Montreal Day 6

So this Day, I was a little less adventurous.....
Just some window shopping. But we did stumble across a movie set, almost every day.
They were Filming Beastly in Montreal. Vanessa Hudgens and Mary-Kate Olsen. Some guy also, that I didn't know.

(Wardrobe Trailers)

That evening we went to a restaurant that we found our last trip. Modavie (pro-nounced, Mo-Day-Vee)- it is fabulous! local Jazz, every night, good service, good wine(which surprising is very rare to come by in Montreal), and Great Vibe! Lovely, end to the trip!

Montreal Day 5

So Obviously, after quite an adventure on Tuesday, Wed I opted for a little more low key. Wed, was a holiday for them, St. John the Baptist's Day, so the city was bustling like a Saturday. I opted to take off toward the Port this day, as I only had to hit the Number 55 bus to get there, and I knew that area better. I packed my bookbag with, a towel, my book, a water bottle, phone, I-pod, and I was Off. Stopped at Starbucks for an Iced Mocha, and perched myself in the park for 3 hours, of reading, relaxing and people watching! It was Lovely! A Gorgeous Day!

(I just thought, these little girls picnicking by me, were soo cute!)

That Evening we were off with the Group from the Conference to a Dinner at Gibby's. Cool Old horse stables restaurant in Old Town area! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. Then later, came back to the hotel and had a couple drinks with a couple from New Brunswick that were at the Conference. Crazy story I have to share(for all you moms, out there).....they said their son, had really bad stomach problems for the first 2 years of his life. He would throw up all the time. no doctor could figure out what to do or what was wrong. They ended up at a Pediatric Chiropractor, 6 visits later, he hasn't thrown up, since! Same went for when he had ear infections....they were about to put tubes in his ears and they took him to the Chiropractor, once before going for the tubes.....Magic....worked again. No tubes, went in! Just something I thought I would share, when you think you have done everything......

Montreal Day 3&4

Monday came and Jeff's Conference Began...So I was off on my own!
Today I shopped St. Catherine, and searched for about 45 minutes for a Starbucks!
Good Times, but came home with nothing b/c my suitcase on the way up was already 50 lbs, I decided there really wasn't anything I needed. :)
When Jeff got home, we headed back down to the square for dinner. After walking the side streets for something new, we ended up outside at the square. It actually was fairly chilly that evening out, but nice with a light sweater and jeans on. Jeff got Surf and Turf and I got a Filet. Yummy!
Tuesday I got Brave! After a morning workout, with a jog around the city blocks(yes, I know, I never really work out much, but the weather was so nice and I had the time, so why not!), I ventured up to Mount Royal. OK, so Mount Royal is a large park that overlooks the city, and was landscaped by the same guy that did Central Park. I knew there were lookout points, a lake, some old history, some cemeteries and I would have a gorgeous view of the city. So I looked up the Metro Maps and Bus Maps and figured out my stops and how I was going to navigate my way up to this Mountain......Now, remember, we are in the French part of Canada and everything is French, everyone is speaking French, and although I took French in high school, I retained VERY little. So my path is cut out....I have 2 stops on the Subway, then I transfer lines, go 3 stops and then get off and take the number 11 bus up the mountain. Easy Enough, Right?!
Well surprisingly so, it was easy enough. So 2 trains and 1 bus later, I find the bus climbing a hill, I think, this is It! Yes, I did it. Oh, look, there is a look out point....oh, wait....is the bus going downhill now? Did I miss my stop? I better get off at the next one! So I get off, and venture across a street to where a building stood, and there appeared to be a trail up to the left. I am in my workout clothes and carrying my purse with me. I know, again, why do I have my purse? But I had to make sure to have my camera, Metro Card, hotel key and ID in-case I got lost someone would know who they found!
I see the trail, it's large its wide, there are other people, its only slightly uphill, I think this has to be the way to something, right? Well, again, I was right. I must say, I have a fairly good sense of direction. I came up to a larger house, started seeing more people, and then Here I was!!! This is what I found!! YAY! Gorgeous views of the city!
So after I had enough of the scenary, I decided I would venture down to the look-out spot I had seen on the bus on the way up. It couldn't be far? It had to be along the ridge line, if I just follow this path I'll be sure to find it, right? Also, I noticed that is also where I could catch the 11 bus back down the mountain, so it would work out perfect. Well, not so much....I twisted, I turned, I hiked up, I hiked down, I crossed little bridges, I saw a very LONG set of stairs(I opted against), and I slowly but surely found myself in the middle of the woods and NO ONE around me!!! My paths got smaller, it was basically dirt now, and I slowly grew a little anxious that I had truly gotten myself lost. Then I saw it.....up a hill, there appeared to be a break in the trees, it looked lighter up there, I litterally RAN up that hill, and AT Last!!
I was on a bigger gravel road, one that looked like the first one. Now, right or left?? Hmmm, my senses were right, but I knew if I went left, I should at least get back to where I started, so I opted for that instead. And AT LAST I came back to my original location!! Hit the 11 bus, made my way to the other look out, then hit the bus home back to the Metro! WHEW!! I was worn out!! Note to All - don't tackle a 100+ acre park by yourself without a map of the park....

(This is the tiny trail I came from!)

(This is finally the Larger Road I found!)

Dinner that Night was Red Thai, up on St. Laurent. Good Food, but not Basil, for sure!
It kind of looks like we are eating on the street, but the windows are just all open onto the sidewalk.

Montreal-Day 1&2

So we are finally back from a 6 day trip to Montreal. Jeff had a Conference and I just went along for the trip. When we landed on Saturday it was a cool 74 degrees, which was soo nice to have the break from the 115 degrees we left in Charleston.
We arrived, made it to the hotel, and first ventured to the grocery store for some snacks and wine and beer for the room! Priorities, right!?
We then decided we would walk up to St. Laurent for a dinner at Globe.
I had heard about this place the year before, but we never went. It did live up to its expectations, but we were a little disappointed in the service that evening. She appeared to be more concerned with how revealing her top was, and how short her skirt was than making sure we were taken care of. But good non-the-less. We took a walk up and down St. Laurent, as they close the street on Saturdays and all the restaurants poor out into the streets, there is music and street vendors galore.
Then it was back to the hotel, where we went up to the Club Lounge, and out on the balcony of the 23rd floor, for the Firework Show, over the Old Port. This year we watched Spain, with a bottle of wine, for the 30 minute display. Lovely, indeed!

Sunday - Day 2 - Father's Day!
We slept in and then got ready and ventured down to the Old Port area. We were going to Cirque Du Soleil!!! YAY!
The Show Ovo, was Amazing! The acrobatics is just crazy, it made me want to get back in the gym and stretch and practice my gymnastics again, join yoga, and just about anything flexible!

After the show, it was on to Jacques Square, to sit outside at one of the many restaurants, watch the street performers in the square and people watch. Enjoy a good Beer and some snacks for a late lunch.


You could even rent one of these little bicycle "cars" to tour around the port...I took my turn! :)

The Moment You've all been Waiting For......

The Bathroom Reveal!!!

Before...........



This picture really doesn't do it justice b/c I had already started painting, but you can see the tile! Gross!


After.......!!!! I just LOVE IT!! So fresh and clean, and I will have to update more, as we are updating the lighting, faucets, and eventually getting a new sink/vanity when we brave the job of knocking that one off the wall??!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Happy Father's Day (a day late) to my precious and loving Pops! Wish I was with you!
You are an amazing inspiration to me everday. Your love and willingness to always lend a helping hand, ear, advice, and support is always appreciated, and I could never re-pay you.
Love you, Pops!
(photo's will be uploaded once we return to the States)

So Excited!

So I just have to let you all know how excited I am!! I am waiting on the primer to dry in the bathroom so I can finish painting it. We leave for a week in Montreal, and while we are gone, our bathroom is going to magically be transformed! Thank you, Surface Pro!! I will post before and after pics once it's done, but just imagine.....Crimson and Grey bathroom, turned to fresh clean white and black with a stone floor!! I'm stoaked, to come home and see the results! Especially b/c I picked the floor from a swatch on the computer, so I hope it looks as good in real life. Yikes!
I picked a very soft blue/gray for the walls to keep it fresh and airy. I am covering Crimson so it's not been easy. Some how, all the Red in our house has slowly changed to the color blue....hhmmm, I wonder why?? hehe, it really has nothing to do with Auburn or Alabama, I promise. :)
Also, super excited we got tickets to Cirque du Soleil! The OVO show, while we are in Montreal. Evidently the headquarters is there, and that is where they do all the training, make the costumes and everything. I would love to see the training facility, you think they would let me swing on the trapeze??!!

I'll update more on both later.
Hope you're having a Great Friday!!

I thought this picture pretty much summed up the weather this weekend. It would be beautiful and sunny and then a storm would pop up out of no where and it would pour rain for about 20 minutes and then be done. Crazy Summer time storms! I am also glad it's Monday and Jeff is off call, b/c his phone rang ALL weekend, everytime a storm came up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Today is the Birthday of 2 Lovely People! It is Nicole's 30th and my brother in law, Dane's.....37th(?). You sure don't look that old!

Happy Birthday Nicole and Dane!!! Wish I was there with you! I added some pics that I thought were cute and funny.

I think these pics were too funny and cute not to share! Miss you, Guh!





Also, this weekend Beavis went to the barber shop. He wanted to Wish you a Happy Monday and show off his new Bandana

Hope you all had a Great Weekend!

Slow...

My internet has been soo slow lately! I don't know what to do. It doesn't make me want to get on and post anything, so sorry for the boring post. Comcast stinks!
Anyway....this week has been good and busy.
Two impromptu dinner guest nights and a late night at King Street Kitchen Company for "Whiskey and Jazz". It was fun but definitely a different crowd than our usual "Wed Night Food and Wine" nights. Of course, a bunch of older whiskey drinking men! HA! entertaining though for sure.
I'm exhausted today, b/c our 16 yr old "baby" kept me up all night last night due to the Thunderstorms that came in. He is so scared of storms it breaks my heart.
Hope everyone is having a great Thursday!! Weekend is almost here!

So, I'm not quite as good about keeping this up as I thought I might be. But I'm really using it as an online journal to capture our first year of marriage and share with Family and friends a little into our daily lives. So anyway.....
The weekend is now over... :( We had a GREAT Weekend.
Friday night started off the weekend right! Allison joined Jeff and I downtown, for a little Janita Greenbergs for dinner, with a couple Margaritas! Then it was off to the old American Theatre to see Banana Monologues, hilarious one man comedy show about a relationship he was in. It kept us laughing the whole hour!! Then we capped the night off at Rue de Jean for a night cap, and some police entertainment, as they chased down some kids in a Range Rover....I think they were stereo-typing, but who am I???!!


Saturday was spent around the house, yard work, cleaning, Lowe's and such. Then Saturday night we went to our friends, Matt and Lindsey's. We grilled out only the Best -Arnone's Italian Sausage, made by Nicole's family! We would have made her proud. It was done, just the way she always did it for us. Grilled peppers, onions, sausage on a hoagie type bun, with mustard! Perfection! We also, had cupcakes to celebrate Brian's bday. I decided Brian needed some icing in his face(or in his hair), played a little Corn-hole, and we capped the night with Dance Party! Chris and Megan shared some big news! They are expecting a little one in January! YAY!



I am going to try to upload some video of Linz and Michael dancing to Justin and Madonna! Hilarious!

Then for Sunday, we were off to Lowe's to layout and design a new kitchen. It is looking good, but we can't find anywhere to put the Refrigerator, so I can knock down those walls and make the space all open! O'well, looks like we might just have to work with the current layout with some minor adjustments. I will hopefully post when it ever gets complete! :)
Hope Everyone has a Great Monday!

Back from Alabama...

So I'm back from Bham.....sorry I didn't post while I was gone.
The trip was kind of bittersweet, but all in all a good trip. I was able to spend time with friends and family, but sad my parents were at the beach the whole time I was there.

Here is a pic of the new neighbors house....this makes me a little sad b/c it stands where my grandparents house used to be. But it is nice to have neighbors again.

Some pics of the horses on the road up to the house....they always make me smile!
I had a girls night with my Nicole, Nicole and Missy on Friday and got to see the McLaughlin's new house. It is perfect for them to grow in, and I just loved it. I can't believe how big Marley Rose has gotten and she talks in complete sentences!!! She JUST turned 2! Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures.
Saturday, we went to the service for Mrs. Zito and I got to see Cookie. It was soo good to see her and she looks great! Saturday night was spent at Jennifer and Joe Parks house for a cook-out to celebrate Joe's 40th Bday!! Happy Bday, old man!!
Sunday, it was on to T-town to see my sis, bro-in-law and the babies!! They are ADORABLE!! I didn't as much walk in the door before Parker leaped into my arms! It was the cutest thing EVER! I knocked on the door and I heard him inside saying "open it Mommy, open it!" The door opened and he leaped at me! I LOVED IT!! We played baseball, ran in the sprinklers, and cooked out. It was such a nice visit. I even got to take Parker and Mollie to school the next morning.





















Then it was off to my mother-in-laws house to see her, and head over to Hudson Poole, for wedding goodies. Then back on the road.....
It was a good trip but I was happy to get home to this face!!! And he even had flowers on the table waiting on me!