new home!

I’m moving!  With my mid-twenties rapidly approaching (I know, I’m SO old…) and the car payment, the mortgage, the career…(and the WEDDING!!!)…I just felt is was time for an upgrade. Time to retire my lifeguarding-days-inspired blog.

The inspiration for the new digs came from one of my coworkers who constantly comments on my ‘giggling’ at work.  And my knack for always being caught in an un-controllable fit of laughter when the phone is ringing off the hook.  He actually suggested several bloggy domains…most of which involved my inability to exist without at least one cup of coffee. Some may call it an addiction but I’m pretty sure that caffiene is as essential as oxygen when your schedule is as crazy as mine.  And so, take the zombie-like state when caffiene is not present add in life’s humor and voila!  The new blog is born.

So head on over and enjoy

meme.

Outside my window… I’m not sure, it’s far away…stuck in my cubicle in the middle of the floor.  It looks gray out, but that could just be the tinted windows ::dreary::

I am thinking… I wish I had more time.  Why are there only 24 hours in a day?  Why don’t we work four days and have three day weekends every week?  Why do we have to spend 5/7 of the week working?  Why can’t I ever seem to accomplish anything.

I am thankful for… the fact that things do eventually fall into place.

From the kitchen… leftover tacos from Tuesday.  Steak marinating for tonight.

I am wearing… black and white striped short-sleeve button-down, black sweater vest, black dress pants and black guess heels.

I am creating… reporting systems for countries around the world to monitor their price increases.  Lots of numbers, lots of code.

I am going… to eventually launch my new blog…it’s in the works…but still, not enough time to get it done…

I am reading… nothing and that aggravates me.  I need to go to the library asap.

I am hoping… that I will be able to cross off a good chunk of my to-do list after work today.  And put my laundry away from two weeks ago. 

I am hearing… phone chatter.  A very loud co-worker who loves to scream at customers on the phone.  Typing galore.

Around the house… clothes EVERYWHERE.  It’s like our closets exploded.  Laundry plus creating donation piles = chaos.

One of my favorite things… coffee and a good book on sunday mornings while curled up with the dog.  It’s my favorite moment of the week and I cherish it.

A few plans for the rest of the week… house-cleaning, happy hour for a co-worker, two parties to celebrate huge accomplishments, a service project and trying on more bridal gowns (dress up is so fun!)

A picture to share… one of favorite pictures ever…

spell check please!

I’ve been writing all these emails to these churches, reception sites, etc calling Adam my financee.

Apparently that’s the spelling for the girl that’s engaged, not the boy.

Oops.

where’d the last week go?

It’s finally Friday!!

Nothing like earning your vacation.  The past couple weeks at work have been…well…ugh.

But today, finally, we are headed to the Outer Banks, NC with Adam’s family for eight days of relaxation and fun in the sun.  And boy do I need it.

Besides work though, everyone’s favorite event is starting to be planned!  The day of Nicole (and adam) will be held sometime next summer!  I had no idea, NO idea that it was so hard to plan something.  I mean granted, I’m just in the beginning stages, but trying to find a cermony/reception site is near impossible.  You fall completely in love with a place and WHAM!  They hit you with the dreaded price list.  Ah yes, the price list that could finance a small country if need be.  I love all my friend and family dearly but really… $130 a person?  I don’t love you THAT much.

I went home last weekend to a) show my mom my ring  and b) pretend I was going to help her stain the deck when in reality I had no intention of doing anything but sit at Borders and go through zillions of bridal magazines.  Hey…a girl waits a long time to be able to sit and look at Modern Brides without feeling a tad desperate.  So in between driving around Northeast Ohio looking at locations that’s exactly what my mom and I did!  I do think we’ve found the reception location (CHECK!) but am still figuring out the church situation.  I have a front-runner but am keeping my options open until we get back from vacation and Adam’s parents can take a peek. 

So that’s where we are at in the planning of the Day of Nicole (and adam) celebration.  I’m putting it all on hold for a week while I enjoy some sunshine

wordless wednesday.

Summer is ordering 35 hotdogs at a ballpark…

And the tab is only $3.50

wordless wednesday.

…well, not REALLY wordless…cause I totally cannot keep my mouth shut about this one…

WE’RE ENGAGED!!!

Please pardon the fact that we both look slightly dirty/sweaty.  We were outside playing with the dog on Saturday and Ricki ran the the far corner of the yard.  Adam told me to call the dog so I was standing there calling his name (which of course doesn’t work cause the dog doesn’t listen…ever).  Adam’s crouched down calling the dog…he finally comes over.  Adam turns and voila!  Proposes!

It was such a surprise!  He said he wanted to do it when I totally wouldn’t expect it…no picnics or candlelight dinners for this guy!  I love it though, especially since it was at home and with the dog, it was very Adam-like and very cute.

And the ring…GORGEOUS!  So perfect, I cannot believe he picked it out by himself…he’s so good

So of course we’ve been celebrating like crazy…but quietly as we call everyone we know.  I finally got the okay to blog about it and couldn’t wait!

Saturday night we celebrated with my little sister with champagne, Dairy Queen and lots of Mariokart wii.  Sunday, Adam and I made the trek up to Cleveland to see my brother/Megan and then headed to North Olmsted to see his whole family!  Lots more champagne

So, exciting weekend at our house…and now the fun begins   My little sister bought me some bridal magazines the other day so we’re getting right to work planning.  Hopefully sometime next summer I will be a Mrs!

i’d like to LA PUSH jacob off a cliff…

Not a very good first attempt at the trailer, but regardless I am totally excited for this movie!!

TEAM EDWARD!

try this tuesday.

Absolutely my FAVORITE dessert!  I make a double-batch though in a 9×13 pan instead since the original recipe does not make very many squares.  Enjoy!

Creamy Lemon Squares

Ingredients:

• 20  vanilla wafers, finely crushed
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) cold margarine
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2  eggs
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 3 Tbsp. grated lemon peel, divided
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. powdered sugar

PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Line 8-inch square baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Combine wafer crumbs, 1/2 cup flour and the brown sugar in bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; press firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min.

MEANWHILE, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs and 2 Tbsp. flour; mix well. Blend in 1 Tbsp. lemon peel, the lemon juice and baking powder; pour over crust.

BAKE 25 to 28 min. or until center is set. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and remaining 2 Tbsp. lemon peel just before serving.

oh no, not nemo…

Busy busy weekend!

Friday night I had to joy of joining some of my college friends at the local pool which consisted of a small watering hole surrounded by meatheads and girls that obviously had a fondness for tequila.  A great people-watching arena…as for sunbathing and enjoying the water, not so much.  I didn’t dare venture into the pool for fear of the diseases that lay beneath that surface.

Saturday was spent devoted to yardwork and finally taking some photos of the new house to share!  I loaded them to our flickr site and am attempting to add the widget to my blog but the pictures aren’t showing up for some reason.  Maybe you all will have better luck.  The best part of the weekend was Saturday night…we went to the house of one of Adam’s vendors in Dublin to enjoy some shrimp and very potent red wine.  And then ventured to Sushiko for dinner since Adam has NEVER had sushi before!  We let the vendor and his wife order since they were footing the bill   The meal started out with some miso soup, vegetable tempura and ginger salad.  And then the real fun began…seriously, I wish I had had my camera for this…Adam’s face was hilarious!  The waiter came walking up to the table with this gigantic wooden boat that took up the entire table.  I’m not even exaggerating, this thing would have filled up my bathtub.  Adam’s mouth dropped open at the sight of it.  It was full of different specialty rolls along with cuts of raw tuna and yellow-tail.  We made Adam try one of each…his favorite was this roll called a Sunday Morning which is salmon, avocado and cream cheese wrapped and lightly fried.  My favorite was the one that Adam seriously had trouble eating which is called the Sushiko house roll…containing eel, crab and avocado, wrapped up with a small slice of raw tuna on top.  Fabulous.  We also had the standard Philadelphia rolls, spicy tuna rolls, cuts of fish, octopus salad and of course a soft-shelled-crab roll that I was hesitant about.  Mainly because I don’t like it when my food is waving at me before I eat it

For dessert we had a egg sushi roll which tastes slightly like a custard wrapped in seaweed, very good.

After describing all of this, I’m starving, but it was so good and the service was wonderful.  Adam actually liked most of what he ate with the exception of the eel and slices of raw fish.  The rolls are more his style.

If you’re ever in the Columbus area though, be sure to visit this restaurant!

wordless wednesday.

A long nap after a busy day…