March-August recap

It's been awhile, a long while. I think it's time to catch up. So much has happened since March....

I'm basically living at my parent's house. When I accepted the job in Plattsburgh, Colin and I agreed that we would move back to NY. We also agreed that I wasn't going to lake hop constantly because it's too expensive. My parent's have graciously allowed me to take over 2 rooms, 1 is my bedroom, and 1 is my office. We put our condo on the market and we are waiting for it to sell so Colin can join me on this side of the lake. It's weird being apart so much, but we're making it work like rockstars.

so here's what's currently happening

listening: Joy The Baker podcast

reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

learning: Photoshop (we're talking pre-school knowledge level)

watching: variety of HGTV, Food Network, Wipeout, and whatever is good on Netflix

side note on Netflix- Colin and I recently watched a documentary called Dear Zachary. I don't really want to give a plot, I think it's better not knowing. I will say that it was amazing and tragically sad. Watch it.

and back to my list

working: on my posture

wishing: Colin and I had days off together

feeling: hopeful that we'll sell our house by Christmas

wearing: blue and white striped Banana Rep. shirt, denim AE shorts, tiny gold ball stud earrings, a skinny black headband, and teal nail polish

excited: for the Run For Jon! I can't wait to see my family.

wanting: a new iPhone case

ramblings

I'm back at Best Buy! I was offered the same position I had when I was working in Plattsburgh as the Product Process Supervisor. Leaving PFA was definitely bittersweet but I know it was the right decision for me. I'm loving my new job so far. I'm learning something new everyday and surprisingly happy to be back in the retail environment.

Today I'm on the road to recovery from an annoying cold that I've been fighting for the last few days. Being sick reminds me that I need to eat better and get more sleep. Speaking of sleep, Colin is buying us a mattress for our 5 anniversary. I have been begging for a new mattress for the last 3 years. Now we just have to find the time to pick one out together.

it was in the 50's yesterday...

today it's in the 30's and there is snow in the forecast for this week.

come on Spring...I'm ready!

I want to be more prepared for our CSA this year. Last year I was overwhelmed by the amount of food we got and a lot of it went to waste. This year I will be armed and ready! First thing on the agenda is to buy this and this. I also need to purchase some sort of canning starter kit. I want to can stewed tomatoes, cucumbers, and beets. It's also time to start finding recipes for turnips, garlic scapes, kohlrabi, leeks, and cabbage. Today I started reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. So far I'm loving it.

excited for

.new job
.upcoming trip to Endicott to see my grandparents, which will include lots of food, shopping, and relaxing
.the weekend...I've been running on empty all week. so in need of recharging.
.finally reading The Omnivore's Dilemma
.decorating the living room
.catching up on Grey's, Modern Family, and Wipeout!

guilty pleasure

Oh my, I love Glee. There hadn't been a new episode since before Christmas until this week. I have to say it was worth the wait. I didn't stay up on Sunday to watch the Superbowl episode so I watched it tonight....then I watched tonight's episode. Both were fantastic. Fat Bottom Girls sang by Mark Salling (aka Puck), amazing!

11-11-11

My birthday this year will be 11-11-11 or 11/11/11, I haven't decided which looks better. I mean, both are awesome because that date only happens every 100 years! That's a century people! Anyways, I've been looking forward to this b-day for a very long time, and it's certainly not because I'm turning 27...it's not a very exciting age. Sooo...I told Colin I wanted to do something super exciting for 11/11/11 and he told me to start planning.

I've been thinking about this for awhile and I had narrowed it down to a few places....New York City, The Inn at Christmas Place, Boston, Disney World, or maybe a cruise...I think that's it. So over the last few weeks I've been trying to narrow it down because I want to start the planning process.

And the winner is....

(please watch this on YouTube, it will look much better)

Happy New Year!

I know it's a little late to be saying happy new year, but things have been kind of slow motion around here lately. December 30th we both started feeling sick and have been taking turns fighting different symptoms ever since. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again after a weekend of doing a whole lot of nothing.

Yesterday I stayed in bed until 11! I mustered up the energy to go to the grocery store and by the time I got in the car to drive home, I was ready to go back to bed. I put the perishable groceries away and then plopped on to the couch to watch a movie. After aimlessly searching my AppleTV and Netflix I settled on Eat, Pray, Love. I haven't read the book, but the movie didn't thrill me...maybe the book is better. It did however, make me wish I was back in Italy eating yummy gelato...

brussel sprouts

Tonight I made brussel sprouts for dinner.

Colin was thrilled.

He absolutely loved dinner.

We both loved dinner.

We both love brussel sprouts.

Did I mention there were apples, onions, and bacon mixed in?

It just may be our favorite meal.

here comes Santa Claus...

I'm finger deep in Mod Podge right now but I thought I should write a quick post before it gets to0 late.

Here are a few highlights from the week before Christmas...

1. the house is a mess, I turned the dining room table into craft central...paper, ink, Mod Podge, photos, and glue all over the place

2. my laundry is also all over the house...bedroom floor, living room floor, in the dryer (none of it is folded)

3. I haven't wrapped a single present.

4. the days are going by so slowly, I'm dying to see my nieces and nephews.

5. I'm running out of time.

6. I really want to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra again....

7. I've been letting my Google reader pile up all week on purpose...on Christmas Eve morning I will curl up on the couch w/ the iPad/coffee and catch up :)

8. I have the 24th-28th off....it's been 5 years since I've had that much time off for Christmas.

9. I love my job.

10. I'm SOOOOOOOOOO excited for Christmas! seriously, I'm bursting with joy at the thought of being surrounding by my family all weekend. I am so blessed.

11. I wish Colin had more time off, but I'm grateful that he will be with us for part of it.

Merry Christmas!!

hump day!

My to-do list is haunting me. I keep adding things to it but haven't been able to cross anything off (except the paperclip holder)...so much to do and I wish I could say "so little time" but I think it's more a lack of focus. I mean there's nothing dire on the list, it's just this gloomy cloud hanging over my head. I keep finding other things to do like watch Glee...which I'm doing as I write this. (at least I'm multi-tasking!) I love Glee soooo much! Speaking of Glee, the other show that has been keeping me from my to-do list is The Sing-Off! I'm such a sucker for musical shows! I think we may actually get the holiday pictures done tonight, Colin has the camera on the tri-pod. I guess I should change out of my Run For Jon shirt for that.

Apparently there is no snow in Peru...well, luckily that's not the case here!! Plenty of snow already and it's still coming down :-)

exercise

I'm not sure why...but I exercised today. I was about to jump in the shower and somehow I ended up in the basement on the treadmill. It's been over 6 months since I've done anything physical so I have to document this occasion.

1.5 miles/21 minutes

40 crunch thingys

10 push ups (I thought I was going to die)

30 minutes of Wii Fit! (I'm nots sure this counts as exercise, but it was fun)

soundtrack: New Found Glory-From the Screen to Your Stereo

I'm not sure if I'll be able to walk tomorrow, but right now I feel good, even though Wii Fit told me I'm 31......

TGIF!

It's Friday and it was a busy day at work. I know most people don't turn their Christmas lights on until they get home from work, but I really love coming home after a long day at work and seeing those lights. It makes my day, therefore I rarely unplug our outside lights. I'm sure the electric company will thank us at the end of the month...I on the other hand, thank myself every night when I come home. :-)

Candice is coming over tomorrow for a day full of Christmas crafting and baking. I'm still not sure what's on the agenda but I'm super excited! No matter what we end up doing I know will be a blast because it always is. I'm off to do some odds and ends around the house and make dinner for Colin.

December!

Merry Christmas! It's finally December and I couldn't be more thrilled. We started our advent calendar today. Colin humored me and did the 1st day. In case there happens to be someone other than Candice and Jenni reading this....my advent calendar is probably my most prized possession. It was made by my super talented dad out of drift wood from Ausable Point.

Each little door has a few ornaments behind it to decorate the cute little tree seen above.

Colin apparently didn't get that and went straight for our big tree... I kindly redirected him to the small tree, crisis averted. (notice how the small tree is right next to the advent calendar and the big tree was across the room behind him...)

Here's a shot of our nativity scene, also made by my dad.

So there's a little Christmas cheer for the 1st day of December. I'm so excited for the weeks to come. Lots to do and lots to look forward to!

giving thanks day

It's Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving for a few reasons...

1. spending time with family

2. the food

3. it's the official start to the Christmas season

This year Colin and I are spending the holiday in NY at my parent's house. It's just the 4 of us so it's quiet, but nice. Colin and I will go back to VT tonight because we are both working tomorrow.

This is what I love about coming home...

Happy Thanksgiving! It's time to set the table.

Road trip through VT

The first weekend of October, Candice and I took a road trip together through Vermont! Sadly I do not have pictures of the beginning of the trip which involved us being stuck in a ditch in Waitsfield, VT. Just in case you've never been to Waitsfied...there's no cell coverage. On the bright side, the people of Waistfield are very friendly! At least 5 people stopped to help. Eventually we were pulled out of the ditch by a passerby. I was so glad I didn't have to pay a tow truck!!

After the ditch dilemma, we made our way to the Waitsfield Famer's Market! It was the best farmer's market I've ever been to. They had everything you could ever want...local peanut butter, live music, homemade jellies, handmade quilts, bread, and Fall foliage! I got a simosa for lunch and Candice got a yummy looking chicken wrap. We were both in heaven.

Across from the farmer's market was a store called The Store. Again, we were in heaven. It was the perfect mix of old and new. The first floor was home to a variety of speciality foods and housewares and the upstairs was full of antiques! I bought some maple pumpkin butter and maple popcorn, both were delicious. Of course, it wouldn't be Vermont without a random cow hanging out with the antiques!

When we got in the car to leave, I turned and pointed to a sign on the billboard saying, "Candice, that's where I want to get married!". She told me to look it up on the GPS and see how far away it was. The GPS said 5 minutes, so off we went! I had been to the website awhile ago and thought it was the perfect place to get married. I was right....

We chose the right day to stop by, they were having a free art show and we got to walk around aimlessly and plan my wedding. :-) On our way back we stopped at the Cabot Annex in Waterbury. We must've tried 25 different cheeses, it was fantastic. Then we made our way through Stowe and up through Smuggler's Notch. Nobody ever warned me about Smuggler's Notch....it's a death trap. It's very pretty, but it's insane!! There was one point in the road where I came to a dead stop with a huge boulder to the right of us (I think Candice could've reached out and touched it), it was one lane at this point and I looked at Candice and said "What am I supposed to do now?"

We made it out alive!!! It was one of the best days of the year by far. I love Fall and it was so fun to spend the day with someone that loves it as much as I do. I can't wait until next year!

Catch up!

Alright, it's time to play catch up! I guess I'll start from the beginning. The biggest perk to my new job is having the weekends off! The only downside is that I'm out having so much fun with my family that things like housework, blog posting, and such get neglected! I guess that a good problem to have :-) Anyways, I've been making the most of my weekends. The last week of September I went hiking at Flume Falls with Dad, Jeremy, and Alex. It wasn't the nicest day, but there was still some great foliage.

Alex slept on most of the way up, so on the way down he was ready to play "red light, green light" with me. He would run for a little while and then I would say "red light!" and he would stop and put his arm out in front of him until I said "green light". So cute.

Here's Alex and Poppa at the peak, if you look close enough you can see the snow!

Up next....Fall road trip through VT w/ Candice!

Labor Day

Labor Day weekend is coming to a close and the cool air is starting to settle in. I have the itch to get everything cleaned up before the long winter months. Last week Colin sorted through one of the upstairs closets and today I sorted through the basement closet. It's amazing how much stuff accumulates in less than 2 years. My next project is the master bedroom. We bought paint for it almost 2 years ago and still haven't used it. I'm committed to doing this room start to finish...which if you know me, is hard to believe. I'm not much of a decorator. I love to watch HGTV and meander in home furnishing stores, but I'm terrible at committing so I've ended up with a bunch of rooms that are half finished. My goal is to have the bedroom painted by the 20th. There, it's in writing, there's no going back now!

Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail

Yesterday my parents, Jeremy, Alex, and Amelia came over to VT to bike the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. It starts in St. Albans, VT and goes Northeast from there. The trail was built over an old railroad track so it's nice and level. I hadn't been on my bike since last Fall so it was the perfect choice of venue.

The scenery off of the trail is gorgeous. I can't wait to go back in a few weeks when the leaves are all changing!

Here comes my mom!

We stopped for ice cream on the way back and when I asked Alex what flavor he got, he said "chocolate sprinkles". As soon as the sprinkles were all gone he stopped eating the ice cream, even though he still had half of a bowl left. I've also trained him to say "no way Jose". We were working on it last weekend and now he says it randomly and it makes me laugh. Next, we are working on silly faces. Oh the joys of being an Aunt and not a parent, I'm sure Jenni and Jeremy love me.

Run For Jon!

It has been awhile since my last post and I've had a busy few weeks. A few weeks ago I joined my parents, Jeremy, Jenni, and their kids for the 1st Annual Saranac Lake Mayor's Cup Regatta. It was the weekend before the Run For Jon so we all wore matching RFJ shirts and hats that were hand painted by my mom. It served as a little bit of publicity for the race and it was a great way to spend the day.

The yellow kayak is Jeremy and the green one right behind him is my dad. They came in 2nd and 3rd.

Halfway through the canoe race we had to get out of the lake and portage around the dam to the river. Jenni and I ran out of the way to let the boys do the heavy lifting.

Good thing we didn't wear white shirts, because I think we are all soaked in this picture, I know I was.

I also started my new job and although I have a lot to learn, I love it. I am the administrative assistant at a financial services office. I've gone from a world of TVs, computers, and iPods...to a world of paper, staplers, and investments. It's a much needed change of pace. Did I mention that it's M-F 8:30-4:30? That was a huge selling point for me.

Last weekend we had the 20th Annual Run for Jon and it was a huge success. We raised over $5,700 which is more than ever before. Josie flew up the night before and surprised my parents. Half of the Mead clan was able to make it up as well as Mark Elmore, one of the founders. The weekend was a blast and I'll have to dedicate another post to pictures. Jamie took over 400 pictures and I haven't even looked at them all yet.

quick weekend recap

I just got home today from a mini vacation in NY. My parents and I spent Saturday in Saranac Lake/Lake Placid visiting my Jeremy and the kids. We stopped in Gap to say hi to Jenni since she was working. Sunday the we all had lunch at my parent's house and I worked at the Plattsburgh store in the evening. Monday I spent the day with Candice baking yummy treats and yesterday Jonna and I drove to Malone to visit Laura in her new house! It was such an unexpected and fun getaway. Colin was down in Boston for the weekend working. Now we are both back home and ready to get back into the swing of things.

In other news...I got a new job! I start on Monday. :-)

goal for the rest of August- TAKE MORE PICTURES!!

time for lunch!

This is the best lunch box/tote/bag (whatever you want to call it) I've ever had. It's so great my sister, mom, and 2 nieces all have one. My sister and mom actually went hunting for them in South Carolina and NY but couldn't find any. I saved the day by picking a couple up at the Staples here. I've had mine for over a year and absolutely love it. You can fit tons of food in it and it collapses so you can shove it in your purse or another bag when you're done with it. It's also machine washable!

Oh, and you can get them in tons of fun colors. This is the one I bought for Jenna. Super bright and colorful, just like her personality.