OBX 09

Ok, so it took me a week and a half, but I am finally posting about my vacation to OBX. I tried my best not to have too many pictures, but what can I say- I'm a visual person. So sit back, grab a snack and enjoy my week of drinking, eating and swimming.

First, lets' start off with the cast of characters:

1. Me and JEGs. You know and love us by now.
2. Connie and Joey- my bestie and her boyfriend.
3. Bonnie and Andy- possibly the cutest married couple you will ever meet.
4. Tim and Lisa- got engaged in OBX two years ago, so this is a special place for them.
5. Mike and Lauren- JEGs best friend and secret lover (Mike, not Lauren). I'm teaching Lauren the way of "the beard".
6. Mandy and Evan- these two are hysterical and I love them.
7. Matt- Andy's brother and super nice guy. We had a moment in the hot tub. Then I broke up with him after he stopped feeding me cards during Rummy.

Alright now. Let's do this.

Saturday Aug 1.
I was on the night shift so I didn't get home still about midnight Friday night/Saturday morning. We had to be up at 4 am so I opted to stay up all night. Since everyone was coming from different places we all met up at the Christiana Mall in Delaware. After a quick stop at Dunkin’ Donuts, we were on our way
It was a 9 hour drive, and we sure saw some sites:

This is the result of being stuck on a bridge with no air conditioning.

Yes, that is a BBQ AND yardsale. Way to multi-task, Virginia!

All of our cars in line

I GOT YO CRABS RIGHT HERE!
Our house was rocking. Six bedrooms, 5 ½ baths, pool, hot tub, hammock- you name it we had it

As soon as we all pulled up and got our rooms situated, the drinking, swimming and debauchery began.

That's a lot of beer.. but there is water in there too!

Since I had only had a couple 45 minute naps in the car, I turned in early. It seems I missed a few events including Andy wearing the sofa cushion, and others dropping beer bottles into the pool.

Please make me a bird so I can fly far, far away...

beer in the pool

all the rage on the Paris runways..

Sunday Aug 2.
After waking up and battling the repercussions of the night before with coffee, we suited up and headed to the beach. After a couple dips in the ocean we buried Mandy

and Tim meandered down by the water with his book

Jesus walks with... a google towel

After a delish meal of Ham and Mac and Cheese we topped the night off with a heated game of TABOO- Girls Vs Boys. To tell the truth, I have no idea who won. Probably the girls- and if not, we should have won.


Monday Aug 3
I was not in a beachy mood so Connie, Joey, Lisa and I decided to explore a little while the others went to the beach. The four of us decided to check out the lighthouse. Here is a fun fact: it IS possible to get lost on one road, and Connie’s GPS will do it. There is literally ONE road (Highway 12) that runs the length of the island and we went 10 miles out of our way because the GPS found the wrong “Lighthouse Rd”. Thumbs down to Garmin. But after asking for directions (which included, “Turn around and go 10 miles the other way”) we finally made it.

Anyway, as we are walking around there are some nasty storms looming in the background and while we were touring the Light Masters Home, the rain came pouring down

Lisa and I waiting out the rain

After dinner all 15 of us tried to play Rummy. After we realized that wasn’t going to work we decided to do tournaments to 250. The other group got bored around 100 and stopped. My group was in it to win it- or kill each other. Whichever came first. Evan threatened Connie’s life over the 10 of diamonds, Matt stopped feeding me cards so I broke up with him, and Lisa refused to pick up the Queens. Good time was had by all

Billy Jean's not my lover...

Tuesday Aug 4

Originally we were going to go jet skiing on Tuesday, but at $65 for a half hour and only two actual jet skis, we all agreed that $9 per hour kayaking was the way to go. Just a short ferry ride and we were in Ocracoke

We started in this little inlet that lead out to the sound. There was a little island off in the distance and Evan decided to go all Jack-Shepard-we’ve-got-to-go-back-Kate on us and took off for the island. Mandy and JEGs tried to keep up, but eventually turned back when the rest of us realized our time was almost up. About 20 mintues after we were out of our boats, paid and on our way to the restaurant for lunch, Mr. Evan showed up. Turns out you weren’t allowed to walk on the island because it was a nature preserve. Bummer.

We headed over to The Jolly Roger (or the Jolly Rancher as I kept calling it) for some beers and food. This is the establishment that I shall forever remember as the place I discovered Hush Puppies. Mmmmm. So doughy. So fried. Soooo good.

After we got back, we headed to the beach and, inevitably Andy’s trunks are gonna come off in the ocean

Wednesday Aug 5
A bunch of people decided to try another location for jet skiing, but JEGs and I opted to stay back that the house. When they all returned, we did the usual beach, beer and dinner at home.
However, after dinner we filled up some canteens with alcohol, stocked up on firewood and headed to the beach for a bonfire. It was a great night of quite time shared with your other half, passing around some spirits and a couple people strumming on guitars

Thursday Aug6
It’s FlapJack Thursday! And what’s FlapJack Thursday without pancakes shaped like a penis??

When we got back from the beach we realized no one had a key to the house except Connie and Joe- who went hang gliding that day. We were all locked out of the house. Well, Evan climbed up the decks in the back to one of the bedrooms and ran downstairs to unlock the door for us. That earned him the Chuck Norris Award for the day

I didn't get a picture of him climbing, but he had to climb up to the second balcony.

After dinner was the official OBX Peer Bong Tournament and I was paired up with Bonnie. Our first competitors: JEGs and Joey. Outcome: We killed them

However, during round two we were taken out by Team Mike and Lauren, who ended up winning the Tournament. Since I was knocked out and looking for something to do, Connie and I created crowns for the winners

Don’t they look great? You two better remember to bring them next year!

Friday Aug 7

*sigh* Our last full day was spent on the beach in the beautiful, crystal clear water

Connie and Joe had brought two kites with them to fly at the beach. Connie’s was a simple butterfly design, but Joe decided to purchase a Millenium Falcon replica that needed a team of engineers to assemble.

The kicker of it all?
Neither of those kites would fly. And I’ll tell you, we tried our hardest to get those suckers in the air

That night, instead of cooking dinner, we all got a little sassed up and headed out to a restaurant for dinner. The boys: Joey, Matt, Tim, Andy, JEGs, Evan, Mike

The sexy ladies: Lisa, Me, Bonnie, Mandy, Connie, Lauren

At dinner we had the best waitress, and an unexpected guest

This is Harold. He was in one of Connie's muscles.

After dinner we came home and went on a mission to finish all leftover alcohol. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Saturday Aug 8
We packed up and headed home with heavy hearts and happy memories. We have to do this again next year…

A couple things that I need to add as a post script:
I can’t talk about this week without mentioning the mosquitoes! O.M.G. You had to RUN to your car, get in as fast as you could so you wouldn’t end up with a swarm of them in the car (which you did anyway). On the first night JEGs counted 46 bug bites on his left leg between his ankle and knee. JUST HIS LEFT LEG.

Connie brought Press and Seal with her and swore by it. JEGs decided to test it’s wonderfulness by making a bag of water. It worked- until we played hot potato with it. Then Matt got wet

This week was also the birth of the “Ocean Beer”. The object? Drink a beer in the ocean without spilling it. I know, we are champions.

Overall it was just a wonderful week. I could not have asked for a better group of people to share it with, and I CAN.NOT.WAIT till next year.

..and the best part? I got to spend the whole week with this guy

Always & Forever,

ME

A Peek into my iPod...

Hey all! I know I haven't posted much in the last couple of days. I have been sooo super busy! I just wanted to let you all know I am still, in fact, alive and give you something to read for a bit.

Today I'm going a little mushy gushy- lovey dovey. I heard this song last night that I just fell in love with. It's called Save Me From Myself by Christina Aguilera:

It's not so easy loving me

It gets so complicated

All the things you gotta be

Everything's changing

But you're the truth

I'm amazed by all your patience

Everything I put you through

When I'm about to fall

Somehow you're always waiting with

Your open arms to catch me

You're gonna save me from myself

From myself, yes

You're gonna save me from myself

My love is tainted by your touch

Well, some guys have shown me aces

But you've got that royal flush

I know it's crazy everyday

Well, tomorrow may be shaky

But you never turn away

Don't ask me why I'm crying

'Cause when I start to crumble

You know how to keep me smiling

You always save me from myself

From myself, myself

You're gonna save me from myself

I know it's hard, it's hard

But you've broken all my walls

You've been my strength, so strong

And don't ask me why I love you

It's obvious your tenderness

Is what I need to make me

A better woman to myself

To myself, myself

You're gonna save me from my..

Myself

I really liked this song because it really reminds me of JEGs and how he has somehow stuck by my side these past 8 years.

So, my faithful readers, do you have a song that makes you think of your lovey? Or even a family member? Someone you admire? C'mon and hit me up- I love to hear this kind of stuff!

Always & Forever,
ME

Who Let the Dog In??

Since Tim says I don't have enough "man"-related posts, this one is for you T.

I love football- I've mentioned it before. I know it's hard to believe with all this fabulousity there is room for sports, but I was raised with three older brothers. Therefore I must love the Eagles. I was even watching the pre-season game tonight. Until I checked my Facebook and good ole 6abc informed me that the Eagles just signed Michael Vick. Then I turned the TV off.

For those of you who don't follow football or, I don't know, have lived in a cave the past two years, Michael Vick is a former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. In 2007 he was indicted in a dog fighting case.

My brother Tim and I have debated this back and forth for some of the night. "[He] paid for his crimes and continues to pay in ways of anti-dog fighting programs. [You] don't believe in forgiveness?" he asked me.

I believe in forgiveness. I really do. But to me cruelty to animals is just unforgivable. There is absolutely no reason for it. Also, the NFL says illegal sports gambling is prohibited, and even first time offenders can risk being banned for life.

So this guy took 20 million dollars of his 37 million dollar signing bonus to illegally gamble on dog fighting. That's two strikes now, buddy.

Then to top it all off, while out on bail this guy test positive for pot during a random drug test- which is a violation of his condition of release. I know pot is not the worst drug out there, but clearly this guy has no respect for the law. I know he is a football player, but I'm pretty sure he understands strike three.

Granted, he did serve his two year in jail and is now filed for bankruptcy, but pardon me if my heart isn't exactly bleeding for the guy. Some may say he's paid his dues for that. I say he got what was coming to him.

You know what Eagles? Fool me once with T.O- shame on you. Fool me twice with Vick- shame on me.

I will not be fooled again. We are broken up.

How Very Kitchy!

It is amazing what can come of two pitchers and a cup of [very strong] coffee.

When we got back from OBX, I began unpacking our stuff from the trip. Among our items where these
Innocent enough, but... I had no place to put them.

I came from an apartment with very little cabinet space and a roommate with more snacks and cereal boxes than the Navy has ships (love ya J Dizzle!) So when we moved into this:

I was in heaven.

Funny thing is, two months later it looks like this:

Packed.

I knew I wanted to put them in the cabinet above the stove, but that was already full. After sitting and staring at the open cabinets for 20 minutes I suddenly remembered I had an empty drawer!

Hmm. Now how do I get 1 + 1 to equal 2???

I had been storing my Tupperware with the pots and pans

Talk about a nightmare! Everytime we need something to store our leftover cuisine, we were ambushed by lids and other plastic debris! I figured I could move the Tupperware over to the empty drawer and that opened up space with the pots and pans, and saved JEGs and I from getting attacked every night.

Like killing two birds with one stone!

Now that there was space down below, I had two casserole dishes on the very top shelf with the glasses. I switched those down with the pots and pans…

…and now there was room in with the glasses. It just so happens that the cabinet above the stove had some of JEGs’ pint glasses and a few of my pimp cups (cause that’s how I roll). I moved those over once …

..and voila! Now there is room to put the pitchers where I wanted them to be.

[I totally had a picture of the cabinet, but I accidently deleted it and it is too much of a pain in the ass to put the picture back up. But you get the idea]

Genius, right? I know. I should plan stuff for the military, or something.

While I was on a roll I organized our junk drawer

Before:

After:

The moral of this story? Trish Suhr ain't got nothin' on me.

Always & Forever,

ME

*and yes, I'm totally procrastinating from posting about OBX.

Fashion: Yay or Nay?

I put together an outfit today, and I'm wondering what the general thoughts are. I got the inspiration from this Rachel Bilson outfit:

So here is my interpritation:

I added some pops of color in my shoes, and also added my favorite necklace:

...and just incase anyone is interested here is my purchase list:

Shirt: Old Navy

Shorts: J.Crew outlet

Belt: American Eagle

Necklace: American Eagle (last season)

Shoes: Kohls like 100 years ago (as you can tell from the scuffs)

So what's the verdict? Should I keep it in rotation?

Always & Forever,

ME

Zip Zip Zoom

I know, I know. I said I would post about OBX, but I am still organizing pictures, and waiting for some others to share their pictures with the rest of us ::cough.. Connie.. cough:::

Anyway, I'm in a story telling mood, so let me tell you about my drive home last night.
I'm putzing down the blvd (for those not in the Philly area, I should let you know "the blvd" is actually The Roosevelt Boulevard- a 12 lane highway that drives through the north side of the city and out into the suburbs) when I get passed by this BMW. This dude is weaving and bobbing out of traffic, but ironically enough I keep pulling up next to him at stop light. Every time I do, I look over and snicker a little to myself.

At about the fourth or fifth light I notice the driver rolling down his window. I glace over and this guy looks JUST like one of those Jon-Hawttie- My-New-Haircut-kind of guys. He says to me "Hey girl, what's up."

Without even thinking I spouted "Not now chief, I'm in the effin' zone" and drove off.

He sped by me probably thinking "Effin' skank". haha

Always & Forever,
ME

I'm back!!

Fear not, my loyal subjects- I have returned!

I had a fabulous time in OBX and, believe it or not, I got tanned! Shazam!
I will post about my vacation tomorrow. I still have to go through all my pictures and actually remember a whole weeks worth of events. Plus, I am suuuper behind on all of my blogs (and super excited about Shannanigan's house crashing).

But, to hold you over, I will share with you a blonde moment from last night:
I was making my favorite meal, Coconut-Crusted Tilapia. I was having a hard time getting the breading to stick to last filet, the broccoli was starting to boil, a storm was coming, and I was trying to do the laundry at the same time. I was still slightly in vacation mode, so multi-tasking was not my friend.
Now I've worked in restaurants and kitchens for 10 years. I KNOW you don't put water on grease/ grease fire. But I was tired. And hungry. And frustrated with this last $%^& filet. So after I took it off the stove, I spun the frying pan around to the sink and dumped the remainder of the grease down the drain... with the water running. Suddenly smoke filled the room and little bits of coconut breading splattered all over the place.

But hey, on the bright side, at least we know the smoke detector works :)

Always and Forever,
ME