The Newlywed Game

NEW BLOG!!!

2008-10-11T18:50:00.000-04:00

The wait is over... Excited to see what you were waiting for? Here is my new and improved blog:

www.aprilziegler.com

This blog will be retired, so check the new blog for any future updates. If you read this blog through a reader, don't forget to change RSS feed. I hope you enjoy the new look... Happy reading!

Something New...

2008-10-01T09:02:00.002-04:00

I know this blog is being neglected. And yes, I realize that I missed Monster Monday. My Mom reminded me of it. But I've been busy working on something new to be revealed shortly. Something fresh and fun. Something that is a little more 'me'. I'll keep you posted!

Adios Summer...

2008-09-25T10:06:00.002-04:00

This photo was taken on Sunday, which would have been the last official day of summer. Can you believe it? It saddens me to have to say goodbye to this delicious summertime light. Here's hoping that autumn light is just as yummy...

I like this age a whole lot...

2008-09-24T11:26:00.002-04:00

When they're old enough to be plopped down in random locations but not quite fast enough to get up and run away. And they're still attracted to funny noises behind the camera. Apparently, they grow out of that...

Meet Tucher...

2008-09-23T13:49:00.003-04:00

Look who I got to hang out with on Sunday... Tucher. He's only 8 weeks old and is already pretty much the cutest little ball of fur you'll ever meet. And totally worth getting up every hour on the hour to go outside, right Judy?

A Very Special Monster Monday...

2008-09-22T09:54:00.002-04:00

Today is a very special Monster Monday... One where Chloe would like to wish her Grammy a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I love you, Mom... and I hope you have a great birthday. Can't wait for the Phils game tonight! Woot!

Chasing Hot Air Balloons...

2008-09-21T22:46:00.002-04:00

When I was young, I remember being mesmerized by hot air balloons. I suppose that most kids are. We would try to follow them, to figure out where they'd land. I always wanted to ride in one. Now that I'm older, I'd probably be scared to ride in one. Funny how things work out. I saw this one when I was out on my deck so I tried to zoom in on it... I didn't chase it, this time.

Happy Birthday, love!

2008-09-15T09:40:00.005-04:00

Dearest Kevin,

I hope you have a fabulous birthday, despite the fact that we're working when we should be celebrating. Granted, this year we're not in an amazing location like in years past... last year we spent in San Francisco, the year before in Italy... but I think we can both appreciate the fact that we get to celebrate another year together. And that rocks.

Thank you for being the most amazing husband I could ask for. For the countless dinners cooked, dishes washed, loads of laundry done, and housecleanings. For always making me smile. For the surprise cards and flowers for no reason. For always finding my car keys, and any other things I may have misplaced. For doing the grocery shopping. For the backrubs, even when your own hands hurt. For working so hard that you're exhausted by 7pm. For humoring me and my camera, even though you don't like your photo taken much less posted on the internet. For understanding that my messyness inherent. For motivating me to get off my behind. For always supporting my decisions. For mushroom omlettes. For taking Chloe out on Saturday mornings so I can stay in my jammies just a little bit longer. For the many, many things that I haven't mentioned. For being the strength that has carried me through what has arguably been the most challenging year of my life. For everything that you are.

You deserve the most wonderful birthday ever.

I love you, boa. Happy 31st.

Meat coma...

2008-09-14T12:24:00.002-04:00

Last night we went out for Kev's birthday dinner. His actual birthday is tomorrow. But last night we celebrated. We went to Fogo de Chao in Philadelphia. It's a Brazilian steakhouse where Gauchos come to your table with different cuts of meat on skewers that are carved at your table. You can try, or not try, anything. Each person has a two-sided card, red and green, so when you're ready for more you turn to the green side and when you've had enough, you turn to the red. When I first heard of it I knew it'd be perfect for Kev.

We started out with the insanely large salad bar and lots of veggies. And then we turned our cards to green. The Gauchos swarmed in on us. They were like seagulls at the shore and within minutes our plates were filled to the brim with filet mignon, picanha (garlic sirloin), alcatra (top sirloin), fraldinha (bottom sirloin), costela (beef ribs), cordeiro (leg of lamb), costela de porco (pork ribs), pork sausages, chicken drumsticks, and chicken and filet wrapped in bacon. I was stunned. Where do you even start? Along with the massive plate of meat, they bring each table a basket of warm cheese bread, fried bananas, polenta, and seasoned mashed potatoes. It was fun to get to try different things, and then go for more of your favorites. It was a fun experience, something different, and Kev enjoyed his birthday dinner. I don't think I've ever been so full...

Festivities...

2008-09-09T21:32:00.003-04:00

Happy 3rd Birthday Chloemonster! Despite what you'd think by her expression, Chloe's birthday was FUN! Presents, birthday hats, balloons, and doggy birthday cake. Yes, I said cake. I baked my very first cake EVER for Chloe's birthday on Sunday. It was made from a recipe that I found online specifically for dogs. Perfect. She loved it.

I took some photos throughout the day. As a disclaimer, they have little to no photographic merit. They were merely to document the good time that we had celebrating our girl's day...

Everyone's favorite part of baking... Licking the beaters!

And the final product:

Looks yummy, no? I tried it. Not so much. Chloe seemed to enjoy her piece but I wouldn't recommend it for human consumption. Here's the recipe if you'd like to bake for your own pup:

Peanut Butter Carrot Cake

1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/3 cup honey, 1 egg.

Mix all ingredients and then bake at 350 for 30 minutes in a greased 8in round cake pan. I actually doubled the recipe and used a 9in pan and it made a big honkin cake.

Frosting was made by blending cottage cheese and adding a small amount of peanut butter.

Here's a photo of her birthday loot... Lucky girl...

It's hard work being the birthday girl...

Birthday Girl...

2008-09-07T22:34:00.002-04:00

Doesn't she look thrilled? Ha. My baby girl is 3 today. Happy Birthdy Chloemonster! I can hardly believe it. She is still so much a puppy. I have a feeling she always will be. We love her to pieces and couldn't imagine our family without her. She had a lovely birthday today, without a doubt. More photos to come of all the festivities...

Holiday weekend...

2008-09-02T18:00:00.002-04:00

The long weekend completely threw me off and I was just about to write my Monster Monday post. But today is Tuesday. Doh.

Thank goodness for long weekends. We caught up on some much needed rest and spent some time outdoors enjoying the weather. Yesterday morning was bright and sunny so we decided to hit up the Perkiomen trail with the Chloe girl. Seems that half our town had the same idea. It was PACKED. Bikers galore. Chloe gets a little sketched out when the bikers fly by her. And there was some drama when she got bit in the leg by a bee. {do bees really bite?} All in all, it was a good excursion...

iPhone...

2008-08-30T10:44:00.003-04:00

This is the first post from my new iPhone! Woot! I'm so amused that I'm posting from our couch. Though I haven't figured out how to include photos.

Big news - I got a new job! Same company, new position. Movin on up. I decided that an iPhone would be the perfect congratulatory gift to myself. I love it already... in a very unhealthy way.

Monster Monday...

2008-08-25T10:37:00.002-04:00

So, I missed the Monster Monday post last week and no one even called me out on it! Didn't you miss having Chloe's adorable face to brighten your Monday morning? Here she is on a walk. There's nothing that she loves more than going for walks. Except maybe sticks. And her soccer ball. And fridge packs. Actually, she has a love/hate relationship with the fridge packs.

Chillaxing...

2008-08-24T20:00:00.002-04:00

I spent most of today just relaxing on my lounger, enjoying the late summer sunshine on our deck, and reading. It was bliss. Sometimes it's nice to have a day to do absolutely nothing. Chloe agrees...

Adventures in Dogsitting...

2008-08-17T21:14:00.002-04:00

My Mom agreed to dogsit for a friend while his family was on vacation. This meant that their two chocolate labs came to stay at my parents... joining their two pugs and subjecting them to my camera. Chaos...

Sushi masters...

2008-08-16T20:26:00.004-04:00

Today was my belated birthday. For my real birthday back in June, Kev surprised me with a Sushi Workshop at a local culinary school. What a GREAT idea. Big props to Kev. The first open class was today. I was a little intimidated... my talent in the kitchen is admittedly limited. But the thought of being able to make my own sushi was enticing. The class was so much FUN! The instructor was great at explaining and demonstrating how things are done... even a cooking novice like myself could catch on. And I can honestly say that this is something that we'll definitely try on our own. We came into the room to Miso Soup and Salt and Pepper Edamame and after snacking a bit we started the workshop. We learned how to make Cucumber Rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls, California Rolls and Hand Rolls. And we ended the workshop by all sitting at an adorably set up table to enjoy our very own sushi and some sake. Good times!

The Viking Cooking School has schools in several different states.... I recommend this class if there's a location near you! And I only have two photos from my point&shoot... I got way too caught up in the sushi-making and completely forgot about my camera.

Wasting time before class started...

and a kind-of-hard-to-see view of the classroom...

Rough day...

2008-08-12T20:49:00.002-04:00

This is a scene that I've grown accustomed to... Sleeping husband. Half full bottle of beer. Both still upright. Ha! I can't tell you how many times he's fallen asleep like this and we have yet to have a beer casualty. Talent, I tell ya...

Monster Monday...

2008-08-11T17:47:00.002-04:00

I've decided to institute a new blog segment called Monster Monday. I'll {try to} share a few photos of Chloe and her antics every Monday. After all, what better way to begin the work week than with a dose of the Chloemonster? It makes me happy just thinking about it. This doesn't mean that I won't share photos of Chloe on other days of the week as well... as we all know that I don't have too many willing photo subjects and she is easily bribed.

Chloe, doing her best imitation of Edith Ann; Lily Tomlin's character from back in the Laugh-In days...

Remember this? Or am I the only old one here?

Looking quite regal. Or scared to move. You decide...

View from our front porch...

2008-08-10T10:08:00.000-04:00

Seeing this out our front windows made a rainy day so much more bearable...

Just because...

2008-08-08T09:57:00.000-04:00

He makes me smile. Big. Goofy. Smiles. He calls it my 'Joker smile.' It can be brought on my many things, like when he brings me sunflowers and a bottle of Malbec for no reason at all. Just because he was thinking of me on the way home from work. Just because he knows that sunflowers remind me of way back when we first started dating and he showed up at my door with flowers for the first time. Just because it's Wednesday. Just because...

Monster shots...

2008-08-05T21:31:00.002-04:00

I thought I'd share some photos of the Chloemonster since I haven't posted much about her recently. She's still getting her fair share of camera time...

And this last one is technically a disaster but it makes me laugh so I'll post it anyway. This is Chloe, mid-bark/bounce. Note that she can not do one without the other. She's funny, that one...

CDs...

2008-08-03T10:26:00.002-04:00

My parents got us a printer for Christmas that allows you to print directly onto a CD. Pretty cool. And so much easier than those labels that you stick to the CD. It's an Epson RX680. Here is my first attempt. Far from perfect but still cute, I think...

Weekend Recap...

2008-07-30T20:09:00.003-04:00

It's a good day when the husband takes the initiative to plan something for us to do. Always fun. Every week Kev watches a show called Digphilly. It's local show that introduces cool restaurants and stores, announces events, and reviews local bands. Last week he saw something on the show that he knew I'd love. So on Saturday he took me to the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown to see a special exhibit... Dog Dogs. It is a collection of over 60 black-and-white photographs taken by photographer Elliott Erwitt between 1946 and 2000. He is the master of candid moments that speak of the relationships involved. Anyone who is a dog lover will feel a connection with these touching, often hilarious photographs. I loved the exhibit. Here is one of my favorite images, taken in 1946 in NYC by the talented Elliott Erwitt...

Two of my favorite things... dogs and photography. My husband is the best. I love that man. Here are a few photos of the museum...

Which one is the real statue? Can barely tell, can you? I'm good...

After wandering the museum, we headed to Main St to do some shopping. We stopped at a bookstore and Kev's favorite record store and ended up in a café for lunch. Who would have thought that shrimp tempura would go so well with strawberries, pineapple and kiwi in sushi form? Genius...

and I will leave you with Kev's face when he grows weary of the camera. It's bound to happen, even after a fun day...

Happy hump day...

2008-07-30T12:08:00.002-04:00

Happy Wednesday! Would be happier if I was on the plane heading to Key West like some lucky people... my Mom, aunt, sister and her boyfriend. But regardless, the work week is half way over and that in itself is something to be happy about...

The self-portrait...

2008-07-27T22:15:00.002-04:00

Fabulous weekend. Photos to share, but first I need to finish up some things around the house. Monday always comes too fast. Congrats to my little sister, who completed her first triathlon today and even won an award. Kick ass. I'm so proud of you!

Here's a photo of the hubs and I from yesterday. It was the infamous attempt at a self-portrait. Didn't quite turn out the way we planned, but sometimes that's for the best...

Our Wedding...

2008-07-26T23:37:00.004-04:00

Only a year and half later, here is the debut of our wedding slideshow. Our photographers get the images to us in a lightening fast two weeks and it takes me this long to put together a slideshow. Terrible, I know. The wedding album, unfortunately, still has not been completed. I'm working on it. Kind of. I have no excuses. Call me narcissistic, but I adore our wedding photos. They make me indescribably happy every time I see them. So I'm mostly posting this so that when I can look back on it whenever my little heart desires. Like most Mondays when I'm wishing that I was anywhere else but my cubicle. I hope you enjoy it as well...

Photo credit: the amazing, Del Sol Photography

Bee magnet...

2008-07-23T20:55:00.002-04:00

Lavender is a bee magnet. There is a patch of lavender in our garden that has become completely infested with bees. They love it. Who can blame them? It's tall, beautiful, smells lovely... all the things you want in a flower. It does make it intimidating to have to dart past the swarm of bees on your way in/out of the house. But it's kind of an adventure. And the view is well worth the risk...

Bad Momma...

2008-07-22T22:39:00.002-04:00

Notice anything different here... ?

How about here...?

Yes, she is wearing a band-aid on her foot. We had a little mishap with the nail clippers last night. Cutting Chloe's nails has always been my responsibility. I swear, it was the first time that I ever drew blood. I'm sure that I was far more distraught over the whole ordeal than she was. I almost cried. Seriously. And then I convinced Kev that we need to run to the pet store immediately to pick up some 'quick stop' before she loses too much blood. Ok, so it was a bit dramatic. She actually didn't mind wearing the band-aid. And I tried to compensate for my bad momma skills with excess treats for the girl. I wonder if she'll have forgotten about it by tomorrow when I have to finish off the other 14 nails...

Kenny rocks...

2008-07-20T21:50:00.003-04:00

The concert last night was amazing. Kenny Chesney's Poets and Pirates tour, for those non-country music fans. The line-up was Gary Allan, Leann Rimes, Sammy Hagar, Keith Urban, and Kenny Chesney. We got there late and only caught the tail end of Gary's set from the parking lot. We ran towards the stadium singing, "rainy night in Georgia, Kentucky rain, here comes that rainy day feeling again, blue eyes crying in the early morning rain, they go on and on and there's no two the same, oh it would be easy to blame all these songs about rain." Kind of disappointing. I would have preferred to see all of Gary Allan over an hour and a friggin half of Sammy Hagar in the 90 degree heat. Why did they squish him square in the middle of all those country singers anyway? Keith Urban played after Sammy Hagar and he rocks in concert. Love him and his tight jeans. And of course Kenny rocked it out at the end. I probably sent my sister 10 inaudible videos by cellphone during the concert but I was so excited and wanted to share them with her! Safe to say that my first country concert was a very good time...

Keith, in all his yummyness...

Kenny...

Not a warm weather dog...

2008-07-18T21:16:00.002-04:00

Chloe's trying to beat the heat. She doesn't do well in the hot weather. Nor does she do well in the cold. She's a neutral weather kind of dog. This week is supposed to be the hottest of the year. It's unfortunate that tomorrow I'll be in tight quarters with thousands of other people in 97 degree weather. But I'll be damned if I'm going to let this heat wave keep me from seeing Kenny Chesney in concert! Don't worry, I'll be stocking my purse with as much water as I can...

Sweet tooth...

2008-07-16T19:13:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, Kev stopped at the grocery store on the way home from work to pick up a few things for dinner. I opened the bag to find garlic-stuffed olives, which thrilled me. Individually, I love both olives and garlic. But together they are a whole other level of deliciousness. And then I spied this sweet surprise...

He sure knows the way to my heart...

Bad to the Bone...

2008-07-14T16:26:00.005-04:00

Here's the slideshow for Molly's photo shoot. We had a lot of fun playing around, even though she snubbed the dog treats that I tried to use as bribery. Don't be deceived by how innocent she looks in the photos... The song is more of a representation of her attitude. Kidding... mostly...

Fiesta Friday!

2008-07-11T11:00:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. Please send some good travel vibes for my Mom... she's been trying to come home since Wednesday but hasn't been able to get out of the Pensacola airport due to nasty weather. Hope the skies clear today!

Here's Molly, rockin' out in her sombrero...

Slideshow...

2008-07-09T19:18:00.003-04:00

This is the very first slideshow that I was able to make. Pretty excited about it...

Beautiful Gift...

2008-07-07T19:38:00.002-04:00

My friend Krista got me the most thoughtful gift. A very talented co-worker of hers sketched this wedding photo of mine of my Dad and I. Wow. It's breathtaking. I'm sure my photos don't convey the emotion that it captures. I'm most grateful. And I'll cherish it always...

Thank you again, Krista...I can't tell you how much this means to me. Love ya, chica!

Belated Birthday...

2008-07-06T21:35:00.002-04:00

We took these in honor of Lorenz's first birthday. Thankfully, Krista has been very, very patient. We started out around the house...

Yes, I understand that we can only see the top of Lorenz's little noggin in this shot. But I think it's so typical of life with two boys...

The birthday boy...

and the aftermath...

Waking up to...

2008-06-28T10:48:00.001-04:00

This is what I love to wake up to.

Just flowers...

2008-06-27T08:03:00.002-04:00

Just two purty flowers from our Mother's Day visit to Chanticleer gardens. That's right, I said Mother's Day. I'm catching up on my insane backlog of photos... I'm almost through the end of May. Go me!

Mexi-dog...

2008-06-25T21:44:00.003-04:00

I thought those Taco Bell commercials scarred me from being able to like chihuahuas. This one changed my mind. Mandy and her Molly came to visit, complete with a mini-sombrero brought home specially from Mexico for the little princess. More photos of those shenanigans to come. Look at those ears. How can you not love them? Molly has the funniest little diva attitude. Cue will.i.am... "I got it from my mama." Ha.

Decked out...

2008-06-23T20:53:00.003-04:00

We really like our deck. Like, really like it. It's perfect... big enough for the two herb planters, a tomato plant pot, grill, patio furniture... and will hopefully soon include a new lounger so I can kick back with a good book and a mojito. Living the good life.

and me, being stupidly amused by the fact that I can capture my own reflection in our table. Ha! What can I say... I'm easily entertained...

My Rock...

2008-06-21T22:55:00.002-04:00

I don't know what I would have done without this man, helping me hold it all together these past three weeks. He's my rock. And he's not too bad on the eyes either. Bonus!

Bittersweet...

2008-06-14T09:03:00.002-04:00

This weekend is bittersweet....

Today = my BIRTHDAY! My 29th. Let the farewell journey to my 20s begin. =)

Tomorrow = Father's Day.

Why?

2008-06-08T21:21:00.006-04:00

The question that will never have an answer. Why? Someone tell me the reason for taking my Dad when the pain is still so fresh from losing my little brother 7 years ago. I don't understand. I don't think I can do this again.

Last Friday, May 30, my Father passed away. And it still feels far too surreal to type that. I am completely heartbroken. Shocked. Devastated. Lost. In denial. Grieving the loss of the most selfless man that I've ever known. Trying desperately to hold it all together. They initially told us that it was a heart attack. A few days later we found out that it was an accident at work that is still unclear. And now there are so many questions that closure feels out of reach. I want to say that it's unfair. But it never is fair for a girl to lose her Daddy.

The service was Tuesday. It was a beautiful service and I was overwhelmed by the number of people that came out to support us and to show what an amazing influence my Dad had on their life. What an honor to have a Father that has touched so many. He truly was an incredible man. I feel like I'm lacking the words right now to do this post justice. At the service, I read something that I wrote for him last year, so I will leave it here as a tribute to my Dad...

While many kids have fathers that golf, fish, smoke cigars, and wear ties... I do not. I have a Big Don. To say that he's far from conventional is an understatement. But he's the reason that my childhood was so colorful. So full of laughter. So much fun. He's the only Dad I know that drove a baby blue minivan, tinted, complete with a sound system; amp, sub woofers, the whole works. And he'd come cruising down the street with country music blaring and bass pumping. He'd tell dirty jokes in the most inappropriate of times. He's had a mohawk. He started food fights. He once let us dye his hair purple with grape Kool-Aid, and got angry when it just wasn't purple enough. He drove a Harley Davidson. And then a crotch rocket. I've been lucky enough to witness him sing 'I'm too Sexy' in rabbit-skin briefs and a feather headband. He has a tattoo. He had a tongue ring. He laughs at himself. He enjoys life, and doesn't care what anyone else thinks about it along the way. I think this picture pretty much sums it up... This was his choice of attire for my birthday party. At McDonald's. Now that's classic.
He's everything that other Dads were not. And I adore him for that. I wouldn't change a thing. Because beyond the abundance of humor, he is the most kind, hardworking, selfless person that I know. He was always willing to drop anything to help someone in need. I don't know anyone with a bigger heart.

My Dad was 50 years old. Despite reaching this milestone, I think we all knew he would never truly 'grow up'. And that's just one of the many things that we all love and will miss about him. These are some of the memories I will forever cherish.

I love you Daddy...

Photo credit: Del Sol Photography

Here!

2008-05-30T09:48:00.002-04:00

We haven't disappeared! I'm in the process of organizing the millions of photos that we have on our computer. I'm so behind on it that I really need to find a more efficient way to do this. I just finished ordering the photos from our trip to San Francisco in September... so, yeah, I'm a slacker. We've had a great past couple weekends. Mother's Day weekend was wonderful and we got to spend fun times with both of our Moms. Last weekend was fabulous... loooooooove holiday weekends. We need more of them! We went to a Blues Festival/Wine Tasting at Chaddsford Winery. Good times, good wine, a picnic lunch, beautiful weather... happy sigh... But no photos. Kev banned my camera and I was forced to just enjoy my wine and bask in the sun. No complaints.

Chloe enjoying the sun and freedom...

Loss.

2008-05-20T09:26:00.002-04:00

Loss changes. It changes your life, your family, your future. Most of all it changes you. To the core. And you can't ever go back to the person you were before. Today is the 7 year anniversary of losing my little brother. I long for my perfect little world back... parents married for 25 years, a brother, a sister, two dogs, two cats in a happily chaotic suburban home. With one piece missing, it all felt so different. So incomplete. So unfair. What I wouldn't give to once again live in that impenetrable bubble of naivety where it just. couldn't. happen. to. us.

Most of the days after the accident are foggy. There's a moment that I remember with striking clarity. My first time in the car alone, I turned on the radio and heard...

And it's a great day to be alive

I know the sun's still shining when I close my eyes

There's some hard times in the neighborhood

But why can't every day be just this good?

And I knew. It's so characteristic of him. While there are many things that trigger memories, this song is significant to me. Every time I hear it, I know it was my brother's reassurance that I will be ok... and his reminder to appreciate life.

7 years. In some ways it feels so fresh, and in some ways it feels like a lifetime ago that I last heard his laugh. How I miss that uninhibited, often mischievous laugh. As much as I cling to the memories, I try so hard to just embrace my life for what it is now. Because with all that this loss has taken, I can see how very much I've been blessed with...

"Sunny days seem to hurt the most
I wear the pain like a heavy coat
The only thing that gives me hope
Is I know, I'll see you again someday..."
~Kenny Chesney

Birthday Party!

2008-05-18T10:23:00.002-04:00

Krista had a 1st birthday for Lorenz and 3rd birthday for Matty at the Quakertown Train Station. Fun! The boys are almost exactly 2 years apart... separated by only a day. Could there be anything more appropriate than a Thomas the Tank Engine theme? I don't think so...

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T22:00:00.002-04:00

When we woke up this morning, Kev turned to me and said "Happy Mother's Day." I rolled my eyes at him and smiled. He replied, "What? You're a mother to Chloe." Sadly, I don't think that being a puppy momma is widely acknowledged on Mother's Day. It was a sweet thought though...

Security blankets...

2008-05-08T10:37:00.002-04:00

I used to have a Carebear that was my 'security blanket'. It was the brown one with the big heart on it's belly. Tenderheart Bear. I loved that bear... even after it got dirty from being dragged around, the fur got matted down from too much snuggling, and the dog chewed it's cute brown plastic heart-nose off. At 5 years old, I fell on plywood requiring surgery to get all the splinters out of my hands. Tenderheart Bear and I got matching hospital bracelets. I still have that bear somewhere. Despite it's condition, I just can't make myself throw it away.

Chloe has a 'security blanket' of her own. Her soccer ball. I don't know what it is about that ball, but she loves it. She has a whole basket of toys, but the soccer ball is the only thing she wants. She's gone through a few of them by now. Some have been lost due to holes being torn in them, but the majority had to be tossed due to their complete STANKYNESS. Believe me when I tell you, the smell is unbearable. And she loves to play, so she'll bring the ball over and drop it in your lap. You'll pick it up only to find that you've just been stink-handed. This is an odor that lingers and is resilient to hand soap. But you can't be angry because she is just. too. dang. cute. My favorite thing is that she often falls asleep with the soccer ball in her mouth. Like her own little makeshift pacifier. And my heart melts as she kneads her feet, soothing herself to sleep. Love...

Wear Sunscreen...

2008-05-06T13:15:00.000-04:00

I came across this video today and it made me a bit nostalgic. I remember it from back in my college days. Wow. Ten years ago. Pretend you didn't hear that. As humorous as it is, there's a lot that rings true. It's interesting to listen to it now after all these years... I can't help but think about how different it seems today than when I first heard it as my 20 year old self. Enjoy these little nuggets of wisdom. I hope they brighten your day, as they did mine!

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97, Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindsides you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Chorus: Brother and sister together will make it through, Some day a spirit will take you and guide you there, I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there for you And I'll be there just helping you out, whenever I can.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Needles...

2008-05-04T11:12:00.002-04:00

As I lay face down on the massage table, I had second thoughts. And when the little Asian man told me that some people faint during their first time, I almost got up to leave. Maybe this isn't such a good idea. Maybe I can find a slightly less invasive way to go about this. Maybe I can deal with the vertigo just a little bit longer and if I pray enough it'll go away on it's own.

I admit that I was a cynic. Who ever thinks that being stuck with needles will be beneficial? But I've read on the internet that people who have suffered with vertigo and dizzy spells were helped by acupuncture treatments and at this point, damn near anything is worth a shot. So I forced myself to breathe and hoped for the best. After the first couple needles were placed, I was able to relax. I could barely feel them. Sure, I still freaked out a bit when he parted my hair and I realized, he's going to put a needle in the top of my head! Wha?? But it wasn't that bad! Honest. Didn't hurt. Didn't bleed.

And though it could be the acupuncture, or a coincidence, or a combination of all the things I'm trying... I am starting to feel better and that's really all that matter to me. So I will drink the gag-inducing chinese herbal tea that he gave me, and on Wednesday I will subject myself to the needles once again. I'll take those needles over spinning any day of the week...

This is the needle that had to stay in my ears from Wednesday until Saturday. Freaky, right? They look more terrifying in the photo. In reality, they're only about a cm long.

Happy Friday! Woot!!

2008-05-02T11:27:00.003-04:00

I hesitate to say that I'm starting to feel better. Every time that I make that announcement, the vertigo comes back full force and knocks me on my ass. So let's just say that I'm working on it. And I'm trying to keep a more positive attitude about it all. I know that there are people that are far worse off, so I can't whine too much. But it does suck when your world spins for 8 weeks. Ok, enough. I'm attacking this thing with all that I have. I've added the eye doctor and acupuncture to the treatment regimen. More on those fun little visits coming up...

Tulips, revealed! Though not red as I initially hoped, they did bloom into a beautiful orangey-pinky color. Man, I love our previous homeowners. They're pretty good at this gardening business. Makes it real easy for us...

"You know, some people think that dandlions are weeds, but, you know, I always think, who the hell decided tulips were so great?" - Peter from The Family Guy

Mystery Illness...

2008-04-20T22:18:00.002-04:00

The mystery remains. Just as I was starting to feel better, I got hit with dizziness on Thursday evening. It progressed into a nasty spell of vertigo causing me to vomit at work on Friday morning (that was fun!) and leave early because I felt so nauseous that there was no way that I could stare at the computer screen a second longer. My mom was a lifesaver and took me to the ER. I didn't know what else to do... it's been six weeks now. An EKG, cat scan and blood work yielded no results. I don't understand... this is so not normal. Our family doctor and the ENT specialist couldn't figure it out. I'm going to the eye doctor on Wednesday... just another thing to check off the list of possible culprits of this awfulness. If anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear them... I'm up for trying damn near anything at this point.

The two things that are helping me to maintain my sanity...

Adventures in Eating...

2008-04-15T22:20:00.003-04:00

Growing up, I was a picky eater. I'm still not all that adventurous when it comes to food options. I'm the kind of person that orders the same predictable entree at a restaurant, without fail. I want to be sure that I love what I'm getting, and I'm not willing to risk disappointment. Not when food is involved. However Kev has introduced me to several things that now top my favorites list. He has opened my eyes to the culinary world, and I appreciate that he encourages me to try new things and discover new favorites. First and foremost is coffee... there's nothing better than waking up to the smell of fresh coffee and spending the first moments of the day savoring a cup with my husband. Second is avocado, guacamole specifically. Kev makes a killer guac. I don't know why I was hesitant to try it before, maybe the green color threw me off, but it has now become almost an addiction. Lastly, is an adventure that we first embarked on together a few years ago... Sushi. Love it. And we're lucky that we found a phenomenal little Japanese place only 10 minutes from our house. Life is good...

Hello Handsome...

2008-04-12T23:23:00.002-04:00

Lots of errands to do today... and in the midst of all the running around, I came across this handsome devil...

Ok. I lie. He was along for the ride. I was thrilled when he agreed to play model so that I can desperately try to come up with images for my assignment, due Tuesday. He's a good man...

Home...

2008-04-11T07:46:00.002-04:00

I don't think I ever posted photos of our house, other than the ones used for the listing. So here it is. Our first home. And our freshened up garden...

Another baby step into domesticity... I have an herb garden. Thank you, Rose! There is basil, lettuce, spinach, and rosemary planted so far. I think we're going to get another planter and a pot for tomatoes. Please pray for the survival of my plants... I hope they fare better than my (un)lucky bamboo desk plant...

New Toy...

2008-04-08T22:58:00.000-04:00

For a week at least. I'm renting one of my dream lenses this week to see how I like it. A Canon 16-35mm f2.8 II. Camera equipment is quite expensive... and since there are three lenses that I'm currently lusting after I thought I'd rent all three and decide which one will work best for me. This is week 1 of my little experiment. While practical in theory, renting lenses could prove to be dangerous... I don't really want to give it back! Of course, Chloe was bribed to model...

Look at that fat cat in the background! I know, I never feature the cats on the blog. They're neglected.

Another...

2008-04-07T05:00:00.000-04:00

Another very welcome sign of spring...And another play with texture. I feel like this one is a little bit better than the last, and that's all that I can ask. A step in the right direction.

Happy Monday!

No more couch fights...

2008-04-06T10:28:00.002-04:00

Nothing too exciting, I just wanted to post the newest additions to our living room... Look at those ottomans! We can actually both stretch out our legs... No more being scrunched on the couch. Love them already. They were ordered from Overstock.com. They open up for storage and the lid flips to become a tray. How perfectly convenient.

Full Bloom...

2008-04-04T17:06:00.000-04:00

Our garden sprouted practically overnight. It's so nice to come home to this...

Now if we could just have some consistently warm weather and sun, I'd be one happy girl.

Bigger Images!

2008-04-03T08:05:00.000-04:00

Woot! I've been working on trying to get my images to post bigger and I think I have it figured out. Let me know what you think... if you prefer the smaller, make you squint images better? What better way to introduce the change than to show Chloe, large and in charge...

Texture...

2008-04-02T20:16:00.003-04:00

Kev found the most incredible road that runs along the reservoir, not 10 minutes from our house. He took me last weekend so we could walk the path on an abnormally sunny Saturday afternoon. The road is surrounded on both sides by water, so it almost seems like it should be a beach road. But there's no sand. Only trees and rocks. No matter. It's beautiful. And so peaceful. It's small discoveries like this one that make me smile...

Not the best photo, but I wanted to play around with some texture. My first try! I'll keep at it. =)

What did you DO?

2008-04-01T09:03:00.002-04:00

All Boston's must have the same guilty face...

Exactly the reason why we aren't getting a puppy.

Withdrawal...

2008-03-27T21:36:00.002-04:00

Thought I'd share a shot that I took for a photography class that I'm taking. I like it. It's kind of dark, kind of moody, kind of appropriate.

Head nurse...

2008-03-25T19:54:00.001-04:00

I don't know what I would have done without him these past two weeks while I've been sick. Recently I've been thinking about how lucky I've gotten in the spousal lottery. I mean, even after dating for years and living together, you never really know for sure what kind of husband he will be. I couldn't ask for more.

Update: Although the nausea and spinning comes in waves, the feeling of imbalance is constant. More tests are scheduled for next week.

Clarification...

2008-03-23T22:29:00.006-04:00

If you couldn't tell, Christine is home from Florida for a few more days. She narrowly avoided yet another knee surgery, which is always a good thing. My sister doesn't always look like the photo you see in Friday's post. She's actually quite normal (looking, at least... hehe). See...Isn't she cute? A bottle of wine and a belly full of sushi will make you do weird things.

2008-03-21T22:45:00.001-04:00

Loser...

2008-03-20T16:22:00.003-04:00

I'm sad to announce that Chloe did not win the MVP Photo Contest. Bummer. We really appreciate everyone who voted for her. Being that they're advertising for a pet hair vacuum, I suspect that they're biased towards hairier dogs. Or maybe I just don't want to admit defeat. We've decided that it would be best not to tell her, I think it would be a blow to her ego... Poor girl.

First signs of spring...

2008-03-14T21:52:00.004-04:00

The first little signs of spring are popping up in our garden. It's like a surprise every day for us... Since this is our first spring in our new house, we're not even sure what's growing in there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for daffodils. They're my favorite... so bright and happy and a reminder that summer is so close you can smell it...

Vote for Chloe!

2008-03-11T09:18:00.001-04:00

We have entered this photo of Chloe in the Bissel 'Most Valuable Pet' photo contest. The winner of each of the weekly contests will win a Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum but the grand prize is the pet's photo placed on Pet Hair Eraser vacuum and package AND $10,000 donation to a pet cause of the winner's choice! It would be very cool to get to help out a charity like that and to have Chloe's face in the lights. Or on a vacuum box. Either way. All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail address. Please click on the link below to vote for the Monster!

MVP Photo Contest

Muchas gracias!

Cutest kid at the party...

2008-03-09T22:39:00.004-04:00

My Dad rocks a birthday hat like you wouldn't believe! Cracks me up. Today was my cousin's little girl's first birthday party... Samantha... Happy Birthday little one. Here she is in all her birthday glory...
They grow up so fast.

And in case you're wondering... the vertigo remains. It seems to be playing a cruel joke on me. I'll start feeling ok, and then WHAM... I'll get hit with a nasty bout of nauseousness. I have the doctor's number programmed in my phone for tomorrow morning...

Happy Monday!

Vertigo. Boo.

2008-03-08T19:27:00.004-05:00

It's a beautiful day for a nice case of vertigo. Ugh. I'm actually feeling substantially better than I have the past 2 days. I was first plagued with what was diagnosed as vertigo right before Christmas. Kev and I were settling down to watch a movie when I suddenly felt very nauseous. Like everything around me was spinning. And I couldn't stop shivering, despite being in sweats and under a nice, fluffy throw. This led to numerous unmentionable bathroom activities and me pacing for hours around the living room because walking was the only way that I felt like I wasn't going to vomit or faint. It was honestly the worst I have ever felt. Ever. The doctor prescribed me what I believe to be prescription strength Dramamine. She said that it has a 50/50 chance of helping, but that there's not really anything else that I can do but wait it out. I haven't yet figured out if it works or not because when I take it, it KNOCKS ME OUT. 'May Cause Drowsiness' is an understatement. 'May cause you to sleep for an entire day straight' would be more accurate. So, who's to say if it really works or if it just knocks you out so you don't realize how terrible you feel...

Thursday night it struck again. Though I was exhausted, I couldn't fall asleep because that meant that I had to lay down, which meant that I would feel like my world was still moving... like I was stuck on a boat that was stuck in a whirlpool... seasick, dizzy, and nauseous. Fun times. I woke up around 4am and managed to drag my behind to work. I started to feel better during the day. Kev had planned on surprising me and taking me out to one of our favorite restaurants. He let me in on the plan after my bout with vertigo on Thursday night. I agreed that we should still go, as I felt much better after my chiropractor appointment after work. We got to the restaurant and ordered some drinks. They brought out our appetizers and as soon as I took a bite, my stomach turned. The nauseousness hit immediately. When our salads arrived, I couldn't touch mine. By the time they brought our meals, Kev asked if they could box it up for us and I escaped to the car. I felt so bad, but Kev was very sweet and concerned. After a good day's sleep, I feel a bit better... and hopefully after another healthy 12 hours of sleep tonight I'll be back to 100%. At least the weather matches my mood today...
Pity party for me day.

Speed Demon...

2008-03-04T20:51:00.002-05:00

We rode the trail this weekend... Kev sacrificed himself on this wicked hill for the sake of my photography class. This is my first attempt at panning. In all honesty, I think this hill is his favorite part of the trail. It's not quite as much fun going up. The sign says that it's only a 1/4 mile, but it feels like 2 miles. The worst part is that the hill is L-shaped... so you get to what you think is the end only to come around the curve to the STEEPEST part. Discouraging. I have yet to make it all the way up without stopping. Goals, it's always good to have goals...

The Norm...

2008-03-02T17:52:00.005-05:00

This is how we find her every day after work...
What can I say, the girl loves to sleep. The bad thing is that she gets all her sleeping out during the day, while we're at work, so during the evenings she's.... well, ok, she's a little hyper. Ready to play. And here's what happens when she insists on trying to play while we're watching a movie...
She brings out a toy, drops it on us, and barks to make sure we saw it there. We put it on the mantle. She runs into the office and returns with another toy. The cycle continues until every toy she has is lining the mantle. I have to give it to her... the girl doesn't give up.

Daylight Savings...

2008-03-01T09:20:00.004-05:00

The little bit of light more each day is being thoroughly enjoyed...

Hub...

2008-02-28T20:04:00.001-05:00

I like when my husband does the grocery shopping. I kinda like when he returns with surprises too...

An uneventful weekend...

2008-02-27T09:50:00.000-05:00

We did a whole lot of nothing last weekend, which was rather nice. Here are a few random shots. Kev cooked up this fabulous meal for us on Saturday night...

While Chloe enjoyed some fireplace action...

The Moment of Truth...

2008-02-26T09:04:00.003-05:00

Have you seen this show? It's insane. It's a new reality show on Fox where the contestants take a polygraph prior to the airing of the show and are then asked an embarrassing sampling of those questions for all the world to see. Here's an article explaining the show from USA Today, if you haven't seen it.

We've watched the first couple episodes, and despite the unbearably long pauses between the question and answer, it's actually quite entertaining. Last night's episode though was just painful to watch. There's a clip of it above, but that question was one of the lighter ones that was asked. During the hour-long episode, this contestant had to reveal that she has been fired from a job for stealing money, has taken off her wedding ring in public to appear to be single, was in love with another man on her wedding day, is keeping a secret about her Dad from her Mom, has cheated on her husband since they've been married, and that she feels that her ex-boyfriend is the man that she should really be married to. Ouch.

Why would you subject yourself to that? I mean, obviously for the cash but how much money is worth destroying your life over? I'm torn on how I feel about these contestants. Part of me can't help but feel bad for them, having to reveal such intimate details of their lives on national television. But then again, they've heard all the questions beforehand so they should be fully prepared. The real kicker of last nights episode was that after admitting all of the above and reaching the $100,000 mark, she got a question wrong and left with NOTHING. Well, probably not nothing... I'm fairly certain she did win herself a divorce...

Krista's boys...

2008-02-24T19:48:00.009-05:00

Krista is always willing to let me come play with my camera at her house... I love it! Here's a couple shots from when I was there last weekend. I'm trying something new with posting photos, so please let me know if they look wonky to you...

Philadelphia...

2008-02-23T22:17:00.012-05:00

Finally. Here's some photos from our anniversary weekend in Philadelphia, taken with my Sony Cybershot.
Our hotel...
The view from our hotel room...
My new favorite restaurant. Mmmm, Sangria...
The icerink. I didn't have gloves, or enough wine, to consider attempting to iceskate...
but parked next to the icerink was the most FABULOUS vehicle ever. I so want this thing...
that's right, my friends. It's a real life Peepmobile. I don't know if Peeps are a nationwide thing... I don't think they are as I've mentioned them to some non-local friends that were clueless. I feel bad for those that never get to experience Peeps. They're truly missing out.

The self-portrait...
Just some old houses in Old City...
and lastly, a shot of Penns Landing on Sunday morning. We had to take a walk after indulging in the most delicious breakfast at Cuba Libre...
All in all, a pretty fine weekend.

Just Me.

2008-02-23T11:12:00.002-05:00

I never post photos of myself. The reason for this is two-fold; 1) I am way too critical and usually hate photos of myself, and 2) I'm usually the one behind the camera! So here's a quick shot that Kev took of me on one of our lazy Sunday walks...

And one of Kev, being forced to model for me... He's such a tolerant husband!

DNA...

2008-02-21T20:58:00.001-05:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

My Girl...

2008-02-19T22:18:00.003-05:00

All our windows are only about a foot off the ground. Just her height...

Blue Steel...

2008-02-18T20:51:00.003-05:00

This is what typically happens when I try to get Kev to play along as I practice with my camera. Check out that fierce model gaze. He's a natural...

Recovery....

2008-02-17T23:36:00.006-05:00

I'm finally starting to feel human again. I was sick all week... these things are inevitable when you work in an office. Nasty winter germs spread like wildfire. Since I was too sick on Valentine's Day to enjoy much of anything, we went out to dinner tonight to celebrate. Sushi. And a bottle of Spanish wine that we brought back from the trip when we got engaged and were saving. And here's some photos from our walk on the trail yesterday... it was such a beautiful day, though the trail was still muddy enough that Chloe needed a bath from all the nasty weather we've gotten recently.

Anniversary weekend... sans photos...

2008-02-10T22:48:00.000-05:00

I intended on posting a recap of our weekend, with photos, but since the photo part isn't going to happen here it is... I brought my little Sony Cybershot with me. I can throw it right in my purse so it's a bit more inconspicuous than the Canon. But upon returning home I realized that I don't have the cord needed to get the photos off the camera onto the computer. Dang. I'm not sure if it's somewhere in the abyss of our basement or if it was left behind during the move. It's lost. So no photos.

We got to the city early on Saturday and they allowed us to check in, even though check-in isn't actually until 4pm. Go Omni Hotel, we're off to a good start. We unloaded our bags. The room was comfortable and clean. And a great view of Olde City and the river in the distance (which looked awesome on Sunday morning as the fog rose). We did a little exploring... we didn't really have anything planned, so it was just wandering and taking in the rare winter sun. Our hotel was in an ideal location... within walking distance to many sites, squares, and restaurants. I have to admit, it made me a little nostalgic of my college years when I went to school in the city. Everything is just so convenient. Except traffic. Traffic in Philly is often a nightmare, made worse by the fact that 1-way streets are the norm. Our search for the hotel's parking garage included 3 circles in order to get back to the street that we needed. I guess it's a trade-off.

After our walk, we got ready for dinner at Amada. For those that don't know, tapas are small portions of food that are served along with drinks at a bar. Here is the tradition of tapas, as written on Amada's website...

According to legend, the roots of tapas goes back to the 13th century Castilian King, Alfonso The Wise, who attributed his recovery from illness to his custom of taking small bites of food with wine between meals. Eager to promote his people's health, he decreed that tabernas in Castile could not serve wine unless accompanied by something to eat.

Because it was as enjoyable as it was healthful, the custom quickly caught on. And today you can still go into a bar in Northern Spain, order a glass of peleon (young, "peasant" wine) or sangria, eat some bites of jamon curado and settle up by telling the bartender how many pieces you had.

With its unique position as between Africa and Europe and its dual Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, Spanish tapas dishes incorporated a wealth of flavors, from charcuterie to bean casseroles, vegetables, calamari and other fruits of the sea. This tapestry of flavors along with 800 years of tradition give Chef Garces ample opportunity to create dishes that excite his guests no matter how many times they return.

Oh.My.God. It was beyond my expectations. The chef is a genius. I came across a review site beforehand that persuaded me to try some things that I probably never would have picked on my own.

We both had the Sangria, naturally. We started out with some cheeses that each came with a side to dip them in. Kev's favorite was the fresh queso de cabra, which came with a side of balsalmic strawberries. Mine was the aged manchego with a side of truffled lavendar honey. Who would think that cheese would go so perfectly with honey? Wow. We loved everything that we tried... after the cheeses we had piquillos rellenos (crab stuffed peppers), alcachofas a la paremsan (artichokes covered in a warm parmesan sauce), setas (grilled seasonsal mushrooms), cordero relleno (lamb chops stuffed with goat cheese, herbs, and romesco sauce), and cocido (shortrib ravioli, consomme, braised cabbage and grilled sausage). We ended our meal with Olas de Chocolate, which translates to waves of chocolate. The menu describes it as Godiva liqueur cake, chocolate mousse, milk chocolate ice cream... how could we resist?

We then headed to a brewery down the street... Triumph Brewing Company. Kev made a wise choice with his Honey Wheat Ale. I made a choice that led me to drink the most horrendous beverage ever created. No joke. It looked completely harmless... Jolie Blonde. Sounds like a pale, light, girly kinda beer right? Not so. It tasted like hot peppers. Think about hot peppers mixed with beer. I'm gagging right now. To recover from that fun experience, we went to a wine bar, Positano. I had a fruity drink to clear the hot pepper taste from my palate. And after our drinks we finished the night with a walk around the city...

It was a perfect weekend. Quite the contrast from how we celebrated last year, but still perfect. And after all our reflection on the past year, I'm pretty convinced that we have even more to look forward to...

Today, last year...

2008-01-29T21:53:00.000-05:00

we were headed to Mexico... ::: sigh :::

Booked!

2008-01-26T11:17:00.000-05:00

We have booked our anniversary trip. Woohoo! It's almost inconceivable that our anniversary is only 1 week away. At this time last year we were preparing for a fabulous 2 weeks on a Mexican beach. Ahhh, memories of relaxing in the sun, reading on beachbeds with my new husband, enjoying drinks at the swim-up bar and delicious all-inclusive meals come flooding back to me. Paradise. This year, we're preparing for a weekend in Philadelphia. Okay, so it's not quite as exotic, or relaxing, or sunny and warm... but we're staying small scale this year. And I'm stoked about it.
We've been trying to get reservations for this one restaurant in the city for any imaginable reason to celebrate within the past year to no avail. Each time we tried, they offered us reservations at 9:15 pm or later. With an hour commute back home afterwards, that's just not going to work. So this time, we're staying. That is, we're staying at the Omni Hotel at Independence Park, which most importantly is in a fabulous location... right near all the historic sites, a block from our restaurant, (yay for no designated driver, no taxi, AND no public transportation!) and is within walking distance to many cool bars so that we may entertain ourselves after our 5:15 dinner reservation. Yes, this time they gave us the choice between 5:15 and 9:15.

And here is the restaurant....
Amada. It's an authentic Spanish tapas restaurant. I've heard only rave reviews of this place, and you know how I adore all things 'spain'. Be still my heart.

Now we just need to find something to do with the rest of the evening. Because even with the Spanish flava, I can't imagine a meal beginning at 5:15pm going too long into the night. So if there are any Philly natives reading... suggestions, por favor!

Calling it quits...

2008-01-23T20:53:00.000-05:00

Growing up, smoking was the norm. We never sat in the non-smoking section. Cigarette breaks were a necessity. At Disney World, we sought out the designated 'smoking areas' more than the rides. I never really noticed the way that smoke permeates and lingers... in your hair, on your clothes, in your car, throughout your home. My parents smoked for 30 years. My Dad was up to 2+ packs a day. There was a constant battle between the will and the desire to quit smoking. They tried many times to quit... the patch, the gum, this strange clip in the ear thingy (was the clip pain supposed to distract from the desire to quit? I'm not sure.) Nothing worked.

Two years ago they made a decision. They were going to quit smoking. When I first heard that they were planning on going to a hypnotist, I admit that I was skeptical. Okay... I thought they were completely insane. As they explained it, it was more of a deep concentration, rather than the 'you are getting sleepy' kind of hynotism that I had imagined. They left that seminar with plenty of information and tapes that they were to listen to and reinforce to themselves that they were now, 'happy and healthy non-smokers.' And they still are...

I just want to let my parents know how incredibly proud I am that they were able to beat one of the toughest addictions out there. I know that the past two years haven't always been easy. But you've done it. And I am so happy for you both. Congratulations on your past 2 smoke-free years. I love you!

Luring...

2008-01-21T19:19:00.001-05:00

Our first addition to our garden. It is the middle of winter, so all other gardening will have to wait a few months. I just love our new bird feeder. It's even my favorite color. Now that the cats are finally becoming adjusting to our new house and are not quite as terrified, they've taken to sitting in the front window. We thought they'd love being able to birdwatch, but there's one major roadblock... no birds! I know that there are birds around, as evidenced by the photo below, (can you even see the little birds nest in there?)... but we have yet to see a bird at our feeder. What's the deal? Why are they shunning our bird feeder? This weekend I took some of our seed and made a trail leading right up to our bird feeder to attempt to lure the birds to the goods. And it worked. Kind of. We saw a birdie hopping around out there, following the happy trail of seeds. And though he never made it to the actual bird feeder, I like to think that it was only because he was frightened away before he had a fair chance by Chloe's barking at the neighbors. Maybe next time, little guy...

Semi-annual trip...

2008-01-20T20:50:00.000-05:00

to the MOVIES! We don't get to go too often... we're more the rent-a-movie type. I tease Kev that we keep it as a semi-annual event. Honestly, I can't even remember the last movie that we saw in the theater. Sad, isn't it? As much as I enjoy going to the movies, it's just so nice to settle down on the couch, fire a'burnin, with some wine and a movie. And I really felt old as I typed that.

Juno was amazing. We both loved it... I won't give a recap as I'm sure that everyone else has already seen it, but if you haven't yet... GO SEE IT. It rocks.

Focus into 2008...

2008-01-13T20:19:00.000-05:00

This was the topic of last week's Photo of the Day challenge. I jumped in on the last day. Most everyone posted New Year's resolutions, but we all know that resolutions are made to be broken. I do have a few goals that I'd like to accomplish in 2008...

1. Be healthy - hence the photo above. I've fallen off the proverbial horse recently. I'm determined to be more active and change my diet. A big problem is that the gym is boring me to tears recently. Lucky for us, my wonderfully thoughtful Aunt sent us some UnderArmor for Christmas... so now we have no excuse not to get out there, even in the cold, and bike, run, snowboard, do anything but be lazy. We took our bikes out this weekend and rode 17.25 miles. And it was so refreshing.

2. Begin my journey into domesticity - My husband will love this one. He has challenged me to cook one meal a week. Baby steps people, baby steps...

3. Focus on my photography - I'm going to try to learn all that I can this year. I've already registered for a few classes and seminars and I have quite a few intimidating books on my 'to-read' pile. And most of all, I need a lot of PRACTICE. So if you have some willing models, you know who to call.

4. Make decent progress on our home renovation list - We've already repainted the office. Next we'd like to put down hardwood in the office to replace a hideous green carpet. Then we'd like to redo the powder room downstairs. The previous homeowners seem to have thought that wallpaper border looks good in EVERY room of the house. Blech.

And what better way to close than to share some photos of Chloe from this weekend... who's idea of heaven involves a thin slice of winter sunlight, let in by the front door...

A Christmas gift...

2008-01-03T21:55:00.001-05:00

From the hubster. Do you know what it is? Okay, it's probably not too tricky. It's an ELEPHANT! To hold our rings. I admit, I've been known to misplace jewelry. Simply misplace, definitely not lose. I love this. And I love that in this shot you can see me taking the photo in multiple places on the elephant... though you probably can't tell here.
And the girl... She looks to be fully recovered and back to her mischievous ways. She has perfected the 'innocent' face...

Poor, sick girl...

2008-01-02T21:12:00.001-05:00

Doesn't she look so pitiful? She was acting very strange the other morning... lethargic, not wanting to eat, trembling. Luckily Kev already had off work so he took her to the vet. We will not go into her typical misbehavings in the vet's waiting room... let's just say, that place makes her mean. The vet thinks she has pulled/strained something in her neck. She wouldn't let the vet turn her head to the left. She's been put on some medication, which is good and bad... Good because she seems to not be hurting anymore, but bad because she seems to have forgotten the pain quite quickly, and has resumed her normal, hyperactive behavior even though she's supposed to be resting and recovering. Tomorrow will be the true test of her recovery. Today was her last day of pain meds so we'll see how she does when she's not doped up...

Gone Blonde...

2007-12-30T20:24:00.000-05:00

Not me! Our office has decided to go blonde. We finally decided on a color to paint it. Previously it had been blessed with some rather interesting green & white striped wallpaper to about waist-high level. We knew right away that we wouldn't be wading in that sea of uglyness for long, but being novice home decorators it has taken us awhile to agree on a new color. I wanted something bold, since the rest of the downstairs is beige, with only the dining room being a olivey-sagey green color. Not too exciting. But, our office is small and we didn't want it to feel even smaller by painting it a dark color. So Kev agreed that we could paint the powder room downstairs RED (Chianti, to be exact... how appropriate, eh?) and we chose Blonde for the office. It's not quite as bright as it appears in this photo... It's much more dirty blonde. I'll have to wait until the sun reappears before I'll be able to get any more accurate photos. Isn't it lovely?

P.S. Pretend that you don't notice that my husband not only painted the walls, but also a bit of the outlet itself. Sloppy work, I tell ya... ;-)

The aftermath...

2007-12-26T19:25:00.000-05:00

We had a lovely first married Christmas in our new home. I couldn't have asked for more. My hubby is so thoughtful, sometimes I feel undeserving. I'm quite domestically challenged. Santa (aka: my inlaws) got us a grill for xmas, so Kev and I decided to do Christmas dinner for just the two of us. It was nice to have some quiet alone time after the bustle of the holidays. Sometimes it's hard trying to merge two familes... you want to spend time with each family, which made our holidays rather stressful when we were dating. Always a rush. I think we've got things ironed out. This year was perfect. We spent Christmas Eve afternoon Kev's parents, the evening with his side of the family, Christmas brunch at my parents, and then headed home for our romantic solo dinner. Kev grilled some filets, and we had asparagus cooked with soy sauce, garlic, mushrooms and tomatoes. So delish. Oh, and mashed potatoes. And some wine from our favorite local winery. Perfection...

Unrelated to Christmas, Kev got me these flowers last week so I was just practicing on them. It's going to be quite an adjustment with my new camera. I feel like I'm starting all over again!

The survival of my favorite tree in our backyard... I think it's a Japanese Maple tree. Pretty exotic, don't you think?

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T08:02:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone has a fabulous holiday!

Mushroom & Sherry Soup

2007-12-16T18:48:00.000-05:00

Kev made this soup for the second time tonight and it is delicious. It's perfect for a cold, blah, winter day like today. Since my mother in law requested that we share the recipe, I thought I'd post it here so that everyone can enjoy it's rich, creamy yummyness.

Ingredients:

4 tbsp butter

2 garlic cloves, chopped

3 onions, sliced

1lb mixed white and chestnut mushrooms, sliced (Kev likes to get creative with the mushrooms... last time we used white, portabella, and porcini. This time we used white, portabella, cremini, and oyster mushrooms.

3 1/2 oz. fresh cepes or porcini mushrooms, sliced

3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

generous 2 cups vegetable stock

salt and pepper

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 cup milk

2 tbsp sherry

1/2 cup sour cream

Melt the butter in a large pan over low heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until slightly softened. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring. Add the chopped parsley, pour in the stock, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Put the flour into a bowl, mix in enough milk to make a smooth paste, then stir it into the soup. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining milk and the sherry and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream.

Return the pan to the heat and warm gently. Remove from the heat and ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with sour cream and chopped fresh parsley, and serve the soup with crusty rolls.

The end.

One of Those Days...

2007-12-13T12:04:00.000-05:00

Ever have one of those mornings when you think it would be in everyone's best interest if you just crawl right back into bed? That's my today...

10 months...

2007-12-02T21:24:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke to kisses on the cheek and the sound of Kev setting breakfast in bed on my nightstand. All my favorite things... pancakes, raspberries, orange juice... and pumpkin spice coffee waiting downstairs for me. Confirmation, yet again, that 10 months ago today I made the best decision of my life. Strange how the past 10 months seems to have flown by, but at the same time it feels like we've been married forever. I can't imagine my life without this man.
And another thing that I awoke to this morning...
SNOW! Our first real snow of the year. It wasn't even enough to cover the grass or stick on the roads, but SNOW! Bah. To me, the magic of snow ended when snow days were no longer a possibility. It's not completely terrible on a day when we can light a fire and snuggle on the coach watching movies, but commuting in snow is plain dreadful. Each and every winter I wonder why we don't move someplace warm, someplace where we'd never have to worry about 2.5 hour commutes in the snow, salt, snow tires, shovels, plows, black ice, and bone chilling temperatures. And each and every year, here we are again...

The one thing that I do enjoy about the snow is seeing Chloe in it. Here is the big debut of Chloe's pepto pink sweater...