Long Weekend Recap

Hello there friends!!  No, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth!  Yes, I'm still alive!  Just back into a sporadic blog posting schedule due to this thing called LIFE!

I didn't get around to posting much last week...but if I did it would have consisted of wake up, teach all day, work some more, workout, play with dog, eat, paperwork, sleep.

Boring right!?  So, you're welcome.

Anyways....this past weekend was a LONG weekend & it was glorious!!  Sunday nights are totally different when you don't have to wake up and work the next day!  I could get used to that ;)

Friday night, Rachel & I organized a fun Surprise Diaper Dinner for my longest friend, Ashley!  She's expecting baby #2 in less than 6 weeks!!

Ashley's my longest friend, not because she's super tall or anything and not oldest friend because we're not old, but longest friend because we've been friends since about 18 months old and she's been my friend for pretty much as long as I can remember!  And I'm so thankful for her friendship!!

All of us after dinner!

We had dinner at Cantina 1511, one of Ashley's favorites {and mine!}.  Ashley thought she was just getting dinner with Rachel & I!  I wish I had taken a picture of her face as she walked in and noticed us all!  Priceless!  I'm so glad you were surprised Ash, it was such a fun night!!

Saturday morning we took the fur babies to the vet for their well visits.  Everyone's healthy, except our wallet, it is bleeding in vet bills!  Hah

We got a good workout in & ran a few errands, then relaxed for a bit before heading to our friends', Ryan & Kelly's, to grill out.  We bought beef tips from The Meat House {which is my favorite meat store ever!} and they were amazing!  Probably the best thing I've ever put in my mouth!!

We slept through watched a bootleg version of Django, which was very well done I must say.  It was a super long movie, though!

We slept in Sunday, went for a nice run outside and got a good workout in.  I did some cleaning while B washed & waxed my car, it's so sparkly now! :)  We did our normal Sunday things like the grocery store and laundry and I looked forward to a day off the next day!

Yesterday, I was way productive!  Amazing what I can do with a day off!  Did some more cleaning and food prep for the week, killed a workout, and did some school work.

Last night, Lisa & Andrea came over for Bachelor Paleo Monday Night!  We chatted and ate and watched and it was lovely ending to a good day!

This morning, I dropped off poor Berkley to lose his manhood :( He had no clue what was coming!  I came to get him this afternoon after my workout and found this pitiful thing looking back at me...

Look at those eyes!

I can't lie, I just kept laughing at him with I first picked him up!  That cone is hilarious and he was a drunk puppy!

My patient is doing well now, though.  He's eaten a bit, his meds are wearing off, and now he's snuggled up next to me!  Hopefully he heals right up & is back to himself in no time!

Almost time for Parenthood!  Happy almost hump day & here's to a 3 day work week!!

Weekend & Happenings around the Shuck Household

Since getting back from the beach this past Friday, Brandon and I had a very productive few days!  

Friday night we relaxed & finally watched The Vow.  I cried through most of it - I just can't imagine!!  But I really did like it despite hearing a lot of mixed reviews.  

Lots of laundry and grocery shopping were also accomplished as per usual once back from vacation - fun, fun!

There was also a bit of painting involved this weekend.  I haven't recapped this story on the blog, so for memory purposes, I suppose I should....about 2 weeks ago, B walks into the kitchen only to notice a lovely bubble in our relatively newly paint underneath the light switch, which actually turns out to be filled with water.  This means one thing - A LEAK!  Great :)

The drywall was wet, paint and drywall were just peeling away {cue panicky husband} and when we turn our master shower on, we hear a drip, drip, drip behind the wiring of the light switch.  Fantastic right!?!

Actually, it could have been much worse and I'm so thankful it wasn't!  We were able to discover the source of the leak - our shower - and it was an easy fix for the plumber!!  Well, minus the two holes he had to cut in our bedroom behind our shower and in the laundry room ceiling under the shower in order to pinpoint the leak!

Haha, but they came back last week while we were away to repair the drywall & holes - thus B and I did a little paint job to finish it off.  Minus the laundry room ceiling, that is, as we don't have the right color paint.  So I'll be taping the ceiling this week so we can paint Friday night.

You see we need to finish painting Friday night because....

....this sweet thing comes home with us on Saturday!!!

Meet Berkely!!

Saturday, after a mandatory post vacay killer workout, we ran errands to pick up all the puppy essentials we would be needing!!

Berkley is a Westie and was born June 1st.  He'll be 8 weeks by the time we bring him home and we're so excited to introduce him to his cat brother and get started one house training before I head back to school in a few weeks - ahhh!! :/

We're ready & waiting for him!!  His collar hails all the way from Southport, NC where we went shopping during our beach trip :)  I think I'm even nesting {insert sarcasm}...I organized all the clothes in my closet today - now I just need my hanging jewelry racks and I can cross the closet off the summer to do list!

We also have our pest people coming out to flea bomb our house tomorrow {womp, womp} in prep for Berkley!  Despite being treated and multiple flea baths, our sweet indoor kitty just can't shake these fleas - grrrrr.  Angry fur mom over here!  B will also be spraying our backyard to kill those suckers off {I hope!!}.

We ended our Saturday with thai take out and J. Edgar on the big screen.  B and I basically gave ourselves a history lesson while watching, haha.  A pretty perfect evening!

Sunday was another workout & Bachelorette Sunday Night!!!

All in all, a great weekend.  I'm ready to soak up these last weeks of summer!  Before I know it, I'll be back to school for teacher workdays and open house!  Eep!

July 4th & VA Beach

Tuesday evening, B's travels landed us in Virginia Beach at our friend Justin's house, just in time for July 4th!!  Ok, I lie, it's not really Virginia Beach.  His place is actually right near the Bay {Chesapeake that is} and our friends Kelsey and Aaron live just a block from the Bay!  It's quite a good set up :)

**Warning, yet another picture heavy post!  And if you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen several of these already!  But you know I have to document it all on the blog :)**

Tuesday night, the 3 of us set out for Chick's for dinner!

It's any Oyster Bar so I wore my "get shucked" shirt, only appropriate :)  

Coincidentally, non of us actually like Oyster's, but it's still an awesome restaurant/bar right on the water!

after dinner :)

Andrea wasn't in town yet.  Such a shame, that pic had good potential!

We watched Act of Valor that night to prepare for the 4th!  Such a cool, intense movie about Navy Seals.  Real life, active Navy Seals were even in the movie!

We woke up Wednesday and got our workout on, and then enjoyed this delish breakfast inspired by my friend Danica & this pin.

We made ours French Toast Style and felt super patriotic eating it!!

We beached it for the day - it was H. O. T. hot!!  I think that was the theme of the week!

These skanks stole my phone while we were getting ready for dinner.

Word to the wise - you steal my phone and take pics, I will post them!! :)

Red White & Blue baby!!
RIP Andrea's poof.  I cut it off!  Oops :)

We got Mexican for dinner.  Very American right!?  Ha and then went and watched some fireworks on the beach!

at dinner

I'm such a good photographer!

Thursday, the boys worked.  So us girls, Andrea, Kelsey & I, beached it for the day.  A little reading, relaxing, lots of sweating, and some cool H2Ohyeah on the beach!

That night, Justin took us to one of his client's restaurants, Coastal Grille, where the owner promptly stuffed us silly!!  Dinner was SO good!  I had Shrimp & Grits, yum!

After dinner, we let all that good food settle, and then we were in for a treat.  A treat known as the 80's Cover Band, The Deloreans.

They were absolutely fantastic!  They sounded just like each band they covered, absolutely dressed the part and provided the most entertainment - seriously so, so fun!!  I'm going to find a way to bring them to Charlotte!

Then we can all have an 80's party!!  Deal!?

Anyways....Friday, we brunched it at Citrus with to die for mimosas...

...and then it was back to the beach for the day and back to Chick's for the night :)

Sun-kissed beach babes :)

We planned to stay until Sunday, but the heat of the beach, the lack of breeze, and our Ben Cat were calling us home!!  :)  We packed it in after a few short hours on the beach and headed back to Charlotte.

We had such a fun 4th celebrating America & creating all sorts of wild new memories!!  Hope you did, too!


P.S. - I'm am so dead serious about bring The Deloreans to Charlotte!  If anyone has a venue/bar that would be interested in bringing them down, please let me know!  They stay rather booked, but we'll get 'em here!  I'm determined!

Off to a great start...

Just as I predicted, my summer break is off to a fantastic start!!  Wednesday afternoon I closed my little office down at school - powered down the computer, shut off the lights, and locked the door!

via

And I pretty much looked like this as I left the school building!  Haha

That afternoon I celebrated after my workout by catching up on reading blogs and blogging, then continued the party Thursday morning by sleeping in!  I'm wild, watch out!!  Ha, but really, it was glorious!

Then Thursday for lunch, I met up with Ashley & Rachel for a potluck lunch per say at Ashley's house.  Per usual though, we didn't take a single picture!  I have absolutely no proof we hung out, but it was so much fun!!  It's so nice to have friends in near by life stages {I'm taking notes from them as they're both aboard the baby train!} and we're all teachers so we can definitely relate :)

Last night, I joined my good friends Lisa & Dana for a Knight's Baseball Game!  The Knight's are a AAA Minor League White Sox affiliate not too far south of Charlotte and Thursday home games are "Thirsty Thursdays" - $1 beers!

My pretty friends!  Lisa, Me, Dana

Perfect Summer Night!

My twin :)

Little blurry...all the girls!

I hadn't been to a Knight's game in so long!  I don't think we went at all last summer.  But now we live closer, so hopefully this will happen another few times this summer :)

B finally gets home from Michigan tomorrow!!  He's had his work review this week and I'm so thankful for another positive work review for him!  He works so hard so it's nice that his bosses are so pleased - so proud of my man!!

But while the big cat's away, tonight, this little mouse is having her very own girls night in - alone - on the couch.  It's perfection really :)

First, I'm going to indulge in a little RHOC (Real Housewives of Orange County) on my DVR...

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Then follow that up with a little Julia marathon...I'm thinking My Best Friend's Wedding...

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...then a little Pretty Woman...

via

...followed by a little Wedding Date if I'm still awake!

via

I do realize that's Debra Messing and not Julia Roberts, but I just love that movie!  The couch is calling my friends!!

Happy Weekend!

The Random 11

So I've never really done one of these "Tag, you're it!" posts before, but one of my new favorite bloggers (new to me that is, because I recently found her site :) not new to the blog world), Danica over at Chic Runner tagged me & I can't resist a good rando blog post :)  So here goes....

The Random Eleven

The Rules:

• Post these rules
• Post 11 random things about yourself
• Answer the questions set for you in their post
• Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
• Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
• No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 Random Facts About Me:

1 - I am slightly obsessed with having painted nails.  Like all the time.  I feel like I look sloppy or undone or something with plain nails.  I know that's not true, but I just feel that way!  Can't help it.

2 - After 8 seasons, I am still a loyal Grey's Anatomy watcher!  It's probably my favorite show on TV and I look forward to Thursday nights a little too much.  They almost lost me there a few seasons ago, but they drew me back in.  And so I will watch until the end of Grey's.

3 - I've been wanting to dye my hair darker.  Like black.  My hair's pretty dark as it is, but I want more darkness!  I've always said I won't start dying it until I go gray because once you start, you can't stop.  But I really want to go ahead and start...I'm just not going gray fast enough :)  We'll just have to see how long I can hold out!

4 - I am awful about folding laundry!  I don't mind folding laundry, I just never seem to do it right away.  My dry clothes tend to stay in the dryer and wrinkle up for days on end before I feel the need to get them out and fold them. Or until Brandon gives me a hard time about! He usually does most of the folding if we're being honest ;)

5 - Out of pure necessity, I learned how to put air in my tires this week!!  I am really impressed with myself, I might add!  I no longer live with my father (or mother) or my brother and while I do live with a man, he's gone about 4 days out of the week.  Tire was low and there was no choice, it had to be done & I did it all by myself!!

6 - I tend to be a planner and I like to plan ahead for what I'm going to cook on Thursday & Friday nights when B gets home.  This means that its usually Monday and I say, "Hey babe, what should I cook on Thursday?" to which he replies "Ha I don't know, it's Monday!"  Or it might be Saturday morning while we're eating breakfast and I'll say, "What should we do for dinner tonight?" and he'll say, "I don't know, what do you want for dinner next Friday?" Grrr...it's aggravating and funny all in one!

7 - We watch a lot of movies in our house.  A LOT!  Brandon's had the Blockbuster version of Netflix since before I met him which will send us 3 movies at a time.  Sometimes we watch all 3 movies in one weekend!

8 - I tend to count things.  For instance the number of steps I take, stairs, syllables in words, the list goes on.  Don't get my wrong, I'm not OCD or anything, swear!  I don't recount if my counting gets off or have to start over or anything.  It's more like just a way to pass the time.... Ok well maybe I'm just weird ;)

9 - I really wish I read more.  I love to read, but during the school year when I'm waking up at oh' dark hundred every day, reading at night is like opening a text book.  Puts me to sleep right away!  So unfortunately, I pretty much only ever read during the summer.  Unless it's a blog!

10 - I have a huge fear of heights, but yet I have managed to jump off a bridge (in high school) as well as a cliff in Jamaica.  I don't like to stand near the edge of really tall places, hold my hand, cell phone, camera, etc over the edge, or even have people I kinda like stand near the edge.  Creeps me out!  But I can handle flying, roller coasters, and a ski lift - without looking down.

11 - I can't stand lipstick.  I have tried, oh how I have tried.  Unless it's Carmex Cherry or a good lip gloss, I just can't do it.

11 Questions from Chic Runner

• What’s your favorite article of clothing?  It's hard to pick just one, but I think my gray boyfriend cardigan.  Does this make me 80?  Haha, I actually wore it today.

It's so versatile & goes with anything!  If loving it makes me 80 then I'm ok with being old.

• Morning person or night owl?  I think I'm a little of both.  But I am for sure not a 530am morning person which is unfortunately what I have to be during the school year and causes me to fall asleep the exact second that my head hits the pillow!
• How many glasses of water do you drink a day?  I *try* to drink 8 like a good girl.  But it's probably more like 4 to 6.  I carry my water bottle around with me at school all day and usually leave it about 4 places along the way.
• What is your biggest fear?  Superficially, probably something involving heights (as noted above).  Seriously, probably something terrible happening to someone I love.
• Starbucks or Coffee Bean? Starbucks fo' sho' - there aren't too many Coffee Beans on the East Coast.  In fact, I don't think I've ever been to one.
• What was the best gift you’ve ever gotten? Probably my engagement ring!  Not trying to be materialistic, but it's extra special to me because Brandon never once took me to look at rings and picked it out all by himself while thinking of me!  I love him and it and couldn't have picked a more perfect ring!!
• What is your favorite color?  I'm an earth tones kinda gal.
• Would you rather get a phone call every hour from a stranger or not have a cell phone for a year?  This might be the hardest question ever because my cell phone is my 5th limb, so I guess I have to go with a phone call every hour from a stranger, although it might drive me insane.  I could just ignore them though, right!? :)
• MLB or NBA?  MLB, hands down.  In fact, I wouldn't care if they cancelled the NBA altogether.  But I love me some baseball in the summer time!!
• Do you use a daily planner?  Yes, actually, several.  I have my EC planner which is a combo of school & personal life, the calendar on my phone which is typically just personal stuff & birthdays, and then I have a work "to-do" list, a to do list for each day of the week on my phone, as well as other phone lists - such as songs to download, wants, restaurants to try, bills, grocery store, target.... Ok, wow, maybe I am OCD?  I just know that if I don't write it down it won't get done - and I just like lists a lot :)
• What’s one thing on your ‘bucket list?’  To take a Mediterranean cruise!  One day!

My Questions for you:

• What is your favorite vacation spot?
• What are the 5 items you cannot live without?
• What are your top 3 favorite movies?
• Chocolate or Flowers?
• What are you most proud of so far in your life?
• What is favorite cocktail/drink of choice?
• Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?
• What's your guilty pleasure?
• What is your dream job?
• Ballet flats, boots, or heels?
• Would you rather run outside or on the treadmill?

Who I'm taggin': (Please, under no circumstances, should you feel pressure to participate! Just for fun/if you want to :) And I don't even have 11 people to tag, so I'm just picking a few!)

Erin

Mindy

Michelle

Sara

Laura

Lindy

Case of the Mondays...

Oh Monday....no one likes you!  You come far too quickly (and often) in my opinion.  But alas, you are now pretty much over, so we're moving in the right direction!

I had a big ol' case of the Mondays today.  Y.U.C.K.  The weekends are just so wonderful and don't last nearly long enough!  :(  This waking up early for a job thing sure gets in the way....I think I need to reread this post, re-find my attitude of gratitude, and adopt this mantra....

So while I work on that, in the mean time let's do a little weekend recap....

Friday night was typical - a work out, dinner, and lounging on the couch.  Can't complain :)

Saturday we slept in (ahhh glorious!) then woke up and did some good deep cleanin'!  Our 2 bedroom apartment doesn't take that long to clean, especially between the two of us, and it's always so nice when it's all clean!  I sure will miss that one day when we have a house.  (Yes, you read that correctly, B helps clean!! And he's darn good at it - probably better than me!  Not 50/50 baby, but 100/100 in this marriage!  Thanks to the wisdom of my parents!)

After cleaning we relaxed a bit and watched Ghostbusters 2 on Netflix.  It was my first time watching a Ghostbuster movie as Brandon seemed slightly appalled that I had never seen the movies (1 or 2 for that matter, but 1 wasn't available to stream).  And I must say, now after watching it in all it's 80s glory, my life seems so much more fulfilled! <insert sarcasm>

After my life changing Ghostbuster experience, I met my SIL for a little mid-afternoon mani :)

Gale found a great living social deal for the Noda Nail Salon so we both bought it last week and met up for a shellac manicure!  Love :)

Saturday night we made waffles and had mimosas before heading downtown to meet up with a lot of our long lost friends!!!  Of course I didn't take a single pic, cause I'm really good at that, but it was so fun to see friends we don't get to see that often!

Sunday, we attempted a workout, did some laundry, and got one of our favs, Crisp, for dinner!

We snuggled with this guy....

....and I, also, finally tried out a stocking stuffer from B....

No shame, y'all

Tryin' to get myself Monday morning ready.....not sure if it worked?!  Haha, but it sure felt nice!  This might become a regular!

Brandon found out today he unfortunately will not be home until Friday this week instead of Thursday night like normal.  :(  We're bummed, but there's some good things on the horizon....

Like this weather!?  In winter?  Umm, yes please!

Tomorrow I have a fun Amalie's date with some wonderful friends, and this weekend, we celebrate the 6th birthday of my sweet niece!!  How will she already be 6!?

Ok friends, I think I've shed my case of the Mondays.... :)  better late than never, right?  Happy almost Tuesday!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Most of the presents are wrapped & when Benson's not being mischievous, all the bows stay attached!!  :)

We had a nice weekend over here!  Friday night was pretty low key.  After a workout, we got some take out & our night was spent with me sleeping & Brandon watching some TV on the couch!  That last week of school 'bout did me in, but I survived!

Saturday morning we slept in, then bravely stepped out to battle the crowds and finish most of our Christmas shopping!  The mall was pure holiday madness, as expected, but we got everyone checked off our list! (Besides the few little things I have left for B)  Afterwards, we came home to wrap.  It looked like Santa's workshop threw up in our living room, but the finished product was a success (see above picture :)!

Saturday night we had a fun little date night: dinner & a movie!  Here was my OOTN (Outfit of the Night)

Living downtown is so conducive to fun little date nights - so many different restaurants are within walking distance as well as the theater at the EpiCenter.  We're definitely spoiled & will miss that convenience whenever we move to suburbia-land!!

We ended up seeing The Sitter

Definitely funny!  Stupid funny, in typical Jonah Hill fashion, but still funny!  I would say rent it for a dollar when it's out at RedBox ;)

Sunday we ran a few errands and got a good workout in.  Then Sunday night I had the privilege to meet so many great blog/twitter friends!!

Photo courtesy of Melissa

Rachel hosted a wonderful Charlotte Bloggers/Twitter Ornament Exchange at her gorgeous home!  It was so, so fun to finally meet all these truly awesome women that I've been following and "talking to" for a while now!  A lot of these girls had met before, but it was my first time to meet everyone.  They are all seriously wonderful!!

We had such a great time eating, chatting, exchanging ornaments, eating :)  Thank you so much, Rachel, for putting it altogether & for including me!


Today, I tackled one teacher workday/inservice day & now all that is standing between me and Christmas break - days of sleeping in, family in town, a week in Michigan, gifts, celebrating, and lots of love galore - is 1. more. day.

I think I can....