…and Blue Sky

I’ve only been Orlando for a week now, and it’s crazy how much has happened in that short span of time! I have so many posts coming up about my travel adventures, I just need a nice chunk of free tie to actually write them!! Until then, here are a few favorites from the past week or so:

1. The way the community has come together after Saturday night’s tragedy. Lines to donate blood stretched on for blocks, so many fundraisers have been organized, there are vivils being held in pretty much every neighborhood (I’m going to one Sunday night), and even billboards popped up along the interstate literally overnight. What happened is unspeakably horrible, but as Mr Rogers said, “look for the helpers”. I’ve seen so much love and desire to help out in any way possible this week.  That’s love.

The #OrlandoEye, lit in #rainbow colors. ???? #OrlandoStrong #Orlanfo

A photo posted by Crystal Ward (@crystalward11) on Jun 15, 2016 at 9:30pm PDT

 

2. If you follow my personal Twitter, you know I have a big ol’ nerd crush on MSNBC’s Chris Hayes. (“Big” is definitely an understatement there.) When I found out he was flying down to Orlando on Monday morning to broadcast live from a location close to Pulse that evening, there was no question that I’d be doing whatever I could to at least go say hi. It’s a good thing I’m determined and stubborn as hell, because making it happen was an endeavor. Every single street was blocked off by police cars, and there were media vans everywhere.

I parked at the ginormous Target since it has a parking garage where I was pretty sure my car would be safe and pulled up walking directions on my phone. I was only about 1/2 mile away from where Chris was going to be filming, but even walking wasn’t possible in a lot of areas due to filming in progress. It took about a mile of walking in 90+ degree FL heat and humidity, drawing upon that ever important skill of walking quickly with purpose and looking like you totally know where you’re going and belong there, but I made it. I didn’t have the best view, but I could actually see him every now and then.

He knew I was there thanks to the wonder and beauty of Twitter, so moments after he finished that night’s show, this happened:

This guy. ???? I think this is his third or fourth time covering unspeakable tragedy in the past year. I don’t know how he does it, not to mention keeping up with the insanity of this election season. Also, he is okay to look at. (I realized that the reason I look so derpy is that I was gazing at the Chris on my phone screen instead of looking at the camera. Good job, me. Way to play it cool.) #inners #orlando #HowDoesHeLookThatDamnGoodInThisHumidity #nerdcrush #news #msnbc @chrislhayes

A photo posted by Crystal Ward (@crystalward11) on Jun 14, 2016 at 8:07am PDT

 

Yes, I know that photo of me could appear next to the term “derp” in a dictionary, but OMG HE IS SO BEAUTIFUL I COULD NOT EVEN. I would have happily chatted with him for the rest of the night about news and politics and his upcoming 2nd book and how he got his eyes to be so freaking blue, but he had another live show to prepare for in just two hours, so after a few minutes of conversation I had to let him go. (I then proceeded to get totally turned around walking back to Target, because my brain had totally stopped functioning.)

Definitely NOT the circumstances under which I would have chosen to finally meet someone I’ve absolutely adored for almost 2 years, but timing is never perfect, and getting to meet him was such a nice break from the overwhelming sadness of that day.

 

3. PUBLIX!

I don’t even want to add up how much I’ve spent at the best grocery store ever since I’ve been back in Florida. That black bean humus was amazeballs. Also addicted to the brownie pudding their deli makes. (I also got the Orlando City soccer shirt I’m wearing in the pic at the top of this post there for $14!)

 

4. The creator of Welcome to Night Vale has a new podcast called Alice Isn’t Dead. I listened to the first 6 episodes on my drive to Florida, and it’s so good! And a lot of the storyline takes place on the road, so it’s perfect for a long drive.

5. Florida rainstorms. It rains almost every day here in the summer, which I’d kind of forgotten. It goes from zero to downpour in like a minute, rains like crazy for about ten minutes, and then stops as abruptly as it started. Then you get that glorious post-rain ozone smell, and everything is just kind of… refreshed. Plus, there’s usually seriously badass lightning involved.

Heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom tomorrow, which I’m pretty excited for since I haven’t been in like 6 years! I miss my gorillas and Festival of the Lion King and everything else!!

Check out some of the other awesome Friday posts in these link-ups!

Happy Friday! We all survived another week! I say we deserve cookies & wine, don’t you?

Here’s what I’m loving this week!

1. Perfect riding weather! It’s been in the 60s and 70s, so I got two good rides in since last Friday. It’s so nice to be able to get out and ride without freezing or sweating! Hoping to ride as much as possible while it lasts!

This is from yesterday morning. I actually made it out of bed at 7:30 am to get in some riding time with a few barn ladies! Gambit and I are on the left.

2. Okay, I know this is a terrible photo, but I have to share my kind of genius invention with you guys.

I found a pair of black petite, boot cut jeans at a thrift shop last month that I decided would make awesome cut-offs. (Ah, the joy of making shorts – no need to worry about the right length or cut!) After hacking off a good chunk from each pants leg, inspiration struck. What you see above is about 12″ from those jeans, folded n half and slipped over the jeans I was wearing to ride in. It makes the PERFECT phone holder while I ride!! I hate riding with my phone in my pockets – back pocket hits up against the seat of the saddle, front pocket isn’t very secure due to how my legs are bent. I tried putting my phone in a little bag attached to my saddle horn, but getting the phone in and out was super awkward.

My super fancy invention is rad because the slightly stretchy denin fits snugly enough around my thigh that I can just slip my phone in and it won’t go anywhere. And it’s just wide enough that about an inch of my phone sticks out the top, so grabbing it when I want to take a fast pic is easy. Plus, it’s a fairly large target to aim at when I’m ready to put my phone back in, which is helpful because it’s a law of nature that as soon as I pay attention to something like trying to put my phone away, my horse will do something dumb, so I like to be able to do so as fast as possible.

I’m a crafty genius, is basically the point I’m trying to make here.

3. I discovered this week that Dollar General has chocolate covered cashews for $2.35/can, and they’re actually good. I don’t want to question why they’re so cheap, I just want to stuff them all in my face.

4. This is so true.

5. Buzzfeed Yellow on Youtube has been doing Body Positivity Week. LOVE this one!

 

Linking up with these other fans of Fridays!

 

Didn’t we just have a Friday the 13th a few months ago? I distinctly remember making a cute little graphic for that week’s Friday Favs!

Before we dive into this week’s list of five, I have a question for you guys! Does anyone remember the Target Tuesdays linkup that was a thing a few years ago on Fabulous But Evil? I noticed that my Friday Favs posts almost always contain recent Target loves, so I was curious if any of you would be interested in starting up a Target Tuesdays linkup again! Let me know if it’s something you’d be into! And speaking of Targs…

1. I stopped in Target for basically no reason after riding yesterday evening. (It was like 74 degrees, I had to get my butt on a horse!) It was one of those days when ALL THE THINGS were on sale and I needed them all. I picked up a spare pair of my beloved “Socktopus” socks that I’ve mentioned here before…

Sorry, Mr. Octopus! I have calves. 

All of the adorable socks from that brand were marked down from $4 to $2, and there’s a deal on Cartwheel for an extra 20% off certain women’s clearance items, so they were $1.58!  (And yes, I totally own the nightshirt that matches these socks. It’s sooo soft and stretchy and comfy!)

2. I also got the leg warmers I’ve had my eye on since winter! I love them but couldn’t bring myself to spend $10 on them. $1.98 with the Cartwheel discount, though? SOLD! I was worried they might be scratchy since they have sequins, but they’re so soft and comfy and warm! I might pick up the black or pink ones, too, now that I know how great they are.

3. I got TWO of these crazy vintage 70s rompers at a thrift store sale earlier this month. (Other one is same print, different colors.) Now I just need the courage to wear them! 😉

4. This Beezie Madden gif:

She’s so awesome, she’s been a badass in showjumping since I was a kid! If you can’t tell, her horse takes off an entire stride too soon here, but she’s just like “Whatevs.”

5. It has FINALLY been warm enough to switch from wintery clothes to dresses!

Yes, I totally took that pic in a Walmart. I was just so excited to not be in layers or barn clothes for once! (Dress is from Stitch Fix. I really need to get around to writing a review of the Fix it came in!)

That’s it for me this week! I have a dentist appointment this afternoon (wheeee), but hopefully the actual weekend will be fun!

Linking up with these rad women!