Maine is Cold

We had a holiday fun filled weekend. We picked out and cut down a tree, saw Santa on a lobster boat, and did a little shopping. It was a really good time, but it was cold. Turns out it's pretty chilly in Maine in December.

the view is just as good in the winter as it was on our honeymoon

 our tree is so little the hubs could haul her off with one hand

Santa arrives in Maine style...on a lobster boat

back in Boston, all dressed up!

One of the nicest things about this weekend was being right back where we had our honeymoon. It is such a relaxing place, and we have such wonderful memories from the summer that it just made the weekend that much better. It's nice knowing that we'll be able to visit the spots where we got married and where we honeymooned as frequently as we'd like. I didn't realize how much of a bonus that is :)

December to Remember

This month I will try my best to remember to blog. A lot of fun stuff goes on during the holidays, and hopefully I'll have something exciting to mention here.

I am excited that it is officially December. I do not feel badly listening to Christmas music in December or hanging up our lights (which we did Monday, oh well!) I'm so excited to get a tree and dive head first into the holiday season. I love Christmas...and not just because of the presents. The parties, the decorations, the family, and the lights! How can you not love it?

This December will be a little different, as the hubs is going to New Mexico solo. We both went last year for Christmas, so this year we're spending the real day with my family. But he couldn't NOT see his family some time near Christmas, so he'll be gone for a week. I couldn't go this time because I am fresh out of vacation days thanks to the multiple trips we took in 2010, and New Mexico is a little far to go for a weekend. He hasn't gone to NM without me in a few years, but I think he'll survive :) Me? I'll be just fine. Although many of my dinners may come from the microwave, I am looking forward to complete reign over the remote control. And I'll be making my own mini-vacation to Washington DC to visit my non-Welsh friend from Wales. I'm pretty psyched.

Until then I'll be surviving work days to make it home to Christmas fun...like making snow flakes!

Weekend of Wonderful

This weekend was absolutely fabulous. I don't think we could have asked for a better weekend, weather-wise or fun wise.

The James Taylor and Carole King concert was wonderful. The two perform so well together, and this weekend was no exception. They had great energy and it just perfect. I was so happy to be there and enjoyed every song.

We got engaged in the same place under this same umbrella last summer. Thankfully this year we used it for the sun, not the pouring rain again :)

Then we hopped the Downeaster up to Maine and spent the rest of the weekend with my family. We had a cookout, spent some time on the beach, watched fireworks, and went for a really hot, sweaty run. Despite our train home being delayed last night and not getting home until 11:30pm, it was awesome. We're actually going there for our honeymoon! It will be so wonderful and relaxing.

Top Chef

Yesterday I made corned beef and cabbage for the first time. I am only like 1% Irish, or something really small like that, but there is Irish blood in the family, so I figured I should get on the wagon and learn how to make it. Luckily, I can always find at least three dinner guests in my apartment on Wednesday nights (thanks to America's Next Top Model being on), so they became the meal testers.

Turns out, it's not hard to make at all. I threw the meat in the Crock-Pot in the morning, and did the cabbage and potatoes closer to meal time. Not to toot my own horn, but it came out really well. We enjoyed the St. Patrick's Day dinner and some Guinness...well I drank root beer from a Guinness glass because I don't actually like the beer...and were all festive and wore green. It was a good time, and we got to avoid all the obnoxious drunk people who venture into Boston for the holiday.

I took pictures of the food, and friends, but I didn't post them...oh well. Maybe tomorrow I'll show us off in all our green glory.

Oh! And the baby cousin-in-law-to-be was born Friday night. A girl. So beautiful. My Gramma knit her a hat this weekend and we sent a package last night of the most adorable baby girl clothes. So exciting!