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Maine Squeeze

 June 24, 2012 - Author: everythingforthelove

This weekend I surprised blindsided my husband with a white-water rafting trip in Northern Maine.  Upon pulling into the rafting lodge after a 4 hour drive, it donned on him that we were about to go on a “life threatening” adventure…and for the next 4 hours (yes, into the wee hours) he was angry and threatened not to do it at all.  It was a close call.  I had to crank up my sweet wife skills and lay it on thick with the canoodling and convincing (sheesh), and even then we just went to bed without kissing goodnight.  He must have had a magic dream, because come morning, he was all smiles and excitement and the bad attitude had disappeared, replaced with classic cheerful Brigham.  And then we did it, and it was amazing, and now he can’t stop talking about how the next trip will be even better.  I call that a successful adventure! (click link to see pics of all the unglamorous action)

But that was just Friday morning of our weekend adventure in Maine.  That rafting trip was definitely the best thing that happened this weekend, but since I haven’t ordered the pics yet, and I didn’t have a waterproof camera, I made another list of highlights.  Here is the top ten of the rest of the trip:

  1. The biggest flies and ants I have ever seen. (I’m talking the size of your pinky toe, literally.)
  2. Making a human pyramid (cheerleader style) with our peers (who may or may not have been drunk) in the rafting lodge common living area? Uh, yeah…that happened.
  3. The most beautiful and breathtaking waterfall we didn’t even realize we would see.
  4. The biggest, coolest antique store maze ever.  I made Brigham turn us around for that one.
  5. The dirtiest, dingiest over-priced hotel in Portland, ME…and the live wedding we witnessed while taking a dip in the outdoor hotel pool.  Suuuper classy.
  6. Completing our android–> iPhone lookalike updates (tutorial to come later this week) while relaxing to TV on Saturday night.
  7. Our “The Notebook” style fight/make-up in the rain (that lasted about 10 min), outside the restaurant in Portland.  Followed by a very delicious pizza at the best pizza restaurant in town Portland Pie Co.  And a lot of smiles.
  8. A continental breakfast which I am pretty sure featured recycled cornbread muffins from the night before…
  9. The best. beach. period. on the Northern East Coast {thank you Jenn R. for showing convincing me to go}  Future summer vacas? Cute little beachside cottages? Yes, please.
  10. Found dismembered crab on the shore…one piece at a time.  Only in Maine!

Here’s to starting summer off with a bang.

-Jones

4 Comments - Categories: Live, My City

What Happens in Vegas…

 May 2, 2012 - Author: everythingforthelove

This weekend the hubs and I took a trip out to Fabulous Las Vegas to get a little R&R and a wedding. His mom’s wedding.  She (a widow) and the groom to be were both interested in a quick and entertaining ceremony, by Elvis.  And, because of traffic and the tight schedule of the chapel, we were 5 minutes away from missing it entirely!  Fortunately, we didn’t miss it, because it was so much fun.  The entire weekend was a hit!

I’ve driven through Las Vegas about 50 times in my life, and never once stayed on the strip or seen any shows or been inside any of the casinos.  Let alone, wedding chapel row.  So many high and low points.

 

High Points…

1.  Getting the butterflies when Elvis walked into the chapel to sing and give my mother in law away in a real Vegas wedding!  It may or may not be the first time I felt starstruck.

2. Seeing my nieces and nephews and holding cute little baby Ian.

3. Getting a text from my friend Camille that she is reaching out to her old friend Cassie (a Vegas performer who was on America’s Got Talent), who got us a HUGE discount on 2 shows!  Then meeting Cassie after the show, and getting to know a totally sweet and genuine person!  Camille literally had a baby the night before she texted me with the deal.  Now that is a good friend.

4. Sitting in the VIP section of the Variety show and watching Brigham get called up on stage to participate in a magic trick!  (Melinda the magician asked him a series of questions and pulled his answers out of a suspended chest that was hanging in the air on stage prior to asking him anything).  Then, after hearing some of his answers, Melinda looking at me and saying “You’ve got a good guy here!”  I know Melinda, I know.  He’s a keeper ;)

5. The Bellagio buffet.  Enough said.  FIVE GLOWING STARS.

6.  The Bellagio light show!  A must see.  Totally breathtaking paired with Andrea Bocelli’s version of “Time to Say Goodbye”.

7.  Going bowling (2 games) AND seeing a movie in the same casino, all for $30!  (it made the crappy buffet almost worthwhile)

8.  Laying out at the pool for 4 days straight, and getting a wicked tan line.  Goal achieved!

9.  In-n-Out cheeseburger, milkshake, and animal style fries.  Rubio’s fish tacos.  Two indulgences I miss always in Boston.

10.  Madame Tussands Celebrity Wax Museum.  Totally hit the spot when we needed to kill an hour!  So much fun :)

And…The Low Points…

1.  That passed-out drunk lady (sitting down, head down, forward and a little to the side) with an almost-full bottle of beer in hand, sitting next to me at the public bus stop.  Unconscious.  “Bus stop?” you ask…Why were we there?  Oh yes, my sweet husband wanted to hit up the $8.99 lunch buffet at The Orleans, which was about a mile down to the ghetto part of Tropicana Street, and we he didn’t want to pay a cab fare, (as that would defeat the purpose of the discount buffet.)   Too hot/dangerous to walk, so bus it was.   Then, an added bonus, on the way back waiting at a bus stop riiiight in front of Deja Vu’s Adult Emporium.  Suuuper classy.

2. Those food chunks at the bottom of the supposedly clean plate tray at the $8.99 buffet.  So appetizing.  Add that to mingling with the over 60+ diabetic smoker crowd, and it made for an awesome meal.  Lunch, anyone?

3. The 60+ year old and the 18-ish year old ladies passing out escort service cards on the street corner.  Really?  Immigrants…a little dignity?  There is a better way!  Get out of the sex-slave trade.

4. Ordering a variety taco plate for dinner after the wedding and getting a “bean” taco with literally a can of refried beans inside a taco shell, and nothing else.  Getting an “avocado” taco with literally only 2 slices of avocado plus a can of refried beans inside a taco shell.  Yum.

5.  Bringing my fashionable F21 sandals and not my rainbow flipflops.  Big mistake.  Oh, the walking.  From Tropicana Hotel (where we stayed) to The Venetian, and baack, though every casino pedestrian maze in between…and just not making it.  Had to cave and buy $30 sandals to make it through the day.

6.  A $12 slurpee from the poolside cafe.  Really?  $12 for a 16 oz cup of crushed ice and flavored syrup.

7.  Sleeping in that wonderful, amazing king size bed…and realizing I slept the whole night 2 feet away from my hubby.  I really missed the cuddles!  (we have a full size bed at home)

8.  Checking out of our hotel at 12pm on Tuesday, and um, having 12 more hours to kill before our redeye flight home.  Not recommended.  Get me outta this place,  like, Yesterday!

9. Having 34 channels on our hotel TV and not one of them is HGTV or TLC.

10.  Waiting an hour (and walking all the way to Treasure Island) to see the free pirate show, only to see 12 scantily clad girls dancing badly all over a ship.  And then walking away.

1 Comment - Categories: Live, Social

77 Bucks

 April 27, 2012 - Author: everythingforthelove

Sorry people, no ‘flashback friday’ today…but not for lack of juicy stories or hilarious memories…more like a lack of everything it takes to sit down and write it out!  So, I’ve come up with another post for today.  We’ll get back on the FBF ball next Friday!

Instead, I want to tell you all a little story.  Today, I went to Target to pick up some last-minute breakfast snacks for our little weekend trip to Las Vegas.  Sin City is famous for all-you-can-eat buffets, and since all I can visualize right now is me in a bathing suit by the pool for 4 days getting tan, some healthy and light breakfast items in lieu of  3 square buffet’s (15,000+ calories/day?…not so much) appealed to me.  Just a few pieces of fruit, yogurt, bagels, juice…shooting for under $30.00…etc.  Sounds like a good plan, right?

But then something like this happened.

Along with a new eye shadow brush (just 1.99) and some clear nail polish to protect my new self-produced manicure (4.49), can’t forget the travel soap containers (2.99)…oh and while I’m at it let me restock on my shampoo supply (3.39 & 4.29) –by the way, Tresseme Split End Remedy line TOTALLY works, I was doubtful going in but I have seen a huge difference–

And BOOM.  Checkout Total $77.39

Seriously?!?

Target!  I want to punch you in the face!  But seriously, don’t go anywhere because I love you so much.

Tell me I’m not alone here.

Speaking of my self-produced manicure, I may as well focus on the positive.  I’m quite proud of myself, I already got 2 compliments on it while running errands this afternoon.

Similar Tutorial here.  Anyone on the brink, Essie is worth the $8 splurge.  It dries fast, has the most beautiful colors, and stays on forever.

And, can’t forget the toes! (although I didn’t get fancy) I am in love with this Coral color.

Shoes $14/ Maxi Dress $15/ Belt $5: Forever 21

And tahdah.  I’m ready to fly in comfort and style.  Mainly comfort though.  It’s a long flight.

-Jones

2 Comments - Categories: Live, My City