Weekend + Our 5th Anniversary

Well hellooooo on this incredibly steamy day!

We've had quite a busy bunch of days, and I had planned to post this yesterday, but didn't really get around to it. Let's ease into Tuesday with a little recap, shall we?

Last Thursday, Shaun and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary!

Every year, I demand an anniversary photo and this year's was extra fun since we added a member to the party :)

Shaun and I simply adore the Lighthorse Tavern in Jersey City and have spent many a special occasion there, so when Christine offered to babysit, we knew exactly where we were headed!

I dined on my usual barbecued skirt steak with jalapeno polenta and Shaun enjoyed the fish and chips. Not before a gorgeous cheese plate of Maytag blue cheese, Manchego, goat cheese, lavendar honey, fresh cranberries and house-made red wine and walnut bread. Um...yeah.

Excuse the bad photos but nice ambient lighting doesn't equal good photography!

The 5th anniversary is the 'wood' anniversary and I think we both did a good job of getting creative with a wood theme. I'll do another post on these gifts in case anyone is on the hunt for some 5th anniversary gift ideas!

Over the weekend, we had no plan and so we took the opportunity to head down the shore!

Though I love the Caribbean, there is nothing like the Jersey Shore.

It was Sweet P's first time at the beach and we found that she is quite the water baby.

Once we had her fully geared up in her little coolie suit and UV hat, it was time for the fun to begin. We dipped her tiny toes in the water and though she had NO idea what was going on, she really seemed to enjoy it.

I love this shot so much because she looks like a little 1930s baby...big hat, pinky in the air, thinking 'oh my, isn't this delightful! oh and be a dear and continue to block my sun!'

Toes in the sand...

Tiny footprints...

After we were all tuckered out (and I was severely sunburned...somehow in my fury to ensure that not one little piece of Pen got burned, I neglected myself and got completely scorched!), we headed to our favorite spot on the island for lunch...Pinky Shrimp's!

Shaun and I shared the crabcake dinner, which included 2 uh-mazing broiled crab cakes, 1 sweet potato and French fries. Not too shabby.

By the evening time, we were all exhausted and slept like rocks.

Pen even graced us by sleeping until 8am on Sunday! On the way home on Sunday, we made a pit stop at my parents' house for a quick dip in the pool and P's first official swim!

It was quite the busy weekend and I think by Sunday night we were all equally tuckered out. Monday marked my 31st birthday and we quietly celebrated at home with a bottle of Prosecco, pizza and Downton Abbey. What could be better than that?

Oh, and ice cream. Lots of ice cream :)

How is your summer going so far?

Have you done any weekend getaways lately?

Fruits of Summer

One of my absolute favorite things about the summertime is the abundance of delicious fruit. I hate the winter when fruit is astronomically expensive and just not up to par with summertime quality.

Over the last bunch of weeks, Shaun and I have been enjoying the fruits of summer like it's our job. Each week we stock up on lots of fruit goodies and proceed to devour it all. 

It's just one of those things that I simply don't mind spending some coin on. The season is so fleeting and what better snack than some of nature's candy?

Some of my favorites this season include:

Juicy, acidic pineapple

Sweet cantaloupe

Cherries (perhaps the most fleeting of them all) and bright, crunchy green grapes. To me, grapes are only sufficient when the skin is taut!

And not so much in the fruit category, but another healthy snack I've been enjoying...carrot chips! I love these so much more than baby carrots! They actually feel like you are eating chips. Sort of. Dipped in hummus, tzatziki or light onion dip, these are my new go-to carrots!

So that's a little glimpse into my snacks of choice lately. In fact, I'm about to devour some grapes, pineapple and cantaloupe right now!

Hope your Tuesday is off to a fantastic start my friends!

What are your favorite summer fruits?

What about favorite summer snacks in general?

12 Things I Love About Summer

Happy Monday morn! I'm ready to make this week a good one..how about you?

How was your weekend? I spent having dinner at Agave, attending a barbecue, visiting my parents and starting the declutterization of my apartment. All in all, I can't complain :) It's officially summer, after all. And what could be better? Today I'm rounding up my 12 loves of summertime. I hope you'll chime in with why you love (or hate) this hot season! Meanwhile, if you want to discuss last night's True Blood, head over to the TAA Facebook page and I'll get the discussion started!

The Jersey Shore. It's my number one favorite thing about summertime. If you have the means, I highly recommend checking it out. I adore the Jersey Shore for a number of reasons (and none of them include Snooki - though I do love that Jersey Shore too). I love the breezy beach, the cool crashing waves, the ease of getting there. Not to mention beach bars, frozen custard, funnel cakes, zeppoles, giant slices of pizza and my personal favorite, skee ball.

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Barbecuing. This really speaks for itself. Doesn't everything taste better on a grill? I could eat cheeseburgers every day in the summertime. For me, they never get old. Not to mention grilled vegetables, chicken...the possibilities are endless.

 

The Return of the Urban Herb Garden. It's not easy having a garden in an urban environment, but that doesn't mean we won't try. Shaun is really the green thumb around here (I manage to kill all plants). We recently planted lots of basil, mint, chives and sage and I'm already using them in my dishes. Nothing like a delicious hit of fresh herbs to really turn it up a notch.

Farmer's Market. In Jersey City, this starts in June and goes until Thanksgiving. There is something comforting to me about stepping off the train in Journal Square, breathing in the humidity and heat, and perusing fresh fruit and vegetables on my way home. I adore it.

Television. It's different in summertime, and I like it. New shows start over the summer while Shaun and I use the time to watch a new show via Netflix/DVD. This summer, it's Breaking Bad, True Blood and Big Love.

 

Ice Cream. Whether from a store-bought gallon, the Mr. Softee truck or homemade, like the Black Eyed Peas, I just can't get enough. Cool, creamy, delicious. I love the burst of cold, followed by the melt in your mouth. Though I do love me a cone, I also adore the way that a scoop of ice cream melts around the outside and I can scoop up the still-frozen bits dipped in the melty bits. Swoon.

 

Skirts. I love my pencil skirts! I started the summer with 3 and added 4 more. Now I have a full collection. They make me feel professional. And I love that they are slimming to boot. I'm sure I'll be sick of wearing them by August. But for now, I like.

 

The Smell of Salty Air. I adore this. It feels like home.

Fruit. Strawberries and grapes and cherries and pineapple! I could eat these all day every day and just be a happy person. It's the perfect summery snack. Yum.

Busy-ness. Though it's exhausting at times, I love that there is seemingly an endless supply of fun during the summer. During the colder months, it feels like work to find things to do. In the summer, someone is always having a barbecue, my parents pool is always open, the beach is always calling. And then the summer goes by way too fast for my liking.

Light Out Longer (LOL). Is there anything better than arriving home from work at 7pm and it's still light out? To me, it's one of the best feelings ever. It's like I didn't even miss out on the day by sitting behind a desk.

 

Eating Outside. We have our little terrace and it makes me happy to come home from work, set up outside and have a delicious dinner while breathing in some fresh air and sitting back in the cool breeze. What could be better?

So there you have it. My most favorite things about the season. What do you love about summertime?