Looking Back on 2013

This year brought some major life changing events, such as...

~Mateo is born! This little man brings so much joy to everyone that meets him.

~I ate better and am now on the road to extraordinary good health.
~Began writing my first (and possibly only) work of fiction in the form of a short story.
~I read more - that is always on my New Year's list of things to achieve.
~Got my passport, took my niece to Italy and finally saw Positano. Dream conquered!

~Went to Colombia to finally meet my cousin Mario and lil' Mateo in person.

~Said goodbye to someone I wasn't ready to lose.

~Reached out to my godson and kicked off our new relationship. (It's about freakin' time!)

Aside from losing Donna, 2013 was a spectacular year, but something tells me that 2014 is gonna totally kick ass. Ashlee and Sean are getting married then Ash and I go abroad - I get to see Belgium!!, Marina, Mario, and Mateo move to the States, and god willing to Jersey, and that's just the first half of the year. So long 2013 and hellllloooo 2014!

I really, really want this...

(photo kidnapped from findsandfarthings)

Love This!!

Seeing someone read a book you love is seeing a book recommend a person. 

(Quote kidnapped from Reddit user coolstoryreddit via thegirlinthedirtyshirt and superwholockavenging)

The Muse

Earlier this month I located a website that was selling Ben van Lieshout's The Muse. I had only seen a brief clip of the film but it looked mysterious and gorgeous. I submitted a request for a copy of the DVD and within a day's time I received a follow up email. From Ben. Oh how I do so travel in such elite circles...

Anyway, I told him how I came to know of The Muse and four days later he had mailed it out from The Netherlands. I arrived home last night to find a little Happy Boxing Day treat in my mail slot. Woohoo! I was completely ecstatic. Sadly, I had to run down to my brother's place for a bit, but come 11pm, I was back home. I fired up the region 2 player, curled up under a half dozen blankets in my freezing cold apartment and hit play. Wow. This film was incredible. Subtle and beautiful. I absolutely felt throughout the picture that I was eavesdropping on the characters' lives. That I was following behind them and watching them in their everyday lives. I think I'll go home and rewatch it tonight and relive the experience all over again.

Christmas Gifties of 2013!

Grown up books, kids books, silly socks, postcards, fun coloured pens, TV series from the States AND Belgium, a classic summer blockbuster, old photos of Antwerpen's tunnels, JR Watkins lil' pack of girly lotions and stuff, and a 2014 calendar of Mid Century Adverts. Not too shabby. Man, I am easy to please. Oh, and Happy Boxing Day to all of my fellow working class peeps!

Murray Christmas

This man is hilarious.

Christmas at Pax and Bishop's

 

 

 

 

(hey look! that's me!)

Memories of Rome

 

 

 

Bayard Rustin

''The principal factors which influenced my life are 1) nonviolent tactics; 2) constitutional means; 3) democratic procedures; 4) respect for human personality; 5) a belief that all people are one.''

(photo kidnapped from holybulliesandheadlessmonsters)

Serene

I want to go to there. Like, now.

(photo kidnapped from pinterest)

Thursday with Jax

Hung out with Jackson today, just us, and he was a perfect lil' angel. As always.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

In early November, Ashlee and I stopped at the art museum in Philly to snap some photos. It was one of those Lou Reed perfect days.

George Rodrigue

These are two of my all time favourite Blue Dog portraits.

2013's Holiday Soiree

Yesterday I had the gals over for our yearly holiday get together and as always, there was booze, bawdiness, and of course, babies. In between filling one another in on the newest latest, we couldn't stop taking pictures of Evelyn and Evangeline. Oh my lord, these little ones are just so damn adorable! Plus we celebrated our Melanie's 40th bday, complete with vintage Harry Potter banner and matching hats, cause I am a dork and save absolutely everything.

(I swear that Melanie and Evelyn are both sober, although you wouldn't know it from this photo. But hey, I got all six of us in the picture, so that counts for something. Well, five and a half. Kat just barely makes it in.)

Fabulous Friend

Went to see Anne the other night to chat and set up the times for when I should take her to the airport on the 21st. Loyal followers of this humble lil' blog know that I love dropping people off and picking them up from the airport. It's what I do best. As an early thank you, sweetie that she is, Anne gave me three wonderfully wrapped and super dooper thoughtful gifts. I seriously have the best friends EVER!

(Hot chocolate mix that is dairy free and supports my new vegan life, bath salts that are not tested on animals which I will SO be using tonight, AND Far from the Madding Crowd which I've never seen and am saving it to watch Christmas morning. Yay!!)

Green Cove Springs, Florida

March 15, 1917

Dorktastic

Last night I went to deliver cookies to my younger brother's family and I managed to snap this hilarious photo of our lil' Jackson.

Kitchen Time

Mama Rose's house never smelled so good. I've been working upstairs at her place and dashing down to tend to the cookies every ten minutes. Baby's got a boatload of baking to do and I feel that it will be an all day long affair. Ah, but it will all be worth it to see the happy recipients of my finest achievement.

(Clearly I bought The Sopranos trivia game for the cookie tin. Whatevs, I'm from Jersey - whaddaya expect?)

On the Naughty List

This is what happens when my mother leaves my thirty nine year old brother alone for five minutes. I caught him in the act and when I gave him a disapproving look he sheepishly replied, "I made the sheep hump." Cue the eye rolling...

A Philly Firefighter's Home

I picked Kayla up last weekend and while she was upstairs getting ready, I snapped a few pics of Jeff's house. It's a charming two story rowhome and ya just gotta love a man with good taste and the ability to decorate his space so well and make it his own. Here's just a quick glimpse at the downstairs (I was too chicken to take more than a few pics).

The Adorable Couple

Today I pick up Ashlee at the Philly airport. She and future hubby, Sean had a relaxing ten days together in Washington and will be reunited again in early February for the big event! Then he heads back out to sea and she and I are off on our adventure abroad. Here's a few of the pics that Ash and Sean sent me from Seattle.