USMC Birthday Ball 2015

This weekend we attended the 240th USMC Birthday Ball in Wilmington NC. It was an interesting weekend for us to say the least! I left my wallet at home, so I had no photo ID on me (no drinks for me!) or any of my cards. Not a good feeling. I also had a mini stomach attack in the car on the way down there that mercifully passed me by after just some very uncomfortable pain and nausea. Then we also thought the cocktail hour started at 6pm when it actually started at 5pm... and we found this out at 4:30pm. So needless to say I did not have time to do my hair this year! Oops. Luckily I got it cut and highlighted the day before so wearing it down wasn't too awful I guess? You would think we'd never done this before! But with all that going against us we still had a fantastic time.

We didn't really know anyone at our table, but we had other friends there to hang out with once the ceremony was over. This year's message from the Commandant spoke about the Legacy of the Corps and was really interesting to watch, as always.

We had some delicious food and were able to dance to a few songs together before it got pretty warm in the ballroom and we decided to call it a night.

Our professional picture... dang I wish I flipped my hair back or something!

Even though we had fun we ended up leaving earlier than we normally do... I realized that when we were snuggled in our pajamas in a giant hotel bed watching stand up comedy before 10pm! A surefire sign we are getting old. I can wear a fancy dress and heels and dance a lot or I can be in my pjs in a giant bed that is uber comfy? Hard choice! But we did have a great evening, I just didn't take that many pictures this year. We also ordered room service for the next morning to have breakfast in bed.

After we lazied about for awhile we met up with our friends Mark and Kayla to explore around Wilmington. We mostly ended up doing a lot of shopping and eating, but it was a lot of fun.

I love secondhand bookstores

We then found a painted mural that screamed photo opportunity! Mark and Ryan's came out the best I think... as nice as our couple-y shots were!

It was nice to have a day out with friends. We had a yummy lunch at Front Street Brewery, and I highly recommend their fried green tomato BLT!

Kayla and I enjoying downtown Wilmignton

After dinner Kayla and Mark introduced us to the deliciousness that is The Peppered Cupcake. Oh. My. Lanta. This stuff as heavenly good! All  natural ingredients, moist, delicious, wonderful flavors... I am a huge fan!

Hot Chocolate Cupcake

Shock O'lata Cupcake, my personal choice

After our cupcakes we headed home and watched the nail biter Giants vs Patriots game (SO. CLOSE.) and relax with some of the new tea we picked up that day. Even though we didn't get anything practical done (helloooo early morning vacuuming and laundry before work) it was really great to spend some time together and just relax and have fun. 

Very good weekend.

Turning 27

On Monday, September 8th, I turned 27.

It was pretty low key, as far as birthdays go. My parents sent me Georgetown Cupcakes, flowers, and some clothes. Ryan, the smart man he is, got me gift cards to go shopping. My friend Donna got me some Coca Cola things for my Coca Cola Bathroom (a soap dispenser, a soap dish, and a cool metal tin that now holds my daily make up and hair things) and my phone blew up with well wishes from friends and family and Facebook.

So, thank you (:

I was off from work since I worked the weekend and I decided to go get my hair done. I last got partial highlights in March so after six months it was kind of driving me nuts.

 I went over to the mall and got them done... I love how they turned out but I was there nearly three hours. Bit much! But at my price I won't complain.

After I brought home some food and Ryan and I sat on the couch and watched television for a bit before we went off to spend my birthday giftcards. At Kohls I got a gorgeous red pea coat (with a hood!) since I have wanted a red coat for years. At Old Navy I got two long sleeved shirts, two tank tops, and a nice blue work shirt. At Shoe Carnival I got a gorgeous pair of grey boots that I cannot wait to wear.... so Ryan definitely did well for me for my birthday!

Then wen we went home to drop off my bags something unexpected happened....

A tornado warning! My phone started letting off a siren sound and we flicked on the television to see the red radar hovering directly over us. My husband quickly ushered the dog and I into our guest bathroom where we quickly realized we should at least look outside before we cower in the bathroom. Outside it was gray, not raining, but definitely did not look like tornado conditions. No green clouds, no rotation.... nothing! Fifteen minutes went by and the alert expired. I always thought a warning meant a funnel cloud had been spotted but the television never said one had been. Just have to keep things interesting I suppose!

Donna met Ryan and I at Ale House where I watched my Giants get their butts handed to them for their first game for the second year in a row. Sigh. At least I got a free dessert since it was my birthday!

All in all, a good, low key day. Let's hope 27 is a good year!

Awesome Weekend

Have I mentioned I love where we live?

I love where we live.

Being in the DC area again in itself is wonderful. I love driving somewhere and looking out my windshield and seeing the Washington Monument or the Capital. It is just so awesome. I have been driving a lot, but the metro itself is so convenient and clean. When I was in school (and caless) I literally took it everywhere. I moved to Maryland junior year of college but I was still in the beltway so it was all the same.

After graduation I moved to Florida for my Disney Internship which was a whole new world of a Jersey girl transplanted to DC now to Florida girl like me. Flat. So so flat. Aside from the Disney bus system we had you had to drive to get anywhere. Then I went back to Jersey to plan the wedding... cow-ville. Middle of the country, had drive to go literally anywhere!

Now, back in the DC area... but on the Virginia side! A first! Alexandria is wonderful. All of our neighbors are so so friendly. Everyone we talk to is great. And we are so close to Old Town. Here comes my weekend now.

Friday was parade day but Ryan had duty so he was stuck there longer than usual. I got to visit at least. I went and picked up his wedding ring, visited, then hung out with my friend Meghan for awhile on King St. We had amazing Thai food and then I made dinner for Ryan and went to the barracks again. Saturday we watched a 5 hour movie via netflix called Wyatt Erp. Action/Western, pretty good actually. We played Scrabble and I did my goal!

Yes, I used ALL of my tiles in ONE word!!! ANECDOTE- with a blank tile for the C. So I got an extra 50 points for the word and sufficiently kicked my hubby's butt 280 to 216. New Goal: Break 300.

What is going to happen when we get cable?! Haha.

After that we went bowling on Bolling Air Force base and then came back and walked to King St. We got totally ripped off at one bar that had live bluegrass music and Ryan left an $0.08 tip. I was mortified. I wish I had cash to leave. I got the dirty looks our waitress was shooting us and I am blushing now at the though. For seven wings and three drinks they charged us $35, yes a bit steep... but to not leave a tip? Yea, goes against my nature and I was so embarassed.

But after we found an AMAZING bar called Murphy's that made my Irish girl heart leap for joy. Live music, two floors (smoking upstairs) and great people. I had a hard cider in hand and was quite content. Teasing Ryan I told him he had to try and pick me up, see how off his game got.

So he sneaks up behind me and starts trying to chat me up. He leans on my table and his elbow totally slipped off and I laughed hysterically and just said, "Sorry dude, I'm married!" He told me this one guy kept looking at me, of course when I glance over I got full eye contact and just held up my left hand and grinned!

We ended up meeting two former Marines who were pretty cool. They got drinks for Ryan and tried to get more for me (but I don't drink a lot and declined). We actually ended up staying until closing before we walked home, myself a little straighter than Ryan did!

We were up late so Sunday we slept in. We walked up the street for pastries and I got a yummy bittersweet chocolate tarte and then we went to mass (score! two weeks in a row! back in business!). After we drove to Kohl's and found this awesome shopping center we didn't know existed! I got shorts and other stuff for camp, Ryan insisted I get this casual blue dress and some nice black sandals, and himself a belt. We used our gift cards and had $4 left to spare! Then we went to Firehouse Subs and Ryan overdid it with a level 10 hot sauce. He literally described it as eating OC spray (Marine girls may get that one... ask your man!) Where it hit his face it turned bright red and he was sweating profusely. It wasn't even good, it just burned! As soon as he recovered he accidentally dipped his sandwich in the wrong cup and it started again! Oh poor hubby...

We then went and saw the A-Team which was actually pretty funny. I never saw the tv show so now Ryan is insisting we get it on Netflix!

At rehearsal now, last one til the 28th. And guess what?

WE GET CABLE AND INTERNET WEDNESDAY!!!