A Chocolate Affair

Last weekend, Williamsburg was hosting A Chocolate Affair to raise money for Inclusion, which is to inspire and include children from diverse backgrounds in the community. The girls and I figured it was a good cause and for only $15 you got to try tons and tons of chocolate, so why not?

The event was really fun and definitely a "grown-up" event that we all enjoyed, even though after 30 minutes we were having chocolate overload. There were representatives from all types of businesses and restaurants from all over Williamsburg that created things for us to try. Here are some pictures of what we tried.

Passion fruit dark chocolate - one of my favorites and definitely the prettiest!

Bacon dipped in chocolate - actually didn't try this but I did have a bacon brownie which was from the same table and it was great!

Of course it being Williamsburg, there was a display on how to make chocolate.

Pretty centerpieces.

Chocolate Fountain



Another one of the more interesting concoctions - fries with chocolate ketchup which was actually really good too.

Beach Trip

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I wanted to put some pictures from our girls' trip to Corolla a few weeks ago.

Amber, Andrea, and I rented (for FREE!) a colleague's beach house in Corolla on the OBX and went down for the weekend to enjoy some time away. We had some drama on the way down with TWO out of the three of us having someone hack into our credit cards but we got some food, had lots of wine, some music, and we were ready for the weekend. Checked out the house and got settled. Even took a little walk on the beach while the hot tub was heating up. We cooked a little dinner and enjoyed the sunset from the house and then my friend Sarah, who lives in Corolla too, came over and we had some hot tub time. Wayyyyyyy too much wine later, and after the hot tub shutting down a bunch of times on us, we still had a great time and enjoyed each of us having our own room to get some sleep.

Saturday, we just hung out at the house for the morning. Amber and I went on a walk on the beach and found some awesome stuff. There were a ton of skate egg cases, or mermaid's purses, all over the beach. But the coolest thing that we found were these purse crabs that looked just like molts but later we realized they were actually alive and just moving super slow. Lots of cool shells too.

After that we went over to the Outer Banks Education Center where Sarah works and saw a seal that had stranded that day, helped her with some of her feeding and water quality duties, and then took a hike along the boardwalk next to the center. We visited Sarah and Ben's house to see the Aerogarden and Maverick, and then went back to the center to watch the end of the sunset b/c it's just amazing from there. Had some more hot tub time that night.

Sunday was clean up time and just enjoying what time we had left on our mini-vacation. We stopped in Kill Devil Hills to see the movie He's Just Not That Into You which was really good. And then drove back. All in all a fun girl's weekend.

A Walk in the Woods

Yesterday I felt like I needed to get outside, and I'd been wanting to go on a hike for a couple of weeks now so I decided I should go (even though I went alone and got a lecture about how I shouldn't do that - but I did take my phone). So I went to York River State Park which I've hiked many times before, but enjoyed being outside and having some time to think. It was really nice. No one on the trail. Didn't hear much except for birds and the sound of myself walking. I enjoyed it a lot so I thought I'd share some pictures.

The trail starts off going along Taskinas Creek.

I got to see the marsh lined in ice from higher tide earlier that morning.

Some some wild blueberries along the way.

Then, the trail goes uphill and into the woods.

And then almost at the end, this is one of my favorite parts of the trail. It is almost like you are surrounded by trees, they are really close to the trail and it winds through them for a while before popping you out back on the creek where you head back to the top. All in all a very nice hike.

That afternoon I decided to check out the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Pfac (Peninsula Fine Arts Center) in Newport News. The collection is his "museum collection" and it was pretty amazing. I would suggest checking it out if you're nearby or if the exhibit is ever near you. :) I wish I could take pictures like that! Check it out here.

How Exciting!

This could be great news for Virginia if it's passed!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103538.html

Girl time at the Russo's

In celebration of our day off of work on Monday, Jes, Amber, and I decided to have a girl's craft day. Amber and I drove down to the Russo's and after sharing a delicious (but stomach ache inducing) Moe's lunch with Rob in tow too, we got started with our craft. I got the idea watching the Today Show one morning and it looked like an interesting project. So we tried it out!

http://www.truveo.com/Turn-your-Tshirt-into-a-bag/id/1237709950

First, you take your old t-shirt and cut the sleeves off, turn it inside out and start covering it in strips of duct tape. **Tip: for three tshirts we used up an entire giant roll of duct tape so you may need more than you think.

Second, you cut the edges and neck line to look like a tank top.

Third, staple the bottom edge, leaving a 1" seam or so.

Our only casuality - I broke the mini stapler from the Dollar Stop. **Tip: Use a full size one that's not from the Dollar Stop.

Fourth, fold the bag so you have the edges in the middle and staple the corners. This part is a little tricky and it would have helped to have the actual book in front of us instead of just the video but we made it work!

Finally, turn the bag right side out and voila you have a new bag! Looks like vinyl on the inside. If you want a regular flat tote instead of the corner thing, you just staple flat across and that's what Jes did. Both turned out really well. Can't see it really well in Amber's but the seam is not along the front where the logo is, so it makes the bag wider. I'll have to post a picture of mine later b/c it's at home.

Of course, I have to put a little Ellie love on here too b/c I did get to hang out with her some. :) She's eating some regular food now (sweet potato, yum!) and loved reading one of her books. She's sitting up too! We even made cupcakes for her 1/2 birthday celebration but when we got almost to the end she started crying. I think our singing voices all together must have scared her. All in all a fun girl's day (plus Rob some of the day) at the Russo's!

Break

I need a break from the crazy prep work for the lab tonight so I'm giving myself a few minutes and I felt like a survey so here goes...

Did the last person you kiss have tattoos? yep - four of them

How did you get your last bruise? can't remember...but i cut myself today at work on something.

When is the last time you cried? sunday watching some sappy stuff on tv

What was the last movie you watched? I think Indiana Jones, the new one. Although I watched part of You, Me, and Dupree this weekend and the Notebook but just parts of them.

Do you hate anyone? no

Have you ever liked someone older than you? yep

Is there a person of the opposite sex that means a lot to you? of course

Who's in your profile picture with you? well on facebook it's me and some kelp. on myspace it's me and a blue crab. sensing a theme?

Do you like Red Bull? eww no

What are you doin tomorrow? working and then having a night with amber and the boys playing Planet Earth the DVD game, ooh yeah we're dorks!

Ever broken a bone? nope

Last time you had pizza? Sunday night - my roomie's the best

Is there something you need to tell someone? not that I can think of right now

How many days until your next birthday? a little under 6 months

What have you eaten today? free chicken biscuit, some chex mix, subway sandwich, and some m&m's

Is your hair naturally curly or straight? wavy

Who was the last person you took a picture with? ellie

Who was the first person you talked to today? the lady at the chick fil a drive thru

Are you currently sad about anything? not really other than we didn't get snow

Are you tired? kinda

What color is the shirt you are wearing? brown

Where were you at noon yesterday? hanging out with the girls at jes's eating some moe's

Would you hug the last person you hugged again? definitely

Do you have trust issues? yeah somewhat but trying to get over them

Who is the last person who wrote a letter to you on paper? hmmmm...probably a note from andrea

Have you ever taken medications that were prescribed to someone else? no that's scary

Name something that made you frown today? when i woke up and looked out the window and saw.....no snow

Do you find the opposite sex confusing? definitely

Is there anyone you want to come see you? no b/c i need to get back to work after this and finish up the lab for tonight.

Are you in a good mood right now? fairly

Have you ever been a gymnast or a cheerleader? a took gymnastics when i lived in pa - i would not call myself a gymnast. and i was definitely NOT a cheerleader. EVER.

Do you take compliments well? no

Has a boy/girl ever called you babe or baby? yep

Do you hate it when people smoke around you? yes!

Do you like to take walks? yeah and i really wanted to go on a hike the other day...maybe this weekend.

Do you have anything that belongs to a boyfriend/girlfriend? no

Who was the last person you had an argument with? hmmm....i don't know.

Has anybody ever given you butterflies? yes

Where is the shirt you are wearing from? life is good

Do you mind being cold? yes especially when i'm inside and the heat is on and i'm still freezing

Have you held hands with anyone in the past week? yes

Who was the last person to give you a ride somewhere,not family? Amber or Shawn, not sure

What's something you really want right now? it to be 8pm

Are you okay with making a total fool of yourself? no, that's why i wouldn't go with Amber and dance while ordering at California Tortilla tonight to get free tacos- she said she'd do it if I did.

Do you have any piercings or tattoos? just my ears pierced. i'm boring.

Andrea tagged me

The things in bold are things that apply to me. () added for clarification. I tag Jes!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (not in front of a crowd but maybe to some friends)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (one day)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (only at home)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (thank goodness for overdraft protection)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (just the front, not inside)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (seen someone famous, not sure if i've actually "met" them)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee