Morning Fav

Health/Food: Emergen-C

I should just be the spokesperson for this company, because I have been promoting it like it's my J-O-B! My old college lacrosse coach used to pass out packets and packets of it and I never got into it the way my one friend did. She used to walk around with her water bottle and I thought it was so weird..... but now I get it!

It's probably NO secret that I am a stress ball sometimes, which in turn makes me sick. SO right before my wedding I decided it was unacceptable if I were to be sick and have a fever blister, etc. etc. for my wedding (luckily God heard my prayers, but I forgot to ask for the months following too, note to self!), so I literally got a lifetime supply from drugstore.com and chugged all summer. I truly think it helped. I stopped cold turkey after the wedding and BAM got sick right away.

So now whenever I have an event or can't "afford" to be sick I always drink Emergen-C. Or if any of my friends aren't feeling so well I always try to recommend it because it has the additional vitamins, antioxidants, AND some of them are "energy booster's" which can always help!

One of my bff's is getting hitched this weekend (WAHOOO SHOUT OUT) and I can't stop pushing it on her enough... SO GO BUY IT ALREADY HAHAHAHA JK!

http://www.emergenc.com/

Tales of a Traveler

Bienvenido a mi blog de PANAMA :) (welcome to my blog from Panama). Here is a piece of what I wrote last evening.....

WOWEE…. so this trip to Panama I “decided” (all the flights were taken on my usual flight out of Philly) to try flying direct to Panama via Newark Airport. To say the least, my Sunday was a “No” fun-day , flying through Newark really helped my day out. I had a nice calming trip courtesy of Amtrak and then got through check in and security like “that” (could you see?!? I just snapped), found Vino Volo (AMAZING), this cute wine restaurant place and had myself a glass of yummy Chardonnay, and came to find out (ok I forgot) my ticket was…. BUSINESS (i.e. first) CLASS WAHOOO!! First class service all the way baby! AND LET ME TELL YOU……….. Continental has freaking Direct TV!! So guess what I did?! Caught up with Kourtney and Khloe do Miami (i.e. Khardashians my FAV fam) for hours! OF COURSE It turned off 2 minutes before the 2-hour wedding special due to “normal flight activity- B.S. people!! But then I caught some Z’s! First person through “Extranjeros (foreigners) Customs” baby.. oh yeah! Although I was a little sketched out at one point and thought my driver was driving on a flat tire, but regardless we got to the hotel safe and sound and I tipped him rather largely (he was def confusd) for not kidnapping, raping, and killing “la rubia”. SERIOUSLY- why do these awful thoughts go through my head!

So, I settle in my hotel room until my 5am wake up call only to not be able to fall asleep because I am enthralled by a movie… and HOW MANY TIMES have I seen Legally Blonde?!?!?!

Right now it’s not even 8PM and I am sitting in a teeny tiny single bed (although very comfortable) at an 8-room boutique hotel at this project, with ZERO cell service, reflecting on my day and how incredible it was… SERIOUSLY!!!!

…… In the car for 6 hours; then doing an inspection on a gorgeous villa, when ALL I could think about was how HOT and HUMID I was (yeah I was in skin jeans and boots- DON’T ask. I was trying to “look the part” and I didn’t think a dress and heels cut it- my usual Panama dress code) and wanting to jump in the pool. Finished off by a nice romantic dinner for two by the pool with the inspector… Magdalena : ) hehe… I seriously think my brain HURTS from thinking and speaking in Spanish all day… LITERALLY! Although GREAT practice, I was definitely done by the end of the day when I couldn’t even get a cognizant sentence out in Spanish NOR English!

So as I lay here… I think what a random, but kick-a** day. I’m seriously SO lucky! Although, I would feel a little luckier if I could call my “HUBBY”

Voy a dormir.. Besitos xoxo

Potty Break

So the bathroom renovations have begun... EEK!!!!

We hit a little bump in the road with the plumbing, but luckily a friend was able to lend a helping hand and it was fixed quickly!

I can't say I'm the easiest person to be around during a renovation, but I'm trying my hardest. I don't truly love the dust and debris everywhere... especially when my puppy is trying to eat it.

BUT I'm really proud of Kyle of taking this project head on... as long as he gets the gross toilet bowl out of my office and the house is clean when I arrive home next week from my trip and a house guest... me anal?!? NO WAY!!!

It has actually been a fun process in the sense of picking out the tiles and fixtures I want!!! I'll try and post some before and afters...

Before

Cause... You got to have Faith

OK definitely sort of awkward that I paired a George Michael song with my new little niece, BUT..... that's who I am.

BUT enough about me because she is the absolute CUTEST! I feel like every grand parent thinks their newborn grandchild mostly looks like their child :) so when my mom kept saying she was "so my brother" I could see little things here and there, but nothing that POPPED out... I felt like they said that about my oldest niece, but at this stage they change so much daily it's hard to tell. Although, I was looking back at the pictures I took and there is one picture where she really does look like my brother!

She is SO tiny... I think I could have stayed there all night and held her (although I do definitely still panic when they start to cry... for some reason I take it personally.. like oh sh*t I made the baby cry.... clearly back to me.. cause it's not like babies don't cry all the time or anything right?!?). And when she does cry it's so tiny; my sister inlaw says it sounds like a little bird- SO true!!!

I leave this weekend for business and know that when I come back next week she'll probably look even different when I see her again!!

So, I'm not going to lie and say that I don't have baby fever, but COME ON..... how can you not?!?! ADORABLE!!! I think I'm just lucky because my nephew and nieces are truly well behaved. BUT being in that hospital brought up so many questions and definitely freaked me out!

I am just SO SO SO glad that everyone is safe and sound and healthy!!!!

Morning Fav

Food: Christopher's 'Grilled Chicken Breast Salad"

Ingredients: Marinated grilled chicken with mixed greens, avocado, crispy onions, smoked Gouda, and a toasted pine nut dressing

I know this must seem like such a random 'morning fav', but yesterday I was lucky enough to dine at this fine establishment, :) hehe, and usually hands down I always get this salad. Every now and again I'll throw up a Hail Mary and get the chicken salad sandwich (also to die for).

To be honest, not sure what it is on the scale of healthiness (as salads with all of the "stuff" they put on it + dressing usually isn't that healthy anymore), but the way the Gouda makes all of the other ingredients pop and everything just melts in your mouth is simply heaven!

Welcome to Our World

Welcome Welcome Welcome little girl!!!

So not much time to blog now, BUT I just wanted to sing from the roof tops about my new niece.... FAITH L. MILES! I cannot WAIT to meet her this afternoon! She apparently is a teeny bugger... 6lbs and 10oz!

Some grandparents (NOT to call anyone out) forgot to take some pictures last night, so I have NO idea what she looks like)!!!!!!!

HO HO HO = NO NO NO!

OK so I can't say that I'm not DEVASTATED............
BUT I'm putting life into perspective

Did you all know that Santa Claus isn't real?!? Just Kidding (although I definitely think I was 10-12 when I found out... late bloomer + I liked pretend)!

Anyway... I love love love the holidays and our annual Christmas/Holiday Party!!!! We've had one for the last 3 years (OK it isn't an eternity or anything, but every year since we have been in our new casa) and it has been a BLAST!!! Last year we finally turned it theme.. phew... Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! I have been waiting and waiting for Halloween to get the heck out of here, so EVITE.com will put up their Holiday Evites.. sure enough, day after October 31st... tah dah! So, I make my Evites, come up with some catchy sayings, pictures, layouts, the guest list (of course you were on it.. hehe), and send it to Mr. George to add his list and do NOT get the response I was expecting. :(

Not to make him out to be the bad guy, but he just thought with all of our fall and and holiday entertaining to begin with (did I mention I'm having 20 for Chirstmas?!?), our travels, and our house projects (bathroom and kitchen renovations) it just wasn't the best idea. I know I always... yes ALWAYS.. try to do too much, BUT this is what I live for! I swear I would be a party planner if it didn't involve always being on OTHER people's time!

As I was about to start stomping my feet, turn purple, and begin begging, pleading, and demanding like Veruca Salt, I decided to respect his wishes... I KNOW what you are thinking.. Going down without a fight?!?!? It just felt right this time to just say "ok".

BUT HAVE NO FEAR.. I'll be damned if I don't figure out a way to throw in a theme at the beginning of 2010... maybe a "Golf Pro's and Tennis Ho's" Party for my Birthday... The Big 2-1 :) is a special year and definitely calls for a theme party!!!!

Busy Busy Bee

I feel like I have SO SO SO much to blog about and so little time!!!! This week is a busy one as I'm prepping to head down to Panama this weekend; my parents just got back from Spain last night (my dog has already been accused of peeing in their condo- FALSE allegations obviously.. no but seriously he didn't and they did just ask.. promise!); awaiting the arrival of my new niece or nephew (Good Luck Denise); getting to take care of Lena whenever Baby Miles arrives'; attempting everything under the sun and moon to NOT be sick; and last but certainly not least undergoing our master bathroom renovation (yes like father like son hehe)!

So I will definitely try to keep posting as I want to share all my experiences of last week: my A Chance to Heal 'Parent Talk', standing in for Mommy and Daddy at Brady's Halloween Parade, taking Lena around the neighborhood on Halloween; and my friend's 3 week count down Bach Party.. don't worry... what happens in Philly stays in Philly, hehe! But it was SO much fun to get to hang out with all of my friends this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morning Fav

Food/Drink: Layer Cake Malbec


So, ever since this summer Kyle and I have been on this Malbec kick, especially ones from Argentina. Just ONE MORE reason to LOVE LOVE LOVE Argentina! GOSH- I am SO dying to go back there...

ANYWAY. This summer I was also determined to try "Cakebread" wine after a friend recommended it to me. So as I was down in Maryland I thought it would be nice to hunt down a bottle of Cab or Merlot so Kyle's mom would like it too and we could share in the festivities.. as it def more on the expensive side! Well, no such luck at this one wine store, BUT they did have a bottle of Cab by Layer Cake, who's label has a layered cake on it (shocking I know!!!), which anything with a cake on it can't be bad... right?!?! Well.... wasn't a huge fan :( and definitely disappointed....

So fast forward to a few weeks ago when I went over to have a glass of wine with a friendly neighbor and she offered me a glass of Layer Cake Malbec. EEKKKKKKKK... haha, jk, I decided to give the brand a second chance and absolutely LOVED IT! Went over to another friendly neighbor's house last week and was offered a glass of Layer Cake's Malbec... yummy two times. So for my Parent Talk last week I decided to stock up and it was a huge hit!

On top of everything else it is a Chairman's Select and is VERY reasonably priced!

"Tasting Notes: Pure, rich and very elegant; a powerhouse of lush black fruit, silky cocoa, black spice and cream, wrapped around blackberry, cherry and ripe plum. Layered and complex with a nose to linger over, a finish that never ends. Sweet anise, hints of tobacco, black chocolate, more cherries and exotic spices, layers of jam." It is definitely a rich wine, but has a nice smooth finish!

New York New York here I come!!!! So, I've been dropping some LESS-THAN subtle hints about wanting to go see "The Nutcracker" this winter.. not quite sure where my urge came from, but I know that mom and dad took me once or twice when I was little and I just wanted to visit those memories again, I guess!

So, I had been looking online for when it is in Philly and it kept booking up and booking up. We already have a pretty busy December, so I wasn't really sure when we were going to be able to go. Well last weekend the mail came and I always separate it. Well I guess someone had gotten some tickets from the New York City Ballet as a surprise, BUT the NYCB was also less-than subtle with their largely marked envelope. I didn't think much of it.. ok well a little... but figured if he wanted me to know he would tell me! So yesterday he gave me the tickets and we are going up to NYC right before Christmas for an afternoon matinée!!!

UMM HOW ROMANTIC IS THAT??!?!?!?

Start the Day off Right!

"Hubby" had to be at work extra early so I got up for the send off and decided to head on off to morning spin! The instructor did a Halloween tribute with some random Halloween songs mixed in. One of my favorites was the "Ghostbusters" where he had everyone doing a little call and answer! The song would go "Who ya gonna call??!?!" and then, while climbing up our level 8-9 hill, would shout GHOSTBUSTERS! It was just really cool to see a bunch of adults having some silly fun over a "child-like celebration"... at 6am nonetheless! Love it!!!

Say.... WHAT?

"Hi DAD!! How are you?"

- "HI! Who's this?"

"It's Kirah.. YOUR DAUGHTER!"

- "Hold on please let me go turn down the music. Ok, hello?"

"Hi Dad, it' s Kirah, your daughter"

- "OHHH.. HI Honey!"

Gotta love him!

Morning Fav

Food/Drink: Oregon Chai: Vanilla Chai Tea

This is one of my go-to-fav's once the weather gets a little cooler. I do love my coffee, but you can only have so many cups a day. PLUS, I love vanilla chai tea latte's and Starbuck's tends to be a little too spicy for my liking.

I like how I can mix this "concentrate" with either milk or water depending on how I am feeling! It definitely has a MAJOR sweet factor to it, but you don't need a lot to make you warm and fuzzy!

You Never Know

OK I know I SHOULD know better, BUT better safe than sorry, right?

I was going through my SPAM emails, just in case, and found some things that didn't belong. And then I came across 2 emails from the FBI! Now... I do get those emails from Nigeria, etc. for people asking for money to help out that I know are not real and this seemed like it was combating against it! The email basically said that there was A LOT of money sitting in a bank in my name and I was going to be charged... didn't seem likely, BUT I have heard a lot of crazy, bad stuff about identity theft and I have lost more than one license back in the day!

So, just in case I decided to call the FBI myself.. clearly a good idea.. 1/2 way through holding I panicked and how ridiculous, whatever I was going to say, was going to sound!! But I stayed on the line and not even 2 sentences later the FBI operator interrupts me and is like Ma'am, Ma'am.... it's a scam... wait for the next message.... haha am I gullible or what?!?

Good Luck Phillies

Cliff Lee's big start tonight!!!!!!!!!! 3 up; 3 down Mr. Lee Please!!!!!

Can you believe all the HOOP LA going on with the Phils and Yanks? Did you see the New York Post with a pic of Shane Victorino in a skirt?!?

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20091027_N_Y__Post_mocks_Phillies_as_Frillies.html

I'm so excited for the series... well not necessarily the baseball, but I hope that NYC fans really pissed off those Phillies so they go out fighting hard... rain or shine!! We obviously know it ticked off the Philly fans... everyone thinks we're stupid and ugly thanks to those annual polls people put out... but then the news just fuels the fire by putting DUMB and OUT OF CONTROL fans on the news- like umm hello no wonder we have the rep!

I hope everyone stays safe, but I do have to say that NY and Philly fans are both passionate and will do what it takes to cheer on their teams.. plus both teams have great athletes- so it should be good to see... PLUS.. if you are going to the game PLEASE look for Kate Hudson (although I am not feeling her as much now that she is with A-Rod.. nothing personal to him, I just think it's weird).

PS- be on the look out if you are headed down to the game, because apparently SEPTA is in the middle of negotiation talks for more moola- smart cookies... they know that Philly can't say know with the game coming up here this weekend... how will people get to the games? will that promote more drunk driving? will people not be able to go? So, we will see, I'll keep ya posted!!!

Morning Fav

Entertainment: Moving Up

So I am definitely NOT a TLC fan and for some reason I secretly (well not anymore) really dislike that channel, no clue why I just do! But a few weeks ago when I was down in North Carolina visiting a friend that had on this show "Moving Up" that I totally got sucked in to.. one episode turned into two and two into three. I found myself watching an episode this week as I made my grocery list, party planner, and rearranged some furniture, and it is so good!

So it is still a home improvement and 'before and after' show, but involves 3 different couples! So basically they show you each house before people move in and renovations begin. Couple 1 moves out and into Couple 2's humble abode and Couple 2 moves out and into Couple 3's pad and then who cares what Couple 3's new place looks like.. right? haha JK!

And it's cool because the 'before' the the old owners say that they will just 'die' if 'this or that' is changed and then the new people come in and are like 'this is SO tacky.. were they serious?" and then the old owners get to come back and walk through the house and give their opinions of what the new owners did... ALL THE WHILE.. the new owners watch them on a DVD so they can see what they said.... some people get SO defenseless and are ruthless, haha LOVE IT!

And the host is sort of a creeper too so that's fun!

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/moving-up/moving-up.html

Ever wonder what happens to your house after your move out?!? Well I definitely have... talk about a SUPER STALKER!!! I LOVE driving by, on occasion, good 'ole Drakes Drum Drive and seeing the old hood, brings back memories of when I was really young. Great Springs Rd is another hand... that is the house I grew up in, my baby!!! And after we moved out (the year I went to college... when I came home for fall break, my parents were in Spain and I had to fine my 'new home' and it was the PITS... nothing was the same and it just wasn't 'my home').

So, the first few years were hard I will admit, but at least the house was the same... I guess we sold it to some basketball player? I would definitely do drive bys on the cul-de-sac, but since the driveway was so long you couldn't see much... so then it required me driving up to Harriton House and looking at the back yard. In between owners I even made my friend and 'hubby' go back and try to see this like thousand pound statue and thought it would fit in the back of her wrangler... guess 'hubby' wasn't strong enough haha!!

The new owners completely tore down the house and built some monstrosity that got rid of the indoor pool, moved the outdoor pool to the complete other side.. sort of like.. oh I'll just move a pool- no big deal! Then the house basically totally got rid of the hill and one of the rooms is even over top of the pond- which they put a HUGE fountain in the middle of that lights up- WHAT?!?! I will admit they did spruce up the tennis courts- why we never took more advantage of it- like why did my parents NOT make me play more tennis (could have been a level 4.5 by now and not a meesely 2.5, thanks MOM!)... although I did utilize it a little bit when I thought I could be the next Mia Hamm in middle and high school! And whoever those kids are have a pretty cool swing set- with wood chips- so I'll give them those props! But I can't help to have my goal, one day, be to get that house back... don't sell yourself short kids!!!

Welcome Back Welcome Back Welcome Back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVS3WNt7yRU

I hope you all didn't think I jumped off my roof after Sunday morning's post.. oops heat of the moment, what can I say, I'm emotional and passionate, haha!

Morning Madness

WHAT... it's freaking 8am on a SUNDAY (nonetheless) and I'm already going to "have a cow man". I WISH I WAS AT CHURCH.... then I could get a lot more calm and peaceful!

Do you ever take responsibility for something or someone else and it isn't even your place? I'm the one that is always saying "know what you can control and what you can't" or "take a step back and put things into perspective'... so that is what I am really trying to do BUT it's definitely a struggle!

So about 2 weeks ago I went on Craigslist and found someone who will delivered "seasoned" firewood (which if you don't know seasoned is the better of the options). Checked with the hubby, showed him the site, etc. etc. and everything seemed pretty legit and we were good to go. Well last weekend we realized there were a bunch of questions we didn't ask: what type of wood; what is a chord of wood to them, etc. etc.- all legit questions. So we're all ready to go last Sunday and the guy calls and cancels and asks if he can come 'next Sunday'. So definitely annoying, but whatever.

He was suppose to be here at 7:30am and still didn't arrive one hour later! Hubby has to be somewhere in less than an hour which means I'm left to deal with the situation on my own.. which usually would be ok- I'm a tough girl I can stack wood.. BUT now there is a whole other element that I am FREAKING out about.... if we will really get 2 chords of wood... well I doubt that is likely now because after researching apparently a normal truck bed is only a 1/2 chord- so how the EFF is this guy going to get 2 chords of wood here from York, PA?!?! Hubby says the only way is if he has a dump truck... umm I'm sure the likely hood of that happening is closer to pigs flying......

But all in all I say it all worked out... they came, they dumped, they left! I think that we have enough wood, I got a receipt and we will see! I'm not allowed to stack it until the Big Man on Campus gets home, but I'm ready to get started!!!! BRING IT!

Cute Party Invitations

Well I found out a new way to start a party off with a BANG.... or pop! Yesterday's gloomy, dreary weather turned a little brighter when we came home to a cute balloon on a stick handle sitting at our front door that said "POP ME".... so we did... and all these colorful confetti sprinkled around us... it felt like slow motion! I was seriously so mesmerized "hubby" had to remind me to pick up the "main ingredient" (aka the invitation rolled up) off the wet floor.. oops! And there it was... an invitation to "Little J's" 1st birthday party!!!!!

So, I just want to give kudos once again to Ruby Flats for her creativity!!

Here are some pics from her blog:

http://rubyflats.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-i-spent-my-friday-night.html

http://rubyflats.blogspot.com/2009/10/final-product.html

Suburban Housewife

Suburban Housewife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqgRHVmF8N0

So are you sick of me posting this yet.. I think this is the 5th time in the past few weeks, but I LOVE IT! I can't get enough... my fav part, because it reminds me of me is...

"My friends area like 'Hey Suzie' and I'm like "WHAT MOTHER F*"... CLASSIC!!!!