LOOOONG Overdue!

Where in the world do the days go?? I swear it seems like it is still June and here it is half way to September!!! Wow...time really flies as you get older....and that my friends is a major BUMMER!

So what could be taking up all my time and keeping me from blogging....well, let me just tell you!

In order of course beacause what is life without order?

1. My Birthday Week...yes, WEEK beagan with dinner with my Family at the local Mexican restaurant. My Father tried to take me somewhere fancy but I refused! I just love Mexican and Margaritas and it makes for a fun evening with my family. Next was dinner 2 nights later at my absolute FAVORITE restaurant The Grove Market to celebrate my birthday and my good friend Lindsay's. The place is a total dive complete with plastic chairs but the table settings are very formal, the decor is so beachy crab shack and the food is TOO DIE FOR! Seriously, its nothing short of amazing...5 star. I orderd the Duck and let me tell you I am still dreaming about it almost 2 months later. Finally a few days after that I headed out to the water park with one of my best friends Karen for our annual birthday water slide day extravaganza...its such a fun day and always makes us feel soo young!! (I know 30 and 31 are still young...but 22 would be much nicer).

2. The Fourth of July - What a wonderful time this year ended up to be! For starters I thought this year was totally going to be a disaster. The Country Club where I basically grew up every summer since I was born always hosts the most amazing fireworks display. They are known to the absolute BEST for miles around and I was always blessed with a front row seat every-year. The day always began with pool games - The Dad's splash contest, the slippery watermelon in the bottom of the pool, and various other games....then we would head inside (or home if you close) to shower and change and be back in time for dinner and fireworks!!! It was one of my favorite days all year. Then this year the club is having a bit (ok a lot) of financial trouble and did not put on the fireworks......can you imagine?!? I was devastated. Luckily the very small rual town I grew up in decided to have their own display and let me tell you it was FABULOUS. I ened up watching the fireworks in the back of a pick up truck bed - tailgating - covered in bug spray and drinking way too many beers in my cute little koozie cup! It was such a great end to what could have been a very sad day as far as memories are concerned....yeah to Hebron for stepping up to the plate and putting on a show that could definately rival that of the Country Club!

3. Babies, Babies and more Babies!!! Not really, but there are 2 that I have grown very attached too. My cousin Kelli and her husband Mark had their twins Thatcher & Vance and what a roller coaster it has been. The first day they were doing great! All scored very high on all assessments and were so alert and just the cutest little munchkins you ever saw! Then on the second day, I was up visiting Kelli - everyone else was gone, Dr. Alvarado (more on him later) came in and said that Vance was not digsting correctly and would have to be flown to Johns Hopkins that very night! Oh it was just so sad. They medivac'd him and Mark drove like the wind to meet them. Kelli stayed beind with Thatcher. It seems that Vance has the same intestinal disase his Mom has...Hirshsprungs Disease. He was fitted with a colostomy bag and was thriving up in Baltimore....then...Thatcher is diagonosed with the same issue!!! Thankfully they are all home now and doing great....eating like little piggies and growing like little weeds. And I am totally in love with them. Of course to me they are the cutest little babies every brought into this world! Anda s you can imagine I have been spending TONS of time with them...and will continue to do so!

4. Planning Family Vacation! We are off to Emerald Isle, NC for a week of beach, drinks, fun and sun with the whole family! This year we are taking my Grandmother with us....whoa. This should be interesting to say the least. We have many activities planned and they all involve a nice cold drink, my bathing suit and lots of laughs. I will be sure to take lots of pictures!

What have you all been up too??

And Landlocked Mermaid, you went private....tears :( Miss your lovely posts. Please add me if you can! beachy2978@gmail.com

Love!

Beautiful Beaches, Tiffany, Weddings and too many cocktails!

What a GORGEOUS morning it is here - hope you girls are having just as nice a day wherever you all are!

I have been so busy these last few weeks preparing for the nuptials of two great friends. Last week I traveled to the beautiful island of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. It was just simply an amazing place. The people are so kind, helpful and just give you a sense of genenuity (sp? - is that even a word?). Of course as soon as you arrive in any island the first this you want is a nice cold beverage - of the adult nature of course ;0. There happened to be 6 of use friends traveling together in the 45 min shuttle to the resort so we kindly asked our driver - Miguel - to stop for some cervesas. He promptly stopped, we told him we needed 12 please. Hey, it was a 45 min drive and we were on vacation....don't judge ;). He told us they were $5 per beer - we happily forked over $60 (wth) for 12 beers and waited anxiously.....he returned with 12 40 oz. Presidente beers! Needless to say we tried our hardest to finish them before we reached the resort....I was a bit tipsy checking in.

Checking in I was so happy to be reunited with my very best friend Champagne. I had indulged in several "conversations" in that lobby waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. But then I knocked her over...in the lobby. There was bubbly and ice EVERYWHERE. I was mortified and quickly followed the bellhop to my room where I took a hot shower and a NAP.

The rest of the trip pretty much involved me grabbing coffee and fresh fruit for breakfast at the cafe by the beach, followed by me and my book enjoying the beautiful beach from 8:30 am till about 1 pm every morning. My many friends who were also at the resort would try and get me to the pool, but come on! I could not sit at the pool when this was the view from by lounge chair and cabana at the beach...

Can you blame me??

Of course out resort was all-inclusive and to my friends that means mudslides at 8 am every morning. Usually switching to vodka & sodas by lunchtime and continuing thru the wee morning hours. I could not hang...nor did I really try that hard ;).

My room was gorgeous!! Feather bed, down comforter...heavenly! I felt like I was home - which is so nice when your on vacation.

The wedding was gorgeous. Right on the beach! Here I am with the beautiful bride. L to right, Me, Maggie, The Bride Danielle, McKenna the flower girl, Nicole and Jen.

And here is a shot from the rehearsal dinner. It was so much fun! I LOVE it when you do really long tables!!!

The bride gave the bridesmaids a gorgeous necklace from Tiffany - how sweet is that!?! I can't find a pic that will allow me to upload so you will have to take my word for it.....stunning and such a sweet gesture.

I will post some of the bride when I have more - I left my camera home in the states! As you can imagine it was a tragic development once discovered.

Happy Friday! And thanks to The Mrs. for my 1st comment!!! Yeah!

Tonight its off to see The Proposal with my Grandmother - she LOVES movies like this! Talk to you soon.

Love :)

TGIF

Well..today has been HELL! But that's ok because it's Friday and I will take a hellish day as long as I can sleep past 7am tomorrow morning! I plan on turning the thermostat to 65 degrees, closing the blackout drapes, putting fresh sheets on the bed and crashing until at least 8am...heaven!

Tonight I am heading to Accupuncture followed by dinner with my Dr...otherwise known as Mom, at our favorite sushi place! I just LOVE sushi and could seriously eat it everyday....if only I was able to! My Mom and Dad have been fans forever it seems and used to try and get us kids to eat it....this would always entail a bribe of somesort. My Dad would offer you $100 to eat a piece of sushimi fully knowing you would never get it down. We would always gag or run to the rest room! And believe you me, I TRIED HARD to win that $100.

Tomorrow I am heading to my Grandmothers for her yearly "spruce up the yard" day. All my cousins, aunts and uncles come into town and we prune, transplant, fix etc. anything she wants done in her yard. Last year we built a new fence, and this year we are building a new deck! My Grandmother or Mompie as we loving call her is so excited! She is making all our favorite dishes and copious amounts of sweet tea to get us all through the day. It should be fun and tiring and although I will miss my beachday I am sure I will not be lacking in the sun department as it is supposed to be 85 and sunny! Yeah for thin strapped tanks :)

Well enjoy your weekend and get some sun on those legs!

Love:)

Forgot...

My friend who passed actually put in his Last Will & Testament that he wanted NO one to wear black to his funeral! Only bright colors - how wonderful is that!?!? And heart breaking at the same time to think a 26 yr. old needed that much foresight.

So wear something bright today :)

Love:)

AWAY SHE GOES...

or shall I say Away she has been!!! It has been 3 months since my last confession..err...blog post :) I have been so MIA lately!
Sure, I have been checking up on my fav blogs: Landlocked Mermaid - I just LOVE you! and Maters and Melons - you have the funniest stories with your kids!

I am prompted (thanks to the lovely Mermaid) to post my list of Favorite Things!


#1. Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Stress Control 3 in 1 Hydrating Acne Treatment - hands down the BEST product I have ever used on my skin! I am prone to breakouts...at 30!!! And this is truly the only product that actually works for me! I use it every morning and night - and it makes my skin so soft and smooth - I would have to die if they stopped making it! It sells out all the time so I buy multiples whenever I can find it!














#2. Philosophy Amazing Grace Body Wash, Lotion & Perfume - there is really nothing else that gives me that oh so fresh and clean smell! I love it and everyone in my office always says "you smell so clean and fresh"...well I do shower y'all! This is my everyday scent.







#3. Laura Mercier Lip Balm - I could live the rest of my life with just this lip balm! It's like silk on your lips and is addicting!!! I keep one in my purse, my car, my bathroom and on my nightstand! Go try it out - its a bit pricey for a lip balm but totally worth every single penny!



#4. Skinseuticals Sunscreen - I am right with you on this one Mermaid! I put this on every single day from April thru October! I know I slack off in the winter but its just depressing to put on sunscreen when its freezing outside ;) I started using this after some of the kids I bbsit for were using as they have very very sensitive skin....sounded gentle enough for them so I tried it and fell in love! It is def a bit pricier than your run of the mill standard sunscreen and I don't use this all over - just face, neck and chest.



#5. Silk Pillow Cases - I know, I know...your Grandmother uses these! At least mine does ;) But they are seriously the best pillow cases if you have thick unruly hair like I do. I can go to sleep with a smooth just brushed head and wake up looking decent! Major feat there - usually I would wake up and look like a crazy Medusa type scary person - the hair, oh..the hair! It was the stuff nightmares were made of!






Anyway, back to work now girls! I have a funeral this evening for a friend of my WHOLE families who died at the age of 26 from Congestive Heart Failure. He was on a waiting list for a kidney for 9 years; he had 2 transplants that did not take. His humor, laughter and dance moves will be missed by all of us here on Earth and will be enjoyed from here on out by all of our loved ones who have passed on to a better place. Guess all the angels can't stay here forever!

So hug your families and picture your loved ones who are in heaven cuttin' a rug and laughing so hard they cry because I am sure my friend is entertaining them all!



Love:)

RIP..

Well hello there! I has a great weekend barring the fact that my Jeep decided it had lived a good enough life and was ready to move on to the fabulous life of a junkyard. Tears...I LOVED my truck and it has shared alot of memories with me for the past 7 years....not sure who owned it the 3 years before I did but they took great care of it!

So the search begins for a new truck....oh and it MUST be a truck/SUV. How else will I get onto the beach this coming summer? Walk on like the rest of the world? I think not.

Here are the options:

Another Grand Cherokee, a Lexus RX or GX, Acura MDX, Volvo XC90, Ford Explorer or a Range Rover LR3. I need to test drive them all before I buy and hopefully that won't take very long! Any suggestions, warning, deterants etc....???

Finally Back!

Hello Girls...sorry for the very LONG hiatus but I am back and ready to blog!

I have to say that I am relieved that holidays are over! Back to reality - it just takes so long to readjust.

I spent a fabulous week in Marathon, FL a few weeks ago. My cousin Kelli, who is pregnant with TWINS, rents a house there every year for a MONTH...must be nice is all I can say! Well, I decided to take advantage of this and visit them - they were so welcoming. I can honestly say is was probably one of the most relaxing vacations I have ever taken. I don't think I wore anything but comfy cute pj's and bathing suits the WHOLE time. I read 3 books; one in its entirety while laying in the sun on the beach in the front yard. I also took an obscene about of naps outside in a comfy chair by the dock and pool....soooo nice!
Now Marathon is a beautiful place but I could NEVER live there! There is no decent shopping - although Miami is a 3 hour drive away!! And the town is full of old couples...which is so cute to see but a girl can't find a decent man among 70 year old men. I must admit to watch the older couples interact is quite heartwarming. The day I read the whole book on the beach was a little chilly - 65 degrees. I know, I know...not that cold but for them it is really cold. I was laying there in my chair with my sunhat and my bathing suit and the couples just kept on coming...they were decked out in their hats and fatigue suits laying out blankets and having picnic lunches followed by seaside naps in each others arms....SOOOO ADORABLE! I loved every minute of it!

I could go on forever but I digress, time have changed!
Tonight I am heading to Baltimore for the evening! My cousin is co-hosting a benefit for the Maryland Food Bank and I wouldn't miss it for the world! There will be a ton of fabulous bands great drinks and an after party that lasts till 6am!!! Of course I will not last till 6 am - I predict I will be back in my hotel, in my cute ever so comfy pj's, face washed and re-capping the night by 2 am.....and that is REALLY late for me! I will fill you all in on the festivities later this weekend!!

Hope your having gorgeous weather like we are here! Happy Friday & Wishes for a FABULOUS weekend!