SUMMER COUNTDOWN (T-Minus 10 Days)

Well, I just finished reading Beth's blog (or catching up on like 10 entries) and was inspired to write a little something on mine tonight. Not sure what exactly to write about. Maybe my summer schedule/plans since that is all I can seem to think about right now anyway. LOL.

BWI to PHX: The countdown has begun. I'm headed back to Phoenix next week for a much-overdue visit. I think the last time I was there was Halloween - when I was a firewoman with a lethal #hosefromlowes. No such costume is planned this time. Ellie made the US National A2 team and is playing in the USAV Women's Open Nationals Tournament so Mom, Troy and I are headed to check her out. Double bonus! Plans for the week besides obviously checking out some volleyball include pool time at the W, a much-needed cut and color with the best hairdresser ever (Molly), at least 2 trips to Oreganos, a few morning runs, an early morning family hike on either South Mountain or Camelback and catching up with old friends.

BWI to SNA to PHX: The annual NACMA conference is being hosted in Anaheim this year at the end of June - and with economic times continuing to plague the corporate world as well as our pocketbooks - Maryland will not be paying for me to make the trip. However, I missed the conference last year, serving as Maid of Honor in Meghan's wedding - and I do not feel it would be wise for me to miss 2 years in a row of my industry's #1 networking opportunity. Like other professions, getting my next job in college athletics really does depend on "who i know". I've picked up a few odd jobs for the summer to help defray the cost of the entry fee, transportation and hotel costs. The fact that my good friends Joe B and Sarah will be there will help with at least the room charges - we plan on getting cozy at the Clarion Hotel (No, this is not the conference hotel) across the street to save nearly $200...A PERSON! Following the conference, which falls during the week, I'm zipping down through Phoenix for the weekend before making the trek across 3 time zones back home. Shawn is in Vegas this weekend anyway, so might as well stay away and try to keep my mind off what crazy things he and his friends are doing at the topless pools anyways ;) lol. JK.


BWI to MDW: Speaking of Meghan, she gets to experience her "Dirty 30" on July 7...and what better way to spend it, then in my favorite city of Chicago with her husband, friends and MOM (yes, I cannot wait to hang with Patty). Friday night thru Sunday we will be painting the town RED (Black doesn't come until you are "Over the Hill").
Then, I will be transferring into the hands of my dearest pal Kevin - along with his wife Kerry and other friends from the undergraduate college years at Northern Illinois for a little "friend reunion", also in Chicago. I wound up missing this reunion last summer, because Leah (Shoutout to you Leah) decided to get engaged and plan a wedding in 3 months on the same date - and of course a wedding takes priority!! Anyway, good times in the Windy City to be had by all...

PHX to BWI: My first of 2 "maybe" visitor situations, just brainstormed last night actually, lol. I don't plan on leaving here for the 4th of July this year. My family will probably be at Lake Okoboji, and well, I would love to be there. But I am traveling the week before and the week after and I'm just not sure I want another weekend of traveling. Also, I plan on trying to get home 2-3 times in the Fall to support Ellie's last year of college volleyball at Northern Iowa so would rather spend $$ on those tickets instead...It will be very strange not going to the Lake this summer though :( Having Sarah here would be just AWESOME as we never seem to find a bad time and since my girlfriends in DC are limited, I will have a nonstop friend to hang out with, go out with and enjoy a 3 day weekend. Besides, we seem to manage memorable 4th of July's....Minnesota, Arizona...DC?

ALO to BWI: Andddddd, tentatively I am hoping Ellie can come visit me in the middle of July. I don't think she has not been out here to visit since I've moved into my new apartment. Thus, in her head I'm still living in the depths of the basement in that old house where there was a tiny path through my room...and an entire apartment worth of furniture, smashed and stored in a 15 x 15 room...Having my sis out here would be awesome - especially since I'm missing her big 21st birthday celebration in June because everywhere the girl selected to go is like $4500 for a plane ticket. Oh well, I'll have to give her an extra hug the weekend before her birthday when we are in Phoenix together. I've already picked out her birthday present - so maybe I'll bring it to PHX and give it to her a week early...NO, it isn't a flask you jerks :)

BWI to...oh wait. There is no airport at this place: End of July brings a belated birthday present to me from Shawn. We are taking a 4-day vacation to Bryce Resort (I think this is BryceResort.com ?) in Virginia...it's actually only about a 2 hour drive from my place. His family owns a timeshare that we traded for there and plan on doing Hiking, Biking and maybe even testing out "Grass Skiing" (What in the world?!). It should be fun and a great chance to spend some quality time with each other without his alarm going off at 6:00am or me having to work some athletic event (besides Grass Skiing of course).

Union Station to Penn Station: Sarah and I have been promising Lauren (for me, this equals 4 years, ever since I've been here - Sarah has not waited that long) we'd come visit her up in NYC. She has come down a few times to DC when Sarah has traveled out East...so it is about time we spend a fun girls weekend crammed in her luxury studio apartment in Manhatten. Also would be a good time for me to visit my cousin Erin there - who I also have not visited yet. Who knows what stories could arise out of this trip. I'll probably take the Amtrak train (gotta support Shawn lol) since it is quick and relatively cheap if booked in advance. Lauren would probably tell me to take the "Bolt Bus" which is a nice charter bus that makes the trip for only about $30 each way...but I feel like the train might just be a little faster. We'll see...we'll see.

And....that brings me to August - i.e. the end of my summer, or life (in College Athletics terms)...as Football, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Field Hockey and Volleyball begin in Terpland and I get to wear a brand new Under Armour polo every weekend, all weekend, all Fall.

GO TERPS :)

It's Been WAY Too Long...

Okay, so for - let's see - oh about 8 months now I've been telling myself it was time to post another blog entry...and for 8 months I've been avoiding it. I guess sometimes I tell myself I just don't have anything interesting to talk about. But, hello - it isn't like I have to write a book...it is just in my nature to kinda do so.

So, it's Mother's Day weekend - I'm actually pretty proud of myself because I decided weeks ago what I wanted to get my mom. I ran across something different (www.mrsprindables.com) and thought it would be a nice change of pace from flowers and a card. Well, perhaps flowers never really get old - but either does anything with chocolate. Mrs. Prindables is known for their HUGE APPLES...and I'm not even kidding. They have a photo on their website that shows their jumbo apples and their "regular ones" true to size and the jumbo apple might really be a cantaloupe - I swear. lol. She received them in the mail yesterday and said they were nicely packaged and delicious so at least they lived up to my expectations.

Unfortunately, there is a local cupcake company (Bonafide Cupcakes) that decided to offer a deal on Groupon and it equalled disaster for them. For those of you near a larger city who have not yet discovered Groupon - you really should check it out. They offer one daily deal each day during the week for at least 50% off - anything from sporting events, spa treatments, hair cuts, groceries, restaurants, clothing stores, etc. Its fabulous. Anyway, Bonafide Cupcakes had this deal about a month ago where you paid $20 and received $40 worth of cupcakes from them. They are a delivery only company (you cannot go to their store) in the Washington DC area. I actually meant to purchase this deal and forgot - was completely heartbroken. But, they didn't put a cap on how many Groupons they could sell - and wound up selling nearly 2,500. All fine and dandy, except many people wanted them immediately. Bonafide Cupcakes' website nearly crashed - they promised deliveries that never happened - didn't answer their phones or email - and now have a ton of angry customers. What made me think of this story all together, was that at least Mrs. Prindables Chocolate Covered Apples lived up to my expectations. A comment on the Bonafide Cupcakes' website said:

"For everyone who is inquiring about the quality of cupcakes: the pictures on Bonafide Cupcakes are NOT accurate, the cupcakes tasted and looked like they were made from a box at home and the flavors were chocolate or vanilla and nothing more. It was nice to have them delivered, but I would NEVER pay $40 for these cupcakes."

The best part is the next person on their comments sections said: "Hello, I will sell you 6 cupcakes for $80. They are made from Betty Crocker mix and frosted too!! Good deal."

Anyway - as I'm sure you can imagine, I am no longer disappointed that I missed out on the Bonafide Cupcakes Groupon...

Happy Mothers Day Mom - You ARE indeed the Apple of my Eye. I'm just thankful THAT is the saying I went for instead of You are the Cupcake of my Eye or you might've been a little disappointed.

:)