Wine Trail Weekend

{the crew @ wagonhouse...photo credit to colby}

Saturday we joined Meg & Colb and Tim & Laur on our second annual Wine Trail Weekend outing. We went last year and had a great time, so we figured we'd go this year and try a new winery, among a couple of favorites. This year we went to Auburn Road first, and it was quite crowded but they had a great set-up. One of the owners did our group's tasting and we also enjoyed soup samples and a chocolate fountain with sweets. Oh, and they had these deliciously wonderful truffles made by Sweet Mary's Chocolates. Yum. Round Two was at Heritage Station where we met up with my sister and her hubs. When I say crowded, that doesn't even begin to explain the scene. You couldn't even walk around and made sure to hold your group's ground if one person left to grab a plate of cheese to share or to check out their weak and almost empty chocolate fountain. However, they did have this port chocoloate coffee that was yummy and unique. Round Three, and yes, we saved the best for last, was at Wagonhouse which is housed at a farm market for now, but they recently purchased farmland and hope to have their own set-up by the Mother's Day wine trail. The owners are a very down-to-earth, fun couple. They even remembered us from a year ago! Last year we tested out wines that weren't even bottled for the general public yet. I love their wines, especially the ones under the Three Boys Brand label. Yum. By that time, another couple had joined us and we were a happy group of 10. We relaxed the night away at our house with Chinese take out, McD's nugget special, and some HGTV for the ladies and Nova bball for the guys (and Meg). Good times.

It was a wonderful day spent with a really great group of people. Not your typical dinner date V-day celebration, but much more fun. It's a blessing to have friends like that.

My thoughts on life right now:
Blessed
Loved
Another fabulous weekend of memories

Ten on Tuesday

Yup, actually doing it on Tuesday and not back-dating it. :)

{Borrowed from Roots & Rings}

1. What’s your favorite kind of donut?
Glazed or Bavarian Cream...now I want two one.
2. Do you use the snooze button?
An average of 3 times every morning.

3. Do you write in cursive, print, or a combination of the two?
combo...you think as a teacher I'd have perfect handwriting...hah

4. Tell us a joke.
What do you call cheese that isn't yours....................nacho cheese!

5. How many languages do you speak?
Uno. And maybe a few ASL signs that stuck in my head after taking ASL I&II

6. Why did you start blogging?
I was taking up too much free bandwith on a totsites I started for Aidan and didn't want to pay for the site so I came to blogger. It's mostly to keep family/friends up to date about Aidan, and to also have a place to speak my mind.

7. Do you use bar soap or liquid body wash?
both.

8. Do you buy bottled water?
Only for parties. I use a reusable bottle every day at school, and have started taking that with me in the car or places we'd usually take bottled water to. Unfortunately during Phillies season we buy more bottled water just so we can bring it into the stadium.

9. What did you think of the Super Bowl Half Time Show?
Well, I LOVE the Black Eyed Peas, but was a little disappointed in the sound quality. Didn't stop me from singing along.  Glad Usher showed up too.

10. How do you feel about Steve Carell leaving The Office?
Don't care. I don't watch it.

My thoughts on life right now:
Getting caught up on some things, but still TONS left to do.

Ten on Tuesday

1. What is your favorite childhood memory?
Hmmm...this is incredibly hard. Probably sleepovers and playing with friends outside.

2. What is your favorite quality about yourself?
These questions are hard this week! I'm loving.

3. What is your favorite thing that your child does?
There are so many things, but my favorite is when he says "I love you Mommy" out of the blue.

4. What is your favorite thing to do to relax?
Read a book or go on the internet.

5. What is your favorite restaurant? And what is your favorite thing on the menu?
I can't choose just one. Don Pablo's for Mexican-love the flautas and tacos. Uri's for Seafood-love the all you can eat snow crabs. Rode's breakfast buffet. Can you tell I like to eat?

6. What is your favorite piece of jewelry (besides your wedding ring)?
My engagment ring? I guess my diamond earrings too.

7. What is your favorite night of the week M-TH? And why?
Probably Thursday, because it means the weekend is close. And because I love Grey's and Private Practice and they're both on that night.

8. What is your favorite dessert?
Either cheesecake or a brownie sundae.

9. What is your favorite item in your make-up bag?
My mascara. With Clinique's Perfectly Real compact a veryclose second.

10. What is your favorite smell?
Aidan after a bath.

My thoughts on life right now:
I gotta get it together...so much to do and so little getting done.

Ten on Thursday?

I've been REALLY bad about blogging lately. I've been even worse about uploading pictures onto the computer. Just yesterday I pulled out my camera and I've got almost 800 pics on there. Time to get to work this weekend!

1. Do you decorate for Valentine’s day?
Not really.

2. Does your desktop have a picture or computer graphic? Is it organized?
Laptop: picture from our NWW vacation last summer; Desktop: picture of the three of us from my sister's wedding.

3. Do you use a paper planner, electric planner or no planner at all?
At work I use my desk calendar, but that's for work stuff. I've got a yearly planner in my purse, for when I remember to write appts and such in, but mostly just post-its all over the place reminding me.

4. Do you change purses or bags often or stick with a good thing?
I generally switch only twice a year. In the fall and in the spring. I splurge on a new Coach purse (if I'm lucky, at the outlets) about every two years and use it until it's worn out.

5. What’s your favorite YouTube Video?
I don't really have a favorite. I guess anything that's funny and someone has linked to it.

6. Do you use Turbo Tax or a real person to pay your taxes?
We use a real person. Pricey, but good to know we're getting every penny back that we can.

7. How many states have you set foot (or tire) in? Which ones?
Hmm...NJ, DE, PA, NY, MD, VA, WV, NC, SC, GA, FL, VT, CT, RI, TN...so 15

8. How many countries have you been in? Which ones?
I've been to France, England, Germany, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Canada and of course the US.

9. How many pillows are in your house? (Sleeping or decorative)
I'd say somewhere in the the 30-40 range. A lot more decorative than for sleeping.

10. How cold is too cold for flip flops?
Probably temps lower than 60.

My thoughts on life right now:
Thank goodness for snow days in January, however I'll be miserable when I'm still in school later in June.
Time for a nap!

Ten on Tuesday (on Wednesday night)

1. What’s your favorite color to paint your nails?
I never paint my nails. I'd rather go neutral or clear on my fingernails. However, I never go without paint on my toes, but like most others I'd rather someone do it for me!

2. Do you like to sneeze?
Eh, sometimes when it's productive and clears things, yes. But sneezing sort of annoys me, especially loud sneezes. It's a pet peeve of mine. Control your volume! Oh, and don't even get me started on my students sneezing....EW.  :)

3. How often do you fill up your car with gas?
I'd say every week and a half to two weeks probably.

4. Were you named after anyone?
Nope.

5. Have you made any good recipes lately?
Today I made BBQ meatloaf. It was delish!

6. What’s an easy money-saving tip that you use regularly?
I shop with coupons and I try to only buy what's on sale.

7. Would you rather have a sore throat or an ear ache?
Sore throat. Ear aches make your entire head hurt.

8. Do you have any scars? What are they from?
Oh goodness, where would I start. My skin scars really easily. Boo to that.

9. What are you “known for” in your circle of friends/family?
Probably for being uptight. Hah, honestly though, I feel like I don't really stand out or am known for anything. Maybe needing to be right all the time?

10. How do you like to eat your pancakes?
Fresh, hot, and with syrup, no butter. I used to do butter and cinnamon sugar though.

My thoughts on life right now:
I'm tired! :)
Potty training? Eh, sort of, but not full force. Hard to do that when I work. It's sort of pee when you wake up, pee a few times after work, pee before bed. Luckily Aidan really likes getting stickers to put on his chart. He's getting really good at telling us right after he's gone too. :-P

Ten on Tuesday

{Questions borrowed from Roots and Rings}

1. What type of home do you currently reside in?
A house

 2. If you could completely redecorate one room in your home, what room would you pick, why, and what would you do to it?
Haha, redecorate or demolish? I'd redecorate my foyer since it's the entry to our home and doesn't really tell who we are, or maybe it does with it's lack of style and simpleness. If I could bring in the demolition crew it would be for my horrendous kitchen that has not been changed, except to add some ugly tile and backsplash by the previous owner, since the house was built in 1989.  Blech.
It’s probably just worth it to get a new house.

3. What is your favorite place to gain inspiration for your home decor style?
Home decor style? What's that? Let's just say we're comfy cozy here. My house definitely looks lived in, no show room here.

4. What is your favorite piece of decor in your home?
Again, no decor here. Well, I do kind of like the way I sort of redecorated Aidan's bathroom. So maybe the shower curtain in there.

5. What do you want visitors to feel when they visit your home? Do you think your home gives off that feeling?
I want them to feel like they can kick off their shoes and put their feet up on my couch. Grab a blanket, get comfy. Leave your glass by the sink, help yourself to whatever, chances are we won't ask but not because we don't want you to have it, but because it's that relaxed here.

6. Describe your home in one word and explain why you chose that word.
Progressing.

7. What are some predominant colors or patterns in your home?
beige, tan, off white blues

8. What is your favorite room in your home and why?
Proabably the family room, because it's got the comfiest furniture and where we spend most of our time.

9. Do you take a hands-on or DIY approach to projects around your home or do you enlist or hire help?
Sean hates loves when I get into projects that I'm sure I can handle until I actually start the task at hand. We're lucky to have some really talented folks that help us out here and there when we need it. I also have the number of a plumber and contractor on speed dial. :)

10. Where is your favorite place to shop for home furnishings?
Honestly, we haven't bought much furniture. Family room set was Raymour & Flanigan, our bedroom was JCPenney, and Aidan's nursery was Babies R Us. We got our TV stand and end table from Target. Wait, this could totally justify my purchase of a new couch for the living room! And maybe even a dining room table!!! We're in the market for a twin bed for Aidan, but I've got no idea where to look for that. I'm looking for a bed with storage under it, something like this: http://tinyurl.com/jcpbed or maybe this: http://tinyurl.com/pbbed1 or this: http://tinyurl.com/376trk3 .

My thoughts on life right now:
One day I will live in my forever home, where I will love my kitchen and bathroom and most other things. Where a simple change of a throw rug or wall hanging will satisfy me. Until then, I'll continue to organize/clean up/redecorate my 'for-now' house and try and make it comfortable, safe, and loving for my family.

"Two Hugs"

So for a while now Aidan has been doing this thing to 'melt-your-heart' with Sean and I where he's hugging one of us then the other parent leans in and he hugs both of us by the neck and says "two hugs". It certainly doesn't sound as sweet as it feels, but trust me, it totally is the best feeling in the world. Usually he does it when I lean in for my goodnight hug when he's sitting with Sean after drinking his night time milk before bed. Today he did it when he curled into bed with us this morning. It's one of those little things in life.

My thoughts on life right now:
My kid is pretty darn lucky to have two parents who love him more than he'll ever know.
Sean & I are really the lucky ones though, to have a child who we can love and be loved by.