Friday, October 24, 2008

New Vera Bradley




Let's talk about how much I love the new Vera Bradley spring patterns. I love the look of Hope Garden. This bag will make an excellent addition to my collection!

BINGO!

Last Sunday, my mom and I attended a local bingo. Now, I know what you're thinking...BINGO?!

Seriously. It's so fun! We go to Longaberger and Vera Bradley bingos every chance we get. The last two times we've gone, I've won! The proceeds of the bingo events always go to a local cause. This one was for our county's School Cook's Association. My mom was a teacher for 35 years, so this was certainly near and dear to her heart!

It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with the woman you love the most!

This time, I won an adorable Longaberger basket with salt and pepper shakers. There was also a gift certificate to Olive Garden inside! How fun! :)


Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Scrabooking Class!




I'm super excited! I'm taking a scrapbooking class ONLINE! :)

It should be great fun...I'll be going to get my supplies soon!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Hello, weekend!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Busy Day!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Thursday, October 9, 2008

7 Reasons I love Starbucks...

This one's for you, Jan.



1. Baristas. How cool is that? The people that make the drinks are called baristas. Quite frankly, when I grow up, I want to be a barista!

2. The green straw. A funky straw makes everything taste better. Remember crazy straws? Everything tasted better with them right? Same goes for the green straw from Starbucks.

3. Seasonal flavors. White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. What could be better than coming up with seasonal drinks? I'd love to be on the taste testing board for determining new drinks each season. Mmmmmm...

4. Skinny lattes. Oh, right. Like anyone ever gets those! I think Starbucks is just being funny here.

5. Coffee mugs. Some of my favorite coffee mugs are from Starbucks! From the Valentine's Day thermos to the Philadelphia mug, I love all of my unique Starbucks coffee-holders.

6. Looking important. C'mon. Let's be honest here. Don't you feel like a corporate exec or a cool coffee houser when you stride with Starbucks in hand? You know you do!

7. The mermaid. A brand that has a mermaid as its "mascot" has to be top-notch.

Scrapblog!

Monday, October 6, 2008

I have returned!

I'm back! I missed blogging so much. Seriously.

With work, school, T, family and friends...I have had time for zip, zero, nothing! I've been traveling a little for work and have been overwhelmed with all my new duties. I l.o.v.e. it, though!

Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things...

Monday, September 8, 2008

23 candles and baby Tyler!

Whew! What a busy weekend! Sorry I didn't update much...I was super busy with pre-birthday celebrations and meeting my new cousin, Tyler.

Future Husband's family had a birthday celebration complete with a cookie cake and cards! Tom's awesome mom had the Victoria's Secret Pink dog put on my cake! :) Love her!



Then, we went to meet baby Tyler! He's my cousin's second baby. Soooo cute.




Some of my other eats from the weekend...


A yummy tasting plate. Soooo good. Brenton crackers, pepperoni, cheese, pumpkin seeds, a sliced apple, and Barney Butter!



This AMAZING peach my parents brought back from Amish Country.




Annie's white cheddar shells (with a little parsley). YUM!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Udi's Granola (camera back in action)!

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I came home after a looooooooooooooong Friday and found an enticing FedEx package waiting for me! I tore it open and found these glorious packages inside!




Udi's sent me: 1 pacakge of original granola, 1 package of "BanaBerry" granola, and FIFTEEN sample packets of cranberry, hawaiian, au naturel, vanilla, and muesli!!! AMAZING!!!!

I already tried the BanaBerry (for kids) and it is outstanding! My mom was so excited to try it as well. I can't wait to show the Future Husband the amazing package I got!

So, Cynthia...thank you! You are AMAZING! It made my day!


On the food sampling note...my review for Barney Butter:



WOW! It was SO good! I took a packet to work and had it with Pretzel Crisps. It was quite filling! Super yummy! Thanks again, Barney Butter! You guys rock.

My parents went to Amish Country in Ohio and got back today. Look at the amazing produce they brought back! YUMMMMMM. My mom also got PUMPKIN SEEDS! *love her*





I'm off to make a yummy plate full of my goodies for dinner! I'll be working on my final HC&M paper before my class moves into GREEN MARKETING. I'm quite excited about this.

Tomorrow, I'm meeting some ladies from my church (along with my mom) for my pre-birthday celebration breakfast at Cracker Barrell. It will be hard to be good!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Camera issues.

:(

Sadly, I won't be updating tonight...my camera cord is having some issues. Grrrr...


Toodles!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

I was SO good today!!!



This morning, I woke up and had a strawberry Chobani with some Bear Naked Granola. YUM!




I stopped by the grocery store and picked up some yummy (healthy) snacks to have at work...check out my "snack bar"!



For a mid-morning snack I had a Peanut Butter Pretzel Clif MoJo...YUMMMMM. It was delish!




Then, for lunch, I met my BFF at Hatfields for lunch. I had the grilled shrimp risotto with some fresh veggies...it was FABULOUS. For campus food, Hatfields is usually fantastic!




I attended a Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) welcome picnic today at 2. It was beautiful outside and I got to meet some fabulous kids! The best part...pizza. And, much to my surprise...I didn't eat ANY OF IT! WOOT! It was a stretch for me to say the least. Although I "eat like a girl"...I LOVE my pizza!




When I got home, I checked the mail and noticed a peculiar envelope. Then I saw the return label...Barney Butter!!!! They sent me some sample packets of Almond Butter! YAY! I already stashed one in my lunch for tomorrow.

Future Husband and I are headed to my granny's for homemade spaghetti. Fabulous, I know! Then, it's school work and hopefully some One Tree Hill!

Tagged by Katy!

Check out Katy's blog! I've known her...since...um before I can remember!

Anyway...Here are the tagging rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you're tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag


Some random facts about yours truly:

1. I have known my fiance since I was three and he was five. My mom taught him in kindergarten and I spent a lot of time in the classroom!
2. I'm obsessed with chick lit and YA novels.
3. I L.O.V.E. grad school. I don't think I want to stop! :)
4. I love all things black and white. I swear...our whole house may be black and white!
5. I HATE hamburgers. I mean HATE. I don't eat steak either. I really think I could do away with meat for life (aside from seafood).
6. I love doing new things -traveling, trying new foods, exploring, learning new things, etc. I'm big on learning!

I tag...

1. Carissa...cause she needs to update!

2.Jessica...she's such an awesome mommy!

3. Amber...she's the coolest green
girl I know!

4. Jennifer...because Lucas rocks!

5. Caitlin...I love her blog and she's a fellow bride-to-be.

6. Eating bird food...because she has inspired me to try tofu!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Happy 18th Birthday, Johnny

Today, Tom's cousin Johnny would have turned 18. He died 3.5 years ago when he was only 14 from a long battle of brain cancer. Each year, we celebrate his birthday with his favorite dessert (which I forgot to photograph). We release balloons based on how old he would have been. This year, we released 18 beautiful orange balloons -his favorite color. Each balloon has a note with his parent's address attached to it. They get letters and cards from the people who find them.





Eighteen orange balloons ready to go!



Pap with his balloon



The family after the release








Going, going, going! Keep going!






Tom and I being silly afterwards.



Nikki, me and Tom.



Tom lifting his cousin Ashley. Show choir dorks!
It's already Tuesday!!! That is what I love about three day weekends.



For breakfast, I had a Vanilla Chobani and with some yummmmmmy Bear Naked granola on top. I LOVE my Chobani! I'm almost out, though...sadness. I've eaten it every day since they sent it!



For lunch, I'm having some Pretzel Crisps with Laughing Cow Cheese, a sugar free jello salad my granny made, and a chocolate covered strawberry left over from Scrabble night! I also have an apple sauce the fridge at work. I'll probably eat that too!


Some great news...I got a 99/100 on my first HC&M paper! YAY! I've gotten 20/20s on both discussion board postings as well. Grade so far...99.2

Off to work!

Monday, September 1, 2008

Scrabble Mania!

Tonight, the family and I relaxed by playing a few games of Scrabble. The fiance and I teamed up...but I didn't win any games! My dad and his twin are Scrabble FREAKS. They are amazingly good!



Our lovely Scrabble board...



Chocolate covered Pretzel Crips...YUM!!! A much lighter version to the orginial chocolate covered pretzel.




Chocolate covered strawberries. Delightful!


Now, I'm happily snuggled in my bed watching the season premires of Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill! Then, reading Twilight before bed.

Labor Day Eats

Happy Labor Day!




I started the day with a Clif Z chocolate chip bar. YUMMMMMM.





Then, my mom and I went next door to my grandma's. She insisted that I make chocolate chip cookies from this HUGE tub of chocolate chip cookie dough she bought at Sam's. When grandma tells you to do something...you listen!




After my cookies were done, I heated up a bowl of homemade broc. cheddar soup along with a glass of iced tea and a cookie. I had to taste-test it, after all!


Later tonight...Scrabble tournament...complete with snacks!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Weekend Munchies

I love long weekends! Although I have a Health Communications & Marketing paper to write, I've still enjoyed myself! Plus, no work tomorrow! Yippie!



Yesterday, I began with an iced coffee and a strawberry Chobani with some granola. Yummmmm. I'm going to be so sad when my Chobani runs out!



Then, for my mid-morning snack, I ate a Clif Kids Peanut Butter bar. I l.o.v.e. Clif products! They are so yummy and filling!




Next, was my trip to Sam's. Ahhhh...I love Sam's (especially during food demonstration time)! I scored this amazing tub of hummus! It's full of garlic...just how I like it!




Yesterday evening, I decided to munch on some Pretzel Crisps with a nice helping of my hummus! Fabulous snack.



Last night, the fiance and I went to see The House Bunny. Soooooo funny.



Sunday dishes are coming next! Toodles.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Grocery Haul and Yesterday's Eats

I stopped by the grocery store at like 7:45am yesterday. I had to pick up some snacks for work!



So, I purchased: Bear Naked Vanilla Almond granola, Clif Z bars, Clif Twisted Fruit, two Larabars, Oikos Yogurt and a People StyleWatch for good measure!



As a mid-morning snack, I had my yummy Oikos vanilla yogurt with some granola...YUM.



For lunch, I had some WW crackers, two wedges of Laughing Cow cheese, applesauce, a Clif Kids Twisted fruit, and a Horizon Organic milk.


The fiance and I had a lot of fun at our high school's game. We had some cheesesticks and some popcorn...but I forgot my camera.