Sea of Love

Memorial Day weekend was absolutely beautiful.   As you read about the snippets, listen to this song...




Friday came with a half day of school and time to do schoolwork.  I got quite a bit of Oceanography complete on Friday night which was great because it made me feel like I may be able to do it.  Just don't say the "t" word (test). :)

Saturday, the weather was GORGEOUS and it was Brett and Micah's wedding day.  Everything about Saturday was absolutely perfect.  From dropping off their flowers, to getting ready at the hotel with Tara and Kate, to laughing with friends, to dancing with friends, to enjoying friends, to making new friends... just all the parts of it were amazing.   The song you're listening to right now was Micah and Brett's first dance and about a minute in, the entire bridal party joined them on the dance floor.  It was beautiful!   Just an amazing couple, an amazing time.

Sunday, I got a big brunch and rehashed the wedding with Alli and Lou, then we all went to join Jaime at her pool for daiquiris and naps.  We were all so peaceful and happy to be outside enjoying the weather and the company.  We went out to dinner that night and then out on the town for what turned out to be Quite a fun time (how could it not?  This weekend was so blissful, it would have taken A LOT to ruin it).

Monday, was a pregame BBQ at Amber and Charles', then a Nationals-Phillies baseball game.  The weather was miserably hot, but it was hard to be miserable when you're surrounded by awesome people having a great time.

A little bit sunburned, a lot more relaxed, and lucky to have friends and family who are wonderful and love when I came back up to the top of the roller coaster...  this weekend was just what was needed.  Time to take a deep breath, to laugh, to dance and to realize that stress is temporary.

I'm glad to be back, too :)

More secret movies

I posted about being Perpetually 12 years old awhile back.   Well, scanning through netflix instant play yesterday, I found a movie that will always get to me...

And I don't care if you judge me.  I will defend this movie choice below.

1. I have been all over the U.S. (yes, I have!) but there is a big part of my heart that loves the values (and even sometimes the accent) of the South.  Even though I am from the Virginia Beach area, I am drawn to the comfort, consistency and safety net that a Southern community provides.

2. I like small towns.

3. I like rocky romances where couples argue or fight or spar simply because they are completely in love with each other and it's entertaining to them both.

4. I don't like "classically handsome" men.  I like Josh Lucas, in this movie.  He's super cute and attractive without being obvious.  (P.S. remind me to blog about why my mom hates Nick Lachey.  It's awesome)

5. Who doesn't love a happy ending?

Ruggedly handsome without being obvious:

I like guys that get dirty doing stuff around the house...

And frankly, there's nothing like a good "Come on, y'all!" to get the blood pumping.

Sorry, Mom from New York.

Love Day!

It's been a wonderful day of love!  My class was simply amazing.

  (a truly quotable day).... And I caught some amazing freestyle dancing on video during our class Valentine's party.  Wish I could post it.  True or false: They danced to Cuban Pete sung by Jim Carrey in the movie "The Mask". So fantastically true.

Here's my funny valentine...

A tiny pup who didn't know she had a leaf on her nose.  I woke her up to take her picture... then took it off.

Here's my horoscope today.  I liked it :)

February 14, 2011

1. Virgo (8/23-9/22)

   Of all the signs in the zodiac, yours will definitely be one of the happiest, given today's assembled astrological energies. When it comes to one-to-one relationships, all kinds of feelings -- both current and from the distant past -- will be coming along. The good news is that all those emotions stand to be quite positive. 

Very Christmas- December 24th

Very Christmas Eve!

After a beautiful Moravian Christmas celebration at a church near us (they put on a "Lovefeast" with tons of carols and candles and even cookies and warm cider in the middle of the service!), I got home to see that one of my favorite movies "The Holiday" was on!

I was able to catch the end, including this part: (please only watch about 3 minutes of this, after the Jack Black/Kate Winslet part, stop!.... well, or keep watching if you want to see a sweet ending to a movie whose beginning you missed)

So sweet. And just the warmth I needed this evening.

Love. Merry, Merry.

Very Christmas- December 8th

It's officially Christmas... tonight Jaime and I watched:

Bring on the Love, Universe!

Today at school we had a Christmas Cookie Exchange! 8 of us baked different cookies and we each got to take some home... mmm...

Here were my contributions:

Mama's Snowball Cookies.

Butter, Sugar, Rice Krispies, Pecans, Dates... all rolled in coconut. Oh. My. Gosh. I haven't made them in about 5 years, but they remind me of my mom and I love them. Plus, they are freaking delicious.

Christmas Shapes with a Sugar Glaze.

I remember this from my youth, as well, except it reminds me of Grandma's house. I had never tried a cookie glaze before, but it turned out SUPER yummy!

I do have more Christmas Spirit this year than I have had in about 4 years. I can feel the peace coming slowly but surely.

Be on the lookout: House Decorations and our Gi-normous Tree post coming soon

Happy Birthday, Pup of mine!

My darling little Phebe turned One today. I've had her for nine months but she's been in this world for a year. What a lucky world.

She was only 5.5 pounds when I got her on October 17, 2009.

And scared of everything!

And she slept... a lot.. I miss those days.

She got bigger and more adventurous. (Adventurous= Mischievous)

But she let me dress her up at Christmastime.

And she did silly things in the snow.

And she grew some more, a lot more, in the springtime.

And let me put more clothes on her for St. Patrick's Day.

And she discovered that she can crawl around under my bed.

(and chased more than a few dust bunnies)

She loves to read trashy mags with me.

And she was the lifeguard on the 4th of July.

She learned a few tricks...

But since today is her birthday, we did some really special things. First, we went to PetsMart and had a "shopping spree" (coupon). She got some of her favorite toys and treats. I also made her a "cake" using peanut butter and milkbones.

She LOVED it!

She made a mess, typical.

Is this a one-year-old's birthday or what?

BIG SMILE!!

I love you, little Phebe. You're the most wonderful sidekick a girl could have.

A lot of lazy around here

I have made it my goal this summer to keep busy. Not TOO busy, but just busy enough so I don't get bored. I do yard work, I go shopping, I visit people, I read books, I watch movies, I blog, I read blogs, I play with Phebe, I go to the pool, I've been keeping busy.

But the animals of this house are not.

Lou's cat, Murphy, loves to sleep on the table. (The pots on the table behind him are going to be the subject of a post at the end of July.)

Phebe crashes out on my bed whenever I'm blogging or reading blogs.

DON'T WAKE MURPH, HE GETS PISSED!!!

Sidebar: tonight I learned how much Lou loves me. She HATES bugs, but she ever so calmly took a stink bug off the back of my shirt tonight. If you know Lou, you know this is real love.

Congratulations, Amber and Charles!

Wow, you guys. Wow. Yesterday was one amazing day.

Charles had planned a surprise 27th birthday party for Amber at Lost Creek Winery in Leesburg, Va. We were to be dressed in our finest and arrive 30-45 minutes before Amber arrived at 1:30.

They arrived, she was surprised by all the people there (her family, his family, friends from college, etc) and that's when Charles started his proposal. My favorite part of his proposal was when he told her, "Well, I don't want to date you anymore (pause for audience laughter)... will you be my wife?" Just beautiful.

It was a magical day. Here are some picture highlights...

True Love

So, I'm sitting next to Phebe who is completed doped up from her spay surgery and I'm watching "Walk the Line". I decided to do some investigating on my computer about the real June Carter and Johnny Cash.

Look at this picture:

True Love. It really was...