Saturday in Union

It has rained nearly all day today. I'm starting not to feel well and just hoping it's very temporary (I have the Carrie Underwood concert tomorrow and a baby shower). Before I started feeling yucky, I went to a Kaidon Fohl's 1st birthday party. She was adorable! Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures! Afterwards I did some shopping in preparation for the KY Oaks (you are probably thinking what in the world could I have left to buy)! I bought some new but comfy shoes and some jewelry. Point to my story...while I was out my two lovely dogs (Zadeh and Rupp) decided to get into some trouble while Matt was downstairs laying tile.


How could these two ever do anything bad?? Lets not mention Zadeh's THREE surgeries due to eating various metal objects. Anyway, Matt decided to put them outside (in the rain), but block them on the deck so they wouldn't get all muddy in the backyard). I guess they loved every minute of it and here's the evidence...


This is what is left of the rug we had on the deck. Oh these Goldendoodles!

On to things that are being created and not demolished. Here is a picture of the downstairs bathroom (shower) now that it has been tiled.


Here is Matt tiling the bar/living area (and adding a fancy border where the bar stools will be).

He suggested I take a picture for my blog...I'm starting to think he might actually read it, LOL.

Hope you all have a great Saturday night...I'll be resting up!

Mary Mary Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

I have such exciting news (well for me anyway)! We are growing a garden! Thanks to our friends/neighbors (who have family close by with lots of land). We got some things planted...actually I watched more than I planted, but at least I was there for support! Here are a couple of pictures...




We planted broccoli, cauliflower, peas, lettuce and onions. Once it gets a bit warmer we will do tomatoes, peppers, etc. I have always wanted a garden so I really hope this is a success!

Last weekend me and two of my girlfriends went to Keeneland again! This time we got a bench and did some betting. We did win a few races (but also lost a few). All in all we had a great time!



On Sunday, Matt and I bought tile for our basement (the never-ending project) and also bought some curtains for our bedroom and a new vacuum! (No, I did not get the Dyson I have always wanted...it's just too expensive), but I did get a Hoover Pet Cyclone. So far I love it and its kind of gross the amount of "stuff" it picks up! Here is a sneak peek at our tile selections.

This one will be the kitchen floor and a small "living area" with a little pub style table.


This one is for the bathroom:


Lots to do...have a good week!

Weekend YET?

Had such a good time last weekend and an exciting week so far! We had our day at Keeneland and had a bit too much fun. I might try to go back again on Saturday so I can actually sit down and enjoy the races...its so hard to do that when it's so nice out, you run into so many people and you are busy enjoying time with your friends. Here are a few photos...





Last night my friend and I had free tickets to go see Mary Poppins on Broadway.



We had a really good time despite the fact that the show was soooo long. To be truthful, we left at intermission because the first act was an hour and a half long and the second act appeared to be a re-cap of all the same songs! We had a good time though and that's all that matters! I have no idea how kids could sit through a show that long though.

Tomorrow is "Dining in the Dark" and I can't wait until it's over! I'm sure it will be a great night, but it's tiring and I'm ready to begin spending my time focusing on other things. I'm just going to continue looking forward to the weekend when I can concentrate on things other than work!

Have a good rest of the week.

Keeneland & Work

I'll start with work. One week from today is Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired's (my employer)fourth annual event "Dining in the Dark". It's a dinner event in which guests experience having dinner in a very dimly lit setting (with sunglasses on because we can't make the room pitch black) and they get to experience what life might be like with a visual impairment. Lots of work goes into an event like this (and I know because I'm the person assigned to it). Sooo many friends, colleagues, and even strangers have helped out with this event by donating items for our silent auction, donating money, offering to volunteer, etc. It's so nice to have so much support! I must admit though...I'm looking forward to next Friday when I can say the event is wrapped up for 2010!!



On to personal fun! Matt and I along with many of our friends will be going to Keeneland on Saturday! I can't wait. I love Keeneland and enjoy going as much as possible when it's open (in April and October). We have a large group of people going with us and we will be leaving our house at 8:30a.m. to head down to Lexington.





I can't wait to be on the horse farm, eating good food, drinking good drinks and all in good company (not to mention getting in a few bets)!

Crafts & Dancing!

So by now you have all heard about my new favorite thing to do...CRAFT! I have been making these letter signs for a few months now and I had to share this adorable picture! This is my friends daughter posing with the sign I made for her room. Her name is Ellison Rahe...isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen? Photos were taken by Jenny Preston of JP Photography you can link to her blog here





If you are interested in purchasing one please write and I would be happy to make one for you...price depends on size.

On another note, are you watching Dancing with the Stars? I'm of course rooting for OCHOCINCO! Who are you voting for?

Exciting Weekend!

This weekend has been quite exciting. First, I bought a new car! I guess I shouldn't say CAR...its a rather large GMC Acadia. At first I was really nervous because it's sooo much different then my good ole Acura TL (which I will miss), but I have become more comfortable driving this monster each and every day! It seats eight people, has a DVD player, TONS of room for traveling and our two dogs...it really is perfect for us! Here is a picture!



The excitement doesn't stop here...Saturday night I went to dinner and to the Cincinnati Ballet with a friend. We saw Mozart's Requiem...it was my first ballet and it was GREAT! I would highly recommend it! This is a picture I took of the program and my cousin's school mascot (he has to travel to different places and get his picture taken...how cute)!



Oh I must mention that one HORRIBLE thing that happened this weekend was UK losing to West Virginia...of course I still love my WILDCATS. Moving past the devastation...on Saturday morning me and two of my best girlfriends drove to Louisville (in my new car of course) to purchase hats for the Kentucky Oaks! We were so lucky that all three of us found hats we loved at the first store we went to. We had a great time trying on hats, giving each other advice, debating colors and styles and finally making our purchase! Here are a few pictures of my hat from all different sides (the feather is actually in the back).





I bought it and added all the feathers. I love it...now I have to find something to wear with it...I don't normally wear brown! The Kentucky Oaks is the big race before the Derby for those of you who don't know. It is also held at Churchill Downs and it's tradition to dress up, wear hats, and drink the "Oaks Lily" which is the official drink of the KY Oaks. It's pink because the Oaks raises money for breast cancer research. The ingredients are:

* 1 oz. Vodka
* 1 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
* 3 oz. Cranberry Juice
* Splash of Triple Sec


Here is a picture of Kim Kardashian drinking an Oaks Lily



One day I will make it to the Derby, but this year I'm perfectly content with the Oaks!

Lots of other fun things happened this weekend, but I have written enough for now! Hope you had a great weekend too!

Hawaii

It's official, my sister-in-law will be getting married in Maui June 17, 2011. It has been her dream for many years to be married in Hawaii and now her dream will come true! This past week, she gave me this adorable booklet that she made to ask me to be in the wedding. Here was the poem inside:

The day, the dress
The bride, the groom
The joy, the tears
Will all come too soon

Professing true love
To my husband to be
With family and friends
All watching me

Because to me you mean so much
I have one thing to say which I will phrase as such;
Nothing would give me more joy and pride,
Than to have you up there right by my side

You've stood right beside me throughout thick and thin
And I want you to be there when I marry him.
Many great memories I have shared with your smile,
So, I want you to meet me at the end of the aisle!

Isn't that the sweetest thing!!!??? Here is a picture of the front of booklet she made (I would post more pictures but they are all uploading sideways for some annoying reason):


Thanks LALA for including me in on your special day...Hawaii here we come!

Vacation

It has been a long work week and it has caused me to neglect my blog! Well now I'm ready to give some updates! We had a great time in FL (minus the chilly weather and my girlfriends getting super sun burnt).

Here are some pictures from our trip:


Pic of Jen, me and Mandi


This sign was hanging in a bar/restaurant in Tin City...funny!


View from the Marriott on Marco Island...we stopped in for a visit...it was so pretty!


Me and Matt on the beach...I told him to put that stupid stick down, but he wouldn't listen. lol.


The crew on our last night. We had to get up at 4:00 a.m. the next morning...eeewww!


Beautiful sunset on Marco Island.

As you can see, we had a great time! I'm ready to go back and enjoy WARM weather, lots of pool/beach time, more great food, etc. Speaking of food, we ate at a delicious Hawaiian Fusion restaurant (I had the trio which included salmon, butter fish and swordfish), the always FAB Tommy Bahama (I had ribs which were AWESOME and I'm not a big ribs person), plenty of pizza, Randy Fish Market (yummy), and lots more. Lot's of calories were inhaled! What is vacation good for if not great food!

Well now that we are home, we still have plenty of things to keep us busy. We have a 5K in the morning in memory of our good friend Taylor who passed away more than 2 years ago (wow time flies). We are also spending the weekend cheering on our BELOVED...C A T S! GO BIG BLUE!

Back from Vacation...Back to Reality!

We arrived home safely from vacation yesterday morning. It was an early morning that's for sure! We had to leave the condo at 4:00 a.m. to make our 6 a.m. flight. I will admit it was nice being home by 9 a.m., but I was exhausted!

We did lot's of fun things while we were in Naples! Plenty of dinner's, plenty of fun drinks, and plenty of fun times! The weather was much cooler than normal, but we made the best of it. I didn't pack too well because I ended up with two long sleeved shirts that I ended up wearing the entire time, but it was A - OK!

I had an extremely long day at work trying to get caught up and ready for our annual special event Dining in the Dark, so I'm too tired to post all of our fun pictures, but I will do my best to get to those tomorrow!

For now, here are three awesome cars we saw parked in a row in Naples!


BENTLEY


MASERATI


FERRARI

I'm dying for a new car right now, but I think I better KEEP DREAMING! THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR LETTING US USE YOUR CONDO!!! :)

Basement is Painted :)

I was so excited to see the basement painted! This clearly means I didn't help at all! I would have, but I think it was better for me to stay out of they way. I did chose the colors, so that was my part. We did the majority of the space in "Oak Cake", the bedroom is some type of Mauve color, and the bathroom in a very light blue. I think it looks great! We will probably slow down a bit now and take a breather before putting up trim, selecting tile, cabinets, counter-top, etc. Here are some pictures!






Today is my hubby's 29th birthday...Yikes! One more year till the big 3-0! We had dinner at his parents house on Sunday to celebrate. Here is a picture of Matt with his niece Sophie who was helping him blow out the candles.


On Sunday I also attended a shower for my cousin-in-law (who is pregnant with baby Kadence). It was at a local church and it was such a great place to have a shower! Of course, I couldn't resist making her one of my "crafts". She loved it!



I'm going to start selling these and I will be at the Ryle Craft Show in November...exciting!

Thats all for now. BUT, I leave for Naples Florida in the morning (YAY)...so I probably won't be posting until sometime next week. Have a great week and weekend! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!