It's been forever sorry!!

This summer has flown by, I worked lots and lots. Other than that, trips to the pool, the beach, went out on the boat once and it broke. We had to be towed in, a real bummer but met someone who works on his own 20 year boat and it runs. He helped us put in a new fuel pump, then it broke again. Think we might need to bite the bullet and take it to the shop. B-O-A-T stands for bust out a thousand. Didn't you know?!?

We just went up to Northern VA for a visit with friends and family. We had a wedding sandwich, one in Philly on Saturday and one in Alexandria the next Saturday. I will post some pics soon. Right now, just trying to get back in the hang of blogging.

Vow Renewal??

Hey guys--
I was watching The View today and they were talking about vow renewals. I think I would love to do this, if Carl wanted to of course. We could do it in the backyard and have a huge party afterwards. Then, we will finally have our first house party and celebrate our anniversary, all in one shot. Now, how do I bring this up to Carl???
He graduated from his MBA program this past weekend. It was a nice ceremony and his family came. It was good to see everyone and we had a very relaxing weekend. We hung around, grilled, I planted some more flowers!! (My veggies are coming in wonderfully)
Yesterday we had a bbq for some friends and neighbors and watched the Caps game. The next game is this Wednesday night, it will compete with Lost, but I think I have to pick the hockey game. This is last of 5 days off for me, back to work tomorrow for 3 days then off for the weekend. Hopefully, I can get some pool time this weekend, we have a cold front day. BOO.

Yardwork

So, I have really been hitting up the garden centers at Home Depot, Lowe's and Walmart. I have planted 20 things, some vegetable and some flowers. Annuals, perennials, 2 palm trees, moving bushes around, everything. So, here are some pics. Those are petunia's in the hanging baskets and Carl installed the hooks yesterday after he finished his last paper for this semester. I also planted snap dragon's but they look a little fried. I have been watering as often as I can and fertilized them this morning. Then I planted perennials in the front and 2 small palms. Roses and peonies in the back. Dwarf hibiscus on the side, which might have to be replanted in pots, they won't tolerate cold this winter. 2 palms on either side of the garage. And a vegetable garden. I have pea and green bean sprouts and planted a cherry tomato plants. The dead bush is my project as well. I moved it from next to the screen porch, which is where Cooper would pee all over it. I think I can save it!!
We are also getting ready for Carl's graduation next weekend, his Mom, Dad and Jeff are all coming down. We are getting a queen size bed for the last guestroom so everyone will have a bed, no couches or air mattresses. The room might be pretty empty except the bed but oh well. Hopefully, this week we can get the boat fixed, it has a broken belt. It has been so nice and sunny, perfect boat weather that I can't stand missing.
That's about it down here. Thank gosh Carl is done with his MBA, he has one summer session in July and August so he will have two months off from school, even though he isn't done they are letting him walk for graduation since they only have one ceremony.
I can't wait to have him home, not at class or here doing homework!

Green Smoothie

Well, I have a new obsession and it is healthy! Green Smoothies. The basic recipe is, 3 BIG handfuls of spinach, one banana, blueberries, flax seed, orange juice ( I use reduced calorie), little bit of honey and ice. I don't like bananas but in this smoothie it isn't very noticeable and gives it some creaminess.
OK, I had such a hard time making this, it was in the blender forever and the spinach and ice were not mixing well. After a nice conversation with a Cuisinart rep, who was very interested in smoothies as well, I think I have a winning recipe. Put the juice and spinach in first, then I toss the banana in sections and the blueberries and flax seed. Next comes the ice piece by piece and I use the hole in the lid and then finish with honey. It is very thick and yummy and has all your servings of fruits and veggies (5) if you use enough spinach. So, it is a nice way to start your morning or finish off the day with something light. Try it, you'll thank me.
I am still a vegetarian and working out on most of my days off. I have also started to use weights again and doing ab work, which I hate. So, far my weight hasn't changed yet but all my clothes are fighting better. Would love any encouragement.

update

I haven't posted in forever! Very sorry! Things have been busy but fun!
My Dad came down for a visit and we went to a wonderful restaurant for dinner and then to a Citadel basketball game. The Citadel bulldog lunged at me. I was walking by, going to my seat and felt a thud on my leg. I turned around and some cadets were pulling the bulldog back and he was in mid-lunge. Crazy dog. I was even wearing gray and blue to support the team. They ended up winning as well.
Then my Mom and Sher came for a visit. We went to the Charleston Food and Wine festival, I highly recommend it. We stayed at the tasting tents for 3 hours and then headed to the Sip and Stroll. The Sip and Stroll is where you go to tons of trendy boutiques and they give out wine while you shop. Needless to say, dinner was awesome and I did not drive home!
The next day we went to Magnolia Plantation. The gardens are so pretty and the entrance has big oak trees and minature ponies in the field. You could feed the ponies and they would take off running across the field on their little legs and a few of them even jumped a stream to get there. It was cracking me up. Then we had lunch and went to another plantation. That night we hung around the house which was relaxing and very needed.
The next day we has an amazing breakfast went to Kiawah island to drive around to look at some of the houses, which are all gorgeous and huge.
Now, I am offically on vacation. Saturday we went to a St. Patty's day block party. Some girls from work went, some neighbors and some other friends. We had so much fun. They some of us came back to our house for pool and fire pit. I love this season, spring is my favorite. There is so much to do. I have to rest of the week off and will try and get some chores done around the house and some yardwork done. Then Beth and Kelly arrive.
Hope all is well with everyone else, I just bought Natural Advantage off TV so look for me on the next commercial raving about my loss of wrinkles.

Love Rach

Today is Jayne's barcrawl, I really wish I could be there to hear all the stories and remember her. I was scheduled to work and then they cancelled me anyway. I hope everyone has fun and remembers such a great person. The fall and winter is always a little harder and I find myself thinking of her more. Thankfully, Carl knew Jayne as well, so we will tell our stories tonight and will be thinking of Jayne and all you VA/Tri-Sig girls, be safe, miss you guys.

Rachel is a vegetarian???

I know, I know. After a couple months of trying to cut back on meat, I have decided to become a vegetarian!
Very exciting I know but a lot to take on. Right now, it is only meat. I am going to get used to no meat and find some basic meals I can make and then move onto no dairy. I am reading a book called "Skinny Bitch," pretty intense but it gets you thinking about everything you put into your body. So, I am also going organic, no point in eating veggies covered in pesticides.
I have fallen in love with Silk Soy Milk. I put it on my cereal now and it is super good to drink as well. Eventually, I will move to soy cheese and butter and mayo but all in good time.
So, that is where I am, pretty big news for me, especially living down here in the SC.
Wish me luck!