Happy Friday!

Today is my main man's birthday! We are celebrating with a grill-out of sorts and per his request, "beer, brats and rhubarb pie!" This - I think I can handle...we are actually picking up this pie from a deli b/c he loves it and I'm going to make a cake as well. It will be nice to just hang out tonight.

Yesterday, we took the afternoon and went to the museum of art here, which is a fabulous museum. They had a special fashion exhibit, which is why I really wanted to go, but it wasn't that great. Cool, but I guess I'd rather see older clothes versus new crazy, modern contemporary garments. I was more fascinated by the 18th century female dress with the tiny corset. Anyway, it was neat. Then we just meandered around for a couple hours. Good times. Although too bad my Target Isaac Mizrahi flats KILLED my feet and I was complaining by the end. Those are the times I remind myself - Quality. Quality shoes are MUCH better.

Ok...that's it for now, must run! Later gators, hope this weather holds out for the weekend!

What is this? 2005?

Better late than never, say I!

I'll admit, that I've never watched or even cracked the spine of a Harry Potter movie or novel. As an english lit studied gal, and as a bonafide lover of children's and adolescent lit, this is a travesty. Well noted by many of my peers and friends - they just can't believe I haven't found the love. Which isn't to say I haven't wanted to - I knew that I would love the books and movies but graduate school usually doesn't allow time for fun reading. This weekend, I watched my first movie and I love! I can't wait to read the books. I think I'll save it for this summer and just order the whole set off of Amazon or Ebay or something!

I've also become the last person on the planet who has become addicted to American Idol and Lost. Like I said, I'm a few years too late - but here I am.

Otherwise:

Our house is a mess. Complete mess. Moving and packing and a sink full of dishes makes me go argghhh. However, hubby is home today and hopefully taking care of it.

Score! I finally hit up the TJMaxx in our area which did have a GREAT selection of VV and Lilly P. However, while the Lilly prices are AMAZING, I can't justify buying them at this moment - I just hope the peeps as TJ kept it coming.

Just loving this spring weather...loving it!

Shaken up!

It's all over the news now, but our area of the country had an earthquake last night and it was my first! It was weird because at about 5:30 this morning P & I woke up to a rumbling/shaking feeling and we thought it was a fierce wind or the crazy, fiesty squirrels who race around on the roof (yeahh, they would have been some Hardcore squirrels!). But then we turned on the news and found out it was an earthquake, it was a strange way to start the day!

Besides that it is a gooorrgeeeouuusss day and Ralph and I had a great jog. I love having the windows open and fresh air rolling through. We are having a yard sale this weekend (our first!) because there are some things around here that we just don't love enough to move. Especially since our last move was so recent and we remember cursing ourselves for all the "crap" we hauled, we decided to lighten the load. And, to be quite honest, we have some lovely wedding gifts that were not on our registry, aren't our style and haven't even been opened. I feel bad, but at the same time...why keep it if it's just going to stay in the back of a closet??



My friends are excited to have us moving back, especially for the summer but some of our family? Are very unhappy with our decision, and they've let us know. They think we are foolish for uprooting, leaving my husband's job for a less certain future (although, I've gotten a full-time stable job) etc etc. I guess it's always hard for parents/relatives to realize we are adults and we will make our own decisions. It doesn't make life any easier though, knowing that folks you love don't approve of your decision - it kind of sucks, really. Personally, though, I'd rather move to a place that we def. want to settle down before we have kids and mortgage (aka right now), doesn't seem that crazy to me...but apparently to some it is! Oh well, we are happy and excited to be doing it, so that's all that matters.

And for the weekend, I think I've been tagged, if not - here's some random info!

6 random/weird/uninteresting things about me:

1. A GIGANTIC pet peeve of mine is to not be able to find something (why I'm not so great at moving, I like to know exactly where everything is at all times)...For ex, I may or may not have lost my digital camera and have turned the house upside down looking for it!! Praying to St. Anthony as we speak.

2. This one is really nerdy. I'm very picky/pay attention to font. I like to have my documents in certain fonts and love certain ones as well. I have particular ones for my to-do lists, my papers etc. And it drives me crazy we can't have different fonts on blogger!

3. I still pick my crusts off sandwiches, I like for the bread and sandwich matter balance to be even. I also eat my pizza crust as I eat the pizza. Weird.

4. I think I might be the last person in America, but I've finally gotten hooked on American Idol. Actually, I like watching it on DVR b/c then you can fast forward all of the banter and get to the good stuff.

5. I am a cereal addict. I can and will eat it for all 3 meals. I definitely did it in college! Currently, I love Honey Bunches of Oats....yum!

6. This isn't really weird but I'm running out of steam - my favorite cocktail lately is vodka over ice, soda/sparkling water, fresh squeezed lemon or lime and splenda. Refreshing!!

Have a great weekend!

I'm bummed because I didn't get to sign up for 2 fun blogger events, The Preppy Spring Swap and GG's Monkey adventures. I hate missing out but I knew our address was changing and I didn't know where we would be, plus, it's a pain enough to get regular mail forwarded and changed.

Loooovving the gorgeous weather which puts me in a great mood for spring meals with veggies asparagus, tomatoes, peas and other yummy things. I don't know about you but I love the simplicity of Parmesean, butter or olive oil, lemon and salt and pepper with a veggie. In fact, I did just that with peas and orzo the other day and it was a success here. I also did that combo with tomatoes and asparagus which I just roasted in the oven for a bit. Yummmmm. And I made a chicken salad last night, but it was pretty simple. P is against all "things" in his salad but me? I'll have grapes, pecans and sometimes a little dash of curry in my chicken salad. Numm, just thinking about it. I limit my making of it, because I could honestly down it all in a sitting. Ohhh, and a tomato sandwich is my favorite summer treat. Just a fresh, juicy tomato from the farmer's market on toasted bread with real mayo and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Ahhh. Love.
Ok, enough of food.

Along with spring comes sinus infections, which I pretty much regularly get now, as an adult, every year. Yet, I still have a hard time catching onto my symptoms. For the past two weeks, I've been sneezing, having the headaches and wondering what the H is wrong with me...duuuh. Tylenol Sinus and I'm a whole new gal.

Although I'm beginning to wonder if my neighbor's smoking habits are contributing. Ever since we've moved in, we would get whiffs of cig smoke in our bathroom. Weird. Then, last week, we decided to turn the air off, open the windows and enjoy the fresh spring air. Umm, our entire townhouse began to reek. We realized our neighbor's smoking is affecting our house...arghh, so annoying.

And you know what else is annoying? Sprint's website...have you ever tried to pay an online bill with them?? OMG. Beyond annoying and I was never successful. Annnndd, trying to find a place to live long distance. While I'm on a rant, PEOPLE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A PART OF YOUR JOB. I'm talking to this one company, which looks like it will be our temporary rental home (because of dogs, area, we've whittled it down to this one and of course they are jerks). I explain myself politely on the phone, hoping that I will get more information and help from this person. First of all, her tone made me feel like I was a telemarketer for asking questions like, "What's the washer/dryer set-up, is there a hook-up?" Then, I had the gall to ask if they had more pictures (like on the inside of the property) and she responded that no they don't, pictures aren't useful anyway because they are usually of just a wall and they don't really have the time to go by and take pictures anyway. Arghhhh. Just. Plain. Rude.

Enough for today, however, I took out my skirts and dresses last night and got sooooo excited to be wearing them!

Summer Dress Picks

Adore these spring/summer frocks from J.Crew and Banana. Love the J.Crew for pockets and just all around perfect for wearing in the summertime, and really? I always love a good pink polka dot!

Best Line

"At least surgery can make me pretty, but surgery canNOT make her any smarter!"

Ambre, THE Rock of Love

Of the 5238709 other things to discuss:

• Ok, I just like bulleting, I do it on all my lists. Something about my OCDness. Anyway, here goes.
• We had the Master's on all day yesterday and were reminiscing about how we were there last year...oh the egg salad sandwiches, preppy gear and adorable golfers. What a great event!
• I'm ready to venture out to Marshall's/TJMaxx after seeing everyone post about their great purchases AND especially after a co-worker told about the one near us that is usually stocked. Although. We. Are. Not. Spending. Frivolously.! Arghhh, just in time for Spring gear too! By the way, helping out at a Lilly boutique doesn't do much for the "want" list. I just walk around the store and caress the fabrics. And the Minnie's section. To Adorable!
• Speaking of clothing lust: This store: Joules, UK - I've just discovered. My new crush! LOVE! The patterns, dresses and most things are reasonably prices (although I don't know about shipping). When things settle down, after we've paid for the moving bills, I'm all over their wrap dress.
  
• Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. I'm sorry, I LOVE this trashy show. It is great. I haven't watched the last episode, but I've heard the outcome. I just am fascinated by Daisy's face. And Bret? Kills me with the headbands!! Killing me! Even my husband, who turns his nose up at Reality tv, is caught up in it. Oh, and the new Office episode - dinner party with Jan's crazy candles...hilarious!
• My new dessert habit - a small tablespoon of Nesquick in skim milk - not uber healthy but fills me up and hits that sweet spot after dinner.
  
• As we started going through the office last night, to go through some boxes, I was actually relieved to see how much we had NOT unpacked. Sweet, turn that right around. I've resigned to the idea that until we buy a house, I'm not dealing with decorating or buying furniture that matches...when that day comes, I will be ready, until then... Oh, but I did register for HGTV's green house. I'm sorry to say I registered more because I frickin want that house, it's gorgeous more than the "green" aspects.
  
• Long car trips make for looonggg conversations and ermm, with the stress lately, some definite arguments. Especially when we both stay with each set of parent's/in-laws and when they get into our business, as adults. It's interesting (to be polite) to be an outsider into a family and see the dynamics in a whole new way. Suffice it to say, we had the "arghh your parents drive me crazy" talk, but resolved that we are firm (and thoroughly happy) in our decision because we feel like it is truly FOR US, no matter any and all of the family arguments against us. Speaking of long car trips, we had to laugh and wonder if we made a mistake in naming Ralph well, because, as you can see where I'm going with this...his name implies. Bless his heart, he is the best traveler - he will just curl up in the back seat and go to sleep for the majority of a trip. And puke. Without fail, everytime, at some point. I mean, I'm prepared - with all sorts of rags, cleaners. Poor guy. It's so cute though, because when he stays with my parents, he has two other dogs to play with and they Play. He has so much fun running around with them and sleeps for a few days when he gets home because he's so pooped!
• I'm back to a semi-regular schedule in Blogger world and all of the new blogs that I've read/have commented here, I'll be adding you to the list! Red & White Preppy, I'd love an invite.
• I hate waking up feeling crappy but I did today, I think the week on the road has finally taken a toll. And I just keep wandering around the house, overwhelmed about where to even begin! Hrmm, well if you see a younger, sickly looking gal in Marshall's today with an oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants...overlook her! :P