Friday, May 28, 2010

Back Home Again, in Indiana

It's Friday!!

I'm so excited for the long weekend, aren't you?  Matt and I are heading home to Indy tonight after work.  I'm ridiculously happy because my entire family will be home, including my brother who lives in Colorado...who I have not seen since Christmas.  It's going to be a memorable weekend for sure!

I am swamped with plans on Saturday but I am most looking forward to Sunday.  I'm from Speedway...and it's Indy 500 weekend people! 


There is no bigger event in the life of a Speedway resident than this race.  The traffic is insane, the weather is hot, there are thousands of people walking the streets, and the beer is a flowin'.  I am looking forward to spending the race at home with my mom and perhaps getting in a walk with her.  We can hear the cars from our house and that is enough race experience for me.  The rest of our family will be at the race.  Then we're meeting up for a rousing night of family games which always proves to be just the best time!

I hope everyone has a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!!

XOXO

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Girls Week!

West Palm Beach recap...headed your way!

After arriving Wednesday evening, we rested up for our week of fun in the sun.  Thursday was spent lounging by the pool.  Later on, Matt's aunt gave us a tour around the city.  We got to see Trump's house (did you know he has a golf course on his property?  yeah...) and a bunch of other houses with amazing views of the water.  Could you even imagine living on the beach?  I mean, whoa. 

Phyllis forced us to get all posey with our pictures.  This is not typical.

Friday we spent at the beach.  The water was so perfect, clear and warm.  I'm not a huge ocean person (the thought of things swimming around with me kind of grosses me out...) but it was enjoyable enough.  I got a lot of reading done and the weather was just perfect.


We finished the day with a movie...Letters to Juliet.  It was cute.  Predictable but cute.  And the guy was super hot...with an accent.  Always a plus.

Saturday we went out and got some yummy truffles and drove around the city a little more.  We spent the rest of the day lounging by the pool.  I finished the day with some delicious potato crusted salmon.  Yum!  You seriously cannot beat fish by the water.  

Sunday was our last full day so we spent it at the beach.  I was pretty much sunned out though so I spent a lot of the day underneath the shade of the pier.  A girl can only take so much 90 degree weather, you know?  We cooled off by the pool for the rest of the day and then enjoyed another dinner by the water.

Afterward we walked the beach one last time.  More posed pictures on the way...
Isn't Phyllis just the most beautiful little thing in the whole world?  Could not love her more...

We picked up some essentials on the way home and finished the evening with LOST.  Absolutely perfect.
Yes, they were as fabulous as they look...

After lunching in Fort Lauderdale before our flight...we said our goodbyes.  I could not be more thankful to Matt's aunt and uncle for letting us stay with them.  It was incredibly sweet and I'm so glad I had the time to get to know them better and visit.  

But I was very glad to be home to see my hubs and to sleep in my own bed!  Nothing beats a big hug and a snuggle from your love.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Back in the Saddle

Morning friends!  Oh how I've missed you!!

I'm back from vacation, completely exhausted, but rested at the same time.  Does that even make sense? 

I can't wait to tell you all about it!  And I have a few pictures that I managed to snag here and there.  We had beautiful weather every day and our hosts could not have been more accommodating.  And yummy food.  And cupcakes!  Yum!

I'm crazy behind with Reader (I may have 410 unread posts...that makes my head hurt!) so hang with me!  Work's been a little crazy so I'll catch up as soon as I can :)

So tell me, what's new!?!  Talk to me friends.  I've missed you!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Friends That Last

I'm still lounging around in Florida for the rest of the week...

But I thought I'd tell you a little bit about bestie Jill who is with me!

Jill is one of two people I talk to from high school.  I'm of the understanding that you either have college friends or high school friends.  And I definitely have college friends.  But Jill's stuck.  And AJ, he's our other friends, he's stuck too.  They're people I can go months without seeing and pick up in exactly the same place and time when we are reunited.  I feel more myself with them than anyone else...except maybe Hubs of course :)  Probably a good thing, right?

So instead of doing the whole gift thing for Christmas, the three of us go out to a fancy dinner.  No husbands, no significant others, nothing.  Just the three of us.  It's a great opportunity for us to catch up and enjoy our time together like the old days.  We don't get to hang out a lot because I live so far away...but we make it work.  Jill and I always joke that she is my longest relationship :)  Ha!

So here's a little look back at our Christmases of yore.


Christmas 2007.  I cannot believe I am posting this.  For some reason I felt the need to stick my butt way out in this picture.  I have no idea why.  It's huge as it is...and I felt the need to accentuate it?  Idiot.




Dude, AJ dressed up a lot nicer the year before, huh?  Ha!  At least it's a step up from the sweatshirt and sweatpants we usually get :)



We noticed this year we always stand the exact same way.  Weird?  We were also totally pissed that Jill's parents were not home so we didn't have anyone to take our picture in front of their tree like we ALWAYS do.  How dare they not rearrange their schedules to accommodate our Christmas dinner!  So we went to AJ's parents' house instead.  It'll have to do...

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!  I'm flying back Monday evening so hopefully I can catch up with you on Tuesday! 

XOXO

And yes, I just did a post about Christmas.

In May.

When I'm at the beach.

I'm crazy.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Sunny Shores

As you are reading this...


I am waking up here...



Last night, bestie Jill and I flew into Fort Lauderdale and made our way to West Palm Beach!  Matt's aunt and uncle live there and were nice enough to let us crash in their condo...so weather permitting...we will be enjoying sunny 88 degrees for the next few days!

This trip could not have come at a better time.  I am in some serious need of vacay from work and am so excited to spend some quality time with Jill.  Love her!

Trip to Gulf Shores, 2008

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bake Sale for a Cure

Hey friends! 
I had such a crazy, busy weekend...and work has been so...well...awful...I am just now getting a chance to catch up with you!  Don't you hate when life just gets in the way?  And as an aside, if you had a masters in biology...what would you want to do?  Go.

As I mentioned last week, I hosted a bake sale at work with all of the money going to benefit Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.  So I spent the weekend baking and truffling.  I ended up with over 50 cookies and about 150 truffles.  Insane.




They all turned out really well and my co-workers could not have been more gracious with their donations.  I'm so glad I did it even though I was not enjoying it on Sunday.  At all.

I also found time to chuck out an 11 mile walk...which almost killed me...and made me mighty nervous about what I have gotten myself into.  Eek!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Spring is Here!

I had a last minute cake order come in on Wednesday for a simple birthday cake celebrating one of my co-workers.  I went with a springy look seeing as it's May and all :)  I think it turned out really well!


 

 It's white cake with buttercream icing.  I cut the daisies out of fondant and at the last minute decided to add some smaller ones to the top.  They are my favorite :)




I'm hosting a BAKE SALE FOR THE CURE! this week at work and have been taking orders for some goodies to make over the weekend.  I can't wait to share them with you!  My kitchen will be a busy, busy place for the next few days, but I am really excited about where all the money is going.  Being involved in the 3-Day has opened my eyes to just how many people really do struggle with breast cancer every single day.  I'm honored to be able to help in any way I can.

So my weekend will include walking, baking, walking, and baking some more!  And a trip to the grocery thrown in there as well.  But nicer, warmer weather is on the horizon so I'm looking forward to it!  

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

You Take the Mallow...

Camping.


I used to go camping with my family several times a year.  But I would say the last time I went was, oh, over 10 years ago.  And Matt couldn't even remember if he had ever been camping.  We're more hotel kind of people, you know?  T.V.  Warm bed.  Showers. 

Clearly you can see where this is going.

We got to the campground Saturday morning and hustled to get up the tent.  We saw rain on the horizon and the winds were picking up.  Lucky for you, I volunteered to document the process instead of really "helping." 

 
Look at my honey hammering away!  He's a natural!


 
All done!  Isn't it huge?  Apparently it can fit 9 people.  I beg to differ...but 4...yes.


 
 I helped build those doors by the way.  No really.  I did.


 
Okay, I did a lot more of this.  But I was on vacation!


After we set up the tent, we headed out to find some lunch.  Geneva on the Lake is a really cute little town that I'm sure is all hustle and bustle during the summer time.  On a cold, May, early afternoon.  Not so much. We stopped in the only open food joint, Eddie's.  It was awesome.

 
 
And then we saw this sign.  Classy.  And yes, we're planning a trip back.

After lunch, we headed out to the wineries.  There were billions to choose from (yes billions) so we went with some recommendations I got from a friend.  So glad we did!  

 
Do you see all the cheese?  $8.  I know! Insanely good deal.


 
If you didn't know, my husband does not drink.  At all.  So at this point in our adventure he was starting to get a little annoyed.  What a good sport, huh?


Back to the campground we went...hoping our tent was still standing from the monsoons we just witnessed.  It was.  
We played a few games and then decided it was time to start the fire and make dinner.

   
I did this instead of help with the fire.  Hey, I did set up all four chairs there in the background....which involved taking them out of their bags and unfolding them.  Don't give me that face.  There were FOUR!


 
Did I mention yet it was freezing?  Okay, just checking.



 
Check out the hot dog I made all by myself!


S'mores!!  The whole reason I came!  Oh, and to spend time with my family...blah, blah, blah.


Now, the nighttime was when this whole camping thing got a little sketchy.  Sister and BIL were kind enough to loan Matt and me two twin air mattresses that we pushed together.  Which was great in theory.  But in order for me to stay warm in my three layers + winter coat...I had to be touching Matt at all times.  Seriously.  And do you think the two of us can fit on a twin mattress?  Answer, no.  So I slept in the "crack" almost all night.  And then it was Matt's turn.  I remember waking up in the middle of the night and having this conversation:
Jenny:  "I hate camping."
Matt:  "Me too."
Jenny:  "Next time we come here we're staying at The Lodge."
Matt:  "Yeah, we're more room service kind of people."

So after maybe 2 hours of sleep, we woke up, made some breakfast by the fire, and packed up.  How we got that huge tent back into that little bag, I will never know.


So will we be going camping again anytime soon?

Perhaps.

Maybe in July.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Charlie Bit Me

Has anyone else seen this??

At first I thought it was stupid. 

But then I was forced to listen to the second video and have been cracking up ever since.





Ha!  My favorite part is when Charlies just laughs and laughs...

And who doesn't love a British accent?

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Casino Royale

Last weekend, my sister and her hubs came to visit!  They arrived right when I got off work so we had some time Friday afternoon to hang.  Although the cupcake shop we went to only had three left...all Lemon Blueberry by the way (yuck!), we still had a nice time.  I showed off our model home and we picked up some last minute camping supplies.  Read: candy.

Friday evening we headed over to one of the mansions on the east side for a Junior League fundraiser.  It was a casino night...which ended up being kind of lame...but we still had a good time.  Even if I did have to watch two magicians.  Am I the only one who is creeped out by magicians?  And even if I can't figure out how, I know they're fake...so I think they're just liars.  Matt insists they're magic.  I insist he is also a liar.




This was the view from the back door of the house.  Gorgeous, huh?




Dave and I paid $10 to do a wine pull...and pulled a wine worth $14.79!  We kept telling everyone how we made money, but Matt was insistent that we actually lost $10.  He's lame.


Saturday morning we got up bright and early to go camping!  To say the car was full would be an understatement. 




And because somehow all of the rest of my pictures did not upload...I will leave you in suspense until tomorrow about how the camping adventure went.

But I will give you a hint. 

Rain.

60 mph winds.

Low 30's at night.