gabby, she wrote

post game wrap up

2012-01-29T21:45:00.000-08:00

This quote really says it all.

I'm doing pretty okay. I really am. I'm definitely had moments of sadness {the hardest has been not knowing what he is doing. it kills me.} But I am okay. We didn't break up in any explosive way, over something awful. We are just not meant to be together.

I still adore him. He's one of my best friends and he still makes me laugh more then anyone. I love him and I know he loves me. There wasn't anything like cheating or abuse or anything awful like that. It was just 2 people that weren't meant to be. And I knew that for months and he did too. But then we would have so much fun together and the thought of ending that was terrible. We talked about breaking up often. How strange is that, right? But we did. And we never did it. Until I finally was ready to rip the bandaid off. And so I did.

So yeah. I'll be spending this week working a lot and getting back into the kitchen {has anyone noticed that my blog has been sadly lacking recipe posts?}. I will be with amazing friends. I will smile when B texts me that he saw my favorite rare beer for sale. I will try to move on.

the end

2012-01-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

B and I broke up.

I don't really know what else to say, really. I get a gold star for effort. But sometimes, it's just so glaringly obvious that it's not right. It wasn't right and it hasn't been right for me for a while. So this is a good thing.

But it's a sad thing. I don't really have anything else to say right now.

keep calm

2012-01-22T22:09:00.000-08:00

So my weekend was sorta a bust.

Life has been stressful for me, and I didn't realize how much so - until 5am Friday morning, when I woke up with searing pain down my left arm and chest. I was staying at my bff's that night, funnily enough. I sat up, I stood up, the pain got worse. I panicked. I knocked on bff's door and told him I needed help.

I literally thought I was having either a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism (remember, i have had one before). I literally thought I was dying. I mean that in all seriousness. In the car on the way to the ER, I called my mom to tell her I loved her {she didn't answer, which was/is a blessing. she would have freaked out.} I contemplated calling my sister {but i knew she would freak out and she's far away and all}. I texted B that I loved him. I was scared out of my mind. Getting to the ER was a blur. Nurses move fast when you are there for chest pain. I stared up at the lights above me as I was getting hooked up to monitors and IVs and basically thought how much it sucked to be dying. No joke. Ugh. I hate myself for writing that, but that is really what I thought.

Long story short, I am healthier then ever. The verdict? A panic attack/anxiety.

Huh.

I'm really a stranger to this. I mean, it has been a stressful few weeks - Thursday night, I vented to B for like an hour about all my stresses and things {mom's car accident, car still not fixed, passed up for a promotion, b and i are having issues, etc etc}. But when isn't life stressful? Right? I guess I just need better coping mechanisms. Not a vodka soda and a cheeseburger. I guess that is a start.

So my weekend...I slept a lot. I watched mindless TV and snuggled with B and spent some good time with my mom. I wanted to go out with my friends on Saturday night but I could not move off the couch and then I cried in bed. I was happy to go to work on Sunday and see my coworkers that are so amazing. I'm happy to be home right now in pjs. But I still have some twinges of pain in my shoulder, which reminds me that maybe I need more help then I am giving myself.

So yeah. I'm working on it.

photo via pinterest

anatomy of a saturday night

2012-01-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

7:00 pm: Get to the bff's apartment. Lay on the couch and eat fast food cheeseburgers.

7:30 pm: Start watching Mrs. Doubtfire. Doze off, but wake up every time bff giggles like a little boy. Definitely wake up in time to see the heart warming last scenes. Robin Williams makes a very convincing woman {'help is on the way, dears!'}

9:00 pm: Move from the couch to the comfy high chairs at the bar/kitchen counter.
9:00 pm-midnight: watch Shania Twain videos on Youtube, Facebook stalk, eat nachos, take Photobooth pictures {please note i am not actually licking his nose in the below photo. optical illusion}. Debate going out but do not want to change into actual clothes.
midnight: start watching cute baby videos on Youtube. Bff refuses to watch.
12:15 am: Bff decides we must go out. we are too young to stay in on a Saturday night like invalids or such. Get dressed {in a new red plaid top with black matte sequins. love it so much. pics later}
12:30 am: more Shania Twain. We have no clue why.
1:30 am: decide to put pjs back on and go to sleep.

and that was my Saturday night.

things I discovered yesterday

2012-01-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

My mother was in a car accident yesterday {in my car, while i was at work. long story}. She is absolutely fine, a little stiff, but fine. That is numero uno. {my car, not so much, but i do not care.}I got a phone call basically 20 minutes after I had gotten to work, and it set off a whole day of feeling grateful and thinking.

These are things I discovered:

*my coworkers. Lordy, my coworkers. Talk about making me feel loved and cared for. You know in those 10 awful seconds when you get a scary text or phone call and you have no idea how bad it is? My coworkers just stepped in and took control. My supervisor, telling me to go, get on the phone, do what I have to do. My amazing friend Tyler, handing me his car keys and telling me to take his car. The multiple people who heard my news and stopped by my desk through the day to ask about my mom. {this seems dramatic, i know. my mom is really fine} The offers for rides home and rides to work in the next days. I am grateful for where I work, and more importantly, who I work with.

*I have really good men in my life.

*Sometimes {all the time} I really really really wish my sister lived closer.

*Artichoke and mushroom pizza is delicious.

*I'm a really loud typer.

*Tina Fey's book > Mindy Kaling's book

And that was my day.

somewhere

2012-01-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

I don't ask you to love me always like this,

but I ask you to remember.

Somewhere inside me,

there'll always be the person I am tonight.

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

I first read this quote on the lovely meg's blog.

holiday confessions

2012-01-03T22:20:00.000-08:00

Hello 2012 and hello blog world.

These are my holiday confessions.

{mixed with some of my holiday instagrams}

I never really got crazy into the 'holiday spirit' this year. Don't get me wrong - I listened to Christmas music constantly, I decorated the condo, I was happy. But it never really got to that excited point, yanno?

I was really nervous about money this year. Kind of irrationally. I have gotten really good at not shopping, so shopping was a little weird. I'll be sure to look for grocery coupons and best buys.

I woke up with B on Christmas morning. It was our first Christmas together. Overall, it was great. I loved having him with me at my family things. I did not see his family at all though. He has a very small family and they basically did not celebrate {heathens!} {totally kidding. i like his family. they aren't heathens.}

My "Holiday Dessert Series" was a flop. I did make 2 delicious treats though, so yay for that.

My work Christmas 'party' was ridiculously fun. I love love love my coworkers.

I got really irritated with girls bitching about their friends getting engaged. That's kinda rude.

I made B watch The Holiday {because i couldn't find my copy of Love Actually} and he liked it. You have no idea how great that is. He thinks I have terrible taste in movies {also, music}.

My bff has been going through a really hard time. New Year's weekend, he was struggling. It was rough. B and I basically stayed all weekend at his apartment, just keeping him company. So New Years was kinda stressful. {he's better now! i love him so}

I love that B loves my bff. I love B.

I drank a tad too much on NYE and then was brutally honest to someone I really dislike. I was unnecessarily mean and I hate that. I apologized. But that is not okay. I am not a mean girl.

I am not drinking for the month of January.

I worked on New Years Day. This whole week has been so busy at work. It's exciting to think about how many people made resolutions about finding love in 2012. They're hopeful and I love it. I'm hopeful for them. {unless they are rude, then meh, you're on your own} {jkjk}

My resolutions?

Well, not drinking for January

Be fearless in everything, but not reckless.

Please tell me something about your holidays...or your resolutions...or anything.

I have missed you.

cocktails and confetti

2011-12-26T22:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to you all!

I am taking a break from the blog until 2012.

Just need a little time to breathe and enjoy the season.

Life is good and I hope yours is too!

I'll be back with reports of my cocktails-and-confetti shenanigans.

lots of love & see you next year,

gabs

{photo via pinterest}

{yeah, a 'break' for a week. whatevs!}

holiday dessert #2

2011-12-19T20:43:00.000-08:00

I have bought one Christmas gift.

Truthfully, I like the mad rush of the final days before Christmas.

{at least that is what i tell myself.}

The bars are the perfect last minute treat, although they do take a few hours to chill and set.

They're incredibly rich.

They're easy! No pastry dough or baking even. Just some stirring.

And who does not like peanut butter and chocolate?

{B says these remind him of a Nestle's Crunch bar sorta kinda}

Peanut Butter Chocolate Crispy Bars

{adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking}

for the crispy crust:

1 3/4 cups crisped rice cereal

1/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

for the milk chocolate peanut butter layer:

5 ounces milk chocolate, chopped

1 cup creamy peanut butter

for the dark chocolate icing:

3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Lightly spray an 8 inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Put the cereal in a large bowl and set aside.

Pour 1/4 cup water into a small saucepan. Gently add the sugar and corn syrup, stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Cook over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Cook until the mixture slightly thickens {ie. the soft ball stage}. Remove from heat, stir in the butter, and pour the mixture over the cereal. Working quickly, stir until the cereal is coated, then pour into prepared pan. Using your hands, press mixture into bottom of pan. Set aside.

In the top of a double boiler or large metal bowl, stir together the milk chocolate and the peanut butter. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, stirring with a spatula, until the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture over the cooled crust. Put the pan in the fridge for an hour, or until the top layer hardens.

In the top of a double boiler or large metal bowl, stir together the dark chocolate, corn syrup and butter. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, stirring with a spatula, until the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture over the peanut butter layer. Put the pan in the fridge for an hour, or until the top layer hardens.

Cut into small squares and serve with a smile.

holiday dessert #1

2011-12-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

{i'll be posting my favorite holiday dessert recipes over the next week. watch this space.}

So far my holiday season has been quite nice.

B and I have had some sweet nights driving around looking at lights.

And last night, he surprised me with fresh mistletoe for some smooches.

He makes me really happy and I am so glad to be sharing this season with him.

Anyways.

What else is sweet? My apple galette. {bad transition, i know. long day.}

I actually made this for Thanksgiving, but it would be great for the holidays.

It's like a pie, but lighter and easier. But still impressive.

Get it girl.

Apple Galette

1 recipe Pastry Dough {here} {i cannot encourage you enough to make your own dough. it is easy. swearsies. and you will be so proud of yourself. just try it!}

1 1/2 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into thin slices

4 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into small cubes

milk

Roll your dough to a thin round, about 14 inches in diameter. Transfer dough to a large baking sheet.

Preheat oven to 450. Combine apple slices, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl, toss to blend. Arrange apple slices in circles on top of dough, leaving at least a 1 1/2 inch border. Once you have all the apples arranged, carefully fold the dough border over the apples, pinching any cracks in the dough. Sprinkle the apples with the cubed butter. Brush the pastry dough with milk and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake galette for 20 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 375 and continue baking until the crust is golden and the apples smell like heaven, about another 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cut into wedges, and serve with homemade whipped cream.

Yummers.

a DIY for the uncrafty

2011-12-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

It's just not the holidays without breaking out the glue and trying to get crafty, a la Martha. Am I right? {i'm right}

But although some of the DIYs on Pinterest are amazing...I am just not that crafty.

So I went the easy, sparkly route.

Glittered pine cones.

Yes. I know. You're like...that's it?

Yep.

But they're super pretty and easy and you will feel accomplished.

I didn't want the entire pine cone to be covered with glitter. I wanted some brown showing through, but that is up to you.

I simply painted each pine cone 'leaf' with tacky glue and sprinkled on fine glitter.

Sit until dry, obviously.

I have mine on a few cake plates in my living room.

Not too bad, right?

A craft for the uncrafty.

{if you're looking for a more involved Christmas craft,

may I suggest my yarn wreath?

i am still reeling from that high.}

Kmart coupons are always available for craft supplies.

catching up

2011-12-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

So I have been a little busy with these things:

*my friend Russ was in town from Detroit. I love him. It was so good to see him.

*One of my best gals got engaged! Too happy for Melissa and Lars. Cannot wait for the wedding - in Florida!

*Spending more time with my bff and his roommate {and my friend} Chelsea. We take amazing pictures together, can't deny it.

*Mimosa flights at Chapter One. Yes.

*Of course, spending time with my super cute boyfriend. B and I went to the House of Blues last week to see a band {Roman Alexander and the Robbery} and Downtown Disney was all Christmased out.

*Brunch with bff. B was still sleeping.

*Lots of good eating and drinking at two local deli/markets. Claro's for everything Italian {omg so so good} and Mattern for the best German food I have ever had.

*And a random drunk guy with a tattoo of my name.

How are you?

thankful!

2011-11-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for:

*text messages from my sister at 7am, saying she is on her way down here

*peach ginger green tea

*nights of 8+ hours of sleep, glorious sleep

*my boyfriend who gives me laughter and smooches daily

*that blond Target commercial lady. I am sorry, but I think she is hi.lar.ious.

*long weekends

*my mother. No one can irritate me and 'get me' so much, at the same time.

*my job. I get to help people find love and I laugh my ass off every day with my coworkers.

*living where I live. My personal freedoms.

*boozy egg nog season

*my untraditional Thanksgiving plans, different from any year before - B, my mom and I.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

love,

gabs

lovely owl

2011-11-21T21:31:00.001-08:00

The illness of 2011 did not kill me

{or B}.

Here's a video of an owl.

The cuteness might kill you.

{don't die}

a sick story

2011-11-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

I've been really healthy all year, so I guess it should not be a surprise that my time has come.

I am sick.

It hit me like a freight train on Wednesday night.

Spent Thursday at home, in bed with Netflix and hot tea.

The thing is, I really wanted to spend time with B, because it had been a few days.

So we had a laundry and Chinese food party.

But I guess whatever virus is currently camping out with me is pretty potent.

Cause poor B woke up sick.

{maybe the fact that i was a whiny baby who insisted on cuddles was part of it. but it felt so nice!}

The thing with B, he is very opinionated.

{i think this is why we can be together, because i am very easy going and mellow}

He often {always} thinks he knows the best way to do things.

And when he is sick, he needs Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Medicine Ball tea.

I have not tried this, because when I am sick, I prefer the drugs you get only after showing the pharmacist your ID.

But this morning, he just went on and on about this tea. And he was sick! I felt horrible.

So we went to CBTL.

And they did not have it.

B was very sad.

So we got some teas without magical powers and breakfast from Mustards next door.

Then he went to work and I went back to bed, where I watched 5 episodes of Storage Wars.

Do you have any magic trick for feeling better asap?

Do you go for drugs or wacky teas?

Cast your vote now.

{team gabby}

a regular update

2011-11-08T21:12:00.001-08:00

Don't worry, I am not going to start this post by whining about not having time to blog. I just haven't, although I think about it often. I just do not have a regular schedule. I really need to figure that out.

Life is good though.

Work is fun and really busy. Over this past weekend, I had to work at 5am for a special project. Let's just say I do not miss my days of working early. It was rough and I do not think I have completely recovered yet. But yeah, it's all good. Although my work bff is not with my company any longer. I know. I am sad and miss him every day. It's crazy how much his leaving impacted me! My whole day is different. {side note: my work has gotten me addicted to fiber one bars. holy hell they are delicious.}

B is still my favorite boyfriend. He is in a show at the Laguna Playhouse (go see it this weekend!), so a lot of his time has been spent in rehearsals. But he knows when I need some attention. That is when I get a text and he calls me 'kitten' or he spends the night at my house {i prefer my house over his these days. his house is coooollllldddd} and cuddles with Bells and myself. We have reached a level of comfort that I really like. I like talking to him and I like that he knows to ask about the guy at work who doesn't like me {gasp}. It's comfortable, but not boring. We're in a good place. It's just fine! {as he would say. charming, really} {we're going on 9 months, people! who woulda thought.}

{fave bf and i}

I really appreciated the comments I got on the post about the holidays and the loss of my grandpa. Y'all made me think. The holidays are a go! I am ready for Motown Christmas and homemade Kit Kat bars and egg nog and dogs in sweaters. I am ready to talk about memories of my amazing papa and I am ready to get and give some hugs. {no i am not drunk right now} It will be good.

I've basically already planned out my birthday party and birthday week. Yes, it is in February. What?

I really want to get on the gold glitter nail polish train you are all probably riding. Maybe this weekend.

That is basically what I have been up to. Honestly, now that I have gotten all this out, I feel like I can blog freely again. Weird but true.

How have you been?

just wastin' time

2011-11-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

So I have 2 new time-wasters that are keeping me from blogging:

Y'all probably know why Pinterest is awesome. It's way overwhelming though -

I like everything

All the food/recipes I "pin" are usually beige/brown colors

There are some people with killer style out there

{and i am probably not one of them}

I feel inadequate

Anyways. My Pinterest is here.

Do you have one?

And then there's

Instagram

Truthfully, I am not posting photos very often, only because I don't have an iPhone, just an iPad.

But still. I love this app.

How could I not, when I get photos like this:

I'm gabbyshewrote on Instagram.

If you use/are addicted/hate these time wasters,

let me know!

happy halloween!

2011-10-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween, honey bunches.

{are y'all familiar with what i am? dia de los muertos? sugar skulls? i live in so cal, it's probably more of a um...thing? here. anyways. this is patrick and i}

We celebrated Halloween on Saturday night.

It involved:

my love B doing my makeup and bringing me fresh flowers for my hair

jello shots

hanging with 3 of my favorite men {b, bff, pat}

a woman dressed up as Toddlers & Tiaras ultimate grand supreme {I DIED}

being able to smooch B because he was wearing black lipstick too

a sleepover at bffs

too much fun

{didn't b do an awesome job? i loved it!}

Happy Halloween!

Life Well Lived - Looking Your Best

2011-10-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

Q. It's the end of your day and you're rushing to get ready for an evening out. How do you create a nighttime look in just a few minutes?

A. Blogher and the Life Well Lived Blogger Panel wants to know what your answer is! And you can also read some great tips and tricks to look snazzy quick. Aaand you can be entered to win a $250 Visa gift card!

My tips for switching to daytime to nighttime?

Pump up the color with eyeliner and blush and don't forget to pour yourself a glass of bubbly.

That is super important, do not forget that last step.

Now, BlogHer wants to know what you think!

Share your best tips here and then click here to enter the $250 Visa gift card giveaway!

Thanks BlogHer!

pumpkin pancakes

2011-10-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I made these pumpkin pancakes for B. I was feeling a need to be in the kitchen. This need usually hits me on Saturdays {convenient} or Mondays {weird and annoying}. Anyways. It's fall. I saw canned pumpkin and had to buy it, because I remember the canned pumpkin shortage a few years ago. Maybe that was just in So Cal. It was a scary holiday season, friends.

Anyways. These pancakes. So good. Make them this weekend.

{and enter my fall giveaway here}

Pumpkin Pancakes

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup pumpkin

1 egg

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

In a bowl, combine milk, pumpkin, egg, vanilla, vinegar and oil. In a separate bowl, combine all other ingredients. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine. Make pancakes! Shoot, you know how.

Notes:

*no pumpkin pie spice? it's cinnamon, ground ginger, and nutmeg.

*the batter was a little thick, so thin it out with milk if you prefer thinner pancakes

*as is, this recipe made thick, souffle like pancakes that were amazeballs

*serve with pure maple syrup, or as we did, with butter and honey

the perfect fall giveaway

2011-10-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

We Love Colors wants to help a gabby, she wrote reader

celebrate fall.

No, they are not going to be delivering a pumpkin spice latte to your door.

{although...that's an awesome idea}.

They simply want to send you some fall-ish tights and a special

Halloween surprise!

Fun, right?

To be entered to win your choice of their amazing tights in either rust or orange

aaaaand the special surprise,

just leave a comment here!

Giveaway will end in 1 week, on Monday, October 24.

Winner selected randomly.

Must be a follower of gabby, she wrote to win.

Good luck and happy fall!

**giveaway is closed**

lucky # 1 was the random winner

congrats Vero!

I emailed you!

on root beer floats, loss, and the holidays

2011-10-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

Talking to my mother about root beer floats.

"I love them. They remind me of Papa."

and just like that, the next thing out of my mouth

"I've decided I am going to work all the holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just ... can't."

and just like that, I was crying my eyes out. Crying like I have not cried in a while. Since I got the call about his passing.

I love the holidays but I cannot imagine sitting at a dining room table with all of my family except my grandfather. I don't want to do that. I do not want to sit there and pass the gravy-that-is-more-whiskey-then-gravy to my cousin and not notice my papa rolling his eyes at the loud and way longer then is appropriate story that my aunt's sister's husband is telling.

{what? you don't put whiskey in your gravy? oh. sads for you. also? my eye-roll? i got it from my papa.}

I realize that even if I do work these holidays, there is always next year. There will be a time when his absence is felt and missed and acknowledged more then usual. I know I cannot run from that and yet, wow, I want to. I know that the people sitting around your dining room table will change and traditions evolve and the people you love are always with you. But God. I feel selfish writing this, because I know some of you are missing a parent or a child or a spouse. But this is my loss right now and I hurt.

Can I tell you a confession?

Last Christmas, I chose not to go to my families Christmas. I spent the day alone, at home, in pjs, drinking boozy egg nog and watching The Holiday and Love Actually. At the time, it was the most wonderful gift to myself and I felt quite adult and independent and whatever.

I'm an idiot. Regret.

If I was smart, I would see the correlation here and it would be a lightbulb moment. But I am not feeling particularly smart.

Just sad.

I've learned

2011-10-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

I've learned that if B falls asleep on the couch and is out, like in that deep sleep where I could try to wake him but he would either not move a muscle or swat me away, I've learned to just go up to bed by myself. This doesn't bother me at all.

Because a few hours later, he will creep in and cuddle the living daylights out of me.

It's a nice way to wake up.

And then we fall asleep together.

{photo via}

everyone should be happy

2011-10-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

{everyone should be happy}

Making me happy these days:

*cooler weather. Scarf weather.

*random text messages from my sister that literally make me choke on my diet coke at work

*being the xbox kinect table tennis champion at work

{yes, we have tournaments at work. i dominate, let me tell you}

*the above photo. BFF snapped it at a bar. The best part? my boyfriend wrote it and didn't tell me until days later, when bff sent me this edited photo. I love little things like that.

*the amount of times I have heard Wilson Phillips on the radio lately.

*Breaking Bad. I'm halfway into season 1.

*falling asleep cuddling. Aww. Gag, I know.

What about you?

3 years

2011-10-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

My little blog turned 3 over the weekend. I knew the date was coming up, but...3 years?? Really? It seems like I have been blogging for either a week or for 58 years. Craziness.

I have actually been thinking about blogging for a while now. No, not actually thinking about writing a blog post, because clearly that is the hardest thing ever for me these days. But about blogging. This blog. What it means to me. What it has done for me and to me and made me.

When I think about gabby, she wrote, I feel proud. Is that silly? Whatevs. I am proud that I have stuck at something for 3 years. I'm proud that I haven't stopped blogging. I'm proud that I have made real friends through this medium, through the crazy internets. I feel like this blog is a true representation of me and that makes me feel proud. Every time I move my mouse over the "Publish Post" orange button...you guessed it, {I feel a shiver of should I, should I not and then} I feel proud.

Aww, cheeseball.

I've gotten a few emails and comments about how to blog and how to grow a blog. I know so many bloggers that have written great posts on these topics, and truthfully, while I'm flattered that someone would ask me, I don't really know how to respond. I was going to write that I don't feel qualified to answer those questions, but who is really qualified when it comes to blogging? That said, these are some of my thoughts:

*blog about whatever you want, as long as it comes from YOU. It's fine to get inspired by someone else's blog or to do one of those weekly things that some of y'all do. But really, the only reason people will return to your blog is to read about you, your thoughts, your life, your cooking, your hot boyfriend with the facial hair {um that's why you guys read my blog right}.

*It's fine to want your blog to go from 0 readers to 1000+ overnight. We all have goals. But that probably isn't gonna happen. It definitely will not happen if you are not an active member of the blogging community. What does that mean? Reading other blogs and commenting and following. We all like our back scratched, am I right or am I right? My absolute pet peeve regarding blogging is to get a comment asking me to follow them. That is not engaging or friendly or interesting.

*Be engaging and friendly and interesting. Be nice. I have stopped reading blogs that are bitchy and just plain mean. The blogging community can feel like junior high sometimes, and that bores me. I can hang out with mean girls in real life, if I wanted to {i don't}. Just be nice. Be human.

*Social media. Twitter. Facebook. Tumblr. Pinterest. etc etc etc. Everyone wants to connect in some way, all the time.

*Don't turn your blog into a walking advertisement for any company that wants to throw you a dollar or a free sample. Let's be honest. I have made money and gotten some amazing products from my blog. I am so so so fortunate to have worked with companies that I genuinely love. That said, I have also declined offers. And I know what I'm worth, what this space is worth, and what you reading this is worth. It's more then a free box of laundry detergent. On the other side, if you chose to be ad-free, good for you. But don't disparage the bloggers that chose to make money in this medium. What's right for you doesn't have to be right for that blog down the street. Stop judging.

*Be nice. Have fun. Relax.

Well, shoot, I guess I did have some thoughts. What are your thoughts on this?

Anyways. Here is to 3 years of my gabby, she wrote. Thank you for reading and for being my friend. I love you.

xxoo,

gabs

anniversary giveaway coming up

whenever I have time to post it.

photos via

give it to me

2011-09-30T23:48:00.001-07:00

No one is perfect.

Sometimes I want B's attention and I want it now.

Sometimes I remind myself of:

a. a yapping chihuahua

b. a toddler

c. annoying

B is a lucky man.

But then I get what I want and we are both happy.

Happy Weekend, lovers.

opps {happy birthday bff!}

2011-09-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I really dropped the ball.

My BFF's birthday came and went, all without a peep from me

{at least here on the blog}.

To know my bff is to love him. Truly. He just has a way about him.

He is my person that I depend on {probably too much} in times of trouble, times of happiness, times of drunkness {lush}, etc. He has been there for me for years now and I just cannot imagine my life without his friendship.

So his birthday fell midweek and not much was planned. He had a really early work schedule and he is still dealing with being somewhat newly single. We planned a little getaway to Palm Springs, just the two of us. And then I surprised him and invited his {and mine} other good friends and a party was had, you guys.

I seriously love these people with my whole heart and it was an amazing 24 hours.

And yes, that is our hotel room fridge. What more do you need?

*vodka & grapefruit juice for greyhounds

*water & Rockstars for the morning after

*cupcakes!

We sunned, we danced, we stuffed our faces, we laughed, we almost got evacuated from our hotel because of a brush fire {just another weekend}.

So much fun.

So...

a very happy belated birthday to my BFF!

I love you.

Q&A:

B stayed home because he decided he

could not tolerate our musical tastes.

and sometimes a girl needs a 'girls weekend'.

haha.

my mission statement

2011-09-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

I am an apple tree.

I will never grow plums or oranges or anything else, no matter how hard I try. I am at a point in my life where I would like to concentrate on growing the most beautiful, delicious apples that I can so that I can feed, nurture, and give enjoyment to those who love apples. I want to feel proud that my apples are the best they can be.

It's really that simple.

resolution recap

2011-09-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

Is it technically fall yet? I really do not know. But I am going to go ahead and say yes. Labor Day is over, it's mid September and it freaking hailed here on Saturday. {yes, HAIL. i live in southern california. so it's either a weird fall or the end of the world.} Anyways. Summer. Over.

I made some resolutions back in early June. Let's revisit them and see how Gabby did.

Resolution: lots of strawberry beer

Result: Meh. I wouldn't say I've had lots of strawberry beer, but I have had a nice amount. B surprised me with strawberry beer once this summer when I had had a bad day at work. Locally, Chapter One and the Copper Door both serve strawberry beer, although I'm not gonna lie - it's pricey. Hence the not-so-often strawberry beer-ness of my summer. {for the record, my favorite brand of SB is Samuel Smith's Organic Strawberry Ale, but Fruli will do just fine}

Resolution: at least 1 road trip.

Result: Fail. So sad, you guys! Between working lots and lots, B having shows, BFF having his drama, trying to be fiscally responsible and of course the passing of my beloved papa...no road trips have happened. Fall resolution? Yes.

Resolution: outdoor concerts

Result: Yes. B and I saw Steve Miller at the fair. There has also been drum circles and lounge singers at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, but I guess that doesn't count.

Resolution: continue to try to braid my hair in different ways before undoing it with heavy, dramatic sighs.

Result: Let's just say I have the heavy, dramatic sigh part down pat.

Resolution: get reservations to Ludo Bites, even if I have to hit redial for hours. Also go to Umami, Mozza, and track down the Grilled Cheese Truck.

Result: I am feeling like a failure, you guys. Ludo Bites literally filled up in 3 minutes. I have not been to LA, minus the Venice trip B and I took in June. However, I have eaten at some delicious places: Bruxie, Ale Roma, the Bacon Mania truck, lots and lots of Mexican food.

Resolution: make plans and keep them. only say yes when I really mean it and say no sometimes. {always a gabby resolution, not seasonal}

Result: I am going to say that I kept this resolution. I have been good about saying no. That has been hard for me. This summer has been different from any summer ever, in the history of gabby-ness. And it has been good.

love

2011-09-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

do you know what this is?

Love.

My friends, that is a Salted Caramel Mocha Frappucino from Starbucks.

Do I really have to say more?

{yes, B, I just blogged about Starbucks. get over it.}

little letters

2011-09-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Universe,

Please add this* to my wish list of lovelies.

I'm kinda swooning for that little bee.

Dear Work,

I am so glad I get a 3 day weekend beginning tomorrow.

SO GLAD.

You have kicked my behind this week and I need a break. Motivational speeches from my boyfriend and mother can only get me so far - gabby needs to get far away from you.

Don't take it personal. {you should take it personal}

Dear B,

I love you.

We have approximately 845 pictures of us kissing. We're creeps.

Dear BFF,

We need some dancing this weekend. Let's get it.

Dear everyone-who-has-ever-left-me-a-nice-comment,

You have no idea how much they make my day. This little place of the 'nets that I call my own makes me happy all the time. GSW's 3 year anniversary is coming up. 3 years of nonsense, basically, but it makes me happy. More on this later. I smell a giveaway.

love,

gabs

*ps. check out my new fave etsy shop

Voleur de Bijoux

here

holiday 'weekend'

2011-09-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

My long holiday weekend consisted of one day.

Just one.

I worked 12 hours on Friday, 8 hours on Sunday, and 12 hours on Monday.

Love doesn't take the weekend off, people!

Anyways.

Of course I made the most of my one day off {do you know me at all}.

on Saturday:

*I ran errands with B

*then took the nap of all naps while he 'jammed' with a friend

*we went to the Orange International Street Fair, had some delicious international beers and foods and felt like 2 salmon in a river, going through the current {what? that is my way of telling you that it was insanely crowded and walking was difficult}

*met up with my best friends and sang karaoke

*in bed at 3am and at work at 10am Sunday

Whew.

What a nice holiday weekend.

tumblr thursday

2011-09-01T01:14:00.000-07:00

yeah yeah, so I may not blog as often as I'd like, but there is always

Tumblr.

Check mine out here.

the real truth of this post is in the tags

2011-08-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

So...to follow up to this post...I met B's mother. It was an weird situation, because honestly, it was basically forced by my feelings of insecurity. I feel like the situation was almost manipulated by my jealousy - by me, I guess. That is not good. B wants to make me happy, which I love and appreciate, but in hindsight, I should have just let it go. You know?

That said, it went fantastically.

It was a trip to be in his childhood home, to see his baby photos hanging on the wall {my boyfriend was an adorable child!}, to see how he interacted with his mother. I felt like I got to see an entirely new side to him. I think his mom liked me. I hope!

I guess that goes back to what I mentioned above - I almost feel ashamed that I let those feelings of jealousy affect me and us so much. I was a whiny baby about it, let's be honest. Not Gabby at her best, that is for sure. But I love B for handling it as he did. He is a good man to put up with me.

I'm just glad that things are better, that I feel like my usual confident self, that things with B and I are good.

*B has met my mom a few times. She "can see why I like him" and thinks he is intelligent and funny. He's a charmer.*

on jealousy

2011-08-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

{I am not feeling well and I think the only way I am going to feel better right now is to write this out. Yanno the feeling? Just gotta get it out.}

If you've read my blog lately, you know I am oh so happy with B. I know. How many times can I use the word "happy" on my blog? I know. But it's true. Things are so good. But over the past few months I have had the awkward experience of having to interact with his previous flames. It's never planned, it's just a fact of life - mutual friends, small world, what can you do? He has not remained friends with these girls, although he is friendly. Because that is who he is.

Last night, I had to sit at a table with one of B's exes. Funnily enough, her and I were friends years ago, probably even when they were "they". I had no idea of this history when I met B. Like I said, small world? So I guess, in that regard, I can understand if she felt uncomfortable or jealous last night. It was probably weird for her to see him and I very much together. I sure felt uncomfortable.

To be clear though, B is amazing and does nothing to make me feel jealous or uncomfortable. He is affectionate, he includes me, I feel like I can tell him when I am feeling awkward. He is attentive and just basically the best. {happy happy happy!}

But holy shitballs, y'all. What is up with the bitchy comments some women make so freely? I will never understand.

"Have you met his mother? No? I've met her several times."

"Oh, I didn't think I would see you again!"

"Whatever." {said after seeing B and I kiss} "You know what it means when a girl says whatever, right? It means screw you."

These are all things that 2 exes have said to me. 2 of these statements, last night. Um, really? Gosh you guys, I wish I could be bitchy right back. I wish that felt good to me. {i did whisper to B that I should offer her a discount to the major online dating site i work for. but i didn't actually tell her that. i'm too freaking nice.}

Right now I just feel sick to my stomach. It is amazing how this affects me. It makes me feel insecure, which makes me feel needy, which drives B crazy. In the not so good way. It's a cycle of bad feelings. Right, I have not met his mother. I know in my head that I should not freak out about that now, just because some bitchface met her in the past. I know that. But a little voice in my head keeps asking me why I haven't and what's wrong and clearly there is a problem.

I am being really honest here.

I started off being mad at bitchy, jealous girls and then look, all of a sudden I am one. And I hate it.

I need to hold onto what I know, what I trust, what is real:

*I love B. He loves me.

*He is the most honest man and would not lie to me or hurt me.

*If he didn't want to be with me, he wouldn't.

*I will not always feel jealous and insecure. This feeling will pass.

This feeling will pass. Right?

Post Edit: I met B's mother after I wrote this post. More on that later...

lately

2011-08-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

*I am just never home these days. A shoddy excuse, but true. I usually spend one or two nights a week at my house, and that's when I do laundry and watch terrible Netflix choices, like Hoarders and Toddlers & Tiaras {am i the only one who just watches absolute crap on Netflix?} The other nights, I am at B's house, and now, sometimes at BFF's apartment {more on that later}. Both boys do not currently have internets.

*The loss of my grandfather is very real and hits me at random moments. I still cannot believe he is gone. I have two saved voicemails from him {he calls me kid} and I can barely listen to them. I am sadder for my mom. It's hard. {my sister wrote a beautiful post here. that is my papa.}

*BFF and his boyfriend broke up pretty suddenly. I have lots of thoughts on this, but basically, I just want my friend to be happy. Not sure if you have noticed, but BFF and I went from hanging out all the time to rarely hanging out. He was playing housewife and it made me really sad. I mean, housewives do not make me sad. In general. But friends who suddenly disappear do. {whew that was rough} So I am happy to have my friend back, selfishly. But let this be a lesson, friends: do not, I repeat, do not, move in with someone after dating for just 2 months. Lesson learned.

*I am ridiculously happy with B.

{so happy it hurts?}

Sometimes I look at him and mentally fist pump and think "yesssss" because being his girlfriend is just that good. Sometimes I am scared of how happy I am. Sometimes I get butterflies when I feel his hand reaching for mine. Sometimes I am super cheesy and romantical,

*Sometimes I am a bitch when I realize I wrote about my friend's failed relationship and then my happiness. {sorry bff! super awkward}

*I'm still working at the Lonely Hearts Club, but my job has changed a little and recently, there have been long stretches of time {like 4+hours} where I legitly have nothing to do. And it is perfectly okay for me to do basically anything as long as I am at my desk {and not cruising the 'nets. sads}. So I read about 2 books a week. Today I painted my nails. Any good book recommendations for me?

*I hung out with those boys up above there and it was like I was back in 2007 again. So much fun.

So yeah, that is what is going on here.

How the heck are you?

xo,

gabs

please

2011-08-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

dear universe,

please can i live here? or please can you give me a disco ball to casually leave in a stair way?

thanks,

gabs

photo via

me, these days

2011-08-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been:

*eating at Bruxie every chance I get and dreaming about it when I'm not eating it. If you are ever in Orange, CA...you gotta go.

*reading The Help. The story has totally captured me, but I haven't had time to just sit for an hour and read yet. {however, the book is going with me to work today, Lonely Hearts Club be damned.}

*painting my nails Essie Nice is Nice. Not sure I looove it, but it's fun. {fyi, those Sally Hansen Nail Effects outlasted my need for change...i took them off on day 8 and they still looked perfect}.

*loving this guy. It's true, I do. {this photo makes me melty and swoony and butterfly-y}

There you have it!

Me, these days.

the nail polish connection

2011-08-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

Some people you just meet and have an immediate connection to. And that is that, you are friends.

When I started working at the Lonely Hearts Club, the very first person I met was a guy named Matt. I think we both just knew. At least, I knew when I sat next to him and the very first words out of his mouth were

"What color exactly is your nail polish anyways?"

Be still my heart. My nails are always painted. I love nail polish and I love unnatural, weird shades and I love people who notice that.

Matt and I are basically work bffs and I heart him so.

So it was no surprise when I was working away the other day, making love happen, and I hear

"Girl, what is on your nails! They look fabulous!"

Aww, Matty. You noticed.

{I used Sally Hansen Salon Effects thingies and I am in love. They haven't chipped or anything and let me tell you, I am not the gentlest lamb in the field when it comes to how I use my hands. Ha. Where do I come up with this? I do not know.}

{ps. the color I was wearing on that fateful day? Zoya Kelly. it's purple. it's gray. it's blue.}

{makin' strangers into friends since 2011}

how to woo your man

2011-08-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

There are a handful of things that I know without a doubt, I can do well. Or, make well. Cook well. Bake well.

Salted caramel brownies.

Chocolate chip cookies.

Enchiladas of multiple varieties.

Cinnamon rolls.

And...

Bolognese sauce.

I think this sauce is one of the reasons that Ben loves me. No. Really. He brags to his friends about this sauce. The way to a man's heart is really through the stomach, let me tell you.

This is not spaghetti sauce, although it's great on pasta. There is white wine involved, not red. No basil. This is a meat sauce. Lots of meat, lots of meat sauce, lots of amazing flavor.

Bolognese Sauce {modified from Epicurious}

2 medium onions, finely chopped

4 celery ribs, finely chopped

2 medium carrots, finely chopped

5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 pound pancetta or slab bacon, ground by butcher or thinly sliced and pulsed in food processor until finely chopped

1/2 pound ground veal

1 pound ground beef

1 pound ground pork (not lean)

1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

1 cup whole milk

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup water or chicken broth

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cook onions, celery, carrot, and garlic in oil in a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add pancetta, veal, beef and pork and cook over moderately high heat, stirring and breaking up lumps, until no longer pink, about 6 minutes.

Stir in tomato paste, milk, wine, water and gently simmer, covered, until sauce is thickened, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Add salt and pepper and remove from heat. Feel free to simmer longer...some recipes say up to 6 hours. Go read a magazine.

Enjoy, lovers.

i tried to write, i really did

2011-07-26T22:38:00.000-07:00

I want to write tonight but I am honestly so distracted by these 2 photos.

And my weekend plans now include buying a box of popsicles and a bottle of champagne. Yours too?
The colors. I want to walk into that room barefoot. I think it would smell like oranges and vanilla and heat. I bet the coffee table books are really interesting.

Not sure what I wanted to write about before I got so distracted. Sometimes I just get that itch. These days, the itch to write is most often inspired by B. But that can get boring to read about and there is only so much of my heart that I can spill here. About him.

{i keep scrolling back up top to look at those photos. the colors! you too?}

Maybe tonight is just not my night to write. I've hit the backspace key too many times already, let's be honest.

{has anyone ever tried a popsicle with champagne?}

photos here

what's been going on

2011-07-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a minute.

Sheesh I hate when I neglect my blog, especially because now I have a backlog of things I need to blog about right this moment and what is a girl to do?

I know, right?

Stressful.

Anyways, gather round and see what Gabby has been up to on her summer vacation

{i lied. i have not been on vacation. just working hard and playing hard}

The Fair! And the Steve Miller Band with the manfriend!

*we ate lots. obscene

*met up with work friends and put my foot in my mouth when I introduced B as "my boyfriend, Tyler". I was introducing him to Tyler's girlfriend. Awesome.

*chocolate covered bacon is delicious.

*not shown: B annihilating a turkey leg, cheese on a stick, Steve Miller

The lovely Shelley's birthday!

*too many people in one place that I adore

Boating off Dana Point for my Melissa's birthday!

*my 2 best friends, in the same place for the first time in months. for reals.

*fishing. lots of fish were caught and released. {not by me. i sunned}

*mimosas and cupcakes

Not shown: Gizmo the water poodle, Lars the captain, my sunburned back

As you can see, I have been a busy girl!

How are you? Tell me everything.

weekend.

2011-07-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend

I went to a wedding with B and we had a lot of fun

{also, a lot of booze. eww i do not miss hangovers}.

We spent a good chunk of Sunday sleeping on the couch. I swear I was still hungover on Monday.

Barf.

This weekend

I made this strawberry summer cake from here

I highly recommend it.

To be honest, this weekend was not all hearts and flowers {i know you thought so, with the pictures of cute boyfriend and strawberries. see how blogs can appear misleading? yeah. anyways} But that's life, right? In the end, everything has worked out. {gosh i am cryptic sometimes. how annoying}

Good news though: bffs brother is at home! He still has a long road of recovery in front of him, but obviously, things are so much better and I am so happy.

More good news: this week will include birthday fun for some of my favorites, the fair + a concert with B, and frozen yogurt cause it's summer, y'all.

{can i direct you to my summer poem i wrote way back in my early days o' blogging? still amazeballs and appropriate. haha. just kidding.}

{this blog post feels very train-wrecky to me. i should probably go now.}

today

2011-07-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

recipe remix

2011-07-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I haven't been cooking as much lately. I am looking forward to getting back into the kitchen {at home and at school}. But when Knorr graciously sent me their new Homestyle Stock, I was inspired to get in the kitch and remix a recipe that I fell in love with last year. Braising is the perfect way to use this stock!

So here you go.

Braised Chicken with Apples and Sage

{This is one of those things that made me go "omg, I made this??" Really really good. I know it's technically still summer...but fall will be here in no time! Save this recipe for the first hint of fall weather.}

6 boneless chicken thighs

2 red apples, sliced and peeled {I used Gala}

1 yellow onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup fresh sage, julienned

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

2 cups of chicken stock, made from Knorr Homestyle Stock {one tub makes 3 1/2 cups of delish stock!}

salt & pepper, flour

Olive oil & butter

Preheat oven to 400.

Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper and dust with flour. Heat a large saucepan on medium high heat and add a swirl of olive oil and a pat of butter. Add the chicken and brown on both sides, remove to an oven safe dish.

In the same pan, add the apple slices and onion. Cook until tender, but not falling apart. Add the sage and brown sugar and stir until the sugar is melted. Add the vinegar and combine. Pour the apple mixture over the chicken pieces. Pour in enough chicken stock so it reaches halfway up the side of the chicken. Cover and bake at 400 degrees until the chicken is done.

sleepovers

2011-07-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

These are some things that may or may not happen when your manfriend spends a few nights at your condo that's located on a man-made nature reserve.

*he'll close your glass slider door so tightly, when he's gone, you will try and try to open it and then just turn on a fan instead.

*wine will be drunk.

*you'll stay up until 2am when you have to work at 8am, just giggling in bed. it might just be too fun to sleep when your manfriend is there.

*he'll make comments like "i can fix that for you!" and you'll lazily look on from the couch as he talks about the loose board on the deck that you really haven't given a thought about. {what? it's like a seesaw for the neighborhood raccoon}

*speaking of the neighborhood raccoon, your manfriend will go out on the deck at midnight to scare it off, when it insists on just standing there, staring at your chihuahua through the glass door. {can you imagine the chihuahua panic attack i dealt with? oh lord.}

*smooches. lots of them.

*he'll eat most of the hawaiian pizza you two ordered, but he'll let you knock good looking bites of antipasto salad off his fork and eat them yourself. {that's normal, right?}

*you'll be lonely when you have to get into your bed, by yourself.

~~~

What an overwhelming week. Thanks for all of your support and love. Bff's brother is doing a bit better - it is such a roller coaster, that is for sure. And my family is hanging in there. Life is not the same, but as you can see, there are moments that make it as sweet as ever.

july 5, 2011

2011-07-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

My precious grandfather passed away this afternoon.

It was peaceful. He was 86.

My family and I knew this was coming, and honestly, it's somewhat of a relief. It's like ripping a bandaid off. I guess. It doesn't seem real and I am sure it won't for quite a while. I am halfway convinced that he is still in his desert home, watching CNN and eating peanuts.

My sister and I both wrote that he was the best man we knew, and that is the truth. Growing up, we spent a lot of time with him. I am so lucky to have been close to my grandparents.

I last saw him on Sunday and it was a drastic change from 2 weeks ago. I couldn't be in the room for very long. But I was comforted by imagining what he was dreaming about - somewhere, in his subconscious. I like to think that he was with his late wife, my nana. Maybe playing baseball. Reliving his travels. Maybe he was dreaming about being in the kitchen making fried chicken (the man could make good fried chicken, that is for sure). We all are comforted by his long, healthy, full life.

Thank you for your Facebook and Twitter comments. I appreciate every single one.

Unfortunately, this is not the only sadness in my life right now. BFF's brother, who is virtually my little brother as well, is struggling for his life in the hospital. He is very, very sick and it's so hard watching his family suffer.

It's just a rough time right now, you guys.

weekend wrapup

2011-06-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Britney concert was amazeballs.

I think BFF and I spent 90% of it on our feet, arms in the air, hips shaking.

Yes, maybe she didn't sing for reals. And maybe I never saw an actual musical instrument.

But it was a freaking good time.

{we had great seats and my pictures don't do the whole thing justice. so this is it.}

Things I also did this weekend:

*started watching Sons of Anarchy on Netflix. I want to hurry home from work to watch more.

*spent Saturday with B in Laguna Beach. We love Laguna Beach, can you tell?

*had a Cadillac margarita that was the size of a swimming pool

*didn't sleep enough

What about you?

i i i wanna go

2011-06-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Don't be jeals.

Tonight, I am seeing Britney Spears in concert and:

I.AM.EXCITED.

I mean, c'mon, it should be fun! We have amazing seats and there might be some booze involved and BFF and I can dance like nobodies business.

It shall be a time, let me tell you.

I'm counting on the fact that manfriend and I will have a fake argument about my enjoyment of the concert. He is not going and wow, he is not a fan of the B.Spears. But fake arguments are fun too.

Other weekend plans:

sleep

farmers market

try to not eat an entire pan of salted caramel brownies

read

and some smooches

I am the luckiest girl in the world.

this

2011-06-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

This has been around the internets. I think the lovely Diana introduced me to it.

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on bo

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.
Or better yet, date a girl who writes. — Rosemary Urquico

This was written in response to You Should Date an Illiterate Girl, which includes this:

You, the girl who reads, make me want to be everything that I am not. But I am weak and I will fail you, because you have dreamed, properly, of someone who is better than I am. You will not accept the life that I told of at the beginning of this piece. You will accept nothing less than passion, and perfection, and a life worthy of being storied. So out with you, girl who reads. Take the next southbound train and take your Hemingway with you. I hate you. I really, really, really hate you.

my heart

2011-06-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

I skipped work today.

I drove out to the 'desert', where it was 106 degrees, to hold this mans hand and tell him I love him. To talk about things that are really hard, practically impossible really, to talk about.

He is 86.

He asked me if I was happy, and I assured him that I was.

My grandfather is the rock of our family. He gave me an amazing childhood when my parents were not around. He is the most opinionated person I know. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He met his wife when he was 17 and took care of her faithfully.

He is a really good man.

I'm afraid of the future. If only we could just stop time.

frozen things, they all unfreeze

2011-06-18T00:13:00.000-07:00

Feeling super contemplative.

It's midnight on Friday. Or Saturday morning, technically, but we all know that the day doesn't change until you go to sleep. I've actually just woken up from a marathon napping session at B's house. We had talked about going out, but when I woke up with raccoon eyes at 10:45, I decided to just call it a night and go home.

And now Kate Nash is playing and I'm thinking. {kate nash speaks my soul, you guys. every flippin song could have been written by me. love.}

I think {scratch that, i know} I think too much. I worry. {lest anyone think that i'm freaking out right now, i just took a blog break to order this. cute, right? yay for midnight-online-shopping-while-blogging} {also, you may think this is a drunk gabby post, but i am a sober sister}. Anyways.

Things are really good right now and I am so happy. I really am. But doubt, insecurity, and fear creep up on me sometimes and I want to just stop. I want to bury my head in the sand until these feelings go away. I don't want to talk about the future. I don't want to talk about feelings. It's not that I don't have feelings - oh, I do I do. I just can't get comfortable with saying certain things. I'm not allowing myself to give in to this, to him, 100%. I just won't let myself.

This gets old, this self imposed defense system of mine. But what can I do? I am me and my history is what it is and I can only do what I am comfortable with right now.

But it's all good.

He sings Lionel Richie songs to me {hello, all night long, and say you say me. i die.} We have a running list of our own dimensions of compatibility. Our PDAs get a little out of control sometimes, but I don't care. He finishes the last bites of my cheeseburgers and raved about my bolognese sauce. We have ridiculous jokes about Delaware and cousins and baby ducks and Kombucha.

I tell him how I feel silently in my head every day. For now, that will have to do.

frozen things, they all unfreeze

accept this

2011-06-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

if I accept everything about myself...

I need to accept the fact that I didn't have time to blog this week

I worry a lot about what people think of me

gray just may be my favorite color to wear

I hoard candy at work and one of my desk drawers looks like a 7-11

What about you?

Weekend plans? Spill.

My plans: catching up with the BFF, a graduation party, good food, manfriend time

Happy Friday!

real quick

2011-06-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

Oh wow, I am behind.

Life has been non-stop work and manfriend time.

I'm currently taking a night to sit around in my pink plaid pjs, do laundry {but probably not put it away, let's be honest}, eat Reese's peanut butter cups, and watch something for 5 minutes on Netflix before I fall asleep.

I'm really happy right now and I hope you are too.

Someone is about to be even happier.

A huge thank you to Shabby Apple for the lovely giveaway! I cannot wait to show y'all my dress.

Gorgeous.

And the winner of the Spanish Steps dress?

Karina

from Ramblings of a Simple Girl

Congrats, ladylove! I will email you!

catching up

2011-06-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'm really not a technology person. I can barely work my DVD player, my computer is most definitely a clunker that crashes randomly, and I'm still devoted to my old Blackberry that I have to take the battery out of daily in order to use the internets. Yeah. And I'm fine with all of this. I'd rather spend money on other things.

So, remember the other week when I worked all that overtime with the Lonely Hearts Club {such an appropriate nickname for my workplace}? Well, friends, I was rewarded:

{why do birds suddenly appear, every time, you are near? just like me, they long to be, close to you}

I am now the proud owner of an iPad 2 and I. Am. In. Love.

{let's talk for a quick sec about how awesome my workplace is. i am seriously blessed to have this job and i really really love it. my coworkers are the funniest people i could ever hope to work with, and my bosses treat me like gold. and i have a 'work husband'. more on that in a different post.}

I feel like a senior citizen marveling over every new app and feature this thing has. I feel like I was on a diet of bread and water and someone handed me an In & Out cheeseburger. I feel like I now understand why people {maybe you} get excited over new releases of gadgets and think a fun afternoon is one spent in the Apple store {i'm not there yet. don't worry. i'd still rather bake cupcakes and then take a nap}.

Not to be obnoxious, but this thing is freaking cool. I'm fully aware that some of you are fully versed in Apple products and this is old news to you. Just think of me as your 80 year old grandma, okay? Humor me.

{don't forget, I'm giving away a Shabby apple dress here!}

Have a great weekend, lovers!

summer resolutions

2011-06-05T23:03:00.000-07:00

I'm jumping the gun, I know.

It's technically not summer. The weather is hardly summer-ish. June barely started. I haven't bought flip flops yet and people are posting on Facebook right now that it's raining.

But still.

These are my summer resolutions. Why not have resolutions midway through the year? I think it's a fabulous idea. Get on board.

*lots of strawberry beer. become a fine tuned connoisseur of strawberry beer.

*at least 1 road trip. remember last year when I went to Vegas 6 times? Yeah. Me too. Go somewhere, in a car, with music and snacks and friends. Doesn't have to be Vegas, necessarily. I'm open.

*outdoor concerts. a must.

*accept the fact that I'm just never going to be a hippie, bohemian girl. I'm just not.

*continue to try to braid my hair in different ways before undoing it with heavy, dramatic sighs.

*make plans and keep them. only say yes when I really mean it and say no sometimes. {always a gabby resolution, not seasonal}

*get reservations to Ludo Bites, even if I have to hit redial for hours. Also go to Umami, Mozza, and track down the Grilled Cheese Truck.

*continue work day walks in order to balance out above resolution.

I resolve to do all these things and more.

Summer, hurry up.

{picture from a field trip B and I took a few weekends ago. crazy editing from my new ipad and instagram. ugh i'm in love.}

this week:

2011-06-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

*I worked 57 hours. Not that I counted. Nah. No seriously. I worked 57 hours. I'm not saying "praise me!", I am sure some of y'all clock 80 and run marathons and walk uphill both ways. But still. I was a worker bee this week. {this week, I was also kinda bitchy. that's what i'm feeling here. sorry. tired.}

*I didn't do much outside of that.

*I posted an awesome giveaway on Monday! Prettiest dress ever.

*I had lunch with the bff. We had so much to talk about, it was like one big run-on sentence. And I ate his fries.

*I had a serious fry craving.

*I played groupie to B after working 13 hours. I clapped and nodded and smiled appropriately. He appreciated it, I know.

*I learned a lot about how people react when anything free is mentioned. IN-SANE. Free? GiveittomenowIdon'tcarewhatitis.

*I got a new dress {with pockets} that I am on the fence about, but wearing currently.

*I made next to no plans for the weekend, so I will have adequate time to read, pet Bella, and just lay in bed.

What did you do this week?

a monday giveaway

2011-05-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

How to make a Monday sweeter?

Hmm. Let's see.

I was thrilled to be contacted by Shabby Apple. If you blog, read blogs, like dresses, wear dresses...you have probably been wowed by their vintage inspired women's dresses at www.shabbyapple.com.

{that purple dress...to die for}

So, to make your Monday that much sweeter, Shabby Apple wants to dress up one gabby, she wrote reader in their gorgeous Spanish Steps dress. As they describe it, it's an "indispensably comfortable-yet-elegant summer frock". Sounds and looks perfect {you'll actually see this dress on me soon! ex.cit.ed}

{vespa not included, sorry loves}

To win this dress:

*be a follower of gabby, she wrote {1 entry}

*'Like' Shabby Apple on Facebook for special promotions {1 entry}

*follow me on Twitter! @gabbyshewrote - leave me your Twitter name {1 entry}

Can't wait to get your paws on a Shabby Apple design?

enter the code "GabbySheWrote10off" for 10% off your purchase.

I'll randomly pick a winner on Monday, June 13.

{giveaway only open to readers in the continental US}

letters

2011-05-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Blueberry Pancakes,

You were amazing, if I may say so. Perfect Friday morning food.

Dear Major-Online-Dating-Site-That-Pays-My-Bills,

Please be nice to me this weekend and the 4 days in a row that I am working at least 12 hours. Please be full of hearts and butterflies and sweetness and Diet Coke and lurve. Please make sure the kitchen is stocked with my favorite salty & sweet granola bars. And coffee! Always coffee.

Dear B,

Well well well. You've read this here blog. Sorry that I turned the color of the Red Velvet Cupcake Batter frozen yogurt I was eating and got all flustered and embarrased. This blog is so personal to me and sometimes I just spill my heart out. It happens. At least you know I'm honest? Silly moo!

Dear Red Velvet Cupcake Batter frozen yogurt,

Do you taste any different from Red Velvet Cake Batter frozen yogurt? I'll find out, just you wait.

Dear Sister,

I was driving home from work the other day and I picked up my phone to call you. And I couldn't. And that made me sads. But the pictures you are emailing me - shut the front door right now, Costa Rica is too beautiful for words! Lucky betch.

Dear Dress with Pockets that I ordered online on Monday,

Where are youuuuu? Come to me.

love,

gabs

ideas

2011-05-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

So...what to blog about?

Hmm. I could blog about my sister leaving, of course. How she actually did leave. How the moment of her departure felt to me like a train coming down the tracks - so much build up for it, when the actual moment of saying goodbye happened, I was surprisingly okay. If that makes sense.

I could blog about how B met my sister {and my mother yikes} before she left. It was important to me to have that happen, and so it did. I could blog about how he scored major points when he told her not to worry, he would take care of me.

I could always blog about my growing Diet Coke addiction, cause it's getting bad, y'all.

I could blog about how so much of my weekend was spent playing groupie to B the drummer. I could blog about how with him, I continually find myself in situations I can honestly say are so brand new to me - and I love it.

I could blog about the tacos I made last night. They were amazing.

I could always blog about work, how people are so crazy and sometimes rude and sometimes hilarious and wow, so picky...but at the end of the day, they all want love. And that makes me smile, even when I'm being called "You People" by a 70 year old man. Cause that happened.

I could blog about all the summer dresses I am dying to buy. My wish list is getting scarily long. Why do I love dresses with pockets so much? I just don't know.

Anyways.

Happy Tuesday, lovers!

busy

2011-05-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

Ahhh busy busy life.

Busy week!

Busy with:

*work: it has freaking kicked my butt this week. Love must be in the air or something, cause I am working overtime, let me tell you. I am so busy at work these days that my work bff Tyler has gotten in the habit of putting half his lunch on my desk at some point during the day. I eat it usually between 3 and 4pm, maybe. I get home from work and basically turn my brain off.

*um...basically work.

Not that exciting.

Sister leaves Sunday night. Kinda dying inside, but thankful for the busy work week to keep my mind off the sadness I feel. She wrote the sweetest post for me here.

Awesome giveaway coming up right here soon, or whenever I can write the post for it. Yanno.

Busy weekend plans: spending lots of time with the wombmate, seeing Bridesmaids, drinks with coworkers, hanging with the manfriend, back to the grind on Sunday.

Sigh.

Have yourself a restful weekend, k?

you handsome fella

2011-05-16T21:04:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday was Ben's birthday.

I'm big on celebrations - you wanna celebrate something,

I'm your girl.

He's not like that at all.

But he got used to celebrating real quick.

What can I say, I'm fun.

I found the most perfect birthday card.

Look:

This is Ben.

This is Ben's birthday card:

Pretty perfect, yeah?

The card is from Pearl & Marmalade here.

the cat is out of the bag

2011-05-13T09:51:00.001-07:00

Maybe you've heard...

My twin sister is relocating to Costa Rica. I say relocating because moving is too hard for me to say, because it may just be for 6 months, because I am too emotional about this.

She called me yesterday while I was at work to tell me they had officially bought their plane tickets. I went outside into the bright sunshine to listen to her tell me the date {too soon} and all the details. I went back into work with a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I spent all day just on the verge - you know what I mean?

I drove home from work, asking myself why I was so upset and sad about this. To be honest, my sister and I do not spend that much time together. We may see each other once a week, we pretty much text or call daily. She's assured me that we can still communicate daily - Skype, etc. I know this. I'm already looking into going to CR for a week in August or September.

But...here are my fears. This is why I'm so sad. I always envisioned the future a certain way. Although we may not be super close right now, I thought we would always be in the same area. We would have our eventual families together. Her kids would prefer me over her {let's not lie}. She would just be here. You know?

Now, there's a possibility that our lives are going to be lived out in two very separate areas. I know this is just a possibility. I know it's all a what if. I know I know I know. I don't need reassurance on this - I'm just sad today.

There's a lot of change in my life right now and sometimes I feel alone.

hello 10am, I love you

2011-05-10T09:25:00.001-07:00

You guys! My work schedule changed. No more 4 and 5ams around here...they've been replaced with 9 and 10ams. Can I tell you how happy this makes me?

Really happy.

While I didn't despise the early morns, it was getting to me. I never knew when to eat {i actually have lost 15 lbs}. I was sleeping in 3 hour stretches. I wanted cheeseburgers at 8am. And if you know me, then you know I hated not being able to stay out late with my friends.

So this is much better.

Life just seems really great right now and getting more sleep is a crucial part of that.

{my early morning action plan is here. it worked for me}

{i was perusing my tumblr this morning and i loved this. maybe not so fitting, but still...i love it.}

best day

2011-05-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the longest day ever.

It was also one of the best days I've had this year.

BFF moved in with his boyfriend, and I am so happy for them.

Of course their apartment is gorgeous and it's in a great great great area.

In fact, once manfriend and I finished helping them around noon,

we stayed in the 'hood' till....

midnight.

First item on the agenda:

lunch at Chapter One

We didn't just have a liquid lunch, I just didn't photograph the food, although it was delicious. Highly recommend Chapter One!

I also highly recommend this strawberry ale.

I rarely drink beer and Chapter One has a gigantic menu of beers.

Chapter One has a wall of old books.

After a few beers, I was treated to some dramatic readings.

#datinganactor

Round two.

Fully beer soaked, we proceeded to explore the neighborhood:

art galleries, cheesecake and board games at Gypsy Den, meeting local musicians and then we topped off the day with going to the art walk, eating street tacos and watching a lucha libre match.

All in one day.

Ah so good.

#ilovemylife

happy mother's day

2011-05-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!

This is my favorite picture of my mama.

I love her so much and will be making her dinner tonight.

and I hope every mother out there has a lovely day!

truth

2011-05-06T12:03:00.000-07:00

ain't that the truth.

and on that note...

have a great weekend!

blogger style

2011-05-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

I used to be a different blogger. I carried my camera around with me 24/7.

{well, i still do, but it's usually in the bottom of a very large purse}

I'd make friends wait to eat anything so I could photograph it first and I'd pose 'naturally' while convincing someone {usually bff} to take pictures of me.

'Candid' camera.

Truth be told, I do like those style of blogs. It's like peering into someone's 'life'.

{trying not to be snarky here. for reals.}

My blog has turned into a mish-mash of me and I'm okay with that.

I used to think all the time "I have to blog that! I have to take pictures of that so I can blog it!"

Those days are over.

However, as I uploaded pictures from the past month onto my computer tonight, I realized that I do still have some of that blogger mentality in me.

So here ya go:

Spring Time Eats, Blogger Style

{hyper-edited crab dip from The Cliff in Laguna Beach}

{yeah, ingredients for a recipe i never got around to blogging}

{farmer's market}

{roscoe's chicken & waffles}

{homemade shredded beef enchiladas. i should blog this.}

What's your take on this?

Do you document it all?

Spill.

reason #635 why I'm the luckiest

2011-04-28T18:46:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to my best friend.

Who has been my biggest supporter.

President of my fan club.

Who knows sometimes I just need a McDonald's ice tea, and if you give that shit to me sweetened...not good.

I am the Tina Fey to his Amy Poehler.

{No really. Like, sometimes I write his Facebook statuses for him.}

We're spending less time together these days

{hello, we are happy!}

and it's a good thing, but sometimes...

a girl needs the Will to her Grace.

Change is always hard, but I never doubt our friendship and that is so comforting.

I hope you have a friend like mine.

for reals.

{probably my favorite picture of us. 2007}

I liked Saturday

2011-04-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

When I think about my weekend...it's just one big content sigh.

You know that I mean?

The highlight:

spending so much time in gorgeous Laguna Beach...

but really, Saturday night.

This is what happened.

{tickets to the Laguna Playhouse to see someone special do his thang and pre-drinks at Ocean Avenue, one of my fave bars in Laguna}

It was a sunny afternoon, I was with my bff and his man and it was perfect.

{this is how gabby looks when she is genuinely happy. the apricot brandy in the martini miiiight have helped. just keeding.}

I am so thrilled that BFF has found someone who compliments him so perfectly. Plus, he's someone I would be friends with on my own. You know? Our growing friendship hasn't felt forced and I am so thankful for that.

{this is how bff looks when he's genuinely happy. his martini was probably just a lil extra happiness}

The play {Treasure Island} was really great. It was my first time seeing Ben perform. Super special to watch someone do something they are so passionate about. Plus, thank the Lord above he was really good! Right? Gotta be honest. Ha. {honestly, the kid is so talented. in my totally non-biased opinion, he stole the show} {go see Treasure Island this weekend! click here}

{blog, meet ben. blog, meet matt.} {yep, this is the only picture for now}

Such a great night.

What I Wore:

{dress: torrid, pale gray cardigan: old navy, bag: kitson. boring black ballet flats from target not shown.}

truth

2011-04-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

because I want to remember this v.2

2011-04-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

We stopped by a gas station late one night and he ran in, while I fiddled with the radio station and tried to find something that would be a compromise between my Britney-loving-ways and his massive appreciation for all things decidedly non-top-40.

"I bought you a diamond", he exclaimed, as he opened the door, and handed me a ticket.

{a scratch off lottery ticket with diamonds as the theme.}

"Because you make me feel like the luckiest man in the world", he explained.

I didn't win anything on the ticket...but...wait for it...dare I say it...can you handle the cheesiness?...I think I've already won.

{still same ole g...somethings never change}

so far, so good

2011-04-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

Way back in late December, as BFF and I contemplated our New Year's plans, we decided jointly that 2011 was going to be different. Better. Fresher. We were so hopeful.

"One of us could get married next year!" we said.

"Maybe we'll travel to Australia or Thailand!" we imagined.

We imagined great loves, new opportunities, travels.

The past few years have been rough for both of us. Job losses, uncertainty, health problems, heart break. We insisted that 2011 had to be different.

And oh, it has. It has.

In April 2011, I have a job that I am crazy about, in a field that I never imagined myself working in. I'm dating someone I am crazy about. 2011 has brought me amazing times with my friends and an appreciation for what is important.

In April 2011, BFF is moving in with his boyfriend, who he is madly in love with. He has decided to get his degree in a field that is perfect for him, and is making huge strides in that.

The thing with the past years being not-so-fun is that I do know that things can change quickly. Hypothetically, I could lose my job tomorrow. The boy might never call me again. The phone could ring with very bad news. I could go on and on. I know this.

This knowledge makes the greatness of 2011 that much sweeter. Even when things have been topsy turvy and I have been sad or lonely or angry {because let's be real, life simply is not hearts and butterflies and cream cheese all the damn time}, I am thankful for what I have in the here and now. It's taken me a bit to switch off the perpetual feeling of dread and let myself feel good, but it's here now.

Who knows what the rest of 2011 will bring, but for now, it's freaking good.

{i'm like, rilly pretty}

laguna beach

2011-04-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Another great weekend for the books.

Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles with my hilarious coworkers.

Snuggles with the man.

And then the best day in Laguna Beach with Melissa

I love where I live.

I love my friends.

permission slip

2011-04-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

This week, I'm working on giving myself permission to:

*not laugh at jokes I really don't find funny

*be honest with myself about what I need from friends and more importantly {right now}, the 'man'

*eat mini Snickers and coffee for breakfast {last week was Reese's Peanut Butter cups and coffee}

*stay in when my body tells me it needs a night off

*feel lonely sometimes and not panic

*trust my instincts in everything

*take breaks at work just to go outside for 5 minutes and breathe

“The hardest-learned lesson: that people have only their kind of love to give, not our kind.”

Mignon McLaughlin

for the love of cheese

2011-04-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when you've gotten 3.75 hours of sleep the night before

and you worked 8 hours staring into a computer screen, trying to think of different ways to say

"love of your life"

{long lasting love, that special someone, the relationship of your dreams}

{i could go on, if you want}

you stop by Whole Foods on the way home

and spend 20 bucks on cheese and wine

and proceed to have the happiest of hours

all by yourself.

word

2011-04-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

{it's true}

weekend.

2011-04-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

{the most amazing caricature ever of my bff and i. right??}

This weekend:

*much needed time with friends

*some sunning and poolside action, cause spring has sprung, y'all

That's all I got going on and I'm pretty happy with that.

And is it bad that I really don't mind having to work on Sunday?

I truly love my job and the people I work with - it's ridiculous how much fun we have...and, at the end of the day, I'm helping people find love. Ha. I love it.

Plus, they usually buy me breakfast. {who can turn that down}

What do you have going on?

Spill.

*promise to be back next week with some real posts. less fluff, more stick-to-your-ribs material.

what does that mean?

i do not know.

pure gabby

2011-03-29T14:52:00.001-07:00

Life has been busy.

It's been really great.

But last night, as I was getting ready to go out {i know i know. on a monday.}

I was thinking that I felt a little rushed, a little stressed, a little anxious.

I was debating whether or not to straighten my hair.

{it's always the little things that get ya, am i right or am i right?}

{someone special loves my hair straight. not gonna lie.}

But I needed to feel like me.

Pure Gabby.

And so...I wore it curly.

Curly hair makes me feel me.

{that face...that face is pure gabby}

Other things that are Pure Gabby:

*nail polish, especially dark colors - I love black nail polish

*Hall & Oates and Billy Joel

*black comfy pants of any variation

*singing in the car

*curly, messy hair

*being the passenger, not the driver {in the car, not in life, kids!}

*not having to talk. comfortable silence

*date nights with my mom & time with my sister

*ridiculous conversations with the bff full of inside jokes

These are the things I need on a regular basis to feel like myself.

Anything you need to feel like you?

tumblr thursday

2011-03-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

If you follow my Tumblr, maybe you can tell that these days,

my mood is lighter.

via

how to do early morning if you're not a morning person

2011-03-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

I think I have mentioned that I have to get up very early for my job.

Like...way early.

4am.

{have to be at work at 5am}

Also, sometimes I have to work Sunday mornings and sometimes it's virtually impossible for me to stay home on Saturday nights.

Sometimes I suffer.

But anyways.

I have found some methods, routines, tips if you will that work for me and I thought I'd share them in the case that you ever have to wake up in the middle of the night and go to work.

*no alcohol the night before. Or kill your boozing early. Waking up early is hard enough by itself.

*the second my alarm clock goes off, I get up. No snooze button. This is crucial, friends. I spring out of bed like it's on fire or something. If I snooze, I will never make it to work on time.

*Outfit planning happens the night before. I am lucky because I can wear jeans, I can wear casual, so I definitely have options. But still. I at least have an idea of what I'm wearing when I hit the pillow.

*An eyelash curler and good mascara work wonders. Every morning. I may be dead tired, but I do not look dead tired.

* Caffeine starts flowing the second I get to work. Yeah, Starbucks is not open at 4:30am around here. So I get to work, grab my 'G' mug from my oh so luxurious cubicle, and head to the kitchen, where luckily there is always strong coffee. Because there are people who work.even.earlier.then.me.yikes.

*On my smart days, I have remembered to bring my favorite snacks: Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries and a Larabar. I usually eat my yogurt pretty much asap. In case you were wondering. And someone always says "oooh that looks so good" and I think "it's fucking cold yogurt at 5am, relax."

*Caffeine continues. Sometimes I segue into a Rockstar. Sometimes if I'm feeling extra naughty, a Dr. Pepper. I will usually send a cell phone pic of said Dr. Pepper to someone with the caption "i can't believe i'm drinking a dp at 6am!" That reminds me. I usually text bff, sister, or {ahem} someone else around 4:15am just to remind them that I'm awake. Just cause.

*'Lunch' time at 9:30am. Weirdest thing ever. Sometimes I have more breakfast foods, today it was leftover pizza. You really have the license to eat whatever you want, I have learned. {however, bringing gumbo is a lil odd, coworker o' mine}

*The best part about starting work so early? I'm done by 1 or 1:30, so I run some errands, maybe have lunch with a friend if I'm hungry, walk the dog...and then...take a nap. This is also kinda crucial, depending on how much sleep I got the night before.

*Bedtime on a good night: 10pm. On a bad night: shush your face, I'm a grown up.

This is my life these days.

Do you have any tips to share? Anything that would make my life easier?

thurs-sun in numbers

2011-03-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

The hours of sleep I've had in the past two days: 7

How many shots I had on St. Patrick's Day: 4

Number of people who warned me that I was about to run into an ex: 5

Amount of time I spent trying to end conversation with said ex: too long

New jeans purchased: 1

Date nights: 1

Hours spent freaking about over date night, pre and post: 100+

Times I painted my nails: 3

{Essie Splash of Grenadine, OPI Rocks LA, Essie Geranium}

Trips to Starbucks: 4

Spicy chicken lollipops eaten {so good}: 2 {not enough}

Text messages that made me feel warm and fuzzy: many

I'm not great with math, but I think it was a good weekend.

carb overload in the best possible way

2011-03-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

It's embarrassing to acknowledge this, but...

I haven't posted a recipe on gsw ALL YEAR.

Shameful. Sad.

I've been cooking and baking here and there, but truthfully, there was a lack of fundage and lots of Adele-listening-to happening.

However, things are way different now.

I am back in the kitchen and oh so happy about that.

So yesterday, after waking up at 4am {for work}, doing the 8 hour thang, grocery shopping deliriously because I was so tired...I decided the best thing to do would be to make homemade pizza dough {yeast YIKES} and slice a million things.

Just a normal day, really.

Potato-Leek-Bacon Pizza

{modified from The Pioneer Woman}

Pizza crust {your fave recipe or store bought, whatevs}

extra virgin olive oil

6 slices thick cut bacon, chopped

2 leeks, sliced thinly and rinsed well {I always slice first and then rinse them in a colander}

4 small red or Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced as thinly as possible

1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced thinly

4 oz goat cheese, crumbled

kosher salt and ground black pepper

Prepare the pizza crust by drizzling lightly with olive oil and sprinkling lightly with salt.

In a skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon until cooked but not crisp, then remove and set aside. Pour off most of the grease, but do not clean the skillet. Return it to the stove and, over medium-low heat, saute the leeks until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove the leeks from the heat and set aside.

Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice the potatoes very thin. Be careful not to allow them enough time to oxidize. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer all over the crust, slightly overlapping the edges. Sprinkle the potatoes lightly with salt, then lay the mozzarella slices in a single layer on top of the potatoes. Place the leeks on top of the cheese, then sprinkle the fried bacon pieces over the top. Add a generous dose of crumbled goat cheese, grated Parmesan, and a sprinkle of pepper.

In an oven preheated to 500 degrees F, bake the pie for 8-11 minutes, until the edges of the crust are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Slice it into wedges or squares and serve immediately.

Some notes: I hate hate hate goat cheese. So I used ricotta. Next time, I'd probably try something that had more flavor...maybe Boursin? Also, I used this recipe for my pizza dough and will NEVER use another recipe. I did not let it sit overnight and it was still amazing. And dare I tell you that this pizza would be the bomb dot com with a fried egg on top of it?

You're welcome.

to life! happy monday!

2011-03-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

because it's monday

and this made me smile and smile

the magic wand

2011-03-10T20:42:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned before that pretty princess hair

is my favorite. Although...it's been unattainable.

My hair never holds curl.

It will get flat as a board. It will curl naturally {and then some}.

But never just what I want.

Remember when Misikko sent me that awesome Hair Straightener?

Well...they're back.

And I am a happy girl.

{Misikko's packaging is the best. too cute}

In this box was the Curling Iron of curling irons.

A curling wand, to be exact.

A Corioliss Curling Wand.

And my pretty princess dreams came true.

{before: drab straightened, post-work hair. after: PERFECT curls/waves!}

I used no product whatsoever. It was very easy to get the hang of the wand...if I can do it, then you're gonna be a pro at it. And here I sit, a few hours later, with curls.

That has never happened.

I am impressed.

Really impressed.

Thank you, Misikko!!

on blogging about dating

2011-03-08T20:54:00.000-08:00

So I feel like the past few months were full of verbal diarrhea in regard to my love life - or lack of, whatevs - on this here blog. I like that I've been writing about it. Like I said here, I do want to remember these things. I like getting your comments, getting advice and encouragement, and just generally connecting with you over these matters of the heart.

But I gotta say, I feel a little foolish now that these things are still hanging out around the internets and the boy...well, he's just not hanging around me {that ship has sailed}.

It's a little awkward for me. Clearly, I was really hopeful and happy and hearts and butterflies {and cream cheese! always cream cheese!}. But...things change and I'm sure I'm not the only girl to blog about someone and then have it fall apart? Right? I consistently wrestle with how much I 'put out there'. It's hard for me!

So. I had a date over the weekend and it was good. I was pleasantly surprised. But I know now that I've definitely learned things about relationships and myself, thanks in large part to the last two guys I've dated {yanno, guy #1 and guy #2?}. It's all a lesson, I guess. There's a big difference between compatibility and chemistry. {i need that tattooed on my wrist or something. and when my bff reads this, he will laugh hysterically.}

Life is good.

I am loving 2011.

{and you're like, gabby, what a random picture, i don't get it. but friend, let me tell you, this picture gives me immense personal satisfaction and i can't explain. if unicorns were curse words...or something}

The End.

real quick

2011-03-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I am late to the party {the party being the 'what i did this weekend blog post party'} but I had a great weekend, y'all.

These things happened:

*a celebratory Friday night with friends turned into dancing and hookah-smoking at an after hours Persian club

*recovery on Saturday and then cheeseburgers with my mom

*a brunch and movie date on Sunday...a first date. It went well, for sure.

*Sunday Funday with John and Melissa to 'debrief'...which turned into being out way too late.

Ugh I love my life.

This is my last week training at work and it's going to be crazy intense and long. I love it though. I'm just getting used to balancing everything again, going to bed early, and getting to know my coworkers {and deciding who to add to facebook, yanno}. It's all good.

And now The Bachelor is on and I'm off to go fall asleep on the couch.

all night long

2011-03-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

I have a new celebrity crush, you guys.

I'm not sure how this happened or why or what this means for me.

Oh yeah, that's Lionel Richie.

Awkward.

I don't know how Lionel became such a topic of conversation for myself and a few friends. Or why, more importantly. All I know is...

I am running with it.

Who doesn't like "Hello"? Hello, the blind girl made a statue...of her professor. Awesome.

What about "All Night Long"? Best song ever {welllll, that might be an exaggeration, but you get the idea, right?}

{mmhmm, this is TOTALLY normal}

BFF even sang "Hello" on karaoke for me on the eve of my 30th. It was amazing. And then my friend Brit posted this on my Facebook:

{not yet, you guys. oh snapppp}

Who is your silly celeb crush? I gotta know so I can feel better about myself.

You understand.

March is awesome

2011-03-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

So far, it is.

*The new job is going fantastically. Like I mentioned before, I am working for a major online dating site. I was told today "your job is to help people find love!" For reals, you guys. Please know that I am dying of laughter inside pretty much all day long - not that I don't believe in love or soul mates or The One, but it's just so hilarious to me that this is my job. I'm actually learning a lot about myself...it's kinda like free therapy. Ha! And the people I work with are awesome. So happy!

*Having a job means that I can start making plans again (yay income!). So...Coachella, Vegas, and a big surprise for my bff are in the future. I love looking forward to things.

*Being busy at work {and sitting in 2 hours of traffic a day} mean that I simply don't have time to be sad or mopey about the boy. It's a good thing.

*Charlie Sheen. I'm sorry, but that train wreck is entertaining.

And now...I have to go to sleep, because 6am basically slaps you in the face. {does that even make sense?}

my chocolate ice cream with sprinkles weekend

2011-02-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is just amazing to me that life works out so perfectly. For example, last week was kind of a downer for me {the blog was a gray rainy place, i know}. And then the weekend came and it was like someone poured chocolate ice cream with sprinkles directly into my soul.

I know, right?

This weekend was so much fun. So. Much. Fun. I hung out with people I don't hang out with very often, made new friends, and laughed constantly. I felt loved. I had so many moments of just loving my life.

{wine night at Shelley's...cheese is what's for dinner}

I start my new job tomorrow {Monday}. I'm so nervous, excited, ready, anxious, just every emotion really. I'm mostly excited. To be honest, this is the first job I've gotten without knowing someone, having a 'connection', etc. I'm super proud of that.

{i'm an awful friend for posting this. Patrick is just too tall.}

No changes with the boy situation and I'm okay with that. It's definitely a good thing that I'm starting this job - I'm not sitting around listening to Kate Nash and Adele on repeat. {awkward chuckle}

{this is the best wine...my fave}

Life is good and this weekend was a perfect reminder of that.

Wish me luck, lovers, and have a wonderful Monday!

onward and upward

2011-02-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Alright lovelies, the virtual pity party is over. I'm a little sad, yes, but what can you do? I mean, I miiiight have listened to Adele a little much this week and I miiight have cried to my best friend a few times. But that was this week. Now it's over and life goes on, just in time for the weekend. {also, my gay boys have reminded me of the "dead to me" theory, which works well if you ever need to just stop.} Perfect.

I start my new job on Monday and I am so excited! Cannot wait, really. This job is something completely different then anything I've ever done and I think it will be really fun. Yay!

Weekend plans:

*wine night with some favorite gals

*cleaning, resting, planning

*karaoke night with friends

*not obsessing about anything because that's lame

What do you have going on? Spill.

I wish I was your favourite girl

2011-02-23T20:24:00.000-08:00

"I'm going to break your heart" you said.

I laughed and replied "how can you break my heart if I don't have one?"

But that wasn't true.

I lied.

Unfortunately, you didn't.

I wanted more. I was the happiest girl on my birthday, to have him with me. It was significant for both of us. It was a big deal for him to be there, to step out of his comfort zone. To wake up and be cuddled up like a pair of puppies. I thought it changed the game, if you will. It didn't.

I am sad.

Quick, what's the best way to get over someone?

Tell me and I'll do it.

{questions?

answers...i'm talking about him.

he's still amazing. just not mine.}

the best 30th birthday party I've ever had

2011-02-21T22:39:00.000-08:00

Saturday night was my official 30th birthday party and I gotta say,

it was everything a birthday party should be.

BFF and Melissa got a hotel room for us all that was down the street from the bar and it was soon filled with 10 of my loves, getting ready and drinking.

It was the perfect start to a long night. I was so touched that so many people came out - it was pouring rain. It was honestly a little overwhelming...I wanted to make sure I spent time with everyone, but that's hard to do. Plus...I'm not that good at dealing with attention {which is why bff is an attention whore and why we make such good friends} {this is also why 99% of my friends are performers in some regard. i'm a fan-tas-tic audience member.}

{the best picture i got of my purple party dress. it has pockets! i ended up walking back to the room at 2am in the pouring rain. the dress isn't talking to me anymore. this is my friend Patrick}

Friends showed up who had to drive an hour to get there. Friends who had just been {rudely} dumped. Loves of mine who had had a bad freaking day. Friends sang {um you knew karaoke was involved, right? k just checking} songs I requested {por ejemplo, my friend James sang Africa by Toto. i died.} There was a chocolate cake and shots of whiskey and so many hugs and I even wore heels all night long without taking them off. There was a man {who i really really really wanted to be there but didn't know he was actually going to be there} holding my hand and telling me I looked pretty.

There were bacon wrapped brownies {also, bacon wrapped macaroni and cheese}

{don't knock it till you've tried it}

Being 30 has been amazing so far!

30

2011-02-17T09:29:00.000-08:00

Today is my 30th birthday.

It feels a bit like New Year's.

Honestly, I had some dread about this birthday. It seemed a little scary, a little big.

Overwhelming.

But today, it feels good.

I also got really great news yesterday:

I got a job at a major online dating site!

Best birthday gift ever.

I'm grabbing this new decade of my life by the {ahem} balls and running with it.

Happy birthday to me!

ps. short post because i'm currently sick as a dog. i know. it sucks. gotta be feeling better by saturday. i will, i will.

these are my confessions

2011-02-15T09:32:00.001-08:00

1. I like John Mayer. Both his music and him. I will sing that song about running through the halls of my high school loudly like nobodies business. No shame. I also like the Black Eyed Peas.

2. My oldest possession is my stuffed bear. I got Bear when I was 5 at Christmas time. Bear was from a department store and was wearing a red dress and had a bow on it's ear. Over time, the dress was lost, the bow fell off, and Bear became a male. The thing is so raggedy - it's missing an arm, his white fur is gray. And yes, sometimes I sleep with Bear, although I can sleep perfectly fine without. No shame.

3. I've tried goat cheese several times now in different ways and it's still gross, you guys.

4. I got a text at 8pm last night from an ex asking me to come over for Valentine's Day. Do I really have to tell you that my answer was a big fat no?

5. Sometimes I post pictures of myself looking all tired and with poofy hair just because I like the effects on the photo.

6. BFF introduced me to the UK show Skins over the weekend and it's all I want to watch.

Anything you'd like to confess?

{post inspired by Freckled Nest!}

love

2011-02-14T14:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

While I'm kinda ambivalent on the day, it's a fun excuse to eat chocolate and be girly and think about love.

I refuse to be sad because I am single...that's just silly. There's so much love in my life!

I'm going to go bake a dark chocolate cake, just cause.

love love love,

gabs

weekly gratitude

2011-02-11T10:07:00.001-08:00

Today, I've decided to take a page out of Love, Life, Lace's book {er...blog} and do a Weekly Gratitude post. Sure, sometimes life gets me down...but it's also extra strength awesome.

*Thank you to BFF for bringing me a venti iced coffee today. I especially needed it.

*Thank you to Canada for stepping up your game in the cold medicine department, and thank you to Canadian friends who are my suppliers. You made my week better.

*SO grateful that although I am still job searching, I've been getting calls and interviews pretty much daily.

*Thank you to my sister for making a delicious healthy dinner last night! {first time trying quinoa and it was good!}

*Thank you to next week, for being Valentine's Day and my birthday!

*Thank you to Bella for insisting on sleeping with me every night. My little pooch can open my door by herself...she is talented.

*Thank you to all the companies and restaurants that have sent me free stuff for my birthday...getting the mail has been fun these days.

*Thanks to you for the great blog comments I get. They all make me laugh and/or smile and I love it. I'm so lucky.

{my little monkey Bella wishes you a happy weekend}

Happy Friday, lovers!

tumblr thursday (and some words)

2011-02-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

This whole making this here blog more public is hard on me. I really admire those of you who put it all out there. I am a private person, generally speaking, and I don't want to feel like I have to hold back here {cause I haven't...yet}. So give me a little time to feel like I don't have to bite my tongue. I am proud of this little spot and I feel like it's 100% me, unedited. This is what happens when people stop being polite...or something.

I have lots of things on my mind these days. Stress. Rejection. Getting older. My Tumblr is so indicative of my mood and what I'm thinking these days. And seeing how it's Thursday and all...Tumblr Thursday, just for you and so I don't have to spell it all out. {as always, you can find my tumblr here}

via

Happy Thursday, lovers!

suddenly it was already wednesday

2011-02-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

Longest weekend ever.

Can't even believe it's Wednesday already.

I have a cold.

Tomorrow I have my 67th {actually...my 5th...I think} interview for the same company. For reals. What else can they ask me? It's for a non-health-care job. Not the CIA. You would think it was. But no.

Things happened over the weekend that made me happy to be single {including a super awkward run-in with an ex and a dumb man making my bestie cry} {fuckers}. All the single ladies, all the single ladies. Now put your hands up! I am quite content where I am {especially because my life includes hot make out sessions. can't complain about that.}

Like I said, longest weekend ever. I had grand plans of spending Monday night on the couch in pink plaid pj pants, watching The Bachelor. But a friend needed me and sometimes you just have to go. It made me feel good to be needed. We sat on the couch with cocktails and pizza and talked about everything that made us laugh and everything that made us cry.

Canadian cold medicine is far superior to US cold medicine.

My sincere apologies to the emails I haven't returned. I have giveaways to post. I got sent a killer bag and I need to show it to y'all, cause I'm loving it.

Happy Wednesday!