Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Ways to Save Money in a Down Economy...

I might have to try this next time I go grocery shopping! ;)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

My Trip Itinerary (from Tim)

  • Wednesday 25 March:
    >You get on the bus (don’t forget your passport and cameras!)
    >You will be met as bus stop by friendly young Englishman
    >He will take you to his flat, where you will finalize the packing of bags
    >Bedtime

  • Thursday 26 March:
    >8am: Up and at ‘em!
    >Light breakfast and shower
    >Final bag check, and leave
    >Take yellow cab to LGA
    >Get on flight
    >Go hotel
    >Get locked into the balcony while I unpack and make the place look nice
    >Take champagne to beach
    >Dinner time
    >Bedtime

  • Friday 27 March:
    >Beach, Nassau, Snorkel

  • Saturday 28 March:
    >Scooter Adventure!

  • Sunday 29 March:
    >Activity day: snorkel trip or horse riding

  • Monday 30 March:
    >Beach and home

  • Tuesday 31 April:
    >WFT’SH
    >Take bus back to boston

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The Moving List!

Things to Get Rid of:
  1. 2007 Mazda 6 - 4dr Sedan w/Manual transmission (Sell at CarMax?)

  2. Ugly striped loveseat (sell on Craigslist)

  3. (2) Rugs (donate to Goodwill)

  4. (2) Dirty white wastebaskets (straight to the big dump)

  5. Bedroom dresser (sell on Craigslist)

  6. Panasonic 19" TV / VCR combo unit (give to Kevin)

  7. Collection of VHS tapes (also try to pawn off on Kevin)

  8. MASSIVE 32" High-Def TV (sell on Craigslist)

  9. Clothes that don't fit (donate to Goodwill)

  10. Books that I won't have time to read (donate to Goodwill)

  11. Old towels & sheets (trash)

  12. Dell PC computer (sell on Craigslist)

  13. e-Dialog swag (donate & trash)

  14. Bedroom bookcase (sell on Craigslist)

  15. Plants that I grew (give to friends)

  16. Kitchen table & 2 chairs (sell on Craigslist)

Things to Keep for NYC:

  1. Ikea bookcase - that was put together with my bare hands

  2. Clothes that still fit and don't have holes in them

  3. A few of my favorite house plants

  4. Books that I can't live without

  5. DVD's

  6. Photos/ Albums/ Picture frames

  7. Red papasan chair

  8. Kitchen stuff - pots, pans, utensils, appliances

  9. Shoes


Questionable Things:

  1. Mountain bike that doesn't work so good

  2. New bed frame & mattress

Monday, March 23, 2009

To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama...

For our upcoming trip to Nassau, Bahamas the island forecast looks pretty sunny & warm:

I'm getting excited!! I just hope it's hot enough for us to go in the ocean and get a sweet Irish tan.

Friday, March 20, 2009

A Light Exists in Spring

A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human naturefeels.

It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.

Then, as horizons step,
Or noons report away,
Without the formula of sound,
It passes, and we stay:

A quality of loss
Affecting our content,
As trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a sacrament.

~Emily Dickinson

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Spring Salad

I saw this yummy recipe in a Daily Candy email and want to try it out!

Asparagus, Marcona Almond, and Feta Salad
(Serves four)

Ingredients
¼ c. white wine vinegar
¼ c. sugar
1 small red onion, peeled, halved, and sliced thin
20 asparagus spears, trimmed
2 tbsp. lemon juice (divided)
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil (divided)
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ c. Marcona almonds, lightly toasted and chopped
1 head frisee lettuce, torn
¼ c. feta cheese, crumbled

1. In a medium bowl, combine the vinegar and sugar. Add the onion and let sit at room temperature for 2 hours, mixing every 20 minutes. Drain the pickled onions and set aside.

2. Bring pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the asparagus until tender (3-5 minutes). Immediately plunge asparagus into an ice-water bath until fully chilled.

3. Place the asparagus in a bowl. Toss with 1 tbsp. lemon juice and 1 tbsp. olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

4. In another bowl, combine almonds, frisee, feta, and pickled onions. Toss with remaining lemon juice and olive oil.

5. To assemble, arrange 5 spears in the center of each plate. Divide the rest of the salad equally on top of the asparagus.

6. Serve. Savor. Stay tuned for spring.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

My Wedding Checklist

This past weekend I went to Chicago for my little cousin's wedding and it got me thinking about what my own wedding would be like (not that it's happening anytime soon):

- Spring time wedding, ideally in May

- Either a destination wedding to a warm tropical island with the ceremony on the beach or at
Brookside Gardens in my home state

- Surrounded by all my friends and family members

- Rose petals tossed down the aisle

- All of the bridesmaids in the same dress style and color

- Everyone blowing bubbles after the ceremony

- Beautiful fresh cut flowers (pink & white roses, peonies, stargazers, gerbera daisies) and tons of lit white pillar candles

- 3-tier wedding cake (white cake with strawberry filling and buttercream frosting) and decorated with purple & white orchids

- Twinkling white lights hung from the ceiling

- Really good food at the reception

- Big party atmosphere with lots of fun dancing and drinking (thanks to the open bar)

- Champagne toasts

- Embarrassing picture slideshow of the happy couple growing up

- Milk chocolate fountain with yummy fruit to dip

- Driving away into the sunset in an antique white Rolls-Royce or a cherry red convertible

More to be added later... :)

Monday, March 9, 2009

Tropical Vacation - Part I

I'm so excited because this past weekend I booked a trip with my boyfriend to Nassau, Bahamas!! We decided to go for 4 nights at the end of March, so a pretty last minute getaway. After a lot of research and obsessing we found a non-stop Delta flight for $269 each and then a good hotel deal for only $132 per night. It was a bit of a gamble because we booked on Hotwire.com so we didn't know exactly what hotel we would end up at. Luckily we are staying at a lovely beachfront property - Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino (which happened to be my preferred choice).

A picture of our resort's pool area:












I am definitely ready for some fun in the sun. Yay!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The psychics say...

Pisces (2/19-3/20)

Sometimes, it can be very helpful to live in an illusion - to keep yourself so distracted by daydreams and fanciful wishes that you don't have to deal with unpleasant thoughts. So if you are having troubling thoughts, it might be okay today to just pretend everything is just fine. Think good thoughts and if there are uncertain situations, just pretend that you know the outcome for certain - and the outcome is good. Fake it until you make it, because you will make it eventually. Have hope!

They must be able to read minds because this is spot on! :)