Mostly work & a little play

My schedule is pretty variable, but one thing I can always count on is my every third weekend rotation! Not too bad to be honest, I have worked places where it was every other weekend, so I have no complaints about that. However it can be a bit of a drag when all your friends are headed out and you're headed into work. I always try to get out at least Friday night before I spend the weekend working. This weekend I worked night shift so I apologize that I am a day late on my "weekend recap" as I essentially slept through Monday ;)

This Friday we had plans with great friends so it helped to get me through the Saturday/Sunday night shift! We were dog sitting this weekend for my sister which has been fun but also a good reality check of what life would be like with two dogs... yikes!

We have gotten past that stage of puppy ownership where you are constantly asking yourself "what were we thinking?" Clo is pretty well trained, no accidents indoors or chewing on everything in sight, so we have been telling him he needs a little sister. Then my Sister's sweet boy came over and we quickly realized we are so not ready for another dog. They have been having some fun but Clovis is a puppy & Bailey is not loving all of his energy. The one thing you can't deny is they are so cute!

Bailey is a total snuggle bug so he was on the couch with me. Clovis was watching longingly from the floor, he was very patient but clearly not super happy about his place on the floor!

Friday night dinner was amazing! We met up with our friends first and headed over to Cassarino's Ristorante in Federal Hill (Providence, RI). My friend Ashley's cousin owns the place so we go there pretty frequently with them.

Family connects aside, this place is an absolute must visit if you're in the area! Rhode Island has a special place in my heart, being URI alums, Oliver & I often talk about moving back someday, but until then we enjoy dinners at our favorite spots & weekend trips.

 I loved the Holiday decor that was up, you can't go wrong with white lights and greenery! Well actually I think you can, but Tyler definitely did not! :)

This place was super busy Friday night, it looks empty in this picture because we stayed well beyond close chatting & playing heads up at our corner booth!

I was grateful for the opportunity to snap some shots after everyone had left, especially of the bar and those copper mugs!

I totally texted Ashley before dinner to let her know the fur vest that we both own was making it's debut! :) I could have easily been a cast mate of Mob Wives that night, faux fur, leopard belt, red lips & lots of red wine-I loved every bit of it!

When you go, you must order the Calamari with the sweet balsamic reduction, I literally could have did eat it all! They also just got these awesome Moscow Mule cups so we may have had a few of those as well! How great do they look on the bar?

The finale was no short of amazing as well, Espresso Martini's, Espresso cheesecake & Chocolate Lava Cake! I was so grateful for the stretchiness in my pants that night ;)

 Saturday & Sunday (& clearly Monday) were a blur of being up all night and sleeping all day! Back to day shift next week! Wohoo!

What did you get up to this weekend?

Girls Weekend Plus Husbands- Round Two!

After our big move I vowed to maintain friendships I had made in DC, I made some of the best friends I could have asked for and I feel incredibly grateful for that! In August we had a "girls weekend plus husbands"- it was pretty amazing! The boys hung out, talked sports & exchanged stories about their "kids"- all of which are four legged; it was super cute!

Us three girls took too long to get ready, drank several bottles of Veuve and laughed non-stop! Before the weekend had even ended we planned our Girls Weekend Plus Husbands round two. I have been looking forward to this weekend since before our August weekend ended!

Our friends came up on Friday, we had a ladies lunch & manicure date what a perfect way to unwind and get the weekend started! After that we lounged and had some cocktails at home we had Moscow Mules in my favorite copper mugs! After that we got dolled up and braved the weather for a great dinner at Hillstone right near Faneuil Hall. Dinner was delicious, very chic ambiance and of course the company was amazing!

Saturday was the day we had planned this trip around for our Southern friends- they have never experienced a true New England Fall & we were hoping to grab some photos!

Last year I had taken photos for both couples with their pups which they used for Christmas cards and home decorations, so this year we decided a repeat was needed!

We drank champagne, got blowouts by my favorite girl Marina! The pups had been groomed & husbands fed, dressed and then Mother Nature spoke Her peace...it was not pretty! We are talking horizontal rain, huge gusts of wind leading to- frizzy hair, uncooperative dogs & soaking wet subjects.




However I think we managed to snap at least a few quality shots- all you really need is one right? One of these may be making its way onto our Christmas card! :)

After the photos we poured back into our cars, drove straight back to the house and warmed up with food, bevies & a dance party or two! 

We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends in our lives! :)

This past weekend!

If you got a chance to check out last weekends review on the blog it was jam packed with fun! This weekend was precisely the opposite, I worked four 12 hour overnights in a row- thank the Lord for great coworkers & take out otherwise it would have been unbearable!

I did find some time between shifts to run a few errands- Target returns that turned into Target purchases! I was pretty proud that I got in and out under $100- that for me is a miracle! I bought a new bottle of my favorite Seche Vite top coat, ( check out my favorites page for more of must haves!) as well as some decorations for the house. I have slowly been collecting a few pieces for the table scape for Thanksgiving dinner- keep an eye for a post once the time gets closer. So far I am gold leafing a few pieces and going with a cream & gold theme.

On Sunday we had friends over for lunch who were in town for a wedding. We tried to keep it fairly low key as I was working Sunday night as well. We did a variety of pizzas- some Veggie friendly for the crowd as well as some Fall staple desserts.  It was so great to catch up and reminisce from their wedding which kicked off the season in June! 

Back to work I went Sunday night, full & slightly overtired with a very large latte!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! :)



Fall in New England - the changing of seasons and pumpkin cookies!

One of the things I missed most living South of the Mason-Dixon was the distinct seasons. Don't get me wrong not having to shovel for two years was pretty amazing, however the shift that takes place when the temperature drops, the leaves change and you need a blanket to snuggle up with at night is something I live for every summer. 

There are countless reasons I love fall, especially a true New England fall, apple picking, layering on a cute sweater, baking everything pumpkin flavored and the smell of a fireplace on a Sunday afternoon after family dinner. So its no surprise that mid way through September I am already working through my list of things I am dying to do for my first Autumnal season back in my home state!

To kick off the fall festivities I made my first batch of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies, they were fun to make and even more delicious than I had remembered! Hope you enjoy the photos and give the recipe a try :) 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Ingredients:

1 can of Pumpkin

1 Egg
1/2 cup oil

1 Cup of sugar

1/2 Teaspoon of milk (I use 1%)

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla extract

2 Cups of flour

1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon 

2 Teaspoons of baking powder

1/2 Teaspoon of salt

1 Teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips  

 
Preheat your oven to 375 and grab an non-greased cookie sheet.



 


 

Mix pumpkin, egg, sugar & oil by hand, 
adding in milk and vanilla.










Next mix the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda together in a separate bowl. Gradually add your dry mixture to your wet until mixed together. Lastly, add in your chocolate chips.

Scoop mixture onto cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

You will see in my photos they are no meant to be perfectly round cookies so no need to roll them, the mixture is generally too wet for that. They will not spread too much so feel free to pack them onto a cookie sheet. Depending on size of the cookies this will make approximately 2 dozen. 

I am working on a list of "Fall Musts" - Attire, Activities, Cocktails & Food so keep an eye out for that coming soon!