets of this darling frock!

There's a sentimental factor in this one: the bee print. It reminds me of my mommy. Her name is Beatrice but everyone calls her "Bea" and she signs off her letters with a little bumble bee. <3

Finally, this coat. Oh, this coat. For some reason it reminds me of elementary school. I like that.  

Hopefully soon I can find one of these babies hanging in my closet. What pretty things are y'all hankering for?

September rejects

Here are a couple outfits that didn't make it to their own big-girl posts last month.

I call this one, "Put a top hat on it!"

Skirt & t-shirt: ModCloth//Belt: F21//Top hat headband: Claire's//Ruby Street Little Kennedy Bag: Kate Spade

This one is my [shameless], "Bloating & Fatigue" for those days when you need elasticity at your belly 

Blouse: H&M//Skirt: Hollister (from the early 2000's)//Flats: ModCloth//Necklace: F21

And with that, HELLO OCTOBER!! My favorite month of the year! (Omg this year has gone by wayyy too fast! It feels like just yesterday that I had to brave up and embrace my birthday and getting even older.) Sorry this post is a bit "meh" but I've been a busy bee and my blog has unfortunately taken the back burner for the last several days. Hopefully things slow down this week, but I somehow doubt it. I'll be getting to your comments and blogs tonight or tomorrow on my break. Happy Monday!