Weekend Shenanigans.

My weekend shenanigans are mostly about my St.Patrick's Day shenanigans because I mean hello, freckles! Obviously a huge St.Patrick's day fan. However Saturday and Sunday I spent most of at a dance competition watching the girls I used to dance with when I was in high school. I mean sure, they were munchkins then and now they're beautiful ballerinas but that's neither here nor there.

The girls were incredible and gave me chills watching them. I would give organs to be able to compete again. I know it's typical to say a body part but those are necessary for dancing, duh. I'm thinking a kidney and maybe my spleen. Those were the best days of my life. A little back story- I started dancing when I was two and competing when I was eight. A family friends daughter, Joan, was a senior my first year on company and was so good to me. I may or may not have been the MOST nervous kid ever but she made it better by sneaking me candy backstage.

Fast forward to 2014 and Joan and I still have a relationship. I attended her wedding two summers ago, nanny her little cousins and now will be playing with HER new baby girl! As a current teacher at the studio Joan chose to tell the girls before they went on stage and tape it. As the girls lined up in their costumes like they have so many times before Joan started her video and said "Ready Girls? Smile and on the count of 3 say "Miss Joan is Pregnant!" A couple seconds of quiet confusion turned into screams and tears. I feel so lucky to have been there for that moment! Here was my failed attempt at capturing the surprised expressions.

Moving onto St.Patricks Day! I spent St.Patricks Day at the Garden watching my two favorite hockey teams go head to head. This was emotionally draining let me tell you. Who do you root for? I'm a Boston girl at heart, love everything about every Boston team but I was wearing Minnesota Wild gear supporting my cousins boyfriend.Bruin's scored and I would have a moment of "Ugh! again?" followed by a "What are you doing? You love the Bruins too. No, you love the Bruins more!" What a struggle.

To get to the game the family and I took a limo in, had a little bit too much to drink and laughed enough to have my back a little sore the next day. All things that had me feeling like I was on cloud 9! My family really does make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Particularly when we are flirting with bouncers to let us in a packed bar just to use the bathroom so that we can finish our drinks in the limo before entering the game. Any comedy you're imagining right now is probably on par with what actually happened.

After the game we ventured downstairs to see Charlie before he had to hop on a flight to New York where he would be playing the next night. That was nice but I mean, I see Charlie on Christmas and birthdays. The best part was seeing all of the Bruins stroll by in their fancy pants suits looking like a million bucks. Johnny Boychuk limped by  me on his injured knee offering a small smile and that my friends, is the beginning of our love affair.

   
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Heart Cookies.

Hello all! Tomorrow is Valentine's day so I'm here with a super simple cookie recipe and my unfortunate attempt at making cookies in the shape of hearts. However there is something a bit more important than the cookies. USA hockey, duh! US is up 7-1 over Slovakia and I am just too excited to contain myself. The only issue is hearing "scored against Chara." It's really hurting my brain. I'm so used to that being a negative thing.

One more issue- I really really really dislike Brooks Orpik after the whole Thornton incident earlier this season. If you missed out here is a short recap- Brooks Orpik (Penguins) threw a dirty high shoulder at Loui Eriksson(Bruins) during a game injuring Eriksson and leaving him on the IR for close to a month. Sean Thornton, the Bruins "enforcer" approached Orpik after the incident who declined a fight. Later in the same game Penguin, James Neal, skated by Brad Marchand who was down on the ice and kneed him in the head. Thornton had enough, skated over to Orpik pulled him out of a scuffle and sucker punched him leaving him temporarily KO'd on the ice. Orpik was taken off on a stretcher and diagnosed with a concussion. The part that still frustrates me so much is that Thornton was given a 15 game suspension for an incident that 9 times out of 10 will be nothing more than a fight. Neal was given 6 games, when my opinion, kneeing someone in the head will injure them more severely than a punch in most cases. While Orpik was back skating just a few days later the same could not be said for Eriksson. I don't want to hear about Orpik but if he can help team USA be team gold then I will deal with it.

Okay, cookies.



 

The pictures pretty much speak for themselves, huh? I was looking for some simple cookies to make with the little girl I nanny, when I stumbled across the Betty Crocker sugar cookies in a bag option. If we're being honest I prefer the Pillsbury slice and bake as far as pre-made is concerned. Betty crocker was easy though, requiring just one egg and a half cup of butter.

Maddie helped me roll the cookies into balls and stick them on the cookie sheet which is why they are kind of all over the place as far as size and thickness. As for the hearts- I really tried! Once they cooled a bit we added some Nutella and red sugar sprinkles. I would also like to mention they taste significantly better than they look.

Tomorrow I'm thinking I will put up a little Valentine's Day makeup tutorial! Enjoy your Thursday and go USA!

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Olympics.

I absolutely love the Olympics. I love watching athletes that have worked so hard for their goal perform and have the moment of a lifetime competing for their country. A lot of the sporting events, winter olympics primarily, are not something you see frequently. I just wonder how the hell people get into some of these sports. Do you wake up one morning and have a "I would like to fling myself off a jump higher than Big Ben on skies" moment? Because I have never had that. Yet here I am,  completely entranced with the incredible athleticism it takes for these horrifying and outrageously cool events.

Opening ceremonies? Amazing. There was one minor mishap when the fifth snowflake didn't turn into a ring which left me momentarily concerned the show would be a disappointment. Nope, amazing. The little girl performed with a broken arm, I would too but what a strong gal.



Side note- When the ring didn't open I cracked a joke that the man responsible would be killed for it. The next day I saw an article telling me his body had been found in a hotel room. Come to find out it was a satirical newspaper but I still thought I jinxed the poor man. 

I am definitely most excited to watch the hockey. US plays Russia at 7am Saturday and you can be sure that I will be up and about for that game. GO USA! As a Bruins fan I am thrilled that we have five guys competing but bummed that none of them are playing for the United States. A quick overview- Patrice Bergeron playing for team Canada, Tuuka Rask, the Bruins goalie, for team Finland, David Krejci the Czech Republic, Louie Erikkson for Sweden and finally, Zdeno Chara the flag carrier and captain for team Slovakia. Chara grew up under soviet rule making carrying the flag for an independent nation of Slovakia a great honor.

My other favorite NHL team also has five guys competing in the games however, we have some team USA love in there. Team USA's captain Zach Parise is going to bring us a gold medal along with Wild defenseman Ryan Sutter. The Wild also have Nino Niederreiter playing for Switzerland and Mikael Granlund playing for Finland. While Mikko Koivu was also named to Finland's olympic team he made the decision to not play. After sustaining an ankle injury, Koivu decided he was unable to play at the top of his game and represent his country.

What are you predictions on the games and do you have any favorite events?

XOXO

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Friday Favorites.

Hello ladies! I have roughly one million tasks and errands to complete today before I head to work. Oh yeah, I also have to fit class in there somewhere. But it's okay. I am going to be alright! I think. Tomorrow is my first day off in over two weeks and I plan to spoil myself. My day will start out with yoga before I  rush right on over to my mani/pedi appointment. I then plan to go shopping and do some crafting. This girl just needs some time to herself.

Between the sub-zero temperatures, cold, lack of sleep and super buys schedule I have done a terrible job being thankful for all that I have and the little mundane things that get me through a week. However boring this list may seem, all of these small details went into getting me through the past few days.

ONE.// A mug that reminds me of an incredible week with even better friends on the most gorgeous beach in America. (Yeah, I said it California. Whatcha gonna do?) For the last two weeks my mug has been my best friend holding a cup two or three cups off coffee every morning, as well as grownup hot chocolate and tea in the evening. Thanks for the support, friend.

TWO.// Baby chunk smiles and little hugs. When I pick Maddie (my nanny toddler) up from school everyday I am greeted with the most enthusiastic and warm hug in the world. Yesterday, in particular, Maddie got me through my day in that moment without even realizing it. Her sister Emmie, baby chunk, smiles with her bright eyes and dimples and my heart is mush. These girls.

THREE.// My heated blanket. My dad and I always argue as to whether it's correctly "heated" or "electric", anyone on my side- please share. If you're on his side, I don't want to hear it.. It will just go to his head. Anyway, my room happens to be the coldest room in the house and has been since I was a little girl. My blanket allows me to sleep in shorts every night and still stay nice and toastey in my little bed cocoon. Like I said before, I dislike pants immensely. I just need someone to invent a remote starter, similar to the one on my car, so I can start her up before I'm even home at night.

FOUR.// Friends. When I'm stressed I just want to to talk about silly mundane occurrences that have me blissfully unaware of the outside world. For instance, bonding with someone over how impossible it is to take Old Navy skinnies off because the ankles are too tight. Yup, that's what I want. And yes, that happened yesterday.

FIVE.// Hockey. Bruins, Wild, fights, scoring, Penalties, hugs. I want it all and I love it. Nice win last night, Wild. How do ya like them now Stanley Cup Campion Blackhawks?

SIX.// This one sounds silly but waking up everyday with my health (minus this unreal super cold) and the people I care about around me. It's all to real recently that not everyone has that. As a request to everyone reading a family friend's 10 year old nephew is having extraordinary life saving measures removed today at 3pm. The boy was in an accident a month ago yesterday and suffered severe brain trauma. Maybe just a quick prayer for him, the family would really appreciate it.

Never let your praying knees get lazy, and love like crazy. -Lee Brice

Have an amazing weekend friends and if you're reading from New England, stay warm!

XOXO

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