Take Me To The Place I Love

Ciao Amici.  What is making me smile today is the fact that Italy is whoppindatass on Germany in the Euro Cup right now... With that being said, we are going to make this really quick before The Mister bursts my eardrums with his cheering for the home team. 

Wearing: Sweater & Dress: H&M. Shoes: Forever 21.  Sunnies: Tobi

I have been living in this outfit full of my Summertime favorites/basics...A sweater with enough weight to shield me from the wind, a bodycon dress with enough color to show off my awesomesauce tan, big sunglasses to keep me from getting wrinkles, and doing absolutely not one thing to my hair.  BOOOOM!  New uniform.

Something that is making me smile big time is that whilst excavating the backyard a couple of weeks ago, The Mister was not pleased that there were a bunch of thorn bushes in the corner of the yard that he was going to have to take down by hand.  Me being the nosey person I am, I had to go inspect what these "thorn bushes" could possibly be...Well, guess what?  They are a field of blackberries and they are about to explode.  Of course I didn't let him touch them, because the old Sicilian woman who lives inside of my body won't let any food ever go to waste.  So, we are keeping the bushes (seen behind me in these pics) until I can forage them and make whothehell knows what...Probably just a bunch of blackberry and rosemary mojitos...because pectin and jarring are a little skurrrry to me, with the botulism, and whathaveyou.  My luck I will make some jam that comes with a side effect of hospitalization.  

Andiamo Italia.

Angie

Hump Day Happy Hour - Rewinery

Dudes.  Everyone in San Francisco reading this, stop whatever the hell it is you are doing right now and listen (read) to the words I am about to write. Install the Rewinery app on your iPhone, this very instant.  I could give a damn less if your prudish boss is looking over your shoulder.  This is imperative to our virtual bffffffl status!  What is Rewinery you ask? Only the best idea that I am pissedassallhell that I didn't come up with.  I cannot begin to tell you how many nights over the years I have been at my house and said, "you know what would be effingamazeballs right now?  If I could pick up the phone and someone would deliver us some vinos."  Well, someone has obviously been putting alien probes in my head and stealing my ideas and then making them better.  By better I mean creating an iPhone app where you can order two bottles of carefully curated wine for $30 and have a bicycle deliver it to your house within an hour.   Genius?  I think so.

As soon as I heard about Rewinery, I downloaded the app and immediately kicked myself in the ass for not creating this myself.  Because let's all face it, this is prettymuchbasically right up my alley.  Not only is the app slick, informative, and seamless, but their customer service is impeccable.  And you all know how I am about customer service.  So, here is how it works.  Rewinery curates a locally sourced wine weekly and offers it, along with great information about the vino on it's app for delivery by bicycle to your San Francisco location within an hour.  What's even more exciting is that multiple times a week they will offer combo packs that you can order...For instance, last Sunday you could get two bottles of wine, a Cowgirl Creamery cheese and a loaf of Acme bread delivered to your house for $50. 

So, obviously, I had to try this out ASAP.  I have to admit, I was a little skeptical that once they found out that I lived in the Outer Sunset and I told them that it wasn't that far they would be all:

But they didn't mock me at all.  An hour later a man on a bicycle (with the Hallelujah Chorus playing in my head and sparkles coming from his smile) showed up with a box of two bottles of vino and, this was me:

Just call me the happiest Real Housewife of the Outer Sunset

5 minutes after that, this was the situation:

Shut the front door!  This merlot was unreal...exceeded all expectations, with a big sweet nose and plenty of black cherry and currant fruits.  Just my style.

So, here is the deal, currently Rewinery is only delivering within the San Francisco 7x7, so, if you  live here, I highly recommend this service.  If not, you can always come hang out with me and use the app and split the delivery with me.  HA!

Salud.

Angie

Style Challenge: Summer Hats

Hip-Hop-A-Pot-A-Mus, it's Friday! You all know what that means:  Style Challenge.  This week the challenge is "Summer Hats" with extra points for jean shorts.  Y'all know how much I love to let my WhiskeyTangoTrampa show and rock some jorts, but I have been dying to style these culottes that I scored at a swap last month.  (Yes, I said culottes..what of it?)  

Wearing: Shorts: F21.  Hat: H&M.  Chambray: Old Navy.  Shoes: Alluring Diva

More importante is the fact that I am a firm believer in hats.  My mom would never be in the Sun without a hat because as she used to tell me: "Darlin, you only get one face.  You better take care of it."  With growing up in Florida, I have made it a habit never to leave the house without at least 30 SPF on my grill since I'm 15 years old.  As an extra precaution, I have become an avid rocker of a hat during the Summer.  No hat is more loveable to me than my Panama hat.  I grab this joker as often as possible.

I want y'all to know something.  I am lying my sparklegemawesomeness face off to all of you in these photos.  You see there are words that mean absolutely nothing here in SF.  Words like: dignity, public nudity, costumes only on Halloween, personal space, no live chickens or trash on public transportation, all mean nothing here.  But the biggest meannothingatallever word is SUMMER.  As much as I pray for it to happen every year, that shit never comes.  Here is what I am dealing with today, which should totally prove that I love you all sosososososososososo much that I am willing to defy all common sense and wear a seasonably appropriate outfit for all you readers, in spite of the fact that I am colder than a polar bears toenails in these photos.  You're welcome. 

I hope you are all enjoying these style challenges, so be sure to check out the other lovely bloggers who are participating:  Meghan, Rebecca, Adiel, Amanda, Carlina, Kellen, Jade, Kate, and my girl Nicole are all styling up their favorite Summer hats.  You can also follow the twitter fun with the hashtag: #stylechallenge.

What's cooler than being cool?  Ice Cold.

Angie

Insta-Ang Chicago Edition

Hello lovebugs.  We have almost made it through the week.  Summer has set in here in SF, which means I won't see the sun for the next 90 days.  More on that at a later date.  In the meantime, I promised some photos of my trip to Chicago.  It was hotterthanatwodollarpistol there, so, I seized the opportunity to wear the half of my closet that looks at me and cries the majority of the year. Needless to say, Chicago courted the everlivingish out of me, but my heart still belongs to San Francisco.

Clockwise: 1: Settling in at The James Hotel.  2: 90 degrees at dinner time calls for leather shorts. 3: Catching up with my wonderful family at Girl and The Goat. 4: Cocktails at the top of The W with my momma.

Clockwise: 1: A very proud family.  2: What's a vacation without magazines? 3.More facetime with my mom.  4: All dressed up for a night out at Sepia

Clockwise: 1:My favorite little drummer boy.  2: My grandpa slinging drinks behind the bar...welcome to bizarro world.  3: A picturesque street in Lincoln Park.  4: Downtown Chicago sure is pretty, but you ain't SF.

I thought for about 4 minutes I could live in Chicago, and then I heard about their winters and I was all:  hellllltothenaw.

Loveyourguts.

Angie

Hump Day Happy Hour - The Drunken Scholar

Hey chica's.  Happy Hump Day Happy Hour to you all.  As I mentioned last week, I was in Chicago weekend before last to celebrate my cousins' graduation from University of Chicago.  I had actually never been to The Second City before, so I was overly excited to not only see a new place, but enjoy some hot weather, catch up with family, and celebrate a huge accomplishment of one of my favorite cousins.  (I play favorites, duh!)

After the graduation festivities, my aunt planned a par-tay Sepia.  It was full of great food, stories, laughing, and lots of dancing.  No detail was left undone, down to the personalized cocktails.  The featured libation was called "The Drunken Scholar".  I am not sure that I can say that it made me scholarly, but it get me drunken.  I promise, this is a perfect summer draannnk.

Here is what you will need to recreate this at home:

- 3 oz ginger infused Hangar One Vodka

- 1/2 lime 

- 5 oz ginger beer

Squeeze the lime and all it's juice into a Collins glass, then drop in the spent rind.  Add ice cubes halway up the glass and then pour the vodka over them.  Fill with cold ginger beer.  Stir.  Then hang on for dear life

So proud of my Johnny Boy!

I am culling together the rest of my photos from the trip and will share them y'all tomorrow.  

Windy City.

Angie

From Day to Night - Style Challenge

Hey Y'all.  Happy Friday to you all.  I am bringing you something extra fun today.  The lovely Meghan asked me to join her and a few other bloggers in a day to night style challenge for this week.  This is really exciting to me because I make it a point to never buy anything that I can't imagine wearing at least two different ways.  So, I chose these easybreezy floral shorts from H&M to remix for this challenge.  I wore these during the day in Chicago to go shopping with my cousin, and at night to attend a blogger event.

DAY: 

Shorts, Bag, and Hat: H&M.  Vest: Levi's.  Sandals: Sam Edelman

NIGHT:

Head to toe: H&M.  Image via: Ryan Chua/Astonish Magazine

Image via: Ryan Chua/Astonish Magazine

Image via: Ryan Chua/Astonish Magazine

Want to see how the other bloggers met the challege?  You can find them here:  Adiel, Meghan, Rebecca, Krystal, Amanda, and  Kellen will all rock your unicornlovingfacesoff.

Night Walker.

Angie

Insta-Ang

Ahoy-hoy.  Today is a busy day at work, so here is a bit of a iPhone photo dump.

Clockwise: 1: Rockin my favorite headwear.  2: Our new rug and in-process living room.  3: Legs for days 4:Tricolore

Clockwise: 1: Fun in the sun.  2: #GGB75.  3: Me and my bro being little bubbs with our mom.  4: The Mister playing with his new toy.

Giants game funness.

Clockwise: 1: A mug that makes me smile at work. 2: La Fiesta.  3: Sparkles and Stripes on a Saturday night.  4:  Fun with the Urban Decay Naked II Palate.

Clockwise:  1: It was more economical to just go with the whole pitcher of mimosas.  2: GNI.  3: Wherever you go, there you are.  4: pooltime. 

Sutro.

Angie

Time To Sit Back And Unwind

A tip of the hat, to you all.  Apologies for no Hump Day Happy Hour this week, I took a little weekend trip to Chicago last weekend for my cousins' graduation and I am waiting for the photos of his signature cocktail to share with you all.  So, that will come next week, along with photos of how I dress for a 99 degree humid day in the middle of The Second City.  For the time being, let's look at some fun weekend wear photos and dream of 90 degree temps and pinot grigio by the pool.

Dress: H&M.  Sandals: Dolce Vita.  Hat: Borrowed.  Sunnies: H&M

I guess it's a good thing it's already Wednesday, because I am really ready for the weekend.  We are supposed to get in the high 80's in SF!  Whoop.  What can I say, I am a Summer baby.  This is my season, and I fully intend to relish it as much as possible this year.  

Summa Summa Summatime.

Angie

THYMWYA's Summertime Drugstore Staples

Hello Sugarboogers.  So, after talking to you all about my SADs, The Mister and I got out of The City and headed down to the South Bay, where the sun shines like there is no tomorrow and the beer flows like wine.  Aside from the amazeballs weather down there, the place is pure suburbia...which is basically like the Twilight Zone to me.  Do you know how long it has been since I have seen a chain restaurant or a Target?  The answer is, toodamnedlong.  While down there, I stopped into a CVS to pick up a toothbrush and walked out with all this goodness:  

It's not that we don't have drugstores in SF...We do.  A lot actually.  There is a Walgreens on every corner.  But they are janky.  I have to comb through adult diapers, escape from Alcatraz t-shirts, and rotten sushi just to get to my Sally Hensen nail decals.  Also, for some reason everything at every Walgreens in Frisco is under lock and key...So that means every time I need to pick up some tampons, I have to press a call button and then some jerkoff that bites his own ears comes over and I have to explain why I need the super OB's.  I feel like Mortified Mildred when I am in there.  Anyways, with no one judging my shopping habits, I fully went windowstothewall in CVS and since you are all enablers, I thought you might enjoy this:

1. Simple Facial Wipes:  Sadsmallconfession, I am not great about washing my face before bed.  Mostly because it's a whole process and I have to moisturize, etc just to go to sleep. Well, these wipes make it so much easier and I feel like they have moisturizer built in because my skin doesn't feel all tight and Magda-like.

2.  Jergens Natural Glow Express & Firming Lotion:  Speaking of Magda, since it's too cold to get a real tan, I have gotten my Snooki on and started using this stuff.  Let me tell you, the express lotion works reallyreallyreally well.  I was actually sitting in a meeting the other day thinking: "Damn, who went to the tanning bed at lunch, I can smell it..."  Then I looked at my shoulder and nearly fell out of my chair because I had reverted to my Floridian skin tone without doing a thing. Caution:  Only use this for the prescribed 3 days, you freaking tanorexic.   Also, wash your hands after use.  I look like I have been making pottery with Patrick Swayze.

3.  Revlon Hot Coral Lipstick: Because coral is the new awesome.

4. L'Oreal Root Rescue:  Last time I went to the salon it cost me nearly $400 for my ombre.  I love getting my hrrrrrr did, but I really don't feel like sitting in a salon for a whole day right now...I am also debating another big hair color change.  This will buy me a few weeks for me to make that decision and save me some dough in the meantime.

5. Simi Alexander Valley 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon:  Because when you are at a drugstore and they actually have a quality wine that doesn't come in a freaking box, you buy it...Well, at least if you are me, you buy it.  Besides: all of these goodies + wine = Best GNI EVER!

6. Essie polishes: I bought "Lights", "Sand Tropez", "Orange, it Obvious", and "Chinchilly".  Is this a new thing that drugstores are carrying my favorite laquers or have I just been stuck in the land of judgy store clerks for too long?

7. Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave Lotion:  YESYESYESYES to all of this.  Since I am going to have my gams out as much as possible these days, this stuff is a total necessity.

8. Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream Medium/Deep:  Holy a;guihr[eihugr'ioherwehbbjiubhw!!!!! This was me when I put this stuff on:

I have heard about BB cream but was hesitant to give it a whirl, because A:  I didn't know what kind of baby dragons needed to die in order for it to do all the things that I read that it did.  B: You know how attached to my products I am.  So, I figured, why not spend $13 and see if this so-called "miracle cream" worked.  Keep in mind, my idea of "miracle" is the fact that Britney hasn't turned into a vat of potato salad by now, so, my standards may be a little low.  Well, guess, what, it does work!  It's effingfantastic actually!  In the summertime, I like to have a natural, sunkissed face, that is still a little dewy.  This stuff will give you that.  I swear to everythinggoodandbritney that I don't even have to wear concealer anymore.  Try this stuff, and thank me later.

OK, there you have it.  Go forth and buy crap because all you do is enable me.

Real Housewife of The Burbs of SF.

Angie

Hump Day Happy Hour - Blade Gin Basil Gimlet

Hello funsters.  I am really excited about this weeks Hump Day Happy Hour because it features my favorite adult beverage (other than my vinos).  Everyone has their go-to liquor of choice, for some of you it may be tequila or vodka or maybe even whiskey...Mine however is gin.  I admit, it's an acquired taste for some, but Blade Gin not only made me into a bonafide gin drinker but an enthusiast.  

Blade Gin is made here in Northern California and you can definitely taste the crisp citrus notes with a laid back style.  Not that I advocate it, but you really could shoot this stuff, it is so citrusy, smooth, and almost sweet...not spicy, overly juniper berry laden or smokey like most gins.  I figured a great way to bring a little licorice and pepper flavor to the already present citrus would be to make a basil gimlet. 

5 leaves of basil

1.5 oz. Blade Gin 

3/4 oz. Lime juice

1/2 oz. Simple syrup

Put 4 or 5 basil leaves in a cocktail shaker or drinking 

glass, and press them with a muddler or a wooden spoon.

Add the gin, lime juice and simple syrup. 

Fill the shaker completely with ice.

Shake for at least ten seconds.

Strain into a martini glass. 

If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with a basil leaf or two

This is a refreshing summertime staple for entertaining guests. If you haven't tried Blade Gin, I highly recommend it.  We like to keep some in the freezer and pour over soda with a squeeze of lime for a refreshing something simple.  

Cheers.

Angie

Californication

After weeks of feeling the sadmadblahs every time that June Gloom seeped into my world, I was finally educated that I probably have SADs...Granted this is fully self diagnosed, since by the name alone it sounds like something that I would be into. Also, I am a bit of a hypochondriac The thing is, I grew up in Florida, so, when it's not hotter than the hinges on the gates of hell in June, it just doesn't make sense to my brain, and I get the sadmadblahs.  The seasons have been all out of whack here in NorCal lately, so The Mister and I have been peacing out of The City as much as possible. June Gloom/ thebainofmyexistence: Karl the Fog can get your girl down so much, that having a conversation with me is reminiscent of chattin' up Lil Wayne .  Therefore, I have made bffffffl's with NEON YELLOW!!!! 

Wearing: Top: H&M.  Jeans: Zara.  Shoes: H&M.  Bracelets: Blue Vanilla

I just seem to be drawn to it, like Britney to chicken fingers lately.  They are saying that neon is the new neutral this season, which is great news!  I mean, it's kinda my soulmate color:  it's loud, pronounced, unique, audacious, and sleek.  (I am really reaching with the last adjective for myself, but we are just going to smile and nod.)  The thing I like most though is that it is making me look hella tan.  Something that, no matter what the weather is doing, will always make you feel better about yourself.  I am however trying to vere away from neon pink because I am a little worried that I could be mistaken for AC Slater pretty quickly: 

Don't get it twisted, this is the dance that this outfit makes me do.

Finally, I really wanted to give you an up-close of my weekly mani.  I am calling it neon turtle.

Electric Feel.

Angie