Laundry

After a year of marriage I suppose it's time to grow up from throwing stuff in the dryer to get the wrinkles out...spending a good chunk of today with the ironing board :(

Travel Monday - Packing 101

Just stopped and got a few essentials for the upcoming Europe trip!

1) Learned very quickly on my last trip to Europe that a small (travel-size) umbrella is a necessity.  You won't even notice you packed it if it never rains...and if it does, boy will you be happy you've got it handy!

2) Comfortable earphones.  The ones that come with the ipod/iphone are fine for an hour workout or listening to a little music here or there...as far as a 5+ hour flight goes...they can get pretty miserable.  On my last long flight by day 2 of traveling from country to country I felt like I had little bruises on my ear lobes from where they were rubbing me raw.  This is a new pair that actually goes in your ear instead of sitting on the outside (if that makes sense?).

3) A thin scarf.  It's going to be VERY hot in some of these cities, but I don't want the fact that I'm wearing a tank top to keep me out of some of the most beautiful historic churches...a thin scarf is a must-have to throw over your shoulders real quick so you don't have too much skin showing!

4) This back-up battery is a cheap purchase mainly for piece-of-mind!  It has 2 hours of battery time in case my phone dies and for some reason I'm not able to charge it.  A little lifeline home to let the family know that we're safe and to keep them updated on where we are!

5) A small pouch to keep my phone/ipod/camera all together!  It's nice to have your electronics in the same place (especially for traveling/security purposes).

6) Tiny money pouch.
        Necessary qualities I was looking for
                -plastic id place (so I can always quickly make sure it's there)
                -zipper pouch (for change and cash)
                -slots (for credit/debit cards)
                -small enough to put in my around-the-neck pouch but big enough it won't get lost in a purse

7 & 8) Cosmetic pouch that folds up - best part of this find is that inside (#8) you'll see there are two bags that actually velcro and come off.  One is mesh so it will be perfect to put my shampoo and conditioner in so if it's wet, it won't stay inside and get gross/smelly!  This pouch has a lot of different zipper pockets to put in bandaids and everything I may need!

Weekend

We usually make the trip to Richmond about every other weekend...at the end of April/beginning of May we were home two weekends in a row...you forget what a miserable trip it is until you have to do it so frequently! Not very exciting to feel like you are living out of your suitcase and car because let's face it...although we're going 'home' it really is no longer our home. Home is the apartment and life we've started in Charleston, WV and we are both really starting to realize that. The boat got some much needed tlc in the form of a good cleaning...it's tough realizing it's no longer new and it definitely doesn't take care of itself! Here are some pictures from this weekend!

Have you heard of Yasso?

It's so good!  I get a need for sweets after dinner and these have been the perfect warm-weather treat!  At only 70 calories a bar and gluten free, I'm yet to feel bad about having one for dessert!  If you like greek yogurt, these things are pretty awesome!  I found them at Sams and they were $8 for 10 of them!

Yasso Website

Our Past Week

Here's a little look at what has been going on...

I spent last week working and cleaning to get ready for company.

Of course this included finding some really pretty fresh flowers!

(Milk Glass vases from various antique shops around Charleston)

I finally got to break out the new Spring Toms!  I love them, I'm pretending that they go with anything!

I got to do a little cooking (more on that in a later post).

These crazy lovebirds came to visit...

And I'm pretty sure they had fun tubing together!

Then we talked the Matts into doing a little wrestling at the baseball game...

My summer reading is slowly starting to pile up...so far I've started on Redeeming Love...

And this post can't go without saying how proud I was when my littlest sister (14 years old) sent me this on Draw Something...My parents did something right!

Highlights from the weekend!

Our weekend included....

A quick drink with friends at Baja!

Seeing my youngest sister, Cassidy (14) off to her 8th grade dance!

Seeing my other sister, Madison (16) off to her prom!

Seeing baby Davis turn 1 and celebrate with friends, family, cake and presents!

Pre-Mother's day dinner with Matt's mom and brunch with my mom!

A little shopping (got a new pair of TOMS for Europe).

And meeting the newest little member of the Ziolkowski family!

Here are some of the highlights as told by the photos I took on my phone over the weekend! We had so much fun and are now on our way to back to WV!

New addition

Decided to channel my home sickness into something productive...bringing a little VA to WV! Also love having picture frames laying around that work perfect for new art! The true colors are beige and light pink! Love it!

Update

This week has been flying by! I've worked everyday (wasn't the case the last two weeks as my hours had been cut) and although Matt's away in Detroit we got to at least enjoy the beautiful weather together on Monday night! I swear the Spring and Summer are so nice here that in just a weeks' time it makes you forget how miserable the past 6 months have been. I guess it's safe to say that we are quickly snapping out of our seasonal depression! (Spending time outside during recess while I sub is also helping - every job should require 30 minutes of mid-day sunshine...definitely a needed boost!)