Racks!!

Wine racks, that is.

                                   

This little beauty was built last Christmas. If you're thinking this is a step by step. Turn around. No one knows how this was made, and dad and I agreed we would never make it again. But it turned out so pretty (4 hours, 6 months, 2 coats of stain and MANY bottles of wine later)(but maybe needs a clear coat?) that I wanted to show her off.

First and foremost. Lets be real. I didn't do much of this project. I measured, cut a few things, remeasured and recut things, but most of the assembly was all done by my dad. (So when I say things like "we built" "we cut" really means dad did it. I did go get drinks a few times, which I think was extremely helpful, no one wants to be dehydrated running a saw....or a drill for that matter

                     

Everything was drawn out, all the pieces were cut, this nifty tool (a jig) was used so there aren't outside screws, we put it all together then took it half apart because we thought it would be fun, i mean actually it was a design aesthetic, and re put it together.

                                           

So for the first 6 months of her life she remained untouched (in that it was not painted/stained) when I had a week off from LE, I decided to stain it, since I'd bought it already (and apparently the movers don't pack anything flammable) and I mean I really had nothing better to do than watch The Price is Right and pack.

I used cherry stain. And boy was this project a pain in the patoot! So many corners.

                                             

I will not be giving advice on how to stain things. I will however tell you how NOT to stain something.

1. Do not, mid stain, text someone asking how to stain.

2. Do not leave the stain on, you MUST wipe it off. Especially the crevices! Or the get goopy.

3. Wear gloves!!! 

                                             

My hands were brown for at least a day and the cuts were stained for a little more..

Something terrible horrible happened when I was moving her from the lawn, the top came off! I went mental in the yard. But soon calmed myself down as it was probably my fault because it was attached at a weird angle. Naturally I called Shane who owns every drill accessory under the sun, who had a longer drill attachment that worked.

       

So the real whole point of this was....that I stocked her today :)

Reds, whites, and some moscato. All Trader Joes (but not all the cheap ones!)

                                   

               

So on accident I thought I had 12 spaces, and bought 10, so I should probably open one now so they all fit...

xo A

Boats && Hoes

I love the movie Stepbrothers, so today when we got on this baby,

                                            

I immediately was imagining the boat scene Boats & Hoes and naturally singing "Aww shit, get your towels ready, it's about to go down.....I'm on a boat MF don't you ever forget, I got my swim trunks, and my flippy floppies."

                                   

It was beautiful on the water, but halfway through the wind stopped and it got really hot. One thing I learned, not all sailboats are like Seth Cohen's on the OC, ours had a motor so we didn't have to worry about getting stranded. Who knew?

                       

xo A

     

One of my worst fears

Snakes.

But Alyssa you live in Florida now. Well yes but it's not like they're crawling around the sidewalks.

Against my better judgement I watched the news last night. This was the first story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23583116

Awful. Terrible. I had my eyes shut or my hand over half the tv for most of it.

Next story is of a police officer that was gunned down in Port Charlotte.

A young boy was bitten by "a shark" on Sanibel island (it was really a sharp teethed fish)

I switch to Walking Dead. Bad idea.

A dog starts barking uncontrollably. Just all my worst fears rolled into one night. Think I'm done with the news for awhile

The actual reason for this post, if I (knock on wood) get eaten in my sleep my a snake, or any type of animal.

Your first mission is hunt down that thing. Leave me be, I'll be fine. If it is a snake, first you need to Neville Longbottom it

(Harry Potter, look it up) then cross section it and fry it on the asphalt parking lot so the rest of the animals know you mean business.

xo A

Started my Christmas list early...

First and foremost.
A huge thanks goes out to Lauren for finding this amazing piece of footwear in this post. I mean obviously she's a Seminole, so I'd be getting these beauties.

http://www.countryoutfitter.com/products/30060-womens-iowa-state-cyclones-branded-boot

Check her out here, and I promise you won't be disappointed :)

Now back to tailgating. I'm used to jeans and a t-shirt, but things are different in Florida I hear. People literally get dressed up to get messed up (Thank you Luke Rauen for some amazing Homecoming shirts). I think these boots are a new necessity in my wardrobe. And probably some new ISU themed dresses and tees...

xo A

Ps. I accept all types of gifts ;)

Walking Dead

I've become addicted to the Walking Dead. I'm catching up pretty quick due to some thunderstorms and today was super hotttt. And the fact that season 1 is six episodes. Season 4 airs in October I believe so I have plenty of time.

Kinda creeps me out at night, and makes me realize I'd probably be one of the first to go if zombies attacked. The only thing I have is a hammer and if I have to get that close to use it, I'm probably a goner. 

I have a semi problem when it come to catching up on tv shows. I watch them so fast I usually forget what order things happen in and what are major things and even just forgetting things happen at all. Happened with Gosspi Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Weeds, Pretty Little Liars, Dexter...almost any show I try to watch mor Ethan one season on Netflix. It a dangerous game..

xo A

Shooters

Today a bunch of us went to Siesta Key Beach for Kat's birthday!

                       

                       

We packed up a little early because a storm was rolling in and headed over to the Daiquiri Deck for some drinks and a late lunch. Miraculously with 11 people, we all ordered different food and it was all really good!

I ordered an Original oyster shooter. I had heard about them before and wanted to try one. This one was an oyster, chilled vodka, and Bloody Mary mix.

                                               

                                               

                                        

Did you just swallow that?!

*face* It was actually pretty good.

Jaclyn - I feel like that's a typical Alyssa response. "eh, it was pretty good"

xo A

     

Rain rain go away

When it rains it pours. Literally the past 2 days leaving work I've gotten soaked.

Time to invest in some Rain-X

xo A