Five on Friday

Happy Friday! Today's five will be short and sweet.

1. I am obsessed with the Rad Thai salad at Sweetgreen. I tried it yesterday and I already know I will be back for another one or two next week. It includes arugula, mesclun, basil, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, spicy sunflower seeds, shrimp, and a spicy cashew dressing. So yummy!

2. This month's Birchbox was a good one! It included a blending sponge with soap for cleaning it. I haven't tried it yet but I am planing to test it out this weekend. While I admit that some boxes aren't that great, for $10 a month it is definitely worth it when you get a really good one.

3. Two weekends ago I ran a 5K (the same one I ran on my birthday last year). All of my gym sessions this year have really paid off because I finished the race 2 minutes faster than last year and set a new personal record. I have never been the fastest runner but it has been really rewarding to see my hard work pay off.

4. Tomorrow my in-laws are coming down from Ohio. The main purpose of their visit is to take Calvin back with them since they will be watching him while P and I are in Europe. They are planning to return him at Thanksgiving. I am so bummed that I will not get to see my little buddy for 6 weeks. That is the longest I have gone without him and it makes me sad. I already warned P that I will most likely shed a few tears on Sunday.

5. That being said....we leave for Europe in 2 weeks! (I'm sure you are sick of the countdown by now). I have a big deliverable due at work two days before we go which is going to consume most of my time between now and then but by the 24th I will be ready to go!


Have a great weekend!!

Happy Birthday Aubrey!

Today I am wishing a happy 30th birthday to my very best friend, Aubrey! I still can't believe we met over ten years ago at Penn State. We have shared some of my favorite memories over this past decade and I look forward to making many more together. I cannot wait to celebrate with you and Taylor next weekend! I love you Aubcat!

Touring London in 2009

Reunited at Penn State post-graduation for tailgating and football

Finishing up the float during a cold homecoming weekend

Enjoying Cafe 210 our senior year at Penn State

Playing with Taylor in the Outer Banks

At Aubrey's wedding in 2011

Friday Five: Must Read Books

Happy Friday! This week I thought I would highlight five books that are on my must-read list this fall.  I am planning to pre-order some to my Kindle so they will be available during our trip.

//1// The Skinnytaste Cookbook by Gina Homolka - I have tried several recipes from Gina's blog, Skinnytaste, and all were delicious. I was excited to see that she has a cookbook out with some new recipes. This book was released just a few days ago!

//2// Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella - it has been several years since Sophie Kinsella released a book about Becky and her shopaholic ways. These books are always fun and super easy to read. I'm thinking this will be good a one to read on our long flight to Budapest. Release date: October 21, 2014.

//3// Us: A Novel by David Nicholls - I can't remember where I first heard about this novel but it has been on my list for a few weeks. Here's a small blurb from Amazon, "a compellingly human, deftly funny new novel about what holds marriages and families together - and what happens, and what we learn about ourselves, when everything threatens to fall apart." Release date: October 28, 2014.

//4// Yes Please by Amy Poehler -  I am a huge fan of Amy Poehler and cannot wait to read her hilarious personal stories and advice. I have no doubt that Amy's first novel will be just as good as her BFF Tina Fey's book Bossypants. Release date: November 6, 2014

//5// The Andy Cohen Diaries by Andy Cohen - being a big Bravo TV fan, I can't help but be excited for this book. While I thought Andy's first book was slow, I have a feeling this one will be much better as it follows a year of his life. Release date: November 11, 2014


I will try to provide a review of these books after I read them. Have a great weekend!

Hello October

To say that I am excited for this October is an understatement. We have a busy month filled with lots of fun with friends and family. Here is some of the fun we have planned:

//1// Celebrating our friends Erin & Ed at their DC wedding this weekend.
//2// A visit from P's parents and celebrating his mom's birthday.
//3// A visit from Aubrey and Taylor. We are planning to take Taylor to the National Museum of Natural History and celebrate our birthdays (mine was last weekend, Taylor's is tomorrow, and Aubrey's is next week).
//4// Continuing to enjoy Saturdays and Sundays filled with football.
//5// Cooking pumpkin bread and pots of chili as the cooler weather rolls in. One of my favorite chili recipes is this one from Newlyweds: North.
//6// And of course the trip we have been waiting for since April.....we go to Europe THIS month!


What fun things do you have planned this month?