Last week we flew to Columbus to be there for Mark’s sister, Brandy when she had her daughter, Kyndall. Brandy was supposed to have Kyndall on Monday the 7th but she came early. She was here the morning of November 4th. She weighed 8lbs. 8 oz., was 19″ & her name is Kyndall Grayce…. She is adorable & soooo little! The first day we went to the hospital all Kyndall did was sleep. The 2nd day she had her eyes open & she was looking around. She’s such a good baby. This is Mark’s 5th niece!!! His family is all girls I can’t believe it.
Here’s Mark with his 5 nieces: Kadyn (2), Kyndall (2 days old), Payton (11), Roslyn (8) & Samantha (10)
This past weekend Mark & I went to Naples to see my Mom & David. My Mom is so much fun…. I <3 her & she was super excited that we drove over to see them. When we got there Saturday night we picked her up & went to get some pizza for dinner at Pizzaiola. And on Sunday night us 4 went to Blue Martini which has the besttttttt HAPPY HOUR for drinks & food. Every time I go there I get the “skinny Rita” (just like the Skinnygirl).
So my Mom & I were a lil’ tipsy from the margaritas & then we walked over to Burn By Rocky Patel so Mark & David could smoke cigars. My Mom found a cigarette on the table we sat at & we started smoking it (I guess thinking it was a like a cigar) & she passed it to me. I thought my lung was going to collapse when I took a hit off of it. Sooooo….. me & my Mom smoked a cigarette & we don’t even smoke. Yeah, it’s called #motherdaughterbonding
Yesterday I was sad to leave Ohio
You have no idea how nice it was being close to & spending time with family!! July Mark & I were in Columbus where his family is & August was spent in Cleveland with my family.
I’m ganna miss going golfing with my Mom (& my Godmother, Rita), laying by the pool with my Dad, the Argie family reunion, going to Mark’s parents for cookouts, hanging with cousins, drinking & (barely) eating at The Feast, going to the zoo with Mark’s 4 nieces (Payton, Samantha, Roslyn, Kadyn & his sister, Brandy & brother in law Kevin), going to lunch with my half brother Michael who we haven’t seen in a looooong time & being in town the same time as my BFFs Abby & Kelly from high school & Susan & Nate came in from North Carolina.
I miss everyone sooo much & have so many memories from this summer!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Today we got to St. Louis. It’s our 1st time everrrr here… if you’ve been here before what should we go see or do?!?
This past month Brooke Burke married her fiance of 5 years, David Chavet. They’ve been engaged 5 years! And that’ll be the exact amount of years I’ve been engaged to Mark. 5 years on November 21st. Mark purposed after dating for a year & a half. It was really quick & after our engagement it was like I was still in the dating phase & didn’t want to rush into it. If you don’t know Mark, he is the guy who doesn’t waste any time & if he talks about doing something he does it! He doesn’t waste any time. That’s 1 of the top things I LOVE about him!!!!! I look back at our relationship which started in June 2005 & a month later we were on our 1st vacation together to Miami & 6 months later we were on another flight leaving Ohio (for good – we just didn’t know that at the time) to travel for 2 & a half years
So 5 years of being happily engaged – what’s the difference right? We’ve traveled, we’ve had a house, cars, vacations… we’ve shared everything that a married couple would. Why do we need a piece of paper?
What matters is that Mark & I are on the same page, we’re happy & we love each other. I know I have the best guy in the world & he’s mine & I’m his. We’re so happy with the way it’s been.
This past couple months have been catching myself saying “I want to get married!” “I want my parents to see me walk down the isle.” “I’d be so happy if all my family came together on my wedding day.”
The way Brooke explained her wedding “It was pure love, commitment, and romance that lead me to marry David in such a picture perfect way… But this day was a long time coming, beautifully staged, and totally meant to be.” Sounds so romantic, doesn’t it
I guess now that I’m 30 years old, I’m ready And it’s definitely hit me now seeing friends & cousins getting married. It’s a special occasion & I want to experience it with Mark. We got engaged while taking our 1st 2 & a half year travel trip, what better time than our “5 Year Travel Trip” to get married!!?!
5 years must mean something special to us
This past weekend I drove up to Cleveland for my cousin, Maria’s wedding shower & bachelorette party on Saturday. Lori (her sister & MOH) put together a nice shower at StoneWater in Highland Heights. Maria got a ton of gifts! That night we all met at Gina’s (1 of Maria’s bridesmaid) house for Maria’s bachelorette party! All of us wore black & Maria wore a white dress. We had dinner & drinks & she opened more presents. We played a game where her bridesmaids asked Nic questions & they wrote his answers down & they asked Maria the same questions & she had to guess what Nic answered. If she got it right, we all had to take a jello shot but if she got it wrong she would have to take a jello shot. We were all taking a lot of shots cause Maria got almost all of them right. Me, my Mom & my sister all got her the robe she’s holding up that says “Bride” on the back.
We all got on the party bus & went downtown to Cadillac Ranch & the Barley House…. so much FUN!! Maria was wasted & ended up passing out on the ride home
It was soooo much fun & can’t wait for her & Nic’s wedding in October!!!
Happy Easter! Went to church, had brunch & then went for a walk with Mark (when I took all the pictures below). Feeling so blessed!! Wish my family was here too.
Yesterday we took Mark’s parents all over L.A. First we went to Thousand Oaks to get a Five Guys burger for lunch. Then we drove to Hollywood to see all the stars & Grauman’s Chinese Theater. I found Jerry Weintraub’s star. Check out his documentary airing April 4th on HBO.
We also walked around Beverly Hills for a little. Then we went to dinner in Sherman Oaks at Casa Vega.
This is the restaurant that was one of Jeff Lewis’ projects on his show Flipping Out. When he did this project all Jeff talked about was how much he loved their food. And it was good… I got their chicken tacos.
This is so sad what’s happened in Japan. My thoughts & prayers are with everyone who has been effected by the earthquake & tsunami. It was an 8.9 quake & the 5th largest in the world since 1900.
If you’re in Cleveland, New York or L.A. go to the movies this Friday & see Kill The Irishman. It’s based on a true story about the Cleveland Italian mob.
Today is Ash Wednesday which begins the 40-day period of Lent. What are you giving up? I’m giving up fried food. It’s so bad for you & I think if I just cut this from my diet I can lose a couple pounds.
No more rock shrimp no more fries, no more croutons on my salads & no more nachos when we go get mexican food! That’s probably going to be the hardest but I gotta do it!!
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