Here and gone

All traces of the holidays have left the building (literally and figuratively). We took down the decorations Monday night and it was back to the grind yesterday. I really can’t complain though, since our time off was well spent with friends, family and a healthy dose of date nights!

Here are some highlights:

Had my first red cup of the season.


Saw Young Adult and loved it. Charlize Theron was perfect for the role.


Discovered a new Pinot Noir that I like.

Went on a beautiful birthday celebration/double date night with Kristen and Sean at Longwood Gardens and Dilworthtown Inn.

Kristen and I at Longwood Gardens. Here is a full recap of the night.

Got 1 mani and painted my nails 2 more times.

Zoya Shay w/Sally Hansen Gem Crush in Big Money as an accent nail
Venique in B-Ceen-B-Gorgeous w/Venique in Twinkling Glitter as an accent nail


Revlon Scene Stealer

Had a fun shopping day in Delaware with my mom and got Red Robin…yum!

Went to WWE Raw with Geof (since he's taken me to see Britney and Lady Gaga). I’d be lying if I said I wasn't a little interested in the storylines. We went to Denny’s afterwards and some of the wrestlers showed up.

Geof and I at the Wells Fargo Center, me with The Miz and Zack Ryder, Geof with Nikki Bella and me with Dolph Ziggler

Watched Elf for the first time ever.


Drove around and looked at pretty Christmas lights.

Saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Besides a few differences from the book, I thought the movie was done really well.


Finally saw Love and Other Drugs (first half – good, second half – depressing).


Went down to the city to have lunch at Reading Terminal Market and then went to Macy’s to see the light show. It’s also where the movie Mannequin was filmed!




Baked lots of Christmas goodies.

Spent Christmas Eve at home with my mom and Geof.


Spent Christmas Day at my cousin Bill & Lara’s house with the entire family. I had such a blast with all of my cousins.

Me with two out of the three triplets on Christmas

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are gearing up for the new year!

Thanksgiving recap & blog swap reveal!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Mine was great. I got to spend time with Geof, my family and even did some Christmas shopping.

Wednesday, Geof and I went out on a date night to see Breaking Dawn and then went to dinner at a newish Mexican place called Dos Gringos. It was perfection!


Ready for date night!


Movie + Mexican = Perfection

Thanksgiving was spent at my aunt & uncle’s with the family and Friday we did some Black Friday shopping in Delaware. We scored some great deals! The rest of the weekend consisted of skating, relaxing, more shopping and a little work.


Thanksgiving at my aunt & uncle's

To keep with the theme of the Plenty To Be THANKful For Challenge, here is Day 9: I’m THANKful For Thanksgiving! (Post a picture of your table… if you have time!)


3 large tables for Thanksgiving this year

Day 10 I’m THANKful for Black Friday and Leftovers!


Doing Black Friday shopping in Delaware was definitely something to be THANKful for since we not only got some things on sale, we didn’t have to pay sales tax!

Last but not least is the Plenty To Be THANKful For Blog Swap Reveal!


Look how pretty she wrapped everything!


Love all my new swap goodies!

I was partnered with Stephanie from Life’s Lyrics and to say she spoiled me would be an understatement. She sensed my love for nail polish right away and even got me a shade that was on my Christmas wish list (Rainbow Connection from OPI). She also sent me some other beauty goodies and a gorgeous Christmas ornament along with a gift card for Starbucks!

We connected right away and it turns out, we have a ton in common from our favorite color to our taste in music. That’s why I love swaps, because it’s always nice to meet other great bloggers. Please pay her blog a visit. She’s wonderful!



Thank you to all the ladies that took the time to organize this challenge and swap. Putting the posts together has been a blast and also given me the opportunity to reflect on the things that I’m most thankful for this season. I’ve also “met” some really nice ladies. I’m thankful for you all!

I'm THANKful for the special people in my life!

It’s Day 8 of the Plenty To Be Thankful For Blog Challenge & Swap



Today’s topic is the special people in my life

This is an easy topic and I’m sure anyone that knows me can guess my answers. To make it a little more fun, I’m going to give you 5 reasons why I’m so THANKful for each person I’m lucky enough to have in my life.

Geof
1. He lets me warm my cold feet on his legs every night.
2. Gives the best hugs and makes me feel loved.
3. Tells me I’m beautiful at least once a day with or without makeup.
4. Gets me like no one else and always has my back.
5. Makes the best tacos of anyone I know.



Mom
1. One of the best shopping partners out there.
2. Loves Lady Gaga, just like her daughter.
3. Strong, independent and smart.
4. Doesn’t care what others think (if only I could be more like that).
5. Giving. She will drop everything to help her family and friends.



Kristen
1. Can make me laugh on even the worst of days. I’m laughing in my head as I type this at some of the things she comes up with.
2. Doesn’t know how to have a bad time.
3. Will listen to me be ridiculous and tell me I’m being ridiculous.
4. Her dedication. When she says she’s going to do something, she does it.
5. Is as pretty as she is smart and as good a cook as she is crafty.



Colleen
1. Beautiful inside and out. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like her.
2. One of the hardest working people I know and so intelligent.
3. The best listener on planet earth.
4. One of those friends you can go weeks without talking to and pick up right where you left off.
5. Has never judged me or made me feel like less of a person.



Amy & Chad
1. My favorite couple and as awesome as they come.
2. Made my past few vacations some of the best ever.
3. Their mutual love for good music.
4. They’re adventurous. They will just pick up and GO!
5. The four of us get along like peas and carrots.



YOU!
1. Keep me sane some days.
2. Give me a place to ramble and leave me sweet comments that make me smile.
3. I truly love reading about your happiness and joys in life.
4. You inspire me to do more.
5. Where else would I have learned to cook new things, try a new craft and HAVE to have a new nail polish because someone blogged it?!

There you have it! I believe friendships come in quality and not quantity. I have a few special people in my life that I don’t know what I’d do without. For that, I’m very thankful.

Source: jellybeanjunkyard.wordpress.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

I’m THANKful for Thanksgiving Traditions!

It’s Day 7 of the Plenty To Be Thankful For Blog Challenge & Swap.





Today’s topic is our favorite Thanksgiving Traditions.

Thanksgiving has always been a favorite holiday of mine because it’s all about family getting together and sharing the love. It’s isn’t about presents and more about presence. With as fast paced as life can be, it’s nice to spend this special holiday together around the table talking about life and catching up with one another.

For as long as I can remember, we’ve gone to my aunt and uncle’s house where the entire family is gathered. The table has changed throughout the years. I remember when my grandparents were still alive and led us in grace before enjoying our delicious feast. Back in those days, I still sat at the kids table with my cousins.


Thanksgiving table - 2008, 2009, 2010

Now, we’re all grown up, my grandparents have passed on and many of my older cousins have kids of their own. My uncle is now the one that says a special prayer before we eat. I also cannot remember a Thanksgiving where less than 15 people have been at the table and wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s also important to me that Geof is a part of everything and my family loves him like one of their own.

My aunt is also pretty amazing. She prepares the meal every year for the entire family and manages to get everything on the table hot and fresh. She’s one of the special people that will always make room for one more and ensure that no one leaves her home hungry.

I consider myself pretty lucky to have a great family to go “home” to every Thanksgiving. I wish and hope that you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and that you’re able to spend it with all the loved ones in your life.

Late weekend recap

Friday, we spent the evening in getting caught up on the DVR with everything from Gossip Girl to Friday Night Lights. I made chicken quesadillas for dinner and it was a relaxing night at home.

Saturday, Geof and I went to Subway for lunch and then went to the gym for some much needed cardio post-vacation. We came home and got ready to head out for the night. There was a carnival going on in a neighborhood nearby, so we went there for awhile. It was a blast! We also bumped into some friends from the pool, which is always nice. We rode a few rides like the Himalaya and Fun Slide. The night also wouldn’t have been complete without some yummy funnel cake. It was so much fun!


Ferris wheel!


Geof going down the slide

Sunday was Mother’s Day and we took my mom to brunch at Generations. She really enjoyed herself and it was great to celebrate her for the day. Afterwards, we went to Target and then back to my mom’s for some pics by her azalea bushes. Once we got home, I took a long afternoon nap, did some work in the evening and called it a night.


Pretty!


My mom & I

Easter weekend recap

Friday, my mom came over and made a chili dinner for the three of us. We stayed in and watched TV. It was a pretty quiet night. I also was able to start putting some outfits together for vacation.

Saturday, Geof and I headed down to Delaware. He did some shopping at Best Buy, while I was left to browse around Ulta (always dangerous). I picked up some nail polishes and a Smashbox shadow palette. We went to the movies to see Water for Elephants and I loved it. There were some things and characters in the book I was expecting to see in the movie that I didn’t, but all in all they did a nice job telling the story. Uncle Al was a character that was missing that I 100% expected to see.



After the movies, we went to Red Robin for dinner and then decided to go back to the movies to see Scream 4. I went in with low expectations and was glad I did. It wasn’t a great movie, but definitely better than the 2nd and 3rd ones. I don’t think you can ever top the original.



Sunday it was straight up hot out and we took the dogs for a long walk. They were beat. We came home, got ready, picked my mom up and headed over to my aunt and uncle’s house for Easter. It was nice, as always and so fun to see the kids go on a big egg hunt. These kids make out like bandits. Some of my cousins racked up $25+ and candy. I was lucky to find a $1 in an egg in my day (I sound so old right now). I also have a cousin that is like a little 4 year old princess. I think I carried her around for at least a half hour, but you have to love her. I also had some interesting conversations with my triplet cousins who are 13. Two of them are all about school while the other is completely boy crazy. Fun times!


Pretty flowers on our dog walk


I still get an Easter Basket

Weekend recap

Friday, Geof and I went over to my cousins’ house for game night. My aunt & uncle were there and one of my other cousins came by later on. All games were ladies against the men. My cousin made some delicious margaritas and we got down to business with some Trivial Pursuit. We played the 80’s edition and then the regular edition. The ladies won the 80’s and the men the regular edition. Finally, we played a game called Rodeo Ball. It was a card/board game and pretty fun. I can’t wait to do it again!


Family game night!

Saturday, Geof and I met up with one of his co-workers and his girlfriend for dinner in West Chester at Mas. We went there once before and it is yummy. My Pink Cadillac margarita was tasty and we had an awesome queso as an appetizer that came out flaming (literally). Unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of my carne asada burrito. The meat was a little too fatty for my liking and tasted like roast beef. At least I know not to get that again. We had a really great night overall and it was nice to finally meet Geof’s friends.


Mas


Pink Cadillac Margarita


Queso


Us at dinner

Sunday was spent relaxing around the house. We watched the Eagles game, had dinner, watched Desperate Housewives, and called it an early night.

2010 in review

It was a year of change. There were ups and downs that came with that change, but overall I’m proud. Proud that I’ve gotten certain aspects of my life in order and that I made good on two of my major resolutions. I hope to keep that going into 2011.

Here are my highlights from each month!

January

Going with Geof to see SafetySuit in concert for the first time and getting to see Parachute too! That first show led into many more during the year. We saw them a total of 11 times in 8 months. They’re an insanely talented band and all around great guys. It also gave us a good reason to take some fun getaways.


1st SafetySuit show at World Cafe Live

February

This was the month of record snowfall. 25 inches to be exact. I remember being stuck inside for days. Geof and I were also able to escape for a long Valentine’s weekend away in Connecticut and got to see SafetySuit at the Mohegan Sun as an added bonus.


25 inches of snow


Mohegan Sun in CT

Later in the month we went to Annapolis for another long weekend and saw SafetySuit again. It might have been cold, but we had a blast exploring downtown and had a wonderful time.


SafetySuit and me in downtown Annapolis

March

St. Patrick’s Day, lots of time with good friends and going to yet another SafetySuit show. This one was back in PA.


St. Patty's Day


SafetySuit at Arcadia

April

Best.Cruise.Ever. The title and theme of the cruise certainly lived up to its name. We saw many of our favorite bands including 3 Doors Down, Lifehouse, SafetySuit, Parachute, Shinedown and Carolina Liar. We met some wonderful friends that we’ve stayed in touch with to this day and it was a fabulous vacation.

We also celebrated Kelly’s 30th and went to see SafetySuit with Kristen & Sean in DE.




VH1 Best Cruise Ever


Kel's 30th

May

Celebrated Cinco de Mayo with friends Liz and Josh in Harrisburg. Going to see SafetySuit twice. One of the two shows was acoustic and very unique.


SafetySuit in Harrisburg

Friends Greg and Allison tied the knot and finally got to meet sweet Trish and her awesome husband, Matt.


Greg and Allison's wedding


Date night with Trish & Matt

June

Celebrated Geof’s 34th birthday tops the list for June. We also got to see the Phillies live in action at Citizen Bank Park


Phillies game

July

Celebrated my 32nd birthday by going to Six Flags Great Adventure with Kristen. Getting to ride Kingda Ka was a serious highlight for me.


Kingda Ka

August

Kristen’s Bachelorette Party weekend. Fun times.

Geof and I took a road trip to South Carolina and had an absolute blast. We got to see SafetySuit while we were there and it was a much need mini-vacation.


SafetySuit in South Carolina

September

Lady Gaga in concert for her Monster Ball Tour. Getting to see Kristen and Sean tie the knot at their beautiful wedding.


Lady Gaga

October

Celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary. Lots of fall activities with Geof and Nordstrom Trend Show with Kristen. Deidre and Jason’s wedding Halloween weekend.


Linvilla in the fall

November

Very busy month for work. Thanksgiving with the family tops the list. My mom and I going to see Hairspray was also a lot fun.


Hairspray

December

Going to see Prince in concert at the Izod Center with Colleen. A nice, quiet, family Christmas and taking some well-deserved time off for the holidays. We also had our first major snowfall of the winter season.


Prince concert and Christmas 2010

I hope everyone had a great year in 2010 and I wish you nothing but the best in 2011!