Celebrations

We were out of town this weekend, up visiting my in-laws, throwing a Birthday Party for DH.

He's ancient now; out of his youthful thirties and plunging headlong into his forties. His sister, her husband and I are all turning/have turned 37 this year, so we joke that he is now officially the old man of the group. I'm the youngest by about 5 months, so I get to harass them about their advanced ages slightly longer than everyone else.

That cake in the picture was a Blackout Cake from The Cheesecake Factory and could have fed 50 people. Chocolate cake, chocolate icing, chocolate chips, and covered in crushed almonds, it helped ease the pain of DH's inevitable decline.

This past week was also our 13th wedding anniversary. I told DH that we don't need to be superstitious about the number 13 because we had technically just finished our thirteenth year and were starting our 14th year together.

Feels like the 41st....but totally in a good way! ;-)

What I Gave My Husband

I never said what I wound up getting for DH for our 10th anniversary. Y'know the one that has an aluminum theme.

I was stuck, as I usually am when it comes to getting gifts for my husband. The problem isn't knowing what he would like, but in picking something that actually fits into our budget. Sorry, no Mac can be purchased for $50.00 or less! Ditto for an HD flat-screen.

What's a girl to do? The internet actually helped me out on this one. I searched through website after website looking for ideas and finally hit upon something I could afford and that I thought he would like:



It's a digital photo key chain from Brookstone. It holds up to 62 pictures and has great resolution, even after it resizes the photo to fit on such a small screen. The chain part is made of metal--so I assumed there's probably some kind of tin or aluminum in there. Don't tell me otherwise, because I was entirely too pleased with my idea!

I did run into a problem the day I purchased it. I brought it home, downloaded the software and uploaded some photos only to discover three black lines marring the viewscreen. aaargghh! It was broken. I had to take it back and replace it right away. Brookstone said they had been having a problem with messed-up screens, and had just switched out their inventory with ones that worked. Not exactly building my consumer confidence in the product, Brookstone!

The replacement I was given seems to be working fine, but I am still wondering if it's going to die on me.

So, great gift for someone, but check yours out in the store if you buy one.

Restful Weekend

DH and I were privileged enough to stay at a Bed and Breakfast in St. Petersburg this weekend to celebrate our 10 Year anniversary. Thanks go to my in-laws, who are so gracious to treat us to these luxuries; things that we would normally never be able to enjoy on our own budget. What can I say? They're nice people!

Here's a few pics:









Before checking in, we stopped at a local "winery" which really wasn't a winery in the sense of acres upon acres of vineyards. Instead, it was a place where they produce a variety of non-traditional wines made from a citrus fruit base and other various juices and flavors. We were able to sample about eight different wines, ranging from a mango wine all the way through to an orange/coffee wine called Midnight Sun. It sounds worse than it tastes! I actually liked it, although it was a strange combination of flavors to get used to.

We wound up purchasing a bottle of wine made from coconut, pineapple and orange flavors...yummy pina colada!

After exploring the winery, we headed over to the Bed and Breakfast to check in. The room was beautiful, though I would have liked warmer colors than the cool blue. The bed was enormous with a huge, elevated, carved headboard, something I would imagine seeing in a castle or museum. The bathroom was impeccable and featured a whirlpool tub that could probably fit a small country within its cavernous depths.

After check-in we hit the streets of St. Petersburg, browsing through artsy shops and listening to a cover band rockin' out to The Eagles and Bon Jovi. One of the art stores we entered had the coolest metal sculptures that I SO would have bought if I had $300 to spend a superfluous sculpture that amused me. Alas, I don't have that kind of money so I took some pictures. Only one turned out well.


I'm a dog person.

For dinner, we walked to a local Indian restaurant and were treated to a delicious chicken curry and warm, freshly baked naan. mmmm. naan. I wish we had an Indian restaurant near us! I am so jealous of you St. Petersburg!

I have more to write about, but this post is already dragging on with all sorts of details that probably bore everybody else in the known universe.

more later.

gift

I think I found the perfect gift that fits with the ten-year anniversary theme of aluminum!

I can't say what it is because DH is spying on my blog! :-)

You'll find out later!....Now get back to work earning us those big bucks! hehehe