My Name is Claudia

I got the BEST CARE PACKAGE EVER from @bonbonsbyserena!

I sometimes have to remind myself how I have somehow managed to surround myself with awesome and thoughtful people. As you know, I went to Austin about a week and a half ago to visit my friend Serena. She has always been an amazing hostess to her company, and my visit was no exception. She introduced me to one of her friends who writes for a craft beer journal for a living (hello, dream job!). So not only was her friend J nice enough to bring over some amazing beers that aren’t available in Florida, but she sent them my way (via Serena). And while I was at Serena’s I was raving to her about the Dr. Bronner Magic Soap (available at Whole Foods, but not at Fresh Market, FYI). So I squealed when she threw one in the care package for moi! And as if that weren’t enough, she sent me her Austin-famous* Bon Bons by Serena.

I really do have the most amazing friends in the world. 

*soon to be world famous!

My friends know me so well. My friend Tracey vows to find me a boyfriend at the new Doctor Who themed bar by her place in Brooklyn. LOVE her, even if she is only humoring me.

i got some really exciting news yesterday. one of my best friends from nyc (and best roommate i’ve ever had) told me that her and her fiance had set a date for their wedding (it will be a fall wedding in boston). 

then i came home today and checked the mail and got an invite for ANOTHER wedding for my oldest friend in the world. when i was 4 or 5, i made friends with the little girl across the street. i can honestly say that this person is my oldest friend (in the sense of how long we’ve known each other). i haven’t spoken with her over the last couple of years (or at least not regularly). but we have corresponded via e-mail and facebook, so i did know she was engaged (and thus, she clearly had my mailing address). but i had no idea when the wedding was happening or that i would be invited. 

this one is a little sooner than later (a june wedding in houston), so i’m not sure if i’ll be able to attend. not to mention i’m a little apprehensive of going to the wedding alone. i know, i know, i’m not one of THOSE people who stresses out about this usually. and i took a guy i thought i liked to my friend’s wedding in october (that quickly faded after spending more time with him). so i wouldn’t take a date. and with the wedding in the fall, if i don’t have a date, totally fine. i’ll know people at the wedding and will have a great time. but the wedding in houston, i can’t say i’ll know anyone except the bride’s sister (and she’s obviously in the wedding). although i’d really like to be there, i’m contemplating just sending a really nice wedding gift. we’ll see. 

all i know is that i’m happy for my friends and wish them a blissful future with their significant others. 

good times at mckenna’s on 14th and 8th.

(photo of me with my friends, eric and marc)

yesterday i dropped off my friend B and his friend at the port. they’re going on a 2 day cruise to the bahamas. it’s a short and cheap excursion, so they figured, why the hell not? i would’ve even gone had i not planned a trip to texas. 

well, when we rolled up to the ships, my friend b was like, “oh, maybe this is it. it doens’t look so bad.” then we turned our heads and saw the other ship. these are the fantasy vs. reality photos. see if you could tell which is which.

eecunnings:

Movie Review: Say Anything

No, I had not seen this until today.  Yes, it was amazing.  And, if I may say, John Cusack gets a lot of credit for this role and sure he was good, but I think I honestly fell in love with first-half-of-this-movie version of Ione Skye.  A really tremendous character.

you have no idea how happy this makes me. my friend eric has a pop culture blind spot the size of jupiter. bravo, eric, for crossing say anything on your list. it’s a fantastic movie. i’m sure that SNL sketch with joseph gordon levitt makes way more sense now.

note: watch (500) days of summer next. it’s out on dvd. rent it.

holy crap, y’all! you guys might recognize judah friedlander in this still from tonight’s 30 rock, but my jaw dropped to the ground when i saw my awesome and talented friend jon gabrus in this scene as well (second from right)!

if you live in the new york city area, you should check out his comedy show sometime. he performs regularly at the ucb theatre. for those of you that don’t live in the nyc area, you’re missing out. just keep watching 30 rock.

UPDATE: as i was typing this entry, gabrus and i exchanged texts. apparently he’s been on the show pretty much all season. but to my credit, i guess this was the most face time he’s had thus far. either way, i’m so proud of him!

highlights from thanksgiving

since my brother came to florida for thanksgiving, i didn’t get to spend the holidays with my entire family. thank goodness i’m fortunate to have a good group of friends. my friends and i decided to join forces and have thanksgiving together. my friends (seen in the photo above) hosted at their apartment. as you can see, we had turkey, sides, pies, and wine. pair that up with good company and football on tv and it was as good of a thanksgiving that anyone could ask for.

me and my friends. the one on the left is still in nyc. the one in the middle moved to la a few years ago. and me, well i’m in the greater miami area. we have the u.s. coasts covered. and look how great and colorful we look in our evening wear!

my dress- calvin klein, jewelry- macy’s.

this is my friend josh. he used to be the mascot for tennessee. he also used to be the mascot for the new jersey devils. basically, i’m saying josh is all around awesome. 

p.s. i love the camouflage baseball cap with the bow-tie and jeans. 

joshlay:

This is Jay and I after Tennessee destroyed the Bulldogs on Saturday. Nothing soothes the pain for an opposing team’s fan then posing with the other teams mascot. Especially when your boyfriend used to dress up as that mascot.