Bleaks-burg Game Day

Earlier in the summer, C & I made plans with my sister & her husband to head down to Blacksburg in October and attend a Virginia Tech football game. We did the same thing last fall over Halloween weekend, and had such a great time that we wanted to do it again. Needless to say, it was a little bit of a different plan since I am currently Sober Sally, but a day at VT is a day at VT and I won't pass that up! We bought our tickets and a parking pass to secure a tailgate spot, and planned a fun weekend. Last Saturday was game day, and I could not wait to return "home" - even sporting this basketball-stomach I've currently got going on.

Little did we know, after a long, dry summer, the rain would start (and not stop) the very weekend that we were scheduled to head to the home of the Hokies. In case you were living under a rock last week and didn't know, Hurricane Joaquin and a gross nor'easter both made their way to our area and dumped a massive amount of rain on most of Virginia. The weather forecast leading up to the game on Saturday was obviously quite poor. We are dedicated fans, though, and we committed ourselves to a very wet day in Blacksburg. My beloved college town certainly earned it's nickname that day - it is known locally as Bleaks-burg most of the winter, as it turns gray and sad for a long time in the cold winter. That was just weather we got for the only game we are going to make it to this season! Boo.

We headed from the lake house at Smith Mountain Lake to Blacksburg early on Saturday morning, and set up our tailgate in the pouring rain. My sister and I ventured downtown to the bookstore to pick up some new maroon & orange gear - I needed something to wear the rest of the season since none of my VT shirts fit this fall! I settled on two different scarfs, and found a pair of dress socks for C - grown-up Hokie gear. AND I managed to avoid buying Baby W one single piece of Hokie gear - it was hard, but I restrained myself. We have baby showers coming up!

Let me tell you - tailgating, sober, in the pouring rain, is not exactly my idea of "reliving my glory days." It is definitely not that much fun watching everyone put their beer blankets on while you sit shivering in the rain drinking hot apple cider (not that apple cider isn't delicious, but it's NOT THE SAME) - and it also didn't help soften the misery when our team played terribly and lost the game. Sigh.

We did enjoy ourselves, though, and C & I had a blast hanging out with my sister and my brother-in-law. I am thinking maybe we will make this an annual tradition - and next year we can bring Baby W!

This might be a sign that we are getting old... but I'm pretty sure the best part of the day was driving back to the lake house, where we promptly all took naps before watching a movie and eating a comforting dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup. It was certainly not the same as bar-hopping in Blacksburg, but it was a great way to spend the evening after being cold and wet all day! Even with the horrible weather, we all agreed that we had a wonderful weekend, and would do it again in a heartbeat. Now, if only my football team could figure out a way to win games for a change... sigh.

Now I Just Need a Rug

I sent my dad and my husband off on a mission on last Saturday: buy the flooring for the nursery. The old, ugly pink carpeting was ripped out of the bedroom we are using, and we decided to install Pergo laminate flooring in its place. Hooray! (My goal is to do all of the bedrooms and part of the main floor, too... one room at a time...)

The men returned a few hours later, and thanks to my mother and her powers of persuasion suggestion, they decided to just go ahead and start installing it. A weekend with no plans turned into a weekend of "get shit done" - just how I like it!

While they hammered and sawed and made approximately one thousand trips up and down the stairs and in and out of the garage, my mom and I set out on a massive cleaning / decluttering / organizing mission. Trust me, it was necessary! I always find it easier to do things like that when you have someone to help you: in my case, it takes someone else saying "do you really need this??" for me to actually admit NO, and put it in the trash or giveaway pile. It helps to have fresh eyes on old crap.

By the time the four of us finished our respective projects on Sunday afternoon, we had a full trashcan, a carfull of things for Goodwill, and, the very best part, beautiful, beautiful fresh floors in the nursery. It looks absolutely perfect, and I can't believe how great of a job they did... it looks like it was professionally installed! There was some smart cutting required to get in around the closet door and within the walk-in closet, but they did it just right, and it looks amazing. I am in love!

Now, I just need to find the right rug for the room... a shopping mission awaits!

The Best Kind of Weekend-ing

First weekend in May come and gone... Wow! We had the kind of weekend that is busy but relaxing at the same time - felt like a lot was going on, but it was quality time with friends and family, which always refreshes me. It also means I don't take many pictures. I am trying to be fully present wherever I am!

On Friday, C and I went to see Avengers: Age of Ultron - C has been anxiously awaiting the release of this movie for months, so of course we had to see it the day it came out! It turned out to be a pretty good movie, and I was actually able to follow the story line amidst all the action! That is not always the case for me with these superhero movies... PS - was anybody else surprised to see Baby Olsen as the Scarlet Witch in this movie?? I totally missed that casting announcement, but I liked it. She's good!

We were up bright and early to clean the house and run errands on Saturday morning before a 12:30 puck drop for the  Caps game. It was my mom's birthday, so my parents came down to watch the game and celebrate. Unfortunately, the Caps didn't see fit to get a win for the occasion - booooo. Post-game, my mom and I headed to the mall to cash in a B&BW coupon & take advantage of the 2-for-$24 candle sale - happy birthday, indeed! We rounded out the evening with a DIY salad bar and strawberry parfaits for dessert while watching The Judge - I wasn't expecting that movie to be such a tear-jerker! 

Sunday was spent visiting another new-to-us winery: The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville, VA. We met up with my friend, Michelle, and her husband, and took advantage of the fact that they are wine club members for some free tastings. Wine tastings = good, free wine tastings = REALLY good!

It was a gorgeous day, and the place was packed - but Michelle grabbed us a great table right in the middle of everything. A pitcher of sangria and a picnic lunch were the perfect way to spend the afternoon. And I managed to keep myself from getting a sunburn! Definite win. 

I really loved this winery - definitely recommend a visit f you are in the area! They completely embrace the historical elements of their location (right next door to a Civil War battlefield), and have a beautiful set-up with plenty of picnic tables, as well as a large indoor tasting room. The parking lot was jam packed, but we never felt crowded within the winery itself. Lots of space to spread out. Also loved the fact that they have two clearly defined areas to hang out: one side for families with kids, and another for just visitors 21+. I've never seen it done that way, but I thought it was a great way to make everyone happy and comfortable. We didn't end up buying any wine to take home, but we will definitely go back for another visit. 

It feels like we jumped straight from winter to summer around here - it was in the 80s yesterday, and is supposed to stay that way all week! I definitely didn't mind the sunshine and warmth, but I'm hoping the humidity stays away, at least for a few more weeks! I need a couple of weekends where it is still bearable to be outdoors. There is nothing I enjoy more than some laid-back time with the people I love most, though, and this was weekend was such a great example of that. I know the official start to summer isn't until Memorial Day, but this weekend almost felt like it could have been it. We'll be sweating our buns off and hiding in air conditioned places before we know it.

How was your weekend? Anything fun planned for this week? 

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?)

A little wine, and I'm feelin' fine

On Saturday evening, we went out to one of our favorite local wineries, Old House Vineyards, for their Summer Sunsets concert series. C & I packed up a picnic and met our friends, Stephanie and Chris, out in Culpeper for an evening of live music, gorgeous views, and delicious wine. Could there be anything better? Methinks not.

I first learned about the Summer Sunsets concerts back in January when we went wine tasting at Old House for my birthday, and I'd made a mental note that it would be fun to attend. I'd only been to the winery in the winter, so hadn't had much of an opportunity to see the beautiful property. It was well worth the wait!

We brought a variety of snacks for dinner, and munched on guacamole, hummus, chicken salad, veggies, crackers, and the like while listening to a guy with a guitar serenade the crowd all evening. It has actually been decent weather around here lately (rather than sweltering hot and suffocatingly humid, per usual), and we were perfectly comfortable sitting outdoors for a few hours, watching the view change as the sun went down.

The event at Old House is free to the public (awesome), and most glasses of their wine were $5 for a very generous pour (more like 2 glasses, if you ask me!). It was a cheap date for sure (minus the bottles of wine we bought to bring home), and we had such a great time! There were a good number of people in attendance, and we saw everything from fancy picnics with gourmet food to families with little kids and buckets of fried chicken. We fit right in with our appetizer-dinner, and it was quick and easy to transport.

Our first official photo.. this makes us real-life friends now, and not blog-friends, right? :)

This was easily one of my favorite nights of this summer - there is nothing I like better than sitting around chatting with friends over food and drink, and when you add music to the mix, it's just about perfect. I am looking forward to the next time we get to visit Old House for Summer Sunsets - which I actually think will be next weekend! Because why not. Summer only lasts so long!

So tell me...

• Do you like to visit wineries? Do you have a favorite?
• What's your favorite low-key summer activity?
• Red or white wine? I generally lean towards red in the winter, and white in the summer.

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!

Five for Friday: I'm sensing a theme...

Happy Friday, friends! It is an absolutely gorgeous day in the city, and it's supposed to be nice out all weekend, to boot! We had some storms and nasty humidity earlier in the week, so it's nice to have a little break from that. Especially because anyone from around here knows what's coming as summer heats up... humidity is so gross.

Anyway! Welcome to another edition of Five for Friday. It's been a while since my last one. Fridays have been busier than usual. My five things for this week have a bit of a theme that I didn't notice until just now... well, we all know what my priorities usually are, and this is pretty much proof. Check it out!

1 // I actually got myself together one morning this week and made myself a smoothie before we left the house. It was delightful! Smoothies remind me of being a kid, before smoothies were all the rage, when we just called them "blender drinks" and my mom used them as a way to get us to have a few more fruits with breakfast. C pointed out that I could have one every day if I'd just get out of bed the first time the alarm goes off.... hahahahahahahaha he's a funny one, that guy. #notgonnahappen

2 // I updated my address book since lots of friends and family have moved lately, and then got to wondering if I'm one of the few people left who actually uses a real address book? I really love mine, even if it is a bit old fashioned.

3 // It is possible that there is nothing better than sitting on the deck in the afternoon with a cold beer, listening to music and enjoying the scenery. Simple pleasures, my friends.

4 // If I have to be in the office on Friday, real coffee is a must... there are not many things I do quickly, but I will do what is necessary for coffee. C & I were in and out of Wawa in under 5 minutes this morning!

5 // My basil plant is finally growing, and I used the first of the leaves on naan pizzas last night... omg good. The scent of the basil was practically intoxicating - loved every single bite!

So, did you notice my unplanned topic for the week? I sure do love my good eats and drinks :)

So tell me...

• What's the best thing you ate or drank this week?
• Any big plans this weekend?
• What's one thing you still do or use that's probably considered "old fashioned" by now?

linking up with the five on friday girls:  Darci, Christina, April,and Natasha

Richmond restaurants: two new loves

We went down to Richmond on Friday afternoon to visit with some friends of ours, and while we were there, I had two of the most delicious meals. Y'all know how I feel about food and good restaurants, so I just have to share these experiences with you. If you ever find yourself in RVA (or live there and haven't tried these spots), I highly recommend stopping in!

Dinner on Friday night was at The Daily Kitchen and Bar on Cary Street. We got there around a little after 7 and were told that there would be a 45-minute wait (not unexpected). We grabbed drinks at the bar and prepared to hang out for a bit... well, wouldn't you know, our table was ready before we'd even finished that round! I think we ended up waiting just 20 minutes in the end - worth it! We shared the fried calamari appetizer (delicious, and I'm not a huge fan to start with) before choosing entrees. My eyes fell on the blackened fish tacos and my choice was made! There were lots of things on the menu that looked appealing, and I'm pretty sure I would have enjoyed anything I chose. The fish tacos were fantastic, though, and I loved the homemade hot sauce - it added just the right amount of kick. Our waitress was friendly but efficient, and the atmosphere in the restaurant was casual and lively. It was a nice night out, and we were seated near the patio with the doors wide open. I greatly enjoyed our meal, and would happily go back and try their brunch!

For brunch on Saturday, we ended up with our Plan B - and it was perfect! We tried to go to The Pig and Pearl, but got there around 10 AM, only to find that they don't open til 11 on Saturdays (ummm... what? Odd decision, if you ask me). So, on to the next place... The Black Sheep! Personally, I'm thrilled that is where we ended up, because it was amazing! The Black Sheep is a small, hole-in-the-wall kinda place, near the campus of VCU, tucked away off the main roads. We were seated immediately for breakfast, and started with coffee and Bloody Marys (a brunch necessity, amirite?) The coffee was hot and the Bloody Mary was spicy (though I'd have liked another dash of hot sauce), and both were exactly what I needed. For breakfast, I chose the No Mas Huevos Neuvos - and I am not embarrased to admit that I cleaned my plate. The dish is described on their menu as, "Two eggs served with a wheatberry & black bean chili. Topped with an avocado salsa, served over a griddled jalapeño gritcake. Served with toasted baguette. (Add carnitas for $2.)" You better believe I added the carnitas, and was very pleased with that choice. This is one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten! Again, everything on the menu looked delicious, and I'd love to go back and try lunch and / or dinner. Yum!

I truly love discovering new dining experiences, and was thrilled that we were able to try not one, but two delightful restaurants during our quick trip to the city. Like I said, definitely add these to your "must try" list - or tell if you've tried either of them before! I am always looking for new recommendations and meals to try, so if you have any suggestions of places we should go, let me know!

Andddd because there hasn't been a cat picture here in several days, at least, I'll leave you with this:

We took a trip to the vet on Friday afternoon, and the most pitiful cat on the planet decided he was safer sitting in the sink than on the table while we waited for his test results to come back. Just look at that face! Pathetic. :)

So tell me...

• Favorite restaurant? Do you prefer chain places or holes-in-the-wall (no idea how to make that plural appropriately...)
• What was the best thing you ate this weekend?
• Does your pet act like the vet is the worst place in the world?! (Honestly, you'd think being in his cage was a death sentence.)

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.

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!