Umm...I fall off the blog-Earth, and I 'win' an award?

Apparently us aviation-attached bloggers gotta stick together. ;) Because seriously, who else understands the excuse of not coming home from a routine day of, "Babe, plane broke. I'm stuck in ____________ until we send a crew with parts to fix it." like the jet- and prop-ridden life of Naval aviation. :) Thanks NavyGirl!

Seriously, how does it jazz hands like that?

What’s a Liebster Award you ask?Liebster is a German word meaning dearest, and the award is given to up-and-coming bloggers with less than 200 followers who deserve some recognition and support to keep on blogging.  It’s also a great way to discover new blogs!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter and link back to their blog. (See above!!)
2. Share 11 things about yourself and answer the questions given. (See below!!)
3. Nominate 5 blogs that you enjoy to receive the award who have less than 200 followers, and provide them with questions to answer about themselves. (Erm....can I pass on this one?? I'm a re-virgin'd blogger, remember?)
4. Inform them of their nomination by leaving a comment on their blog.

11 Things About Me

1. My feet are still a Size 8 - and it's been this way since 8th grade. So yes, I never get rid of shoes because they don't fit; it's because I wear the shit outta them. So yay for my bank account, I guess...
2. I have a Bachelor of Arts in English, with a Minor in Writing...and have NO desire to ever be a teacher. SO STOP ASKING ME! I don't like babysitting 2 kids, why would I want to be around 30 kids? Especially when there's no Pokey to throw the rotten kids into... :)
3. I once went anorexic for a week to see what it felt like. So after a week, my clothes fit the same, but I was just cranky for not eating. Then I knew I had no dreams of being a supermodel.
4. I didn't take any pictures of Mr. Wookie's "goodbye" because I didn't feel the need to commemorate his leaving - instead I have this deep memory of his last bearhug, my head buried into his shoulder, and his arms compressing my body. There were temporary tears in my eyes as I knew this was the worst part of it all. But then I headed to work and had my mind easily busied with my workload. And now we're on the (long) downhill to another bearhug that I will document.
5. I'm midst a bad habit of not eating breakfast until I get to work. :/
6. I'm midst the good habit of enjoying a glass of red wine on my patio after work as California is finally gracing us with "California weather."
7. And then after the one glass of wine on the patio, I enjoy one with dinner while my butt is parked on the sofa watching Jeopardy.
8. I had an impromptu spur of energy on Saturday night at 8pm. It involved Michael's, a 40%-off coupon, and picking up some quilting supplies. :)
9. So yes, it's official: I'm going to attempt quilting very basic projects.
10. I've made my first deployment goal: NO FRIVOLOUS SHOPPING since I can easily walk into Target when bored and drop $75 at the register because I was bored. Tsk tsk tsk Mrs. Wookie. So for April it's only the basics: food and wine (and quilting supplies!). No Gap.com, no tall clothes, no NOTHING!
11. I briefly flirted with the idea of "No adult beverages" for April, BUT WHO ARE KIDDING?? That ain't gonna happen.

Questions for my Nominees

1. What is your earliest memory from childhood?

I was maybe 3 and it was of the ugliest wallpaper known to man: magnolias (or  something) on a bright red. Sounds beautiful, eh?

2. How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

Umm....in style?? My 30th birthday will involve NYC, shopping, museums, and hopefully purchasing a fake Chanel bag from the trunk of a car. :)

3. What is the last movie you saw in the theater?

The last movie we saw was The Hobbit.

4. How do you like your eggs?

Unfertilized. Oh, you mean chicken eggs... ;) I like 'em over medium.

5. What would you do if the Internet disappeared?  What would you miss the most?

I'd miss the bullshit entertainment: The Chive, TheFrisky.com, etc.

6. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

It depends - I can be the absolute life of the party or I can be a turtle.

7. What is your favorite family recipe?  Is there a story behind it?

No story, but it's amazing...and so very basic! It's my mom's chicken noodle casserole and my 'go-to' for MOM, MAKE ME THIS MEAL, DAMMIT!

8. What is your favorite quotation?

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Ghandi

Because anyone can bitch about changing things; but actions actually do.

9. If you were the President of the United States, what would be your first act in office?

I would order a cocktail and lounge on the South Lawn.

10. Do you know a second language?  If not, which one would you like to learn?

I can fumble through Spanish despues una margarita. :)

11. What is one household chore you actually enjoy doing?

Laundry. :) Which is something I need to do as I'm out of underwear now.

Only when you're alone can you really learn your weakness.

"If the shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?" -- Gloria Steinem

If you've ever been concerned about my fashion sense, now's the time - seriously, Safari-esque jacket, tribal dress, thigh peekaboo, and leopard shoes. Trust me, I didn't leave the house like this. I just had to break in the shoes.

If there was one thing I learned in my time away from Mr. Wookie, it's that damn, nothing makes the month feel better than picking up a pair of new shoes. Now before you go all materialistic on my ass, just know I have a severe tendency to buy one pair of shoes, love the shit out of them, and wear them into the ground. I believe firmly that shoes are an investment (not Skinny Runner kind of investment), but an investment into the sanity of your body.

Fun fact: I don't buy non-ergonomic shoes.

Cue granny walkers and Metamucil.

I'm the crazy twenty-something that buys shoes with arch support, a heel cup, and dancing room for my toes.

And I love it.

So you're thinking to yourself, "Where in the world do you get ergonomic shoes without hitting up a retirement community? And do I have to go before my Denny's 4pm Silver Dinner Special??"

No, you don't. And they market towards the non-AARP crowd. Trust me. I'm a doctor.

My favorites are Naturalizer, Clarks, Birkenstocks, and Report, if you had to peek into my closet.

So when I was out shopping one lunch break, at my local Naturalizer Outlet store, needing another neutral color shoe for my wardrobe (since the warm-toned brown flats bought 6 months ago are starting to have sloping heels from excessive mileage), I about died when the leopard print shoe caught my eye. Why hello?? I didn't even text-versate with Mommy McD on this purchase. They were all MINE!

Shoes: my weakness. Why? Because my feet are a normal size. I don't have to shop at the TallBitches.com for clothes to fit my legs and monkey arms. I can go anywhere. Maybe this is why Mr. Wookie doesn't like going to the NEX- they carry Naturalizer. :) I'm a 5'10.789" female with a dainty Size 8 foot. Yes, my balance is terrible. Yes, I know this is compounded when I happen to drink too much. Yes, that's why I don't drink.

Bazinga.

BHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA.

So in the timeframe Mr. Wookie was gone, I brought home two pairs of homeless shoes. Without a dog, I'm left to evil devices. That's roughly a pair of shoes per month. Gasp. This is going to be bad. Mr. Wookie has a very long deployment coming up. And the closet is only so big. Looks like it's time to start rearranging things. And I know what you're thinking, Mrs. Wookie, you're so charitable in helping those homeless shoes. I do what I can - I'm the Mother Teresa of footwear.

You may have heard today is my birthday.

Yes, it is. I'm gathering one more year on Earth as an awesome redhead with parents, siblings, adopted grandparents, parents, and siblings (I'm talking Mr. Wookie's crew).

But I never like birthdays. I mean, I do. Sometimes. When it's cheerful and happy, but then I realize that each day is one more day where a wrinkle will set in, gravity will havoc my flesh, and I'm thismuchcloser to Mr. Wookie trading me in for a new model (that's his joke since I'm actually older than he is - hmpphhhh!!!!).

But the party started early. On Tuesday to be exact. I came home from work with a homeless box on my stoop. Nope, definitely not a million dollars.

Holy peanut butter and fudgsicles, Batman! Shut your face. Shut the front door. What is this!?! Could my unabashed 'pinning' on Pinterest have led to the greatest Beaver Gear known to "eco-friendly people" (I'd say 'hippie,' but let's be honest - I shower. I vote (not just one party). But damn, do I recycle.)???? A bright-ass orange market basket for when I shop the farmer's markets. Do you know how difficult it is to load lettuce into a floppy polypropylene bag?? Darn difficult. But now I can load lettuce with ease. And poblano peppers, corn, eggs, strawberries, and radish shoots (no, really...delicious!).


And yes, I swear there's artwork in the bathroom that ties in the red hand towel and the shower curtain. It's just on the same wall as the mirror. Sorry folks.

And an awkward side view of the basket. More like an awkward pose, but that's my issue. #NextTopModelfail I'm pretty sure you could fit a newborn in here. Let's try!

So on today's schedule is pampering. No working. Not for me. I have my standard 8-week hair trim today, so I'll get a mad shampoo to make me giggle. And probably champagne. Then I have a nail appointment, because I felt like being pampered some more. And sometime today, I'll mosey down to Macy's to hopefully score a free makeover while getting a new lipgloss (we're almost out of our favorite MAC hot pink gloss).

Today started out great though. And a little misty-eyed. I was summoned for breakfast of a Queen. All this, and Mr. Wookie couldn't even join me (squadron PT is his priority). Yes, that's a mimosa. Yes, it was perfect. *wink* So my belly started out right this morning with french toast, pig product, mostly champagne, a cup o' coffee, and my favorite: Gerbera daisies. I still don't know where he hid those!?! That sneaky boy!!

Shucks...do I need anything?? Well besides a hair cut, manicure, and lip gloss....well company for dinner would be awesome. Unless Uncle Sam has other plans, which wouldn't surprise me. But then again, there's always the opened champagne bottle in the fridge.

Mrs. Wookie: Birthday Party of One!

Mrs. Wookie, Fashion Icon

Oh dear readers, an epiphany has happened and I feel genius for it.

Thanks to The Frisky for their announcement for what to wear to a cocktail wedding. Middle Sister's wedding = "garden party" cocktail affair. And what color is my dress? Grey. I feel like Joan Rivers would love me right now. Then tell me my arms resemble giraffe legs and I could use some fake tanner.

Really Ann Taylor Loft?

The other weekend when Middle Sister was here, I thought it was perfect timing to have her confirm my ideas in apparel for her upcoming nuptials. Translation: Yo' beezy, does this dress make me look slammin' in pictures? Because there's nothing worse than having someone in a Cosby sweater terrorizing family pictures.

Being a tall-ass female with a long-ass torso, long-ass Orangutan arms, and legs for mother-effin' days, it can be hard to shop in the conventional sense (like real stores). I have to worry about if the "waist" hits me even near the waist (usually it's on my rib cage, and I don't like to Tim Gunn it - you know, just "make it work"). Then there's, Is my booty hanging out since I'm missing extra fabric in length? It's fun, oh so fun.

(But if I can announce like Oprah) Bring in Ann Taylor LOOOOOOOOOFT! Along with Gap, JCrew, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and others who offer a small selection of appropriately fabric'd designs meant for those who resemble more "missing link" than man.

Oh, what's this Ann Taylor Loft...in my inbox...a further DISCOUNT on the effin' dress I just bought? [Mrs. Wookie angry, turn green, rip shirt...oh wait, nope, now naked... umm... what other superhero can I be where I don't have to be topless?]


I was a little butt-hurt, I'll be honest. But then I realized that they didn't have the Size 8 in grey (which was the resounding vote thanks to Mommy McD, Middle Sister, and Baby Sister). But really...I got it for 30% off the $69.99 price tag, which is a good deal for a tall dress.. AND I will be able to wear it again. AND now they don't have my size. So really, I'd just like to sulk that I got screwed out of 20% off.


My coffee didn't include anti-bitch powder this morning. So sorry.


Oh what's that? You want to see the awful phone pictures that I texted my American Idol-wannabe judges? Oh okay, if you must.


But first, you must decree to yourself, "Thou shalt judge a Ging."

The skirt of the dress fits perfectly. The waist is...gasp...not empire on me! So the only thing left is to alter the top of the dress (I'm pinching it in with the missing hand). So thanks to some recommendations for a tailor in the area, I have an appointment to make this puppy fit like a glove. And do you LOVE the waspy fabric on top!? I assume once it's dry cleaned they'll be flouncy, and lovely, and gorgeous...and...fabulous...

But I still like the romantical nature of the blush colored, only people thought I looked nekkid. And that's the last thing you need out of the Sister of the Bride. OMG, did you see her, what is she wearing? She's like the Princess Beatrice of Oregon!


Yes, I need to work on my runner's tan (it's like a farmer's tan...but I don't farm). Yes, the bed is undone and there's laundry everywhere! Would you rather try on new clothes or wait until after you've cleaned? If you say cleaned, you need therapy! So Mama Ging, this is my dress for August. You like? Hope so! Because the bride's happy, and that's all I can ask for.


End note: We totally think the model is the T-Mobile 4G girl. Do you?