UPDATES!

I went on a hiatus from blogging because life caught up with me!

The fact that I'm 5+ months pregnant with our baby boy has also made me realize it's going to be more effort to keep up with my out of town bff's and it would be neat to try this again.

I've also been really bad with taking pictures the last few months, but I'm hoping that changes b/c Robbie and I scoped out the Black Friday deals and 'Santa' will be bringing me a cool new Nikon camera. Yess! I know, I know...I don't have the best  track record. But I think I'm growing up because I've had my little pink camera for almost 2 years now!

Here I was at the beginning of last week @ 20 weeks and I think I've popped out two inches since then (no joke).

The girls and I also went to the Light Up Night Parade the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It was a beautiful night. There was a beautiful horse-drawn parade, and then to Market Square to a little Italian bistro, Bella Sera, for dinner. Of course I missed out on the liquor store outting that we took when we got to town for the indivual size wine bottles. Momma can't wait to return to the wild with her girlfriends.

Robbie and I are headed to our 'babymoon' in Washington DC this weekend.

Very excited for our last hurrah before the belly gets any bigger.

xoxo

SS

Believe

I heard this song on the radio driving back to my hotel tonight.

I used to call my grandma 4 times a day when I traveled last year. I miss her so much, that I really hope heaven is this most amazing place and feeling.

Good tune, great message!

Homesick!

I got to Binghamton, New York for a Champions Tournament this morning and I'm homesick already! If I haven't mentioned it before, I hate being out on the road. Traveling for work isn't what I thought it would be. I want to be home in my bed, with my hubby and my doggie, in my sweat pants, eating bon bons....!! Baaaa. I will continue to pout for the next couple days. 1 down....8 to go!

Off to the course in the a.m. to do phone lines and forklifting, haa.

miss you boys!



a door knocker for the no longer newlyweds

I posted pictures on facebook of our anniversary weekend- it was our little stay-cation! We started w dinner at Siba on Friday night and then headed over to the Cabana Bar for a night cap. We were in fact the only ppl with wedding rings in the whole place- definately the place to meet someone (for all ages!) Saturday we got up, went for a run, and then took Bodie down to Arts Fest! He did really really well- since we are trying to train him not to attack other dogs (my son is a bully!), then we took him to Red Fin Blues on the water while we met Kel for happy hour. Sunday, we went to church and then biking around the city. I can't believe it's been one year. Wedding planning felt ages ago, and it's also been 6 months since I lost my B. I still try to remember her everyday, wearing a piece of her jewelry or one of her sweaters. I am my grandma's girl and hear her advice and daily talks distilled in me everyday.

On another note- I have been himming and hawing about wanting a damn door knocker. Not sure why I have been so obsessed...I'm guessing it's the Frontgate catalogues that keep coming in the mail. Like it? :)



Linds got mar-weed!

The last two weekends I drank waaaaay too many rum & cokes in honor of Lindsay being a bridey!...I am not resorting to calling myself "Rum & Coke Shan Woww". First Lindsay's Bachelorette party started off over Memorial Day weekend in Ocean City. It was college all over again- I haven't laughed like that in a long time!

Linds's Mama & Linds grinding a Dee sandwich at Seacrets

Linds's FAIL at a dance off with Ursher

Dee & I trying to find our way home on the HIV drunk bus- before the domestic dispute next to us.

Double shot of SKY vodka- *shutter*

Linds peeing in the bushes with her horns on at Fagar's- where everyone could see!

Group photo on our last drink of the trip!

(Dock @ Fagar's!)



...Girls beach trips should be mandatory every year!
Especially with my best friends living across the country. 

I'm on a BOAT!

Rob and I are purchasing our first BOAT! :)  If we were ever going to spend $$ on anything frivolous- this is it!

We drove to the state of Indiana to check it out to make sure it was 'the one'.

It's a Baja for Rob and it's navy blue for me!

It's a 25 foot Islander- Rob is going to pick it up in 3 weeks (we are waiting for a trailer to be painted to match the boat. :)

 

Now we just need a name!
We are going to dock it in Pittsburgh for the summer- which I am really excited for!
Kenny Chesney at Heinz Field on July 2nd should be our christening day.

Almost officially motor boaters!



Yay! Monogrammed Beach Chairs

I have been on the search for a sturdy  chair for the beach- since I have summer on the brain!I found these at Lands End- and with a big sale...love them!

Navy Blue AND Monogrammed!!
Two of my favorite things :)

Lindsay's Bachelorette party in Ocean City is coming up for Memoria Day Weekend and then we'll hit OC again with Rob's family at the end of July. Now if only I could get Rob to buy that beach house in Charleston, SC! Ha.

It's been a while........

Things have been rather hectic, just busy non-stop! I like life that way, but every few weeks I need a breather...and I'm @ that point!

Tis the season for bridal showers, baby showers, and weddings- in which I love!

I have been on a baking kick....

For Easter, I made cut outs using one of my co-worker's grandmother's recipes, and she's a grandma herself.

Let me know if you should ever need a good sugar cookie recipe- I will pass it along!

Next up, I attempted 'cake balls'. They are harder than they look, and were hard to keep on the stick, but they tasted really good!

For Robbie's Birthday, I made my first attempt at Tiramisu. I actually used Emeril's recipe. I didn't use any port wine, I just dipped the lady fingers in espresso.

xoxo
SS

Sewing Classes & Weekend

This weekend I took B's machine and went to Sewing 101 @ JoAnn Fabrics. April decided to take the class with me- thank gosh, b/c I remembered nothing from Teen Living class in 7th grade. Once I got there, I realized I didn't have a power cord for B's machine- so they let me borrow the store's 'Singer' machine to practice with.

We were just supposed to play with fabric and the different stitchings- I call my master piece a Sunglass Case- ha! Robbie laughed when I told him I made him something, so Amanda, my friend from work, is the runner-up receiver of my gift.

I'll probably take one class a month until I feel I have any clue what I'm doing, but I'll be sure to post my first creation once I'm finished! :)

We also had dinner club Saturday night at Greg & April's- a little surf and turf, shrimp and steak. It was the night of the BIG moon, and even though we were on Mt. Washington, nada! I didn't see it!

Other than that- lots of family time this weekend. Rob's cousin Devon is in town from Canada and Rob's grandma, Normy, is actually in the hospital. She fell down the stairs last Wednesday and broke 2 bones in her lower back. She is actually doing really well given the circumstances- she is undergoing minor surgery today to try and fix her up- and then 4 weeks in rehab and she should be good to go! She is such a classy lady- reminds me a lot of my B! I can talk to her for hours.

I also got up early Sunday to take Bodie on a walk before we went to Uncle Buckle's for a few hours to play 'sticks' in his back yard. The weather here has a few good days here and there, but for the most part...we need more SUN! He is such a good boy!



Lent

Well, I decided to try and give up my soda addiction- and I'm hoping that after lent it sticks with me. Being that every morning in the hospital, Sue Sue, Buckle, & I would all have Diet Mountain Dew for breakfast, it became a big addiction to me everday. Farewell sugary nice friend! You will be missed!

I'm also really trying to be a better Catholic- it makes me feel really connected to B, since that is what we did together. My church envelopes would even get sent to her townhouse in Greensburg, so that if I was missing church (which I mostly did), she could put a $1 in my envelope for me every week so that I would be in good standing with the church. I don't want her good deed go to waste. We didn't talk about faith much, and I like it being a private matter, but we would go and sing and she would humm...I still feel her humming next to me in mass, I swear. I miss you Big Bee Harry. I'll see you in church.



My Top Five Essentials!

my staples for everyday life....

2 cups of Green Tea in the morning

I can't leave the house without earrings, usually these!

 

This Aussie Mousse with leave-in-conditioner should be on everyone's hair regimen. It gives you volume and makes your hair soft as soft can be!

You're supposed to only take 2 a day- but I could easily snack on half a bottle at a time  :)

and last but not least...

owning a golden retreiver means that I have one in every nook & cranny.



GO & DO!

Rob & I went on our second movie date, ever, last Sunday afternoon.
I almost fell over when Rob agreed to go see a movie, in the theatre, without any harassment.
Hall Pass is ALMOST Wedding Crashers worthy. If you need a good effortless laugh, go & do! :)
I even got a cherry red icee and reminisced of being in junior high again. (Coby & I were definately westmoreland mall rats and movie gurus on Friday nights.) I'm hoping because it was a positive experience, Rob will take me back on a movie date sometime this year again!

Cutest Little Thing Ever!

I came across the cutest, preppy clothing for our fur children- unfortunately for me, big dogs don't get the cute pea coats and sweaters. Usually Bodie only get to chose from pretty scarves and puff vests.

 It's an Esty site- http://www.etsy.com/listing/58481648/the-westerly-trench-small


Tell me he isn't the cutest little thing you've ever seen???

Princess Kate

I am a little wee infactuated with Princess-to-be Kate Middleton. While others are sick of hearing about the 'royal wedding plans' I find myself stopping in front of the tv on my way out the door when I see GMA's royal diary.

I used to think Prince William was so dreamy in junior high, but the fact that I am now more in love with his fiance' takes the cake. She is just so poised and pretty. Glad he chose her! So until April 29th....I will gladly stalk their wedding plans. :)

             The bride-to-be has left her job at Party Pieces, this from The London Evening Standard

“Kate Middleton has quit her job at her parents’ online party supplies business to throw herself full time into planning her wedding.”

And then there is today’s You Can’t Make This Stuff Up entrant, the “No More Waity Katie” nail polish from Butter London.

Girlfriends!

It's been a good week of catching up with 'ma girls' with dinner, happy hour, and even those of you far away on the phone. :)

First we had snowmageddon again- out of no where. It took me 3 hours to get home from work on Monday, and April got stranded coming home from Butler so she decided to call it quits on her way home and sleepover our house. 8" out of nowhere- really!

Dee, Lindsay, and I met Anita for dinner at Bravo (yum!) to find out the

 sex of her little bambino! We had a bet going; Me & Dee had dibs on a girl,

 Jen and Lindsay were team boy.

Dee & I won naturally, so we're very excited for our new little gal pal to enter the world.

I told Louie I would mail her team boy in the mail :)

Time to get monogrammed gifts going for my new baby friends!!...

...and then there was happy hour with Andrea & Amanda after work yesterday where we found 1/2 off bottle of wine Wednesday @ Walnut Grove. We will be making a weekly pitstop!

National Margarita Day!

February 22nd is National Margarita Day!

Just a little history....

Named after a lady named Margarita. The original Margarita was invented in 1948 by socialite Margarita Sames. According to the legend it was during a party at her cliffside hacienda in Acapulco that Margarita began experimenting with ‘the drink’. Looking for something to cut the dust of a hot afternoon, she mixed Tequila Herradura, Cointreau and fresh lime juice. Her cocktail kept the party going for two weeks and today the Margarita is the #1 most popular cocktail in the U.S.



Weekend recap

Last week, I was trying to recover from this awful cold...I went from Saturday until Thursday with my head in a fish bowl.  I went to Med Express, or as my uncle Jaybird would call it- the McDonalds of Doctors, and they gave me super icky nasal spray with a steroid in it. I tried it a few times, but it would only spray up my nose, and come back out my mouth- which made me gag! When 2 days of that didn't help any, I finally gave in to the Z-PACK! Jaybird called one in for me, I started it at lunch, and within 2 hours, my ear finally popped and I could hear again; Just in time for my weekend!

We had dinner club at the 'Stiffy's'  and they made Tres Ravioli's. SO GOOD!!

They had dinner in their new wine cellar and made the meal feel as if we were at a wine tasting in Italy. Hopefully, FINGERS CROSSED, Rob will win the next Jones trip so that we can to Italy this summer. Florence was truly the most beautiful place in the world. So much art and culture.

Yesterday I met up with Buckle to go back to Shadyside hospital to visit our friend Frankie and his wife Peggy. Frankie's aneurysm actually burst, and he had his surgery 3 days before B's. He is STILL in Shadyside hospital. He just had an operation that will hopefully put him on the path to recovery now. They are one of the sweetest couples I've ever met. If I can take away one positive thing from B dying, it would be meeting Peggy and Frankie. Sue Sue, Buckle, and I have made 2 life long friends.

I'm headed to Miss's tonight to hang out with Sophia and watch the BACHELOR!!

At least I have one friend to share in my Bachelor insanity with me. Yes, the concept behind it is completely absurb, but I enjoy the escape it gives me for 2 hours a week.

What did you say??

Agh, I hate to sound like a fuddy duddy, but our trip didn't go exactly as planned. Grr.

Rob ended up with a really bad sinus infection on day 2 and I woke up with it on day 4...so as he started to feel a little better I was stuck in bed. It wasn't just the kind of cold you could get along with, we had the chills along with the feeling of being beaten by a baseball bat.

At least room services was part of our all inclusive deal with all the soup and ice cream we could eat- since we werent using up the nice dinners or pool drinks much. 

 What wasn't part of our deal was $28 for Robitussin at the gift shop (or $308 pesos)

While Robbie stayed in bed one day, I ventured downtown to the boardwalk with April & Greg and another Jones couple, Lori & Keith

We stopped @ a little dive that served $1 Coronas & $1 Margaritas

Puerta Vallarta's boardwalk was a lot cleaner and prettier than I expected it to be.

They had a dozen or more awesome sand sculptures hand molded on the beach.

Here are April & I, my Kim Kardashian look alike friend :)

We were out dancing after dinner the night before it 'hit' me.

All in all, our room and resort was amazing- would highly recommend it to anyone heading to PV!

On the flight back....Rob & I had excruiating pain in our ear drums from the pressure with our sinus infections. We're back and we BOTH can't hear a thing. Its like being stuck inside of a fish bowl I would assume. Though its making us feel even worse than we do, its kind of commical walking around the house screaming for each other. I pray it comes back sometime today so we can work tomorrow. For now...I will take a nap and go cuddle with my fur child that I missed so much! xoxo S.

Hearts Day

Valentine's Day Season is upon us! Everything hearts of pink and red.

Robbie & I will just be getting back from Mexico this year, so we'll celebrate IN Mexico I'm sure. Or maybe at the airport with one last Margarita. Every year we go into the Strip for seafood and cook in- it's become our niche and I love it.
And though I love love love fresh flowers, red roses aren't my cup of tea.
So I just ask for a big bag of dark chocolate instead :)

I also think of my friends during this holiday- and all of the carnation grams we would send each other in school for a $. Though you might not get a carnation from me, I love you all, far & near. My girlfriends were my valentines for a lot of years too!

I came across this really cute recipe I might try this weekend on Bakerella.

Red Velvet Cake Bites

I also love the idea of a heart shaped breakfast in bed :)

William Sonoma

Or this super cute Lily Pulitzer sweater

Lily Pulitzer

xoxo
S.