I feel like I want to...

There are so many ways I could end that sentence- but honestly where is that punching bag?  I need a vacation or something- stress release please!

Ok Ok really what am I stressed over? Nothing really. Started summer job today and it wont be bad or stressful so that’s good.  I am blaming the hormones and all things natural!

I should be happy today that I was featured in the B Free Daily today in an article about food bloggers. If you are in the Baltimore area stop by one of the B orange bins and pick up the free paper or you can read it  online here.

This past weekend we headed down to the National Zoo in DC with another couple- it was HOT but we didn't melt away.  After the zoo we had a nice late lunch.  Andy got some great photos so make sure to  check them out!

This weekend I am excited because it’s the annual picnic with a bunch of my college friends up in the Lancaster area- the kids are getting so big! (Yet we tend to be the only ones there without kiddos go figure).

We booked one of our hotels called Fairmont le Chateau Frontenac for our trip up into Canada in August- I can't wait to be treated like a Queen in this castle! One the way up we are stopping at my parents place in NY and Edgar man is staying with them for the week while we head up into Canada.

Busy Busy Bumble Bee

Well the last 2 weeks have been a bit crazy for me…


Had to have surgery on my mouth, my birthday came along and then back to the “baby doctor”.
Surgery went well and recovery was quick.  I went back to the dentist for a cleaning today and they found a stitch that they missed taking out last week so they had to poke around in there after my cleaning to get it out (hurt a little bit).


My birthday was nice- that Friday 12 of us went out to dinner at a new place in Baltimore called Miguel's Cocina y Cantina for margaritas and Mexican.


Monday I headed back to the doctor for another check up since the last visit.  This last month he had me track my BBT (Basal Body Temp).  He said it looked “textbook” which he explained was a good thing and that it looked like I ovulated.  He did another uterus ultrasound and said all looked good.  He proceeded to prescribe the 100 mg of Clomid again and sent me to get my progesterone levels checked again (yeah more blood work).  He then told me that if I don’t get my period within the next 5 days to take a pregnancy test- well it came so that’s a big negative that it happened last month!  So I think we are going to give it try another month and talk about the next steps and IVF.


An exciting note- the last day of school was yesterday and I have 2 days off before I start my summer job.  Today I took myself to get a massage.


Besides work and all these Doctors I have been busy with my food writing.  Last weekend I was invited to be part of a blogger panel at the Great Grapes festival.  I have also been a expert judge a few times a month at the Mason Dixon Master Chef Tournament (Baltimore’s own version of Iron Chef America). You have to check out the videos and pictures from the tournament

Left to right Wendi, Wendy, Me, Liz and Dara

Check out what the other bloggers had to say...

• Bon Appetit Hon
• My Morning Chocolate
• Sweet Mary (Thanks for taking my pictures for me!)

Attack of the night guard

So I got my night gurad today.  Honestly I am not looking forward to wearing this thing at night.

On a positive side is isnt that big and take up my entire mouth like I had visioned (I was picturing one of those mough gaurd you put in hot water and mold for sports).

When I put it on my upper teeth it reminds me of my younger days when I wouldn't wear my retainers for a few weeks and then would put it in and it would be tight and put a lot of pressure on my teeth.

Now the dentist (did I mention she is preggo!) asures me it will give a little bit and if it give me problems I can call and have them readjust it some by filing it down in places.  She told me it can't be loose so that it fails off my teeth at night.  But honestly I struggle to get the thing off!

So I am going to try it tonight and see how it goes- not sure how I feel about this :/

Now this isn't mine but I have the same case and it looks very simaliar to mine

Oh Yeah- Happy Birthday Uncle Mike and Marney!

Recovery and growing up

Well surgery went well.  The meds they gave me are doing wonders- no TMJ pain either!  I still can't open my mouth all the way.  As of right now it is up in the air if I am going to work on Monday.  I can handle the day as long as I don't have to raise my voice and what not.

As for school 8 days left as of Friday- YIPPIE!.  Yes I will be working over the summer but that is always fun.

Also in 5 days (June 10)- yes 5 days I turn 32.  I can't believe I will be 32- time flies by! It's crazy to think back to time long ago....

My 1st Christmas

The early years of elementary school (I am on the left)

A few more years into Elem. School (I am in the purple fox shirt)

Class of '96 (I am 2nd starting from left)

Sometime in college (I am in the purple dress)

Sometime in college (Yup thats my Hubby)

My wedding day July 12, 2003

and Present day

A weekend getaway

I have had a lot on my mind lately... between all things baby, the drama with finding out I have TMJ and also need to have surgery on mouth this next week- I need a break!

Oh yeah the surgery- I have to have a wisdom tooth taken out but they have discovered the root is up in the sinus cavity so when they remove the tooth they have to do a skin graph from my check to plug the hole up into my sinus cavity so it doesn't drain into my mouth.  And yes now that I have TMJ I have to wear a "super sexy" mouth guard when I sleep (I asked if I could get a glow in the dark one but they said no while laughing)- waiting for to come in since they took impressions of my mouth. Spent 2 whole days at doctors offices dealing with my mouth.  Surgery is on June 3rd.

So on a spur of the moment idea about 2 weeks back my Husband suggest we head down to the Outer Banks in NC for the long 3 day weekend of Memorial Day. BINGO- just what I needed!

We had a relaxing time hitting up the beach and play tourist.  We drove down Friday last afternoon and grabbed some dinner after checking in to our hotel.  Saturday the weather started out gloomy so we jumped in the car and started driving the whole way down to Hateras from Nags Head and then took the ferry to Ocracoke Island. Ocracoke Island was our favorite place, not many people, miles and miles of beach.  We fell in love with Ocracoke we are thinking of renting a house for a whole week next summer.

Sunday we decided to just hit the beach at our hotel in Kill Devil Hills.  It had a bit more people but the beach was nice and clean.  We saw about 20 dolphins not so far off the coast and about 100 brown pelican's fishing 50 yards in front of us.  After hitting the beach Sunday we headed over to the Wright Brothers National Memorial and then over to lost Roanoke Colony and the Elizabethan Gardens. Then he took me to the Coach outlet (like I need another Coach purse but he wanted to take me).  I hit it big there because they were having their 50% clearance plus gave me a coupon for an additional 20% (Originally $298.99, on Sale for $289.99, got it for around $115).


Now I discovered my husband notices things when we are public- I always seem to run into pregnant women no matter where we go- well now he notices it and we sort of make a game out of it (How many preggo ladies did you see in the store, etc?).  You have to laugh about things in life or seriously life will just pull you down. (I go back to the "baby doctor" on the 15th of June)

Click here to see more pictures from our trip

A girl's day in: food, friends & jewels!

There is nothing more fun than a couple of hours with your friends and beautiful jewelry. Yesterday I had a handmade beaded & wire wrapped silver jewelry by Studio 722 Jewelry (A friend of mine make it all herself).  She uses sterling silver, semi-precious gemstones, freshwater pearls and other beautiful materials in her handmade jewelry.

It was great having friends and coworkers over to the house to share in some fun and laughs. We had so much fun that the we lost track of time and before we knew it was 5:00!

I put on my Chef's hat and made some yummy delights from Spinach & Artichoke stuffed mushrooms caps, Nana's Apple Cake, Shrimp Cocktail, Warm the Oven Cheese spread, Beer Bread (with Dogfish Head Aprihop), Italian Cheese Ball and a veggie tray (Didn't think to take pictures).

I got some GREAT looking pieces and can't wait to wear them out...

 

Blue Cats Eye Earrings with Hammered Link

 

Purple Amethyst Crystal Quartz Beaded Silver Earrings

Glass and Swarovski Crystal

 For my mom- Cosmic Blue Goldstone Beaded Silver Earrings

As a Hostess gift she asked my favorite colors and made these for me
Pink Wire Wrapped Sterling Silver Earrings

I fell hard....

So recently I was asked how my husband and I met.  This is how the story goes...

In the fall of 1998 we were both asked to be an International Buddy at Lock Haven University.  An International Buddy is a LHU student who has been attending LHU and then partnered up with an exchange student.  We had this meeting we had to attend before we got our buddies.  I walked to the meeting with another girl from my floor of North Hall.  She started taking to this hunky guy wearing a Penguins hat- so since she knew him I asked who he was and so forth.  We we finally got our buddy it just so happened that we both got partner with 2 girls from a college in France that were friends.  So we planned some things to do with this girls as a group.  Well one night Andy called me up and asked me to go for a walk- I said "sure let me call the girls"- and his reply was "No just you and me". So off on our walk we went- towards the end of it we ended up sitting on a bench talking when he leaned in and kissed me... and the rest is history!

Twelve years later we are getting ready to celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary.

Have you ever been just sitting next to your partner and in the complete silence you fall in love all over again?  Its a great thing that no matter how rough things are and how many ups and downs you go through those feelings are still there.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
                                                                      ~Mignon McLaughlin