This blog entry is waaaayyyyy overdue. The Mangiaracina's have been very focused on actually being Mangiaracina causing the blog to become dusty, but alas, we are back and there is much to report. We have been through a lot over the past month or so and we appreciate everyone's love and support. With the new season comes new beginnings and we are ready to embrace them all.
It is now December and that means it's time to start spreading Christmas cheer. While I'm not a fan of the cold weather that set in, I am a fan of the holiday season and am ready to get this new house decorated to celebrate!
And speaking of the house...I have to say the place is coming together. We added a few new pieces of furniture to the living room and are now the proud owners of 8 new windows and 2 new sliding glass doors. We are saving energy up the wa-zoo in this mother! :) Ed keeps Lucy and I busy with his "quick projects" around the house (aka: stripping the 12 layers of paint off the front door, caulking every open orafice and painting the awesome new chair rail in the kitchen), but all in all, we are in good shape. And we have to be. The well is dry.
Now it is time to decorate for the holidays and I have a feeling I may go a little nuts. The vision is clear as day in my head and this weekend, Target, Home Goods and the fine people at the local christmas tree lot will make it happen. :)
Friday, December 3, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
I love Fall. It is, hands down, the BEST season there is. The smells...the colors...the crisp air. It's awesome! And what I love best are the awesome Fall activities. This weekend, we partook (word?!) in 2 of my most favorite Fall activities ~ Apple Picking and Fall Street Festival.
After spending a week in Dallas, the hubby and I needed more than just a date night so we decided to spend Saturday frolicking in the Fall air. :) First stop was Crooked Run Orchard for some apple picking and pumpkin gathering. It was a GORGEOUS day so the setting was perfect. We trekked from suburbia to uber-suburbia and found ourselves at a beautiful orchard filled with suncrisps, red and gold delicious, matsus, cortlands and braeburns. We made our way through the colorful apple trees and gathered our loot ~ just enough for an apple crisp and some daily snacking. The pumpkin patch was not quite what we thought (instead of a field of pumpkins we had 4 large bins to choose from!) ~ but we had a great time. :)
It was time for lunch and really the best food on a Fall day is from a cart wielding the sign "Chicken on Stick". We headed back into civilization and hit the Fairfax City Fall Festival. First stop - FOOD VENDORS!!! In addition to our chicken on a stick, we inhaled on some pad thai and spicy lo mein. Not bad for street food. :)
We made our way through the many vendors and headed to the car show where Ed fell in love with yet another vintage Mustang. This one was black with white interior ~ pretty awesome.
Then it was time for the main event - The Legwarmers!!!!!!!!!! I think I have spoken of them before, but The Legwarmers are THE best 80's cover band in the WORLD!!! They were playing on the main stage and they totally rocked! The crowd was going wild - it was awesome. Definitely made our day.
After some quick doggie purchases (new collar, treats and a fun toy), some soft serve and a giant bag of kettle cooked popcorn we headed home to spend the rest of the beautiful Fall afternoon with Lucy. We rounded out the night with a movie ~ "The Social Network". Good flick. Great day. I LOVE FALL!!!
Take a look at our full Fall day here!
After spending a week in Dallas, the hubby and I needed more than just a date night so we decided to spend Saturday frolicking in the Fall air. :) First stop was Crooked Run Orchard for some apple picking and pumpkin gathering. It was a GORGEOUS day so the setting was perfect. We trekked from suburbia to uber-suburbia and found ourselves at a beautiful orchard filled with suncrisps, red and gold delicious, matsus, cortlands and braeburns. We made our way through the colorful apple trees and gathered our loot ~ just enough for an apple crisp and some daily snacking. The pumpkin patch was not quite what we thought (instead of a field of pumpkins we had 4 large bins to choose from!) ~ but we had a great time. :)
It was time for lunch and really the best food on a Fall day is from a cart wielding the sign "Chicken on Stick". We headed back into civilization and hit the Fairfax City Fall Festival. First stop - FOOD VENDORS!!! In addition to our chicken on a stick, we inhaled on some pad thai and spicy lo mein. Not bad for street food. :)
We made our way through the many vendors and headed to the car show where Ed fell in love with yet another vintage Mustang. This one was black with white interior ~ pretty awesome.
Then it was time for the main event - The Legwarmers!!!!!!!!!! I think I have spoken of them before, but The Legwarmers are THE best 80's cover band in the WORLD!!! They were playing on the main stage and they totally rocked! The crowd was going wild - it was awesome. Definitely made our day.
After some quick doggie purchases (new collar, treats and a fun toy), some soft serve and a giant bag of kettle cooked popcorn we headed home to spend the rest of the beautiful Fall afternoon with Lucy. We rounded out the night with a movie ~ "The Social Network". Good flick. Great day. I LOVE FALL!!!
Take a look at our full Fall day here!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Touches of Fall
So I went a little nuts with the most recent Crate & Barrel catalog and spruced the place up a bit with some touches of fall. Graziano ~ I blame this on you!
The best part of the purchase was the Harvest Pumpkin Scented Candle ~ smells like I've been baking all day. Happy Fall!! :)
The best part of the purchase was the Harvest Pumpkin Scented Candle ~ smells like I've been baking all day. Happy Fall!! :)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Yum!
Another weekend is coming to a close and I have to say, it was a good one. We spent some time exploring new fabulous "finds" in Centreville and visited an old favorite. :) Some good family friends were in town visiting my parents (good to see you Mrs. Pat and Mr. Andy!) so we tagged along on their trip to Old Town Alexandria. Lucy joined us for our stroll along the Potomac and up and down the historic streets. We meandered in and out of some very cute shops and had a taste of Pop's Old Fashioned Ice Cream before heading home. Lucy did great considering how hot is was...but she was VERY happy to be back in the Air Conditioning for the ride home. :)
As for the new fabulous find - it's called "Eggspectations" and it was a delicious breakfast in an adorable setting. It's no Eggery (nothing ever will be), but it will definitely do in a bind! The plan for the rest of our Sunday includes laying on the couch, watching some good/bad TV and playing with Lucy's new frog. Not bad this life we created...not bad at all.
As for the new fabulous find - it's called "Eggspectations" and it was a delicious breakfast in an adorable setting. It's no Eggery (nothing ever will be), but it will definitely do in a bind! The plan for the rest of our Sunday includes laying on the couch, watching some good/bad TV and playing with Lucy's new frog. Not bad this life we created...not bad at all.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
We're Back in Action Baby!
So it's been a while. A long while...sorry about that, but we are back in action. Life has been nuts trying to get settled in the new house. I am happy to report that we are about 98% unpacked and are close to having everything in place. There is still a pile of stuff that needs to be hung on the walls and my cookbooks are sitting in a neat little pile on the floor waiting for their new shelf to be purchased, but all in all we are in good shape.
We actually dug ourselves out of our house hermit hole and joined the world last weekend to help my good friends Tulay and Dave celebrate their wedding day. We hit the road late Friday night after dropping Lucy off at Grandma's and Grandpa's and made it to NYC in the wee hours of the morning (what's with late night traffic in Delaware - not cool!!). The first item on our NY agenda - breakfast at the "Eggery" aka Thomas' Ham and Eggery. This historic diner is our FAVORITE breakfast spot and we have become regulars - even now as we live in another state!! Tommy (co-owner and official "seater) greeted us at the door and Sharon (our favorite counter waitress) gave us big hugs. It was great to see them AND get some grub with Mom and Adriana!
As the food coma set in we popped over to see Ed's Dad (who looks great BTW) and then headed out east for a late lunch with friends Dave, Michele, Rob and best of all DOMINICK!! This adorable little monkey greeted us with giggles and smiles and was so huggable I didn't want to put him down!! We had such a great time catching up with everyone and pigged out on wings, broccoli poppers and yummy french onion soup. How we fit more food in our Eggery stuffed stomachs is still a mystery.
It was finally time for the main event - Tulay and Dave's wedding. It was a beautiful evening with perfect weather and an even more perfect sunset. The groom looked dashing and the bride was GORGEOUS!! The ceremony was conducted by good friend Lorca and I have to say, it was amazing. Literally brought tears to my eyes. Dave and Tulay are a wonderful couple and their unique touches on the wedding made it very special. The Douglaston Manor was the perfect venue, the sunflower centerpieces were gorgeous and the DJ was pumping amazing Turkish music that got the crowd on their feet. This was the first wedding that Ed and I have been to since our own so it was very special. Congratulations Tulay and Dave ~ enjoy your honeymoon in Jamaica!!!
This was the first wedding Ed and I attended as a married couple and I have to say it was pretty cool. I loved dancing with my husband while celebrating my friend's marriage. It was a special day for all. :)
We actually dug ourselves out of our house hermit hole and joined the world last weekend to help my good friends Tulay and Dave celebrate their wedding day. We hit the road late Friday night after dropping Lucy off at Grandma's and Grandpa's and made it to NYC in the wee hours of the morning (what's with late night traffic in Delaware - not cool!!). The first item on our NY agenda - breakfast at the "Eggery" aka Thomas' Ham and Eggery. This historic diner is our FAVORITE breakfast spot and we have become regulars - even now as we live in another state!! Tommy (co-owner and official "seater) greeted us at the door and Sharon (our favorite counter waitress) gave us big hugs. It was great to see them AND get some grub with Mom and Adriana!
As the food coma set in we popped over to see Ed's Dad (who looks great BTW) and then headed out east for a late lunch with friends Dave, Michele, Rob and best of all DOMINICK!! This adorable little monkey greeted us with giggles and smiles and was so huggable I didn't want to put him down!! We had such a great time catching up with everyone and pigged out on wings, broccoli poppers and yummy french onion soup. How we fit more food in our Eggery stuffed stomachs is still a mystery.
It was finally time for the main event - Tulay and Dave's wedding. It was a beautiful evening with perfect weather and an even more perfect sunset. The groom looked dashing and the bride was GORGEOUS!! The ceremony was conducted by good friend Lorca and I have to say, it was amazing. Literally brought tears to my eyes. Dave and Tulay are a wonderful couple and their unique touches on the wedding made it very special. The Douglaston Manor was the perfect venue, the sunflower centerpieces were gorgeous and the DJ was pumping amazing Turkish music that got the crowd on their feet. This was the first wedding that Ed and I have been to since our own so it was very special. Congratulations Tulay and Dave ~ enjoy your honeymoon in Jamaica!!!
This was the first wedding Ed and I attended as a married couple and I have to say it was pretty cool. I loved dancing with my husband while celebrating my friend's marriage. It was a special day for all. :)
Thursday, August 12, 2010
SOLD!!!!!
We are homeowners!!!!!!!!! Wooooooooooohooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My goodness...this has been a long time coming but we made it! I can't even describe the feeling you get when those keys are put in your hands and you walk into the house that you own (well, you and the bank) for the first time. It's AWESOME!!!
We have been skimpy on the details because we didn't want to jinx it but the wait is over. The link below leads you to our Snapfish pics of the new place and I will have some updated pix at the end of the week with some of the small updates we are making. Our great friend Rob is down here helping us out with all kinds of "house fun" (as we refer to it) and we truly appreciate his assistance.
The house is located in Centreville, VA in a great little community called Little Rocky Run. It is a brick front, 3-level townhouse with 3BR, 3.5 BA, open kitchen and living room and hardwood floors throughout. We have a great deck off the kitchen which will serve many a cookout and a patio/backyard off the basement. The whole place is very updated so there is not too much work to do - but of course we are working on some personal touches. :) There is plenty of room for the whole brood - and the brood to come (no Ma...not pregnant yet!)
The official moving day is a few weeks off as we work to get the place in tip top shape. And the couch won't be delivered until early September :). If any of you out there are looking for something to do on September 4th, just give us a shout!
Welcome to our home. :)
Click here for pics of the house! More to come soon. :)
My goodness...this has been a long time coming but we made it! I can't even describe the feeling you get when those keys are put in your hands and you walk into the house that you own (well, you and the bank) for the first time. It's AWESOME!!!
We have been skimpy on the details because we didn't want to jinx it but the wait is over. The link below leads you to our Snapfish pics of the new place and I will have some updated pix at the end of the week with some of the small updates we are making. Our great friend Rob is down here helping us out with all kinds of "house fun" (as we refer to it) and we truly appreciate his assistance.
The house is located in Centreville, VA in a great little community called Little Rocky Run. It is a brick front, 3-level townhouse with 3BR, 3.5 BA, open kitchen and living room and hardwood floors throughout. We have a great deck off the kitchen which will serve many a cookout and a patio/backyard off the basement. The whole place is very updated so there is not too much work to do - but of course we are working on some personal touches. :) There is plenty of room for the whole brood - and the brood to come (no Ma...not pregnant yet!)
The official moving day is a few weeks off as we work to get the place in tip top shape. And the couch won't be delivered until early September :). If any of you out there are looking for something to do on September 4th, just give us a shout!
Welcome to our home. :)
Click here for pics of the house! More to come soon. :)
Friday, July 16, 2010
Home Sweet....Contract.
7.16.10
Summer is in full swing and as I write this morning the temperature is already in the 90's. Luckily the oppressive heat has not slowed us down. In fact, we are moving full steam ahead - on our new house that is!! I know I have not really been sharing too many details and I apologize, but until those keys are in our hands, I'm holding out! I am not risking this deal falling through!!
We hope to close in August and will have plenty of pictures then. In the mean time, here is something to wet your palette:
That's all I'm going to share!!! :) Stay tuned...
Summer is in full swing and as I write this morning the temperature is already in the 90's. Luckily the oppressive heat has not slowed us down. In fact, we are moving full steam ahead - on our new house that is!! I know I have not really been sharing too many details and I apologize, but until those keys are in our hands, I'm holding out! I am not risking this deal falling through!!
We hope to close in August and will have plenty of pictures then. In the mean time, here is something to wet your palette:
That's all I'm going to share!!! :) Stay tuned...
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer
7.6.10
It is summer and boy, we've been havin' a blast! Okay...so I'm in a corny mood tonight. But I have LOTS to smile about. Here - click here and press "Play" to get in the mood. :)
So what's been going on you ask? Well, let me tell you. I've officially been on the job for almost 3 weeks and I am loving it. It is such a great new challenge - exactly what I was looking for. The home office is working out well (Lucy LOVES it) as are the trips to New York City. I'll be back up there July 19th - NY buddies mark your calendars!
We have been keeping busy on weekends - trying to get a lay of the land. The three of us hit Burke Lake Park and conquered the 4.7 mile lake path on a fairly warm Saturday afternoon. Lucy was especially interested in making friends with the ducks. :)
Next it was time to celebrate Ed's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ED - so we headed into DC for a peek at the new and improved American History Museum. We were very impressed with the great exhibits. Ed's favs was anything car related. Mine of course was Julia Child's Kitchen. I wanted to hop over the stanchion and whip up a nice beef bourgonion!
Yup - that is Ed on the other side of the kitchen!!! :)
Next up - 80's night with The Legwarmers!!!! For those of you who are not familiar, The Legwarmers are the BEST 80's cover band in the DC area. We had a great time enjoying all our favorites AND we were in the company of Andrea and Rich which made it all the better.
And finally - Let's Play Ball!! It was family day down at Nationals Park this past weekend. We headed downtown to see the Nats beat up on the Mets (sad) and got a festive baseball hat out of it. The game would have been more enjoyable if we were not sitting in the sweltering heat, but it just made the beers taste that much better!
So far, this has been a great summer. There is some awesome news on the horizon but because I'm too superstitious I can't get into it now. Stay tuned!!!!!!!
P.S. No Ma, I'm not pregnant :)
It is summer and boy, we've been havin' a blast! Okay...so I'm in a corny mood tonight. But I have LOTS to smile about. Here - click here and press "Play" to get in the mood. :)
So what's been going on you ask? Well, let me tell you. I've officially been on the job for almost 3 weeks and I am loving it. It is such a great new challenge - exactly what I was looking for. The home office is working out well (Lucy LOVES it) as are the trips to New York City. I'll be back up there July 19th - NY buddies mark your calendars!
We have been keeping busy on weekends - trying to get a lay of the land. The three of us hit Burke Lake Park and conquered the 4.7 mile lake path on a fairly warm Saturday afternoon. Lucy was especially interested in making friends with the ducks. :)
Next it was time to celebrate Ed's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ED - so we headed into DC for a peek at the new and improved American History Museum. We were very impressed with the great exhibits. Ed's favs was anything car related. Mine of course was Julia Child's Kitchen. I wanted to hop over the stanchion and whip up a nice beef bourgonion!
Yup - that is Ed on the other side of the kitchen!!! :)
Next up - 80's night with The Legwarmers!!!! For those of you who are not familiar, The Legwarmers are the BEST 80's cover band in the DC area. We had a great time enjoying all our favorites AND we were in the company of Andrea and Rich which made it all the better.
And finally - Let's Play Ball!! It was family day down at Nationals Park this past weekend. We headed downtown to see the Nats beat up on the Mets (sad) and got a festive baseball hat out of it. The game would have been more enjoyable if we were not sitting in the sweltering heat, but it just made the beers taste that much better!
So far, this has been a great summer. There is some awesome news on the horizon but because I'm too superstitious I can't get into it now. Stay tuned!!!!!!!
P.S. No Ma, I'm not pregnant :)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Happy 1st Birthday Lucy!!
06.22.10
Today is a very special day in the Mangiaracina household. Our little baby Lucy is celebrating her first birthday!!! I can't even believe that so much time has gone by and that our loud, yappy puppy has turned into a loud, yappy one-year old! :) In all seriousness, Lucy has been a wonderful addition to our little family and I could not imagine life without her. We are celebrating tonight with some yummy bacon and chedder cheese treats and her favorite, a twisty stick.
She is a happy girl today! I tried to find a doggy-sized princess tiara but failed. Instead she got a Cutie bandana. Happy Birthday Lucy!!!
In other news, I am officially employed which is not only good news, but GREAT news!! Wouldn't you know that I found my new job at my old home, TIA. I am back working at the Toy Industry Association, but this time I find myself on the Meetings & Events team as their Account Executive for Advertising, Sponsorships and Promotion. I feel so lucky, not only because they allowing me to work from VA with monthly trips to NY, but because they are an AMAZING group of people that do AMAZING things. I'm so excited and happy about this wonderful new step in my career. Check out my new office diggs:
Now that I have a job, I finally feel like we can move forward with our lives as newlyweds. As you know, we have been house hunting and are hoping to find our first home sometime this summer. There are a few that have peaked our interest so once we get our approval, we plan to make a bid. More on that later! Right now, it's time to go have a PupCake! :)
Today is a very special day in the Mangiaracina household. Our little baby Lucy is celebrating her first birthday!!! I can't even believe that so much time has gone by and that our loud, yappy puppy has turned into a loud, yappy one-year old! :) In all seriousness, Lucy has been a wonderful addition to our little family and I could not imagine life without her. We are celebrating tonight with some yummy bacon and chedder cheese treats and her favorite, a twisty stick.
She is a happy girl today! I tried to find a doggy-sized princess tiara but failed. Instead she got a Cutie bandana. Happy Birthday Lucy!!!
In other news, I am officially employed which is not only good news, but GREAT news!! Wouldn't you know that I found my new job at my old home, TIA. I am back working at the Toy Industry Association, but this time I find myself on the Meetings & Events team as their Account Executive for Advertising, Sponsorships and Promotion. I feel so lucky, not only because they allowing me to work from VA with monthly trips to NY, but because they are an AMAZING group of people that do AMAZING things. I'm so excited and happy about this wonderful new step in my career. Check out my new office diggs:
Now that I have a job, I finally feel like we can move forward with our lives as newlyweds. As you know, we have been house hunting and are hoping to find our first home sometime this summer. There are a few that have peaked our interest so once we get our approval, we plan to make a bid. More on that later! Right now, it's time to go have a PupCake! :)
Monday, June 7, 2010
Catching Up
I know...I know. I've been slacking. But being Mangiaracina is time consuming! I'm back now and have LOTS to report. Over the past few weeks, Ed, Lucy and I have been exploring our new town in many ways. Ed and I are knee deep in MRIS housing reports trying to find our first new home. Lucy is investigating every inch of the backyard and chasing after every squirrel she sees.
Memorial Day Weekend
We all decided to take a break from our separate activities and spent Memorial Day together at Gravelly Point along the beautiful GW Parkway. Lucy had a BLAST!! For those of you who don't know, Gravelly Point is a park that is right next to National Airport. In addition to the amazing views of the DC monuments, the location offers the pleasure of seeing many a landing airplane up close and personal. It truly is an amazing site - the planes are so close that Lucy thought she could catch them! We packed a picnic along with Lucy's new Frisbee and spent the afternoon running and playing.
After about an hour, the temperature reached 92 degrees with 100% humidity so we decided to head to Old Town Alexandria for ice cream. It was a busy day in the town and Lucy made LOTS of friends - her favorite being the duckies in the Potomac River. Because of the heat, it didn't take long for Lucy to tire out so after a big bottle of water and 2 ice cream cones, we headed home. All in all, a great Memorial Day in the nation's capital!
SATC2 in NYC
I was a VERY lucky girl this weekend as I got to spend it in NYC with my other husband and boyfriend - Jim and Daniel! I headed up Friday morning and after a quick stop at TIA to see my best work buddies, I took the LIRR out to Queens to start our weekend of fun! Jim and Daniel live in a beautiful house in Forest Hills. I love to visit them not only for their company, but to see the latest in fashion, interior design and food! After a few cocktails at the house while viewing the many wedding proofs, we hit an adorable french restaurant in Long Island City (who knew!) with some British friends in town for the night. Saturday was spent in the city where we visited the new High Line, lunched at Chelsea Market and spent 2 1/2 hours in a movie theater with our favorite gal pals: Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. :) OF COURSE we had to see SATC 2 together!!!! We rounded out the day with dinner at a trendy restaurant in Forest Hills - another fabo day/night in the city with my boys!
Sunday greeted us with sunshine and humidity so we decided to make our own brunch and dine in their gorgeous yard. Chef Daniel worked hard in the kitchen to prepare an AMAZING meal of eggs benedict, hash browns and stewed tomatoes. The food was SO good as were the mimosas - best brunch in the city! Jim / Daniel - thank you so much for a wonderful weekend. Let's do it again soon!!!
Memorial Day Weekend
We all decided to take a break from our separate activities and spent Memorial Day together at Gravelly Point along the beautiful GW Parkway. Lucy had a BLAST!! For those of you who don't know, Gravelly Point is a park that is right next to National Airport. In addition to the amazing views of the DC monuments, the location offers the pleasure of seeing many a landing airplane up close and personal. It truly is an amazing site - the planes are so close that Lucy thought she could catch them! We packed a picnic along with Lucy's new Frisbee and spent the afternoon running and playing.
After about an hour, the temperature reached 92 degrees with 100% humidity so we decided to head to Old Town Alexandria for ice cream. It was a busy day in the town and Lucy made LOTS of friends - her favorite being the duckies in the Potomac River. Because of the heat, it didn't take long for Lucy to tire out so after a big bottle of water and 2 ice cream cones, we headed home. All in all, a great Memorial Day in the nation's capital!
SATC2 in NYC
I was a VERY lucky girl this weekend as I got to spend it in NYC with my other husband and boyfriend - Jim and Daniel! I headed up Friday morning and after a quick stop at TIA to see my best work buddies, I took the LIRR out to Queens to start our weekend of fun! Jim and Daniel live in a beautiful house in Forest Hills. I love to visit them not only for their company, but to see the latest in fashion, interior design and food! After a few cocktails at the house while viewing the many wedding proofs, we hit an adorable french restaurant in Long Island City (who knew!) with some British friends in town for the night. Saturday was spent in the city where we visited the new High Line, lunched at Chelsea Market and spent 2 1/2 hours in a movie theater with our favorite gal pals: Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. :) OF COURSE we had to see SATC 2 together!!!! We rounded out the day with dinner at a trendy restaurant in Forest Hills - another fabo day/night in the city with my boys!
Sunday greeted us with sunshine and humidity so we decided to make our own brunch and dine in their gorgeous yard. Chef Daniel worked hard in the kitchen to prepare an AMAZING meal of eggs benedict, hash browns and stewed tomatoes. The food was SO good as were the mimosas - best brunch in the city! Jim / Daniel - thank you so much for a wonderful weekend. Let's do it again soon!!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The New Digs!
After a long and slightly painful weekend, our stuff is finally in 1 state and we are settling in! As you know, we are shacking up in my parent's basement until I get a job and we buy a house. We fixed it up a bit so that it feels more like our "home" - check out the new digs!!
Our new living room - mom and dad's couches paired with our entertainment center. It's like a match made in heaven! :)
Our kitchen minus the actual kitchen. All meals are served upstairs at Cafe Quartuccio.
The boudior - where the magic happens!
Ed's instructions each night - :)!!!
We do have our own little bathroom down here and a storage room for some of our stuff. My wardrobe is housed on the 2nd floor of the house in my old bedroom since the closet space is minimal in the basement. We did need to solicit the help of Public Storage to hold most of our belongings, but all in all we are happy and comfortable in our new (temporary) home.
The job stuff is starting to look good so once I land something we will begin our house search. We are really excited about this next new (very expensive) adventure - but will enjoy our cozy little apartment right now. :)
Our new living room - mom and dad's couches paired with our entertainment center. It's like a match made in heaven! :)
Our kitchen minus the actual kitchen. All meals are served upstairs at Cafe Quartuccio.
The boudior - where the magic happens!
Ed's instructions each night - :)!!!
We do have our own little bathroom down here and a storage room for some of our stuff. My wardrobe is housed on the 2nd floor of the house in my old bedroom since the closet space is minimal in the basement. We did need to solicit the help of Public Storage to hold most of our belongings, but all in all we are happy and comfortable in our new (temporary) home.
The job stuff is starting to look good so once I land something we will begin our house search. We are really excited about this next new (very expensive) adventure - but will enjoy our cozy little apartment right now. :)
Friday, May 14, 2010
Bon Voyage NYC!
The big move is looming and we are pretty excited about it. Don't get me wrong ~ the thought of packing up the truck, driving 5 hours, and unpacking the truck at 2 locations makes me want to hurl, but I feel like we have been living in limbo since returning from the honeymoon. It will be nice to have all of our belongings in 1 state!
Dad, Ed and I are heading out tonight - hopefully after the big thunderstorm invades the area - and then will commence operation Move to DC tomorrow morning. I'm a bit nervous that our stuff (and I'm talking A LOT of stuff) will not fit into the 16' Penske truck and the 100 sq foot storage unit...but I'm told that I'm being paranoid and not to worry. Easy for them to say. :)
Our newlywed life has been pretty good so far. We are getting settled into our new life in DC and are looking forward to having our own space. Once I secure a job we can really start looking for a house which is so exciting it makes me gitty! It's amazing how much more we can afford down here in the DC Metro area vs. up in New York. :)
The job hunt is slow, but stable. I did have an interview yesterday with the American Nurses Association in their credentialing subsidiary for a marketing position and I think it went well. I have another interview next week for a membership director job so the options are open. I sent out my 66th resume today so I'm PRAYING that something comes through soon. As much as I love being home, it's starting to get a bit boring!!! Lucy loves having Mommy home though! :)
Dad, Ed and I are heading out tonight - hopefully after the big thunderstorm invades the area - and then will commence operation Move to DC tomorrow morning. I'm a bit nervous that our stuff (and I'm talking A LOT of stuff) will not fit into the 16' Penske truck and the 100 sq foot storage unit...but I'm told that I'm being paranoid and not to worry. Easy for them to say. :)
Our newlywed life has been pretty good so far. We are getting settled into our new life in DC and are looking forward to having our own space. Once I secure a job we can really start looking for a house which is so exciting it makes me gitty! It's amazing how much more we can afford down here in the DC Metro area vs. up in New York. :)
The job hunt is slow, but stable. I did have an interview yesterday with the American Nurses Association in their credentialing subsidiary for a marketing position and I think it went well. I have another interview next week for a membership director job so the options are open. I sent out my 66th resume today so I'm PRAYING that something comes through soon. As much as I love being home, it's starting to get a bit boring!!! Lucy loves having Mommy home though! :)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Anyone Hiring??
So it is week 2 of unemployment and the anxiety has started to set in. I'm not freaking out yet, but it would be nice to get some bites on one of the 65 resumes I have sent out!! Don't get me wrong, I do have some significant leads, but I think I will be nervous until I am employed.
So what have I been doing otherwise you ask? Well, unbelievably I have been quite busy each day! Sue has been in town so we have been doing some sister bonding. I've also been prepping for the big move this weekend - Penske rental, Public Storage visit, groveling of friends and family to lend a helping hand. :) Moving SUCKS (just in case you didn't know this already)! And lucky for us, we get to do it twice in a short amount of time. First down to VA from NY and second when we finally buy a house and move out of my parent's basement! We are hoping that we will be settled in a new townhouse by the end of the summer (fingers crossed!!!)
Tomorrow is THE big exciting day for this week - I'm heading to Social Security to officially change my name!!!!!! I figured this is a good task to take care of while I have the time off - especially since I hear I will be in the SS office for a good portion of a day. We finally received our marriage license so I'm going to take care of the name change with SS, DMV and all the other lovely people that care that I am now a Mangiaracina. NUTTY!!
So what have I been doing otherwise you ask? Well, unbelievably I have been quite busy each day! Sue has been in town so we have been doing some sister bonding. I've also been prepping for the big move this weekend - Penske rental, Public Storage visit, groveling of friends and family to lend a helping hand. :) Moving SUCKS (just in case you didn't know this already)! And lucky for us, we get to do it twice in a short amount of time. First down to VA from NY and second when we finally buy a house and move out of my parent's basement! We are hoping that we will be settled in a new townhouse by the end of the summer (fingers crossed!!!)
Tomorrow is THE big exciting day for this week - I'm heading to Social Security to officially change my name!!!!!! I figured this is a good task to take care of while I have the time off - especially since I hear I will be in the SS office for a good portion of a day. We finally received our marriage license so I'm going to take care of the name change with SS, DMV and all the other lovely people that care that I am now a Mangiaracina. NUTTY!!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
I could get used to this...
We are on day 3 of unemployment and I have to admit...I'm starting to get used to this being home thing. My days seem to fill up quickly - so much that I honestly don't know how I used to fit work in! :) But seriously, I am trying to live it up while I can because it will all be over soon enough.
The job hunt continues and so far so good. While I really wish and hope to be back with my friends at TIA, I need to be realistic and find something down here in DC. I have a few interviews lined up and I have lots of people down here who are looking out for me. I'm lucky enough to have the advantage of being picky and find a job that I will really enjoy doing. My Nimble Fitness boys are keeping me busy with some design work (thanks guys!!) and I'm exploring an opportunity in wedding planning which really gets me excited. I had such a blast planning our wedding that I'm thinking it could be a good thing to explore as a job. Who knows...the possibilities are ENDLESS!!
Ed and I are heading back to NYC on Friday night for some more packing over the weekend. It is Mommy's Day on Sunday so we are going to spend some time with his Mom and my Grandmother on Saturday and then my Mom on Sunday. What is really great is that Suzy Q. will be in VA for a week or so starting this Friday so I'm really psyched about spending some time with her.
Next project on my docket - Honeymoon scrapbook. The pictures are uploaded here for your viewing pleasure!!
The job hunt continues and so far so good. While I really wish and hope to be back with my friends at TIA, I need to be realistic and find something down here in DC. I have a few interviews lined up and I have lots of people down here who are looking out for me. I'm lucky enough to have the advantage of being picky and find a job that I will really enjoy doing. My Nimble Fitness boys are keeping me busy with some design work (thanks guys!!) and I'm exploring an opportunity in wedding planning which really gets me excited. I had such a blast planning our wedding that I'm thinking it could be a good thing to explore as a job. Who knows...the possibilities are ENDLESS!!
Ed and I are heading back to NYC on Friday night for some more packing over the weekend. It is Mommy's Day on Sunday so we are going to spend some time with his Mom and my Grandmother on Saturday and then my Mom on Sunday. What is really great is that Suzy Q. will be in VA for a week or so starting this Friday so I'm really psyched about spending some time with her.
Next project on my docket - Honeymoon scrapbook. The pictures are uploaded here for your viewing pleasure!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Goodbye New York ~ Hello DC!
So in an effort to stay busy during my unemployment (I need a job - help!), I decided to continue with the "Being Mangiaracina" blog post-honeymoon to keep all you lovely people informed of our life as newlyweds. It's amazing...in the course of 1 month I went from being a fiance to a wife to a newlywed and obtained a new last name more ridiculous than my own!
As you all know, we had an amazing time in Mexico, but now we are on a new journey and that journey is called the "Move to Northern Virginia - Get Laura a job - Buy a house" journey. We are currently in the process of part 1: Move to Northern Virginia. We spent much of this weekend packing our apartment up and yesterday we hauled it down to good old Fairfax, VA. I have to say, we are very lucky that my parents are so welcoming because we have dumped a LOT of crap in their house already - and it's only the first trip! We head back up to NY this weekend for more packing and more hauling and then on May 15th it's UHaul-time.
We are gonna bunk up at good old 4510 Overcup Court for a bit A. because I don't have a job yet and B. because we have made a decision to actually look into buying a residence rather than renting one. The accomodations are wonderful although I could do without all wall photos reminding me of my many fashion mistakes in high school! Lucy is pleased - not only does she have a huge yard to run around in, but she has Grandpa around to feed her all the table scraps she wants! :)
So far Being Mangiaracina has been pretty darn good. :)
As you all know, we had an amazing time in Mexico, but now we are on a new journey and that journey is called the "Move to Northern Virginia - Get Laura a job - Buy a house" journey. We are currently in the process of part 1: Move to Northern Virginia. We spent much of this weekend packing our apartment up and yesterday we hauled it down to good old Fairfax, VA. I have to say, we are very lucky that my parents are so welcoming because we have dumped a LOT of crap in their house already - and it's only the first trip! We head back up to NY this weekend for more packing and more hauling and then on May 15th it's UHaul-time.
We are gonna bunk up at good old 4510 Overcup Court for a bit A. because I don't have a job yet and B. because we have made a decision to actually look into buying a residence rather than renting one. The accomodations are wonderful although I could do without all wall photos reminding me of my many fashion mistakes in high school! Lucy is pleased - not only does she have a huge yard to run around in, but she has Grandpa around to feed her all the table scraps she wants! :)
So far Being Mangiaracina has been pretty darn good. :)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Day 11 - Adios Mexico
Today was a sad day as it was time to leave our home away from home and head back to New York. We started our morning with an early breakfast and some major packing. How is it that we were able to fit everything when going to Mexico and had a hard time coming home? The Mexican air must have expanded everything! :) We were on our way at noon and in a TGI Fridays at the airport by 1 pm. Our flight was uneventful which is always good. It was actually the first time we weren't together since the wedding - our late booking landed us separate seats! :(
We are home now and have a lot ahead of us in the next few weeks - and we are looking forward to every minute of it. I think Ed would agree that we had an AMAZING honeymoon. Yes...it wasn't what we planned and Yes...we had to scramble at the last moment to make it happen...but it was a great lesson in life and in our new marriage. Things are never perfect. Things get messy...and don't always go as planned...but when you have a great partner by your side and you can face it together...it makes it all worth it.
Here's to the next chapter - Salud!
We are home now and have a lot ahead of us in the next few weeks - and we are looking forward to every minute of it. I think Ed would agree that we had an AMAZING honeymoon. Yes...it wasn't what we planned and Yes...we had to scramble at the last moment to make it happen...but it was a great lesson in life and in our new marriage. Things are never perfect. Things get messy...and don't always go as planned...but when you have a great partner by your side and you can face it together...it makes it all worth it.
Here's to the next chapter - Salud!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Day 10 - Last Day in Paradise
We can't even believe that this was the last full day of our honeymoon - where does the time go! Seriously...when we are at work, the hours DRAG on, but when sitting by the pool sipping a Sea Breeze time moves at the speed of light!
This morning did not go as planned.
The Plan - sleep and be lazy until our champagne breakfast arrives at 9:30 am.
What actually happened: Out of control air conditioner making lawn mower type sounds wakes us up at 8:30 am.
So it was only 1 less hour of sleep...but I can tell you the sound was not good. We seriously thought someone was drilling a hole in the wall above our bed! Luckily the maintenance guy was at our room in a flash and the AC was fixed fairly quick...but the champagne breakfast did not happen. We got off our butts and headed to the morning buffet for eggs, toast and mimosas (of course!!!).
We thought that the day would be another wash out, but were pleased to see the sun make an appearance - jus
t in time for our day at the resort's "lazy river". We found a lounge under a cabana (in case the looming clouds dropped rain), grabbed 2 blue floaties and were on our way. Now, the "lazy river" is just that...lazy. Well, not when we are in the pool. We decided it would be a perfect opportunity to be competitive and race! I don't think we participated in that much physical activity since we got here - well, outdoor activity that is. (again, sorry mom!) I'm not sure who won, but there were many onlookers who were both mildly pleased by the entertainment and mildly annoyed by the disturbance. :)
It was burgers for lunch and then back to the pool - this time for relaxing. The moment we sat down the clouds opened up and it started pouring down rain. Instead of hiding in the cabana, we figured, may as well hop in the pool! By the time we made our "lazy" lap, the sun was out - and boy did we catch some rays. We were so good ALL week but today we BURNED baby BURN! Needless to say we are resting now in anticipation of our last dinner here at the Excellence Resort. We are headed to Agave for some Mexican food and margaritas. And it's Circus Show tonight in the theater. We already saw it, but I am determined to get some video of the most AMAZING hula hooper I have ever seen. The Foundation girls will really appreciate it!!!
It's time to go home tomorrow which makes us sad, but we are so ready to start our life together as husband and wife in DC. There are so many things to look forward to - but we have to say we are so happy for the memories we have already started creating. :)
This morning did not go as planned.
The Plan - sleep and be lazy until our champagne breakfast arrives at 9:30 am.
What actually happened: Out of control air conditioner making lawn mower type sounds wakes us up at 8:30 am.
So it was only 1 less hour of sleep...but I can tell you the sound was not good. We seriously thought someone was drilling a hole in the wall above our bed! Luckily the maintenance guy was at our room in a flash and the AC was fixed fairly quick...but the champagne breakfast did not happen. We got off our butts and headed to the morning buffet for eggs, toast and mimosas (of course!!!).
We thought that the day would be another wash out, but were pleased to see the sun make an appearance - jus
t in time for our day at the resort's "lazy river". We found a lounge under a cabana (in case the looming clouds dropped rain), grabbed 2 blue floaties and were on our way. Now, the "lazy river" is just that...lazy. Well, not when we are in the pool. We decided it would be a perfect opportunity to be competitive and race! I don't think we participated in that much physical activity since we got here - well, outdoor activity that is. (again, sorry mom!) I'm not sure who won, but there were many onlookers who were both mildly pleased by the entertainment and mildly annoyed by the disturbance. :)It was burgers for lunch and then back to the pool - this time for relaxing. The moment we sat down the clouds opened up and it started pouring down rain. Instead of hiding in the cabana, we figured, may as well hop in the pool! By the time we made our "lazy" lap, the sun was out - and boy did we catch some rays. We were so good ALL week but today we BURNED baby BURN! Needless to say we are resting now in anticipation of our last dinner here at the Excellence Resort. We are headed to Agave for some Mexican food and margaritas. And it's Circus Show tonight in the theater. We already saw it, but I am determined to get some video of the most AMAZING hula hooper I have ever seen. The Foundation girls will really appreciate it!!!
It's time to go home tomorrow which makes us sad, but we are so ready to start our life together as husband and wife in DC. There are so many things to look forward to - but we have to say we are so happy for the memories we have already started creating. :)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Day 8 - Happy Birthday Laura!!!
Feliz Cumpleanos Laura!! Today was my 32nd birthday otherwise known as 29 Part III. :) Getting older is not so bad when you are able to do it in a tropical paradise - and when you have all the mimosas you want at your finger tips! I woke up to a kiss from my husband and we made our way to The Lobster House for breakfast. My shrimp omelet was delicious as was our adorable waiter Jose who gifted me with a beautiful red rose. Uh-oh - PRESSURE ON Ed!!!!
Today's itinerary - lay by the pool...drink more fruity drinks...lay by the pool...take a nap...read some trashy chic lit...lay by the pool...dinner on a boat!!! We decided to try a new pool today and it was lovely - much quieter and all the floaties we wanted!! It was an early pool day since our ride was picking us up at 4 pm for our romantic lobster dinner on a boat. But before we left, I have to tell you that I have the MOST AMAZING husband!!! Upon returning to our room for showers, I was surprised with a gorgeous display of birthday flowers - check them out here: http://www.flipshare.com/view.aspx
Our trip to downtown Cancun took about 45 minutes and we landed on a dock with about
a dozen other couples. Our captain introduced himself and led us to our evening's restaurant - a Romantic Pirate Ship! I'm not even kidding - our romantic birthday dinner was not taking place on a luxury yacht - but a mini pirate ship named The Columbus. We hit the high seas at 5:30 and made our way into the harbor. It was a gorgeous evening with a cool breeze and a setting sun. The crew on board was wonderful providing us with beverages and entertainment.
After about 30 minutes we hoisted the anchor and it was time to cook! On the menu - Surf & Turf with veggies and a baked potato. Not so shabby! The best part about dinner, was where we actually ate it. As you can imagine, a pirate ship is not equipped with tables for 2 and fine linens. Instead, we had to sit on the deck and were strapped into what looked like adult high chairs. Since the photos are trapped in the camera, we took some video in order to explain: http://www.flipshare.com/view.aspx. TOO FUNNY!!!!!!
Dinner was delicious as was dessert - chocolate birthday cake! The captain had the crowd sing to me before heading back to the dock which was mildly embarrassing, but very sweet. All in all, it was a great dinner - something that we will always remember.
Our drive back to the resort brought us through downtown Cancun which was bustling! What a crazy place - no wonder Ed and the boys had such a good time down here for the bachelor party! Upon arrival at our hotel room we found that our fabulous wedding photographer sent us our first batch of photos from the big day AND THEY ARE AWESOME!!! It was such a perfect way to end the night...but wait...that wasn't the end!!!
Before retiring to our 4-Post bed, we hit the Excellence Theatre and caught "The Michael Jackson Show" complete with one reincarnated MJ and his back-up dancers. It's the same show as last week, but tonight was better - I had dance space!
It was an amazing night and a wonderful birthday. I think my 32nd year is going to be a good one! :)
Today's itinerary - lay by the pool...drink more fruity drinks...lay by the pool...take a nap...read some trashy chic lit...lay by the pool...dinner on a boat!!! We decided to try a new pool today and it was lovely - much quieter and all the floaties we wanted!! It was an early pool day since our ride was picking us up at 4 pm for our romantic lobster dinner on a boat. But before we left, I have to tell you that I have the MOST AMAZING husband!!! Upon returning to our room for showers, I was surprised with a gorgeous display of birthday flowers - check them out here: http://www.flipshare.com/view.aspx
Our trip to downtown Cancun took about 45 minutes and we landed on a dock with about
a dozen other couples. Our captain introduced himself and led us to our evening's restaurant - a Romantic Pirate Ship! I'm not even kidding - our romantic birthday dinner was not taking place on a luxury yacht - but a mini pirate ship named The Columbus. We hit the high seas at 5:30 and made our way into the harbor. It was a gorgeous evening with a cool breeze and a setting sun. The crew on board was wonderful providing us with beverages and entertainment.After about 30 minutes we hoisted the anchor and it was time to cook! On the menu - Surf & Turf with veggies and a baked potato. Not so shabby! The best part about dinner, was where we actually ate it. As you can imagine, a pirate ship is not equipped with tables for 2 and fine linens. Instead, we had to sit on the deck and were strapped into what looked like adult high chairs. Since the photos are trapped in the camera, we took some video in order to explain: http://www.flipshare.com/view.aspx. TOO FUNNY!!!!!!
Dinner was delicious as was dessert - chocolate birthday cake! The captain had the crowd sing to me before heading back to the dock which was mildly embarrassing, but very sweet. All in all, it was a great dinner - something that we will always remember.
Our drive back to the resort brought us through downtown Cancun which was bustling! What a crazy place - no wonder Ed and the boys had such a good time down here for the bachelor party! Upon arrival at our hotel room we found that our fabulous wedding photographer sent us our first batch of photos from the big day AND THEY ARE AWESOME!!! It was such a perfect way to end the night...but wait...that wasn't the end!!!
Before retiring to our 4-Post bed, we hit the Excellence Theatre and caught "The Michael Jackson Show" complete with one reincarnated MJ and his back-up dancers. It's the same show as last week, but tonight was better - I had dance space!
It was an amazing night and a wonderful birthday. I think my 32nd year is going to be a good one! :)
Day 9 - Rain, Rain Go Away!
Today was a bit of a wash out so there really is not much to report. I unfortunately had a crappy night sleep so the day started out a bit later than normal. We lost power for the 2nd night causing the room to be more humid than a 95 degree day in Manhattan in July. Not cute - but alas the power was restored, the AC was cranking and we were staring at the pouring rain outside our window.
After breakfast we retreated to the suite for some relaxation and other stuff ...wink, wink :) The day was actually quite lovely - some tv watching, some photo viewing, some card playing. I WHOOPED Ed's butt in Rummy 500 which did not make him pleased, but it made for a good time.
Dinner was at our favorite restaurant at the resort - Spice. It is Asian fusion and we went to TOWN with a 4 course meal that included sushi, spring rolls, thai beef salad, udon and tempura ice cream (YUM!).
We ended the evening with another round of Rummy 500 over drinks. It truly was a lazy day - here's hoping to sunshine tomorrow for our LAST FULL DAY (sad).
After breakfast we retreated to the suite for some relaxation and other stuff ...wink, wink :) The day was actually quite lovely - some tv watching, some photo viewing, some card playing. I WHOOPED Ed's butt in Rummy 500 which did not make him pleased, but it made for a good time.
Dinner was at our favorite restaurant at the resort - Spice. It is Asian fusion and we went to TOWN with a 4 course meal that included sushi, spring rolls, thai beef salad, udon and tempura ice cream (YUM!).
We ended the evening with another round of Rummy 500 over drinks. It truly was a lazy day - here's hoping to sunshine tomorrow for our LAST FULL DAY (sad).
Monday, April 26, 2010
Day 7 - Shopping!
Today started out the same as all the others - sunshine, cool breeze, amazing views. Pretty much the best way to wake up. I highly recommend it! After a delicious breakfast we headed to our room so we can lay out on the patio. I borrowed a book from the Excellence library since I already sped through the 2 that I brought. The day went by without a care in the world. But there was something to look forward to - SHOPPING IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN!!
We met our tour
guide and group at 4 pm and were whisked away to the cozy beach town of Playa Del Carmen. Their famous "Fifth Avenue" boasts many a souvenir shop along with wonderful restaurants and quaint hotels. It's like being in Rehobeth only in Mexico! We have 2 1/2 hours to roam the streets, take in the scenery and purchase all the Mexican goods one can afford! I landed myself some beautiful scarves while Ed was in search of the perfect Mayan calendar. Seems that we should have taken advantage of the $1 deals while at Chichen Itza earlier in the week!
We made a pit stop at an adorable outdoor pub and took advantage of the 2 for 1 deal on Dos Equis XX. After several beers and some delicious enchiladas we were on our way. We met back up with the group and headed back to the hotel where we enjoyed a 5 Star dinner at the resort's French Restaurant Chez Isabelle. Another great day/night in Cancun - how is it that there are only 3 days left?? Tomorrow I turn the big 32 - getting old is easy when you are in the Caribbean!
Video of our shopping trip to Playa Del Carmen: http://www.flipshare.com/view.aspx
We met our tour
guide and group at 4 pm and were whisked away to the cozy beach town of Playa Del Carmen. Their famous "Fifth Avenue" boasts many a souvenir shop along with wonderful restaurants and quaint hotels. It's like being in Rehobeth only in Mexico! We have 2 1/2 hours to roam the streets, take in the scenery and purchase all the Mexican goods one can afford! I landed myself some beautiful scarves while Ed was in search of the perfect Mayan calendar. Seems that we should have taken advantage of the $1 deals while at Chichen Itza earlier in the week!We made a pit stop at an adorable outdoor pub and took advantage of the 2 for 1 deal on Dos Equis XX. After several beers and some delicious enchiladas we were on our way. We met back up with the group and headed back to the hotel where we enjoyed a 5 Star dinner at the resort's French Restaurant Chez Isabelle. Another great day/night in Cancun - how is it that there are only 3 days left?? Tomorrow I turn the big 32 - getting old is easy when you are in the Caribbean!
Video of our shopping trip to Playa Del Carmen: http://www.flipshare.com/view.aspx
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Day 6 - Beach Time!
Today was one of those lazy days that you dream about when you are sitting at your desk staring at a computer screen. :) We woke up to more beautiful sunshine and decided to hit the beach after a hearty breakfast. And let me just add - all inclusive meals and drinks is VERY dangerous. Especially when the food is as good as it is here. I think I have eaten at least 2 gallons of guacamole since my arrival here!
The beach was hot so we parked ourselves under some shade and proceeded to read and sweat! A quick dip in the ocean cooled us down and I have to say, it was a more successful swim than when we were in the Dominican Republic 2 years ago. I'm sure you all remember the coral/Ed cut foot incident! :)
After a few hours we decided to head back to the pool to finish out the day. Dinner was at a lovely Italian restaurant and afterwards we were entertained with some really awesome International dance styles including one rendition of Irish Line Dancing. We are back in the room now hiding from the enormous thunderstorm that has engulfed the resort. Only 4 more days until reality - boo!!! But we are going to live up every last minute of it!!!
The beach was hot so we parked ourselves under some shade and proceeded to read and sweat! A quick dip in the ocean cooled us down and I have to say, it was a more successful swim than when we were in the Dominican Republic 2 years ago. I'm sure you all remember the coral/Ed cut foot incident! :)
After a few hours we decided to head back to the pool to finish out the day. Dinner was at a lovely Italian restaurant and afterwards we were entertained with some really awesome International dance styles including one rendition of Irish Line Dancing. We are back in the room now hiding from the enormous thunderstorm that has engulfed the resort. Only 4 more days until reality - boo!!! But we are going to live up every last minute of it!!!
Day 5 - Dolphins!!!
Another great day down here on the Riveria Maya. This morning we woke up and were whisked away to go play with some dolphins. The trip to the site took us through the bustling town of Playa del Carmen which is very quaint - we are headed there later in the week to do some shopping and after seeing the town, we are really looking forward to it.
We arrived at the dolphin sanctuary and were issued a locker, a life preserver, a trainer named Stephanie and a dolphin named Maya. The dolphins were all adorable, but of course Maya was the best. :) She spent some free time with us just swimming around so that we can pet her and then showed off some of her best tricks including a kiss, a song, some clapping and a foot push that had us moving across the lagoon. We shared the experience with a couple from Canada who looked no older than us but had 2 teenage kids at home. We hope we look like them at their age!!!!
After our visit with Maya we came back to the hotel and lounged by the pool for several hours. Dinner was at the Lobster House where Laura downed MANY a Mango Martini - damn things are good!! It was an early night after all the excitement. Tomorrow - day at the beach!
We arrived at the dolphin sanctuary and were issued a locker, a life preserver, a trainer named Stephanie and a dolphin named Maya. The dolphins were all adorable, but of course Maya was the best. :) She spent some free time with us just swimming around so that we can pet her and then showed off some of her best tricks including a kiss, a song, some clapping and a foot push that had us moving across the lagoon. We shared the experience with a couple from Canada who looked no older than us but had 2 teenage kids at home. We hope we look like them at their age!!!!
After our visit with Maya we came back to the hotel and lounged by the pool for several hours. Dinner was at the Lobster House where Laura downed MANY a Mango Martini - damn things are good!! It was an early night after all the excitement. Tomorrow - day at the beach!
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