Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your holiday is wonderful'

Parties of the Season - 1

Sunday evening Husband and I attended what I would consider our first 'adult' Holiday party. It was with a group of doctors whose wives I meet with once a month. We mingled and networked. We discussed medical school and career choices. There was joking about professors and how the men couldn't believe they were still teaching.

The conversation was witty and the topics intelligent. We laughed and shared and had a wonderful time. I feel very fortunate to have met sure a wonderful and generous group of women. And a definite plus, our spouses seemed to enjoy themselves too!

I wish I would have thought about it and taken pictures of my outfit because it was super cute, but it completely slipped my mind.

Not to worry, there are several more Holiday events to come!

Really? Come On!

I have pictures and updates from my New Moon fun with the girls and Thanksgiving. However, Photobucket is being a piece...

Please forgive the silence. Posts with pictures will hopefully be up soon.

Top It All off with This...

Its Friday. And a very exciting week is coming to a close. This weekend will be a great way to close it with too!

Tomorrow morning I'm meeting with a wonderful group of women for a little fellowship and some 'there's hope at the end of the med school tunnel' support! Its nice to be able to talk with others who have been there, who understand, who have made it to the end.

For lunch I'm planning to meet up with the ma mère on her way headed home.

Follow all of that up with an evening surrounded by sorority sisters and Edward, Jacob and Bella. We're getting together to see New Moon!

Don't judge. I'm not ashamed. It is a little early after the release, though so wish me luck!

I hope you have a great weekend planned too!

One Exciting Week!

This is just one week full of excitement!

First you have this...

{via}

Best rivalry this decade!

That ended like this...

{via}

{via}

Go Colts!

And then you have this...

New Moon Premiere!

Just a few. I'm not going to comment on the fashion choices, but some of them... Really? I do like the guys in their formal wear and skinny ties though!

{I can't wait to see the movie! Can you?}

{P.S. Husband thinks its all ridiculous, but he's a trooper and putting up with the like. Don't let that fool you though. He read the books AND liked them before I did.}

{via}

Is your week shaping up to being this exciting too? We'll see how the rest of the week turns out! Considering the plans coming up for this weekend, though, I'm sure its going to be just as exciting!

For you

Thank You

Don't forget to thank all the soldiers and veterans today. They have stood up and defended our freedom, given us opportunities, and protected countless people around the world.

I'll just say thank you and will keep praying for you every day.

Black Beauty

I'm so thankful its finally Friday. This weekend though, not so relaxing. It promises to be drama filled with the Big Sister and the rest of the family involved. Should be interesting, I just hope I don't explode and lose the filter that leave the 'inside voices' unspoken.

Here's a little beauty for your Friday...

I can not tell you all how much I am in love with this dress. I only wish I would have a reason or the funds to own it.

{Image from Bazaar Magazine here}

The arm candy isn't to bad either.

The Come Back Award

I'm Back!

It has been quite a while my dears, but I'm making my come back.

A lot has happened during my little hiatus. I'll try to update you as much as I can a little later.

First I thought I'd share a little celebration with you all!

As some of you know, around the time my hiatus started I started a new job. Its still a contract position with the same company, but its long term and the best place for me to be in this economy. Well that was (I can't believe I haven't blogged in this long) almost 3 months ago.

I had my 3 month review last week. With an ata boy girl and an few everyone is thrilled with you comments I went on my way.

I thought I was all in the clear until yesterday when I got a calendar invite for a 'brief discussion' with the boss lady bright and early this morning. I started panicking. I walked upstairs right on time and the boss man from company headquarters is there. *really starting to panic now. The conference call starts with on of the vice Presidents... * hyperventilating And the voice on the phone is congratulating me?

The boss lady nominated me for the Superlative Service Award! Complete with a pin and a $50 check!

The lesson I learned today... Don't sell yourself short. Good things can happen to you when you least expect them.

Its nice to get out of my funk and get back to all of you! Thanks for sticking around!

This Long Length of Time...

I have missed my blog and all of you out there! I hope you missed me too. My week of vacation and another one of training has kept me away to long. But I'm back and can't wait to get through my reader and catch up with every one!

I'll post more later, but for now I have to get started on my training for this new position I just started! Wish me luck!

A Monochromatic Last Day

Today is my last day in this job that I have loved for the last year and a half. My contract is expiring and the group has not been given the financial higher-up approval to renew it, though I know they wish they could.

I am happy and very lucky that I already have a new position lined up with the same company, on the same campus, in the same building, leaving my desk in the same location. So I will be leaving...but not really.

I am sad, though, to be leaving a position that I have really fallen in love with. Even my outfit today portrays my mood. It is very monochromatic.

{Apologies for the bad quality from my phone}
Sweater - H&M
Ruffled Tank Top - Wal-mart!
Skirt - Old Navy

The only 'color' I am wearing today are my beautiful coral shoes!

Shoes - Nine West

Starting this afternoon I will be on 'vacation' until August 3rd. I am really looking forward to this time off to recuperate and prepare for my new group.

My first week back I have to travel for some worthless waste of time training.

So I'm wondering if any of you out there are in/around the Harrisburg and Lancaster Pennsylvania area? Let me know and we can meet up for dinner!

Morning Musings from the Sleep Deprived

Well, Husband had his first evening of call last night. Yes he got to leave the hospital around 10:30, but he came home and was not.tired.at.all! its like he feeds on little sleep, being pulled in fifty directions at once and the hospital environment.

Needless to say, we did not get to bed until after mid-night. {Sounds pathetic for a Friday night} But here I am awake on this extremely cold Saturday morning at 6 am. {By the way what is up with this chilly weather? The high isn't even supposed to reach 70 today!}

Husband has rounds this morning at 7 and I need to go for a run and make cupcakes for my family reunion tomorrow and to celebrate Dad-in-laws birthday. I'm just hoping that the sun will warm me up quickly on my run...oh wait, never mind, the clouds are rolling in.

Have a great weekend everyone!

{⋮24 May 2009⋮} Nephew Calendula

I have had these and keep forgetting to post them. Enjoy...

He love his uncle!

With Daddy! Also know on this little blog as Big Brother!

"Bubbles! My bubbles."

{One of my favorite movie quote of all time. Quick what movie is that quote from?}

The Puppies kept getting in the pictures!

All my pictures can be seen HERE.

The Best of Family

I'll apologize in advance...its going to be a long, personal post.

My family is really close. Mostly they are obnoxious, loud and crass, but that makes me love them all the more. When we get together for family functions, usually at my Aunt's house, the men congregate around the TV in the basement to argue about football or anything else that may come up. That's what they do, argue (in that funny family way) at the top of their lungs about.any.thing!

The women have their own little ritual...gather in the kitchen around the food and the TV to argue about the men...and football of course! We are all very much alike Grandma, Aunt, Cousin and I.

Cousin is my only fellow women in my generation in my entire extended family. She means a lot to me.

If you follow me on twitter you know she has had a rough couple of days and here's the story...

A few years ago she started bruising easily. None of the doctors could figure out why. She went for tests. They turned up nothing unusual. She went for more tests, to new doctors and nothing. Finally, after leaving one doctor's visit the doctor came running out of the office to catch them. She had an idea to go on.

Cousin got a genetic profile done and after waiting what seemed like forever, the results were back. She had tested positive. She has a rare genetic disorder (sorry its rare enough that I don't think I should name it) that makes her veins, arteries, and connective tissue weak. Weak to the point of just breaking and rupturing without a source of trauma. She will get a bruise by just looking at her arm the wrong way and there's nothing that can be done to fix them.

(Looking back on it Husband says that all they needed was a 2nd year medical student and they would have had a diagnosis sooner. He has learned about her disorder in almost every class because they only teach the things that can go wrong with the body and the more rare it is the more they learn about it...go figure. Needless to say, he has never missed a question over the topic!)

Even more shocking news to the family was that it is an autosomal dominate trait, meaning eanyone in her family blood line should have it too. No one else shows the severe symptoms she has. No one else has been tested. I don't know that I'm ready find out the truth myself yet...

Well, Monday morning Aunt called me. Cousin is in the hospital. She thought she and ruptured a vein in her leg. It kept getting worse and the pain became unbearable. Turns out she had ruptured not one, but 2 ARTERIES!

The doctors in Home-Town refused the case because the surgery to repair them was to difficult and risky. They transported her to the Big-City Hospital. (Which I was glad for, because I could visit her now)

Her lower leg was completely black and blue, the pulse in her foot was weak, and she hadn't eaten anything for a long time because they knew she would have surgery. All of this made for a typical cranky cousin. (the women in my family like to eat and complain. I recommend not coming between us and our food fancies!) The surgeon agreed to take her case though and she was in surgery the next day. It took him 3 hours to feed a infant sized catheter up a vein in her foot and to her shin. The artery was to compromised to fix it the way they had hoped, but they stopped the bleeding.

She will hopefully go home tomorrow, but I worry about her. She is coming out of the hospital more bruised than when she went in. She had 3 IV blow outs because her veins were to weak to take the needles (bruising up and down both arms), the EKG monitor pads on her chest bruised her, and the tape from any adhesive bruised her too.

One of the saddest things is that she cannot get health insurance. No one will cover her pre-existing condition, not even the state plan because she doesn't have any children, she doesn't qualify. (Seriously people! If she DID get pregnant it would kill her!) At least they can still choose what doctor to visit and give her the best care possible. The surgeon was really good.

Wow that was a long drawn out story. Congratulations to those of you who made it this far! And thanks for listening. Finally I'll leave you with a couple pictures...

Us out at the bars with my Dad, Anut, Uncle, and 2 cousins!

(Yeah it was a 'family function')

Me and the cousins!

I am asking all of you to please pray for her as she travels home, that no complications arise and that her arteries will be strong.

Anniversary Surprises

Thank you all for the anniversary wishes. We did have a very nice anniversary after Husband returned home from Crappy-Town Mid-west.

He felt incredibly guilty for not being with me on our actually anniversary {entirely not his fault} and still wanted to make it special. He sent me a beautiful bouquet of roses - a dozen white and 4 red for our 4 years - and it was a complete surprise!

Right after I got home from work and was in the backyard talking to the neighbor a florist pulled up. He had to tell them to make the delivery as late as possible so that I would be home. Husband said that he wanted to send them to me at work, but wasn't sure that I would get them. Which is true I probably wouldn't have because of inter office mail to the different campuses. I was just thrilled with my surprise!

In other news, life has gotten in the way of itself once again. I don't want to post about the events until I find out more, but in the mean time please send up prayers for my cousin. She could definitely use them and I promise to do a little post once I find out more about the game plan.

Four Years Ago Today

It was 4 years ago today that I married my high school sweet heart and my best friend.

After seven years we walked towards each other never to turn away.

I love him.

{This was during The Lord's Prayer. There was much contention over wether or not we would say trespasses or sins...I won. We said Trespasses. And yes, he was that much taller than me even with my 4 inch heals...}

{It only took us 7 years to get there, but we finally made it!}

{Now if only the darn school would let him come home to me! I mean come on! We planned his rotations so that he wouldn't be away for this month and they changed the rules of the game on us!}

So while Husband is stuck in Crappy-Town Mid-West for the rest of the week I'm going to go home, cuddle with the puppies, look through our wedding pictures, and wait for him to call me when he gets out of the clinic.

Happy Anniversary Husband!

Best-Friend-in-Law

Husband was give a new title this weekend: Best-Friend-in-Law.

The Boy and The Girl got married this weekend!!!

It was beautiful and I got to distract myself from bawling! take lots of pictures. Her photographer wasn't going to be there while the girls got ready {what's up with that?} and I told her that I would fill in, I only wish I could have taken pictures for the guys too.

They all got ready, I remembered the rings, they made it to the ceremony site, the guys walked down the aisle, she stepped out for all to see, but I was watching The Boy's face and as soon as he saw her his face lit up...I started crying. I love The Boy and am thankfully for his relationship with Husband. {If you have ever seen 'Scrubs' their relationship is similar to that of Turk and JD. Seriously. The Boy has been referred to as my 2nd boyfriend and my stand-in husband because they are inseparable. He went on most dates with us and even lived with us for a while.} But more on their friendship {and the battle between Husband-best man and Dad of the Groom involving microphones...} later.

For now I will give you a little preview of their wedding pictures. For all of you wondering, yes she did make husband wear pink choral, no he was not thrilled about it, and yes she will never hear the end of it!

The most beautifully vibrant color!

She is absolutely gorgeous! And so was their hotel room.

I have know these guys for alsmot 11 years {wow Husband and I have been together a long time!} and they crack me up.

The new Mr. and Mrs.! Another tear jerker for me. I am so happy that he found a beautiful bride that brings out the best in him!

I'll be posting all of the pictures HERE

A Quick Chicago Trip - Introduction

We had a wonderful trip to Chicago!

We went to museums.

We ate great food.

We people watched.

It was a great little get away.

I'm working on getting some pictures ready to share with the details. I'll be back with the particulars a little later!

What To Do, What To do...

Husband and I are headed to Chicago for a long weekend.  We're hoping to enjoy each other's company before the school sends him off to his psych rotation in Far-Away-City Mid-West.  

So here's the question...

What should we do while we're there?

I know I want to see some art and eat some really good food and stay centralized around the navy pier/aquarium area, but I have no direction other than that.  So for you ladies from Chicago...

What are some really amazing restaurants (reasonably priced?  We love to try new food!

What museums, parks, stores might you suggest that are out of the ordinary (like the Sears Tower, I've seen it and I'm over it)? 

Where the Weekend Went

Well the boys survived the bachelor party and I kept myself quite busy.  It was a productive weekend and full of hard work.  Here's what I accomplished...

I have a rather large garden that was completely over taken by weeds.  Mother and I spent the day Sunday weeding, rototilling, and planting.  Hopefully in a few weeks I will get lots of fresh veggies!  

But why, you may ask, did we do all of this on Sunday?  What happened to Saturday?  Because of little brothers, that's why.  

My little brother has a problem with his role in this world.  He acts like the world revolves around him.  When the world doesn't bend to his desires immediately things go down hill quickly.

For starters, he invited himself to visit (which would be ok), then he didn't do any work with us after they got here.  The last straw?  He has no respect for my house and thinks that he can smoke where ever he wants.  (Don't even get me started on him smoking.  It is not allowed in my house!)  So mother had to drive him home (3 hours there and back).

I worry about my brother, but if this is how he wants to live his life I am done trying to get involved.  If he wants to live in my mother's basement, for the rest of his life, without a job, so be it!

Shortly after all of this, some serious family drama that no one would ever expect developed with another part of the family. 

Please keep my little brother in your prayers.  

And please keep this other part of my family in your prayers too.  I think things can be reconciled, but every one needs all the help they can get.  

I Don't Envy Him

Husband is taking his licensing boards test today.

He has been studying for this day since the beginning of May.

He left an hour early to get there.

It probably started it at about 6 this morning.

Its supposed to last until about 3 this afternoon.

He's not allowed anything with him but his ID.

I do not envy him! Please keep him and his test taking abilities in your thoughts today! It is a very important day for his career!

**Edited to Add**

Husbnad finished the test early and is headed to a The Boy's for his bachelor party (And Mother's coming to visit me)!  We won't find out how he did on the test for 6 WEEKS!  I'm sure he did amazing though.  As for this weekend Cross you fingers with me that Husband forgets his wallet at home...they're headed to the casinos...

Where Have I Gone Off To?

So I haven't posted in a while.

I don't know if you all have been missing me, but I have missed this little blog. And sadly I may miss it for a little bit longer...But don't worry I'll be back just as soon as I can!

There is just a lot going to in my life right now! (Good things are happening!)

Here's what I've been up to -

Traveling to see friends and family

Taking pictures for people (of which I'm hopping to post soon)

Working on getting a job before my contract expires in August

-I had an interview this morning and I think if went great! Hopefully I can post about it later!

Husband takes his national licencing boards test on Friday!

-I'm trying to stay out of the house (with no internet!!! a serious problem) so he can study

Get Husband ready for his fist rotation

-This ones a problem

-We just found out that he will have to live in crappy town-o-mid-west the entire month

-This means he will not be at home for a whole month! And after talking to class mates possibly most of the year! That would be more bearable if we had known this sooner than 2 weeks before the year started!

And because I feel bad for abandoning you and you all deserve a pretty picture here's a sneak peak of my recent pictures!

To Remember, Honor and Thank

I value my freedom...my freedom to live, to worship the God I choose, to say what is on my mind, to get an education, to choose my own profession, to have the size family that I want, to wear what I want, to leave to house without an escort, to protect myself, to tell my government when I think they have have screwed up without fear, to vote

I value the freedom living in America gives me

Thank you to any one who has served to protect these freedoms

Thank you to every one serving to protect these freedoms

Thank you to every one who has lost a loved one for these freedoms

Thank you to every one who is separated from a loved one while they are fighting for our freedom here.  I pray they return to you safely

From Pour l'Amour De...

Thank You

I do not have a family member of my own in service over seas, but having gone to a school that had a large military preparation focus and with so many of them going on to the service and  academies every year I worry and pray for each of them every day.

Terron, Eric, Brandon, and Bumbee (and jlc) thank you for what you are doing every day

Neil - Thank you for your sacrifice.  You will always be a hero every one who knew you and some who didn't...

Niko the Nikon Goes to the Zoo

This weekend was very exciting!!  I mentioned for my birthday a few weeks ago that all I put on my wish list was this camera.  I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get it, but I asked everyone to skip the gifts this year in lieu of cash.  I felt bad asking for money for my birthday, but I knew the only way that I was going to be able to get my camera was to pool all of my gifts from Christmas last year and my birthday until I had enough saved up!

Well let me introduce you to...

Niko the Nikon!

{Please forgive the backwards picture.  I took this one with photobooth on my Mac}

Friday Night - Husband and I went to the bank after work and headed downtown to the camera store to take a look. The store was closed. I was bummed. Husband suggested that we stop by Best Buy on the way home just to hold look at it until Saturday when the store was open.  Well we learned a pretty good lesson.

When you know your stuff and have done your research you can haggle prices with Best Buy!

Do you all know that and I'm just behind the times?  Because I was shocked when they said how much they would knock off the top!  And then we talked them into throwing in a few additional things too!  So I was only expecting to get the camera body and use my old lenses, but I walked away with a brand new lens and a large memory card!  I was all smiles, like a 5 year old with ice cream, Mickey Mouse, and a balloon!

Saturday - We had plans to meet a couple at the zoo and the gardens.  What perfect timing to buy a new shiny camera!  Here's a few pictures courtesy of Niko...

For a better look check out the site...http://photobucket.com/j-photography_16-May-2009

After the zoo we had a wonderful lunch {best.pizza.ever} and some great conversation.  It was great to be able to spend the day with both of them.  He will no doubt be busy busy when he starts residency next month!  Congratulations Doctor!

I spent the rest of the weekend taking pictures, processing pictures, and trying to remember what all of the 5 million buttons on Niko can do!  There are so many things to learn!

Pom-Pom Flowers

I simple love this...

Images by: Our Labor of Love

I usually don't like up post wedding pictures, but seriously!  I love this overly simple picture of a beautifully simple flower.  Come to think of it, I just loved the details of this wedding {and adore the black, white, yellow and green colors!}.  I'll even post a few pictures from Our Labor of Love of the place settings...

I will find a special occasion to use these ideas.  I swear!  I don't know what part I like the best, but check out the 'chandelier'!!

A Mother of a Day for Mothers

I don't know why, but I've never really thought that Mother's Day was that important.  

Maybe that feeling comes because of my views towards days like Valentine's Day - if you need one day out of the year to remind you to do something special for some one, then your not doing your job every day the rest of the year.

Maybe its because I'm not a mother...

I prefer to celebrate birthdays!  And they are always a big deal to me.  Birthdays are the day that God gave the gift of your life to the rest of the world and I think that that is a big deal.  

That being said I still feel bad about having to split the day between both families.  Because our familes are in the same city there is no good reason why we shouldn't be able to visit with both sides for occasions.  I just feel like we're always running out on one to get to the other and then we have to run out at the end of the day too in order to get home in time to get to bed.  

The whirl wind trips to Home Town always leave me feeling fluster!  How do you make it to visit the families?  Do you try to split your time or alternate between them for the different holidays? 

Image by: [b]ecker

One of my favorite photographers.

Its Quick, Its Easy, Its...Home-made? From Scratch?

I just had to share this amazing recipe with every one!

Quick and easy pre-made meals.  There is nothing better when you get home after a long day knowing that dinner will be ready in 15 minutes and you can get on with the night!  

I love the quick pre-made meals from the freezer section, don't you?

You can just pull them out of the freeze rip it open and heat it in the pan.  {Then, if you're lucky, pass it off as home made?}  But they just cost so dang much!  If you ever had to feed Husband you would understand just how much a quick prepared meal is going to cost you!  It really would be cheaper to just pick up some fast food on the way home!

Husband is studying so hard and working out every day so he needs his brain food as well as his muscle food.  Due to his unbelievable appetite he could eat one of those pre-made meals for two all by himself and still be hungry!  {I do not envy Mom-in-law for having to feed him through his teen years.  She could tell you some stories about hungry boys!}

To solve my dilemma I came up with this wonderful recipe.  We have it at least once a  week and I spend about one Sunday every other month doing the prep work!

Home-made Chicken in Garlic Butter Sauce Skillets!

Here's how to make your own!

Ingredients

CHICKEN

-Chicken breasts

-Olive oil

-Herbs {We like marjoram and/or tarragon}

-Paprika and/or chili powder

-Salt and Pepper to taste

SAUCE

-Olive oil

-2 shallots

-5 Cloves of Garlic minced

-1/2 cup {one stick} butter

-16 cups {4 boxes} of chicken stock

-Herbs about 2 teaspoons {We like marjoram and/or tarragon}

-Salt and Pepper to taste

PASTA

-A box of any kind of pasta you like!

Veggies

-Store bought frozen stir fry veggies!  I like the asparagus mix from Walmart for some thing like 89 cents each!

On Prep Day-Chicken

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Place chicken on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil.  Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, herbs, and paprika/chili powder to taste.  Bake until cooked thoroughly and allow to cool.  Cut the chicken into chunks and freeze in single portions in zip baggies.

On Prep Day-Sauce

Saute shallots and garlic in olive oil until softened.  Melt butter and add chicken stock.  Add herbs and salt and pepper to taste.  Let cook for 1 hour and allow to cool.  Fill sandwich size baggies with sauce and lay flat in the freezer.  {This makes it reaaly easy to stack and organize in the freeze}

On Prep Day-Pasta

Boil pasta according to box directions and allow to cool.  Place pasta in single use portions in plastic containers and freeze.  {I can usually get 2 meals from one box}

For Dinner

In a pan combine the number of each in order to feed everyone of the CHICKEN, PASTA, SAUCE, and VEGGIES.  Before turning on the heat, mix well 1/4 cup chicken stock with 1 teaspoon flour and add to the pan.  Turn on the heat and stir until heated through!  {Usually takes mine about 15 minutes, but I am making A LOT}

I hope you like this recipe as much as we do!  Let me know what you think about it!  

A Klassy Weekend?

This weekend was a whirl wind of driving, cramming in way to many errands and special events, and more driving.  {Especially since Husband's finals are this week!}

We went to Home-Town Mid-West Friday for Nephew Sweet Pea's 2nd birthday party!  He is just to darn cute!  Unfortunately, I left the camera at home and didn't get any pictures of him opening his clicking, noise-making Tonka Truck or just being his cute self.  

Saturday was a wedding of one of Husband's friends that he grew up with.  It was a pretty wedding and I think it was exactly what the bride wanted!  She looked so beautiful!  And the cake was gorgeous! {Again no camera = no pictures}  The only concerns I had about the entire thing were a few of the guests...

Here are a few "observations" that I made during the wedding festivities...

The Church - While most everyone was dresses beautifully fitting for the setting of the traditional church where the ceremony was held, there were a few that just weren't.  

1.  I'm sorry, but I don't think it is appropriate to wear such short dresses in the Lord's house!  We're talking just a slight turn to quickly in one direction and the minister would get an eye full!

2.  It is never appropriate to wear white to a wedding unless it is your own!  {And no, even if it is an extremely short dress it does not make it ok}

3.  You may be proud of your baby bump, but it doesn't mean that you should wear a full length, bright red, spandex dress with two slits up to mid-thigh.  And if you choose to, please for the love of everyone around you wear a thong or some seamless undergarments...

The Reception - I may be labeled a fuddy duddy for what I'm about to say but...I wasn't really looking forward to the reception.  I knew what it was going to be like and I'm over that kind of behaviour.  It was just a large party.  I mean a college house party, a how much beer can you consume party.  I know that its exactly what the bride and groom wanted though and I'm glad that they had the party that they wanted.  Its just not fun to me any more.  

Here are a couple of images that illustrate my point.  {These are pictures that I've pulled off of Facebook and blurred the faces}  I wish I had a picture of the ladies taking a knee and chugging their drinks in honor to the happy couple...

My question is when is it no longer age appropriate {if it ever was} to drain the kegs right there in front of your parents and grandparents?  

Now, I'm all for throwing a great party to celebrate such a wonderful day, but maybe sticking to a classy party and not a Klassy party...

What do you think?  When is it time to grow up?  Would you ever wear a short dress in church?  Is ok to keep partying like you did in college?  

Shopping Did Not Equal Happiness

I'm having the same little issue as the Mojito Maven.  I just don't seem to have any inspiration lately.  I've just been enjoying catching up on my reader and commenting away, but my own posting has been seriously lacking!  This experience last night didn't help either...

If you follow me on twitter you know I was excited!  Shopping to actually buy something for a change and not just looking at the pretty things in the windows!

I LOVE shopping.  Its one of my favorite things.  It always cheers me up.

Not last night.  It was depressing.  

Nothing fit. Everything seems to be blousey which I think is pretty on some people, but when you have a little waist and a larger top...they just make you look like you're 'hiding something'.  And pieces that are supposed to be fitted don't come in my size...

{The one dress that I absolutely lurved and it fit well was a maxi dress from Express.  I just couldn't justify paying $79.50 for a dress made out of t-shirt material!}

Its a frustrating dilemma.  {Any hints on where to find some cute clothes on a student's budget?}  And yes, I tried Forever21 and the like.  I am shocked at some of the scraps of fabric that they are trying to sell as dresses!  

In the end I think I'm taking back almost everything that I bought last night.  

Hopefully some inspiration and better shopping will be headed my way now that it is May {I can't believe it is already.}

Thanks for listening to my rant...

Birthday Recap

The birthday was a good one this year!  

The celebration started by going to bed early because I had a bad sore throat.  We got up early to help a friend move and I was already starting to lose my voice.  

On the way home Husband took me to the garden store to pick out my presents!  I got four clematises that I planted around the pergola.  Eventually they will climb all over it and give as a nice shaded retreat in our backyard!

Mother came to visit and took us out to dinner.  It was a quiet dinner because I couldn't really talk, but they're good at reading hand motions!  Dinner was at Cheesecake factory, nothing to special, but the lemon raspberry cheesecake was absolutely wonderful!  

{image via}

When we got home we found out that Husband had snuck out behind our backs and got me another little present...an expansion to one of my favorite boar games Ticket to Ride.  {I love Husband!}

Sunday {Birthday} morning I spent some much need rest in the hammock under out pergola.  It was heavenly, but I had to go in and clean the house for company later in the day.

Yes I cleaned the house for my birthday.  And you would too if Grandma-in-Law was coming to visit.  We're talking the old school of thought, passive aggressive, immaculate cleaner, I can hold a grudge with the best of them Grandma.  Yes she still has a carpet rack and will use it!  The thing is that she's legally blind, but can see more than she lets anyone else know.  So I cleaned and scrubbed and Lord knows vacuumed out all of the footsteps, then locked the dogs out in the yard to keep it that way until they arrived!

The In-Laws took me to dinner at Buca di Beppos.  I thought it was a safe choice because I know Grandma-in-Law likes Italian, but hates new places.  {I was not choosing Applebees, her favorite, for my birthday dinner just to make her happy!}  Well it turns out she didn't much like Buca's either...Oh well.

After everyone left I fell asleep.  My voice was pretty much gone, I was worn out, and I really wanted to sleep.  

It was a pretty good day considering I was sick, but I would have liked it if my Dad would have called.  He always forgets things like birthdays.  Oh well, he'll remember in the next couple of days and give me a call then.

And amazingly I didn't take one picture the entire weekend!  Highly unusual...

How was everyone else's weekend?