Finger Lakes Wine Festival

A couple can never have too much wine! Ok, maybe they can, but we had an awesome time and survived unscathed!
Last year I traveled to Seneca Lake with a group of 12 girls. This year I decided to plan a trip back and my cousins were also ripe for a weekend without the kids!
We survived some horrible construction traffic, in Pennsylvania, of course, but we made it in four hours. We headed right to the Toga party after pinning ourselves together as best we could. It was more crowded than last year, and we didn't win a prize, but it was a good time. The fireworks were a nice touch! Afterwards we headed to a bar in town for some darts and snacks, then rest for a big Saturday.



We got up early so the six of us could run through the Gorge before breakfast. It was just as beautiful as I remember. I was glad to be able to share it with Matt, since I had told him so much about it before. Marsha, our Inn Keeper, had a wonderful breakfast ready for us when we got back and some of the girls that I went with last year also joined us. The Festival itself seemed more crowded than last year. We bought a dozen bottles or so, some as gifts, some for us, and some for special occasions.

After catching the shuttle bus back into town, some of us napped while others opted for a walk, or even a run! (That was Trisha, she's in training mode right now and took advantage of the time!) Eventually we walked a few blocks up to the lake for dinner, then Matt and I headed out for some live music while my cousins searched out some ice cream.
Unfortunately Megan got sick from dinner, we think, and the groups parted ways to head home after picking up our wine. All in all, it was a fabulous weekend, just the kind of thing we all needed.

OCMD with the boys.

Maybe some of you will notice a difference in my headline. I probably should have italicized the key point, BOYS! Not that sexual orientation has anything to do with it, but sexual nature definitely does. Not too long ago I went to the beach with some of my girlfriends from school and posted a blog about how much fun we had. This time, I went to Ocean City with some of Matt's friends. The first time we went, a few years ago, there were more girls there that I knew and it was a great time. As a matter of fact, my great friend Brewster stems from that first trip!
This year, well, let's just say I got spoiled from my time in Rehobeth, the bed, the cooler of drinks, the meals, the umbrella, and the snacks on the beach - but it was a fun few nights.
Matt and I hit the Fenwick Crab house, an old favorite, for some hardshell crabs and lager. We even stopped at The Green Turtle after dinner, my first time. And another night we did it up at The Bull on the Beach, another favorite for some shuffleboard. Some of us had a little too much fun, as seen in the pictures! Way to go, Hutch!
But I did wake up early to catch sunrise on the beach, albeit by myself, since the guys were still comatose. It's safe to say that next year I'll leave the sleeping on the couch and sweltering on the beach without any added luxuries to Matt and "the boys!"

WE'RE ENGAGED!!

Ok, ok, I know that this news is almost a year old at this point, but we had an engagement party to celebrate!
Let me start by giving a HUGE thank you to my soon-to-be in-laws, Ann and Glenn. They are the best people, ever, and I love them a lot! No one could ask for a sweeter mother-in-law, no matter what those horrible stereotypes are!
Ann had been wanting to have a party but the school year was too busy, for all of us. So, we had it last Saturday!
Matt and I helped set up and even bought a big tent for the yard, which we think will come in handy in our own yard at some point. Anyway, we played some volleyball with Brewster, my Dad and Lydia, who came over early. Then we got all dolled up in our kilts for a little sneak peak of the wedding.
The party was full of entertainment! We had quoits, bean bags, tons of food, beer, and plenty of great companionship! The most entertaining of all might have been the scale from the bathroom. (Yes, there might have been some testosterone involved with that one!) The fire pit was a huge success too, and we stayed up late to open gifts, too! What more could we ask for?
We got wonderful recipes and I have to say that it was just another awesome reason to spend time with family and friends before the wedding!! Thanks to everyone for coming, you all should have received your thank you notes by now, and extra thanks to Ann for making it so special! I love my new necklace! Love you!

Ok, ok, I know the picture isn't from the engagement party, but it's a funny one, and all of us were at the party! Actually, my party pictures were a little boring, and I'm waiting to get back the ones that Ann took as people were coming in.
Addendum - I am adding a few pictures that I took, since I haven't seen Ann's and wanted to get something online.