the Veterans Day weekend that was

After getting my car cleaned for the first time in like two years and picking up a few groceries at Redner's, I hightailed it to the Trenton Train Station to pick up my friend Misty. We got Steve's Steaks (too lazy to drive down to Jim's, my preferred cheesesteak), put pajamas on, drank liquor while lounging on the couch, and I forced Misty into Duck Dynasty reruns. 

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I haven't been sleeping well. Saturday was my only chance to sleep in and try to recoup.

Then the President of the Ahole Wakeup Committee decided otherwise. 

Thanks a lot Gus! Even Geege wanted to keep sleeping.

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No matter how many times I use it, this cup always makes me laugh. 

C O F F E E.

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Misty and I met Alicia, Amanda and Jennifer from our knot.com monthly wedding board for lunch

at the Cock 'n Bull in Lahaska. Are you laughing? I am because I'm five. 

The food was good and the company was lovely.

It was great to have a leisurely lunch with ladies I've talked to on the daily online 

since the year before our weddings.

We split baked brie as an app, and I had a side salad, beef burgundy and pumpkin pie.

The pie sent me into Food Coma territory, but I couldn't resist.

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Food prep, including hoagie dip. 

We MIGHT be able to get a sliver out mayo of the container in the fridge. Right?

Hoagie dip is super easy. Here's my version: 

1/2 lb cooked ham, 1/2 lb genoa salami, 3/4 lb american cheese, shredded lettuce, two tomatoes seeded and chopped, one onion chopped, oregano/S&P to taste, and 1-2 cups mayo.

The key to good hoagie dip is to cut everything super small. I do the lunchmeat and cheese in the food processor (thanks for the tip a few years ago Julie!). 

Mix it all together and serve with hoagie rolls.
I usually do the prep the day before and mix it on the day I'm serving it. 

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Bacon cheeseburger puffs from Plain Chicken. 

These were good, best eaten right away and served with ketchup. 

I used whole wheat baking mix, sauteed onion with the ground beef, and doubled the recipe. 

I flash froze the rest of the balls so they're ready to go when I need them next. 

I probably won't make them again after that - I prefer the bacon double cheeseburger dip.

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My Boston-based BFF and her man arrived to spend the night on their whirlwind tour of NJ & PA. 

It was so great to see them, we haven't seen them since WedFest in July.

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Other friends rolled in, and we had a fun night as always. 

I am beyond thankful for my friends. They are my family.

That includes you, Dutch.

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All fun must come to an end. Mine came at 6 a.m. when I got up to take Misty to the train station. We went to bed around 3. That was a rough ride! And foggy. 

The experience called for a pork roll egg and cheese and two more hours of sleep.

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After the fog burned off, Sunday was gorgeous. Amazing weather. Thank you universe!

I threw open all the windows, changed beds in both spare rooms, did a ton of wash, and watched some Bada Bling wedding show and a lot of Duck Dynasty with Michelle. 

Then I sat outside with my boys for a little, reading and enjoying the day.

I was going to dust the basement...dust will keep. Good weather won't.

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Nails - OPI Bubble Bath. Toes - Essie Raspberry

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Sixteen Candles

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Family dinner for my aunt's 50th at Taormina's.

If I'm eating at an italian restaurant, chances are very good that I'm getting the piccata dish.

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We're the land of the free because we're the home of the brave.

Thank you for your service and protection, Veterans.

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TV catch up and early to bed

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the weekend that was

No cooking, very limited sleep, minimal hausfrauing because MFD rocked and did most of it for me...just lots of quality time with friends and family that leaves me with a full heart.

Back on the chain gang. 

I'm linking up with Sami's Shenanigans, Five30three, and Join the Gossip for Weekend Update.

Sweet Times in Cocoa Beach

View from our room at La Quinta Oceanfront in Cocoa Beach

Before leaving for our cruise, we spent a day and a half in this shifty little beachside town. We met the nicest people - everyone wants to talk with you, at length, from the store employees to the front desk people to the shuttle drivers and bartenders.

Our plane was late coming in but the day got better from there. After a 40 minute ride to Cocoa Beach from Orlando, we checked into our hotel and headed over to one of the bars on the pier and had lunch and $1.50 beers. Amazing. That's like free.

One of the reasons we chose to stay at La Quinta Oceanfront (there are two in town, and the other is not desirable) was its close proximity to Publix. When you do a Disney Cruise, you can bring your booze on board with you so it's good to be near a place where you can stock up. I didn't realize we'd be in Publix more than six times in a day and a half. I also didn't realize we'd end up with one of their shopping carts in our room, which took me back to my college days. It was pretty handy as a drying rack for bathing suits before we returned it on Friday.

Thursday we loaded up on booze for the cruise and room, then spent the evening drinking beer in the pool and shooting the shit. Frank, Eric and MFD hit the town and all the ladies hit the bed early.

Friday involved Dunkin Donuts (also walkable, very key, mama needs iced coffee), a manicure, more Publix, and a trip to Ron Jon, a huge surfshop on A1A. I was singing Ice Ice Baby for two days running since we were right off of A1A.

The mile walk to Ron Jon was hot as hell but worth it. I've been looking for a new beach bag for years and finally found one I love. I also got a new pair of Sanuks, and we got a magnet (required travel purchase for us) and a long sleeve T to share. MFD got a new bathing suit, Reefs and polarized sunglasses.

He ended up working most of the day Friday while I went down to hang at the pool with the rest of our crew. When he was done, we headed over to O'Shucks for happy hour. It's right on the sand and reminded us of The Carousel in Sea Isle. There were more $1.80 or $1.50 beers, plus a smattering of Happy Hour apps - steamed shrimp, fried mac & cheese, snow crab clusters, and ribs. It was awesome. Everyone else eventually joined us, and a good band started playing. The lead singer sang Stevie Nicks better than anyone I've ever heard.

I wanted to take those stools very very badly. They don't seem like they'd be easy to get on a plane. FedEx would definitely be called in.

Our friends left to hit Ron Jon, and a woman came up and said she wanted to buy MFD and I a drink because she's a people watcher (much like myself!) and noticed that we were having a great time and seemed like such a great couple and in love. That was pretty cool. We ended up sitting with her (Hello Mary from Chicago!) and her sister and had a ball.

So I ended up being that girl who went to the bar for Happy Hour in her bathing suit at 5 p.m. and was still in it on the dance floor at 10. What is it the kids are saying? YOLO, y'all.

Cocoa Beach, it was good to meet you.

Hello, San Francisco

Cheers, vacation

Yesterday was not bad for a Tuesday. Not bad at all. We left home at the asscrack of dawn, arrived in San Francisco via Atlanta at 1:15, checked into our hotel, and set out to see some sights. 

A guy dressed as Mario playing the accordian is a sight, right?

What a lovely city, really. Beautiful architecture, clean, lots of street musicians, easy public transportation system, very walkable. I can't wait to see more today. I never mind being a total tourist and seeing the sights a place is famous for - I don't live there, so if I look like I don't blend in, it's because I'm not trying to. I'm trying to be a tourist.

We hopped on MUNI and headed to the Haight. Walking down towards the infamous street, we saw gorgeous homes.

As we were about to turn onto Haight Street, we ran into a girl high on much more than life, laughing like Jack Nicholson in The Shining and waving the end of a cutoff broom at the air. Hello, Haight Street. We also encountered friendly folks. Yin and yang.

MFD saw these umbrellas and said "Like Lil's!"

We had a great time. It's a chill area. I got our requisite coffee mug - coffee mugs and magnets are what we buy when we travel. We had drinks at Magnolia Pub and Aub Zam Zam, a great dive with nice people and good looking dogs. AND the bartender was wearing a flipping hair mane - here I thought only my mother still wore those. Anyway, I love a good dive bar. Pubs not clubs, people. 

At the Magnolia Pub & Brewery

After freshening up at the hotel, we headed out to see the Chinatown gate and wandered around the Union Square area, stopping at King of Thai for some delicious egg rolls, fantastic duck fried rice and fried banana with thai tea ice cream. Unbelievable! Thank you Yuki for the recommendation.

Look how perfectly my nail polish matches the menu. Eating here was clearly kismet.

Yesterday I did one of my life list items: I saw the sun rise on the east coast and set on the west coast. By the end of the day, my ass was dragging, but it was worth it.

We can't get over how cool it is here - both temperature wise and otherwise.

Toodleoo, more sightseeing to do.