Monday, August 1, 2011

1 Year Anniversary

Exactly a year ago, I married my best friend. In honor of our very first anniversary, Andy and I had a little weekend getaway to reminisce, relax, and remember all the details of our perfect day. Andy took the day off of work on Friday and we headed to Tarara Winery in Leesburg, the same place where Andy proposed on October 2, 2009 and where we held our rehearsal dinner. It was a gorgeous day and Andy had surprised me by setting up another mini-picnic on the lake with cheese, crackers and a bottle of wine to share (just as he did when he popped the question!). It was so peaceful and we sat and chatted about all the wonderful memories we have of our times at Tarara. It was the perfect kickoff to our anniversary weekend.
Gorgeous Afternoon
 After a little wine tasting and reminiscing at Tarara, we headed to the the Leesburg outlets for a quick shopping trip. It was nice to just spend the whole day together with no time constraints or obligations. We enjoyed walking around the shops and picking up a few items.

After shopping, we arrived at Lansdowne Resort and checked into our room for the weekend. One of the MANY great things about having our wedding at Lansdowne Resort is that they offered us a free night at the resort for our first anniversary. Andy decided to surprise me and turn our 1 night getaway into a whole weekend of relaxation :) Friday night, we went to a delicious dinner at the golf clubhouse and then headed outside to a concert they were hosting on the back patio where we got married. A local rock n' roll cover band was playing so we had a few beverages and sat in the grass for some sing alongs. We finished our night with a few drinks in the pub and then called it an early night. It was the perfect start to our weekend.
Dessert awaiting us upon check-in at Lansdowne
Rock n Roll Cover Band
Enjoying the concert
 On Saturday, we went outside of the resort and found a nice local diner for breakfast. Then we headed back to the resort for a pool day. Lansdowne has 3 gorgeous pools and we spent the day loungin' in the sun and sippin' on some frozen drinks. That night, we went to another restaurant at the resort and bought several glasses of wine to enjoy as we sat outside by the firepit- a place with a TON of late night memories for us from our wedding :) We met some really nice golfers from London and Ireland who came overseas for a long golf weekend with their American buddies. They were great company and we enjoyed meeting some new people.
Ceremony Site 1 year Later
We returned home on Sunday to wrap-up our anniversary weekend. That evening, we caught up on episodes of Big Brother on the DVR and ordered a pizza. To conclude the celebrations, we ate very small bits of the top layer of our wedding cake (which, by the way, we have decided is the worst tradition ever!) and watched the entire 2-hour video of our wedding day. It was the perfect weekend for us to celebrate US!
Beautiful Hawaiian Floral Arrangement from my Mom & Dad
Puzzle gift of US from Kevin & Carissa!
A little icing touch-up by mom :)
To my husband: I love you just as much today, if not more than I did on the day you married me. You are my best friend and I am so grateful for the memories we will have for a lifetime, as well as for the future we have yet to write together. I could not ask for a better partner in life and I am so proud to be your wife! Happy first anniversary and to many, many more!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Bahama Mama!

 A couple of weeks ago, my mom, dad, Andy and I ventured to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island for a tropical getaway. We rented a penthouse condo unit right on the ocean with a HUMUNGOUS outdoor deck overlooking the beach. We spent most of our time loungin' at the pool, swimming in the ocean, guzzling frozen drinks from the pool bar, reading books and just spending time together as a family. It was a much needed trip in the sun and sand!
Our Home Away from Home


Mom & Dad chillin in the pool   


First Night Out with my new Lilly purse







View from the rooftop deck

Deck  
Pooltime Fun
Loving the view
Downtown Port Lucaya for dinner & drinks
Port Lucaya Fun
Frozen Drinks at the poolside bar
More poolside bar fun
Beach Day!
All we did for 7 days...
Bahamian Independence Day Celebrations
Winning Night at the Casino
McDonald's
Best Family Ever
On our way to play with the Dolphins
Dolphins!
Ship from the first 2 Pirates of the Caribbean movies
Playing with birds at the Dolphins Sanctuary
More fun at Port Lucaya

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy 4th of July!

This year was fairly low-key in terms of 4th of July celebrations. On Saturday, Andy and I went out to Hamilton, Virginia for the day/night to celebrate with Andy's sister Robyn, their family and what was literally their entire neighborhood. There was delicious food, great drinks, and fun company. The kids had a great time running around, parading, and swimming in the pool. We met some new people, got to spend some nice time with the family, and enjoyed the fireworks display after the sun went down. It was a nice relaxing way to spend the 4th!
Mini-cupcake flags I made for the 4th

Aren't they adorable?!

 I brought a batch of these mini-cupcakes to Andy's mom, my girlfriends for a weekend wine night and to the BBQ at the Wade's on Saturday. They were a hit! They were delicious and turned out even cuter than I had planned! It's as easy as mixing your own favorite cupcake batter flavor (I did chocolate fudge for one flag, and vanilla for the second flag) and baking as many needed to fill a serving tray. I used a mini-cupcake tin for the ones above, but it would work the same as if you used the large. I iced them in standard white icing and then adorned them with blueberries and strawberries (halved) to make the stripes. Pretty easy and pretty darn cute!
Kids parade at the Wade's BBQ

Lauren marching in the kiddie parade

Lauryn & Ashlyn marching
Andy and Mason
Ashlyn on her scooter
Enjoying the parade
After enjoying food and other things :)
Fun on the 4th with nieces and nephews!
Happy 4th of July!