Beach Pics

Sorry for the delay in blogging about our girl's beach trip, we got back last Tuesday evening and I have been very busy with work and my cousin's wedding festivities. We had her bachelorette weekend in Atlanta this past weekend and the wedding is this Saturday and I will be traveling to LaGrange for it.

I'd say this collage sums up our trip -

The top beach pic was taken within hours of arriving. This is pretty embarrassing but when we landed in Tampa we took a cab straight to the liquor store, haha. We did not have a car and there were no stores around the hotel. So liquor store to hotel to the beach. Priorities people!

One of several beverages we picked up, Skinny Girl Cucumber Vodka -

 

We drank it with club soda, very refreshing and low cal!

Sheena and I are obsessed with oysters, Allison not quite so much she can take them or leave 'em. That was one of about 5 orders we had over the course of the trip, delish.

Above bottom right pic taken at our hotel's rooftop bar, a fun beachy atmosphere that has a big countdown timer to sunset, gives out free shots and blares "When the sun goes down" at sunset :)

We were very lucky with the weather, didn't rain any during the day

We indulged in lots of fresh seafood, at one meal instead of each ordering an entree we ordered about 6 different appetizers of seafood. So many great spots all around our hotel.

No we did not plan to all wear teal dresses :) Our waiter asked if we had been in a wedding haha.

Our calamari and chocolate lava cake from that dinner, so good. For our entrees I had parmesan crusted salmon (yum), Allison had shrimp and grits and Sheena had lobster ravioli that was heavenly.

Some of the maid's handiwork in our hotel -

Do you think the right one looks like a swan or a snake? It's definitely a swan but Allison yelled, "Snake!" right when she spotted it haha.

Our last full day on the beach -

Of course Allison and I rented a tent and slathered ourselves in our fav sunblock -

Sheena was brave to go on a beach trip with us albinos, lots of "Can you put sunblock on back?" requests and Sheena was shocked at the amount of sunblock I would use haha.

Sunset on the rooftop bar with frozen pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris, ahh vaca

Our last night we went out to dinner and drinks (we stayed within a .3 mile radius of our hotel the whole trip) and met a new friend at one of the bars, this really drunk lady from Norway (I think?) and Allison was the only one who could understand her and carry on a conversation with her haha.

 

 One last stop at the rooftop bar, we grabbed lunch there before heading to the airport

 Bye, Clearwater Beach! Thanks for a fun girl's trip :)

Aannnd one more embarrassing story from the trip, so we definitely missed our flight the way there.... One word: Marta. It was absolutely miz. It was running on some kind of glacial schedule and long story short it tooks us 2 HOURS to get from Buckhead to the airport. I was so anxious because 1. Obvi about to miss my flight to my much anticipated beach vaca 2. I forgot to eat or grab a Luna bar that morning and we all know how that goes when I forgo eating 3. So many people scared me on the train, one man got on and was yelling racist comments and stuff like, "This is MY train!" and I thought we were all about to die and then this homeless man in a wheelchair started quizzing Sheena and I with number and word problems. I turned to Sheena and said, "This is what hell is like." But thankfully we got put on a flight all together just an hour later than our scheduled flight. Everyone with Airtran was very nice and accommodating and said people had been missing their flights all morning because of Marta! Ridic. We were very fortunate and happily boarded our plane with food in tow and arrived just an hour later to sunny Florida :)

Wordless Wednesday

Returning to the office after vaca is always a little rough...

Friday Five

1. Someone got neutered last week and was not pleased about it -

My boss gave me that soft cone for when her maltese was spayed and right when walking out of the vet he flicked it off, so I stopped by a pet supply store on the way home to get a new one but they didn't have any, so I cut that one and tied it to his collar with a bandana.

Not a fan of the cone, this is his "Seriously?" expression, he also gives it to me when I talk to him in a British accent -

The cone has held up relatively well until yesterday... When I got home last night his cone was still intact but missing were his sutures. The cone has gotten worn out and he managed to get to them. But it ended up being a good thing since I took him to the vet this morning and was told everything looks good since it's just a few days from when he originally was supposed to have his sutures removed. The vet tech said it looks exactly how it would look if they had taken them out. So no more cone or sutures for George! He's at the office with me today and a happy camper. He even jumped out of my cube area and sprinted to where another office cavalier, Oliver, was across the office -

He loves Oliver and this sweet 5 month old puppy Lula, who is the most calm and well behaved puppy I've ever seen -

I'm so glad he is sans cone now especially since he will be staying with one of my neighbors while I go to Tampa for a girl's beach weekend :)

2. So very excited to hop on a plane with Allison and Sheena tomorrow! Fingers crossed it doesn't rain the whole time and we can get lots of time beach time in. (under an umbrella for me and Allison of course)

Got a much needed pedi earlier this week, a new swimsuit and coverup from Target last night (yep another Target trip haha, see previous post ;) and getting a spray tan tonight :)

Xhilaration® Junior's 2-Piece Swimsuit -Peppermint

Xhilaration® Junior's Strapless Cover Up Dress

3. It's officially springtime, pretty flowers around my condo -

I wish I could get a pic of George smelling a flower :)

4. With warm weather I like making smoothies with fresh fruit and veggies to take to work, this one had frozen blueberries, spinach, kale, apple, blueberry Greek yogurt, a splash of orange juice and green tea and some Trader Joe's super green powder that is full of vitamins -

Here are lots of great recipes on my smoothie pin board :)

And the occasional milkshake splurge!

5. Springtime is my favorite time of year to do some serious cleaning and organizing, something therapeutic about it. Last weekend when George was recuperating I spent a good chunk of my Sunday organizing and cleaning out my closet. (It's the kind of chore that's painful to get started on but once you start you can't stop!) These pics aren't super impressive or blog worthy haha but I am very proud of my newly color coordinated hanging clothes and that I can now walk in my closet :)

The shoes still need some work. I got those clear plastic cases from The Container Store a couple years ago and need to add some more.

George was giving me a double "Seriously?" look as he was sitting on my bed sporting the cone and watching me wreak havoc in my bedroom by pulling everything out of my closet. I also wrestled with these wire stack-able shelves I got from Target when I first moved in and I am not being dramatic when I say this but they are possessed. They are impossible to stack. And I may have broken them in the process of trying.

Be back next week with pics from the beach :)

Target Love

It's no secret that Target is my happy place, where I go to escape in the midst of a hectic workday and since it's Target I'm being productive and getting things I need, a win win! ;-) Well since I've been bringing my new fur baby into work with me everyday for the last few weeks I haven't been making my usual weekly lunch trips, but I went yesterday because I was in dire need of a lot of essentials. I left George with some coworkers and off I went (George was not pleased with this arrangement, but for some of you who seem to have this crazy notion that I'm spoiling him let this be an example that he doesn't always get his way ;-)

Some of the essentials I picked up -

A Brita water pitcher

In small group a few weeks ago one of the girls was drinking a massive bottle of SmartWater and somehow we all started talking about drinking water. She was going on about how much she hates Atlanta tap water and most of the other girls chimed in agreeing with her. I got quiet and ducked my head and looked at my glass of tap water sitting on my coffee table then finally quietly admitted, "I drink tap water." To which they all pointed out that my glass looked cloudy. I've considered getting a Brita for years but for some reason always dismissed it that I didn't really need one, until now... I think 30 bucks is worth ensuring I'm drinking clean water. And I got the pretty green color. And I think George will appreciate the filtered water, too ;-)

Method cleaning products

My absolute fav cleaning products are Method. They are so fresh and nontoxic and not abrasive. I ran out of my cucumber scented surface cleaner and opted for clementine this time. Getting excited about cleaning products = I'm so mature and fun ;-)

A few healthy'ish snacks for those late afternoon cravings -

These are delish and just 70 calories a pack, a much better alternative to when I sometimes go to the cafe in my office complex and load up on self serve gummy candy which always results in a self loathing sugar coma.

I've yet to have anything Kashi I don't like, their dark mocha almond granola bars are pretty satisfying and a good go to when a chocolate craving hits. I also like the dark chocolate cherry kind.

I ran out of my Oscar Blandi dry shampoo (what I use on non hair wash days). Don't know when I'll make it over to Sephora and I'm not that crazy about it anyway so thought I'd try this more economical one by Garnier Frustis -

Also almost out of matte face powder. I apply it in the morning and afternoon to keep the shine away. I use Benefit and then for reapplication and touch ups I've opted for a cheaper brand, I like Sonia Kashuk sold only at Target, just $10 -

Love my Sonicare toothbrush, I highly recommend making the investment so worth it. I needed toothbrush head refills and was pleased to see that there were Target brand ones for a little bit cheaper -

Hey I'm trying to save where I can with all the new pet expenses and such. Sweet George is getting neutered today, I was so sad dropping him off this morning he was shaking like a leaf. I decided to pay to have it done at my vet as opposed to taking him back to the shelter and done for free there. I don't think my heart could have handled taking him back there, plus they will give him the extra meds and attention he needs at my vet.

Got a small rug for my kitchen for the steep price of $7.99, I've put George's food bowls on the one I already have and needed another one in front of my sink, plus George likes to get one piece of kibble in his mouth and run to the nearest rug to eat it, so this will save him a few steps, haha. Yes he gets kibble now not chicken and rice like a big boy.

Splurged on this little frame for $1 :) It's a pic of when I first met him, you know the day I raced over to the shelter in the middle of a volunteer shift at the Junior League Nearly New shop, haha. I know I admit I am cray but he is my one and only fur baby! Vet just called and said everything went well with his surgery :)

I'll spare you from the rest of my very exciting toiletry and product purchases. Target has so much cute new home stuff and I didn't buy any of it! I also didn't buy a new swimsuit for my beach trip to Tampa next weekend with Allison and Sheena or any spring clothes. I also perused the Easter candy aisle and walked away empty handed. So proud of myself I think I deserve another Target trip.

Weekend Recap

This past weekend was the Junior League of Atlanta's Tour of Kitchens event, kicked off with a lavish party Friday night at Mason Murer Fine Art and then Saturday and Sunday were tours of beautifully designed homes and chef demos around Metro Atlanta.

My first time attending the Toast of the Tour party, definitely did not disappoint - A large, cool space with live music, gourmet food, cocktails made by a mixologist with demonstrations, an entire dessert room and a silent auction. A typical Friday night ;-)

Drinks made with dry ice by the mixologist on hand -

Some of the ladies who are in my new member small group, I've really enjoyed getting to know them they are all so sweet and fun!

Aerial silks! Remember when I went to an aerial silks class a couple year ago? :)

Saturday morning George had to go out in the rain and was not pleased, he shakes and rolls all over the floor like a rabid animal when he's wet, the aftermath -

Saturday afternoon I volunteered at one of the houses on the Tour of Homes route, their newly renovated kitchen and master bath were featured -

Definitely makes me long for an upgrade...

Saturday night went out in downtown Roswell to celebrate Sheena's birthday!

Several people asked if it was her 21st birthday haha:)

After dinner we popped by Party Chic a couple doors down on Canton Street for some cupcakes to bring the group at our next stop -

Peanut butter, cookie dough and red velvet :) While at Party Chic they gave us free drinks, including my new fav drink - a vanilla vodka shirley temple!

I stayed at my parent's house that night and most of Sunday, with the cold weather and being on the go so much I was exhausted, nice to have a down day.

Back to work today!