Last night was so much fun.... We had a mini reunion with some friends. We started with pre dinner drinks with Kelly and John at Jackson 20 in Old Town. Then we were joined by Alana, Adam, Michelle, Chris, Erik and Meghan. Jackson 20 had extended their "2009 Restaurant Week" menu through yesterday so we were all ordering their 3 course meal. For $35.09 a person you got an appetizer, entree with side and dessert. Mike had the shrimp, crawfish chowder with a tasso ham crisp while I enjoyed the jumbo lump crab cake with a seasonal slaw and mustard aioli as appetizers. For our entrees Mike ordered the half roasted chicken with cornbread pudding. I upped the wager and had the grilled sirloin topped with a delicious tomato (cooked a perfect medium-rare) with a watercress salad and a macaroni & cheese (made with creamy goat cheese & aged white cheddar). For dessert I had the pecan pie with brandy ice cream and Mike had the nougatine (a vanilla custard with caramel on a sugar cookie). It was a delicious meal with great friends. I would love to go back soon, but will have to save my money as it was quite an expensive meal. After dinner we headed 4 blocks up King Street to Flying Fish for Karoake and after dinner drinks. A few of us had the guts to sing Karoake. It was an amazing night so thanks to everyone who made it out!!!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
A Classy Affair...
Last night was so much fun.... We had a mini reunion with some friends. We started with pre dinner drinks with Kelly and John at Jackson 20 in Old Town. Then we were joined by Alana, Adam, Michelle, Chris, Erik and Meghan. Jackson 20 had extended their "2009 Restaurant Week" menu through yesterday so we were all ordering their 3 course meal. For $35.09 a person you got an appetizer, entree with side and dessert. Mike had the shrimp, crawfish chowder with a tasso ham crisp while I enjoyed the jumbo lump crab cake with a seasonal slaw and mustard aioli as appetizers. For our entrees Mike ordered the half roasted chicken with cornbread pudding. I upped the wager and had the grilled sirloin topped with a delicious tomato (cooked a perfect medium-rare) with a watercress salad and a macaroni & cheese (made with creamy goat cheese & aged white cheddar). For dessert I had the pecan pie with brandy ice cream and Mike had the nougatine (a vanilla custard with caramel on a sugar cookie). It was a delicious meal with great friends. I would love to go back soon, but will have to save my money as it was quite an expensive meal. After dinner we headed 4 blocks up King Street to Flying Fish for Karoake and after dinner drinks. A few of us had the guts to sing Karoake. It was an amazing night so thanks to everyone who made it out!!!
February heartbreak...
So, I haven't met my February goal of losing 10 more pounds. And for that I had to cancel my spa day. I've only lost 3 pounds this month which is really depressing. But it also reinforces that I can't just eat healthy I have to work out too. I've been really unmotivated this month for whatever reason - and I really mean whatever. I have learned that I have to take the time to pack my lunch the night before and my gym bag too. If I don't I won't have time to do those things in the morning before work and thus won't eat a healthy lunch and won't go to the gym. My downfall is my apartment, it's like the black hole - once I make it home from work and get inside I don't want to go back out - especially when it's as cold as it is right now. Please keep praying for me, and I'll hop back on the wagon for March.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
New Small Group Ideas...
For this post, I'm "stealing" a bit from an email I received from Jill:
For our first week (March 11) we plan to have a pizza and game night, then we will beginning a study series called "Starting Point" the following week (March 18). Materials for this series are $20 (I think - Andy???)I will send out a follow up email to get a count for the first week, but until then please consider joining this group and let me or Brett know if you have any questions. Additionally, please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone who you think would be interested.
Our small group has really impacted my life. It is that one night a week when I can relax with good friends and unwind. I grew up in a small church with all of my family and many friends attending every Wednesday night, Sunday morning and evening. Through college and the years to follow I strayed away, mostly because I was lazy (and partially still am). But, for those of you reading this, I would love if you'd consider coming. Just give it a try, if you don't like or enjoy it, there are no strings attached. So, email or call for me info!
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I have talked to a few of you, but wanted to let all of you know that Brett and I will be starting a new small group starting on Wednesday March 11.This group will be focused on Christianity 101 and answering tough questions about the Bible, and we hope that even if you have totally different beliefs than we do that you would be willing to be part of the conversation.We will be meeting each week at 7pm for dinner ($5 per person for those who participate in dinner), and 8:00pm for group. We will try to keep the group discussion to a maximum of an hour and then have a quick 10-15 minutes to share anything going on with people that they want to share. Group will dismiss around 9:15pm for those who need to get home, but we invite anyone who wishes to stay for future discussion or LOST to do so!For our first week (March 11) we plan to have a pizza and game night, then we will beginning a study series called "Starting Point" the following week (March 18). Materials for this series are $20 (I think - Andy???)I will send out a follow up email to get a count for the first week, but until then please consider joining this group and let me or Brett know if you have any questions. Additionally, please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone who you think would be interested.
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Our small group has really impacted my life. It is that one night a week when I can relax with good friends and unwind. I grew up in a small church with all of my family and many friends attending every Wednesday night, Sunday morning and evening. Through college and the years to follow I strayed away, mostly because I was lazy (and partially still am). But, for those of you reading this, I would love if you'd consider coming. Just give it a try, if you don't like or enjoy it, there are no strings attached. So, email or call for me info!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Massanutten...
We were so lucky to have our good friends, Brett & Jill, invite us to a weekend getaway at Massanutten Resorts over Valentine's weekend. Mike and I left for Harrisonburg Saturday around noon to meet up with The Gardners, Jill's sister Katelyn, and their friend Iain.
Monday morning we were up bright and early to go tubing!!! Jill, Katelyn, Iain, Mike and I drove over to the tubing park and made the 7 minute ride up the "belt" and then took the first of many trips down the hill. After 2 hours of sliding down in every combination of groups we went back to relieve Brett and have some lunch. The rest of the day was spent in combinations of hot tub and sauna trips.
Once we arrived we settled in to the villa, Katelyn cooked us an amazing pasta dinner with tons 
of fresh herbs and squash......it was amazing!!!! Afterwards we began our first of many games: Phase 10 - I WON!!! It was a late night, heading to bed at 2am. The villa we stayed in was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath. So the Gardners - Brett, Jill, Peter & Aaron stayed in the master bedroom, Iain & Katelyn stayed in the room with twin beds and Mike and I were supposed to sleep on the downstairs fold out couch. Unfortunately for the couch - it looked like a 500 pound giant had squished the bar that goes above your head, so after we had put on all of the sheets and bedding (20 minute job) Mike went to lay down - his head sunk about a foot below the rest of his body. So we scrapped that idea and made other bedding arrangements.
of fresh herbs and squash......it was amazing!!!! Afterwards we began our first of many games: Phase 10 - I WON!!! It was a late night, heading to bed at 2am. The villa we stayed in was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath. So the Gardners - Brett, Jill, Peter & Aaron stayed in the master bedroom, Iain & Katelyn stayed in the room with twin beds and Mike and I were supposed to sleep on the downstairs fold out couch. Unfortunately for the couch - it looked like a 500 pound giant had squished the bar that goes above your head, so after we had put on all of the sheets and bedding (20 minute job) Mike went to lay down - his head sunk about a foot below the rest of his body. So we scrapped that idea and made other bedding arrangements. The next morning I cooked sausage gravy and biscuits and scrambled eggs for everyone. I figured the skiers needed a hearty breakfast before hitting the slopes. It was very entertaining to see Mike get dressed for his first attempt at snowboarding. He was even so prepared as to borrow Danny's hockey pads to wear underneath, unfortunately, they wouldn't fit underneath his ski pants. So, around 11 - Mike, Brett, Iain and Katelyn headed out to ski, while Jill and I suited up the kiddies to go to the pool.
Later in the day, we all reconnected over a delicious baked ziti and settled in for more games. This time we started the night off with Scrabble. Team Romance (Brett & Jill) beat team Barf (Iain & Katelyn) and Team C (Mike and I). We started, but didn't finish a game of Mexican Train before we headed to bed.
Monday morning we were up bright and early to go tubing!!! Jill, Katelyn, Iain, Mike and I drove over to the tubing park and made the 7 minute ride up the "belt" and then took the first of many trips down the hill. After 2 hours of sliding down in every combination of groups we went back to relieve Brett and have some lunch. The rest of the day was spent in combinations of hot tub and sauna trips. Early this morning Mike and I woke up and loaded up the car to come back to Alexandria. Both of us worked a half day and then I went to pick up the baby. Emmie was so excited to see me, but was way more excited to see her daddy!!!
Thanks Jill & Brett for thinking of us and including us in your vacation getaway. We had such a great time bonding with you and the kids. And we look forward to a scrabble rematch!!! Love ya!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Girls Night...
Tonight was a much needed girls night. Mike and several of his guy friends had been out all day playing paintball in Leesburg and arrived back just in time to see me leave. I headed over to Alex's, I hadn't actually seen her new townhouse since they bought it. How great, a night with the girls - it was just Alana, Alex, Jill and me. We started the evening with some delicious homemade turkey chili that Alex cooked in her crockpot. It was so yummy and hearty, perfect for a cool winter night like tonight. Jill brought over cornbread to go with it, it really hit the spot! After dinner we just sat around sipping on wine and playing a little Phase 10 (we seem to play that alot lately). Then we just sat around a while and talked, catching up since we hadn't gotten together as a group since before the holidays. It was a fabulous and much needed relaxing night. Thanks for hosting Alex!!!
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