it's friday, bishes!

Thank The Baby Jesus!

Time again for another rendition of the funnest link up around.

Yes, I said “funnest”

Dear Justin Bieber,

Damn you and your catchy little “Boyfriend” ditty….I’m hooked. I am mortified about it, but I’ve got The Fever….thanks a lot ya little punk.

Dear Uncle Guiseppes Market,

Live lobsters for $4.99/lb this week?!?! Yes, please!! Thank you for making all of my lobster roll dreams come true! People? It’s on. Follow me on Instagram for the play by play. @rach_loveyoumore.

Here is the recipe I'll be using...if you're smart, you'll join me :)

Dear Amazon,

Thanks for having the shoes I have been stalking on Zappos for $25 less!! I feel like I hit the jackpot! Sorry, Zappos….ya snooze, ya lose…do you still love me?

Dear fireflies,

Please stick around for a long time this year. I feel like we haven’t spent enough time together and truth be told, you are my favorite part of summer. Ok, it’s a tie between floating, lobster rolls & you, but you get the idea…

Dear Weight Watchers,

It’s me, not you. I know I am a big, fat failure lately. I take the blame. I know what I’m doing wrong and yet, I continue to do it….what is my problem? If only you sold motivation in those outrageously expensive little snack packs that line your walls, I’d be all set. Sigh.

Have a great weekend, y’all! (y’all?) and go read this. first of all, she is absolutely hilarious and b) it pretty much exactly sums up all of my confusion regard my favorite holiday falling on a Wednesday this year…talk about a buzz kill…wah wah wah…..

Today is a very special day...

Wayyyy back when I was waffling on the fence over whether or not I (we) really wanted to have a baby, I used to do a lot of “if I got pregnant this month, baby would be born in….1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9….APRIL! Yes! Yes! An April baby!! Perfect perfect! .complete with big red “X”s on the calendar telling me when we needed to…uh…yeah, ok. I’m not going to go explaining the birds & the bees right now, but you get the idea…

So there, I was, plotting this all out in my imagination because, you know, these things are totally in my control, right? duh. And also because having a baby is this perfectly precious, incredible thing where nothing ever goes wrong or is hard and all of the whole experience is, like, drenched in spun pink sugar, flecks of glitter and rainbows, so obvs just deciding when I wanted this angel baby’s birthday to be was going to be the most difficult part of the whole process….the rest?? piece of cake.

So I decided I wanted this baby to share a birthday with my momma.

June 28^th.

Out of the 365 days in the year, no other day made sense to me. It was as good as done in my mind, and when I plotted all the coordinates and realized that according to x, y & z, it was actually completely possible to get my due date within a few days, well shit. Done and DONE, right?

Yeah…um..nope.

So, 5 miscarriages, a lot of tears, more fence riding, hemming and hawing, all my hard work be damned, ultimately just deciding to throw in the towel on the whole plan and then, suddenly, along came my Bennett….

Not on June 28^th . Imagine that.

So there I am, 8 months huge, talking to the doc about scheduling my c-section and she tells me they have the OR on Tuesdays and will be scheduling me the Tuesday before my official due date of New Years Eve….I think nothing of this, mostly because I am paralyzed by utter fear and the HOLY SHIT reality of it all….It wasn’t until I was snuggling my tiny nugget of puffy eyes and sweet newborn skin, feeling terribly guilty that he has such a difficult birthday to celebrate, pondering throwing “half birthday” parties for him so he and his friends can go in the pool (putting the cart before the horse a bit? Me? never.) when I went back to counting….January, February, March, April, May, JUNE!!!! June!!!!!!!!!!! June 28^th.

Serendipity, in it’s sweetest, most pure form….

So today, on this very, very special day, I say Happy Birthday to the most amazing momma the world ever was blessed to know…I was not worthy of you. I am lucky beyond all compare to have called you mine. You were the very first Love of my Life. And I also say Happy Half Birthday to my sweet Bennett. Little Boy, you have no idea how much your Grandma would have loved you. You would have been the light of her life….more than I was. More than anything.

What a special day….nothing but hearts flying out of my eyes over here….celebrate with us!

all dogs go to heaven...

Bentley….sweet, sweet boy.

You didn’t live with me, but you were my family, you were mine.

I didn’t even know you were sick, Puppy.  In a way, I wish I had known, but for what? To have spent the last 4 months dreading this news?

You were an angel with fur, all boundless energy and unwavering loyalty; mischievious spunk and super-canine strength.

You loved and protected my mama with the fiercest loyalty, knowing she was sick with a 6^th sense that only a sweet, loving doggy could. You sat by her feet, day and night. Slept at the foot of her bed, made sure she knew she was protected.

You could never control yourself, overcome with excitement, your huge body knocking down visitors, paws on their shoulders in one fell swoop, tail wagging so hard it could take out a small child. Or a large adult, really. Tearing off down the street after a bird, or a squirrel, or a stiff breeze, ripping your mama’s wrist out of its socket, landing her in surgery…oh Bentley.

You loved salad. You crazy, silly ball of fur…what dog loves salad? What dog puts on a necktie and goes to work with his dad? What dog was loved so much and so fully by the humans in his life? You were, sweet Ben….

Thank you for the memories, the laughs and the love. I was the luckiest to call you family.

To Whom it May Concern...

It’s Friday. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m so glad about that that I could probably do a cartwheel…

no….

scratch that.

I definitely could NOT do a cartwheel…but I feel like I could. Friday just has that effect on me. anywhooz, it’s been a downright bizarre week ‘round here and I’m more than happy to see it go…good riddance...don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out, ya hear??

So join me and Ashley and the rest of the gang in welcoming this glorious day with the coolest linkup….Friday's Letters...

Dear Wine…

I am quitting you. I know I keep saying that and it’s all been lies up to this point but right now, I am serious. You sit there on the counter, calling my name and then one glass turns into six three and next thing you know, I’ve blown my points for the day and am drunk tweeting nonsense to Justin Timberlake. No more. We are breaking up.

Dear Michele…

I can’t wait to see you tonight, homie! Although, now that I broke up with wine, I’m not sure what we’re going to do. Maybe I’ll save the big breakup for tomorrow…..besides, tonight? We celebrate! Happy 25^th birthday, bish!

look how pretty she is....happy birthday, my friend!

Dear Benny…

I booked Sesame Place for us today, baby! We are going to have an outrageously good time and I can’t wait to see your sweet face at Breakfast With Elmo and when you meet Cookie Monster for the first time. I love you so much, munchkin. You are the light of my life.

Dear Adam Richman…

Thanks for the sandwich porn on Wednesday nights, boo…you really know how to torture a girl with things that are totally off limits and out of reach. I guess I can’t really blame you. I’m the one who keeps coming back for more.

Don’t stop.

And last but not least…

Dear Friday’s Letters…

I really love this link up. sorry I suck so hard this week. I blame my girl Sami for the foggy head wine flu….I couldn’t let her drink alone last night :)

a tale of 3 hair dryers...

Actually, sort of 4. FOUR hairdryers, ok?

Let me just start this little diatribe off by explaining that my hair? Is not manageable. We’ve touched on this before, but I just need to reiterate that…it’s curly…and frizzy…and two totally different textures on top and underneath so, I am not being a snob when I say I can’t use a Conair dryer from Target, I am speaking out of necessity….I mean, if you want me to be presentable, of course. And I ain’t about going to the stop n’ shop looking like Witch Hazel from the Bugs Bunny cartoons….even though we live in Ronkonkoma so does it matter? Really? I mean, really.

So here we go. Back in December, I decided that my old, trusty Hot Tools whatever dryer, which honestly, had served me well enough, was starting to die a slow, painful death. I cleaned out its lint trap, gave it a kiss….to no avail. It was still blowing lukewarm air, so, clutching my “20% off any item!!!” Ulta coupon (LOVE those things!), I marched right in and picked myself up the sparkly new t3 Veloce I had been stalking for Christmuhkwanzikkuh.

This dryer? Changed my life. and ruined me for other dryers forever. But I didn’t know that…..until it died …five months after I bought it. True story. A $100 hair dryer should have a life expectancy of more than 5 months, am I wrong? But the things it did to my hair…..oh man. It got super, scorching hot. Hot enough to straighten out any krink, tame any cowlick…even on only slightly damp hair! There are magic in those coils…but I was pissed.

Add to this, the fact that at around the 3 month mark, out of nowhere, the director nozzle just started popping off the dryer mid-blow out…so there I was trying to stick this thing back on the nose of my dryer to finish my hair, but it was the temperature of the earth’s core, so I was screaming and burning my fingers and trying to position it on the bathroom rug and just jam the dryer into it without touching it…..like, 8 times every morning, ok?

Sigh.

Whatever. So I threw it in the garbage in a fit of rage and marched right back to Ulta where I purchased this PIECE. OF. JUNK.

It looked like it had potential, right? And it came with a bottle of argan oil, which my hair drinks like a thirsty camel….I was optimistic…..until I got home and tried it out…..

Seriously, I have never in all of my life, used a blow dryer that poofed my hair out the way this one did. The high heat setting was warm, at best and whatever ionic nonsense it was supposedly blowing fluffed up my cuticle so bad my hair was curling in every direction.

I could not return it fast enough. I spent 3 days with my hair air dried (sorry world) waiting for the next hopeful to arrive from Folica.com. I spend lots of hours researching this bad girl….certain that she was the dryer for me…..

The Solia 1875 Thermal Ionic Dryer....

In a word? Nope.

The result was definitely better than that Argan Heat mess, but for a “professional” dryer that retails for over $140? My hair was still course, and poofy. And it did NOT a cowlick tame….

It sounds dramatic, which I have been known to be from time to time, I’ll just be honest….but truly, I felt like crying. It was then that I knew I was ruined for all other dryers and had no choice to march BACK to Ulta, AGAIN, with my tail between my legs, and purchase another t3 Veloce…..

Boy oh boy did it just grind every gear I have. This is SO against my principles. I hold grudges. I stay mad and I am MAD at this company….still mad….

But damn, my hair? Looks fantastic.

because i keeps my promises...

Here is the recipe for the strawberry pie we talked about last week…lots and lots of you seemed to want to get your grubby little paws on this recipe and so, ask and ye shall receive is what I always say…

Actually, I don’t ever say that…

And truth be told, I’m pretty lazy, so most times, if you ask, I’ll tell you to go get it yourself and bring me one too while you’re up….

But all that aside, kids, this recipe is the bomb.com! I wish I could take credit for inventing it, but in fact it is straight out of an old issue of gourmet magazine…and thank god I saw it and was all “ZOMG!%#^&^ GET IN MY FACE” or else we never would have known….never know of the magic that this pie could conjure…seriously. You think I am exaggerating again, but I speak nothing but truths.

So here’s the scoop…this pie takes more time to make than it seems like it will but most of the time is inactive time…you’ve got to do a minor amount of babysitting and “stirring occasionally” but other than that, it’s a cinch and believe you me, you are going to have stalkers lined up for the rest of your summers begging for this thing, so be prepared, ok?

Ready? GO!

FRESH STRAWBERRY PIE WITH WHIPPED CREAM
FOR CRUST
• 1 (5-oz) package shortbread cookies (I use a little less than half a package of the keebler sandies, and that’s more than 5oz, but I like a little extra crust)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

FOR FILLING
• 2 lb (1 1/2-inch) strawberries, hulled (see cooks’ note, below)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2 1/4 tsp)

ACCOMPANIMENT
lightly sweetened whipped cream

MAKE CRUST
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Pulse cookies in a food processor to fine crumbs, then pulse in sugar and butter until combined. Press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom and up side of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

PREPARE FILLING AND ASSEMBLE PIE:
• Select 20 large strawberries as close to same size as possible and set aside. Cut remaining berries into 1/4-inch dice and toss with sugar and lemon juice. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Drain berries in a sieve set into a large glass measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 2 cups. Transfer liquid to a medium saucepan and reserve berries.
• Sprinkle gelatin over strawberry liquid and let soften 1 minute. Bring to a bare simmer, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Add diced berries, then transfer to a metal bowl set into an ice bath and stir frequently until mixture begins to mound, 20 to 30 minutes. (this is a lie. It always takes mine at least an hour to start to mound.)
• Spoon 1/2 cup filling into piecrust and arrange reserved whole berries, stem ends down, on filling. Spoon remaining filling over and between berries. Chill pie until filling is set, at least 4 hours.

do you La'Rue?

I am not a fashion blogger.

I know. That’s a shocker. I’ll wait right here while you regain your composure and pick your jaw up off the floor.

The sad truth is that these days, I’ve really lost my mojo in the “getting myself dressed and looking presentable” department….between wearing the same pair of pants to work every day and then coming home and throwing on the Costco yoga pants to chase after the wild toddler, suffice it to say I’ve been left uninspired, at best…a complete shambles at worst…

That is, until Kiki La’Rue came into my life…

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few months, I’m sure you’ve heard of this totally rad online boutique! Kiki La’Rue has the sexiest flirty, flowy tops, killer jeans and the most amazing selection of gorgeous dresses for every shape and size…

Also, if you “like” Kiki LaRue on Facebook, you’ll be kept in the loop with all the new arrivals PLUS you’ll have the opportunity to vote and be the buyer! How cool is that? Their customer service is totally out of this world.

You just never know when you order things online, right? The fabric could be thin and cheap, the sizing could be wacky, the colors could be off and not at all what you pictured…I had heard great things about Kiki La’Rue, but I had to see for myself what all the fuss was about….and ladies? I am here today to tell you THE FUSS IS JUSTIFIED!

The day that little, sparkly pink bubble mailer arrived in my mailbox, I could barely contain my excitement….I chose the Arianna maxi, because maxi dresses are my own little version of heaven in the summertime…I mean, they’re long enough to cover up your legs if you haven’t shaved in 3 weeks have a sunburn and flowy enough that the breeze can still get up under there and cool off your bits…

Girls. Don’t look all horrified. You know you know what I am talking about. Air conditioning….

But seriously, this dress is amazeballs. The color is perfect for summer…talk about an attention getter! But the best part of all about this sexy little number is the fabric. It is cool and light for those sweltering summer days and stretchy enough to have a totally flattering drape while still tucking you in all the right spots to make you look skinny and feel SEXY…it’s slinky and cool and…well, I love it. You will too!!! Go order one! Or any of the other million cute things they offer!

Beacuse right now, I've got a BONUS for you!

If you use code: LOVEYOUMORE you get free shipping!

Love you Chikadees! Don’t say I never gave ya nothin’! Happy Monday!!!

faves for friday!

Back again, peeps, for another round...this week, I've got some real good ones fer ya!

My Favorite New Necklace

People? I caved. I drank the Kool-Aid, I kept up with the Joneses, you guys said “jump” and I said “hell YEAH bitches! I’ve got a trampoline!”. I had to have it, all of you pretty girls in your pretty knock-off j.crew bubble necklaces from ebay via China…it was all I could do not to order every single color…in the end, I decided to go with the standard aqua…

It arrived yesterday and oh my lordy YOU GUYS WERE RIGHT! It is gorgeous and you know what? Pretty great construction for $16 and free shipping.. color me impressed! And so happy! I put in an order for 2 more this morning…..oops.

My Favorite Condiment

Come. To. MAMA!!!!!!!

My Favorite Beauty Product Right Now

I was really hesitant to try this stuff, but due to my raging case of FOMS (see also: My Favorite New Necklace, above), resistance was futile. Hopes were not high, because I really don’t wear much on my face besides moisturizer and concealer anyway (powder makes me feel like my skin is suffocating. I want to use it…I keep trying…and every time, I end up having to wash my face immediately) and also, because drugstore makeup always turns orange on me.

This stuff might not be for everyone…..in fact, I wasn’t too sure it was for me either in the beginning, but the more I use it, the more I love it. it has a great, dewy, sheer finish to it and a clean, grassy sort of scent and it really evens me out in a subtle way. hey, I dig it….and for 10 bucks, it is super affordable. Love.

My Favorite Strawberry Pie

I make this every summer guys….and I don’t want to offend, but it brings out the stalker in people….they start calling in May all “when is the pie coming? Are you making the pie? Make sure you let me know, ok? I really want some pie!”…so I whipped this bad boy up on Tuesday night and made a little side pie with the extra filling. I sent it into the city in a bag from Tiffany & Co. with it’s own little ice pack and our friend Jimmy walked all the way from Bryant Park to 59^th & Lex to pick that little beauty up on his lunch break Wednesday. It’s that serious.

Want the recipe? Let me know, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

My Favorite New Followers

You guys want to hear something pathetic? Remember when I put my tail between my legs last month and went off muttering about penguins and pouting that I needed a break and was feeling depressed?

Right.  

That.

Well, I’ll give you the breakdown for the impetus of that little hissy fit…um….I’m not proud of this, but I’m pretty sure that was fueled by about 60% PMS hormones, 10% “oops crap I forgot to take my meds today” and 30%  that I lost 2 followers out of nowhere. I know I’m a big baby, but that really did a number on me, especially since I knew I was being such a whiny pain in the ass anyway.

But enough about that because this week, I got 2 new followers and I love them…not only because they are following this goofy, babbling hot mess of a blog, but because their blogs are awesome too…like SO good, and so pretty, and so funny….check them out and see for yourselves! Thank me later!!!  Tiffany & Elisabeth, I’m so happy to have you, girls!!!

          

So, that concludes this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, my new favorite link up…OH! Wait!!!

My New Favorite Link Up

That’s better! Now we’re done…..

I need a drink.

Happy Weekend Hot Stuffs!

thursday's brain vomit

That's a pretty gross title. maybe I should change it?

Warning people….I have a lot of browser windows open right now…I’m reading blogs, doing work, entering contests to win this GORGEOUS chunky gold chain bracelet from Taylor Morgan Design, that Elisabeth is giving away over at her blog La Vita e Bella...I'm leaving comments, procrastinating answering emails, brainstorming upcoming blog posts, weekend plans, dress ideas for wedding season,  toddler dinners….my brain feels ultra caffeinated, but in that strung out, crackhead way, not in the productive sort of kicking ass and taking names way. It’s exhausting.

So forgive if this is all over the map, k? cuz I think somebody slipped some pop rocks in my lean cuisine or something.

That doesn’t even make any sense.

Also? Lean Cuisines? Vom.

Source: someecards.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Hey, if you guys follow me on the twitters? Sorry for the major flood of sandwich texts last night. I've mentioned my crush on Adam Richman, and he was live tweeting last night during the first episode of his new show, and I was feeling saucy and trying to get a little twit-enntion (just made that up. like?) to no avail, so yeah….sorry. I am obviously a loser. That’s ok. I was just using him for the food porn anyway.

(just kidding Adam. You know I still want to share spaghetti with you like Lady & The Tramp. I'm just trying to look cool and aloof on my blog.)

I have to talk to you guys about my hair dryer drama. Is anybody even interested? Because it is pretty aggravating, and I am trying to stay away from the bitching on this here blog, but man oh man….so stay tuned for that. I know. You are panting with anticipation.

Escuchame! I also need to break down the latest with my Weight Watchers adventure.

Sigh.

It’s not the prettiest. I need to get my ass back on that elusive wagon. I am quitting my old gym this weekend, joining a closer gym and working hard on my list of excuses motivation. But I’ll save the gory details for another day….right now? I think I need to just have a cup of tea and do some deep breathing or something.

Peace out, sprouts.

strawberry fields forever

We spent the sunny half of our sleepy Sunday on the North Fork, hunting for strawberries in a vast patch. We gobbled them up, right off the vine, still warm from the sun. We piled them high in a cardboard box, paid a lady in a booth and drove off with more berries than I will ever find a way to use…..

There will be strawberry pie….strawberry and spinach salad with goat cheese and pecans,….strawberry vinaigrette…..strawberry salsa….strawberry muffins....

But most of all, there will be beautiful memories. Ben was a riot out there, and my heart is full.