Back to the Grind

warning: extra long post!!

I'm back to work after a fabulous 3-day weekend, with a special Valentine's Day mixed in.  I hope all of you had an extra sweet V Day with those that are near and dear to you.  The hubby treated me like a queen and we tried out a new restaurant we've been wanting to try for a while now, J. Gilberts.  It was pretty darn good and the ambiance was perfect for V Day. 

Saturday morning I spent with some lovely ladies and very sweet elderly people at a nearby assisted living center.  We hosted a Pretty and Polished event and gave ladies, and a few misters, a manicure.  It was a humbling and fun experience, I'd love to do it again.  I met a sweet man, Grady William Mallone, to be exact, that was the first person to visit us and was the last person to leave, he stayed the entire time.  He spent the morning telling myself and another girl about his life as a retired Army Major and spelling out our names and his with heart letters, over and over.  Sweet, sweet man that reminded me of my papa.  He was the funniest thing, he refused to take picture with any of us but he loved taking pictures of us.  The cutest thing was him taking pictures, bless his heart he didn't realize there was a screen that showed what he was taking a pic of so he was holding the camera up to his eye and glaring at it up close, as if there was a lens.  Nevertheless the pictures actually turned out nice.

I had two special packages arrive from other lovely bloggers.  I opened the first box and found this pretty little box.

Inside was the beautiful pearl and jade necklace I won, courtesy of Natasha Grasso, from the Bon Bon Rose Girls' blogiversary.  Thank you Kristin and Megan, I absolutely love this piece!

This picture so doesn't do it justice.

The second package was from Southern Cinderella and was just in time for V Day!  I opened the box to find a  festive card from Lindsay and V Day tissue paper.

that revealed all these goodies

Look at the cute valentine from Lindsay and Chloe!  Can't wait to try out the recipes in the chocolate chip cookbook!

Thank you ladies for the wonderful gifts, you're too sweet!!

After P&P, I dashed over to the catch the last couple hours of the Fornash warehouse sale.  I definintely picked up some goodies including

a champagne colored boa scarf (one of Oprah's favorite things for 2009!)

The Annapolis sale is this Sunday, February 21st.

The Mongram Chick is hosting a fabulous giveaway until tomorrow night so be sure to sign up and check out her store and blog, she has fabulous things, all monogrammed of course!  Be sure to tell her I sent you! ; )

As you can probably imagine I'm just a little behind after having 4.5 days off so I'm out for now.  Exciting stuff coming in the very near future, stay tuned! 

Happy Mardi Gras!! Anyone doing anything to celebrate?

cBv

Love is in the Air

Hello lovelies!  I'm finally back at work and boy does it feel good!  I thought I had to work Monday but then my boss informed me that we are closed for the holiday.  I was actually a little bummed because I'm still suffering from cabin fever.  But it will be nice to have an extra day with the Mr.

Does anyone have anything big and fabulous planned for Valentine's Day with their sweet someone?!?!

Personally I'm hoping for a low-key day w. the hubs.  I wanted to do brunch after church at one of my favorite brunch spots but the Mr. turned me down because he already made reservations somewhere.  If you're in the DC area and looking for an A-mazing brunch you must check out Harry's Tap Room.  They have a few locations and the french toast is to. die. for. 

Eat some for me, please!!

Have I mentioned how much I hate suprises?!?! I think it comes with my Type A-need to be in control personality.  I just can't stand them.  And the hubs know this, so he always makes sure to capitalize on this to drive me crazy.  The only thing he told me for Sunday was he has a reservation somewhere and church.  Everything else will remain a surprise (blah!!).

Tomorrow I'm kicking off Valentine's Day a little early by participating in Pretty and Polished.  It's a group of girls that get together through my church and visit area nursing homes and assisted living residences and give the sweet little ladies manicures.  I'm really looking forward to it and I hope I can bring some love and cheeriness to their day.  It makes me think about the sweet nurses that cared for my papa when he was in the Veteran's nursing home.  They were so sweet to just take a few extra minutes to humor him by listening to one of his jokes, sing w. him and probably, on occasion, grumble about something.   Those little moments of caring, listening and sharing can really go a long way and truly brighten someone's day.  And I know it brought a smile to his face.  I hope I can share some love and do the same. 

Here are a few of my favorite pink things.

We will definintely take a stroll here on Sunday for one of my favorites!

I hope all of you lovelies have a fabulous Valentine's day spent with someone special that makes you laugh and smile! I'm so blessed and lucky, thank you for tagging along with me on this crazy little blog.

Tickled Pink!

cBv

For all of you DC ladies - the Fornash (Alexandria) warehouse sale has been rescheduled for tomorrow from 9am to 3pm. The Annapolis sale will be next weekend. Happy Shopping!

Swooning and Feeling Blessed!

I hope everyone's holiday was fabulous! Mine was amazing! I stumbled upon this and I'm swooning...

and of course they wouldn't be complete w. out the matching earrings!  Just in time for spring, Lilly dresses & Jack Rogers!

And I'm feeling my first, e.v.e.r. giveaway is in order.  Stay tuned!
cBv