Fall Must Haves

Some people shop. Some people dance. Some people sing. Some people party. Me? I drink. I love to drink. I drink to bond with my sibs. I drink with my Mom. I drink with my friends. I drink alone. And while I'm sure you're waiting to here, "Hello, I'm Akili and I'm an alcoholic" I don't have a drinking problem I just recognize its an activity I enjoy. (Ha. Denial much?)

That being said, I'm not a beast like I used to be. Flashback to my college days. Think shots of [insert ANY liquor] chased by cheap beer. Think keg stands. Think PJ + the ill advised fruit. Think that ONE snow day freshman year when me and the roomie did 7 shots of cheap ass tequila. Yeah. I used to be able to throw down.

Then Christmas 2008. I'll spare you the details. But let's just say it resulted in a bout with alcohol poisoning (I lost) and my Mom pondering if she should take me to the ER.Fail.

So, while drinking is still a hobby of mine, I had to put the shots and heavy liquor drinks away...err...for the most part. I am a wine drinker. While a wine hangover is a bitch (nothing a club soda and Subway sandwich can't cure), a wine drunk....err....buzz? Kind of the best thing in life. That being said, these two items are fall MUST HAVES for 3L lifestyle (might don't make it) and the football games:

Batches Reunion in Pictures

My senior year in high school I had a group of friends called "The Batches". The group essentially consisted of me, my bestie JMS, EJ, JW, and AB. JMS and I were roommates senior year and the other girls were our next door neighbors. We had a ball that year! We decided to have a reunion this past weekend and it was insane. Its amazing what being around old friends can teach you...especially about yourself. But that's a completely different post. Here are the photos from this weekend.

Smoke Free Partying in Pictures

Went out last night {didn't take a picture of the outfit though I loved it...It was a sweetheart strapless with this lace overlay shell from Forever21}. Took A LOT of pictures with the "hold you arm out" technique. I wasn't supposed to go anywhere...but whatevs. We went to Cafe Venice which is typically an Italian restaurant but it apparently turns into a ratchet club on the weekends {who knew?}. I had a ball. The best part--you can't smoke in there. Nothing like smoke free partying! Oh and the Venice bartender makes an amazing Long Island! Back to pretending to be a law student...le sigh.

Law Prom in Pictures

St. Paddy's Day in Pictures

24 in pictures.

 

  

 

Dance it out.

The past few weeks have been uber stressful.Without boring you with the details of my law school life, I basically had a graded rough draft of a pretty major assignment due last Friday..plus I had to read for/go to all my other classes and it was a big stressful mess. I've come to the conclusion I don't handle stress very well. Though I consciously went to the gym each morning in hopes of relieving some of the tension, I ended up getting an incredibly painful crick in my neck that WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I'm pretty sure it was stress-related because as soon as I turned the assignment in, I took a nap, and *poof* pain was gone. By the end of the week I had a pretty emotional breakdown. I essentially cried my eyes out until I literally could not produce more tears and then I was manipulated by a MovieGallery worker to sign up for some $15/month membership foolishness that I'll be opting out of now that I'm in my RIGHT mind. {Long story.}

Anyway, in celebration of being done with the first draft of the brief, I went out with my law skewlies Friday night and had some drinks. A lot of drinks. I had like 2 beers. 2 champagne/vodka infusions (heavenly) and you KNOW I was "law school wasted" when I accepted a shot that included among other things Jager. (I don't DO shots.) It was cool, but the hangover...uhh...not so much. Saturday night, I went with KFM and KRC to a house party of some 3Ls that I didn't really know. I didn't really care about the party, it was just something to do...I wore jeans and a sweater w/ my Uggs. I ended up having the BEST TIME. They played some classic hip-hop, some Britney Spears, and even a little disco. And I just danced it out. At one point I went down a soultrain line. *Side-eye* I danced...and danced...and laughed...and laughed. I fistpump'd my LIFE away. I was completely sober and had a BALL!

It reminded me a lot of Grey's Anatomy and how Meredith and Cristina "dance out" their problems. Sometimes that's all you can do is dance it out.

Work Hard. Play Harder.

I know I always bitch about law school but I wanted to show you guys that I do have SOME fun. Last night the SBA [law school version of Student Government] put on a 'Cocktail Party' for the law students. Think: 3 kegs, open bar with vodka, bourbon, rum, tequila, whiskey. The works. There was a live band and a few moments of hip hop greatness. I just thought I'd share a few photos so you can see that we DO kick it in law school. Sometimes.

Grown-up State of Mind

So the last few nights have almost been a social experiment of sorts in terms of what constitutes having a good time. As I mentioned before, in D.C. I came to the conclusion that I'm sort of over the whole club thing [shaking my ass and getting grabbed on by sweaty smelly guys--NOT MY SCENE]. So what do I like to do for fun???

Well Thursday night the SBA [law school version of student government] hosted a "mixer" of sorts for the new transfer students--which basically means a bar opened up a tab for the law school kids to get wasted. I hadn't really been out all semester so I figured what the hell. I went to Frank's house--he agreed to be my DD. Frank always has liquor in his house [don't ask] so he made me a drink for the road. This drink was some concoction of Ciroc Vodka, triple sec, some lemon liqueur of some kind, and white cranberry juice--basically the sh!t was good! If you haven't had it, Ciroc Vodka is not so silent and deadly. Its just so smooth and let's just say after this one cup Frank made...I was feeling nice. 

At the law school shindig, nothing of note really happened--it was my scene. Standing around drinking, talking, laughing. The highlight: I saw the most beautiful man I think ever created by the good lord (see photo to the right).  It was like he walked by in SLOW MOTION and all the girls just watched, tongues wagging. AJL was feeling adventurous so she invites the kid over to our table. He's a 21-year-old nursing student and I spend the entire 15 minutes he's talking to us having impure thoughts. Ridiculous thoughts. I can't even begin to explain how gorgeous this kid was...the picture doesn't really do him justice. Someone asked me later who he looked like in terms of famous people. All I could come up with was Jesus. No lie.

So that was Thursday night. Last night I was *craving* a glass of wine and I hadn't eaten, either. I text'd CPT and AJL to see if they wanted to go out but neither one was available. So I hit up old faithful Frank. Now before Frank gets shemotional and wonders why he was my last resort, I should mention that I had eaten lunch with Frank earlier and didn't want to wear out my Frank welcome. But luckily Frank was in the mood to wine and dine with me. We went to Desperado's an "upscale" steakhouse not far from my house. I had a really simple yet scrumptious shrimp dish.  Frank had a steak. We both had red wine--me a new find: Red Zinfandel. Delicious. Frank and I talked throughout dinner. I'm telling you the boy is becoming my go-to person for lofty discussions about life. He challenges me on everything and that's a healthy thing to have in a friend. I'm still usually right, but its nice to stop and think about it. Gotta respect a kid like that.

So conclusions? I am a low-key homebody. I prefer talking over wine or mixing it up at a bar. I really feel no need to bend over and let a guy grind into my behind. No need at all. Its just not me. Maybe when I was 18, but at 23 it just feels kind of ridiculous. I guess I'm not a kid anymore.

Being beautiful is a state of mind

So last night I hit the bar scene in Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa is the quintessential college town. Life revolves around the University and thus the bars/eateries completely pander to college life. There's no young professional scene so when going out you have to be prepared to deal with undergrads and all the ridiculousness that comes with that. [I'm amazed that I used to be one such undergrad--I definitely cannot party like I used to].

Anyway, last night I went to this bar called The Bear Trap on the Strip. I actually really like TBT. It has clean bathrooms and just a cool clean vibe. There's also a rooftop bar which is pretty effing awesome and they make incredible nachos. But I digress.

I went with A and C to see this local band that C has been raving about for the longest. Some of C's friends from high school turned her on to this band who's style I can't even really describe. Its all live instrumentation--guitars, horns, etc., and they play everything from original music to covers of Outkast, John Legend, Marley. It was sooooo refreshing to hear some good live music last night! We sat in this corner table with C's guy friends and just groove'd to the tunes. Low-key yet good times.

C's friends were great. I love being around people who as soon as they meet you are ready to talk. Ready to joke. I laughed and laughed last night. Growing up I always felt insecure around white guys. It was more so prejudice based off my own peronal experiences with them ["Adrienne, you're so pretty for a black girl" usually doesn't build one's self-esteem up]. I always felt like they were judging me, sizing me up. But not last night, it was just chill. It was nice. I felt good--I felt like I looked good. And when dealing with men that's half the battle.

Hanging out with the guys got me thinking about how I deal with men and the current crisis of my love life [I don't have one]. Maybe I'm the problem? Granted, Tuscaloosa is not bustling with eligible bachelors. Majority of the guys I see or meet in town are 19 or have metal in their mouths--at this point in my life neither are appealling options. Its not that I'm looking to get married next week or something but the next guy that I date I'd like it to be an option. I don't wanna go into something knowing neither one of us is really taking the other one seriously. But sometimes I feel like I don't send out the vibes that I'm single and ready to mingle. I think it has a lot to do with the weight I gained.

Let's be frank, I gained a heap of weight. I was fat. I got control of that and lost 20 lbs. I'm still not "skinny" by any means but I can put on a dress and feel good about myself again. I still need to lose some more. I'm not at my goal yet. But the point I'm trying to make is that a lot of attraction and sexiness is internal. I didn't feel good in my own skin and that shows. I used to tell myself I wasn't pretty--or someone else was prettier. But if that was the case it's because I made myself not pretty just by telling myself negative things.

Last night, in my purple dress I felt good. And that's quite an accomplishment for me.

Oh yeah, and word to the wise. When going out drinking, when you know you will inevitably break the seal, DO NOT wear any type of one-piece spanx or supportive undergarments. They are a BITCH to take off in the bar. Especially when your pissing every 20 min.