56/365 Architectural Arches

Looking up the side aisle at St. Anne's.  I apologize for the graininess...it was dark!

55/365 Goofy What?

Did I really run 39.3 miles in one weekend less than 2 months ago?  Yikes!

54/365 Silver Oak

Tonight, after a good workout at the gym, I went to my local wine shop's Dollar Days sale.  Basically, all wine/spirits/beer are just a dollar over cost.  Last year, I bought 3 cases of wine.  This year, I held myself in check and only bought 20 bottles (3 of which were madeira, and a scotch).  These 4 lovely bottles are from a winery/producer that I greatly admire, but have never tasted.  Silver Oak has an Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Napa Valley Cab.  They only make Cabernets, and are quite well-thought of.

I actually bought my first bottles of Silver Oak at the sale in February last year.  I bought one from each vineyard, and planned to give my then boyfriend wine connoisseur (now fiance wine connoisseur) one of the bottles for his birthday (in September).   I thought I would give him one of the bottles, and keep the other, sort of like a pair.  Then, when they are ready to drink in 5 or 10 years, we would either be together and drink them comparatively, or we would drink them wherever we were in our lives and remember each other fondly.

Well, by the time his birthday rolled around in September, I pretty much felt that we would be drinking them together in 5 or 10 years.  So I gave him both bottles. :)  J always says you should buy 2 bottles of a wine you are collecting to age, that way if you love it, you'll still have another bottle without having to pay top dollar for it, if it is even still available.  So last year at the sale in October, I bought another bottle each from both wineries.  At the sale tonight, I bought two bottles of each that I will eventually throw in J's cellar.  I'd like to collect two bottles of each vintage as we go through the years.

53/365 Bridal Magazines

As a teenager (and later!), I loved looking at Bridal magazines.  I probably bought the very first issues of Martha Stewart Weddings 15 years ago.  I loved looking at the pictures, the ideas...but it probably wasn't so healthy for me to be dreaming about a wedding!  About 8 years ago, I stopped the habit...mostly to keep myself from being sad about not having a wedding!

Well, now that I am planning my own wedding, I have every excuse to read these magazines!  I don't even really get too many ideas from them; I just enjoy the act of reading them.  One or two days a week during lunch, I head over to the Starbucks near my office, grab a latte, and sit and read these magazines.  It is relaxing and exciting all at once!

I have to say though, I'm amazed at how much the things mentioned in the magazines cost!  I'm almost thankful that we are on a budget.  I can't imagine how I would make decisions if cost were not a factor.

52/365 Spa Night

51/365 Souvenirs

This is a pearl necklace I had made in the Epcot "Japan" at Disney World.  You can pick an oyster, they open it for you, and then you get a pearl!  I loved doing this as a little girl when I went to Disney.  Both times as a child, I picked oysters that had twin pearls.  I had earrings and a ring made.

This time, Lauren and I both picked oysters, and had our pearls set in pendants.  Lauren's was a gold color 8mm pearl, and mine was a pinkish 7.5mm pearl.  Mine is set in a flower setting that I really like.  It may be my new favorite piece of jewelry (other than my engagement ring, of course!)

50/365 Life in a Dressing Room

Ever wondered what goes on in the dressing room for a musical?  A lot of makeup, curling irons, and hairspray!  As much as she might kill me for this...I think my friend Phyllis' expression is perfect!  Curling irons?  YUCK!