Don't worry, I'm not dead!

Sorry bloggies for the lack of posts recently.  (I'm fine.  No, really, I'm fine!)  I was just on vacation...in Mexico! 

I promise to tell you all about it once I have all the pictures squared away.  So look forward to a Mexican adventure Arielle style!

March 16, the best day ever...

Two years ago today, I said "I do." to the love of my life.  It's been total bliss ever since. 

 Just look at him.  He was so nervous.  It was the cutest thing ever!

And, no, you're wrong.  I love you more. 

Happy Anniversary, darling!  Here's to two years filled with wonderfully happy memories and to many more to come.

Wine making at it's best...

*Apologies are in order.  I know that I should have posted this earlier, but, as usual, I am running a little behind.  It just wouldn't be me if I didn't post it way after the fact...lol.  So sorry.  We actually mixed our wine about a month ago, so it's almost ready already!  We should be able to drink it at the end of this month.  Hooray!  There are still a few bottles left unclaimed, so if you want one let me know!  It's going to be yum-o fo' sho'!

How to make wine 101:
Always start with sanitized mixing instruments and vessels.  You don't want to end up with spoiled wine!  (Don't worry the peeps over at OENO do that part for you ahead of time.  Thanks guys!)

Mix some bentonite, aka clay powdery stuff that helps to clear the sediment out of your wine, with some water to dissolve it.

Pour in the concentrated pre-crushed grape juice and some water.  Stir.

Using a cheesecloth bag to form somewhat of a large tea bag that can be easily removed come bottling time, add in the grape skins and pulp collected from the crushed grapes.  Stir.

It's a two woman job!  Be careful not to get splashed with grape juice.  Hey, it stains!

Add in the oak shavings.  

(Don't worry the shavings will get filtered out.  This is what adds that nice oakey flavor to your wine when it isn't allowed to ferment in an actual oak barrel.)

Stir, stir, and stir.  When you think that you have stirred enough, stir it again.  You want everything to be well combined. 

Once the hydrometer, the tool that measures the sugar content, gives you the a-okay, you're good to go!  This is me kicking off the fermentation process by adding the yeast.  We covered it up and sent all of the good vibes that we could muster out into the atmosphere in hopes of a fabulous batch of wine in return.

Here's La'akea with all the 'nearly ready to be bottled' wines in OENO's fermentation room.  Our wine will be there soon!  Excited, excited, excited!

For now, we wait...

30 days of photos: Day 30

Day 30: A picture of someone who inspires you

Although there are many, many people that inspire me to be a better person spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually, Cheynah inspires me to be better physically.  She pushes me to be in the best physical shape that I can be and I love her for it.  Even when I think I couldn't possibly do another crunch or push up, she says "Yes, you know you can."  And you know what?  I can!

Thank you Cheynah for keeping me on track and getting my butt into the Fit category on the General Body Fat scale!  (Even though it required a billion and one squats, leg lifts, chest presses, bicep curls, push ups, and crunches...lol.  They were all totally worth it!)  You rock my athletic socks, girl!

30 days of photos: Day 29

Day 29: A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Time for a confession.  I have a weakness...for purses. 

It started some time ago when I was in college.  My husband bought me a designer handbag and it's been downhill ever since.  Now, I collect them, carefully packaging each one to protect them from the elements, thinking that I will one day use them again.  Have I?  No, I have not.

My husband suggested that I sell them.  Sell them?!?  How could I!?  They are little pieces of me!  Each purse single-handedly expressed my personality and soul at the time that I carried them.  Get rid of them?!?  For shame!

Then he said, "Sell them and you'll have room for new ones."  Okay, so he really didn't say that.  I think he said something like "Yeah, just get rid of them.  They are taking up too much space." or something equally silly and man-ish.  But that's what I heard and I'm sticking to it!

The life of Arielle, via purses:

Banana Republic Ivory with pink roses Satin handbag.  Black bamboo handle with a snap closure similar to a coin purse.  Very vintage chic.

Coach fabric and leather shoulder bag in light pink 'C logo' print.  Magnetic closure.  It's on the smaller side.  Good for the girl on the run who doesn't want to be weighed down by a large purse.

Dooney and Bourke fabric and leather shoulder bag in light pink bubble pattern.  Very flirty and fun.

Coach coral-ish red leather shoulder bag.  Slouchy, fun everyday bag.  Bonus: Coral is supposed to be the 'in' color this Spring!

Michael Kors magenta lambskin shoulder bag.  Honestly, this is the heart breaker.  I love this bag so much, but I'd rather see it used than stored away.  It's that cute!

Though it breaks my heart to see them go, I promise to use the money gained from them to fill the void with new purses.  Make me an offer!

*All of the handbags pictured were gently used, but were indeed used, so please do not think that you are getting a brand spanking new handbag.  If you would like more detailed pictures of specific purses, just give me a holler.  Thanks and happy shopping!

30 days of photos: Day 28

Day 28: A picture that can always make you smile

Dana and I in front of our box tower.

This photo was taken when I worked a Ben Franklin Crafts a few years back.  No, we don't normally stack shelves like that...lol.  We had to get all the merchandise off the floor so that the floor could be cleaned and waxed.  This was our solution.  We fit every box on that shelf.  It looked like a giant game of Tetris after we were finished.

The hand signs that we were making were supposed to spell 'BF' for Ben Franklin, but only my sign for 'B' is correct.  So it says 'B peace'?  Lol...oops.  It's a good thing we're cute, huh?

I had some fun times working there.  Thanks Dana, Lisa, Brandon, and Jodi for all the smiles, laughs, and great memories.  There was never a dull day working with you guys!

30 days of photos: Day 27

Day 27: A picture of something that you want to do before you die

(Photo from Europe Travel Guide.)

Travel to Europe.  So many places to see, so many memories to make, so many photographs to take!

30 days of photos: Day 26

Day 26: A picture of your favorite book

I love this book!  It's so romantic.  *sigh*

30 days of photos: Day 25

Day 25: A picture of someone that you would like to trade places with for a day

(Is it possible to have more than one day?  It's my rules, so I say sure thing...lol.) 

Right now there are three people that I would like to trade places with for a day.  They are all completely different; in daily lives, personalities, and life experiences, but all would provide great learning experiences.

Malcolm Gladwell 

His writing is amazing!  He goes to great lengths to really get to the heart of each article that he writes. If you haven't read anything written by him, you should.  You have not lived a full life until you have.  (PS.  I never really thought about what he looks like until now.  He kind of reminds me of a cuter version of Sideshow Bob from the Simpsons...lol.)

Kimora Lee Simmons 

Nothing says fashion mogul who's got it all quite like Kimora!  She's a high powered business woman who isn't afraid of anything or anyone.  On top of all that, after a long day she goes home to three kids!  How she does all that she does, I'll never know.  My hat's off to you Kimora.  Keep doing you because it's fabulous!  (Her book Fabulosity is a great look into her life and the guidelines that she lives by.)

Ree Drumond aka The Pioneer Woman 

She's a woman that wears many hats; a stay-at-home mom, a homeschool teacher to all four of her children, a wife who lives on a cattle ranch, a blogger, a writer of both adult and children's books, a self-proclaimed accidental chef with a published cookbook, a photographer, a gardener, and was once even a ballerina.  Talk about a woman who has lived life to the fullest!  I love her real, down to Earth personality and her positive outlook on life.

If any of you are reading this, please adopt me for a day! 

30 days of photos: Day 24

Day 24: A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Italy

The place that I really, really, really, really, really want to travel to is Italy.  Not the touristy Italy, but the rural, countryside of Italy.  I want to spend 3 weeks there staying in a villa, walking around towns, shopping at open markets, stuffing myself silly with gelato, pizzas and pastas, perfecting my Italian with native speakers, and learning how to cook traditional Italian food.  Oh and drinking lots and lots of wine.  Ahhh, bliss!

30 days of photos: Day 23

Day 23: A picture that makes you laugh

My neighbor has this sign in his yard.  (No, this is not my neighbor's actual yard, though he does take very good care of it.  I thought it might be a little too weird to take a picture without asking him first.  So I opted for one I found on the internet instead.)  I'm not sure what is funnier, the scared expression on the sign dog's face or the word "No!" printed on the side.  Either way, I really doubt this will get dogs to stop pooping in his yard.  It does make me chuckle a little every time I pass his house though.

If you want your own doggy no go here sign it can be yours for the small price of $10.  That's right!  Only $10 to put a smile on all of your neighbor's faces.

Thanks neighbor for making me smile every time I pass your house!

30 days of photos: Day 22

Day 22: A picture of something you're afraid of

I would say that I am most afraid of choosing the 'wrong path'.

Did I make the right choices up to this moment?  I feel like I have.  No regrets to report, thus far.

I think the most fear is for the future; the uncertainty of it all.  Will I end up with a career that I love or will I have a boring job and tons of hobbies to fulfill my life?  Will I self-actualize and be the best that I can possibly be?

Only time will tell...for now, cheese and crackers sound good.

30 days of photos: Day 21

Day 21: A picture of something you wish you were better at

Cleaning is absolute Hades to me.  I know people say, in their condescendingly sing-songie voices, 'Just spend 10-15 minutes a day cleaning up.  Then it won't be such a huge to do.'.  Blah, blah, blah.  Yeah right.  10-15 minutes doesn't do anything.  It just makes you think, "Now if I only do this like 15 more times in a row, then my house will be clean."  Never the less, I wish I were better at it.  Maybe not so much better, because when I do clean things are really clean, but more diligent.

If only I were this happy when I cleaned.  Maybe it's because I don't have my very own 50's inspired apron...no, that can't be it.

According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Scrubbing Bubbles Dirty Work Index, 68% of women actually enjoy cleaning and say that it adds to their emotional well-being.  Hmmm....I must just not be one of those women...lol.