The Good, The Bad and St. Augustine

How has another Friday come and gone? Last week at this time we were packing up from our jaunt to South Florida and making our way back home. Little did I know that our 12 hour drive would turn into 36 hrs. I am not sure what exactly I was thinking...after 12 years together, you'd think I would know better!

So before I get to the good and the bad and all the pictures that captured them, here are a few letters.

Dear March, you have started out 15 degrees below normal. not cool, March not cool. Well, in reality, frigid...but you get me. Dear Basketball Season, how are you almost over...again? You have flown by this year. I can't believe we only have a few games left to work. Dear whatever new allergy I have developed this week, Seriously? Annoying, but the epi pen beat you, so really...I won again. Dear Sunshine, I am so excited that come Sunday, there will be more of you in my day, excuse me in advance when I seem all kindsa ungrateful when I first wake up after losing an hour of sleep. I will get over it, I am sure.

The good. AKA the High Fives, The Happies and the Peaks

Spending so much time with Wiki's family. I actually love my in laws and am sad when they leave. Exploring new places on the way home from Florida. Chowing on some good grub all week long! Losing weight on my vacation. This has never happened before and don't ask me how, I don't have an answer. haha

The bad...aka the Pits and the Crappies.

I don't really have much to be honest! woo hoo! The weather hates me, warmth, please stop evading me! and my throat swelling from some new unfound allergy. I am really careful with the massive amounts of allergies I have and I really get frustrated when something gives me an adverse reaction and I can't figure out what it is.

our week in pictures.

 On our way up we stopped in Titusville around 2 to meet up with a friend and have lunch. then we saw the 45 minute wait and decided to move on, but supposedly sooooo good. next time 

so our next stop was one of my favorites: St. Augustine! 

We has dinner at Harry's and oh. my. gosh. So beyond delicious. and I love the lit up courtyard.

 Love this oldie!

 and so did my father in law!

look at all that chrome!

 we stumbled into an olive oil and flavored vinegar bar.

 love the cathedral, dates back to 1565.

 We almost got married here, but when we looked into it, we had way too many guests.

We found this amazing coffee shop. The girls who worked here were above awesome! and my husband and in laws both purchased a pound of their coffee, they were in love. Not me, no coffee. but their hot cocoa was to die for!

 and last up is what was formerly the Ponce de Leon hotel and is now

Flagler college. Hello, I would have loved to go to school there!

That was our trip there and then on Saturday morning when meandered up the road to the quaint town of St. Mary's, Georgia. We spent a lot of time in this sleepy little town!

On the porch of the historic Spencer house.

We are back home and trying to lay low before we both travel again next week on separate trips. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Linking up with

from My grey desk

life rearranged
The Sweet Season
Vintage Modern Wife

Club Sexy Cara Box

This is one of my favorite blog link ups brought by one of my blog addictions, Wifessionals. Kaitlyn is so genuine and sweet and I am always excitable to meet new people that I otherwise wouldn't. and this month was extra special because I was linked up with someone who also calls North Carolina home.

This month I was lucky enough to be paired up with Brooke from Bits of Brooke. I was even more over joyed when I discovered exactly how much we have in common...with the exception of one small detail. She is a Carolina girl and I am not, I am a Duke girl;) To some of you...this probably doesn't matter. However, if you have ever lived a day in these neck of the woods...you understand that it more than matters! and I am happy to say Brooke is absolutely fabulous and we each saw past the others lack of taste...choices;)

Look at all my goodies. Brooke really got a great sense of who I am and the things I enjoy! 

In my box were two warm delight brownie desserts, two flavored hot chocolate packets, a cheese dip, 2 frozen wine cocktails, buffalo and blue cheese nuts, a fun little game that she made and must have taken so much time to create and a scarf that has an aztec flair to it! 

Thanks again so much, Brooke! I can't wait to sport my scarf with a cute pair of shorts and a white t shirt and enjoy the frozen coktails after I top them with some sparkling wine!

Plus, once the summer hits...we are getting together for those cocktails!!!

If you want to see what I got Brooke, click here

Sorry for the delay to my link up, but the post office made a boo boo and sent mine back and then my phone wouldn't let me update my pictures till this morning.

I am skipping the March exchange b/c I will be out of town, but cannot wait till the April exchange to make new friends. I cannot recommend this endeavor enough, check out how to participate here

Pistachio Goodness Bars

I originally made these for Christmas as a twist to my mom's birthday cake for Jesus...her version of the watergate cake. I first tried my hand and made whoopie pies and just decided to whip these up too.

and I am so glad I did. These tasty treats were a total delight and since they're green...they would also make a perfect St. Patty's day treat for those of you who aren't jumping on the mint bandwagon.

 Ingredients:
Cake:
1 box yellow cake mix
8 tbsp butter, melted
1 egg
1 packet butterscotch pudding

Filling:
1 8 oz pkge of cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
8 tbsp butter, melted
16 oz powdered sugar
1 packet pistachio pudding

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, butter, pudding packet  and mix well with an electric mixer.  Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the eggs and butter and beat together. 

Next, add the pudding packet and slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix well.  Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.  Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

If you want another green option, you can check out my recipe for these

 Watergate Whoopie Pies

here

WIWW: Date Nite

I am not sure about you guys, but one of my favorite parts about vacation is doing absolutely nothing. As I have alluded to before...we travel a lot. and most of our trips are quickies. I prefer the longer ones that are few and far between;)

We go on this trip with Wiki's parents every year and as such, we have done most of the "touristy" Miami stops and so this time it was enjoyable to take our time and revisit our favorite places. On our last night Duke happened to be playing Miami and since we are normally working the Duke games, it was nice to actually cheer. It was beautiful out, but somewhat chilly for Florida and this is the outfit I came up with to enjoy our only "just the two of us" date night of the trip.

I love the way the navy and the pink play off of each other. and I can honestly say that before pinterest, I probably never would've thought to pair the aqua and gold with these colors, but I love how they gave it an unexpected pop. 

I am a sucker for cardigans and a lover of all things belt...there are so many different ways I can pair these pieces up. You may recognize the tank top from last week's WIWW post here and I am picturing pairing this navy cardigan with my striped bow top from this post...and I think a red belt and peep toe pumps will complete the look.

I found this cardigan at Saw Grass Mills at Burlington Coat Factory for $13, the tank was clearanced for under $3 at Target. The Skinnies came from Ross and were $5. The belt was $2.99 at NY & Co, the shoes were under $16 at Payless. The necklace is premier jewelry and I got it for a buck at a yard sale and I just picked these earrings up a few weeks ago via a living social deal at one of my favorite boutiques; Clothes Hound...If you get a chance check them out, they offer the cutest stuff and their prices are so reasonable! They have a flat rate shipping of $7 or it's free if you spend over a hundred.

and I can not say 'Thank You' enough for all the emails I received over the Infertility Prayer Project...at first I got a few comments from people and then over the weekend...the emails, they just kept coming! I am so grateful and humbled to hear your stories. So many friends from home wrote to tell me they had no idea, so many strangers wrote that someone had forwarded it to them at just the right moment...

So many of you moved me and I am so excited about the next few months. It still stands, if you or anyone you know has ever struggled with infertility, whether currently or in the past, please feel free to contact me. I will pray if you need me to and if you are interested in sharing your story, I still need people for May and June.. Your encouragement means more than you know. I love sharing and receiving positive words and thoughts.

If you want to know more, read this post...Infertility Prayer Project

Linking up with

Style Sessions

Diaries of a Barganista

Rolled Up Pretty

Because Shanna Said So
Transatlantic Blonde

Weekend Wrap Up: Welcome to Mee Ah Mee

Really reaching for a post title this morning;)

  haha Blame it on the fact that tonight is my first night in my own bed after 11 days. and yes, this is me boo hooing after I have been on vacation. Very wrong, I suppose...but that just doesn't change tired. haha You have no idea how the side trips my husband likes to take.

 We left Ft. Lauderdale at 10 on Friday and got home about 36 hours later. I legit feel as if I took four more mini vacations after we left. 

Since I was gone for such an extended period of time and the internet at the resort still lives in the 1990's, my weekend wrap will be more along the lines of a week and a half wrap. So prepare to be inundated with exorbitant amounts of pictures. and if you follow me on Instagram...you're already somewhat familiar.

 We got to our resort on Friday and piddled around the town and mainly just lounged by the pool and on Saturday night went out with our besties. and then on Monday we headed to our favorite beach: Key Biscayne.

 

 Don't I just look so happy? I hate when Wiki snaps impromptu pics of me...and it shows;)

 In the water with the lighthouse behind us. Love this beach!

the best part about this picture is that 5 minutes later, we were in the lounge chairs and Wiki thought I threw water on him...Nope, my sweets, that was just your new bird friend pooping on you. hahahahah made. my. day. We laughed and laughed.

My view for most of the day. Pretty much perfection in my book. Pun and all... 

 

 Love the water so clear I can see my toesies.

This place is just so quiet and serene. Love the views.

and on our way out I heard a rustling as something ran up the tree and thought it was a squirrel...or it was just a massive raccoon. Don't let me bother you, sir.

If you are ever in South Florida and have a chance I really cannot urge you to check out this beach enough. It is always rated one of the top beaches in the US. and there is a really cute cafe that you can grab lunch or drinks at. We have only ever been during the week so the weekend may be a bit busier. You can tour the lighthouse and they have these awesome 4 seater covered bikes that you can ride along the trail.

It was all fun and games till I woke up to this.

 Are you cringing just thinking about it? You should be...I almost never burn. That whole day I kept harping on Wiki "put on sunscreen, the sun is waaaaayyy stronger here" and me, I sat hidden under the umbrella and slathered in 55 spf and this was my result. Talk about pissed. and of course he put 10 spf on and his half Italian half Lebanese bum is just tan. Grrrrr.

but the best part is what you can't see...I had major zig zags across my neck/face where the umbrella flaps were. haha looks uber fabulous, just what all the ladies are after...I look like I have the Mike Tyson tattoo tan.

 Then the next two days it was frigid, you know what I mean...only 67' and so to keep warm and the hell away from that big yellow flame thrower of agony  I wore a sweatshirt and wrapped myself in a towel.

and then when I came upstairs and was in the bathroom  I walk out to Wiki playing around with my scarf. and we were joking how much more obvious his middle eastern roots are with this on, no denying them. I never had a sister to steal my stuff...who knew the eventual culprit would be a 6'5 Bostonian man.

That night my mother in law cooked and we headed to Sawgrass Mills before we hit the casinos and they bet the ponies and Momma B and I played the slots. I went in with $30 and four hours later I left with $20. Had fun and kept me entertained...all I ask for. and a million dollars.

The next night after dinner we headed into Coral Gables to watch the Duke/Miami game and then head out for drinks. While I am not a fan of the school(basically I am ambivalent) I do love that town. So pretty and awesome places to enjoy music, food and cocktails!

 Last night before heading to go home. Doesn't he look overjoyed to be taking another picture, can't you just feel the love oozing out of him;)

 The U.

 One of my favorite places to visit while there! The Biltmore Hotel. This place has an amazing bar and the pool is outrageous. Was known as being one of the largest in the country before Vegas began building them. HTe charm and history of this place make it a must see.

I have no idea what this building was, I think it may be the courthouse... just liked the architecture,

 We were both craving dessert and drinks and stumbled into the Mexican fusion cafe. Oh my word, so good!

We got the caramel crepes. I want some more. right now.

 Wiki got the spicy coconut margarita

and I tried the guava and kiwi. It was really tasty. as in, so very tasty that I may have  drank it in 3.5 seconds and then became a giggle machine. Very becoming of a 35 year old. haha ask me if I care.

So this was our annual trip with Wiki's parents to South Florida. Love exploring it every year and making memories. tomorrow I will show you our stops in St. Augustine and St. Mary's

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

Linkin up with

YOLO

 Sami's Shenanigans

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Life Of Meg