Ice Princess

I spent this past weekend up in Rochester with Rob and his family. I was expecting it to be really cold but it turned out to be freakishly warm (read: about 50 degrees). On Monday morning Rob and i went ice skating.

Did i mention i can't roller skate or roller blade? Needless to say my first attempts on the ice were laughable.I observed some small children learning to skate with little skating bar thingys, a large sign declared these were only for the use of children five and under, are there really no other 24 year old girls who would benefit from the assistance of a skating bar??

On top of my lack of skill, i was wearing his mom skates, we have the same size foot but hers must be really narrow because after about 5 minutes my tootsies were in severe pain!I was sooo nervous and wobbly, Rob just slowing pulled me around while little 5 years olds expertly skated past, at one point a woman skated by and said " Oh she must be from down south" ha. I've never considered Long Island to be " down south" but i guess to the skilled skaters that inhabit the Rochester area it appeared that i had possibly never seen snow or ice before ;).

While we were sitting down with some hot chocolate a lovely lady came over and told us her 13 year old daughter thought we were the cutest couple and hopes to be just like us one day when she starts dating.

That really made me smile big :).

As i watched Rob skate around on his own for a bit, i felt all warm, fuzzy and lovey dovey inside.

He really is the sweetest guy i have ever known, staring in his gorgeous eyes as he guided me around the rink made the pain and minor embarrassment absolutely worth it.


*I have visions of one day, gracefully and beautifully gliding across the ice on my own..... though i have a pretty good feeling they will stay just that, happy little far fetched visions in my head!

I Wish You Happy, Happy

I would like to wish EVERYONE a very happy & merry Christmas filled with lovies, presents, hugs, kisses and lots of yummy food!

The Couple That Works Out Together...

My boy is home!!! wooooo hooooo :)

Today we had a yummy breakfast at Glens my favorite little dinette, then we checked out some gyms.

We both signed up at Planet Fitness; it's brand new, super nice and SUPER cheap, $10 a month!!

I've been told we are going verrry early tomorrow morning..... my soldiers gonna whip my butt into shape ;)

Im overly excited to be the cute little couple that works out together (i know it's cheesy, but well.. im cheesy hehe!)

Morning Lovies

I thought you might like to start your day off with some extreme cuteness, here's Gizmo and Lily being all lovey dovey and bathing each other

*Gizmo's body looks all loooong and slinky like a ferret!

Single Ladies

I'd REALLY like to learn Beyonce's "Single Ladies" dance.

I wonder how i can get in touch with this adorable little girl so she can teach me?

Things I Love Thursday

Starbucks * Cinnamon dolce lattes are delish! I also heart the dark chocolate covered graham crackers & the yummy yogurt and granola i get for breakfast sometimes :)

Presents * I'm really looking forward to giving & receiving. Most of my shopping is all finished up, there are just a few lil gifts i need to check of my list

My Kitty Ernie * She's purring in my lap right now keeping me all warm and toasty as i think about the little things i love.

Fearless * I Loove Taylor Swift's newest cd! I can't help but giddily sing along to every single song. Her lyrics are so sweet and honest, i even had some happy tears in my eyes while driving around listening today.

Looking Forward to Saturday * Rob comes home in the early evening, we already have plans for some chinese takeout followed by hours of cuddling and chatting

Eagerly Anticipating Christmas

I am so ready for Christmas!

I'm even MORE ready to spend my first Christmas with my love :)

What are you looking foward to this holiday?

My Latest Infatuation

Lookbook.nu

It is a fabulous distraction and inspires me to dress up in wonderful outfits and take ton's of pictures!

I just can't wait to be all finished up with this semester so i can focus my energy on this truly *important* new love

False Impressions

Last night i went into the city w/ my neighbor Jenn for her sister Kristina's birthday. We had a really good time, there was a big group of her friends and we had a nice dinner at a little Italian restaurant, then we went bowling at the port authority. I bowl terribly by the way... 55 was my "high score" ha. Anyway a rather amusing thing happened to me early in the evening. Jenn and I got to Penn at around 6:45 and our dinner reservation wasn't until 7:30. We decided to grab a drink at Fridays. I was sitting there drinking my yummy yet strong mudslide martini when a girl leans over and says i look familiar. I didn't recognize her at all. After the usual " where do i know you from questions" she finally said " OH! Do you date Rob?" So i got all excited and was like "yeah he's my boyfriend! How do you know him" anyways she gave me a BS story about knowing him from back home upstate new york and stupid, tipsy me started blabbing on and on giving out all kinds of info about him like when he comes home, where he will be stationed blah blah blah. Then i started to wonder how she recognized ME. She said myspace or facebook, hmmmm even if she knew Rob from back home why would this random girl recognize me " from myspace". Finally after she left i texted Rob saying i just met this nice girl he knows from back home.... named Kim. Turns out the only blond haired "Kim" he knows is his ex girlfriends sister! So OK the girl lied to get info on me for her sister, i suppose I'd do the same for a friend. ( this also means his ex is stalking me on myspace and showing my pictures to her sis which is pretty amusing). The not so good part is that at the end of the convo i leaned over to my "lovely new friend Kim" and said " when you first recognized me i was nervous you were one of his ex girlfriends friends.... and she's a little CRAZY".

So i told this girl that her sister is crazy......

I know this story was a little long and drawn out but i just can't believe it happened and had to write about it!

Here are some pics of the FUN stuff from last night! :)

Always be Beautiful

That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.

~Ninon de L'Enclos

Pure Art

Today while at work with the "fitness center fogies", i got a lil bored and decided to make a collage! Breathtaking, no?

This picture doesn't do the collage justice because it was taken with my camera phone, if i had had a fancy camera on me you would see all of the immaculate details ;)

Books

photo by: Mor (bcnbits) http://flickr.com/people/bcnbits/

I adore reading, there's something about this picture i just love.

The semester is thisclose to being over, which means I'll have time to read books of my own choosing. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. :)

What MAKES You?

“While clothes may not make the woman, they certainly have a strong effect on her self-confidence — which, I believe, does make the woman."

-Mary Kay Ashe

I heart this quote!

Lately I've been obsessing over fashion. I've always been excited by all things fashion related, but the " blog world" has opened up endless opportunities for inspiration, ogling and lusting on my part.

When i love what I'm wearing, I'm instantly transformed into a fabulous, confident mood with a huge grin on my face!

photo by : Juliana Pino

TILT 12/11/08

Etsy!
* This is a pretty obvious fave of mine. The scarf i mentioned last week just arrived yesterday and it is sooo pretty. I'm eager to incorporate it into an outfit. Annnd i just got a message saying my purse was shipped out today, so i should be sashaying around with it by this weekend! If you haven't checked out http://www.etsy.com/ yet.... what are you waiting for!!??

Extra, unexpected niceness
* I love when people are extra friendly and I think just being plain old nice to EVERYONE you encounter is often overlooked. Holding the door for an extra few seconds or giving away a few smiles makes the day to day much more well.... nice :).

Squirrel!!
* Squirrel is one of my kooky kitties. When i first got her about three years ago she was a terrified little thing and i couldn't even pick her up, let alone pet her ( hence the name "squirrel"). Now she is super cuddly and snuggles up with me every night keeping me all warm and toasty. I fall asleep to her adorably loud, yet comforting purr every night.

All the amazing blogs i follow
*Every day i look foward to seeing whats been posted and i get all excited when i stumble upon a new, cute blog! I also get SUPER EXCITED when someone new reads my lil blog and leaves a comment :) :)

That my parents pay my cell phone bill && my car insurance!
* I know im 24 and should be able to do this on my own, i am quite grateful to them for helping me out in this way. How else could i support my crazy spending habits!! (Now before you all go on thinking im a spolied little brat (hehe), i DO make my own car payments every month & im paying for all of my schooling.) Anyways, THANK YOU MOM & DAD!

So these are the little things im loving this week, i'd love to hear about anything that made YOUR week brighter!

Pretty, Pretty in Patent

Yesterday i made a quick stop at marshalls, (telling myself i was just checking for some christmas presents) when i stunbled upon these gems

I immediately dropped to my knees searching for my size & scrambling to try them on. The 5 1/2 fit perfectly and they were ............... only $29.99! Now please tell me what sane woman could possibly leave these precious shoes sitting on the shelf??? I know you are thinking i made a good choice, even if it means slowing racking up my credit card debt. :) But $29.99? There was NO WAY i was leaving without these babies.

I solemnly swear i will not make one more single purchase for myself before christmas.

(Rob says he's taking my credit cards when he gets home.... i think i might let him b/c i am obviously lacking in the self control department.)

Etsy Fixation

I've done it again. Etsy has a hold on me and it refuses to loosen up. I must say i don't try to hard to escape it's grasp! ;)

A few days ago i made this purchase.

I have been on a serious search for a nice handbag for sometime.

All the ones i love end up being $300 + , which is not an amount i can afford at the moment.

Enter vintage on Etsy!!!!

The color is gorgeous and i love how the leather is so shiny.

Im really excited about this bag, i can't wait for it to arrive*

Happy Napping

This afternoon while i was supposed to be working on a paper, i wandered into the living room. What i found was a beautiful thing.... a whole bunch of my kitties were spread out around the room, each soaking up their own little ray of sunshine which was bursting in through the back window. I could not resist giving gizmo a little cuddle; he was all curled up tightly in a little warm ball on the back of the couch. I rested my head on him and became very sleepy. I then felt some pressure on my back.... My mom found this too cute a moment to pass up. I'm glad she captured my happy little cat nap :)

So right now it's almost 11 p.m and i haven't even started this paper. I'm thinking i may just not do it, I'll probably still end up with a B in the class, an A would be ideal but i don't think i have the energy for it right now. Maybe i can hand in this picture to explain why i am paperless tomorrow afternoon??

* yes thats a Jerry Garcia doll in the background, my dad is a BIG fan

** that's "mommy cat" on my back.... if she see you on the couch she makes it her job to somehow cuddle up with you.... even if it is a rather strange position

Confidence Shines

5 of 20 - Shine With Me
Originally uploaded by PaytonGuerra

" Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."

- Gore Vidal

Believe

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen."

-Frank Lloyd Wright

I think everyone knows it's in their best interest to think positively, a nice little reminder can't hurt though.

I really believe that being hopeful & optimistic almost always leads to a positive outcome. John Cusack's character ( Lloyd I think?) in the movie "Say Anything", is often quoted as saying something along the lines of... "If you start out depressed, everything turns out a pleasant surprise." ummm maybe, BUT if you start out depressed you stay depressed! If you feel like your in a funk you need to get moving and think happy! Seriously, sad thoughts only bring more sad thoughts.

Of course these are only the opinions of lil ol Miss Fina, but I'd say I have a little bit of experience w/ the subject. :)

Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds...

Are friggen Delicious!

*that's all :)

T*I*L*T

Yummy Food

* See previous post where i gush about Sunday night's dinner.

Feeling Happy

*Letting any tiny thing boost my mood :).

Having Goals

*I'm so proud of myself for going back to school, I really enjoy it and am glad I'm heading in the right direction.

This beautiful scarf

*I just ordered it on etsy and I am so excited I can't wait to get it. I'm kinda broke and shouldn't be buying myself anything when I need to buy Christmas presents buuuuut, I just HAD to have it :). The seller is a supersweet lady; check out her store (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=505)!

My Friends

* They are a diverse and fabulous bunch, always there for me in many different ways. I

you Jen, Erin, Melissa, Jenn, Courtney & Nicole :).

What are YOU loving on this fabulous Thursday??

Tasty Tapas

Last night i had the absolute most yummiest dinner I've had in a long time! My friend Courtney & I went into the city to see an old friend of her's sing some lovely songs and play his guitar @ Arlene's Basement on Stanton St. His name is Bobby Doran, he's quite good if ya wanna check him out.(http://www.myspace.com/bobbydoran )Court's sister suggested we eat at a place called Stanton Social. It was a super cozy little candlelit place & they served tapas style dishes. Everything we ordered was DELISH!! Seriously i am NOT OVEREXAGERATING!

**We had cornmeal corndog crabcakes, french onion soup dumplings, sweet potato butternut squash raviolis, and some tasty meatballs.**

Yum YUM & Yum!

Im getting hungry again just thinking about it, i can't wait to go back :)

If your ever in the area you should def give it a try <3

TILT Thanksgiving Edition

For my second edition of TILT I'd like to list a few things I'm thankful for:



My Boyfriend * At the risk of sounding cheesy, he's everything i want, need and more.Never before have i been so sure of a relationship, i get giddy with thoughts of the future :)



My Little Family* I'm an only child so it's just me, my parents,my kooky grandma and our crazy cats in our lil house.I love how close we are and how I can talk to my parents (and the cats of course!) about anything.



Little Things* random giggles, pretty pictures, happy thoughts, giving & receiving compliments, silly jokes from the old men @ work, watching my cats zoom from one end of the house to the other & learning something new every day

My family and I are spending this thanksgiving with our neighbors/ good friends. I can't wait for my moms delicious stuffing ( which i have just now been informed I will be preparing).... soo i can't wait for MY stuffing hehe :)

I hope you all have a super happy thanksgiving w/ full bellies and big smiles!

"The Life Before Her Eyes"

Just watched this movie w/ my girlfriends, i really liked it and now i definitely want to read the book.

If you haven't seen it, i recommend it. If you have, I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts!!?? We were a lil confused b/c there is quite a bit going on with flashbacks and whatnot, i think reading the book will clear everything right up. Apparently the author is a poet and writes beautifully; this is getting added to my wishlist right about... now! :)

Love Reality

Found this @ http://www.easytomiss.com/

Let Optimism Prevail

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."

-Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

*These words are very encouraging at this particular point in my life. I am constantly thinking about my future and what the right steps are to take along the way. This quote has reminded me to just go with what I feel is right.

I hope it gives YOU some positive encouragement as well! :)

TILT: My 1st List of Loves

# 1 ~ My Cats

They are crazy and kooky and they never fail to make me laugh.

# 2 ~ Honey Wheat Pretzels

yum yum yum yum

# 3 ~ Getting Excited over Fashion

Lately I'm OBSESSED with devouring fashion magazines, blogs, and online shopping. I love getting inspiration to try and make new looks with the stuff i already have.

#4 ~ Starting My Mornings w/ Warm Coffee & Positive Blogs

I love that I've found such fun/interesting/clever/inspiring blogs to follow.I take away something different from each one <3

#5~ Getting Comments on My Blog Posts

hint hint* :)

#6~ Reading, Reading & More Reading

Reading makes me soooo happy!! I haven't had as much time as I'd like to read for pleasure lately, so i am REALLY looking forward to the holiday break between semesters. I plan on getting a bunch of books for Christmas and blissfully gobbling them up.

The Secret

A few day's ago while perusing the bookshelves at target I decided to pick up a copy of

"The Secret".

I've wanted to check it out for awhile and I figured with all this cold gloomy weather upon us its a perfect time for a dose of some positive thinking.

Have you read it yet? If so what did ya think?

Midweek Inspiration

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."

-George Eliot

Life is FULL of endless possibilities.

Beauty is Never Lost

Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty they merely move it from their faces to their hearts.
- Martin Buxbaum

I stumbled upon this lovely quote while googling "happy quotes"....... i do this at work sometimes to cheer myself up when I'm feeling a bit stressed. It really works, try it out!

I hope I'm one of these people, I'd like to be a spunky,little old lady with a beautiful heart. <3

I've Got My Fingers Crossed

My mom and I got up @ 6:30 this morning and voted! I am so excited & I can't wait for the results tonight.

Halloween Hijinks

I had lots of fun on Halloween! Here are a few pics of our shenanigans...


This one is my friend Melissa, the "party pooper" and me, "Mrs.Claus"



Me and Melissa's Fiance, Sean, the "party animal"



Someone's "boobies" ended up in my possesion... How? im not too sure

Party pooper and party animal

A bunch of us lookin verrry happy!

Now if i hadn't gotten soo drunky, i might have some better quality pics... i'm sure you get the idea though!

How was your Halloween?

BOO!! meow, meow

What I've Learned Today

My abs may look strong but they most certainly are NOT.

I am not a fan of pilates.

Can you recommend some good work-out DVDs?

Just Call Me Big Sis

I have just filled out an application to become a BIG SISTER!!!

I am sooooo excited, the form said someone will be in contact with me within two days :)

I saw a commercial for BBBS on News 12 a few days ago and i decided it is something i would LOVE to do.

I can't wait to take a nice little girl on all kinds of fun adventures like shopping, manicures, movies & lunches .

I am an only child so i think this will be a really fun and rewarding experience.

Galoshes is(/are?) a Fun Word <3

The forecast for Long Island today is..... YUCKY!!!

"Windy with periods of rain. Thunder is possible early. High 52F. NNE winds shifting to WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Additional rainfall possibly over one inch."

Yuck Yuck and double Yuck.

Today would be tolerable if only i had my new rain boots...




Cute right?

I purchased them @ Nordstroms yesterday but the only pair they had in a six were the floor display which had some scratches on them. I had no choice but to order them and wait an agonizing week or so for them to arrive!

Nothing is less fun then handing over your money at the register and walking away with a mere receipt!

All i can say is it better rain the day after i receive these boots!!

Watch Your Mouth!

“Profanity is the attempt of a lazy and feeble mind to express itself forcefully”

~unknown

I really like this. I am in no way claiming to never use profanity, i don't think anyone can really say that. I usually only curse when I'm really frustrated or i stub my toe or get a horrendous paper-cut (or maybe when i get the occasional bout of road rage.... but that doesn't really count b/c no one can hear me!!). That said, i still think it sounds a bit ignorant.

I like to have fun with words! I suppose I'm a bit geeky in that i get excited about learning new words or new uses for old words.

Next time something (or someone) makes you mad try screaming a ridiculously silly word instead of the usual four letter word.

You just might make yourself laugh and forget why you got angry in the first place!

Words of Wisdom

“Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison
and expecting the other person to die.“
~ Unknown


This quote is dead on. Holding a grudge only hurts yourself. To be happy you can not hold on to any sort of bitterness.


** That said, I "forgive" the makers of irritating sounds discussed in my previous post!

Click, Chomp, Snort UGH!!!

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning in my research methods class i am subjected to a barrage of irksome noises. To my left we have the relentless texter; the entire duration of class (70 mins) i hear click click click click click. Next up, to my right we have the gum chewer, chomp chomp chomp chomp chomp, with the occasional SNAP thrown in. Maybe i could handle these two if it weren't for the third and utterly intolerable noise..... the heavy breather! Now maybe she has asthma or some other physical ailment but i just CAN NOT deal with the constant and continuous half snore half snort like noises emanating from her direction. Sometimes i seriously want to smack her! Am i evil? At times i have to restrain my self from throwing my books in the air and screaming at them all! Right about now you're probably thinking i need to relax... believe me i try but my entire life i have been very easily irritated by tiny noises, I can't help it!

What noises annoy you?

I need to know I'm not the ONLY KOOK who gets seriously annoyed by teensy little sounds.

I'm not..... right??

This is me in class

How Lucky We Are

Check the song i am currently LOVING . When i listen to it i think about how much im looking foward to Rob coming home in January and how lucky we really are.....

Smile && Some Other Happiness Inducing Suggestions

If you need a little oomph to start your day click below!

http://galadarling.com/article/100-ways-to-be-a-love-letter-to-the-universe