Goodbye NYC!

Well, we're getting ready, packing up and heading home!!! I'm so ready to go home to these two:



New York is great and is crazy on the weekends! Such a difference Wednesday-Friday made versus Saturday! It was nuts! Yesterday, we played in a crowded central park, ate some New York staples





Shopped more


And saw the city once more at night



Goodbye NY! I'll be back!!

New York!

New York is pretty awesome! Today, I successfully managed to figure out the subway system which made me rather proud!
This is just a glimpse from certain pictures I've taken on my phone, so here goes!

We've seen 'Wicked'


The set before the show started.
I'm not a musical person, but it wasn't bad. My mom loved it!

We've visited Times Square...



Seen the Statue of Liberty...



Here's a friendly little squirrel that would pose & dance for you for food...he was so cute & chunky...



We've paid our respect at ground zero...


Hard to believe it was 9 years ago...

And today, after a long day of NBC studios (the station with most of my favorite shows AT 30 Rock!!), Bon Jovi on the Today show & lots of shopping


we finished tonight off with The Rockettes.



Oh, and how could I forget...


Serendipity 3!!!

Tomorrow we have another full day ahead of us and I'm exhausted! Ha!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

An Award!!!

La Tache over at Smiling is Good for Your Teeth gave me this award!  Her blog has become one of my favorites to read.  She's fun to read, cheerful, and getting married soon!  Go check her out!

The rules:

7 things about myself

Choose 15 other Stylish Blogs to receive recognition

Now on to Rule #1--It's all about ME!

1) I am headed to New York City TOMORROW!!!

2) but first, I am running 10 miles with my friend Ashley really early for our LAST long training run before the race!

3) My favorite color is pink.

4) I much prefer warm weather to cold.  I like cold in spurts.  I'm comfortable in warm weather long term.

5) My favorite meal is a toss up.  Beef Stroganoff vs. Any Mexican food!

6) Lily (my dog) and I have separation anxiety issues.  I think it stems from the fact that she gets worried sick (literally) when I leave her and I can't explain to her that I'll be  back soon.  The next few weeks are going to be rough.

7) I have to shave every day.  I cannot stand having stubble on my legs.  I've been like this, well, since I started shaving.  It probably won't change and is quite inconvenient at times!

Now for Rule #2: It's all about YOU!

Life After the Aisle

Chronicles of a First Year Teacher

Nashville's Melrose

Rants. Raves. Ridiculous.

Sandy a la Mode

The Nelson Diaries

Young and Fabulous

The Survival Guide for the Young, Fabulous & Newlywed

The Daily Dose

Running From Cupcakes

Polka Dots, Pearls, and Pink...OH MY!

Living a Life of Love

life, love, & puppy prints

A Classy, Southern Bride

a gal and her dog

The Invitations Are Here, They're HERE!!!!

That's right, our invitations came in today! Woo!!!  Just arrived via UPS!

Monday, all day...

{one}

This weekend was quite productive.  We painted the kitchen and 1/2 the family room, as well as finished off the master bedroom!  Completed a 9.16 mile training run.  We ran to the race (6 miles) and then did a 5K.

 Toasting the newly painted kitchen...

Kitchen, only need to add some doorknobs, change out the counter tops and get a new range/microwave in there and we are good to sell!

{two}

I'm totally excited about the next few weeks!  I have an awesome work schedules because of how vacation, work trip and Thanksgiving fell, but between the next 3 weeks, I'm working only 8 days!  Score!

{three}

I will be here very soon!

{four}

Our 1/2 marathon is only 13 days away!  I'm excited!  Plus, quality time with some of my ladies!!!

{five}

A small part of me wants to train for a marathon again.  The other part of me beats that side down into submission.  Watching coverage of the NYC marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon the weekend before have given me the bug again...slightly.  How long will I hold out?

{six}

I have been fighting it, but tonight, I will lose my battle about going:

It's our new arena.  I just feel like it's a ridiculous waste of money that no one needed to spend in this economy.  Especially for a team that most of the city has a love/hate relationship with. Let's just hope it brings in what the projections were...and then some.

{seven}

I'm tired of the "cold" weather.  I know those of you up north will just laugh at me and my Floridian self, but highs in the 60's aren't my friend.  It's been windy and cold and I'm happy the 80's are coming back.  The cold snap was nice while it lasted, but I'd prefer in the 70's next time please :)

{eight}

Jessica, over at Chronicles of a First Year Teacher, got engaged this weekend!!!  Stop by and tell her congratulations!!!

{nine}

I would be happy with a nap right now.

The End.

Happy Monday!!!

Five Question Friday + Major Score!

1. If you could have any talent and turn it into an occupation, what would it be?

Hands down...sideline sports reporter.  Only for college football though.  I have a pretty good knowledge of football.  It's my favorite thing to watch on a Saturday!  As I've stated before...the Erin Andrews, without the controversy would be fine and dandy with me!

2. Would you rather have a house at the beach or a cabin in the woods?

Fortunately, I have the luxury of both...thanks to my parents :)  We have a condo at the beach which is only 30 minutes from our side of town and we love it!  Both John and I grew up beach kids, so beach kids we will stay!  

Can you really get tired of this?  I don't think so....

My parents also have recently acquired a cabin in Tennessee, mostly for rentals, but if it's not being rented, we are allowed to go up there!  I love it up there!  I might want to move up there one day.  Just sayin'...

3. Is there any meaning or reasoning for the names you chose for your child/children?

I don't have people children, but I do have a fur-baby and her name was  picked for a reason. The story: My dad and I decided to get my grandma a Shih Tzu for mother's day one year after meeting a lady in Cracker Barrel that had just had puppies that morning.  After a few minutes, I decided I wanted one too!  The only problem was I had just graduated and was living at home with my parents while saving for a house.  My dad and I decided it best to not tell my mom right away, although he was ok with the idea.  Weeks went on and it was almost time to get her and my mom still didn't know.  I decided to name her Lily because that was the nickname my mom had for me, so I figured it would soften the blow a little.  It did, after her initial anger shock.  She now loves Lily and so do I :)

4. What is your guilty pleasure? (I know we've done this one before, but I'm guessing people's "guilty pleasures" change frequently. At least, mine do!)

Right now...baking.  I'm obsessed with baking.  Every Friday, I feel like I. Must. Bake.  It's been going on since our first cold snap and I feel like it's out of control a little.  Oh well...it's kept me happy.  And I have people over to eat the baked goods so it's not just on John and I.  Yay!  So far in the past month, I've made sugar cookies, chocolate chip cake, countless chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin cookies, cup cakes x 2, muffins x 2...and I'm honestly sure there's more, but that was just off the top of my head.  Hey, at least I have skillz....ha.

5. Do you live in a house that is deep cleaned or straightened?

Uh...well, we deep clean the carpets from time to time if that's what you mean?  Then there's the cleaning of the kitchen pretty much daily and the weekly's of other places.  There's also the cleaning to the fridge every couple of weeks to get out the old and spray it down with some good ole bleach...yea.  I love clean.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MAJOR SCORE!!!

...on what might you ask?

Laser Hair Removal.

Thanks to

That's right...$1,800 worth for $188.00!  I bought 2...they were $99 for $900, but since I recommended a friend, I got $10 off!  That gives me 12 sessions!  We'll see how this whole deal goes!  I'm going to start ASAP...hopefully I'll be mostly done before the wedding! Woot!

Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

That fabulous little gem is a pumpkin cookie.  I got the recipe from Joy the Baker's blog.

They are perfect for fall and the consistency of a muffin top!  YUM!

Tips:

• I substitute white chocolate chips for the butterscotch chips...I like the flavors together better, but both are tasty.  
• You'll see below it calls for baking on parchment paper, if I don't have parchment paper, as I did not last night, I just spray a little Pam on a non-stick baking sheet and it worked just fine.  
• I also put all the pans in the oven at the same time without any problems.  I totaled three pans last night to fit all the cookies.

Without further adieu...

Pumpkin Butterscotch Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola or corn oil
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup butterscotch chips

Position a rack in the middle of the oven . Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and butter the paper.

Stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in a medium bowl and set aside.  In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute.  Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing.  On low speed, mix the oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended.  Mix in the flour mixture to incorporate it.  Mix in the chips.

Using an ice cream scoop with a 1/4-cup capacity, scoop mounds of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies at least 2 1/2-inches apart.  You could also simply use a 1/4-cup measuring cup if you don’t have a  scoop.  Use a thin metal spatula to smooth and flatten the rounds.

Bake the  cookies one sheet at a time until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry, about 16 minutes.  Cool them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool cimpletely.

Dust the cooled cookies lightly with powdered sugar.  The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

ENJOY!