Case of the Mondays

Happy Monday! It's gloomy and gray around here, but the temperature is not even hitting 80 so I'll take it. These little hints of fall are keeping me going through the muggy heat that seems to be never-ending.

How was your weekend? We had no "plans" for this one, but tons of things we needed to do. Since we've basically been gone or booked solid every weekend since before the 4th of July, our house was in a sorry state and the to-do list was a mile long. I definitely didn't get everything done that I wanted to, since my shoulder and arm are still bugging me quite a bit, but I plowed through a good chunk of the list and still managed to finish my book club book for this month (Station Eleven - anyone read it? Let's discuss!). It was a great "off" weekend (though I have very little photo evidence of such - sorry!).

Friday afternoon, I had a prenatal massage scheduled, which I was really looking forward to. Sadly, though, it was not the best one I've ever had. The masseuse had a very light touch, and I tend to prefer deeper massage, and I kind of forgot that prenatal massages are conducted while you lay on your side... which is not something extremely comfortable for me right now with the whole shoulder issue. The facility was nice and it wasn't terrible (any massage is a good massage in my book) but it definitely wasn't the great experience I was hoping for.

My new "happy hour" :)

After my appointment, C & I took advantage of our local summer Restaurant Week to grab dinner in downtown Fredericksburg. After much debate, we settled on Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen, which we always enjoy, and chowed down on Caprese salad, chicken parmigiana, and homemade chocolate chip cannoli. Ummm, yum. We ended the night watching The Skeleton Twins, which was not what I was expecting and one of the weirder movies I've seen in a long time. Awk-ward.

On Saturday morning, I met a (pregnant!) friend for (decaf) coffee at Hyperion, and spent a lovely hour catching up and comparing notes. She's just a few weeks behind me in her pregnancy, so we text a lot about things that are going on and such - it was nice to chat with something who is going through all the same things! After that, C and I had a mission: a trip to Lowe's to get some flooring information and some paint samples. The nursery calls!

We left with several Pergo samples, one of which matches our current main-floor flooring really nicely, so that was a success. We also came home with four paint samples to test on the walls - C got those up yesterday and the verdict is... I like them all. So indecisive! Luckily, I've got some time before I truly have to decide.

My darling husband worked his butt off in the nursery for a big chunk of Saturday and Sunday, and he made really great progress getting it to a point where it's a neutral space and we can actually start turning it into a nursery. I have been basic non-existent in the "helping" category up there, so it's all him and he's doing a fantastic job. I am doing a pretty good job of walking in occasionally and pointing out spots he missed with primer, etc. We all have our strengths!

Beautiful white walls... no more banana yellow!

The rest of the weekend was filled with house cleaning, organizing, and reading. Like I said, I didn't cross everything off my list, but I feel much better about the state of affairs, and hopefully I will get the rest done as the week progresses. I haven't been able to get the to the gym in the last week or so thanks to my arm issue, so I have some time at home to take care of things like doing laundry and scrubbing toilets (ick). A blessing in disguise... or something.

Here's hoping the "severe" thunderstorms they are calling for this afternoon hold off - I hate commuting in the rain. Have a great day, my friends!

Monday schmunday

Ahh, Monday, we meet again. Why do you always come so soon??

Good thing I am armed with coffee and a cute new blouse, courtesy of Tar-Jay. I shall win this battle!

We had a lovely weekend. How was yours? If you live anywhere near Boston, I suppose you were preparing for Snow-magedeon Round (uhh...) 3? I'm so sorry. I would be happy to take a little bit of the white stuff off your hands!! I've been feeling a bit gypped this winter. 

Yesterday was the complete opposite of a winter wonderland around these parts. Rather, we were faced with the first amazing, teasing spring-like day of the year! I kid you not, the weather yesterday was perfect. It's been a little weird around here lately. This is Friday morning versus yesterday afternoon: 

Uhhhh yeah. Weird. 

But I am not one to complain about pretty days, and we took full advantage! Spending the morning and afternoon with the backdoor open for some fresh air felt amazing - you never notice how stuffy it is inside with the heat pumping until you get to open the door and feel a fresh breeze. The boys loved it, too. "Look, Mom! The WORLD!" 

C and I started the day wth a little DIY action: installing under-the-cabinet lighting in the kitchen. We were lounging around yesterday morning watching TV when I noticed the lights on a show we had on, and said "don't you wish we had that?!" One trip to Lowe's and a Starbucks stop later, we had the power tools out and were making it happen.

Cashed in my birthday reward! Venti skim caramel macchiato, I love you. It's been too long.

The man in action

I adore the results. It was just what we needed! We installed plug-in LED lights under our three main kitchen cabinets, and provided a great amount of light to previously dim prep areas. It makes such a difference! This probably doesn't show the effect well enough, but it's a start.

Next on the agenda was getting outdoors: a run through the battlefields was the perfect way to enjoy the sunshine. I needed to break in my beautiful new Brooks shoes anyways, so it killed two birds with one stone run. Who woulda guessed I'd be running outdoors in a tank and capris in February?! It was lovely. Four easy miles was just what the doctor ordered.

I fully intended to make a big batch of my mom's chicken and dumplings yesterday, but I just couldn't bear to make stew when the weather was so gorgeous. Instead we opted for grilled chicken kebabs and grilled veggies, and enjoyed the most glorious "it feels like summer" dinner while watching the Grammy's. We were all tuckered out from a full day of activities. Kitten yoga, anyone?

Waking up to temps back in the 30s this morning was kind of the pits, but in so glad we got to take advantage of a beautiful day in the dead of winter. We just might survive this one after all!

Valentine's decor - or lack thereof!

Happy Day-After-the-Super-Bowl Day! Why is heaven's name is that game still played on a Sunday night, and why don't we all get an automatic free pass from work on Monday morning? Especially since there was a brand new episode of The Blacklist on immediately after the game, and you know I had to stay up to watch it! Couldn't possibly just DVR it and save it for tonight... oh, no... blerg. I may or may not be regretting that decision. Probably not as much as the Seahawks' head coach is regretting his last play call decision, though! Dang. What a rough way to end the game.

Anyway. Football is behind us. Let's talk about Valentine's Day!!

I went to get out my V-Day decorations this weekend.... and promptly realized that I really don't have anything. Apart from a wreath I made a few years ago and one crystal heart-shaped bowl, it would appear that I am severely lacking in decor for this holiday. Shoot!

I scoured the web in search of some pretty, not-overly-cutesy Valentine's decorations, and found several things that I'd be happy to have in my house. I think I'll be keeping an eye out for some post-holiday sales this year and see if I can add a few things to have for next year. Where do you find good deals on V-Day decorations? And where are some good places to find things that are a little bit subtle, rather than screaming Valentine's Day? Help me out!

All items from Pier 1, Pottery Barn, Kohl's or Williams Sonoma. Links below!

sign / sign / wreath

pillow / plate / bowls

garland / letters / pillow

wine and cheese, if you please!

Yesterday afternoon, I finally did something that I've been wanting to do since we moved into our new house over a year ago: hosted a small, casual get-together with some girlfriends, which I hope to make into an annual tradition. Wahoo! Can't be a tradition unless you start the first time, right?

I invited the girls from my book club, plus a few other friends, to come over to the house, and I planned a "wine and cheese" party - a little fancier than normal, but still casual, if you know what I mean. I picked out some interesting cheeses at Wegmans, made a few accompanying snacks, and selected a variety of red and white wines. Something for everyone!

Everything went according to plan, but not without something silly happening: about an hour and a half before the start time, I suddenly found myself panicking. Not because the house wasn't clean or the food wasn't ready - but because I was struck by an overwhelming sense of nervousness that no one would show up, and I'd be left looking silly with a table full of cheese and unopened bottles of wine. Almost 28 years old, and still worried that no one will come to my party. At what point in time do I grow out of that?! Hashtag totally self conscious. Womp, womp. Luckily, C reassured me that he would attend my party if no one else did - isn't that what great husbands are for??

In the end, I didn't have quite the attendance I was hoping for, but it was still a lovely, intimate afternoon with some sweet friends. We tried new wine, new cheese, and new flavor pairings (honey & Gorgonzola on garlic crostini? Surprisingly good!) and talked for several hours. It was such a nice way to spend a Sunday! I am looking forward to recreating the event in the near future... the best reason for a get-together is no reason at all, right?

As if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, I started the morning with a run along the Rappahannock River - talk about a gorgeous morning! I always forget that there is a lovely, paved bike / jogging path that winds right along the river, and I rediscovered it yesterday. I can't wait to go back!

 

I don't always love Virginia, but sometimes it just takes my breath away. Views like this are one reason I know that I could never be a city girl - I just couldn't go very long without having nature at my finger tips. I don't like bugs and dirt, and I'll be the first to tell you that, but I sure like being able to see things like this on a random Sunday morning. Incredible!

A busy weekend left us all tired-er than usual last night... especially Mr. Toby, who wore himself out completely being as cute as possible for the girls (and trying to eat all the cheese... what a pest!) Had to laugh when I found him curled up like this last night - he was exhausted! I feel ya, buddy, I feel ya!

So tell me...

• What was the best part of your weekend?
• When was the last time you had a get-together for no occasion?
• What's your favorite thing about the area you live in (like your exact neighborhood or town, I mean?)

so. much. stuff.

I'm not sure if it's the changing seasons or the fact that I'm getting a little older or just being in a phase in life, but lately, when I look around the house, all I can see is clutter. There just seems to be stuff everywhere. I go through what C calls "tornado Lindsay" moments where I spend 10 or 15 crazy minutes trying to put everything away, but it seems like the next time I turn around, every surface is covered again. Know what I mean?

This summer was a busy one for us - if we weren't going somewhere, we had major weekend plans, or I was traveling for work (even though I'm home on the weekends, those business trips are exhausting and I just don't get enough done afterwards!) - so the little things around the house have kind of fallen by the wayside.

We are moving into fall, and my brain is starting to feel cluttered, too. It's time to try to tame the mess! We have a couple of weekends with very few plans ahead of us, so I'm determined to try to get things in order. Anyone have any great tips or tricks for every-day "life hacks" or ways to avoid the constant clutter? I'm talking closets, bedroom, living room, kitchen table... I'd love to see the top of my kitchen table again! I'm beginning to forget what it looks like!

After a good, thorough "put it all away" session, I'm planning to do a total overhaul of our closet. It is definitely time for C and I to both go through everything we own and start clearing it all out. Also, that's the only way I can justify buying new clothes - my drawers are currently jam-packed, but I hardly wear most of what's in there! Time to get rid of all the things just taking up space. I love the idea of splitting everything into three or four categories (i.e., keep, trash, donate) - so we will probably start there and go through every item of clothing we own. If nothing else, that would certainly be a start!

[source: Pintrest]

[source: Pintrest]

Something's gotta change soon.. because I'm about to lose my mind! And this is before we even have kids. It's just the two of us! (If you didn't immediately repeat that in song-form in your head, we may not be able to stay friends...) I swear I don't belong on Hoarders - but some days, I feel like I might! 

So tell me...

• What's your best de-clutter trick?
• How do you keep your house from not looking like a total disaster, all the time?
• How often do you clean out your closets?

Manic Mobile Monday

I might have to start a new thing called Mobile Monday... I had every intention of getting a post together for this morning, but before I know it, the day is almost over! The hours just fly by. Manic Monday is DEFINITELY real. Whew. 

We had a super busy weekend that was filled with quality time with family and friends, so I can't complain about that. I can, however, complain about how my weekend started: with a visit to the dermatologist, which I left with one less mole than I began. Womp, womp. A spot on my hand was deemed "weird" by the doctor, and next thing I knew, it was being removed for further testing. See ya, spot!

Pain in my hand aside, I can't actually complain about the appointment. The office was nice, the doctor was friendly and knowledgeable, and she was very proactive about skin care. Check, check, and check! So there's my PSA for the day: if you haven't had your skin checks lately, stop everything and make an appointment! It is so very important. 

Another notable weekend activity was a major yard project: bush removal! I have hated the boxwood bushes in front of our house since the day we moved in, so I got it in my head that we should remove them. Let me just say this: ripping out gigantic hedges is not as simple as one might believe. 

Luckily, I put together my dream team (my parents and husband are awesome) (not at all by bribing them with wine and food...) and together we ripped those suckers out. It may or may not have involved attaching a rope to my mom's Lexus and tying it around a bush and yanking it out of the ground... We're classy, y'all. At the end of the day, though, I was freaking thrilled with the results. You can actually see my front porch! Hooray! I am really lucky I got help though... Because, in retrospect, I have no idea how I thought I was going to handle that alone. It was a much bigger project than I anticipated! 

Our final activity of the weekend was attending a crab fest hosted by the local chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.

 It was so much fun, and made me simultaneously happy and sad. Happy, because it's almost time for college football to come back! But sad, because it was a "freshman send-off" event for local kids who are heading down to Blacksburg to start their college career.. And I am so jealous!! What I wouldn't give to be starting those four years over again. They don't know how lucky they are! Sob. 

Anyway, we ate crabs, drank beer, and enjoyed the great company of fellow Hokies - can't beat that for a Sunday afternoon! 

C and I are looking forward to getting more involved with the alumni club - it's such a great organization, and I love meeting people who love my alma mater as much as I do. Hokie Nation, baby!

So tell me...

• Have you ever tackled a home-improvement project that turned out harder than you expected?
• Are you involved with your college alumni club?
• Are you a crab eater? I LIKE crab, but I really don't like working so hard for my food...!

oh hey friday!

I am actually somewhat shocked that today is Friday.... this week has FLOWN by! We had a big two-day meeting at work that we spent the first half of the week prepping for and the second half conducting, so the days just blurred together and next thing I know, we're done! Whew. Love weeks that go like that.

As if a quick week wasn't nice enough, I spent the evening with some girlfriends last night at Vivify, sitting on the rooftop sharing a pitcher of white sangria and listening to music. It was like a scene from a movie... until the wind kicked up and the lightening started! Yikes. An early end to girls' night... but still fun to get some time with some sweet ladies!

And now, without further adieu.... a quick Five for Friday! Here's some snapshots from this week.

1 // Add this to the list of #yardsurprises! My lilies started blooming this week - one whole side of the house is covered in these stunning pink flowers! They are as big as my whole hand, and smell amazing. What a treat!

2 // I whipped up a batch of these chocolate and peanut butter swirl brownies for a co-worker's birthday this week - SO GOOD. I will definitely put that recipe in my back pocket to make again! Everyone at work raved about them, and they were super easy to make. Another win for my girl, Betty Crocker.

3 // I love, love, love summer beers. We've been trying some news ones, and I am finding some new favorites! This one was the Sierra Nevada summer brew. Yum!

4 // Awkward selfie time - had to document the fact that I wore my big girl suits this week! You'll almost never find me in a suit... every day is NOT a job interview, my friends. However, the meetings we were conducting called for me to pull out the big guns. Proof that I can dress like an adult!

5 // Picked up a stack of books from the library this week - excited for some new reads! I have heard really good things about a couple of these, and a couple are random library finds. I had forgotten how much of a thrill I get from carrying a pile of books out of the library. Nerd alert. Don't care!

Have a great weekend!


  linking up with karli and amy

Why do one project when you can do four?!

This was a major "do all the things" weekend for us. It was pretty much non-stop from the minute we got home on Friday! With a little help, we were able to do several projects we've been eying for a while now. Can't believe we've lived in our house for almost a year now!

While exhausting, it was also very exciting to get some things crossed off the to-do list that seems to grow faster than I can even write down! Owning a home is no joke, my friends. But I love it. I love the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes from looking around and knowing we have done things to keep our house looking good and in good condition. Now, if only the grass would figure out how to cut itself...

On Friday afternoon, I made a quick trip to the mall and HomeGoods while C worked on his home-brewing project. Then we got cleaned up and headed out for a local event called First Friday. It's exactly what it sounds like - on the first Friday of the month, local businesses and galleries set up open-house style and invite people in to see what they've got. C & I met up with some friends for dinner at Colonial Tavern, then wandered downtown before ending up at Vivify for some rooftop drinks. It was gorgeous night, and we had a great time sitting and chatting. We had so much fun that I forgot to snap a single pic... whoops!

Saturday was project day! We were up bright and early to clean up the house a bit before C's parents arrived. They brought a carful of power tools and gardening supplies, and came prepared to work. I am so grateful for their help! C & his dad went to work on some front porch repairs - there were power saws and nail guns involved, so I was glad to stay out of their hair.

My MIL and I tackled the garden on the side of our house. When we moved in, this particular side was covered in raspberry bushes! Lovely, but... not. They grow like CRAZY and are such a pain to keep trimmed back and under control. Plus, while I'd love to sit around picking berries, we all know I ain't got time for that.

The bushes were pulled a few months ago, but we never got around to killing the roots, and they were coming back with a vengeance. My MIL and I pulled weeds and roots and turned all the soil, then gave the whole area a heavy coat of grass & weed killer. We topped it with newspaper and mulch, and hopefully it will be ready for some new planting come fall!

 

I am excited because the soil looked really good while we were working in it, so hopefully the raspberries will be gone for good and I can plant something pretty over there. We also cleaned up the nicer area at the edge of the garden, and gave that rosebush a good prune.

Meanwhile, C and his dad had finished the porch and moved on to other things. They built a stand / holder for our VT bell, which has been gathering dust in the garage. High-time to get it out and start racking up those Hokie wins! C didn't want to screw the bell into the bricks, so they built a handy little holder for it. Easily transportable!

As if that wasn't enough, the guys were sweet enough to finish a long-time-coming project for me! I bought this old US map off eBay almost two years ago, fully intending to get it framed and hung. Then... It sat in a bag in the closet for two years. Whoops! C & his dad built me a custom frame out of plastic molding, and got the whole thing put together for me! I love the finished product, and we are already looking forward to visiting new places so we can put new pins in the map.

 

 

After my in-laws left, we had just a few minutes to relax before our next guests arrived! C's cousin and his wife brought their sweet almost-two-year-old son over for a visit. We intended to cook dinner, but made the executive decision that pizza was in order. We played outside for awhile and chewed down with a couple of beers before they headed home. I'll be honest - I was asleep by 8:30 that night! I was worn. out. C started an episode of Sherlock on Netflix, but I'm pretty sure I didn't see more than a few minutes of if before I was passed out on the couch. Homegirl can't hang! My eyelids just would not hold themselves open any longer. It's possible that I'm 20-something going on 80-something!

Sunday was just as busy. C put the finishing touches on the porch (it needed some paint) and I washed the cars. I'm pretty sure that was the first time I've washed a car by hand in.... years... But we had time and space and it sure beat spending $50 to take them both to the car wash. We also washed the garage floor and oragnized some things in there. Needless to say, our trash can is packed to overflowing. Feels good to get rid of junk taking up space, though!

Just when you thought I couldn't add anything more to this weekend... We wrapped it up with a few more errands, grabbed some dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, and stopped by the grocery store. By the time we settled on the couch to watch the season finale of Turn, we were both exhausted! It's been a long time since we had a free weekend when we could just work on thing after thing that needed to be done. Sure feels good to look around and know that we did everything we planned to and more! Although there was ONE individual who was not so pleased with all this weekend activity.... of course:

Guys. Stop.

So tell me...

• What project did you accomplish this weekend?
• Do you wash your car by hand or take it somewhere? Like I said, I'm generally a let-someone-else-do-it kinda gal...
• Anything exciting happening this week? Big Father's Day plans? Happy Monday!

Delicious dinner & yard surprises

This weekend was everything that weekends are supposed to be. Relaxation, organization, delicious food, quality time with quality people, and sunshine! I am sporting my first (minor) sunburn of the season this morning, thanks to a few hours of yard work and a little porch-sittin' yesterday afternoon - and I'm not even mad! It's a lingering reminder of all the good stuff we soaked up over the past few days.

A quick picture recap, because seeing is believing!

As promised, Friday night was date night! C & I enjoyed a delicious dinner at a local cafe, complete with live music and no phones or TVs. Just what we needed!

Saturday morning was dedicated to organizing the pantry. We had to pull everything out while the painters were working last week, and I refused t put anything back in until we could do it with some thought and planning. Everything sort of got thrown in there when we moved in last August, and it definitely needed some work. I browsed every aisle of Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Target on Saturday morning, and came home armed with a system. It took us several hours, but we are so happy with the results! Now, maintaining this system is another story...

We had plans with my parents for Saturday evening, and they came down early so my mom and I could squeeze in a run. We hit the pavement at the nearby battlefield and got in a great workout together. It was beautiful and breezy - just how I like it! PS: Have you used the FitSnap app? It's a fun way to track workouts right in the moment. I just discovered it the weekend & look forward to using it more!

We decided to take my parents out to dinner to thank them for paying for the painting (a lovely housewarming gift, indeed) and I made a reservation at a local restaurant we hadn't tried yet. It was definitely a good pick! Our dinner at Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen was one of the most memorable restaurant meals I've had in a long time - can't wait to share more about this amazing local treasure. I chose the salmon served over shrimp risotto for my entree, and was in foodie heaven. It was insane! I practically licked my plate clean. Yum!

On Sunday morning, we went out to breakfast at the same cafe where C & I had our date (Amy's - love it so much we went 2x in one weekend!). It was a good thing we had a big, hearty meal, because when we got home, we decided that some spur-of-the-moment yard work was in order. Several hours and 16 17 gigantic trash bags later, we had done major clean-up damage in the back yard. Everything was in alright shape when we moved in at the end of last summer, but it needed some major TLC, and we just didn't have the time last fall to do everything that needed to be done. No time like the present! We cut back trees, cleaned our flower beds, raked up a bajillion pine needles, and fertilized the lawn. Very glad to have that all taken care of!

We couldn't waste any of the beautiful day, so C & I wrapped up the weekend with a grill meal: steak and asparagus, plus a mayo-less potato salad. It was the perfect dinner to enjoy while we watched the ACMs. Anyone else see the show? I thought it was great! There are some really talented country musicians out there right now, and I am loving seeing how the careers progress (also, I'm really glad that Taylor Swift isn't dominating the scene any more!).

One last picture for the day... I have a running list of what I call "Yard Surprises" - you never know what you'll find in a new yard, left behind by the previous owners. This was definitely one I appreciated:

So tell me...

• Do you have a favorite local eatery? We love all the options near us that aren't chain restaurants!
• Did you fit in a workout this weekend? Tell me about it! I'm so happy that it's outdoor running season again.

Operation: Move Less Cans

This week is an official “Use What’s in the Pantry” week, due to the fact that our pantry is being painted next week, along with the rest of the main floor. Anything that we manage to eat will be something that we don’t have to move back and forth, so that's important. Therefore, meal-planning this past Sunday involved C & I standing in front of the shelves, trying to formulate meals based on what was in front of us. Here’s what we came up with, and what pantry items are used in each dish.

This is definitely a week that will be heavy on the crockpot, but it is such an easy way to cook and use a bunch of canned goods, that it just makes sense. Most of these dishes will be paired with a side salad or other vegetable, and I think that part of the tortilla soup from Wednesday will go into the freezer for another time so we don’t end up with too many leftovers.We are probably going to need a break from chicken at the end of the week, but since we won't be able to use the kitchen for a few days next week, I'm sure we will broaden our horizons while we eat out a couple of times.

So tell me...

• What is your favorite meal to make with things you have on-hand?
• What do you do when you can't use your kitchen?
• What is a unique item that you consider a "staple"? Ours is buffalo sauce... we use it constantly!

All the time in the world

Welcome to the last week of March! We're a quarter of the way through 2014 - how's everyone doing with those New Year's resolutions?? ....yeah, about that. Ha!

I had a lovely weekend, and I hope you did, too. We kicked off with a True Detective marathon on Friday night (thank you, HBO On Demand!!) and fish tacos. I whipped up a batch of homemade salsa with a secret family recipe from my sister, and let that start to "get happy" in the fridge til Saturday. I also threw together our first fresh fruit salsa of the season to put with fish tacos... makes me so happy!

Fruit salsa is so easy to make, and it's a fantastic topper for quick fish tacos. I diced up a nectarine, a jalapeno, and some green onions, and added the juice of 1/2 a lime, a little sea salt, and a smidge of olive oil. Toss together and let sit for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors merry. So delicious!

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Southern Women's Show in Richmond with Stephanie. We spent several hours bee-bopping from booth to booth, trying hand treatments and wine slushies and sampling dips, cheeses, and salsas. It was more fun than either of us expected, to be honest! Once we we'd seen all there was to see, we headed to Cary Street for lunch. Stephanie had a recommendation from Twitter for a place to try, and we ended up enjoying a delightful meal at the Urban Farmhouse Market and Cafe. I went with the "Pick 2" option and had half of a salad and sandwich. My salad was the Asparagus and White Bean over mixed greens, and my sandwich was the Virginia Ham Cubano. Both were absolutely delicious! I am looking forward to recreating the salad at home.

After a quick trip to Costco (I'm thinking about getting a membership but just can't commit!), I got home just in time to freshen up and head out with C to go to his sister's house - we were having a family dinner to celebrate two birthdays: my father-in-law's and our brother-in-law's! We gorged on veggies and dip, my fresh salsa, and a cheese tray, before enjoying hamburgers and hot dogs fresh from the grill. It was an ideal spring kickoff meal! And the company wasn't too bad, either! We enjoyed several lovely hours with C's family, and then made it home just in time to see the start of a late-night Caps game (these 10:30 start-time West Coast games are killer!) I didn't stand a chance of making it through the game, though, and C woke me up hours later to tell me we won and send me off to bed. Nice way to wrap up the day!

Sunday morning was deemed a "no alarms" day, and we slept in happily! I made a long to-do list, and after C made BLATs for lunch (my fave!), we got to work. We are having the main floor of the house painted the week after next, and we needed to spend some time clearing off walls and shelves and getting organized. Unfortunately, we're back to looking like we don't really live here! Womp, womp.

Also on the to-do list was a little bit of Me Time - a BodyCombat class at the gym and a much-needed pedicure! I went bright pink to welcome Spring... and I am completely ignoring the fact that they are calling for snow tonight.

C put a pot roast in the crockpot for dinner, and while it cooked, I whipped up a batch of homemade brownies. I realized today that spending some time baking from scratch brings me to a similar Zen-like state that a yoga class does... talk about relaxing. I couldn't leave well-enough alone, and added some marshmallows to the top of the brownies when they were finished baking. A few minutes under the broiler led us to this beautiful pan of chocolatey love. Yum!!

A glass of wine and a little more True Detective wrapped up our weekend. What could be better? I got everything that fills my proverbial "cup" in the last few days: husband time, friend time, family time, me time. Full to the brim, and then some!

So that happened...

As a new homeowner, I am aware that I have a lot to learn about my house.

Last night, I learned two very important lessons:

1. You can plunge a clogged shower drain.
2. If you plunge a clogged shower drain, the results can be rather.... explosive.

If you are a new homeowner, there may be a time when you find yourself facing a clogged shower drain. Said drain may be clogged with your own hair, because you shed constantly and refuse to get a pixie cut, but it may also be clogged with who-the-heck-knows-what because who-the-heck-knows-who lived in the house before you. It an attempt to remedy this issue, you can take a good old-fashioned toilet plunger to the shower drain. FYI: The sound of plunging your shower will sound like the ceiling is going to cave in. If you plunge good and hard, and there is, in fact, a big wad of goop* in the drain, it will come out.... a lot. And it will be nasty. And it will be everywhere.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Also, for the sake of saving your eyeballs, I did not take pictures of this event. You're welcome. I'll leave you with a cat picture instead.

Sleepy kitty

*goop is a good word because I can't stand to think about what else it was

Send snowblowers please

Well, looks like our weather forecasters were actually right for once... we definitely got the snow storm they were predicting! This is the most snow this area has seen in several years. Snow day! (j/k, I work from home regardless of shut-down status. Womp, womp...)

This is normally my front porch, steps, walkway, and yard...
can't tell where one ends and the next starts!

A good 7.5" and still coming...
apparently we got the short end of the stick
because my parents have over a foot!

My neighborhood is a beautiful winter wonderland. We are headed out to shovel shortly - wish us luck! It looks like this is the heavy stuff. Shoveling counts as my workout for the day, right?

I'm hoping to get some cleaning and baking done today, and we're pretty much just planning on being hunkered down for the day. No need to get on the roads and add to that mess - I'm perfectly happy at home where it's warm and dry!