weekend wrap-up...part 1

this weekend is jam-packed with fun!

no, but really, I've already done a lot of fun stuff...so I figured I'd cut the weekend in half...Friday and Saturday, and then Super Bowl Sunday.


so far, I got in the car and drove up to New Jersey to see my Brother for a belated celebration of his birthday...we feasted on Pizza and birthday apple pie

 then I got all fancy, and made us breakfast on Saturday- after sleeping "in" till 8:15...I love my furry little friends, but not having anyone poke me in the face or hurl themselves into the blinds to wake me up for food, was pretty awesome today.


I have been trying out this whole Vine app, making some stop-motion videos...here is one of me making breakfast!

then we went out to run a few errands...bank, gas station, grocery store...and had Thai food for lunch...

I feel like I talk about food a lot...hmmm...


then Brandyce & Pete came over...and we had ourselves a grown-up dinner party :)  I made lasagna rolls, some just regular cheese and the others were with chicken and spinach...

more funny videos were made...and when they were leaving, we realized it was snowing...yet again!

so tomorrow I'm heading back to Maryland, to watch the super bowl...hopefully the Ravens can win one for Charm City...I'm afraid to see what happens if they lose...


fingers crossed the roads aren't too snowy tomorrow!  even though it is mighty comfy here...

oh, hello there December 25th

and just like that.  it's over again.  another 365 days to wait for Christmasy goodness.

okay, I know that sounds like I am disappointed...but I am not.  it's just always a little bitter sweet to be the night of Christmas, knowing it's all over for another year...


but we had a great day, 15 people, 2 dogs and 2 cats...it certainly was a full house!

I definitely ate WAY too much, but we also laughed a lot- laughing is cardio, right?

I always pride myself on my present giving...and I think everyone was really excited by the gifts I made or bought them...

like a signed Adventure Time comic for Brother

and candy cane pretzel necklaces for the cousins

and...I got a few pretty awesome things :)

but of course, the best of the day is the family time :)  and our funny face pictures...this has been a tradition for a few years now

and of course, no Christmas night would be complete without a viewing of the Muppet Family Christmas.  watch out for the icy patch!

Merry Christmas to all!  and to all...go to bed ;)

photo Saturday

some of the decorations at the baby shower for "Pedro" :)

Saturday's Photo

a view from the front door in NJ...last summer...remember, when it was warm??

Saturday's Photo

when I got home to NJ last weekend, I was met by a little surprise...an un-plowed driveway!  needless to say, the Jetta wasn't about to make it over the 2 foot wall of snow, but a little shoveling and I was able to navigate up the rest of the way...

my little old car hit a big milestone on the way up too...145,000 miles!

Saturday's Photo

oh yes, that is coconut creme brulee...a surprise birthday dessert for me and Amanda last weekend :) 

Friday Finds - I Heart NJ

my home state, near and dear to my heart is the inspiration for this week's Friday Finds on Etsy...maybe it's because I was just home this past weekend, or maybe it's because I wish I could be there all the time...ahh memories, nostalgia...and some good old Jersey love...

an awesome NJ shaped cutting board by aHeirloom

every couch needs a soft Jersey pillow by love california

Garden State print by Weizen

yeah, we get the joke..."what exit" pin by art life :)

Saturday's Photo

This is an oldie...but this Saturday I'll be spending with some of my best and oldest friends back home in NJ...

this photo is from about 6 years ago at Christmas...makes me miss the times where we could all just call each other up and meet for coffee or some other fun adventure...growing up is a bummer sometimes :p

can't wait for our girls weekend!!

I'm dreaming of a white (day after) christmas...

so we missed the white christmas by a day...but the mayhem it would have caused would not have been worth the beauty and magic of waking up on Christmas morning to a crisp white canvas...but we would have spent it alone...because 24 hours and almost two feet later...we were buried in snow on December 26th! 

meaning, we were shoveling snow on December 27th...at least there was four of us...so it only took about 3 hours...

merry christmas to all, and to all a good night :)

I love love love the holidays at home with my family...and this year was no exception...and to make things even better, Brett joined us for the first time in all our years of dating!  flights to Florida were a bit too expensive, so he opted not to go home, and come with me instead...

I got to see all my friends, watch our traditional movies, paint cookies, cook my Christmas Eve lasagna, and finally get some rest!

can't believe another holiday has come and gone!

home for the holidays

ready for a week of relaxing in New Jersey!!  home, here we come!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

another holiday season is in full swing!  we made the trip to New Jersey, as usual, and dinner with the family...and cousin photo shoots...ahh traditions :)

a 60th surprise

it's hard to surprise someone like my Mom...she's a planner *most definitely where I got that from!* and since my parents are now retired and live part time in NJ and part time in SC, we had a small window of opportunity to really be able to surprise her for her 60th birthday, quite a milestone!

so, since on her actual birthday, in October, they'd already be back in SC, we used Labor Day weekend, and the annual family picnic as a diversion for the party...the picnic was planned for Sunday, so on Saturday while they were out golfing, Kyle and I snuck home and got the party ready! 

 

needless to say, she was mighty surprised, and thanks to our 30 guests, a great time was had by all! 

busy busy July!

I got to take a week off from school and work to spend at home with the family...it was relaxing, but also jam packed with fun events! 

the week kicked off with my Dad's retirement party, after 37 years at his job he's finally free to golf as much as he wants :)

then we had our annual July 4th BBQ, which also coincides with Dad's birthday

then I had to go back to reality...but exciting new jobs are on the horizon...hooray!

bbq'ing in NJ

memorial day??  already!?  summer is almost upon us, and we kicked off the warm weather with a picnic at my parent's house in NJ...it's officially summer in my book!  flip flop weather, bbq's, and lots of fun!

Happy Birthday Brandyce!!

we went to New Jersey this weekend to celebrate the 28th birthday of one of my oldest friends :)  hibatchi dinner, and drinks and dancing in New Brunswick...brings back memories :)

Happy Birthday B!!  loove you!

Happy Birthday Bean!!

photo circa 2003 :)

merry christmas 2009!!

we had a white Christmas!

















me and brother by our tree