Our European Trip: Florence, day 1

After our crazy night in Rome- and by crazy, I really mean sleepless and annoyed- we got breakfast in the morning and headed to the train station to catch our departure.  So we got on our train and we quickly saw 4 people in our chairs.  We were all confused and when we checked our tickets, we bought tickets for the wrong day!  Oh my goodness!  So we headed back to the ticket office and bought new tickets, waiting around for about an hour and got on the next train to Florence!  

When the train arrived, we hopped in a cab, and headed for our stay!  Casa de Garbo!

Our bed and breakfast was the perfect place for us.  It was in the center of a town square, so easy to walk to everything and it had two large bedrooms, a kitchenette, and big bathroom!  It was a nice change from the night before!  

Liz's cousin was traveling around Europe during the same time we were there.  It happened to work out that we would all be in Florence at the same time so Kelsey joined us for our Florence stay!  It was really fun as we explored the city on our own.  First stop was a mandatory lunch and what better thing to get when in Italy than PIZZA (and the world's largest beer!)

After lunch we walked the streets, did a little shopping and found our way to an Irish pub!  

 Yes- you can have dogs in bars!  Adorable!  Liz was missing her Sadie girl!

Yes that is sidewalk chalk!  AMAZING!  How come my drawings never looked this good?!

 

We were exhausted from walking all over the town so we finished the day with dinner at the restaurant just outside of Casa de Garbo.  It was called Circus and it was soooo good!  Unfortunately, Dustin finished the night by ordering what he thought would be an Irish whiskey but it was really a shot of coffee with a little whiskey.  Not what he wanted :(

Up next, day 2 in Florence when we had a guided tour of the city!

Cheers,

Weekend Shenanigans: Relaxation and Family

One of my New Year's Resolutions for 2013 was to make more time for down time.  2 weeks into the new year and I am still doing well!  Friday after work, I met Annie to get out nails done and have a little coffee date!  It was wonderful to catch up with her and enjoy some relaxation!  I talked her into getting gel nails and I am certain she will love them!  After I got home, my sister came over for a little R&R too!  Just sisters hanging out, chatting on the couch, eating a few oreos :)

Saturday I spent most of the day helping my parents pack and do some moving.  We made a few trips out to the new house and I packed up most of the my mom's china cabinet!  They are hoping to be all moved by January 31st!  Saturday evening, Ryan and I did some working out with Mike and Danielle and then enjoyed a spaghetti dinner at their house.  It was again a nice relaxing evening without the stress!

And Sunday we celebrated my dad's birthday!  The whole crew came over for some Famous Dave's, football, birthday cake, and present opening!  It was another relaxing day and I LOVE hosting our family and friends!

So my major fail for this weekend was the lack of pictures taken :(  But my major success was relaxing!
Cheers,

New Years in Review

This year Ryan and I decided to hop town and head down south for the New Year!  With the holiday falling on Monday and Tuesday it made for an easy long weekend AND Ryan's cousin, Christy moved to Dallas a few years ago and we hadn't got down to visit yet.  So it just seemed like the perfect thing to do to close out 2012!  

On Saturday we hopped on a plane early and got into Dallas around noon.  We headed to the  Omni Hotel for our first night's stay... a little hubby and wife R&R!

We ate lunch at the Texas Spice Restaurant in the hotel.  Super yummy!

After a quick nap, we headed to the spa for the Cowboy & Cowgirl couples massage.  I enjoyed it, Ryan didn't have the best masseuse.  But still relaxing.

HAHA- a little funny ;)

After massages, we got ready and left for dinner at Bob's Steak & Chophouse.  DELICIOUS!  Ryan and I split steak and salmon served with potatoes.  So yummy!  

I passed out pretty quickly after getting back to our room.- a warm, snuggly bed and a full tummy- yep I was toast!

Christy picked us up on Sunday morning and we headed to brunch at the Corner Bakery.  Super good food and it was so fun to start catching up with Christy.  We stopped by Home Depot so that Ryan could pick up a few things to help Christy do a few things around her new townhouse and then we got home.

We vegged on the couch, sipped wine and watched the Packers vs. Vikings game!

And we were THRILLED that the VIKINGS won!  After the game, we headed to a Brazillian Steakhouse for dinner.  I had never gone to a restaurant like this- wow- that is a lot of meat!  It was so good but we were stuffed when we left!

Monday was a low key day with a little shopping and lunch out but we were preparing for the mayham of the evening!  We watched a few movies in the afternoon and then we popped the champagne to get the night started!  We headed off to Pete's Dueling Piano Bar!  Both Ryan and I ended up on stage, DANCING!  It was a fantastic night!

Tuesday was a rough morning for a few people- I was the sober cab so you do the math on that one ;)  Ryan and I got on a plane that afternoon and arrived back in FREEZING Minneapolis that night.  We picked up Dupree, ate some Chinese food, and crawled into bed pretty early.  

It was a wonderful trip to Dallas- thank you Christy for having us!

Hope ya'll had a wonderful New Years celebration as well!

Cheers,

Christmas in Review

We had a wonderful holiday season!  It started on Friday the 21st when we hosted Christmas with Ryan's dad, uncle and aunt, and Ben and Becca.  We had an Italian feast of spaghetti with meatballs, fettuccine alfredo, a vegetable pasta, pear salad, and bread.  It was delicious and very, very filling!  We exchanged gifts and topped the night off with Satin pie!

On Saturday the 22nd Ryan and I participated in serving dinner at Ronald McDonald house with Dawn and Ross and some of Dawn's friends.  I think we served about 80 people.  We served salad, meatballs, potatoes, and sweet treats.  Afterwards, Ryan and I headed to Sunsets for dinner with some of my high school friends as Jess was home from Colorado.  It was really fun to catch up and good to see everyone!

Sunday the 23rd we had dinner with my parents at Bacio to celebrate their home sale and new home purchase.  Ryan was their agent and did a really great job taking care of all the details.  As soon as my parents move into the new house I will certainly write a post about the new country home!

On Monday which was Christmas Eve Ryan and I picked up my Grandma for church and we enjoyed a beautiful service at Westwood.  After dropping off Grandma, we headed to Dawn and Ross's house!  The house was full of family and friends!  We enjoyed cornish game hens and wild rice soup for dinner.  We had a cheese cake competition- Becca won!  And we opened lots and lots of gifts!  It was a beautiful Christmas!

 

After the gift opening finished, Ryan and I took off for my parents house.  It was the last time I will ever sleep at my childhood home.  It was very bitter sweet.  We woke up Christmas morning and as family came over we enjoyed a lovely, filling brunch.  We opened gifts and watched football.  It was a really relaxing Christmas Day- so relaxing that I hardly took any pictures :(

 

 

Up next on the blog.... you guessed it... New Years in  Review!
I promise I will get back to regular blogging now :)
Cheers,