Alana's New Hobby

Five Senses Friday

2012-02-03T09:54:00.002-05:00

Hearing: The raspy voice of Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of Mumford & Sons. I got hooked on this band after hearing their unplugged set on Palladia.

Tasting: Warm caramel coffee with matching coffee mate... but I can't wait to taste 'tailgating' food & drinks on Superbowl Sunday.

Seeing: Cute little kids skip down the road on their way to the bus stop.

Smelling: Cocoa butter. I slathered on lotion this morning because the cold weather is drying out my skin.

Feeling: Excited to get a new {to me} cell phone. I was hesitant to sign a new contract and get a smart phone, so my friend Charles gave me his old Black Berry to try out about a year ago. It has been a great phone, but recently it's started to crap out. My husband has a Droid which he doesn't need anymore because he acquired a new phone through work, so I'm switching to the Droid this afternoon. I can go month-to-month with this phone, without signing a new 2 year contract, so that's a plus. I am not tech savvy, so wish me luck with learning about the new apps. and stuff.

10 on Tuesday 01/17

2012-01-17T11:06:00.001-05:00

Listening: To snow blowers and shovels clearing the fresh snow.

Eating: Leftover Belgian Waffles. I went to brunch at The Mill on the River with two of my closest friends- Logan & Joia. The food was delicious, and it was so nice to catch up with them (and finally exchange Christmas gifts!)

Drinking: Warm gingerbread coffee.

Wearing: Curled up in a soft knitted blanket that I received from an old friend.

Feeling: Treasured... quite possibly one of the best feelings in the whole world.

Weather: Cold and windy, but it looks pretty outside since we have freshly fallen snow covering everything.

Wanting: A new cell phone. I'm happy with my Blackberry, but I'd love a new Droid or iPhone with more apps, better graphics and faster speeds.

Needing: To lose 10lbs before vacation. I don't think it's going to happen, but wish me luck!

Thinking: Like it's time to re-evaluate my life and only keep the things & people who bring good, and get rid of everything negative.

Enjoying: Prepping dinner for tonight. I'm making a beef roast with sliced carrots, potatoes and diced onions in a red wine braising sauce. It smells delicious in the crock pot so it should taste great!

10 on Tuesday, er... Thursday

2012-01-05T11:00:00.003-05:00

Listening: To the sound of paint rollers on the ceiling underneath me. We've painted the walls, and now Justin is painting the ceiling. Later, we'll be ripping up the floors in preparation for installing the Pergo floors on Saturday.

Eating: Warm cinnamon raisin oatmeal.

Drinking: Donut shop coffee with {sugar free} peppermint mocha coffee mate.

Wearing: Bummy sweat pants and an old hoodie. I don't want anything nice to get ruined when I help Justin paint.

Feeling: Anxious for the house to get put together and finally be done with projects {for a while} so we can relax and enjoy the results of our hardwork.

Weather: Cloudy and about 33 degrees. The forecast is calling for a few scattered flurries, but I'm not seeing any snowflakes just yet.

Wanting: To see my niece and nephew so we can give them their Christmas gifts.

Needing: A vacation.... so we booked a trip to St. Maarten in February! 7 days exploring the island is just what the doctor ordered.

Thinking: 2011 had it's ups and downs. For the most part it was a great, unforgettable year... but it had some heartbreaking moments too. I hope that 2012 is full of love, health, and happiness and many good things for us, family & friends.

Enjoying: Life.

10 on Tuesday

2011-12-27T16:00:00.005-05:00

Listening: To the sink pile up with dirty dishes to be washed. Which makes it a perfect time to post a 10 on Tuesday :)

Eating: My MIL's delicious Christmas cookies for breakfast.

Drinking: Oj.

Wearing: Sweats and my new fuzzy leopard print slippers.

Feeling: Like I should have taken today off from work. There are so many people out of office and I'm super jealous!

Weather: A chilly, windy Winter day.

Wanting: I may be jinxing myself, but I wish a few snowflakes would fall soon.

Needing: Nothing... Justin and I are lucky to have parents who spoiled us for Christmas, so there's not much we need now.

Thinking: Is Christmas really over? And how can there be only 4 more days left in 2011?

Enjoying: Our gorgeous new bedroom set and King size mattress were delivered today. I'm almost positive that I will be getting the best nights sleep tonight!

Our Christmas Card

2011-12-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Fanciful Snowflakes Christmas

Create Christmas cards for the 2011 holiday season.

View the entire collection of cards.

10 on Tuesday- 11/29

2011-11-29T14:15:00.012-05:00

Listening: To Christmas music which always puts me in a holly jolly mood.

Eating: Leftover cold Chinese food.

Drinking: Cranberry juice.

Wearing: Justin's old tee and sweatpants (this will become a trend on these posts, since I work from home on Tuesdays)

Feeling: Anxious to attend holiday parties, especially the one Justin is throwing for his employees at City Steam. I've helped with all of the details, so I know it will be a great time for everyone!

Weather: Unseasonable 60 degree temps. with a warm breeze.

Wanting: The Pergo flooring we ordered from Home Depot to get here so Justin and his Dad can install it.

Needing: To get some Christmas shopping online so I don't have to deal with busy malls.

Thinking: How is it possible that Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas will be here in 26 days?!

Enjoying: The new blue-grey wall color in our living room... now we just need to paint the adjoining dining room to complete the transformation.

10 on Tuesday: 11/8

2011-11-08T13:05:00.004-05:00

It's 1pm and currently I am/I have done the following today:

Listening: To almost dead silence in the house. The cats and dog are napping and Justin is very quiet downstairs.

Eating: Justin and I both surprised each other with lunch, so we have a smorgasbord from Wendy's and BK (thank goodness I have a healthy dinner planned).

Drinking: Golden French Toast K-Cup.

Wearing: Jeans, a soft sweatshirt from J. Crew and my new moccasin slippers.

Feeling: Very tired, like I might be battling a cold.

Weather: A perfect warm & sunny Fall day.

Wanting: New perfume, but I can't decide on a new scent.

Needing: A tree service to take care of the dangerously huge branches that are dangling from tall trees in our backyard.

Thinking: That Open Enrollment (OE) season at work has just begun... and I'm already wishing it was over. Lots of work on my plate and it's stressing me out.

Enjoying: Looking forward to enjoying a low key evening full of DVR, snuggling and apple cider donuts & hot cider for dessert.

10 on Tuesday: Currently...

2011-10-25T20:35:00.007-04:00

I saw this idea on Pinterest and loved it so much that I've decided to start using this 'template' of ideas for my 10 on Tuesday.
It's 8:30 pm and currently I am/I have done the following today:

Listening: Bailey is chewing on a new bone, she is such an aggressive chewer!

Eating: BLT's for dinner made with thick, smoky bacon from a local farm. They were delicious.

Drinking: Hot apple cider. Gotta love the convenience of flavorful K-Cups!

Wearing: Navy blue yoga pants, a warm hoodie and my cozy slippies.

Feeling: Bummed that I have to work in office tomorrow. I wish it was a work from home day.

Weather: Cold and windy. The temps are supposed to drop to 42 degrees tonight, and continue to drop as the week goes on.

Wanting: A personal assistant, have I mentioned this before?

Needing: A haircut, but I'm trying to grow my hair so I'll wait a couple more weeks.

Thinking: Is Juice dead? (on Sons of Anarchy). The suspense is killing me!

Enjoying: A marathon of Criminal Minds re-runs. This show is addicting!

San Gennaro/NYC

2011-10-19T07:00:00.004-04:00

Justin and I have always wanted to go to NYC during the Feast of San Gennaro Italian Festival in Little Italy, so we decided to book an overnight trip and go this year. When Justin mentioned this to his parents, they were really interested in going too- so they booked a room at the same hotel and planned to join us. We stayed at an ultra modern, very hip hotel.

After checking in, we strolled to Times Square and did some sightseeing since his parents haven't been to New York in 20 years. We got our picture on a huge billboard.
Can you find us?

Here we are!

Then we hopped a cab to Little Italy. When we arrived it was AMAZING! There were street vendors lined up for over 4 blocks serving every type of Italian food that you could imagine. We tried delicious meatballs, canollis, sausage & peppers, zeppoles, lobster tail pastry, homemade wine/sangria, and gelato. Everything was out of this world. We even listed to an Italian musician sing beautiful songs.

I took lots of pictures of the Festival but they were accidentally erased, so I cant share them on my Blog. Hopefully we go again next year so I can take more pictures.

Simply us.

2011-09-09T07:00:00.015-04:00

   After celebrating our anniversary in May, we realized that the only 'nice' pictures of us were from our wedding- 5 years ago. A lot has changed over the past 5 years. We have changed. So we (more Me, not Justin) were beyond thrilled to book a ‘Love Session’ courtesy of one of our best friends, Crista.  On a hot summer night, we picked a date while sipping on some Summer beers in The Tent. Crista suggested to do the shoot at the beautiful Wickham Park and we loved her idea.
   I was super nervous before the shoot because I didn't want to look silly in front of the camera, but on the day of the shoot Crista made us feel comfortable. This took the edge off and allowed us to be 'us'.
   A few days after our session, I anxiously checked her Blog multiple times a day waiting for our session to be posted. While driving into the office on Thursday, I saw our smiling faces on the tiny screen of my Blackberry. I immediately started crying happy tears and couldn't wait to see them on a larger laptop screen. I rushed to my desk, and immediately went to her Blog. I was blown away!!! Her post about us was so sweet and touching, and she captured the real Justin and I beautifully.
   Crista, if you read this, I can't thank you enough for taking these pictures of us. You've been such a great friend to me for the past 8 years (and close friend to Justin for even longer). You are such a kind, creative person and talented photographer. I am looking forward to having you snap pictures when we welcome a baby into the world, and continue taking pictures of/with us when we're old and grey and still sipping Summer beers in The Tent with our forever friends, The A's. We owe you a lot more than a night of babysitting. Thanks again :)
Click on this link to access Crista Acosta Photography's Blog to see a sneak peek at our new pics. I pasted some extras that were not blogged below. I love them all!

10 on Tuesday- Past 2 months

2011-08-30T20:30:00.005-04:00

Here are ten things that have occurred in the past two months (since the last time I posted), listed from most recent to oldest. I promise I'll devote more time to this Blog from this point on. So check back for more postings soon :)

1) Survived Hurricane Irene with a soggy basement, tons of branches and debris in the yard, and no power for 2 days. Our town got hit hard, and there were fallen trees and down power lines everywhere. Thankfully we only had minor damage & a few inconveniences. There are many towns/people who still do not have power, so my heart goes out to them. Hopefully their power is restored soon!

2) Spent my 29th birthday in NYC with Justin. Had an amazing time, with gorgeous sunny weather! We ate a fancy dinner at Adour, rode a double decker bus through the City, took a horse drawn carriage ride through Central Park, enjoyed dinner in Little Italy, and did lots and lots of sightseeing. Also stopped at Crumbs Bakery on the way home and picked up some sweet treats.

3) Enjoyed a great dinner and drinks with 2 girlfriends from high school that I haven't seen in 10+ years. I hope we keep in touch and get together again soon. (next time Lisa makes the trip from TX to CT, and hopefully Justin and I will enjoy dinner at Tracey's so that we can meet her newborn son and husband)

4)I got surprised with concert tickets to see my favorite band, Foo Fighters, perform in MA! The concert is in November so I am counting the days!

5)Watched the entire Weeds series. Once that finished I've become hooked on Lost!

6)Had a fun breakfast/shopping date with one of my oldest friends, Shana and her absolutely adorable daughter. Even though we hadn't seen each other in 6+ months, it felt like no time has passed.

7)Explored downtown New Haven with 2 of my dearest girlfriends from college. We ate lunch at Delaney's and then strolled through downtown shops. I can't wait to visit again.

8)Dined on LOTS of delicious food! Finally enjoyed a Coney dog and Cherry Limeade from Sonic. It was tasty! Also went strawberry picking and had a gigantic Clam Bake.

9)Celebrated many holidays including Memorial Day, Father's Day, Mom's birthday, Niece and Nephew's birthdays, Cousin's college graduation and Fourth of July. Seeing family and friends for these special events warmed my heart.

10) I am now part of a new region at work. Instead of being on the North Central Team, I am now a member of the West/South West Region, under National Accounts. I still get to work PT in office/PT home, but I have a new Manager, Supervisor and peers- who all live in CA. I have never worked with so many people remotely, but I am hoping for an easy transition and I'm looking forward to the new possibilities.

Sorry!

2011-06-23T06:23:00.002-04:00

I'm so sorry that I have been slacking with updating my Blog. In the next few days I'll post about our anniversary vacation to South Carolina, fun times with friends, new recipes that I've tries and probably a few other occasions that I am forgetting. Check back soon for some good reads.

Vacation Recap

2011-06-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm back y'all! Our vacation & 5 year anniversary were completely amazing. (Despite the 14 hr airport nightmare on day 1) I mean, hello, it's sunny South Carolina. We spent 5 nights in a spacious Villa on the beautiful Kiawah Island Golf Resort, and spent our last night in downtown Charleston. We had beautiful weather with temperatures between 75-90 degrees, a minute walk to the beach and were surrounded by gorgeous palm trees. We also upgraded our rental car to a 2012 Chevy Camaro. Cruising around the island with the top down was lots of fun! Here are some pictures from our vacation, enjoy!

Five Senses Friday

2011-05-06T07:15:00.005-04:00

Hearing: The wonderful news that Osama Bin Laden is dead! I’m so proud to be an American and have the utmost gratitude to the men and women serving & protecting our country. Let's pray that Bin Laden’s death brings more peace and less terror around the world.

Tasting: Celestial Seasonings Sweet Peach Perfect Iced Tea K-Cup. Peach iced tea is my favorite. These K-Cups have a nice, noticeable peach taste, without being too sweet, or bitter. They’re quite refreshing and will be perfect to sip during hot Summer days. I’ve run out of coffee so I hope this will jump start me this morning.

Seeing: Hilarious old photographs from the Summers I spent at my cottage in Westbrook, CT. I probably spent every weekend April – September, for about 8 years there. I had some of the best friends and craziest times there. Thanks to Facebook many of us have reconnected, and have even gotten together to catch up.

Smelling: A cute pup that needs a bath.

Feeling: Happy. The weather is beautiful. I’m taking a half day to have lunch and go shopping with my Mom at Westfarms. And then Justin and I are trying somewhere new for dinner. We’re going to a local tavern (nothing fancy) that supposedly has some of the best wings around. Let’s hope they don’t disappoint.

Weekend Recap.

2011-05-03T07:30:00.003-04:00

This past weekend was a very busy one full of yard work, errands, birthday parties and hanging out with friends. The weather was gorgeous the entire weekend! On Friday night I ran lots of errands after work. Since I was wiped out, we ordered a smorgasbord of Chinese food for dinner- it was yummy. On Saturday we woke up early and went to Home Depot. We bought a new weed whacker, lawnmower, 7 bags of mulch and solar lights to line our front walkway. Justin did a great job putting down the new mulch with some assistance from Bailey. The new weed whacker and lawnmower also made the yard look tidy and neat. Later Saturday night we babysat for our good friends so that they could enjoy a quiet dinner date. We had lots of fun playing, reading and dancing with the kids. Early Sunday morning we went grocery shopping and restocked our frig. and pantry. We planned delicious dinners for the week including baked cod, grilled steaks with corn on the cob, grilled hot dogs with baked beans, home-made shrimp scampi, and grilled chicken Caesar salads. We also celebrated our 'nephew's' 2nd birthday with pizza & cupcakes. He is getting big so fast, and got spoiled by his family and friends. After the party we stayed to enjoy some beers/wine and Yahtzee. This was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend.
We got the birthday boy the cool worm 'bike', a Toy Story playhouse, and some dinosaur digging toys.

Five Senses Friday/ Happy Easter

2011-04-24T09:35:00.013-04:00

Hearing: 3 days of rain has paused for a bit. I’m enjoying the silence… until the next batch of rain moves in.

Tasting: Spicy wings and cold Summer beers & a black cherry mojito at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Seeing: Our front yard get treated with an organic, pet friendly fertilizer. Hopefully this helps make our grass grow greener and thicker.

Smelling: The house smells great after I baked Easter bunny shaped frosted sugar cookies and Lemon curd cheesecake bars. I can’t wait to eat some for dessert later today.

Feeling: Warm and toasty inside the tanning bed. In 3 weeks I’ll be showing more skin in sundresses and a bathing suit, so I decided to prep and get my skin bronzed before vacation.

Happy Easter, everyone!~

Five Senses Friday

2011-04-16T14:00:00.002-04:00

Hearing: Sounds of Spring: birds chirping, squirrels rustling through the leaves, the icecream truck singing, and kids playing outside.

Tasting: Cake Mix Rice Crispy Treats.

Seeing: The Yankees! Justin purchased 2 amazing tickets, a few rows behind 1st base. We drove to Fairfield and then took the train into the Bronx. Once we got there, we were able to eat at Legends and also got to meet and have our picture taken with David Cone. During the game we had a server who brought us anything we wanted off the menu. We ordered yummy churros & chocolate sauce, hot dog, mini corn dogs, ranch onion rings and lots of hot chocolate to keep us warm since it was windy and cold. It was such a fun date night! I can't wait to go back to the new stadium this Summer.

Justin, Me and David Cone

Me and Justin in front of our great seats!

Smelling: Dinner cooking on the grill. The weather has been nice so we've enjoyed steak, chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner.

Feeling: Anxious for vacation to start. Only 4 weeks to go until we take off to SC!

April Fools

2011-04-01T18:00:00.003-04:00

Mother Nature decided to play a trick of her own and gave us snow (instead of warm Spring weather) on April Fools Day. Hopefully she doesn't fool us again, and sunny skies and warmer temps will be here to stay soon.

Our deck furniture dusted with snow

Bailey's paw prints in the new snow

Five Senses Friday

2011-03-25T07:00:00.007-04:00

Hearing: Paul Oakenfold - Other Side. I am addicted to this song, can’t hear it enough! Here is a link to listen to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZJNscWtnKc

Tasting: My last Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie… until we meet again next year.

Seeing: The best Office proposal, better then Jim & Pam! Congrats Michael & Holly. The Office won’t be the same without Steve Carell, but I can’t wait for Will to take over in April.

Smelling: Skinny Taste Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken simmering in the kitchen. If it tastes half as good as it smells we’re in for a treat tonight!

Feeling: Wiped out. This has been a busy, busy week, so I haven't gotten much done around the house. I hope to catch up on housework (and RELAXING) this weekend.

Countdown 'til vacation time!

2011-03-19T17:00:00.007-04:00

Vacation has been booked, YIPPEE! In about 2 months we will leave for a much needed vacation to Kiawah Island/Charleston, SC. This has been a long, harsh Winter and Justin and I are in major need of a tranquil vacation at this point. We aren't sure if we will be driving or flying. We did the road trip together about 7 years ago. It was a long drive (about 14-16 hours) but taking our car will allow us to pack more stuff and save some money. But flying & renting a car would save us {a lot of} time, so we shall see. However we choose to get there, once we arrive we’ll be staying at a beautiful condo on the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, about a minute walk to the beach. Our unit has a screened in porch and views of the beautifully landscaped Resort, and maybe we'll see some alligators & crocodiles. We’re planning to rent bikes, and also do some sort of excursion while we are there. This trip should be full of relaxing on the warm sandy beaches, fun times exploring the gorgeous island of Kiawah & historic downtown Charleston, and a terrific way to spend our anniversary! We’ll also visit his Grandmother and Uncle, Aunt, and Cousins while we’re there, which will be really nice. I can't wait for Summer to get here, but this vacation will be a nice escape!
Here are 2 pictures from the website. The 1st is the living room and screened porch.

This 2nd picture is the walkway to the beach... I can't wait! I feel like this pictures screams "Welcome Alana & Justin"!

Five Senses Friday

2011-03-11T07:00:00.014-05:00

Hearing: I’m in the mood for silence, particularly my own.

Tasting: Samoas (and waiting for my box of Thin Mints). Girl Scout cookies are only out once a year, so I have to support the girls and… give in to my craving ;)

Seeing: Grass! Our front and back yard have been blanketed by snow for months, but all of this rain has melted most of the snow, and now I can finally see the grass again!

Smelling: The citrusy scent of {an almost completely} clean house.

Feeling: Huge raindrops and big gusts of blustery wind hit my face when I venture out to run errands. I’ll take the rain now; since tomorrow’s forecast is a comfortable 50 degrees- Perfect for the St. Patty’s Day parade downtown!

Five Senses Friday

2011-03-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hearing: Bird happily chirping outside my window instead of obnoxious, loud snow blowers and plow trucks.

Tasting: A delicious dinner at Casa Mia, in Hartford’s Little Italy.

Seeing: Seasonal 12 packs of beers that signal the beginning of Spring.

Smelling: Sweet blueberry pancakes drizzled with cinnamon maple syrup for breakfast.

Feeling: Bailey’s soft, yellow fur and Shadow & Buddy’s silky black fur. They’ve been real cuddle bugs this week, and I love it.

Hockey Fest

2011-02-23T06:45:00.000-05:00

This weekend I attended the 2011 Whalers Hockey Fest. The event took place outdoors at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. This was part of a 2 week long hockey extravaganza. Justin and I, and his brother and wife got to Rentschler Field at 1pm and tailgated outside for a little while. We had a small propane powered space heater, but even with that, it was still extremely cold. We tried setting up our tent with side tarps, but it was too windy to set up. Despite wearing multiple layers and having heat packs inside our gloves and boots, we did some of the tailgating inside our car (with the heat blasting) before braving the cold to watch the Army vs. AIC game at 1pm, Whalers vs. Boston Bruins legends/Alumni game at 4 pm; and then the CT Whale face off against the Providence Bruins at 7pm.

The weather was freezing! At 5:30pm, the forecasted temp. was 28 degrees with a wind-chill factor of 21. When the Whale-Bruins game started shortly after 7 p.m., the temperature had dropped to 24 and by the middle of the second period, it had dropped to 19 degrees with a wind-chill of 7, which slowly dropped to a wind-chill of below zero. We stayed until the end of the second period because the brutal wind was unbearable. Unfortunately, the CT Whale lost to the Providence Bruins, who had a 5-4 shootout victory after we left.

Despite the cold, windy weather, I'm glad I went! It was an awesome experience! If it's on next year, we’ll be there... unless the weather is insanely cold again, then I might have to rethink it ;)

Recipe for a perfect Valentine's Day

2011-02-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Love Day!

Super Bowl Sunday

2011-02-07T09:15:00.003-05:00

This year we watched the Super Bowl with the A's at their house. They invited us and some of their close friends & families. There were 8 adults and 5 kids, which made for a very loud, high energy, but fun night. There was a huge spread of food including a veggie platter, cold dips & guacamole, cheese & crackers, chili dip, spinach artichoke dip, pigs in a blanket, bread bowl dip, potato skins and awesome wings from J. Timothy's. Along with all this food, there was an almost equal amount of beers consumed by the adults. Even though we're still in the freezing cold Winter months, I picked up Leinie's Spring variety pack. The beers were awesome! I think I'll go back to darker beers for now, but I will revisit this variety pack once the temperature warms up this Spring. I didn't care who won the Super Bowl, I was rooting for good commercials. I loved VW's mini Darth Vader, a Doritos commercial, and a couple of Bud Light commercials made me laugh. I had a great time watching a great game with great friends. I already can't wait for next years game... I hope the Colts make it & win!

The 1st bunch of food... next came the potato skins, wings and hot dips, but I was having too much fun to stop and take a picture.

Five Senses Friday

2011-01-22T10:45:00.014-05:00

Hearing: Brass Bonanza, fans cheering, the referees blowing their whistles, the Zamboni clearing the ice, and the players getting checked into the glass. We went to the CT Whale hockey game on Friday night. I got to wear my new team shirt, and Justin wore his new Whale hoodie he got for his birthday. The Whale lost the game, but it was still a fun night out. (photo courtesy of CTWhale)

Tasting: Hot Chocolate made in the Keurig. The warm, chocolatey goodness has been perfect for the cold, snowy nights this week, especially when it’s topped with whipped cream.

Seeing: Snow, snow, and more snow!

Smelling: As soon as I opened the bag, the unmistakable smell of breakfast from McDonalds filled the living room. I usually have cereal with fruit, oatmeal with nuts & raisins, or an English muffin with jelly… but this week I was ‘bad’ and treated myself to a bacon, egg & cheese McGriddle, hash brown and McCafe Mocha. It was definitely worth the bazillion calories.

Feeling: Ready for Winter to be over! I’m sick of the cold weather and over 2’ of snow on the ground… with more expected to fall on Tuesday night. Winter PLEASE end soon! I will never complain about the hot weather this Summer.

Roadtrip

2011-01-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, Justin, Me and my best friend Melissa packed the car started our road trip to New York. We drove a few hours to the Lower East Side/NYC to spend the night and see The Adam Ezra Group at the Mercury Lounge. We stayed at the hip, swanky Hotel on Rivington. We explored the cool neighborhood after checking in. There were lots of bars, restaurants, outdoor merchants, and amazing architecture. We enjoyed a casual dinner at One and One. Then we freshened up and had preshow drinks at Nice Guy Eddies. We walked across the street to the Mercury Lounge to see AEG, with opening performer Taylor Carson. The show was short, but they really rocked out! Then we had drinks at 200 Orchard with the band and other awesome fans. Melissa and I enjoyed breakfast at an intimate cafe the next morning, while Justin rested up for the drive home. It was a great trip, and I'd love to do it again when the weather is warmer!

Melissa and I in front of a cool mural

Adam Ezra Group, with Taylor Carson and other guests on stage

Me and Justin at 200 Orchard

Uh Oh! Justin is the big 3-0!

2011-01-10T10:15:00.012-05:00

For months I have been secretly planning a surprise 30th birthday party for my husband. If you know me, you know I am a big-time planner, and I especially love planning parties. So this was fun (but still a little stressful for me). I chose a private room at City Steam Brewery Café, a downtown hotspot. The ‘Pool Room’ had pool tables, foosball tables, basketball, 4 flat screen TVs (a MUST since the Colts were playing) and our own semi-private bar/bartender. I ordered a spread of heavy apps and deluxe cheese and cracker station. I also ordered a red velvet cake decorated with his favorite sports logos, and dessert platter. All the food and sweets tasted amazing! I invited our closest friends and family, and was pleased that about 26 people came out to share in the celebration and surprise Justin!

Surprise!!!

The party was a success! Justin was surprised! After the party, he told me that he had a clue that something might be going on, but he didn’t know when, what or with who. He said this was the best party he’s ever had, everything was perfect, and he was so thankful for all of my hard work planning it! Hearing this meant a lot to me.

Opening a scrapbook from his parents. So many adorable baby pictures of Justin and his brothers

Happy Birthday to my friend, my love, my husband. You are more than amazing to me. I am thankful that I am able to celebrate another birthday with you, and hope for many, many more!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T20:15:00.001-05:00

2010 was a wonderful year, and now it’s time to look ahead to a new year full of promise and possibilities. I’m ready to see all of the great things coming our way and all of the amazing memories that 2011 will bring.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy New Year!

Five Senses Friday

2010-12-31T10:31:00.005-05:00

Hearing: Great new music online. I was introduced to Pandora Radio, and I’m loving my customized station. I also love the energetic music being streamed on this soulful House Station. And I’m downloading some new music on iTunes, thanks to a $50 gift card that Santa put in my stocking.

Tasting: Sushi! I had been craving it for weeks, so Justin and I picked up 3 types of rolls and Shrimp Shumai from Hana Sushi. All were delicious especially the Phoenix & Yankee rolls pictured below!

Seeing: Bailey and Dad playing in the foot of snow we got last weekend. The cold weather and blustery winds didn't stop them from enjoying the snow.

Smelling: The strong scent of nail polish, acetone and acrylic while getting a manicure at the nail studio. My nails look fabulous. I love the OPI nail color I chose, “Have you red the script?”. It’s a beautiful mix of a deep cherry red and hot pink. (Thanks to Justin for the gift card)

Feeling: Nostalgic while thinking about all of the great things that happened in 2010, and dumbfounded that this year will be over soon, and we’ll be ringing in 2011 at midnight! Where did the year go?!

Five Senses Friday

2010-12-17T02:00:00.003-05:00

Hearing: The vacuum cleaner running and Windex, Pledge & Febreeze being sprayed. We'll be going away for the weekend and my cousin will be staying here to house/dog/cat sit, so we are working hard to thoroughly clean the house, esp. since Justin and I have both been sick.

Tasting: Dayquil & Nyquil. I’m finally starting to feel better, so hopefully this is the last day I have to take cold medicine.

Seeing: Way too much of the inside of my house. I’ve been sick for the past 4 days and have barely left the house. I’m starting to go stir crazy!

Smelling: Onion Ricotta tartlets, and a variety of festive cookies baking in the oven for the holiday party tomorrow. Hopefully they make it until then ;)

Feeling: Ready to start this whirlwind weekend full of baking, holiday parties and a weekend getaway to NYC with Justin (as long as this huge snowstorm doesn’t hit!) I can’t wait to see good friends at the holiday party, and then see all of the fun holiday window displays in Times Square!

Run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!

2010-12-14T07:00:00.003-05:00

While looking through countless holiday recipes online, I realized that I've never made gingerbread cookies (from scratch), even though I have always wanted to make homemade gingerbread man/woman cookies. Perhaps this is my year... How funny are these cookie cutters?

Five Senses Friday

2010-12-10T07:00:00.037-05:00

Hearing: {LOTS of} Christmas music and classic lines from Christmas movies. I can't get enough Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bells & Silent Night. And watching Home Alone, The Grinch, Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story & A Charlie Brown Christmas ALWAYS puts a smile on my face and put me in the Holiday Spirit!

Tasting: A gingerbread coffee and gingerbread muffin from Dunkin Donuts.

Seeing: My Winter wardrobe come out of hibernation, while fluffy snowflakes are falling outside my bedroom window.

Smelling: The unmistakable scent of ‘real’ pine. We cut down our 1st real Christmas tree at Dzen Tree Farm last weekend and it smells amazing!

Feeling: The crispness of clean sheets on our bed.

Out with the old, in with the new

2010-11-29T20:00:00.002-05:00

A few months ago Justin and I started discussing buying a new car or SUV for me, since he knew he would be getting a brand new company car (a beaming white Chevy Malibu). We have owned my Altima for about 4 years and haven't had to put any money into it (besides oil changes, etc...). The breaks were starting to go, and I also needed new tires, so instead of putting any money into my car, we decided we were going to get a new car. We looked at LOTS of mid size cars, larger sedans, trucks and SUV's. Since we don't have kids yet, we decided to go with a car for now, and revisit the idea of a larger vehicle in a few years. After weeks of researching and test driving, we decided on a new Nissan Altima. This will be my 3rd Altima. So far I've been driving the car for about 3 weeks and I love the smooth ride, Bose speakers, sunroof and sparkly red color! Hopefully this Altima runs as effortlessly as the others.

Bye Bye old car....

...Hello shiny new car!

First snow

2010-11-08T07:30:00.004-05:00

Winter wasted no time getting here this year, and our first snowflakes of the season fell over night. It was great waking up and seeing the yard blanketed by the pretty white snow, especially since I'm working from home and can enjoy it from inside my warm office.

I love seeing the evergreen tree tops adorned with bright, white snow

My mums and pumpkins probably wont last much longer, I forget to protect them from the cold weather/frost

Five Senses Friday

2010-11-05T11:15:00.025-04:00

Hearing: All sorts of annoying, loud noises coming from the first floor. Justin has today off, so he's cooking lunch and watching a movie on the couch. All I hear is the clanking of dishes/pans while he cooks and the loud booms in the movie. (And yes, I'm just jealous that I'm working from home, while he is off)

Tasting: Raisin Bran, sliced banana, and pumpkin spice coffee for breakfast. It's so good, that Bailey wanted a sip too!

Seeing: Rain, rain, and more rain out of my office window. Hopefully the weather brightens for the weekend.

Smelling: New Yankee Candle large jar candles that I ordered from a co-workers child's fundraiser. Sparkling Angel, Christmas at the Beach, and Cinnamon & Sugar all smell amazing. Now I have to decide which scent to keep and which ones to give as Christmas gifts.

Feeling: Mixed feelings... I've very excited to be picking up my new car tonight, but also sad to be getting rid of my old car. I'm sure the 'sadness' will subside after I drive out of the dealership in my new Altima, but right now I don't want to say goodbye to my trusty, old Altima.

Five Senses Friday

2010-10-23T10:30:00.019-04:00

I've been slacking with my Blogging lately because work is crazy busy due to the Open Enrollment period! I barely have time to breath, so forget about having time to Blog. I'll try to post more frequently, so check back soon.

Hearing: The rustling leaves and crisp, Fall breeze.

Tasting: A delicious dinner at Carbones. Our bottle of Chardonnay was flowing. The table side Caesar salad was delicious, both of our meals were perfect, my Italian coffee and Justin's Sambuca were cleansing, and the Bocce Ball flambe dessert was extremely satisfying. This was one of our best dining experiences, ever! (My dinner was the Tenderloin Steak San Dominico- Sautéed tenderloin filet topped with spinach, provolone & Italian sharp cheese in a bacon, roasted mushroom brandy laced veal demi glace cream sauce. And Justin ordered a special- Veal and Scallops in a creamy sauce with roasted mushrooms & mashed potatoes.)

Seeing: Our front and back yard are blanketed by the yellow, red & bright orange leaves. Raking them all up is not going to be fun!

Smelling: A pumpkin chocolate chip bundt cake baking downstairs.

Feeling: Motivated to get as many things checked off of my 'to do' list as possible. Also feeling excited to hang out and enjoy one last BBQ of the season with The A's tonight, and celebrate Andy's birthday at the Casino tomorrow. Cross your fingers that my $20 slot allowance brings me luck, and I win big on the slots!

Five Senses Friday

2010-10-15T20:25:00.002-04:00

Hearing: The faint sounds of the Manchester High School marching band. There must be a football game tonight.

Tasting: Orange Beef, Crab Rangoon and Wonton Soup. Our Chinese take-out dinner was delish!

Seeing: Summer clothes still hanging in my closet. I'll need to pack my shorts, tank tops and sundresses away... and bring out my plush sweaters and oversized hoodies. This weekend's forecast shows chilly temps!

Smelling: That unmistakeable new magazine smell. I have new issues of Cosmo, Allure, First, Rachel Ray & Glamour that I need to flip through this weekend.

Feeling: My soft, fuzzy Wicked Good Moccasins from LL Bean warming up my cold toes. These are the best.slippers.ever!

Five Senses Friday

2010-10-08T11:30:00.015-04:00

Hearing: The unique, brilliant sound of Adam Ezra Group rocking out at The Iron Horse Music Hall, in North Hampton, MA tonight with Justin and my best friend Melissa.

Tasting: Leftover buffalo chicken wrap and potato chips for lunch. Not the healthiest choice, but it's very yummy!

Seeing: My email inbox filling up quickly. Busy season at work has officially begun!

Smelling: My new perfume, DKNY Delicious Candy Apple Juicy Berry. I love everything about it; from it's cute packaging, to the enticing, sweet candy scent.

Feeling: Ready to start this busy {fun} weekend!! Concert tonight, Octoberfest tomorrow afternoon, Hartford Wolfpack hockey game tomorrrow night and dreaded yard work & raking leaves on Sunday. I'm going to be a tired, sore girl on Monday!

Clam Bake

2010-10-04T08:00:00.005-04:00

Justin & I and our good friends Charles & Crista talked about having a good, old fashioned Clam Bake since early June. The hot Summer months passed and we never had this dinner... A few weeks ago, on a gorgeous late Summer afternoon, we finally planned our Clam Bake. We bought lobsters, shrimp, little neck clams, steamers, mussels, chorizo, corn on the cob and red bliss potatoes. We layered all of these ingredients in a large pot, along with a bottle of white wine for moisture and flavor. The boiled dinner was amazing! We also had yummy baked ziti (since Crista doesn't like seafood). Even though we ate LOTS of the tasty seafood smorgasbord we saved room for dessert- delicious pastries from Highland Park Market. This was such great dinner and I hope we do it again (maybe a few times) next Summer!

Five Senses Friday

2010-10-01T07:05:00.019-04:00

Hearing: The rain pounding outside my home office window on this wet, windy morning.

Tasting: A spicy, warm Chai Latte, courtesy of my Keurig. And syrupy blueberry waffles, courtesy of my handsome hubby.

Seeing: The animals staring out the windows, fascinated by the raindrops & the leaves that are dancing around the yard after being blown off the trees by the strong wind.

Smelling: Nothing. My allergies have been acting up so my nose is stuffy.

Feeling: Ambitious and happy! I plan to get lots of items crossed off of my 'to do' list this weekend- including errands, deep cleaning and decorating for Halloween. I get very excited this time of year because Halloween is my favorite holiday. How can you not love kids in adorable/scary/silly costumes, yelling "triiiiick or treeeeeat"?! Hopefully we do something fun this year, so I can dress up too.

Five Senses Friday

2010-09-24T21:15:00.003-04:00

Hearing: Familiar Alternative Rock songs from the 90's that I've downloaded on i-tunes. Hearing Good by Better Than Ezra, Shimmer by Fuel, Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms, Mother by Danzig, Counting Blue Cars by Dishwalla- takes me back to my oversized flannel shirt, Airwalk sneaker, Ripped faded jeans days....

Tasting: Juicy steak flavored by a soy sauce, ginger and garlic marinade, hot off the grill.

Seeing: My hair getting a little longer, week to week. Hopefully I can resist the urge to chop it all off, and finally have long{er} hair

Smelling: The last few drops of my favorite Coconut Body Butter from The Body Shop. Now I need to quickly find a new Autumn-y scent to keep my skin moisturized this season.

Feeling: Eager to take a ride near the shore to go outlet shopping and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on a sunny Saturday.

Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold

2010-09-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

Last Friday I headed to West Hartford Center to meet up with my childhood friend Shana who now lives in Canada. We decided to meet at Cosi to catch up over a late breakfast and coffee. I was expecting some uncomfortable, akward silences- since Shana and I haven’t seen each other in over 10 years… but there was none of that. We greeted each other with a warm hug, I met her adorable daughter, and we began catching up immediately. After Cosi, we chatted and laughed while strolling the streets and shopping in WHC all morning. It truly felt like old times when we would hang out as teenagers at our cottages all summer long. As Shana said in her Blog, “ I guess that is a true mark of real friendship - that you can go years, decades without speaking and when you do reconnect, it is like that time didn't pass.” I couldn’t had said it better myself! We had such a great time re-connecting and I hope that Shana and her family visit CT again this holiday season (or sometime real soon) so we can spend more time catching up -and meet each other’s husbands too.
Shana, her daughter Arabella, and Me in Plimpton's- since we forgot to ask someone to take our picture outside

And just for fun, here is Shana and I over 10 years ago, being silly during a sleep over at her house

Five Senses Friday

2010-09-10T07:00:00.031-04:00

Hearing: “Are you ready for some football” and the crowd roaring on the bigscreen as football season begins! (Can’t wait for the Uconn football homecoming game on Saturday!)

Tasting: The sweet flavors of Fall. Both the Pumpkin iced coffee & warm Apple Cider from Dunkin Donuts are delicious.

Seeing: Looking out from my deck and seeing the leaves begin to change from bright green to burnt orange, muted yellow and vibrant red.

Smelling: Apple cinnamon. Since it’s almost Fall, I feel like it’s ok to finally use this pretty potpourri burner I received from my parents this Spring.

Feeling: Nostalgic after getting together with one of my oldest friends, Shana and meeting her adorable daughter! Miss them already! (Read my new post to hear about our day)

Lost Generation

2010-09-01T19:18:00.001-04:00

I just watched this video posted on the Gordon Gossip Blog. It is simply awesome, and really gets you thinking. Check it out

Wish List Wednesdays- Beauty 911

2010-08-25T16:00:00.000-04:00

Late nights and Early mornings + Daily stress at my 9-5 + Never ending housework + A not always healthy diet = Dark circles & a less than perfect complexion

For this week's Wish List Wednesdays I'd love to learn some beauty tips and tricks. Anyone care to share your best beauty secrets and favorite products? The ones I am currently using aren't working! I'd love to try some new products and begin a fresh, new beauty routine.

The Cat In The Hat

2010-08-13T07:00:00.001-04:00

Buddy is growing so fast, but he still loves smooshing himself into tight spaces. He loves napping in shoe boxes, playing in the tiny kitten carrier, and now he has even tried to fit inside my hat! He's such a silly kitty!

Wish List Wednesdays: Keurig

2010-08-04T05:15:00.005-04:00

When the coffee maker we recieved as a wedding gift finally stopped working, I decided to buy a temporary, inexpensive 4 cup coffee maker to use until I found a larger one that I loved. Well, it's been about a year, and we're still using the same small coffee maker. I still haven't mastered the measurements. Sometimes I brew a dark, strong pot of coffee... and other times I brew a pot of light brown colored water. Since my birthday is coming up, I've decided to ask my parents for a Keurig single cup coffee maker. Now every cup of coffee (or tea & hot cocoa) will be brewed perfectly- with no measuring required. I can't wait to get my Keurig in a couple of weeks!

Five Senses Friday

2010-07-30T07:00:00.013-04:00

Hearing: Rascal Flatts tunes in anticipation for tomorrows concert.

Tasting: A yummy dinner at The Olive Garden; Parmesan-Polenta crusted chicken with 4-cheese ravioli. Can't wait to enjoy leftovers for lunch.

Seeing: An almost PERFECT forecast for the weekend.

Smelling: Fresh cut grass in the warm summer breeze, blowing in through my home office window.

Feeling: My kitten's soft fur as I pet him while he snoozes on my lap.

Five Senses Friday

2010-07-23T07:30:00.009-04:00

One of my oldest friends, and fellow Blogger- Shana, was inspired to write "Thursday's Thoughts" while enjoying a perfect weather day (and reading "Five Senses Friday" entries on the Pink of Perfection Blog). I think this idea is very creative and will be lots of fun to add to my Blog. I hope that Five Senses Friday will become a regular post on my Blog, where I reflect on my five senses and how they are impacting my day, just as Shana does on her Blog Mommy's Musings.

Five Senses Friday:

Hearing: The rain pounding down outside my home office window.

Tasting: 3 new seasonal beers, tonight. (Saison Dupont, Red Hook Rope Swing, River Horse Summer Blonde Ale)

Seeing: A pile of folded laundry that needs to be put away.

Smelling: Nail polish on my freshly painted fingers & toes.

Feeling: Thrilled to be spending the evening at my best friend's house for a small party, checking out the Irish Fest tomorrow, and going to Justin's company cookout on Sunday.

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-06T07:15:00.080-04:00

The forecast for the 4th of July holiday weekend was hot, with temperatures ranging between 90-98 degrees. I worked a half day on Friday and spent the afternoon outlet shopping with my Mom. I bought cute summer tank tops and tees, dips and grill sauces at Harry & David, and my Mom spoiled me with a gorgeous Dooney & Bourke purse. We had a great day enjoying the sunny weather and each others company while strolling around the outdoor outlet mall. Later that night, Justin and I watched the Vernon fireworks. We had a perfect spot to view the dazzling show!

On Saturday Justin and I went to his parent's house for a party. There was lots of delicious food, including the lemon bars, red, white and blue trifle, and prosciutto wrapped melon that we made. We also played some games. The party ended with a fireworks extravaganza set off by Justin and his brother Andrew. They did a great job, the show was phenominal! I loved seeing the bright color explosions in the sky and hearing the loud crackles and booms!

On Sunday morning we cleaned the house and did some yardwork. During the afternoon I layed on the deck and suntanned with a Cosmo magazine and red wine sangria in my hands. We also filled up Bailey's kiddie pool and let her go swimming. She loved splashing around in the refreshing cold water!

Monday's weather was a humid 96 degrees so we took it easy. Despite the heat, I worked on my tan all afternoon. Later in the day we went to The A's house for some frosty drinks and a delicious dinner; steak, chicken, corn-on-the-cob, and potatoes on the grill. It was nice to spend our extra day off with great friends. I hope everyone enjoyed their long 4th of July weekend as much as I enjoyed mine!

Old friends are the best friends

2010-06-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

At the beginning of our relationship, Justin and I spent countless weekends hanging out with our good friends, The A's, but over the past few years we haven't gotten together with them often. Not because we didn't want to see them, but because life got in the way, and we all had lots going on; getting married, buying homes, career changes, increased responsibilities, having kids, etc... Even though the summer has just begun, we have already been to their home 4 weekends in row and have had more fun then ever! I truly hope we continue to see them often, and share many more good times with them (and their adorable kids). Here are a couple of snapshots from Memorial Day weekend at The A's house.

My High School Reunion

2010-06-06T07:45:00.000-04:00

When the deadline to R.S.V.P. for my 10 year high school reunion was fastly approaching, I could not decide if I wanted to go or not. After months of deliberating, I am very happy that I (and Justin) decided to attend. It's hard to believe that I was sitting in a classroom 10 years ago dreaming about going to college, getting married and being independent- and now that is my reality! The day of the reunion I was nervous because I wasn't entirely sure who would be there and who I would know. But when Justin and I arrived at the CT Science Center on Saturday night, I recognized most of the people already there. Some people had changed drastically, while others looked exactly the same as I remebered them. I like to think that I have changed for the better, and was proud to share how much my life has changed over the past 10 years. I am hoping to share even more accomplishments at my 20 year reunion. It was neat to see my old classmates and I am hoping to keep in touch with many of them (and have even made plans get together with some of the girls soon) I am very happy that I decided to go!

EHHS Class of 2000 Class Picture (I'm on the bottom left)

Lisa, Amy & Me- Elementary School friends

Erin, Kelly & Me

Justin & Me

Weekend in NYC

2010-05-26T09:30:00.004-04:00

Before planning our big vacation to Mexico, Justin and I planned a weekend getaway to celebrate our Anniversary in NYC. We were pleased to find out that his brother and wife wanted to join us too! We've visited the city a few times in the past 2 years, and everytime I'm there I'm still in awe staring at the bright lights in Times Square and seeing the chaos that is New York City. We explored Union Square, The Meat Packing District, Financial District, Times Square, Chinatown and my favorite- Little Italy. We ate delicious food at top notch fancy restaurants and small Italian bakeries. We drank beer at lively Irish pubs and sipped champagne cocktails at a hip bar called Flute Bar. We shopped high end stores and street market tents. I had a great time and enjoyed every second we spent in NYC. I can't wait to go back, maybe in September for the Italian San Gennaro Festival!

Times Sqaure at night

Me & Justin enjoying a beer sampler at Heartland Brewery

All dressed up for dinner at Patsy's

Yummy Italian coffee, sambuca, lobster tail & cannoli in Little Italy

Happy Birthday, Melissa!

2010-05-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Celebrated my best friend Melissa's birthday at The Half Door, with some of her dear friends and music from the vivacious Adam Ezra Group. The night was perfect and everyone had a great time... especially the birthday girl! Here are some pictures from that extra special night!

The birthday girl, Me & her sister Michelle

Group shot

We're with the band!

4 {wonderful} Years

2010-05-20T20:00:00.007-04:00

Today is Justin and my 4th Anniversary. He is my best friend, my partner in crime, and more than I could ask for! He brings out the best in me. I can't imagine my life without him, or sharing my life with anyone else. Happy Anniversary, JQ! Here's to the past 4 amazing years we're lived as husband and wife, and the many more wonderful years we'll share with each other. I love you! And I love the beautiful bouquet of lilies & red roses (my favorite!) that was waiting for me when I got home! It was such a sweet surprise!

Paradise

2010-05-16T17:15:00.005-04:00

Our vacation to Riviera Maya, Mexico couldn’t have been better! We had perfect weather all week, with clear, bright skies and temperatures ranging between 80-95 degrees. The Mexican sun was strong; I came back home beaming, with a great tan! Here is Me and Justin on our balcony.

Our resort was beautiful; it exceeded our expectations in almost every respect. We upgraded to an oceanfront room, and our view was breathtaking! We had 2 balconies and even had a Jacuzzi tub on our main balcony! Here is a picture of the room, and the views from both balconies.

We both loved sitting on the beach all day and sipping on the tropical Drink of the Day. Our favorite was the 3 layered ‘Riviera Maya’. Justin loved sitting under the cool tiki huts on the beach and sipping on these refreshing drinks.

We loved hanging out by the gorgeous, infinity edge pool too! And swimming up to pool bar.

The restaurants on the resort were amazing. Justin had the tastiest filet he’s ever had at the French restaurant, Pure. I also had a delicious dinner there. All of the other places to eat were great too! My favorite meals were our early morning breakfasts at Pure. We dined outside and had an amazing view of the picturesque beach and resort, and also had our oj served in wine glasses which I thought was a nice touch.
We were in Mexico on Cinco De Mayo, so the resort had special activities planned such as a Mexican buffet, an exciting Fire show and Mariachi Dancers. Here is a picture of us before dinner on Cinco De Mayo and a snapshot of where we ate breakfast.

It was sad to leave such a beautiful place, but it was nice to come home to the pets and get back to reality. We’re hoping to plan another vacation in the near future. We’d love to go back to Mexico, but there are so many other magnificent places in the world, so we may visit somewhere new to us.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T09:45:00.009-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful Mom's out there. You have a tough job, so you deserve a day to be spoiled. And most of all - Happy Mother's Day to my amazing Mommy! Thank you for everything you've done for me. I love you!

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown

Riviera Maya, Here We Come!!!

2010-05-02T20:35:00.009-04:00

Our bags are packed, now I am sitting in anticipation waiting for vacation to start. I'm a little nervous to fly since I haven't flown in 4 years, but I'm hoping I remain calm. After a quick layover in Philly, we should arrive in Cancun at noon, and then arrive at our all inclusive resort in Riviera Maya soon after. I can't wait to have a cold drink in hand, sand on my toes and the warm tropical sunshine beaming down on me. Don't worry we packed a lot of sunblock. Justin and I have an ultra modern, romantic, ocean front room so we're excited to be staying in paradise! I will be taking LOTS of pictures on this trip and will post my favorites in a future blog entry. Adios everyone! Check back in a week or so to hear all about our trip!
*And since my pets are like my kids, I'm so thankful that my cousin will be house/pet sitting for us. This takes a load off my shoulders*

Cinnamon Toast

2010-04-27T07:00:00.016-04:00

I am so happy that The Pioneer Woman shared her simple recipe for Cinnamon Toast . For over 6 years I’ve been making this breakfast for Me and Justin- the wrong way! I didn’t know there was any other way than the toaster, butter and sprinkle method. I like this method because I don’t have to turn on the oven and it’s simple, but never thought to do it any other way. I don’t find it gross at all, but now that PW has shared this recipe, I can’t even imagine how amazing it will taste when made her “right” way! Saturday morning breakfast is going to be phenominal! How can you go wrong with butter, cinnamon and sugar? I can taste it already.

Wish List Wednesdays: Time & Energy Saver

2010-04-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel like laundry is my hobby. I try not to complain, but I dread dragging the laundry basket to the basement, emptying the clothes load by load into the tiny washing machine, and repeating multiple times a week. Our current washing machine was given to us by my parents when Justin & I moved into an apartment over 5 years ago. It is about 20 years old, but was only used for a year. It's done a great job of washing our clothes, but the washer is so small that I can't wash a comforter in it. I feel like a college student because when I have to wash large items I have to bring them to my parents house or the laundromat.

Recently the washing machine has begun to wear down. It's become very noisy and I have to repeat the spin cycle 2-3 times to get clothes moderately wrung out. I've been wishing for a new washer for months, and this was a sign that its finally time to buy a new one. We shopped around and made the decision to purchase a the GE Profile Colossal Capacity High Efficiency Washer from The Home Depot. This new washing machine does not have an agitator, therefore there is more space for laundry. It also has an automatic water sensor, which should cut back on our water usage. Because of this water saving feature and energy saving features we will be receiving a $100 credit from the state of CT. I can't wait for this new, large capacity, washing machine to be delivered in a few days. I am looking forward to saving time by doing less loads of laundry, and gaining time for fun hobbies!

How much is that doggy/kitty in the window?

2010-04-13T09:15:00.013-04:00

Our pets love looking out the window. Shadow meows every morning until we open our bedroom window. Once its open, he leaps onto the window ledge and spends hours gazing into the backyard and 'talking' to the birds. Buddy has been watching his big brother, and now he also loves to look out the window. He can usually be found basking in the sunshine in my office window.

Sometimes both cats can be found peeking out the window in the guest bedroom.

And we can't forget about Bailey. She enjoys resting her paws on the mini cat condo, and looking out the living room window. She gets very excited when she sees birds, squirrels, and other dogs.

Happy Friday

2010-04-09T11:15:00.004-04:00

The weekend is finally here and after a busy week, I thought Friday would never come. I'm sure everyone else is happy for the weekend to start too! We don't have much planned for the next few days. We have yardwork & house projects to do, so I can't wait to have the time to knock a few things off my 'to do' list, catch a Rock Cats baseball game, and also take some "me" time to do nothing at all.

It was 92 degrees on Wednesday, but its only 49 rainy degrees today *sigh*. I'm happy Mother Nature gave us a taste of warm, summer weather, but I wish it would have stuck around a few more days. Hopefully this gloomy Friday flies by and the rest up the weekend brightens up. Whatever your plans are for the weekend, let's hope Monday is slow to arrive!

Fire it up!

2010-03-28T16:10:00.001-04:00

A few months ago our Charbroil grill died. We've only had the grill for 3 years so we were disappointed that it lasted such a short time. We grill a lot so we wanted to buy a new grill that would last much longer. My stepdad has had his Weber grill for about 15 years and says this brand is the best, so Justin and I shopped around, looking at both Webers and other name brand grills. We finally decided to order the Weber Genesis E320, in dark green, with the added side burner from the Home Depot. It took 2 weeks to be delivered to our house, unassembled. I was impressed that it only took Justin about an hour and a half to put it together. We fired up our new grill yesterday and cooked some delicious burgers. Today we grilled 2 huge Porterhouse steaks. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can cook a ton of other foods on our fabulous new grill.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T17:30:00.004-04:00

Even though we're not Irish, we still like to celebrate the St. Patrick's Day holiday. It was rainy last weekend, so we didn't go to the parade downtown. We did meet my best friend Melissa for a few drinks later that night, which was fun! To celebrate today, I put a large corned beef, head of cabbage, potatoes and carrots in the crock pot this morning. It has been cooking all day and smells amazing. I also made a beer bread to go along with dinner. I used a bottle of Sam Adam's in the bread to give it a richer beer flavor. Hopefully dinner will taste as good (or even better) than it smells. Happy St. Patty's Day everyone :)
Here's a little piece of advice that made me chuckle earlier today- "Never borrow money from a Leprachaun... He always comes up a little short."

Wish List Wednesdays: Spring Makeup

2010-03-10T10:55:00.001-05:00

With Spring right around the corner, I feel the need to update my makeup wardrobe. I have purged a few dark shadows, glosses and blush and now I need some vibrant new shades of makeup. I have found a few products from MAC, Benefit and Clinique that are must haves for the Spring season. I love the glossy pink lipgloss and eyeshadow trio from Clinique, shown below. The nuetral base colors and light dusty pink should look great with lighter colored clothing, especially after I get a tan. I can't wait to buy some new cosmetics, and a lighter scented perfume. Any suggestions on a fresh, new scent for the sunny weather?

Ring

2010-02-27T09:05:00.006-05:00

My Babcie (Polish for Grandma) passed away about 2 months ago. It was very hard on my entire family because we were all so close to her. She left behind many special pieces of jewelery, including her simple gold wedding band which she always had on. My Mom had me try on the ring, and it fit my ring finger perfectly! I never realized I had the same size hands as my Babcie, it was pretty neat. My Mom told me to keep, and wear the ring since it fit me so well. Now I will always have something special on me, to remind me of my Babcie everyday. Even now, looking at her ring on my finger brings tears to my eyes. I will treasure it, and the memories of my Babcie forever.

Meet Buddy!

2010-02-15T10:00:00.011-05:00

After going back and forth for weeks between names, we finally decided on a name for our new kitten... Buddy. Justin thought of the name because he always calls the kitten his little buddy. I think the name suits him well because he is an affectionate kitten who loves to cuddle, play, and explore the house. He's our little buddy! I hope he stays sweet and has lots of fun with us, Shadow and Bailey! Welcome to the family Buddy!

Just woke up from a nap on our bed

Big brother Shadow giving Buddy a bath

Winefest 2010

2010-01-31T17:25:00.007-05:00

Justin and I went to the Sun Winefest at the Mohegan Sun casino today with my parents. There were more than 1,000 fine wines to sample, along with cognacs, rums, and specialty beers from breweries around the world. We learned about the wine making process, proper storage of wine, and suggestions on food & wine pairings. Tasting so many delicious wines was incredible! The Graffigna Reserve Pinot Grigio, Jonathan Edwards Winery Chardonnay (in CT) and even the Woodchuck Granny Smith Cider were some of my favorites. We were also able to purchase tasting portions of signature dishes from fine restaurants in CT and nearby states. The lamb, lobster risotto, ricotta basil gnocchi, and eggplant rollatini dishes were delicious! It was also neat to see Bobby Flay preparing one of his specialty lobster dishes. After the Winefest, we enjoyed lunch at Margaritaville. It was a great day, and we all had an excellent time!

Happy Birthday Bailey!

2010-01-24T18:25:00.003-05:00

Bailey turned 2 this weekend (1/23). It feels like only yesterday I was baking a doggy cake and Blogging about her 1st birthday.

He is a snapshot of Bailey enjoying her 2nd birthday cake. I think she liked it!

Meow

2010-01-24T18:15:00.002-05:00

About 3 weeks ago Justin found and rescued a 5 week old kitten. The kitten was outside in the freezing cold, nestled up to a corner of the building trying to stay warm. Justin and a co-worker placed a box outside and waited for the kitten to hop in. The kitten was very scared, and therefore very hissy and mean. Since we have a cat and a dog already we weren't sure that we could keep this frisky kitten. I called about 12 animal shelters and vet offices but could not find anywhere that was accepting kittens. I finally got in touch with No Kitten Left Behind. The woman there offered to take in the kitten, and also give us an opportunity to adopt the kitten if he calmed down and socialized well with the other animals there.

Here is the kitten sleeping on my lap his 1st night here

We called back about a week later and got some ok news. The kitten had adapted well, but he was still nervous and hissy around humans. We decided to pick him up and have a 'trial run' in our house. The first few days he was scared of us and growled whenever we picked him up. After about 4 days he warmed up to us. We took him to the vet because he had an eye infection and cold, but the medications are helping a lot and he is getting better quickly.

He likes swatting at this toy

Now that we've had him for about 2 weeks, he trusts us. Purring and meows have replaced his hisses and growls. He loves to snuggle up against our chests and nap on our laps. The kitten and the other animals are slowly being introduced to one another. We hope that in a few months they will all be friends. We have thrown around a few ideas for names, but nothing has stuck. Hopefully we have a name for him soon.

Happy Birthday Justin!

2010-01-11T17:45:00.003-05:00

This weekend was Justin's birthday. On Friday (his actual birthday 01/08) we went out for dinner at our favorite restaurant, J. Gilberts. We shared a bottle of wine and an appetizer to start the night. For dinner I ordered a new item on the menu-Short Ribs with Georges Bank Scallops, and Justin went with one of his all time favorites- Lobster tail and 6oz Filet. We had impeccable service and all of the food was amazing (as always). I enjoyed a nice night out with my wonderful hubby, and more importantly Justin enjoyed a fantastic birthday!
On Saturday we celebrated again with our family. We ordered pizza and antipasto from our favorite local Italian restaurant, Italian Kitchen. We also ordered an Italian Fruit Cake which consists of light, airy sponge cake layered with peaches, strawberries, and whipped cream from Mozzicato. All of the food was great and spending time with our parents, and Mike & Steph was fun. I am so happy Justin had a nice birthday weekend.

1 Year

2010-01-07T19:15:00.036-05:00

About a year ago I created this Blog to document my thoughts and adventures. In my very first entry I explained my motivations for starting a Blog. I wasn't sure if I would get 'into' Blogging- but I am happy that I did because over the past few days I have enjoyed reading the entries that I posted at this time last year. To anyone who reads this Blog; thank you for taking the time to visit and leave thoughtful comments. I plan to continue posting entries on this Blog for many years to come, and hope that I will be able to document many more happy memories in the future.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T11:00:00.003-05:00

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of Auld Lang Syne.

For Auld Lang Syne, my dear, for Auld Lang Syne,

We'll take a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne.

Happy New Year!

Justin and I on NYE

The bubbly is poured, almost time to toast to 2010!

Oh Christmas Tree

2009-12-27T18:15:00.015-05:00

We weren't sure how Bailey would react to a big, bright, green thing in our living room, so we decorated the tree with non-breakable ornaments (from about waist high up). She has been really good and showed very little interest in the tree. She seems to love snoozin' on the snowman pillow more!
Things have been a little hectic around here, so I haven't had much time to Blog. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. I'm planning to post a few new entries soon, so check back in a week or so.

Pan Seared Rib Eye

2009-12-15T09:29:00.000-05:00

I recently purchased a large cast iron skillet and have been dying to use it. I found this simple recipe on the Better CT website and have to try it out soon! It looks delicious and easy, so I thought I'd share it. I'll follow up on this post once I test out this recipe.

Pan Seared Rib Eye Steak with Carmelized onions, mushrooms served with spinach and Marsala wine sauce- Recipe courtesy of Chef Brett August

You'll need:
(1) 7-8 ounce Rib Eye Steak
Kosher salt Cracked Black Pepper
(1/2) cup olive oil
(1) clove galic sliced thin
(1/2) cup julliend onions
(1) cup sliced mushrooms
(2) cups cleaned spinach
(1/2) cup marsala wine
(2) tablspoons butter

In hot pan with little oil on bottom, sear Steaks 3-4 min on each side. Looking for golden brown color. When steaks are seared let rest on plate. In same hot pan add Mushrooms and Onions, cook until they are golden brown then add Spinach and Garlic. Cook 1 more min then deglaze with Marsala and butter. Season to taste and serve.

November night

2009-11-21T10:00:00.035-05:00

The weather was exceptionally warm for late November, so Justin fired up the grill and and we invited Mike and Stephanie over for dinner & drinks. We had burgers for dinner which were very tasty. After dinner we had some drinks and played a few card games. It was a fun night and hopefully they'll visit us again soon.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2009-11-17T07:35:00.002-05:00

I have wanted to go to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra show for years and on Saturday afternoon Justin surprised me with tickets! I had been having a gloomy day because we found out some bad news about my Grandmother's health, so getting this surprise from Justin brightened my day! We had amazing seats, 2nd row on the first level! The show was different from what I expected, but it was really good. The band played some of our favorite Christmas songs, and also ended the show with some of their original music (which was weird). The lighting & special effects were amazing! They even made it snow, with real frozen snowflakes! Here are a couple of pictures from his Blackberry, because we forgot to take a camera.

It's been a while

2009-11-11T20:35:00.014-05:00

It's been a while since I've blogged... and since I've gotten together with my 3 college best friends at once. For over 2 months we have been patienly waiting for November 7th to get here. So once the date arrived, we were very excited to have a much needed girls night out! The 4 of us met at Melissa's and enjoyed some tasty apps and wine, and then took a cab into Hartford. We mostly hung out at our favorite bar. The drinks were flowing and so was the great conversation. We ended the night with a sleepover at Melissa's- something that we haven't done in years. I hope we are able to plan another girls night sooner, rather than later.

Here is a picture of the Fab Four

Logan and I waiting in the freeeezing cold for the cab

Vacation recap

2009-10-05T11:00:00.004-04:00

Unfortunately vacation is over and it's back to the daily grind. We were blessed with sunny, warm weather with the exception of one day of rough seas. We had a lot of fun on the cruise ship and exploring Bermuda. The island was immaculate and very colorful & bright. I was in awe everytime I turned around. There was always something new and even more beautful to see. Here are a few pictures we snapped while on the beaches of Bermuda. I wish I was still there!

Bright colored houses along the edge of the island

Justin & Me in the Lagoon

Horseshoe Bay Beach

Oink

2009-09-21T18:00:00.024-04:00

This weekend we were invited to Logan and Jon's house for a Pig Roast, to celebrate Logan's birthday. They got lucky and had perfect weather! It got chilly at night, but they set up a huge bonfire so we all sat around it and stayed warm. Logan put out a great spread of food, I couldn't stop eating or drinking all day. It was great to crack open my first Sam's Octoberfest of the season on such a gorgeous day. Once the Sam's ran out we switched to white wine ;) The roasted pig meat was delicious, I am so glad I tried it! We played Flip Cup and had cake to celebrate Logan's 27th. She loved the gifts I gave her too! It was a great night!

Logan, Me, Justin & Melissa

Mmm!

A new Mrs. Q

2009-09-08T09:00:00.013-04:00

I've posted about the Bridal Shower, the Bachelorette Party, and now I can post about the wedding! This Saturday Justin and I were lucky enough to be a part of his younger brother Mikey and Stephanie's wedding party. Justin was the Best Man and I was a Bridesmaid.
The weather on Saturday was perfect. At 4 o'clock, Mikey and Stephanie got married inside a small chapel, and a reception followed at Nuchie's in Bristol. Dinner, cake and drinks were all fantastic! They hired a really fun DJ that knew how to get the party started. Everyone danced the night away!
Congratulations Mikey and Stephanie! 3 years ago I gained 2 awesome brother {in laws}, and on Saturday I gained a wonderful sister {in law}. As Justin said in his amazing toast, "We wish you so much joy that you never stop smiling, so much friendship that you never stop enjoying, so much money that you never stop spending, and so much love that you never stop loving".

The beautiful Bride and Bridal Party before the ceremonyThe new Mr. & Mrs.!!! Justin and Me at the reception

10 on Tuesday- Falling for Fall

2009-09-01T07:00:00.023-04:00

It's only September 1st, but I'm already aching for Fall's crisp, cool weather, and everything else that goes along with this season.
Here are 10 things I love about Fall:
1) Taking Bailey for long walks and seeing the leaves changing colors
2) Drinking 'Octoberfest' and seasonal beers...
3)...while tailgating at Uconn games
4) My favorite tv shows return and new tv series begin
5) Comfort food is now ok to eat again
6) Rearranging my closet and pulling out my warm sweaters & comfy hoodies
7) No more humidity & bad hair days!
8) Apple and pumpkin picking
9) Spending holidays with my family & friends
10) Giving candy to kids on Halloween

There's something fishy going on

2009-08-25T08:00:00.012-04:00

We invited my best friend Melissa over for dinner & drinks on Friday. Justin brought home 2 huge lobsters, scallops, white fish, and shrimp from a local fish market. He grilled the seafood and corn on the cob, and boiled the lobsters on the stove top. We weren't sure if the lobsters were going to fit in the pots, but with some pushing and pulling, we were able to completely submerge them. The meal was a success. The fresh seafood was delicious, and Melissa's refreshing Lemon pie was the perfect dessert! I can't wait for our next 'dinner party'!

Before: During: After:

Dog days of summer

2009-08-18T07:00:00.006-04:00

It has been hot (90+ degrees) and humid for the past 3 days, and the heat wave is supposed to continue for a few more days. Our AC's are blasting and our frig and freezer are stocked with all sorts of summertime necessities, including mini popsicles. Bailey knows exactly where to find popsicles and how to get them. When we pull open the freezer drawer, she runs over, shoves her snout in the corner and pulls out a popsicle. Then Justin or I unwrap it and hold the stick so she can enjoy it! Don't worry- they're tiny and we only let her have 1 every few days. Check out her tongue, she loves licking popsicles!

Stephanie's Bachelorette

2009-08-16T13:00:00.016-04:00

Last night was Stephanie's Bachelorette Party. In 3 weeks she will be marrying my brother in law, Mike, and will become my 1st sister in law. Both Justin and I are in the wedding party, so we're excited for the big event!
We started the evening with delicious food and girly drinks in a gorgeous hotel suite- including a penis shaped cake. Then we were picked up by a limo and driven to the casino. Stephanie didn't feel well, so we ended the night early. For the most part, Stephanie seemed to enjoy herself so I think the Bachelorette party was a success.Hopefully the night was everything Stephanie wanted, and something she will remember forever!

As promised...

2009-08-11T07:00:00.003-04:00

Here is the recipe for delicious Stuffed Strawberries. They taste like a bite of strawberry cheesecake, but these are a healthier choice. I think they are a perfect summer dessert!

Chillin & Grillin

2009-08-10T07:00:00.013-04:00

To celebrate my birthday, we invited our family over on Sunday for a cookout. Including us, there were about 17 people here. The rain held off so everyone was able to eat lunch and mingle outside on the deck. I got some great gifts including beautiful flowers, candles, bath & body stuff, clothes & Coach purse from my parents, gift cards and money. For dessert we had cake, some stuffed strawberry cheesecake bites (I'll post the recipe), and Italian cookies from my favorite bakery- compliments of my Godmother. It was really nice to celebrate my birthday with my family. Now I can't wait to celebrate with Justin on Wednesday!

Bermuda, Bahama, Come on Pretty Mama

2009-07-24T13:00:00.004-04:00

After going back and forth between (a ton of) vacation ideas, Justin and I finally agreed on a destination and booked a trip! We'll be taking a 5 night cruise to Bermuda! The Royal Caribbean ship leaves out of New Jersey, so we can drive to the port. This is a major plus for me, because I hate flying! And Justin's parents have agreed to let Bailey stay with them for the week, so this saves boarding costs and we know she'll be well taken care of. I hope the next 2 months fly by, because I can't wait for my vacation to start!

10 on Tuesday- Tv (Guilty Pleasures)

2009-07-21T16:00:00.006-04:00

I follow some great Tv shows, but there are a few shows that I’m not very proud to say I watch. I watch them either because there’s nothing else on Tv, or because I (secretly) love them!
Here are 10 guilty pleasure Tv shows I watch:
1, 2, & 3) The Real Housewives of NJ, NY, and Atlanta
4) Project Runway
5) Wipeout- Watching the stupidity and pain of others is very entertaining!
6) Rock of Love- I am dumbfounded at how some of those women act
7) Real World/Road Rules Challenges- You can't beat the fights, hook-ups and backstabbing!
8 & 9) Cake Boss & Ace of Cakes- I kind of live through Buddy & Duff, because I would love to be a cake decorator
10) America's Next Top Model

Transition

2009-07-15T06:45:00.008-04:00

A few weeks ago Justin received a large corner desk. We had a great corner area in our basement, so Justin decided to set up his office downstairs. The desk fits perfectly, and he loves having his office into our basement (aka his man cave). Over the last few weeks I've slowly transitioned into my new "real" office. I decided to keep Justin's wall color, partly because I liked the regal green, and also because I hate painting! The room is coming along nicely, but still needs some colorful accessories to brighten it up. I'm not too good with interior decorating, so wish me luck!

Surprise!

2009-07-13T15:30:00.003-04:00

On Sunday morning I drove about 2hrs to Carver, MA for Stephanie's Bridal Shower. The shower was supposed to be a surprise, but she sort of figured it out. It was Disney themed since Mike and Stephanie are going to Disneyland on their honeymoon. We all wore our favorite Disney tee's and played some fun Disney trivia games. We also played a game to see how well we know Stephanie. I had the most correct answers and won a prize. The shower was a lot of fun, and the bachelorette party should be a blast! I can't wait to be a bridesmaid in only 7 weeks!

4th of July weekend

2009-07-06T18:00:00.011-04:00

Despite some rain on Friday, this weekend was perfect. Warm weather seems to have finally settled into CT. Bright blue skies, temps in the 80s, lots of sunshine and no humidity!
We planned to watch a fireworks show on Friday night, but it was postponed due to some passing t-storms, so we took it easy. Justin picked up Pepe's pizza for dinner, and we enjoyed it on the couch while we watched Role Models.
We ran errands, and got some stuff done around the house on Saturday, then grilled a massive 3' long pork loin. It was delicious!! Justin and I ate our dinner outside and enjoyed a warm night on the deck together. Justin knows how much I love fireworks. He knew my holiday wouldn't complete without them -so he surprised me with some! He lit them off when the sunset, and they were so pretty!
Sunday we took a ride to Bluff Point, in Groton, CT. This was the first time we have taken Bailey with us to a (dog friendly) beach- and she loved it!! She behaved a lot better than we expected too. We definitely plan to go back to this beach a few more times this summer. We also watched the fireworks display set off at MCC. The show was beautiful! This was the perfect way to end a perfect 4th of July weekend.

Our tasty dinner (and Peach Sangria & Peroni) Dad and BaileyMom and BaileyBailey Splashing around in the cold salty water

10 on Tuesday- NYC

2009-06-30T23:00:00.057-04:00

Justin and I spent this past weekend in NYC. It was our second time going this year, and we're already planning an overnight trip back to the city this Fall. I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone by posting about our trip for this week's 10 on Tuesday.

10 Highlights of our Vacation to New York.

1) With only a 30% chance of rain we didn't think it was necessary to take an umbrella with us to explore the city. As luck would have it, we got stuck in a monstrous thunderstorm on Friday afternoon. We managed to hide under awnings for most of the downpours. During breaks in the rain we ran to a cool Irish bar for a beer, and also to Jamba Juice for some fresh smoothies. 2) We also checked out some of the famed NYC stores. The entrance to the Apple store was remarkable, The Disney store was cheery, Macy's was ginormous, and The Hershey Store was fun to poke around, and we received a sweet Hershey Kiss when we walked through the door.

3) Justin and I caught a comedy show at Comic Strip Live on Friday night. The 4 comedians were hilarious!! After the show we enjoyed some drinks at another classic Irish pub. 4) The weather was sunny and gorgeous on Saturday morning. We started the day with a tasty breakfast at Lindy's and then headed out to do more exploring. After walking over 30 blocks to Greenwich Village, we found a serene spot to sit and rest. We loved people watching and seeing the Empire State Building in the distance. 5) Visiting Little Italy was a lot of fun. We enjoyed pizza and wine for lunch, and then sipped on Sambuca and Italian coffees and a yummy cannoli for dessert. 6) After visiting Little Italy, and walking through Chinatown, we did some shopping at the tent vendors. There were over 5 blocks of food and gift vendors. We bought some souvenir tee shirts, knock off sunglasses, LUSH beauty products, bath soap for Bailey, Pashminas, and a souvenir bottle of Italian white wine. Justin and I buy a bottle of wine on all of our vacations- our collection is growing. 7) On our way back to the hotel, we found a tranquil area tucked inside roaring Times Square. There was a man made water feature and beautiful ivy cascading up the brick walls. It was nice to sit and relax with Justin here. 8) We went to Patsy's for dinner on Saturday night. Justin looked very handsome in his new jacket and I wore a new black dress. We split a cold calamari insalata and a cold antipasto as appetizers. Justin had stuffed rack of lamb, and I enjoyed a trio of ravioli for my main course. For dessert we shared a plate of fresh raspberries and homemade whipped cream- All 3 courses were simple yet elegant, some of the best food either of us have ever tasted. 9) After dinner we went to Flute Bar. The bar was seductive and dim, mostly lit by the flickering candles on every table. There were also fragrant fresh orchids on the tables. We sat on our own plush velvet couch and sipped on some drinks in a secluded corner. Justin and I wouldn't normally be drawn to a place like this, but it was the perfect place to go after dinner.
We also enjoyed some drinks on a rooftop bar. The bar was LOUD, but the view was breathtaking. 10) On Sunday morning we slept late, then packed up our stuff, and headed home. Even though we were only in NYC for 3 days, I had the best time! Justin and I ate some amazing food, saw stunning landmarks and enjoyed each other's company while strolling down the streets of New York, hand in hand. I'm positive that we'll have a fabulous time when we visit the City again this Fall!

10 on Tuesday- Weekend

2009-06-09T12:15:00.008-04:00

Here's a more personal entry, since I haven't update my Blog in about 2 weeks. 10 things I did this weekend:

1) Celebrated baby Ryan's 1st birthday on Saturday. Ryan is my husband's best friend Derrick & his wife Alicia's son. He is the happiest baby, with the most contagious smile. It was funny seeing this little guy eat a piece of his birthday cake and get all messy. Catching up with his Dad & Mom was nice too.

2) Finally watched 2 movies that I have been dying to see; Marley and Me, and He's Just Not That Into You. Both movies were good.

3) Went outlet shopping with my Mom. I got shorts and a tee from the Gap, black sandals from Anne Klein, a new purse from Coach (over 60% off) and some yummy food items from Harry & David.

4) After outlet shopping we took a ride to the beach. The weather was 80 degrees and sunny, so it was perfect weather to see the sparkling water and smell the salt water air. It was also nice to spend some time with my Mom.

5) Ordered my bridesmaid dress for my brother in law Mikey and soon to be sister in law Stephanie's wedding. The dress is sold online only. I ordered 2 sizes since I wasn't able to try it on. I love the dress on the model, so cross your fingers it looks half that good on me!

6) As I was typing, the UPS man just delivered the dresses. Justin says it looks pretty on me :) Now I need to find shoes & accessories!

7) Purchased the Furminator. Bailey has the softest coat now. We also used it on Shadow cat, and his fur looks spiffy too! We have noticed a huge decrease in the amount of shedding from both animals, so that's a plus.

8) Justin made hotel reservations for our trip to NYC. We had a blast despite the freezing cold temperature on our February visit, but I praying for sun this time. Any suggestions on where can we enjoy delicious Italian food?

9) Speaking of food, we overindulged at a Chinese buffet Friday night. We have been cooking healthy meals and trying to eat more nutritious foods. But after a stressful work week, we thought it would be OK to splurge on greasy crab rangoon, zesty spring rolls, and General Tso's chicken- just to name a few items!
10) Didn't catch up on laundry, housework... or sleep. Guess there's always next weekend.

Thank you

2009-05-25T17:05:00.001-04:00

Thank you...
to those serving our country now…
to those who will serve our country in the future...
and to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the past…
Happy Memorial Day!

Bag bliss

2009-05-22T13:30:00.015-04:00

Since I work in office and also from home, I carry my laptop to both locations. I have been using the bag provided by my company which is big, bulky and made transportation a pain. A few weeks ago I casually mentioned to Justin that I saw a gorgeous Coach bag, but could never justify spending so much on a bag. Justin must have sensed how much I liked the bag- because he surprised me with it on our anniversary! My new bag is feminine, with a comfortable shoulder strap. Comfort is a must since my laptop, folders and accessories are heavy! I love my new bag, and love the fact that Justin was so thoughtful and generous. (Even though we agreed that we were not exchanging gifts this year! )

3 years

2009-05-20T09:00:00.012-04:00

Justin, I love you more than anything. Here's to the past 3 wonderful years, and many more to come! Happy Anniversary!

Our entire wedding party outside of St. Mary's church
A beautiful beach in Cozumel, One of the stops on our honeymoon cruise

10 on Tuesday- Vacation

2009-05-12T11:00:00.002-04:00

10 Things I like to do on Vacation:
1) Sleep in
2) Forget about work
3) Relax on the beach
4) Take lots of pictures
5) Stroll hand in hand with Justin while sightseeing
6) Buy a souvenir- Justin and I buy a bottle of wine as a keepsake of our vacations, we have a great collection so far
7) Go out for dinner later than usual- after a nice nap
8) Overindulge on the local food
9) Get dressed up and explore the night life
10) Enjoy the hotel amenities- the comfy bed I don't have to make, whirlpool tub, plush bathrobes, etc...

Tastefully Simple

2009-05-08T10:30:00.010-04:00

Last night I went to a Tastefully Simple party at a co-worker/friend's house. We tasted about 15 different items... every single one was delicious! The hostess, Andrea, also served her family's homemade wine which was phenomenal. I ordered some grilling sauces, dip mixes and seasonings. I can't wait for my order to arrive. I'm most looking forward to grilling a burger and adding some Smoky Bacon Grill Sauce, cheddar cheese, and sliced red onion, mmm!