And All That Jazz

Guess what the title of this post has to do with anything from my weekend...you'd be correct in your assumption if you said "zilch" but I am going through all my DVD's and selling certain ones and when I just saw Chicago...that song is now on replay in my brain. Fun times, I tell you.

This weekend was one of a whole bunch of not muchingness and I cannot even parlay into words how great that is! We have been go, go and more go for awhile now and having a weekend of just us was pure perfection! But first, on Friday...it was 82', over the expected high of 78'. and I loved every second. and then...blah.

Friday night I headed over to Nicole's to love up on the bebes and then the mister and I had a quick meal at the tavern down the street. We hit up the wine cellar, also.

The chandelier at the wine cellar. Insane.

Saturday was full of shopping and football and my phone died early so I am sorry that my pictures are minimal. But let's take a second to talk about Duke football!!! This is my 12th year of working part time in athletics  and I went through seasons of rooting for them and a big fat goose egg going in the win column for entire seasons. So, while we didn't win on Saturday night, just the experience of cheering for them in the championship game was more than I could have hoped for.

So proud of you guys! Take down Mr. Manziel next. Ummm. K? Thanks.

We had some Vietnamese food and took in some yummy tea as we waited for our meals. it was so very good!

and Sunday football. Crazy people. Absolutely crazy. We were at the Ale House watching the Pats play the Browns and catching the end of the Viking/Ravens and Dolphins/Steelers was almost already too much for me to handle before the game came down to the last few seconds. again. Seriously, Pats?! My heart is just about over these types of finishes!

Then I came home to clean. I had a little help from my friend, Mr. Hornsby Cider. He is pretty tasty. Not as tasty as Mr. Somersby, but pretty good none the less. 

shout out to Whit;)

But no questions asked, Mr. Williams stole the show. Oh. Muy. Goodness. Get some as soon as possible. There are no words for the yumminess!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

So, did you guys watch the Sound of Music last night? I actually didn't but due to the nonstop twitter and FB updates, I feel like I did. and from what I garnered, I didn't miss much. I did manage to watch Scandal though...and I may be traumatized. But as if a few night terrors would keep me from tuning in next week.

But moving on, my favorite moments over the past week.

1) Being home in Virgina and I was able to catch my sissy in laws run in the 25th annual Turkey Trot. It was frigid, but the vibe downtown was awesome. And then Rue talked Wiki into posing with mister gobble gobble.

2) My aunt and uncle were so gracious to let us stay the week at their cabin(understatement of the year) and while there, we got to help them decorate. Since we will only be home 2 weeks in December and are not doing a tree, waking up to this for 4 nights was awesome!

Loved the view each night!

The view of the tree from the second floor loft was my favorite!

My mom made these from some of our wine bottles, love the simplicity of them.

Even a 6'5 guy needs a ladder for a 12 foot tree!

Enjoying a good Malbec and some football

Playing Jacks!!

3) We headed to Bayse, Virginia and hung out with my parents at Bryce resort for a few days and we were able to sightsee. First day we headed up to Harper's Ferry, WV to get our history on. I loved this place! 

4) We drove all throughout the Shenandoah and even in the winter, the views were breathtaking. I am always proud to call Virginia my home. and every visit back makes me even more appreciative.

5) and then, as soon as we returned home, my bestie and I went to see Grinch, the musical. It was the first play of this year's season at the DPAC. Next month is Once and I am beyond stoked! 

And then, tomorrow...Duke plays FSU in the ACC Championship, in football. I am still in shock and I cannot wait! Woo hoo!

Linking up with Lauren, Friday Favorites, 5 on Friday

How I Fell Asleep Mid Meal

thanks to the lovely little pill some people like to call Dramamine. I am pretty sure what they actually mean is "roofie" Oh my gosh. Four full days later and I am still loopie from it. And I hate it. It makes me think of the medicine they used to give us at the hospital...you know the ones, for my bipolar and all that shenanigans. and yes, shenanigans is code for cray cray.

I have never, and I mean never, been car sick before. I actually usually read in the car. Which is why the mister gets annoyed because he tries to talk to me and I am all "uh huh. that's nice. uh huh. Leave me alone, I am invested in these people's lives!" ha For this trip we were in the mountains and the trees speeding by made my stomach my arch nemesis. Wiki stopped and got me Dramamine. I have never taken it and as I am examining it, I note that it has aspartame in it. My worst possible allergy. The only one that has ever put me into anypaphylactic shock and straight to the er, so after a little digging, I discovered it was a minute amount and with all my precautions with me if I did have a reaction, I decided to try my hand at one. Mistake my friends, mistake.

Fast forward an hour later and we are having lunch with my parents when I face plopped...mid meal. It was as if someone had stuck a needle in my neck and I was out for the count. I kept falling asleep and apparently... worst news ever, snored a little bit. Lessons Wiki should have learned by now: you cannot take me anywhere. We were going all around Harper's Ferry and I could barely enjoy it(and it was awesome, my inner nerd was lovin what I was coherent enough to take in)  I then slept 15 hours that night and then another 13 the next night. Yesterday I took a 3 hour midday nap. I still feel all kinds of groggy. 

So, I drew upon one conclusion...Dramamine works wonders to keep you from being nauseated due to the simple fact you are basically unconscious and no good to anyone. All Wiki kept saying was that it was a good thing I didn't take two. He would have had to throw me over his shoulder and cart me out of the restaurant. We were driving home yesterday and he asked if it was better at all and I told him that I could have laid right down in the middle of the road on the yellow line and slept like a baby. haha

So, this is me, hoping the weird nausea was a one time thing and will leave me alone. I have a 12 hour ride to Boston coming up and I have books to tear through.

And no, before you ask like some texts I got from people...there is no baby in my belly. Damnit. Nausea is so rude, coming to visit with no baby in tow. 

Blueberry & Balsamic Brie Pastry

When I discovered the ingredient match ups for the blueberries meet their match contest, puff pastry and brie came together almost immediately....if you don't count the two days that I sat scratching my head over blueberries and balsamic?! What would you possibly combine with those? Well, I have the correct and yummy answer for you;)

and then this came about because of a cranberry relish left over from thanksgiving and my friend Rhonda was looking what to make with it and I hinted at the puff pastry and then I wondered why not do a similar version with my blueberries!

Ingredients
1 pkge fresh blueberries(around 6 oz)
1/2 cup balsamic
1/4 cup sugar
1 round brie slice
1 puff pastry
1 egg
1 tbsp water

in a sauce pan, combine the blueberries, balsamic and sugar. simmer on low heat for about half an hour or till it reduces. After it has cooled, place puff pastry on greased cookie sheet. Place brie round in center of pastry and pour the blueberry balsamic reduction over it. Take the edges of puff pastry and crimp together over the brie and blueberry  mixture. Whisk egg and water together and brush over top of puff pastry. 

Bake for 15 minutes at 350. 

you can enjoy this with crackers, but I think I recommend with crusty bread!

To find out more about the contest and these little blue dynamos here

Tye Dye And A Baby

I hope the thoughts I have today come and aren't frozen midair...To have been in the 80's less than 2 weeks to waking up this morning to 19 bleeping degrees. How can I even be expected to live this way

? I am not sure how our family in Boston do this. All I know is Carolina  better get its act together. I am already way over it.

Anyways, let me stop being a whiner(at least verbally;) and ramble on about my happenings this past weekend. We left Saturday to head home and went straight to my uncle's wedding. It was a long time coming and a multitude of feelings. I am just so happy for him and I will delve into that more this week.

Saturday night was too cold to really do anything so we headed out for a quick trip to LaCa which is adjacent to my parents. The food was as yummy as usual but I tried my hand at a new margarita they were offering, the tye dye. 

I suppose I should take a second to talk about how this was the maybe absolutely most assuredly the strongest drink I ever thought about taking a sip of. Apparently my mom came into the guest room and I was laying face down with one foot on the bed and the other on the floor...can't keep an old lady down. or perhaps you really can;)

 On Sunday, we threw a baby shower for my sis in law and brother. Since we held it at my aunt's log cabin, we decided to go with the whole rustic fall theme with just a few pink touches. My SIL Aimee, had the idea to set up a picture wall to take fun pictures in front of all these streamers and homemade puffs she made. 

and most of the touches were from her house, as it is full of fun stuff. I love all of the vintage items.

My other SIL, the Rue Boo, bought the wish cards to fill out for the bebe and one of my favorite books, along came you. We used it as the guest book as a keepsake for when she gets older. 

and then, on our way out, I was so grateful to catch one of my favorite things about Virginia...the sunset. This picture didn't even think of doing it justice, but you get the idea.

and a shout out to miss Jennifer for designing my page. I love the sweet touches and the light colors. and the signature may be my favorite, thanks again girl. You rocked it out. And I should have my navigation and what not up to par in these next few days.