Oh Hi, Vacay!

Today is the day we leave for vacation! I.cannot.freaking.wait! I miss my family and I am ready for 6 days on the beach- maxin' and relaxin'. I will full out admit, I live for vacations with my family. Don't get me wrong, I love those crazy beach vacations with my girls and the romantic one on one vacations with my hubs, but there is just something so inviting about a week at the beach with the people I love most- my family AND my husband! To top it off- some of our best friends, the Scotts, will be joining us for three days! YAY!  We'll lay on the beach, play games, have happy hour on the deck, explore the city, eat, drink and relax! I hope to come back recharged and ready to take on the world.
Now let's get on to those Friday Letters...

Dear Humidity- I'm gonna need you to lay low for a while. You are seriously making my not straight/not curly hair go nuts. Not pretty. Not Glamorous. Not Cool.

Dear Traffic- Please do not suck and cause me to be in the car for 3+ hours this evening. I have vacationing to get to. Greatly appreciated! -C

Dear Mama- Get ready to go for long beach runs every day this week. :) I know you'll love me for it!

Dear Husband- A whole week of fun ahead! Loves you! (Insert cheesy love song, I know.)

Dear Glass of wine waiting for me at my parents house- can't wait to meet you this evening!

Dear NJ Shore Seagulls- Be kind, back up off my picnics this week!

Dear Scott Family- Can't wait to see you Sunday! We miss you guys!

Cheers!

Caitlin

Egg Whites and Veggie Sausage?

Hope you all had a nice weekend! I know we sure did! We enjoyed spending some much needed QT with my BFF and her man (inside since it was 100+ degrees out) and spent some time with our family at our niece's birthday party. Despite the title, this post is not going to be about food. Well, not in the typical way you'd expect. This post is about my wonderful husband who remembers the little things.

My sweetie and I in front of our house

This past Friday, hubs came home from work after hitting up the grocery store. He went to get some food since we were cooking dinner for our friends that evening. While unpacking and putting things away I noticed he got egg whites (which he hates) and veggie "sausage" (which he tolerates). I asked why and he said "I knew you were out and you needed them babe". Such a sweetie. I know that sometimes my vegetarian ways can be a pain for my meat lovin' hubs, but he sure does try his best to embrace it. I know that egg whites and veggie sausage might not seem like a big deal, but it is so nice knowing that my hubs supports and encourages my healthy attempts.

Hubs, if you are reading this, thank you so much for being so sweet. I am truly blessed to have married such a wonderful man. How sweet it is to be loved by you!

xoxo
Caitlin

Where did this week go?

I am super excited that it is Friday already! I seriously have no idea where the heck this week went!

Girls weekend at the beach was awesome! So much fun boozing in a swamp the bay, getting all you can eat crabs, dancing and catching up. I love you girls!

With the fourth of July being right, smack in the center of the week- this week flew by! I think we should have off every Wednesday! It was nice to "recharge" in the middle of the week. Hubs and I didn't get to spend time together last weekend so we hung out all day Wednesday. We went for a walk at the lake and sweat our ever lovin' butts off, we lounged around and watched our new "series"- Breaking Bad, and grilled/sipped on some wine.

 "Grill Queen"

Deck Dog



:::Now onto Friday Letters::

Dear Blog: I am so sorry I neglected you this week. With the mid week day off, I was completely thrown off! I'll be back, don't you worry!

Dear Julie (BFF): you will be here in 3 hours! We cannot wait to spend the weekend with you. Don't worry, it's only going to be 110 here tomorrow. Holler. 

Dear July: slow down already! I am so not ready to blink and it be Labor Day! (#Notetoself: get ON that thesis writing.)

Dear family vacay: see you next weekend.

Dear Breaking Bad: you are seriously starting to replace my Sopranos addiction. Then again, you can only re-watch an entire series so many times. Seriously, you are good.

Dear Pup: you have got to stop doing that cute little side head turn look (?) when I leave for work in the morning. It kills me you cute little fuzz ball.

Dear dog owners: get your pups indoors this weekend! It's going to be a scorcher!

Happy weekend lovas!

xoxo

Caitlin



Friday Letters

It's finally Friday! Whoot!

Dear OCMD: Watch out! The girlfriends are takin over this weekend. I can't friggin' wait!





Me, Gina, Brit and Ariel- Brit's wedding 2010

Me, Brit, Beautiful bride Gina, Ariel- Gina's wedding 2011

My wedding- 2011. Love this one!



Me, Ariel, Gina (bachelorette wig!) and Brit- Gina's Bachelorette 2011







Dear Girlfriends: see you in a few hours! Husband free weekend for all of us full of dropping it like it's hott. Yeah, I think so.

 

Dear kickboxing: you are working wonders on my booty. Keep it up.

Yes, I use these pink gloves!

Dear alarm clock: seriously, I am digging our newfound friendship at 5:30 am. I didn't know I had it in me to get up at this hour... thanks for ringing uncontrollably until I do.

Dear Skinny Girl Margarita: You have become my new drink of choice. Whole bottle- 3 weight watchers points? Yup- I'm hooked.

Dear Master's Thesis: So far, you have not been that bad. Please take it easy on me.

Dear Summer: please do not end! You've been so fun thus far!

Dear Husbad: I love you. Have a fun guys weekend!

Hop on over to Ashley's blog and join in on the fun!

XoXo,

Caitlin





Weekend Delivery and a 101 Update

:::Boy, did this weekend deliver:::

I had such an awesome time with family and friends! On Friday my little brother and his GF came up to visit from Richmond. They will both be seniors this coming fall at VCU. We made dinner, caught up, had a Wii dance off/bowl off then played a card game. Not to brag or anything, but they let me win I won all three! Saturday we woke up, hand breakfast and the girls went to get pedicures while the boys went out to grab last minute items for my birthday BBQ. Everyone started to show up around 3. We ate, played Apples to Apples (SUCH a fun game!) and had a bon fire outside until 3 am. I really hope our neighbors don't hate us, but we had a blast.

Yesterday Hubs, my friend Kelly and her BF and I went out to brunch in a little historic town by us and walked around a little bit. When we came home, Hubs and I relaxed- hard. We watched the entire first season of Breaking Bad. Yes, that means we watched 7 episodes in one day. Have to admit- it's interesting!

This week I'm committing to at least three two a day workouts. I have a girl’s beach weekend coming up this weekend! Can't wait to spend a whole three day weekend with my girls living it up!

It's been a while since I've done a 101 list update so I thought I'd catch up:

5. Send an email or letter three times complementing a job well done at work (2/3)

Last week, I sent an email to a fellow employee thanking him for his great partnership and copied his boss.

15. Explore two more states/regions I've never been to (1/2)

Vegas. ‘Nuff said.

23. Write my master’s capstone (thesis) and enjoy the creative process

In process! I've started my literature review as of last week!

25. Create “pre- engagement” photo book of hubs and I (2007-2010)

Hubs actually created volume 1 of our True Love Story for our one year anniversary. He is so sweet and romantic! I lost it! He wrote the first half of the book which included our story from the day we met through our wedding day. He used my blog story of our wedding as my contribution. SO sweet!!!

30. Go on a brother/sister weekend trip (skiing?!)

Vegas!

31. Cook a dinner with BFF Julie for our parents annually (1/3)

This happened in February. I'm late on this update!

41. Send six handwritten cards/letters (3/6)

Last week, I sent three handwritten cards to family and friends.

42. Grow an herb garden

I've successfully grown chives, rosemary and parsley

43. Successfully plant a vegetable other than upside-down tomatoes

We have tomatoes, eggplant and peppers growing in the back yard!

44. Successfully plant upside-down tomatoes

We have tomatoes growing- not of the upside down variety but I think they count!

46. Host at least one holiday dinner per year (1/3)

We hosted Easter

47. Lose 10 pounds (3/10)

3 down as of Saturday!

57. Exercise (30 minutes) 5 days a week for three months consistently (1/12)

Started this last week

77. Get 4 pedicures per year (3/12)

Self explanatory

78. Whitten teeth ever six months (1/5)

Self explanatory

84. Run United CP race in Philadelphia with Mom

Ran this in March!

92. Write a love letter once every six months (1/6)

Wrote love notes to Hubs for our one year <3

Have a great week everyone!!

Cheers!

Cait

Friday's Letters & A Vegas iphone picture dump

Happy Friday Party Animals! I am lovin' the Friday Letters link up going on on Ashley's blog so I decided to join in!

Dear Blog: I am so sorry I'm a slacker. I have the best intentions and really promise to post at least once a week, twice if I'm feelin sassy! Please forgive me.

Dear really big & scary spider hiding in my kitchen: I really hope you have passed away since Wednesday. You are a fast mover and I wish I had the chance to squish you. Please do not bite my toy poodle, he'd surely get sick! P.S. thank you for motivating my husband to organize everything in sight!

Dear Husband: I am very impressed! Thank you for shocking the hell out of me cleaning and organizing the pantry and garage in an effort to hunt for Scary Spider. You rock when your on a mission.

Dear Work: I am so in love with you. I couldn't ask for a better job/boss/partner. You really are just the career move I needed. You make me happy.

Dear Weekend: I can't wait to meet you! I am excited for all of the friends, family and the BBQ you will deliver come 5 O'clock.

Dear Body: I am not sorry for beating you up this week. However, as I warned you, I will be keeping up with the 5x per week workouts including three two a days for the next 10 weeks. Love ya!

At long last- here is our Vegas trip in pictures!

Our hotel- the Stratosphere and a picture from the plane of the snow capped mountains

In side the MGM, a pic of the Balagio and dirty dirties at the sky bar

Brother's 21st birthday night! A dinner at the "Top of the World" followed by clubbing at the Venetian.

The boys and Absinth! Such an exciting show!

Pool and party time!

Vegas was such a great time!! We all had a blast and look forward to our next vacation together in a few short weeks! Happy 21st baby bro!

Cheers!
Caitlin

One year...

One year ago today, I married my best friend. I can't believe how fast this year flew by! It feels like our wedding just happened! While this year was quick, we have done so many things.
We went to Jamaica
We watched several of our best friends get hitched
We had best friends have a beautiful baby girl
We  bought a house
I got the job I've been eyeing for years
We have held several dinner parties
We've spent time with our amazing family and friends
We went to VEGAS!
We hosted our first holiday

What an amazing first year! <3
This weekend we celebrated our anniversary and it was perfect. We had a "staycation" since we spent the weekend before in Vegas. This weekend was absolutely perfect.

We celebrated each other and our love perfectly. We wined and dined, spent quiet time together, took a long walk at the beautiful lake with our pup and relaxed. On Saturday night- we recreated our wedding night dinner and used our fine china. It was so nice to dress up and have a quiet "night out" just the two of us. We toasted to our love and the good life.

To my husband:
I love you more than I can express in words. You are my absolute best friend and the love of my life. This past year has been absolutely perfect and I cannot wait to spend many many more years together.

Cheers!
Caitlin