Friday Already?!

Only one post about my trip this past week! I have much catching up to do. It's been a busy week, however, and this weekend won't be any slower.

And there should be a lot of this going on:



My roommate Katie and I are cooking dinner for five boys and another roommate tonight. I initially offered to cook dinner for one boy {who is in town for work}, but I should've known he'd bring a posse with him. Not that I mind, of course!

We're having our first cruise reunion at the bar after our meal. We all miss each other already!

New Desk

My still barren and very undecorated room received a new addition yesterday.

After gazing longingly at the Parsons desk {in glossy white} for many months, I drove my new-to-me SUV to the mall last night and loaded up this beautifully simple piece of furniture.

In time, perhaps that corner of my room will look as lovely as this.

My brain is going crazy daydreaming about it.

Vacation: South Beach

We started the trip in wiiiindy Miami, staying at a modern hotel on South Beach.



We didn't let the cool wind bother us, though. We were so excited to be on vacation.



Away from the chilly D.C. temps, we could finally show off our matching pedis.



The wind may have been strong, and the weather not as warm as we had hoped, but the ocean breeze always feels good on your face . . even if the rest of you is covered in a towel.



I discovered a washed up jellyfish that I closely {and carefully} examined . .



And I decided that I want to try windsurfing someday.



I knew this vacation was gonna be good.

Wishing I Was Still on a Boat

It's back to work tomorrow, but I'd rather be playing dress up on a ship again, staying up late dancing, eating late night pizza, and basking in the sun. I haven't uploaded my pictures yet - too busy taking more actually! It was a beautiful Fall day today, so I went picture-crazy at my neighborhood park. Only 600 pictures to go through and edit. Oh boy . .

{Here is one that a friend took on formal night.}

Back from the Beach

I've just returned from what was a fun-filled, fantastic vacation with 35 friends from church. I left Miami Beach in such a hurry today that I didn't even have time to rinse off. I'm still a little salty and sandy.

I can't wait to share pictures and stories from the trip!

It's nearly 2am right now, and I need to put on a sweatshirt and crack open my windows. The floor refinishing did take place while we were gone this week, and unfortunately the fumes are still incredibly strong. {I feel terrible for the roommate we left behind who had to live with these fumes all week!} Here's hoping I make it to the window before passing out. Yikes!

Late Night Packing

Ohmygoodness, I hate packing. It's bad enough when I go away for the weekend, but eight days?! Here I sit, fresh out of the shower, staring at my suitcase and wondering what I've forgotten. Will I feel like wearing green on Wednesday or blue? At eleven o'clock at night, who cares. I still have to move all my belongings (minus the actual furniture) into the basement/living room/anywhere else but upstairs where the floors will be refinished.

Five a.m. is gonna kill me.

And another thing that just overwhelmed me?

Think of how many blog posts I'm going to have to read when I return!!! Google Reader is a blessing and a curse. :)

Have a good week! Hopefully I'll have loads of good pictures (with a darker-skinned me) when I return.

Evening in Indiana

On the drive back to Nebraska two weekends ago, I stopped halfway near the small Indiana town of Franklin. It's one of my favorite places to visit, so it's appropriate that it's also the place I've visited the most.

Unlike the craziness and fast pace of the District, my cousins' acreage is simple and peaceful.



This family loves Jesus so much that it oozes out of their hearts and gets all over you. And it feels good. Makes you want to go love on someone else. To truly love God and love others. And they do.



Just one evening with them, and I felt completely refreshed. The gorgeous morning I awoke to gave my heart another reason to sing.

Kitties!

I'm not sure if I'm a cat person or a dog person. Maybe both. Maybe neither.

I like some cats and I like some dogs, especially in other people's houses. Then I can pet and cuddle them, but I don't have take them for walks in the snow or scoop their poop or most importantly, try to get their hair off my stuff!

I grew up with two cats, and I absolutely loved them. However, I'm not dying to pet every cat I see, not even close. I think you can almost love any dog or cat if you meet it when it's a puppy or kitten.

Case in point:



These adorable Siamese kittens that belong to my cousin. {My sister and brother-in-law just got a pair, as well.} They're incredibly adorable, and they've got me wanting some of my own!

Fortunately for my roommates, the landlord doesn't allow it.

Tink!

Tinkerbell had fun flitting around at a couple of different Halloween parties this weekend, but they've left me completely exhausted, just in time for a week of cruise preparation. Not only do I need to pack and get a pedi, I also have to clear everything out of my bedroom by Saturday! The wood floors will be refinished while we're away next week.

In other exciting news, I got a new car yesterday. Maybe I'll show you once life settles down for a second.

From Two to Three

I’m an Auntie!

Well, I do already have a niece and a nephew, but I’m happy to announce that my beautiful best friend and her husband welcomed a gorgeous baby girl into their lives last night. I can’t wait to meet little Gracie over Christmas!

It was wonderful to be able to surprise Best Friend in Nebraska last weekend and spend a couple of days just the two of us before baby came. I just can’t believe I missed Gracie’s birth by only two days!

Congratulations Friends!

So Good to Be Home

Last post, I made a list of happy things that did take place this past weekend. Minus the football win. *tear*

But the happiest part was that I wasn't in town for any of those things. Instead, I drove 1200 miles to Nebraska.



It was 60 hours of perfection.

This Weekend . .

I have four friends running in the Marine Corps Marathon.
My friend C is making a delicious carb-packed 'specialty' dinner.
J and her boyfriend are celebrating their birthdays . . on the same day! So cute.
I'm having a sleepover.
It's not supposed to rain {like last weekend}.
I think we'll win our football game.

So many reasons to be happy.