Trip to Pittsburgh

We had a wonderful trip to Pittsburgh this past weekend. We drove up with another couple and we talked and laughed the whole time, which made the drive go really fast.

We were staying in the South Side area of Pittsburgh and met up with all my college friends and their husbands Friday night for dinner at Bar Louie's. We had the chance to take pictures in front of the city all lit up which was really fun. (Side note: Pittsburgh missed out on all the snow that the east side of the state got, thankfully!)

 

Saturday was a marathon of events. First was a Catholic ceremony and then the reception was later on in the evening. The schedule was pretty different than what I'm used to but it actually worked out great. Since the ceremony was at 2:00pm we knew we needed to eat something before so the boys went exploring and came back with sandwiches from Primanti Brothers. They are "almost famous" in Pittsburgh for putting french fries and slaw on their sandwiches and they made for the perfect pre-wedding lunch.

The ceremony was happening 45 minutes outside of the city so we all squashed into a couple cars for the drive out there. The service was beautiful and the newly weds looked so happy. Then we drove back to the hotel and chilled out for a bit and met in the hotel bar for a pre-reception happy hour. (Which consisted of a diet coke for me. ;)

 

The reception was just down the street from our hotel in the Grand Concourse Restaurant at Station Square. It was the old Pittsburgh train station and it was beyond beautiful. My pictures honestly don't do it justice.

We had a full dinner of steak and crab cakes, then lots of dessert options. They had cupcakes instead of a full wedding cake, freshly made donuts, and a cookie room! Oh yes, you read that correctly a whole room filled with homemade cookies made by the brides family. They even conveniently had to-go boxes set up so we could take handfuls I mean a couple home with us as favors. ;)

Of course we worked off some of those calories with lots of dancing and singing on the dance floor. There is just something wonderful about being surrounded by your closest college girlfriends that brings the best out of you. It's crazy to think that we have just as much fun singing along to Whitney Houston songs at each other's weddings as we did in the bars of 5 Points in college.

I was pretty proud of myself because I lasted until 1:00am. Of course I'm still exhausted and have a feeling it'll take a couple more days to recover, but it was so worth it.

Congratulations Erin and Steve!

Washington, DC

I'm in Washington, DC today for work. I really won't have time to site see, unless I get incredibly lost, which is a distinct possibility.

 

Then it's on to Winchester, VA, home of the Apple Blossom Festival, for my good friend Krista's wedding. So excited!

Second Anniversary in Greenville, SC

A couple weekends ago Andy and I took a quick trip to Greenville, SC to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary.

Downtown Greenville is beautiful, fun, and clean. We were there the same weekend Artisphere, an art festival, was in town. We had fun looking though all the booths and imagining what we could put on our walls at home.

 We loved walking through Falls Park. It's always so peaceful and it makes us so jealous that we can't walk Camden here every evening. 

We always eat well when we go to Greenville. For lunch we stopped at Blue Ridge Brewery, which we loved from a trip a couple years ago. It did not disappoint with my buffalo burger and a cordon blue sandwich for Andy.

As a treat for all the walking around we were doing we stopped for gelato at Luna Rosa. It was such a fun experience. The girls behind the counter where so nice helping us pick a flavor and let us try anything we wanted. We sat outside and just relaxed for a bit.

All of a sudden the temperature dropped by like 10 degrees and we decided it might be a good idea to walk to the car. We were barely in the stairwell of the parking garage when the bottom fell out. It was raining so hard that water was flying inside the parking garage. Thankfully it didn't last long and we left when we did.

 

We then met up with some friends who live in town for some drinks and dinner at Soby's. If you visit Greenville, do yourself a favor and go to Soby's. It was so good! I had an amazing spinach salad and the crab cakes and Andy had the she-crab soup and the pork loin. We both we beyond happy with our choices.

 

(Pics from their website)

I swear we did more than just eat while we were there. We stopped in all the different stores and I bought some tea for my mom for Mother's Day.

I thought for a second Andy was going to take a puppy home. A guy had a whole litter of brand new puppies on display right on the sidewalk and we couldn't resist taking a peek.

 

Now a question for anyone who knows Greenville, do you know where I could find a print (photograph or painting) of either Falls Park or downtown Greenville?
 

Easter Candy

Why can I stop myself from buying Halloween candy, Christmas candy, and Valentine's Day candy, but I CANNOT control myself around Easter candy?

This was my fuel for the 6 hour drive from Columbia, SC to Orlando, FL on Friday afternoon. The little bags make it better, right?

Then this bag of Starburst jellybeans (tropical flavors) just jumped in my basket the last time I was in Target. It wasn't my fault!

Okay so I'm hoping those will be my only candy purchases this season. Do you have an Easter candy obsession too?

Five on Friday

I'm linking up with my favs April at A. Liz Adventures and Christina at Carolina Charm for.....

 

ONE

I'm heading to Orlando this afternoon and I'm so excited! We have a night on the town planned for tonight, all day at Epcot tomorrow, and brunch somewhere fun on Sunday before I drive back. Anyone have any recommendations for brunch places in Orlando?

 

 

TWO

Good friends of our had a baby girl last week and I've become slightly obsessed with trying to make her some hair bows. My mom made me tons of cute bows as a kid and they can be very expensive in a boutique so why not try to make some. I definitely don't have it down just yet but I'm getting better. Have you ever made hair bows? This is a great video tutorial I found.

 

 



 

THREE

For the last couple weeks we have been trying to have very low carb dinners Monday - Thursday. My go to weekday meal was always pasta and our waistlines can't take it anymore. I crave carbs so this has been interesting, but it's all about training your body. I saw this salad on Pinterest and I think I could get on board. (Sans chips on top of course.)

 

FOUR

I'm tired of cold and rainy. Where is SPRING?

 

FIVE

Huge shout out to everyone who responded to my post yesterday. I think I've got it fixed and of couse I feel like an idiot because it was so easy. It's so nice to know that people are willing to help a stranger. Thank you so much!

 

Five on Friday

I'm linking up with my favs April at A. Liz Adventures and Christina at Carolina Charm for.....

 

ONE

I traveled for business for the first time this week. I've never had a job that required some time out of the office and I really enjoyed it. I went to Charlotte, NC for a full day of meetings and networking, but had a blast visiting the city Andy and I used to live in. I got to visit two of my very favorite places, Cowfish for their tuna nachos and Amelie's for a couple pretty macaroons and salted caramel brownies, which I brought home for the husband.

 

 

TWO

Also, while I was in Charlotte, I stopped by the Junior League consignment shop to see if I could pick up some Lilly items for spring. I found some gorgeous piece but nothing was fitting right so I left empty handed. Is everyone else starting to vamp up their spring wardrobe?

 

 

 

THREE

It was 82 degrees in Columbia, SC yesterday! I can't believe a week ago we were stuck inside with snow and ice on the ground. I got home yesterday from work, threw on some sweats and started working in the yard. I couldn't stand yard work as a kid, but now that it is my yard I can't wait to do stuff. The previous owner of our house let everything totally overgrow so we spend our time riping everything out. However I have big dreams for the yard, hopefully we can make some of it happen this spring.

 

FOUR

We tried Gwyneth Paltrow's Lettuce Wraps last night, that I got from Miss Dixie and Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers. We really liked them, especially because they are low carb, but I felt like it needed one more element. I did forget the carrots so maybe that was it. Anyone ever made Lettuce Wraps at home?

 

 

FIVE

I read the most wonderful book last weekend called Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle. I really didn't know anything about it when I picked it up, but read the entire book in an afternoon. (That is a HUGE deal for me because I'm a crazy slow reader.) It's about motherhood and all the very common, funny experiences that come with it. I quickly handed it off to my mom, who loved it, and I just sent it to a friend who is expecting her first child next week. Go and pick this book up now!

 

 

 

 

Have a fabulous weekend!

Maryland Trip

I’m so excited to say that we are gearing up for our trip to Maryland tomorrow.

One of Andy’s absolute best family friends are getting married this weekend in Annapolis and we are flying up for the big event. It will be a super quick trip but it will be so nice to see the in-laws and see friends.

The Utz girl and Natty Boh

Fingers crossed that I get at least one crab cake or get a chance to pick crabs during our trip. (I’m pretty sure it’s a Maryland state law, or it should be if it’s not.)

Honeymoon Must Haves!

In fourteen days my new HUSBAND and I will be finishing up packing for our HONEYMOON! I’m so glad to see on other blogs that people start daydreaming about their honeymoon before it happens because we both are pumped to go to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Neither of us has been before so it should be a lot of fun. My three honeymoon requirements were: I wanted to leave Monday so we can drive from Columbia to Charlotte and settle down for a day before we leave, I wanted tropical (i.e. lots of sand, beaches, and fruity drinks), and I wanted it all inclusive so the hardest decision I would have to make is which restaurant should we go to. I got all three, so now I’m ready to get there!

Like the little planner I am, I’ve already started making piles of what we need to take with us on our honeymoon. (I know, I’m ridiculous.) But I just want to drive home on Sunday and everything be ready to leave Monday morning. I thought I would share with you a couple of the fun things we are taking to make our trip fun, comfortable, and memorable.

Honeymoon Must Haves:

A hat! I have a couple large brim hats from my Carolina Cup days, which I adore, but they aren’t the easiest things to pack. So when I saw a cobalt blue floppy hat in TJ Max yesterday that could be squished or flattened I jumped on it. I burn so easily, so a hat is a necessity.  Should I monogram it? Silly question.

2010 Carolina Cup - Look how far Andy's head is from mine. Hahaha!

We just got a fantastic wedding gift in the mail and thank goodness we got it before we left on our honeymoon. It’s a Kodak PlaySport Waterproof Video Camera! We have already charged it up and started to learn how to use it. It’s really simple and we can’t wait to start making home movies. My parents made tons of them when I was a kid, so it’ll be nice to do that for our new family. (P.S. I promise I wrote the thank you note before we started playing with the camera.)

Suntan lotion. As I said before, I burn just thinking about the sun, but I want to come back with a beautiful “we just got back from our honeymoon” glow. Any good suggestions for products that will keep me safe however will let a little sun through?

All my pretty goodies I got at my bachelorette party. My friends threw me an awesome bachelorette party, which I’ll write about soon, that included a lingerie shower. My friend Rebecca, check her out over at Southern Happy Hour, was sweet enough to wrap up each gift in a different color tissue paper. Then when we are on our honeymoon, Andy can just pick a color. That way it’s a surprise for him and me. Isn't that such a cute idea?! Any suggestions on how to get wrapped items through security? Should I take them in my carry on or in my checked luggage?

Last, but never least, my books! I’m taking a couple because I’m planning to spend a lot of time lying on the beach doing nothing. Ahhhhh….sounds like heaven! I’ve been saving the newest Mary Kay Andrews book Summer Rentals especially for our honeymoon. Andrews is one of my very favorite writers so I have to save her books for special occasions. I think I’ll also take How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World by Jordan Christy. It’s small and witty and it’s been on my list of ages, I just haven’t gotten to it yet.

If you have any other suggestions of honeymoon must haves please let me know!

Erin Go Bragh

IRELAND

For those of you not obsessed with Ireland like me Erin Go Bragh means “Ireland Forever”. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day week I thought I would do a post about my love of Ireland. I've been slightly obsessed with Ireland from a young age. Not sure why, just always have. It’s really funny because most people respond with, “Oh you must have a strong Irish background then”. Ummm….no, not even close. I’m a strict ¾ German and ¼ Norwegian. I got the Norwegian last name which is obvious when you see my last name has a double AA in it and from the fact that strangers, and some close friends actually, have no idea how to pronounce it.

Anyway, even though I don’t have a drop of Irish blood in my veins I have always be drawn to the 40 shades of green and rolling hills of Ireland. The summer after I graduated high school my mom and I spent 10 days touring Ireland and it is still one of my very favorite trips of all time. I can’t wait to take Andy one day. The people, the sights, the folklore, the music, the accents (be still my beating heart), were all wonderful and I would recommend it to anyone. All my personal pictures from the trip are wrapped up in scrapbooks so I will leave you with some of my favorite internet shots. If Ireland is a place on your “to visit” list definitely make it a priority, it’s totally worth every penny. 

If you go to Ireland there is at least one tourist thing that you absolutely have to do and that's kiss the Blarney Stone. Below is a sign explaining why this stone is so special. 

 Something they don't tell you is that the Blarney Stone is in the weirdest place ever! You have to climb to the top of a castle, think tiny spiral staircase, then lay on your back and slide halfway over the edge to kiss a wall upside down. You are up at least a couple story high and there are a ton of people waiting so there is no time to sic yourself up. Someone does hold on to you, but to you really feel safe with that old guy holding on to you? I did it and I'm glad I can mark it off my list.

Have you been to Ireland or are you planning to go one day?

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