Yummy

I watched this video today on Le Love, which is one of my most favorite blogs. Definitely check it out if you enjoy cute pictures of love. This video, however, just made me smile. I admire people who have the patience and skill to create art with stop-motion. 

Take the time to watch the whole video. I promise it will brighten your day!

On a separate note, I have been searching and searching for a summer job at the beach. I'm currently in the midst of writing a short story, which is a bit different than some of my other writing. I had hoped to have it done by the end of this week, but I've come down with a terrible case of writers block and don't know how to end the story!! But look for it soon. I feel it's best not to rush a story. I'll find the ending eventually.

Until then, my lovelies, take care and enjoy the beautiful weather!

xo

Awards + Summer Winds

Hello lovelies!! Once again, I apologize for neglecting my blog. But the semester is finally over and I have seemingly limitless time to lounge around, dig my toes in the sand on the beach, and read read read. I just finished up a really fantastic book called "I am Charlotte Simmons" by Thom Wolfe. I have to say, as an older writer, Wolfe completely understands (after extensive research, I presume) the life of a collegiate. If you're looking for a quick 600-page read, I suggest you pick it up.

One of these days, I'm going to put a list up of my favorite books of all time. I believe that reading is the most fruitful pastime one can partake in, as it expands your mind, vocabulary and quickly transports you to another place - cheaper than buying a plane ticket! I'd love to share my favorites with my lovely readers.

I plan on writing a lot more now that I'm on summer vacation. So look out for some more poetry, short stories, etc. And the beach town where I reside for the summer is chock full of antique stores and vintage shops. I can't wait to share my finds with you! Anyone have any plans for the summer time? I'd love to hear.

On a separate note, I've received my first award! This is from the lovely Mila of Loveology. Loveology is one of the first blogs I ever followed and is one I read religiously. Please, check it out! A million thank-yous, Mila!

Rules:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen.

Since I'm a new blogger myself (in fact, May is my 6-month anniversary of the start of this blog! Hooray!) I don't have 15 blogs that I've newly discovered. So I'll just give it to the lovelies I have discovered thus far.

1. Jennifer of Make.Tea.Not.War - we have a shared interest in vintage books, and she makes the most effortlessly beautiful jewelry!

2. Kara of All Things Ordinary - who just put out her first zine! Pick up issue one, which is available via her blog. It is absolutely breathtaking!

3. Kim of  COFFEE OVER CONVERSATION - one of my favorite fashion bloggers. This beautiful girl has such a daring eye for fashion!

4. Sarah of kissing her cage goodbye - the newest blog I've been following. Such gorgeous photographs and adorable quotes. I found a wonderful quote from Rumi via her blog! Beautiful...

5. Lucia of Lucia's Patterns - this girl has such a fun and unique sense of style that I LOVE reading about! The best part is she shares her inspiring outfits with her readers!

6. Angela of Rags and Scribbles - one of the first blogs I ever read. Angela's post are raw and emotional, and she has the most beautiful eye for photography I've ever seen.

7. Micaela of The Drifter and the Gypsy - while she is currently on a personal hiatus, Micaela delivers beautiful passages accompanied by wonderful photographs. She even interviews with the photographers themselves!

8. the tea drinking english rose - I could read this blog for hours! Sprinkles with tea parties, macaroons, yummy sweets and treats and gorgeous china teacups, you are instantly transported to a lovelier place.

9. Michelle K. of Make Polaroids Not War - Michelle shares with us a wonderful collection of fun, vintage photographs. She also lets us take a peek into her world with extensive personal posts. Such a treat!

So there they are! Once again, mucho thanks to Mila for such a lovely award and for giving me the opportunity to showcase my favorite blogs!

Take care, my sweets.

xo

Maria Angela

Water Levels

We were alone. It was night.

Fingers outstretched and grappling.

Mine for yours, and yours for something different.

Your pale skin glowing in the dark.

My own personal moon. But you were twice as cold.

Where were your fingers? Entwined in another’s hair?

Turning the page of your novel, ending my chapter?

All I could tell was that you were elsewhere.

And I was still here.

 

I kept you at arms length.

Opening the window, letting you make your own decision

About staying or leaving.

But the water levels rose, and the waves rolled in.

At first, they soaked our ankles, so we were able to ignore them

But riptides don’t like to be overlooked, so they became more violent.

And now we’re trapped in this current.

 

The salt is making my lungs heavy and burning my eyes.

I’ve gone blind. Yet, my hands are still fluttering beneath the water.

You swim freely. I drown trying to catch up.

We’re swimming in circles.

Around and around, the same waves wash over us again and again.

I slip further beneath the surface.

 

And then, I get a life preserver.

My head breaks the surface and I gasp for air.

I reach for the sun and flip its switch on.

 

The water is draining. The window is open.

You are gone along with the waves.

 

I dry out and am left with salt.

Scooping it from my mouth and eyes, I can finally breathe and see again.

What appears in front of me is calm.

I take a breath and enjoy the sun

Waiting for something new

To break the horizon.

Uncharted

Before I begin this: I just want to apologize for how terribly neglectful I've been to my blog! The semester's coming to a close and I've just been completely bogged down with work. But know that I love you, my lovely followers.

xo Maria Angela

---------------------

She inhaled, and he could almost see the air rushing into her mouth, in between her parted lips that had turned blue from the cold. He couldn't help but notice the way her thin cotton dress clung to her shoulders... her ribcage... her hip bones. And he was aware of how severely he wanted to crush those slender hips into his. Her hair was mated to her head and pale face. She exhaled, her sweet breath escaping from her sapphire lips, that were still parted.

Don't lose sight of what we are. 

He grabbed her hips and pulled them against his. His lips fit like puzzle pieces between hers. Their breath mixed. Hers was sweet with rose water, his was salty with soy. His rough and dirty fingers grapples with her wet cotton dress and fixed themselves in her chestnut hair. A passer-by would not be able to separate their bodies. 

Don't lose sight of what we are.

He wrapped his olive arms around her waist and placed her feather-weight body around him. Her pale white legs encircled him, her hands exploring his body like an unknown land. As one single being, they made their way to the unmade bed with clean white sheets.  Her cotton dress somehow made it to the carpet and was forming a puddle alongside his grey t-shirt. His jeans came off, but his socks stayed on. But he didn't care. Their bodies tangled, the two collapsed onto the bed with a satisfied sign. Like a weary traveler finally returning home after a long journey.

Don't lose sight of what we are.

They paused for a minute. He lifted his head and looked over her, memorizing her body like a map. The drops of rain that were left behind from her discarded cotton dress ran across her skin like miniature rivers. He took in the valleys and mountains of her curves, her now pink and swollen lips that produced the sweetest breath he'd ever tasted.  She was a cave that was so familiar yet so strange at the same time, and he was trembling, waiting to enter. Her breath quickened, and she caressed his shoulders. That was his invitation. He took a step, pressed forward, and basked in the wave of pleasure that overtook him.

Don't lose sight of what we are. 

Don't lose sight of what we are.

Don't lose sight of what we are.

When it was over, her sweet breath was labored. Streaks of dirt crisscrossed her stomach from his fingers and her mouth was dry. He lifted his head once more and looked into her eyes harder than he ever had before. Hers were smiling back. She parted her lips... still pink and swollen and waiting to accept his. He pressed his mouth to hers, and somewhere in their mix of breath whispered "I love you."

We are one.

Weekends with Tara

Thank-you all so much for all the lovely comments you've been leaving about my short stories! It's so wonderfully encouraging to hear people's kind words about my writing. You're all the absolute best!

I had such a great time this past weekend. My beautiful cousin Tara came in for the night on Saturday. We got all dressed up and met a friend downtown at this club called Country Club.

The crowd was a little older, but we had such a fun time. Our friend had a table and we danced all night. Our feet were covered in blisters. It was one of those wonderful nights where you pour yourself into bed around 4:30 am and sleep sleep sleep.

 And I had a Bellini at Country Club that tasted almost as delicious as the ones I drank while in Italy. For anyone who doesn't know, a Bellini is a champagne cocktail that includes raspberry puree, peach puree, and of course champagne! The best one I've ever had was in Harry's Bar in Venice, were the Bellini was actually created. But the one at Country Club was almost as delightful. It even had tiny raspberries floating in the flute! So yummy!

The next morning, Tara and I set out for an adventure around the East Village.

Adorable, aren't we?

We started downtown near Lafayette Street. There was this vintage shop I always wanted to go to  called Screaming Mimi's on Lafayette, but it didn't open until 1 and we got there at 12. So we went searching for some lunch and stumbled across this yummy restaurant called the B. Bar and Grill on E. 4th Street. I had the most delicious portobello mushroom burger with roasted tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil aioli. Tara enjoyed a panini with grilled chicken and a whole bunch of other stuff I can't really remember.

Screaming Mimi's was such a treat! It was a haven for someone like me who loves vintage clothing. It was a little on the expensive side, but they had a huge selection of clothes that were sorted by decade. Tara and I had a lot of fun looking at all the pleather and hot pants from the 80's! If you're into vintage, I highly suggest you check it out.

After Screaming Mimi's, we wandered our way up to Union Square, stopping into stores here and there. Tara bought a black Pashmina to match mine, and we both bought cute high waisted skirts from American Apparel (Tara's in red, mine in mustard.) I also got a fun cropped t-shirt. It reminds me of Flashdance!

We then took the subway up to 66th and walked up to the new(ish) Magnolia Bakery on 70th for...

RED VELVET CUPCAKES!!!

(what else?)

As you can tell, we really enjoyed ourselves! These cupcakes were a little different, though. Every other red velvet cake, or cupcake, I've had has had cream cheese icing. These ones had just regular whipped vanilla! They were still SO yummy though!! Tara said it was probably one of the best red velvet cupcakes she had ever eaten, and I'd have to agree with her.

I was sad to have to put my lovely Tara back on the train to New Jersey because since I started going to school in New York City, I don't get to see her as much. We always have fun on her visits, though. And when I'm home in New Jersey, we always have lunch (or brunch!) and go shopping. She's like my sister and I love her.

Only 4 days until I meet my whole family in Florida for Easter! I can't wait to be in the sun!

How was everyone else's weekend?

xo

Maria Angela.

Expectations

I wake up and for a moment I am seized with panic. Today's the day. You've finally left me, haven't you? And then I realize your arms are still wrapped around my waist. A calm washes over me as I enjoy the weight of your arms through your thin New Order t-shirt that I love to wear to bed. I could be naked and still be warm in your arms.

It's hard to find warm places this time of year at the beach. Winters are always cold and wet. But I tend to like the poetic way the drops of rain splatter across the sand. It's part of the reason why I stay around here. It's not for the company. There are all of 30 people in this tiny 1/4 mile wide town on the Jersey coast during the off-season. But this place seems very romantic to me. And I love the pebbles. Pebbles are different at the beach. 

I check the clock. 6:30 am. Perhaps I should sleep for a little longer, but I can't doze off again. My mind has been racing lately. It's been 2 months since you showed up at the coffee shop, and I'm beginning to wonder how long you'll be around. Not that I mind at all. I kind of enjoy coming home to you all bundled up in front of the fire reading Virgil. It's a change from coming home to emptiness. 

It's odd though, how close we've become in these past months. Yet I know so little about you. Do you have a middle name, or a family? Is the dirt underneath your nails there permanently? Do you always scoop sand into your pockets and empty them onto the carpet when you get home?

The grey is getting lighter through the yellowing lace curtains on our window. I pull your arms around me tighter and turn to face you. The second-hand bed frame squeaks beneath my weight and I hope I don't wake you. You look so peaceful when you sleep. 

I start to imagine that you're dreaming about the first day. That day you strolled into the coffee shop and my heart. I came from the kitchen to see you sitting in a booth near the back. Like you were waiting for me. You were a perfect stranger, and yet I felt like you'd been waiting for me in that patent-red booth forever.

I wiped my hands on my apron and walked over to you. I can't imagine how you knew to look up and watch me walk over. My steps were silent. The whole coffee shop was silent. It was a rainy day in November. Not many people enjoy beach days in late November.

My breathing stopped once I reached your table. You motioned for me to sit. You'd known too. I'd been sitting in that kitchen waiting for you forever. I wiped my hands on my apron again and placed them on the table. You laced your fingers in mine.

"So now what?"

I was speechless. You rubbed my palms with your callused thumbs. Why are your fingers so rough to the touch? And why can't I ever stop myself from grabbing them? My breathing resumed.

"Why the beach in November?"

"I'm an artist. But I recently sold my space in Santa Fe and decided to see the East Coast. I'm a Springsteen fan, so I figured I'd check out what he's always singing about in his songs."

"You're a little north of Atlantic City."

"I won $1,000 there last night. Felt like I should leave before my luck turned."

"You picked the off season. No one's ever around during the off season."

"It's more romantic during the winter."

I took you back to my little crooked house on the beach and made love to you. You told me your name was Oliver. I never officially invited you to stay, but the little belongings you had made their way into the bookshelves and corners of my house. The second time we made love, you painted me with a sheet tangled between my legs. We walk on the beach barefoot and rescue deserted pages of novels and beer bottle caps from the sand. Whenever we find a seagull feather, you take it home, wash it, and then weave it into my hair. We spend our days drifting through space and our nights making love. What is your last name?

And now I'm afraid that you're going to disappear. You're like those tiny fish that swim near the shore. I used to always try to catch them in little jars to take home. But every time I thought I had one, I'd come up with just a jar of salt water. I want to keep you on my mantle like the pieces of sea glass we find. But I'm afraid, my dear, that you might just be like one of those fickle little fish and swim away from me.

Your arms tighten around me, and I know your awake. I can't wait to begin another lazy day with you. But there's something I need to do first. I look you deep in the eyes. My Oliver is still groggy from sleep. You smile the laziest, yet most beautiful smile I've ever seen at me and I know. Just like I knew that first day. 

But before I could pour my soul to you, to tell you how lonely I was before you came and how desperately I need you to never let me leave your arms, you speak.

"I want to stay."

Strength

The sea's only gifts are harsh blows, and occasionally the chance to feel strong.

Now, I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here.

I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong

but to feel strong.

To measure yourself at least once.

To find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions.

Now I don't usually like doing tiny posts like this, but I absolutely adored this quote from "Into the Wild." I watched it over my spring break. It wasn't like I expected at all. 

If any of you love the writings of Thoreau, Tolstoy and London you will love this movie. I need to read the book, too. 

I'm headed back to school today, and I finally found the charger to my digital camera! So no more grainy cell phone photos or pictures I take with Photobooth on my Mac.

Look for a more interesting post soon and have a lovely day.

all photos from here.