Gearing up with Granny Panties

Yep.

I put my Granny Panties on this morning.

I turn 27 today.

It is quite amazing to me how quickly time goes. I honestly feel like I just published this post. Last year's birthday was quite...interesting. I was traveling for work. And spent my entire evening by myself, in a hotel, quite sick on le toilette. Not so fun.

This birthday, I decided to make up for last year by getting wild and crazy. I mean, really crazy. For example, this morning, I have been working on a four page paper on how multiplication and addition are related. And then, I plan to go into work only to deal with one (or all) of the following: 1). bleeding 2). screaming 3). swearing 4). fighting 5). grumpy parents 6). colds/the flu 7). bad attitudes.

Wild and crazy.

But all kidding aside, it really is the simple things that absolutely make my birthday the greatest!

• Take for instance, my sweet husband. I groggily walked down the stairs this morning, only to find this on the kitchen counter: (Funfetti is my all-time favorite!!! No, the cake has not been baked. And yes, I will probably have to bake it myself. But it is totally the thought that counts.) ;)
  

• Or the fact that some good friends invited us over for a special birthday dinner.

• Or the overwhelming amount of cards, phone calls, and text & FB messages I have receive from loved ones. And it is only a quarter past noon.
  

That's all it takes.The simple things to remind me that I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life. And there are a lot of you. My 27 year old self loves each and every one of you!!!

Everyone is talking about it

Including me.

Unless you live in a cave, do not have electricity, or do not enjoy entertainment, you know about the overwhelmingly popular Fox show Glee...and how last night's episode was the much anticipated comeback for Britney Spears.

source

Mr. Ruby and I religiously set aside time for date night. And date night usually involves Glee. Everything about it is uplifting, fun, and pure entertainment.

I don't know who's one-liners I love more: Sue Sylvester or Britney S. Pierce. Both have me rolling on the floor hysterically every week.

But last night topped them all: The dancing. The singing. The outfits. The "Toxic" Rendition. All gave me teenage memory flashbacks.

The cast did such a great job!!! I had to do a few double-takes to see if it was actually Britney or the actress Heather Morris who played her in a fantasy.

source

A.MA.ZING.

Thank you, Glee for good television. Best episode yet!

Day at the Spa...Kinda

I was really in the mood for a mani/pedi.

It's been awhile since I've had one.

But, since we're trying to save money these days until I'm done with school, I decided it probably wasn't the best idea to drop $80.00 on a slice of vanity.

So, I compromised.

I had my second and third graders give me a manicure.

They were SO excited.

I...went straight home and got out the nail polish remover. ;)

(Don't mind the battle wound on my ring finger. The snack table and I got into a pretty heated scuffle...and my finger is still recuperating.)

Happy Monday!

Excuse me?

Does anyone know where Sunday went? Or the entire weekend for that matter?

So, anyone who knows me is very well aware that I weekly gear up for a brutal battle with Sunday Night Blues. And let me tell you, SNB wins every.single.time.

I have struggled with this since I was a wee kiddo. I can remember being in middle school and having the time of my life over the weekend and then facing the facts every Sunday night: the week is just around the corner. And I mean, what kind of worries does a middle schooler have?

And now, in my adult life, I still find myself dreading Sundays and the subsequent blues. Now, let me reassure you, I have no reason whatsoever to be so overly dramatic. In fact, I have always enjoyed life and would consider myself a glass-is-half-full optimistic gal.

I just don't like giving up my weekends. Or relaxation. Or time with friends. Or time in general.

My friend recently sent me this article on SNB. And apparently MANY people struggle with this.

The one thing I have noticed that helps is to not leave every dreaded task for Sunday: i.e. cleaning, laundry, homework, preparing for work on Monday etc. Seriously, if that's all you have to look forward to...it really is just too depressing. Also, I like to plan a date night with Mr. Ruby (even if it's just staying in watching a movie) during the week so I have something to look forward to.

So tell me, I'm not the only one who struggles with this, right? :)

My Favorite!!!

Happy First Day of Fall!

I welcome this time of year with open arms. I just love it, especially while living in New England where the foliage is the most breathtaking,colorful kaleidoscope of autumn goodness one could ever experience. And the crisp air makes me wanna go jump in a pile of leaves immediately.

My top Must Do's for this year include:

• Driving through Southern New Hampshire
  
• Apple Picking
• Visiting Salem during Halloween time
• Making fun craft projects with the foliage
• Carve a pumpkin
  
• Make as many pumpkin/apple flavored goodies that I can possible stomach

How did I start off this momentous occasion of the first day of fall?

With an iced, yes iced, pumpkin spiced coffee from my FAVORITE local coffee shop. Seriously, it puts Starbucks to shame (and Dunkin Donuts for all you East-Coasters!)


How are YOU spending this AMAZING time of year?!?!?

Vacation's Over? :(

Yes, My Friends. All good things must come to an end. This is my last post on our most amazing vacation ever. However, I am sure you are rejoicing as you're sick of seeing an obnoxious amoutn of pics. But I've had fun re-capping! So here goes...

California Dreamin Part 6: San Francisco

Highlights: Two Words: Napa Valley, spending MORE time with my bro-in-law, trying different wines at the vineyards, snuggling up with the vineyard pets, taking home a bottle of "Seduction" Mmm..., eating at a local breakfast spot and indulging in the most awesome breakfast burrito, riding a trolley, burning about 4000 calories on the S.F. hills, singing the Full House theme song on a trolley, Lombard Street, trying a local coffee shop, visiting the Painted Ladies (better known as the Full House row houses - Doo-be-doo-bop-ba-da!), Shopping in the hippie district: Haight Ashbury, buying some new kicks, making my favorite purchase of the trip: a yellow purse at a boutique in Haight Ashbury, Way-too-expensive but delicious crab dinner, ending the vacation with the boys staying up late drinking scotch. Ugh.

San Franny

California Dreamin Part 5: San Fransisco

Highlights: The new pumpkin spice Ghiradelli chocolate flavor, the entire city of San Fran, making it only half way across the Golden Gate Bridge, spotting TONS of dolphins off the G.G. Bridge (um. I love dolphins more than anything), visiting my awesome bro-in-law who was the BEST tour guide ever, cupcakes, macaroni and cheese and potato tapas (the boys preferred the duck quesadillas. Sick.), singing karaoke for the first time EVER, singing karaoke and dancing to Goo Goo Dolls "Iris" with Mr. Ruby, all of us closing out the bar with "I've Got Friends in Low Places"