31 is the new 30

So my sneaky husband threw me a surprise party on Saturday night, the day after my actual birthday, at Narcisi Winery.  Apparently he felt guilty for not planning anything for me for my 30th.  Glad he waited until 31 to surprise me because who would have thought you be thrown a surprise party on your 31st?  Certainly not me.  Looking back on it, there were hints that he was planning something but I just didn't get it.  I'm good like that.  And it's a good thing I am not the snooping kind of girl.  He made a super secret FB event and invited all of my favorite people.  Since he is still a man, he didn't get around to planning the party until 3 weeks ago, so a lot of the people he invited couldn't come because they already had plans.  But it's the thought that counts, right?  It was the perfect night of good wine with even better company.  

Danke bayba for the amazing night!  Ich Liebe Dich, so viel!:)

Walking up to what I thought was just dinner for the two of us.  Apparently we passed both my in-laws' and SIL's cars.  In case you couldn't already tell, I am pretty observant (ha!). 

Party people

Props to my awesome MIL for the beautiful Fall decor on the tables.  She knows how to throw a good party. 

Ice cream cake is dabomb.com

Everyone sang to me.  Embarrassing. 

Party loot.  We now have 8 bottles of wine.  Might have to actually throw a "Open that Bottle" party this year. 

How was your weekend?

Do anything fun?

Linking up with Sami, Tarole, and Bre today! 

feather on the clyde {sunday sounds}

I have been attempting to catch up Elementary on xfinity's website.  I was doing pretty damn good until they took all of last season off because, I am assuming, the new season started.  I was so disappointed.  Anyhow, I love everything about that show.  I am such a sucker for a good mystery, a hot British accent, and Sherlock Holmes.  One of my favorite characters, if you will, from the show is the music.  This is from the last scene of One Way To Get Off (the last one I got to watch).  Just can't seem to get enough of this right now. 

until next time

wine tasting the weekend away

The husband and I met up with some friends of ours in North East, PA for a weekend of wine tasting.  I am not sure what I was expecting, but I was completely blown away by the wineries up there.  I guess Napa turned me into a bit of a wine touring and tasting snob, because I was not expecting much.  I think I assumed North East would be a lot like Erie, which in my opinion (and no offense to anyone who lives there) is pretty depressing.  But the quaint town of North East was just adorable.  I mean how can you not fall in love with a town surrounded by at least two dozen wineries? 

Since our day got off to a later start than had planned, the husband and I waited for our friends at South Shore Wine Company.  Apparently South Shore was Erie's first commercial winery, established in 1864.  As soon as you walk down the stairs and into the cellar, you can immediately sense the history.  The husband and I split 6 tastings (for $3 by the way - you should have seen the husband's face!) and bought a bottle to have with a bowl of broccoli and cheese soup while we waited for our friends to arrive. 

We met up with our friends at the hotel, and since we liked South Shore's environment so much we went again once our friends got there.  While the wine was good and you felt you were part of history just standing inside, no one was overly impressed with the staff there.  The pourer was not very friendly and seemed to be very annoyed to have to do her job.  And I am not sure about you, but the pourer really make the experience that much better. 

We initially intended on biking the 14 mile route from winery to winery, but since we got such a late start, we decided to just drive instead.  The weather was rather chilly and it ended up raining so it was a good thing we did.  Our next stop was Mazza Vineyards, which South Shore is under.  Apparently Mazza is not very good at hiring friendly people because we felt the same way about Mazza as we did South Shore, good wine, fun environment but the pourers were not very friendly.

Our last two stops were my favorite.  Sparkling Ponds Winery was just across the New York state border and you got as many tastings as you wanted for only $2.  We even got a food pairing with one of the wines!  As much as I love my wine, I pretty much only know the difference between sweet and dry and red and white.  That's as far as my knowledge goes, so most of the wines started to taste the same to me but this one was probably my favorite because the pourer was extremely friendly and knowledgeable.  You could tell she loves what she does. 

Next stop, and second favorite of mine, was Lakeview Wine Cellars.  Lakeview is run by a sweet older couple whose dream it was to always open their own winery one day.  So the man went back to school after he retired, and got a degree in wine making.  Which seems about the only thing worth going back to school for these days.  Just my opinion.  They were awesome and so friendly.  Even gave us some recommendations for places to eat and what not for that night.

Since I am 30 (31 on Friday), I was not up for a crazy night so I was completely content with dinner and a few drinks and chatting over a few glasses of wine before hitting the hay by 11.  Like I said, I am 30.  And I think everyone was pretty happy about turning in early.  We all woke up pretty refreshed the next day and since we all brought our bikes (but hadn't used them yet), we decided to head on over to Presque Isle to bike the 12.6 mile loop.  It was a perfect day for it, even though my butt is still telling me different.  Before we headed home, we went to The Tap House for lunch and bloodys.  Perfect end to a great weekend.  I am pretty sure if we were closer to home, those bloodys would have turned into a few more and a Sunday Funday. 

How was your weekend?
Do you like wine?
Do you close to any wineries?

Linking up with Shanna and Melissa today!

until next time 

it's been 21 years...

I am not going to start off by apologizing for not blogging in over a week because I am not sorry.  I just haven't been feeling it lately.  Heck, I have hardly been reading my favorites.  I have just been a little preoccupied with more important things like friends getting married, an upcoming weekend wine tasting in Erie, learning German, cleaning, and THE PIRATES BEING IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 21 YEARS.  Yes, you read that right, 21 years.  Unlike the husband, who has been saying every year since I have known him that the Pirates are winning the world series this year, I was a bit of a skeptic.  Even though I haven't lived in Pitt my whole life, I just got used to the idea that while going to games are fun and all, the Pirates were just going to disappoint every year so I just wouldn't allow myself to get too attached.  KnowWhatImSayin?  Now, I am that totally annoying "band wagon" girl who knows nothing about the players (unless they are cute of course) but is now shit talking like the opposite is true.  LETS GO BUCS! 

Now it's time to catch up on my favorite reads and enter to win some free stuff because who doesn't love free stuff, right?!

And because I have been obsessed with BSB's Pandora Station, here's some awesomeness for #backthatazzup

Linking up with Angie, Rachel, and Whitney today!

until next time
 

cry me a river

(the title has nothing to do with this post.  just so happens to be the song i am listening to at the moment)

Today's Blogtember prompt is; Write about what makes you happy and what makes you sad. 

I am happy:

... I discovered the Backstreet Boys Pandora Station

... I got off of work 2 hours early today

... I got to see my family last weekend

... I have another wedding to go to this weekend

... I have a lot planned in the next few weeks. 

... that I get paid to hang out with a 4 year old and 18 month old

... that I have a husband who I just can't seem to get enough

... I have 3 day weekends

I am sad:

... that I had to leave my family last weekend and who knows the next time we will all be back together (I am looking at you, Kristin and BJ).

... While I got off early, I don't get paid for those 2 hours. 

... that is has been more than 10 years ago I saw BSB (yeah that's right) in concert. 

... our house just does not seem to stay clean

... leaving my Grandmother because I am never really sure if I am maybe saying good-bye to her for the last time. 

... my camera battery charger seems to no longer want to charge.  

What's making you happy or sad these days?

Since I didn't get the chance to yesterday (read: I watched TV instead), I am sharing my 365 photos with you today.  Since I have one battery life meter thingy left on my camera (and that the charger isn't charging anymore), I have been leaving my camera at home.  So excuse some of these extremely poor quality iPhone photos.  I did the best I could. 

Sept 19, 2013.  Day 273 of 365.

"Out of Focus"

Sept 20, 2013.  Day 274 of 365.

"Bloody"

Sept 21, 2013.  Day 275 of 365.

"Sunset Bridge Wedding"

Sept 22, 2013.  Day 276 of 365.

"Futuristic Plane"

Sept 23, 2013.  Day 277 of 365.

"Sexy"

Sept 24, 2013.  Day 278 of 365.

"Fall Beauty"

Sept 25, 2013.  Day 279 of 365.

"Fall Candle"

Sept 26, 2013.  Day 280 of 365.

"Fall Morning"

Linking up with Jenni today!

until next time

sometimes they call me bear, but i hate it.

I actually had a weekend that is worthy of documenting.  I met my family, both immediate and extended, in Nashville for my cousin's wedding.  Loads of drinking, laughing, dancing, etc were had as always.  I would never have it any other way.  And due to all of the above, I am still recovering today with a pretty bad headache that I cannot seem to kick so it will be a short post with a majority of it being photos.  

en route to the rehearsal dinner.  pre-drinks. 

the cool cousins table.  

my sisters and mom. 

Knowing that the next night, Saturday, would be the wedding and many of us would be needing to wake up early on Sunday to head back home, we decided to go for some drinks close to our hotel.  This is where the shenanigans really began.  I'll just say that fireball shots were taken, glasses were broken, beer spilled, and maybe or maybe not someone in our group got us all thrown out of the bar (I promise it wasn't me!).  

Party then continued in the "hospitality suite."

this guy would not leave my cousin alone all weekend.  just wouldn't get the hint. 

so crazy story.  the guy on the left in the photo above is the kid of my Dad's ex-fiance.  small world. 

Due to the shenanigans from the night before, I didn't leave the hotel but to grab Starbucks in the am.  I do wish I had gotten out to walk around the city as we were right downtown.  I just don't do headaches well.  Anyway, the wedding was held on the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge with a beautiful view of the sun setting over the city.  Who would have thought you could ever get married on a bridge.  Pretty cool though, huh?

doesn't my cousin, the last one, look so happy?  and so much like his dad?

cousin's baby.  isn't he the cutest baby you ever did see?

The reception was held at the Bridge Building right next to the bridge.  My cousin, who is a chef, came up with the menu for the buffet style dinner himself.  I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat but everyone was raving about everything they ate.  And since I have a new obsession with rooftops, I loved spending time on the roof dancing the night away with my family who I do not get to see very often. 

the cake.  how cool are those?  along with being a foody, the bride is quite the writer. 

the flower girls and ring bearer watching the first dance:)

me and my dad

all the cousins with Grandmal

me with my parents. 

Like always, the weekend was way too short and I had such a hard time saying good-bye to everyone.  I just need to seriously push having a family reunion next Summer.  

Sorry I am not sorry for all of the photos.  But with this headache it's all I could muster.  Now it's time for Prisoner of Azkaban on my couch while I sip on hot water with lemon.  I have another wedding next weekend so recovery is my top priority.   

Linking up with Sami, Jenni, and Tarole.

until next time