Valentine's Day & GMU Homecoming Weekend!

Friday was Steve and my Valentine's Day dinner a day early since Saturday was going to be a long day of drinking for Mason's Homecoming party at Brion's Grille. He kept the location a surprise and ended up taking me to Reston Town Center to McCormick & Schmick's. We got caesar salad, bacon wrapped filet, mashed potatoes, a vegetable and chocolate covered heart shaped red velvet cake all for only $30 a person. We also added to that pot roast nachos and a bottle of wine and left STUFFED! It was a good time and then we met Jamie, Kiser, Jere, and 2 of Jamie's friends at Martini Bar after a lot of persuading on Kiser and Jere's part. We were too full to go out but went for about an hour to say hi and then went back home. Before we left for dinner we had swung by 2 townhouses to possibly rent. I wasn't crazy about either of them from their pictures online but we wanted to see them anyway because we need to move out by March 15th. The first townhouse was about a mile from our apartment down Braddock and I did not get a homey feel from it. The only thing I did like was that it had a doggy door but that even walked out onto the patio where there was no grass for Onyx so we'd still have to take her out on a leash to grass. Anyway, he said that he was deciding tonight on tenants because he had a few applications already. I'm not sure if that was a lie or not but it wasn't helping in persuading us to fill out an application for it. So, we left there and went to meet another realtor at another townhouse across the street from where we are now. It was listed for only $1600 a month which is on the cheaper end of what people are posting these things for right now. I thought this townhouse would be worse than the first one because it had been listed since December and no takers, they had decreased the price, and they now were allowing dogs. And, the pictures online weren't great for this one either. So, we went there and it reminded me a lot of my old townhouse that I owned. It was cute, homey and had an awesome backyard and deck that walked down to the backyard which is rare for a townhouse. And, it's an end unit so the backyard is really big. So, we decided to put an application on the house and apprently the owners are thrilled. We're just waiting for the Property Management company to go through our credit checks and applications...yikes! Hopefully, if all goes well, we are moving in on February 28th. The same day as my pole dancing class!

Saturday day AND night at Brion's was a good time. I dont' need to drink that much again for a long time though. It was kind of like a block party where they had a tent in the parking lot and bands and the game on. So, when Sunday arrived, we definitely didn't do much besides eat brunch and pick up Steve's car. Now, with moving and the last 2 months of the wedding planning, my weekends are going to be very full. My bachelorette party is April 10th-13th and I don't know where they are taking me. I have a few ideas but no ones spilled the beans yet. We're meeting with Stacey this Thursday to go over what we need to be working on with the wedding for this month. Now, it's starting to get expensive. And, we are sending out the invitations in 2 weeks at the latest. I'm going to be stressed about that I'm sure!

this is outside behind the tent at Brion's grill. By the bar of course!

A normal picture still at the tent

Back at Brion's at night. I like this one case I look skinnier!

Steve being silly...

My favorite girl picture inside

Again, I look ridiculous, but skinnier than usual

I Love Fun Weekends!

This weekend was another great one! I started out on Thursday by having a "family reunion" dinner at Chipotle in Arlington with my old co-workers and I. Only Shannon didn't make it this time. Usually, it's most difficult for me since I live in Centreville an most other people live in either Arlington or DC. So, usually it's not what I'm most in the mood for on a week night but once I get there I'm glad I'm there to catch up with them.

Friday, a bunch of us went to Velocity 5 in Falls Church. The only bummer about that was that I put the entire tab on my card and they charged me twice!!! Grrrrrr....I'm going to have to take that one up with the bank since it was $175! It was a pretty fun night though and we got home safe and sound. I woke up Saturday and had to make it to my hair appointment. I went lighter than I have been for the wedding. It was an expensive $400 hair appointment. I will probably not be going there too much longer after the wedding when I don't care so much how my hair looks. After I got my hair done, Steve, his friend Kiser and Kristen and I met my dad up at Brion's Grille for lunch and drinks. That was also a great time. My dad is nuts and says the most inapprpriate things at the most inapprpriate times but if you can understand that that is just him, then you'll learn to see the humor in it. From there, we went back to our apartment (minus pops) and Kiser's fiance Jamie came over with their dog Johnny. He's a little pug and really cute. I'm usually not very keen on pugs but this one is a cute one. Sunday, since it was going to be in the 60's, we decided to go play golf (Kiser, Jamie, Steve and I). I felt like for not having been golfing since the fall and still being very new to the sport, I did decent (for me at least). I want to learn to get good and be able to play with other people that I wouldn't be embarrassed around.

So, we are now 87 days out from the wedding and I'm realizing how many more details we have to plan like Steve's wedding band, our honeymoon, and smaller details that I thought would be easy. I took a break since Vegas on going to the gym and now I'm trying to get back on the ball with it. I went last night to a spinning class with Jamie and I brought clothes today to work to go to the gym right from work but I am just not feeling like going. I will though! I've been getting compliments and it is all worth the effort. I just feel like I want to eat a big greasy cheeseburger right now...

Superbowl Festivities...

Last weekend was a fun one! Friday, Steve and I went with our friend Nisa to Velocity 5 which is the new hangout place in Falls Church. It's kind of far to get to but it is a pretty cool bar. It's very big so you don't feel cramped and they have a DJ and tv's everywhere. Friday was a blast and I did take some pictures...coming soon. I love hanging out with Nisa because when Steve comes he always seems to run into his friends from high school too so I don't feel like he's bored all night.

Saturday, was a day of recovery and cleaning. We were prepping our apartment for our mini Super Bowl party. A lot of my friends went to Velocity 5 and Steve and I decided to have a few people over at our place and I cooked food. I was actually really proud of "my spread". I went to Party City and got Steelers and Cardinals balloons and plates, napkins and made slow cooker BBQ pork sandwiches, spinach and artichoke dip and stromboli! We also had tons of chips and dips. Kristen and Jose brought some type of corned beef dip in a bread bowl, coleslaw, potato salad and macaroni salad. And, the amount of beer we have left over is actually sickening. It was a lot of fun and a GREAT game. I was pulling for the Cardinals since they haven't won a Super Bowl yet and was kindo f disappointed when the Steelers won but it was still such a good game until the very end.

Here are a few pictures form Super Bowl from Kristen's camera. I'll post mine soon!

What the spread looked like before the food came out!

The group minus me and Kristen

Me going outside

Awww, Hoe, Onyx and Kristen

Hoe and Kristen

Hoe and Onyx