the essence

So, its been a little while since I've posted. I've been busy, but thankfully its mostly been the good busy where you're having fun, not from working.

Right now I'm brewing my coffee. Sometimes I feel really pathetic that coffee can make me feel so happy. I'm sure its not just because I love the taste, I think part of its the rush of sugar & caffeine going through my veins after a few sips.

Okay, so this past weekend really was lots of fun. Heather & I have been talking for months that she should come over here & visit me & finally this past weekend she did! Firday night to Monday morning we had fun fun fun! Okay, so Saturday was spent prepping food for Val's shower, driving to Val's shower, helping set up & clean up & then driving back from Val's shower (she doesn't live the closest to me). It was nice but it was also exhausting & we didn't get home until after 5 & Heather slept until 7.

We were just kind of bums around the house, got pizza, & spent well over an hour debating about what we should do & bemoaning the fact that most everything closes at 9 & the rest of anything worth going to closes at 11. (We don't include clubs-that's not our thing)

We finally decided to just drive & the beach sounded like fun. I had been to pier 60 in Clearwater once, nearly two years ago at night when my mother-in-law was driving. So, I just headed in the direction of Clearwater & if you think about it just driving west should take us to the beach. Besides that I was extremely excited when I found pier 60 on my own without getting too lost. They have live bands there, fire throwers (what are those guys called?), & lots of little tables set up with mostly jewelry items but some other cool stuff too. The neat thing was everyone who owned the booths had to make everything they sold themselves & some of the jewelry was really great. The problem is they also close up at 11 so we only had 15 minutes there before things started quieting down. We did get some delicious ice cream (you can't beat mint chocolate chip!).

Sunday we went to church as usual, ate a quick lunch, & then made our trek to the great outdoors-discount shopping!!! Actually the only clearance place we went to was the pier one store (we got gorgeous red glass plates that Megan wants-mwuhahaha!!!) We then went to Hyde park which reminds me of Winter Park in the Orlando area. Heather also decided that if she lives in Florida after college she's going to live in either one of those places. Pottery Barn was having some amazing sales too & there were some things there I'd been eyeing for what felt like months & they were finally discounted enough so that I could buy them-I got the last ones too!

We went to church at night, but not before a cheap dinner at checkers $3.50 for both of us combined. They had this special deal advertised on their board-Sunday & Mondays you can get 50 cent hamburgers, hotdogs & shakes. When I ordered my 50 cent hamburger & shake, along with a smal fry, the guy looked at me like I was crazy. He didn't even punch in my order, I had to tell him I wanted what was advertised. He didn't seem happy with either of us.

After church we went to some stores to find a henna kit. Let me tlel you that if you go to Walmart or Target to ask if they have a henna kit they act like you're asking them if they sell adult toys & quickly dismiss you. With no success there we headed back over to pier 60, this time with plenty of time there before they closed.

This was cool & I want to get a group of us from church to go one time. Every Sunday night there are college kids who lead worship at their church out on the beach with guitars singing praise songs. It was really fun & cool! Heather & I stood around singing along & she even saw a girl there from her school in West Palm Beach! We walked around the little booths too & we each got a great henna design on our inside right ankles. I love mine, its a hibiscus & its so pretty!

Monday Val, rach & I went to my parents place in Orlando for a few hours. Mom taught herself how to make the most amazing faux caramel macchiatos & knowing I would see her soon I'd been craving one for days. Right when we got there I had her make me one. :) We also went to the Irvins pool party for a bit & shopping at TJ Maxx. We didn't get to visit for very long but it was still nice.

Now I'm getting back into the swing of things with work & school. Ray only has 3 days left of work. I just can't believe it, I'm still really excited!

Tonight after chapel Ray & I are planning on finally seeing X-men 2. I know, we're so behind. We have these free movies passes but they're only good after a movies been out for at least two weeks so we usually wait awhile instead of having to pay an outrageous amount.

Well, I hope that this long post has made up for going a few days without updating. So, who read it all? Theres going to be a quiz so you'd better be prepared!