My love affair with the Sunshine State continues

I'm going on holiday!!!!! A holiday that was JUST decided and booked last night (at midnight! ha) so it makes it all that much sweeter! :) I can actually say I am a bit of a spontaneous and spur of the moment kind of girl :) What's even sweeter is that this vacation is all thanks to my amazing and wonderful older seester Maria. This isn't the first time we've gone on holiday together just the two of us. She was there with me when I went to London.

*Maria and I cooling off at the fountain in Trafalgar Square - def one of my favourite bits of London. Maria actually sat in gum in that very spot :) ha

So on Friday night I'm flying out to FLORIDA!!!! As I've said in previous posts, I have a love affair with the Sunshine State. It holds some of my best memories. And I'm excited to add to that collection very soon! Maria's husband Frank is the reason we'll be in Tampa. He's there on business, which means while he's in boring meetings all day, I'll be on the beach with his hot wife indulging in the sand and the sun :) I'm there to keep my seester company! How much fun is that?!?! :) This trip could not come at a better time. I've been feeling such longing, such wanderlust lately. I had no idea that need would be met so soon. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to have not just one wonderful seester, but I've been blessed with three of the very best. I cannot wait to be a beach bum! I love the ocean soooo much!! And it's been TWO very long years since I've been on the beach (St. Thomas, Labor Day 2008) so I'm REALLY looking forward to this trip and luckily I don't have to wait very long. I still can't get over the fact that I'll be there in TWO days! :)

*This beautiful postcard sent to me by the lovely Lauren Nicole makes me that much more excited to be there on Friday night. I LOVE the name of this Island....MARCO (like my kuyah!) Island is about a half hour from where she lives. It's so beautiful there!!!

So if anyone lives near Tampa, please let's meet up!!!! :) I have to step up my game at work and make sure I get everything done before I leave for vacation. Wish me luck! :)

AHHH I'm SOOOO happy! :)

I feel like a princess!

My sweet, sweet Mandy calls me Princess. She definitely makes me feel like one!! I have been completely spoiled by my love. Completely. Her kindess and big heart literally brought me to tears. I cannot put into words how special she makes me feel. She sent me these beautiful heart shaped earrings that have the word "Friends" & "London" on them. How perfect is that?:
As if that wasn't enough, I got spoiled with some lovely gifts from her home country of Switzerland. On the 1st of August it is their national holiday and you can buy a lot of Swiss things. So my darling went shopping for me in her favourite city of Aarau so that she could give me an impression of where she lives. She sent me a lovely city guide booklet that has all the hot spots, restaurants, hotels and maps among other things. It's really neat because she put little sticky notes that explain special places. For instance, I know that La Creperie is the best restaurant in the entire world according to Mandy and she wrote in the margin that she'll invite me there one day :) That makes my heart melt! I love holding this guide in my hands. How beautiful are all these souvenirs:

*Mandy loves butterflies and gave me this beautiful hair pin. I LOVE it! it's so pretty!

*I ADORE monograms and have been wanting an "M" necklace for ages like the one Blaire wore on some episodes of "Gossip Girl." I never told Mandy this and that she gave me this is so perfect. M&M always :) p.s. I had just got done working out at the gym and had absolutely NO make up on so I tried to take an "artsy" photo like Micaela does, but obviously does not have the same effect. However, if you have ever seen me without make up be glad I spared you the horror! :) ahaha

And again - as if that was not enough - my Mandy spoiled me MUCH more! She just recently returned from a trip to visit family in England earlier this month. It's one of her favourite places just like mine :) I would have been completely happy if she had just sent me a postcard (which she did!) but my thoughtful girl sent me all kinds of British goodies!

*I hit the London gift jackpot :) Thank you darling for giving me so many thoughtful, beautiful gifts. It means the entire world to me!

And not only did she add to my London collection, she added to my Seahorse addiction as well!

*Seahorse postcard from Bluereef aquarium, fun sea stickers with two seahorses and the most beautiful seahorse!! I am not sure, but I think it's a REAL dried seahorse! At least it feels that way and looks that way :) It's SOOOOO neat! So different than anything I have in my collection. What a doll my Mandy is!

Mandy said it was quite funny because her whole family was looking for a seahorse for me (again, warms my heart!) and then her little cousin was calling out for her in a store because she had found the seahorse :)

* I LOVE this sparkly union jack clutch and can't wait to take it with me the next time I go out :) It is just SO beautiful!

I cannot tell you enough darling Mandy how much every piece meant to me. Even the time you took to put so much thought into each gift you chose for me is so meaningful. I appreciate the gifts and the most important gift of your friendship. I cherish you always! You have made me such a happy girl during a time when I was feeling really sad after my family left. A million times thank you!!!

Eye Candy for your Tuesday

Claire wrote about how TV shows can be a most welcomed distraction in times of stress or sorrow and I couldn't agree more. I'll never forget the comic relief "Friends" provided once during a scary time for Philip & I while he was in the hospital. Claire asked what everyone was watching on TV these days and I am completely into "White Collar."

The second season started two weeks ago and it's SOOOO good. So witty in that "Ocean's 11" and "Catch Me If You Can" sense. My most favourite part about the show is the handsome, charming Neal Caffrey (played by the very beautiful Matt Bomer) who plays the convicted con man of all con mans. I am COMPLETELY smitten with him!! I haven't had a crush on a TV character this bad since Denny Duquette on "Grey's Anatomy." He is SO beautiful, so smart, so charming. Thought I would share some eye candy for your Tuesday:

Isn't he sexy? :) Can't wait for the new episode tonight!!!

22

A blog on Glamour.com posed the question "What's your Happiest Age?" So far my answer would be 22. I LOVED being 22. Even though it was only 4 years ago, sometimes it seems like a lifetime ago. I experienced so much at 22. So many moments that took my breath away. I did a lot of traveling that year. In fact, that was the summer I stayed in Europe and finally made it to London. I graduated college that year. I miss that feeling of accomplishment and thinking the world was FULL of possibilites. Dreams felt well within reach. I became a wife at 22. My wedding day is definitely on my list of unforgettable moments. We had the perfect wedding! Everyday I'm thankful that Philip has been in my life since I was 17 despite any hardship we've had to overcome in our relationship through the years. He is truly my soul mate. There was something about 22 that made me feel like life was really beginning.

Oh to be 22 again :) What about you, what has been your happiest age so far and why? I apologize for my nostalgic mood that I can't quite shake off just yet. I am feeling a deep sense of wanderlust and the craving to escape somewhere so I suppose that's to blame. I know that since my family has left and I am feeling a little empty it's awaken a longing in me. I'll get over it soon I promise.

My seahorse addiction! Thank you Claire for feeding it :)

As you all know I was bummed yesterday upon returning from the airport. I stayed and hung out at my parent's house so I could keep my mom company. By the time we finished our netflix movie it was pretty late. As soon as I got home I had a sweet package waiting for me on the coffee table thanks to darling Claire. Talk about an instant cheering up! :) I was SO excited to open it! I called Micaela right away even though it was past midnight which meant it was even later for twinkie. I just couldn't wait to tell her what a sweet surprise Claire's package meant to me. Most of you who read my blog, read Claire's. Her posts are a part of my day everyday. Everytime she posts a new one it's like Christmas - I just can't wait to read them. I love how Claire is so passionate, so loyal to what she loves and believes in.

*I love seeing my name. It might be a little on the narcissistic side - but I truly do love seeing my name. It's one of the reasons I loved postcrossing so much, because I loved seeing these cards addressed to me in all the different handwritings. Claire even put my name on the handmade card she made me as well. I LOVE the London stickers soooo much! It means so much anytime I get a bit of London sent to me. I cherish anything & everything that has to do with London or England as a whole. Thank you love for adding to my collection! *Isn't the card beautiful?!

Claire not only satisfied my London addiction, she feed another addiction of mine: my seahorse obsession!!!!!

*Look at the beautiful seahorse earrings she sent me!!!!! They are SO adorable!!! I can't wait to show them off at work tomorrow! It is so nice to think that Claire saw these and was so kind enough to think of me and wanted to give them to me. How sweet is that?! I am truly touched by your thoughtfullness.

What's neat is that last night my mom, Auntie Thess and I went to Walmart to get the ingredients for chocoloate chip cookies because my mom is baking some for our church's VBS classes starting on Monday. I bought the most adorable seahorse pajama shirt last night. I was so excited to put on the earrings right away to take a photo that that's exactly what I did:

*How perfect that the earrings even matched my new pajamas? :) I look like I'm wearing a moo moo, but it's sooo cute and comfortable. Those are my knees below, it goes to right above my knees.

This morning I decided to take some more photos of my seahorse collection for you. Much of my collection is thanks to my twinkie. I am in the process of turning my spare "junk room" to a "seaside" room with an ocean theme to it. I've got lots of stuff to decorate, lots of white wicker, lots of lighthouses etc. but I just haven't had the time to get around and decorate. I wish April could come and do it for me. I love how she did her room :) So I took these photos on the kitchen table.

*Photo I took on the balcony of my friend's house of the beautiful sunset in St. Thomas US Virgin Islands; Jars of shells and sand from the same trip; Seahorse candle holder; seahorse rock decoration

*"What happens at the beach, stays at the beach" wall hanger that was a gift from Micaela, my new earrings thanks to Claire! Silver seahorse Micaela got for me from one of her favourite shops in VA; Multi Coloured seahorse from the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

*Some seahorse shaped soap - another gift from Micaela

*Post it notes from Micaela; charm from my co-worker Laura; mood necklace I got in Chicago

*Picture frame - need to put a photo in it :)

Thank you darling Claire for the wonderful gifts that added to both of my collections. Thank you for making me smile after a sad day. Most of all thank you for your wonderful, beautiful friendship to my twinkie and I. Every conversation I have with Micaela seems to include you. She loves you so much! Thank you for being there for her. That means more to me than you will ever know!

Missing my darlings

I just got off the phone with Mikey & Milen who are now home safely in Germany. I cried like a baby saying bye to them. They waved and waved from the other side of terminal while they were going through security. They continued waving until they finally had to go to their gate. It broke my heart. Here are some photos taken in the van on the way to DFW yesterday.

My parents house is so quiet now. It feels SO empty :( I hung out with my mom last night and we watched two movies on netflix (def. B movies called "In a Day" & "Ira & Abby" - both had their moments, neither was particurally great though!) I am trying to keep my mom company because I know she feels the "empty nest" a million more times than I do. In fact we're about to watch another movie now called "Me Without You" - I hope it's better than yesterday's picks. I just love Netflix instant play feature! Good movies always makes things better.

This morning Philip and I went to have breakfast at IHOP. I feel like we haven't spent too much time together lately just the two of us because all of my time was devoted to my nieces and nephew. I really enjoyed my husband's company :) I'm thankful for his cheering me up while I am missing my family. I'm thankful for all of you too!

Nostalgic

With the dreaded heartbreak of having to say goodbye to my brother Chet and his beautiful family looming over me (I am SO sad that they will fly back to Germany tomorrow. I already miss my Mikey & Milen!), I started thinking about how hard it is for me to let go of things.

Confession: I'm a bit of a pack rat. Not to the extreme that I should be featured on Hoarders or anything, but I can't throw anything away! For instance, just now I was organizing some files at work. I've been at my current job for nearly two years and over those two years I've accumulated lots of paperwork. I still can't bring myself to throw anything away. Even old notebooks and calendars. I don't even need it, but I feel "safe" knowing it's tucked away in my desk or filed away in a folder in my filing cabinet.

Even at home I've kept school things (folders, text books, notebooks etc) from not only college, but high school. Why I want to hold on to these things I have no idea. I can't bring myself to get rid of some of my clothes that I wore back then that I will never be able to fit into again (UGH to be that size again!), a pair of old ratty Nike trainers sits in the back of my closet that are so WORN out - yet I can't throw them away because they took me all over these beautiful places I have been to on vacation. I saved receipts from said vacations. I never delete emails from my inbox. I keep every book I've read on my book shelf even if it's a book I didn't even particularly enjoy.

I feel the need to save everything.

I totally get this postsecret from last week:

I thought I was the only one who thinks like this!

This past week I've been feeling very nostalgic. Maybe it has something to do with Robbie rejoining Take That. I know it has A LOT to do with a certain someone - a person I can't ever seem to forget even when I have tried in vain. And it most definitely has a lot to do with some sad news I heard yesterday about an old friend of mine, a friend I haven't thought about in a long time, but whose name I mentioned in a conversation with my sister Madeline the same day this person's life changed forever. Isn't it weird when things like that happen? Like our psyche really is in tuned to the things going on around us.

Sorry to be vague. I'm just feeling a bit "bla" today. A bit sad knowing it's going to be a lot quieter and emptier when the last of my family leaves tomorrow.

I love Seahorses!

I love the ocean. Lately I've been thinking about it a lot. Oh how I would give anything to be on the coast of somewhere beautiful. *sigh*

One of my favourite things is the seahorse. I love seahorses so much! One of these days I'll have to take a photo of my seahorse collection at home.

My niece Milen drew me some pictures last night after we got done swimming. The other day she asked me what I wanted her to draw me so I showed her the picture of the seahorse tattoo I want to get one day. She's going to be an artist just like her granddaddy. She's mastered the seahorse! Take a look:

*Is that not the most adorable seahorse you've ever seen??? :) Don't you love the way she spelt Auntie? :)

*Under the Sea - don't you love the octopus inking in her drawing? haha

*She learned how to spell Auntie :)

And those aren't the first seahorse drawings I've received. Sweet Faiza drew me one on the back of one of the letters she sent me. So cute!

I don't know what I'm going to do when Mikey & Milen leave :( I'm dreading Saturday when we have to drive them to the airport. It's going to be so lonely after Saturday! For once I wish I could freeze time so that Saturday will get here slowly. They bring me so much joy! We've had such a blast together!! The fun will continue tonight with a trip to the Plex (a fun place for kids where I live that has putt putt, bumper boats, batting range etc) for go-kart racing!

Take That! :)

The teeny bopper in me is rejoicing!!!!! :) My favourite boy band growing up is getting ALL back together!! That's including Micaela's Robbie Williams!!!! :) Who would have thought we'd see the day my favourite Gary Barlow would mend fences with her favourite Robbie? (it cracks me up that the people we choose as favourites in both Take That and wrestling (My HBK versus her Bret the Hitman Hart & Gary vs Robbie - all had rivalries in real life, although we had no idea at the time we chose them to love! haha)

Oh happy day!! I feel like I'm 1o years old again all giddy with excitement at the news! *It really is the little things haha* Micaela and I would watch our Take That videos all day every day when we were growing up. This news def. brings back a piece of our childhood!

Here's a little history for those who aren't familiar:

the rumours are true...
Take That: the original line-up
have written and recorded a new album
for release later this year.

Following months of speculation Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams confirmed today that they have been recording a new studio album as a five piece, which they will release in November of this year. It is the first time they've recorded a full album together since the release of their number one album 'Nobody Else', back in 1995.

'Getting the five of us to be in a room together, although always a dream, never actually seemed like becoming a reality. Now the reality of the five of us making a record together feels like a dream. It's been an absolute delight spending time with Rob again. But I'm still a better footballer' - Mark Owen.

'I get embarrassingly excited when the five of us are in a room. It feels like coming home' - Robbie Williams.

'Flippin' brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I'm over the moon that Robbie's back with us, however long it lasts. I just want to enjoy our time with him. Life is beautifully strange sometimes' - Jason Orange.

The reunion of reunions took place in New York last September, following Take That's record-breaking 'The Circus Live' tour. Shortly afterwards all five of the original Take That secretly wrote and recorded the six songs which would set the foundation for the forthcoming album.

Since then the band have been hard at work finishing their new, as yet untitled, record, which will be released through Polydor Records in November. The album has been produced by Stuart Price.

*They are all still so good looking! Be still my heart!

I absolutely cannot wait to hear the new material!! Oh if only we could see them in concert the way we did when New Kids and the Block got back together. Micaela, Madeline and I had the absolute BEST time at their concert :) it was SO much fun singing the old hits at the top of our lungs! :) But to see Take That - that would be a dream come true!

Where the Wild Things are: Ft. Worth Zoo

I took off work on Friday so Philip & I could take my brother Chet and his beautiful family to the Ft. Worth Zoo which is about 2 hours from where we live. We had the most amazing time! There are so many different animals and so much to see. My brother takes the best photos so I hope you enjoy all the wild things :) It was SOOO hot that day, I was melting in the Texas heat! I swear I sweat more than the average person. Luckily, there is a lot of trees so the shade made it a little cooler - it could have been much worse for sure. We had so much fun that at the moment it's 11:15 pm and Mikey, Milen and I are watching "Madagascar" as I type this on my laptop remembering how much fun we had at the zoo. I have to get up early for work in the morning, but being sprawled out on the bed with them is priceless. I hope you enjoy the picture overload of our Friday adventure into the wild :)

*With Sweet Milen

*My darling husband

*The elephant behind us was born in 1970, five years older than Philip!


*With my precious Milen and Mikey

*Taking a break in "Texas Town"

*The love of my life

*My boys - husband, nephew and brother*Self Portrait ha

*LOVE the cute penguins!

*My brother Chet and I

*The beautiful Lechuga Family from Germany

*I love them more than anything in this world

*This fella was HUGE. Looks a bit sad there doesn't it? I think it had to do with the heat!

*He was MASSIVE!

*Sweet Monkey family! Look at the little baby!! SO precious!

*I don't normally like monkies that much, but my niece & nephew loved the monkies! I think this little guy had a lot to do with it :)

*We couldn't get over how cute this baby was!

*My favourite person in the entire world!

*The sweetest girl you'll ever meet

*Like father like son. It was so cute how they were matching :)

*My brother's beautiful family. I love my sister-in-law Mesale

I love the rhinos the most. They are one of my favourite animals. There were so many different kinds of rhinos. My favourite was the one below:

*Philip loved Meerkat Manor :) He loves these little guys!!

*I of course thought of Faiza! :) Her favourite animal

*Mesale loves elephants. She collects them :)

*Another Rhino for me :)

*Marco's favourite animal is the White Tiger - they are such magical creatures really

*Mikey keeping cool :) My nephew is so handsome!

*Sherkhan from the Jungle Book :)

*The kids kept calling the zebras Marty from Madagascar :) Reminds me of Lo because she collects Zebras :)

*Aslan from Narnia :) In the jungle, the wild jungle the lion sleeps tonight!

*Milen in the petting zoo

*My silly husband getting bit in the bum from the aligator *watch out Captian Hook! haha*

Good times! I loved the memories we made on Friday :)