Phighting Phils

Friday we took my parents to a Phillies game vs the Atlanta Braves.  Unfortunately, we lost the game but were able to enjoy a spectacular fireworks show put on by the Phillies for Independence Day.  My mother thinks their show is second best only to Disney World and that is saying something. Happy Monday! 

Doughnuts

When traveling on the boardwalk in the north end of town, there is one distinct smell and it's Brown's doughnuts.  They are made to order and melt in your mouth.  There is rarely a time when you will find no line but locals and shoobies alike don't mind the wait to share in this OC treasure.

However, a new shop opened in OC in the last few years that is pushing the boundaries of hot hand dipped doughnuts.  Fractured Prune now has two locations to attract clients from the north and south ends.  They have 18 glazes and 12 toppings to choose from to make your doughnut masterpiece.

My office is located in close proximity to one of their locations and finally I gave in this morning.  After two weeks of watching people flock to their store in masses, I needed to see firsthand what the hype was all about.  From the time I walked up until I left there was a line out the door. I ordered a Cinnabon, which is vanilla glaze topped with cinnamon sugar.  They have a unique way of distributing their product.  Each customer is handed a playing card upon ordering and called by that suit and number instead of by name.  I was given the six of clubs.

Overall, I thought the doughnut was good.  A little too sweet for my taste, but I have always been more of a salt lover than sweets.  None the less, I think everyone should try an interesting doughnut combo, such as Creamsicle or Dirty Banana, from Fractured Prune at least once.     

Sunset Stroll

TGIF! Here are some pics from my walk with the hubby last night after dinner.  I suggested we walk the bridge which I regretted by the time we were done since it turned out to be a brisk power walk more than a stroll.  Boy were my legs exhausted but so worth it to see the beautiful sunset.

Happy Almost Summer

Well it certainly has been feeling like summer this week.  With temperatures almost hitting 100 yesterday, it makes it hard to remember the harsh winter we just experienced when everyone was praying for summer heat.

The official start of Summer is on Saturday and below is my Summer 2014 Wish List:

Late night SUP through the back bay
Yoga on the beach
Early morning runs on boardwalk before the sun rises
Take a picture everyday to document the summer
Visit the Cape May Winery
Visit a water park
Attend an outdoor concert
Attempt to wake board AGAIN
Go pool hopping
Visit the zoo
Afternoon cocktails by bicycle
Afternoon cocktails by boat
Go to a festival
Paint a piece of pottery
Read 20 books
Try paddleboard yoga
Set my fit bit daily step goal to 20,000 and get moving
Take a weekend trip
Go to a drive in
Make some cocktail popsicles

Girls' Night

There is something to be said about getting together for dinner with JUST the girls.  It is nice to go out with couples, but the conversation is not as honest, comical, therapeutic and meaningful as when you're with your closest girlfriends and can speak freely about anything and everything. 

As we get older and our lives change, it becomes harder to schedule a Girls' Night.  But it is important to carve out time dedicated solely to gossiping because girlfriends are our support systems.  Who needs a therapist when you have girlfriends?

Thank you to all my girlfriends who have stuck by me during my journey so far.  I am a terrible communicator but have so much love for you all.

30 Day Workout Challenge

 I had such a great motivator when I was working in PA.  My co-worker and I would try to run 3 days a week during our lunch break.  Key word there being TRY.  But hey at least we had good intentions right?  Anyways since moving home, my running program has quickly declined to almost non-existent. 

So the girls from work and I decided to do the Buns, Guns & Abs Challenge starting June 1.  Well that date came and went without so much as glancing at the exercise plan.  This week I decided it was time to stop procrastinating and get my hiney moving.  Seriously, how lazy could I be?  The whole beginning workout couldn't take longer than 5 minutes. With that said, I am embarrassed to report that after only 3 days my legs and arms are sore, but I happily accept the ache. 
 

Summer Reading

I love to peruse the list for best beach reads each summer because there is nothing better than posting up on the beach and losing yourself in a page turning book.  After seeing The One & Only by Emily Giffin in a few magazines and on numerous lists, I added it to my own personal To-Read list.  I happen to be walking the avenue last week when our local bookstore had it proudly displayed in the front window, which I took as a sign to hurry up and buy it.  I quickly delved right in and was immediately intrigued where the storyline would go.

The novel takes place in a small Texas town where football consumes peoples lives.  They eat, drink and breath Walker football. However, a tragedy will shake the protagonist's life upside down and force her to question all the things that were previously status quo.

Without giving away any spoilers, I loved that the book transported you to Texas and tossed you until the world of big time college football and the roles that leaders play, but the unconventional love story left me wanting a different ending.  This book will stop and make you reevaluate your point of view on friendship, love, loss and the pursuit of happiness.

Summer Is In The Air

The sun and warm air just beckons outdoor activities in any capacity possible.  My weekend was spent catching some rays between running from one event to the next.

Nothing spells summer more than Friday afternoon cocktails dockside.  There is no better way to celebrate the end of a work week than going by boat to have a refreshing cold beverage and relax into the weekend while listening to live music as the sun goes down.

Saturday we had a nice family competition with the annual Police Chase 5k race.  My family loves to make bets so any excuse to wager an upcoming event is readily accepted.  My sister bet her boyfriend a few months back that she would beat him and loser had to buy dinner of the winners choice.  Of course with any bet, there is A LOT of smack talk.  On the way to the race, they were fantasizing of outrageous plans for when each won like buying a lobster tail to take home to the nonexistent dog.  Unfortunately my sister lost, but I am not sure which is more hurt more her pride or her pocketbook.

We concluded the day with betting on the Belmont horse race.  Every year, we put the horse names in a hat and pick blindly for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.  A typical bet is $5 or $10 for a horse and I get as excited as if I wagered a large sum on the race.  Miraculously I pulled California Chrome, who was the fan favorite, and contender for a Triple Crown.  I am pretty sure in all the years we have been yelling at the TV like crazy fools that my horse has never won.  Maybe I jinxed California Chrome?  It is a shame that co-owner of California Chrome, Steve Coburn, did not take the classy way out.  Instead he undermined Tonalist win at the Belmont Stakes.  Obviously he missed the etiquette class about "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." 

Monday Blues

Happy Monday y'all.  This is definitely the hardest day of the week for me as I would guess it is for most.  Who wants to go back to work after a lovely weekend off?  However, it has become 1000x better now that I don't have to wake up super early to commute 2 hours in rush hour traffic.  I prefer my 2 min drive or 5 min bike ride to work these days.

I have come to the conclusive decision that I would rather work 4 ten hour shifts to have off Monday or Friday.  An extra day to play, relax, clean or whatever else I could not fit in during the hectic weekend would be ideal.  There is just never enough time to fit it ALL in.

However, with today being overcast, it does make it a tad bit easier coming into the office.  I am not sitting at my desk, starring out the window, dreaming of the fun others are having in the sun.  With that said, I do feel more tired than normal.  Not sure if that is caused by the drab weather or all the activities catching up to me from the weekend.   

March 29, 2014

I originally planned, or should I say hoped, to get married outside overlooking the bay, but when we had snow the week of our wedding I knew that was just a dream.  They say rain on your wedding day is good luck.  If that's the case, then my marriage should be very blessed with good fortune.

I let my bridesmaids pick any style in navy and thought it turned out adorable.

 

My niece was the flower girl and loved every minute of dressing like a "princess"

Our big reveal had to be moved inside due to the rain but his face was priceless.

My husband ALWAYS wears converse and my sister-in-law got me my first pair monogrammed with my new initials as a wedding present.

Best day/night of my life.

Leave of Absence

Talk about a whirlwind.  In the last nine months, I got engaged, married and moved!

Here is our engagement story:
Every other month, my then boyfriend and I would switch off visiting the other on Wednesday which we termed "Date Night."  During the 2+ years we dated, we lived in two different states so I always looked forward to Wednesday nights.  The weekend before we got engaged, he told me to dress up b/c we were going out in Philly for date night.  This was my little hint that something was up.  Needless to say, I became so ill that week but unless I was confined to bed, I was determined to suck it up and make sure the night went as planned.  September 18th was absolutely memorable!  He whisked me away to  the Fountain Restaurant at The Four Seasons for dinner where I guessed he would propose.  So I was quite shocked when we made it to the dessert round and he declined his favorite course b/c he was apparently too full.  Little did I know he was really too nervous reciting in his head what he wanted to say.   As we walked outside to fetch the car, he asked if I wanted to go for a little walk to let our food digest.  We strolled across the street to the Logan Square Fountain and I was tipped off again as we passed multiple benches perfectly fit for sitting.  I later found out he was searching out the perfect spot to drop on one knee and the bums were not part of his plan.  Once on the opposite side of the fountain, he got down on one knee BUT was silent for what felt like an hour.  Apparently, those perfectly recited words escaped him once the time came.  Not even the sticky note of words in his pocket could help him at this point.  Being aware of the gesture, I reached down to hug him and say I love you which only distracted him further.  He finally told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and held out the most beautiful round cut yellow gold ring.  How could a girl say no?  I am not even sure if the word YES came out of my mouth when he asked if I would marry him but my body language certainly did.  I couldn't stop smiling and kissing him.  After calling our families to share the exciting news, we drove back to my apartment but not without a quick stop to pick up some NyQuil so I could sleep.  The fact that I was so sick I could barely breath only made the day that much more memorable.