can I frame this?

How adorable is this dish towel from Emily McDowell? I picture putting it in a frame and hanging it on a wall in my kitchen or dining area in my new apartment in a few months. I know it's a bit premature to start looking at decorations for an apartment I have not signed a lease on, or even seen, but I stumbled across this and love it. I promise that on May 30th I will participate in Mint Julep Day, maybe wear a Kentucky Derby inspired hat.

easter weekend in review

I find that I've been enjoying reading everyone's weekend recaps recently. It seems that so many bloggers have such interesting weekends, I feel like a lot of my weekends involve me going to the gym and catching up on the DVR, and you know cleaning my apartment at least a little bit. If I am really lucky, I get a trip to Trader Joe's in there. I do see friends and have meals, but I am totally fine on those weekends where I only see people at spin or walking along the pier.

This past weekend, I made my way up to Massachusetts on Friday, and spent time with family and friends enjoying what I now call European Easter weekend (Friday and Monday off, like a proper Brit). Upon my arrival, my sister and I broke my nephew out of day care and had lunch together at home followed by family nap time. Nap time was amazing, I conked out on the couch for an hour or so to be pleasantly woken up by Norbs tickling my toes - definitely a nice way to be displaced from slumber. Once we all were up, we made our way to my parents house so that Norbs could play with Grammy and Grampy. Which then caused my sister and I to sneak away for a trip to Wegmans and Walmart (I love suburbia). I found a few gluten free goodies at Wegmans including some delightful Belgium beers and cupcakes. I got to head home to a mom made dinner and time catching up with my people.

Saturday, I was handed the keys to the car and got to head up north to visit one of my friends for lunch and a personal baby shower, since I missed her real one a few weeks ago. Whenever I drive it makes me feel like a newborn deer taking her first steps - it's so scary after being car-less for the last seven years. I probably on an average year log between 4-8 driving hours total - which makes me hate trucks and get heart palpitations when I have to merge. I made it, but I think I took a few years off my life while driving. I love getting to walk everywhere, really I do.  I was really excited to catch up, see the babies nursery with the softest rug my toes have felt recently, and get to make a square for a quilt for the boys. Once I returned home, my parents and I watched House Hunters where I made them play the game of which house will the people choose - mom liked it more then dad. We then headed out to the local restaurant, where my parents frequent at least twice a week - I had a salad with chicken that was delightful and dad got us scratch tickets to play before the meal came. I ended dinner with $50 extra in my pocket. When I got home, I took the dog for a long walk around the neighborhood, enjoying the spring temps and walking around my elementary school too.

Sunday, my sister came over early with the baby (big boy), and he did an Easter egg hunt around my parent's house,We went to the playground and had the best time. Grammy did all the catching down the slide while the rest of us ran around the park with the Norbs. My nephew is so much fun to play with - he is more fun every time I get to see him. After play time, the family had a nice dinner and just hung out in the evening.

It was so nice to be home for an extended amount of time. I love going to visit for extra long weekends- two days is never enough.

house lusting

My sister and her family just moved into a new home, which completely makes me lust for a home, or at least start looking at dream homes.  I am feeling slightly addicted to visiting Trulia and Zillow on a regular basis, just to see what’s out there in both the apartment rentals and homes for sale as well. There are so many beautiful homes out there – it makes me wonder how people were ever comfortable home buying without the opportunity to view everything online.

I also don’t think watching Property Brothers is helping me get over my want for an amazing bathroom, and an open concept house, and a beautiful master bedroom, and... and… (damn you, Drew and Jonathan). In my ideal home, I’d have a bathroom with a large soaking tub – something anyone who has ever traveled with me knows. My eyes light up whenever I see a huge tub in any hotel room I am staying in, and then I’ll find at least 10 minutes each night I am there to spend in the tub. I wonder if I’d really take advantage of such a thing at home, though or would the thrill of a huge tub wear off eventually.

Do you have any must haves on your dream home wish list?

(image via pinterest)

christmas week highlights

Christmas week was a rough one for me, I had the flu for two days which knocked me right out. I swear, my body loves letting me get sick as soon as I am at Mom’s house and she can take care of me (I know Mom really loves that too). Anyway, on Christmas I did start to feel like a human again able to eat more than toast. I also looked at this a tiny bit of a jump start to the 2014 eating better routine (nothing says skinny jeans like a few days of the stomach flu).

Anyways, I was lucky enough to get to spend a full week the family, despite my two days in bed. It was so nice to see everyone for a long while and have some time away from work. A quick list of highlights below:

Watching Norbs dance and sway to the Bill Clinton saxophone Santa toy my parents have, it’s ridiculously funny and he’s so happy when he’s grooving.

Seeing two movies at the theater with Mom, we saw The Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle. Clearly we had some theme requirements when choosing movies: Tri-State area location, movies set in the past, and looking like an Oscar contender. It also didn’t hurt that I had super old passes to the movies that I bought sometime in 2012 (yep, that long kiddos) so it felt like going to the movies for free.

Winning a week in the football pool at work, with 15 out of 16 picks correct- against the spread. I should placed that bet in Vegas and retired or something. That’s 94% correct on an equalized (anyone who wants a lesson in spreads let me know) playing field. Dad was ridiculously proud, this made the flu feel like it was lucky, and I treated myself to something special with the winnings.

Enjoying some much needed rest to gear up for 2014.

Happy New Year to all!

 

(photo from pinterest)

holiday homework

I am actually officially on vacation the entire Christmas week, which I usually don’t do – that’s what I get for not taking more days earlier in the year (2014 – will I take the two weeks of vacation back to back?). I know it’s nothing to complain about having a real school like vacation week here at the end of the year, but I’ll probably still check emails and keep a few things moving along, but for the most part, I am going to enjoy a little R&R.

I did, however, end up with some homework for the week – yes, ten years after college, I have homework over the break. Two friends asked me to complete two things while I plan on hanging around with the family. I wish someone told me the plan was just to play with Norbs the whole week. Anyway, I am supposed to watch all of Downton Abbey before the next season starts, which I have never watched but apparently this is a must watch show (I am usually late to the party, except when it comes to The Blacklist, that’s one I started the week it started), and I am to read the first book of Game of Thrones.  So, in a week that’s supposed to be 24 episodes of television and an 800 page novel…  somehow my vacation feels like exam prep. Game of Thrones though is amazing, as I started this a few weeks ago since it’s so long and I read every day on the train and before bed (book nerd here), so I am feeling like I might be ready for book two before the end of the year. 

Do you have any holiday week homework?