New Years Eve in Baltimore

It always seems difficult to make New Years Eve plans. I don't know why, but for some reason we always end up making last minute plans. Here are some ideas for those of you who still have nothing planned like us!!

Events:

1. Power Plant Live $110 a person or $200 a couple includes open bar, all access pass to 9 venues, gourmet food, live DJ entertainment, laser shows, confetti cannons, party favors, and a midnight celebration.

2. Hollywood Casino $40 a person includes filet and lobster dinner with all you can eat star buffet, Full Tilt performance, and special drawings every hour- top prize is $2,014.

3. Big Night Baltimore at the Sheraton $120 a person includes endless food, all drinks, 8 party areas, 13 bands and DJ's, party favors, and balloon drop.

4. Charm City Countdown at the Lord Baltimore $150 a person includes buffet, open bar, 7 events, champagne toast ,and balloon drop at midnight.

5. Inner Harbor Cruise with Fireworks $140 a person includes buffet, open bar, DJ, and party favors.

6. CVP's $55 advance, $60 at the door includes buffet, open bar, champagne toast at midnight.

Dinner:

1. Oyster Bay Grille special menu

2. The Melting Pot $60 a person 4 course menu

3. Cazbar $55 a person 5 course menu

4. Fleet Street Kitchen $99 a person 4 course menu with option $49 wine pairings

5. Blue Hill Tavern $55 a person (early seating) or $75 a person (later seating) 4 course menu

XoXo

Our Engagement

When we were at the top of the Empire State Building, I was looking out one of the tower viewers. It got blurry for a second so I squinted. Jon started laughing- I thought he was laughing at me squinting. Then he said "Justine!". I looked over and that's when I saw him, ring in hand, asking me to marry him. Come to find out, he put the ring in front of the tower viewer and that's why he was laughing. I was completely caught off guard and surprised! What was going to be a good day suddenly turned into the best day.

Michael Kors Puffer Coat

And now for some pictures of the ring. Drum roll...

XoXo

Duke, Corrado, and Harley Have an Announcement to Make

 

XoXo

Our New York City Trip

Since Jon had to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we decided to take a day trip to the city the day after Christmas. We had so much fun seeing all of the Christmas lights, the tree, and all of the sights!

We started at the Empire State Building.

 

It was sooooo windy at the top!

 

Michael Kors Puffer Coat

 

 

The view :)

 

Then we made our way to Bryant Park.

 

All of the ice skaters!

 









 

Next was St. Patrick's Cathedral.

 

We lit a candle together.

 

 

After that we went into a lot of shops, walked by the tree in Rockefeller Center, had a nice dinner, and made our way back to the bus. We just HAD to get a hot dog from one of the stands. We thought it was going to be delicious, but nope it was terrible lol!

 

 

XoXo





Merry Christmas

I had a great Christmas with my family celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.  In honor of the wise men giving gifts, I truly love giving and being able to watch my loved ones open their gifts! Like most families do, every year Jon and I choose organizations to donate to. Last year we chose Baltimore Bully Crew and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; we also sent items to BARCS and the MDSPCA. This year we chose Baltimore Bully Crew and Rescue Well; we sent items to BARCS and the Karis Home. There are so many deserving organizations and I truly wish that I could give to them all. I also wish that I could watch each organization receive the gift from us just like I get to watch my family... that is what I love most about Christmas.

"to give up one's very self — to think only of others — how to bring the greatest happiness to others — that is the true meaning of Christmas"

On Christmas Eve I made cucumber sandwiches and Baltimore-style deviled eggs (recipe post coming soon) and headed over to my parents house for some family time. We played games, ate, and had a great time! Then I gathered around my Christmas tree with my fur babies in my "Christmas jammies" lol

On Christmas day I spent a few hours at my grandparents house with my cousins, aunt, and uncle before heading back over to my parents house for dinner.  My family was so generous just as they are every year and they gave me the most amazing gifts. Thank you!

You might be able to tell from the pictures that Jon wasn't with us. Unfortunately he was scheduled to work both on Christmas Eve and Christmas. So I made him breakfast Christmas morning and sent him off. He's so hardworking and I'm thankful for that but we missed him a lot... tomorrow him and I are headed to NYC for the day since we didn't get to be together for the holiday :)

I pray that everyone had a happy holiday! What is your favorite part of Christmas? What are your favorite organizations to give to?

XoXo

Life Lately...

...in pictures!

I'm in the process of making my own chalkboard sign... blog post coming soon.

I remembered I had this framed picture in my attack so I hung it on the pillar dividing my living room and dining room. What do you think?

 

Cuddle time with the baby of the family- Harley

 

 

Working on my new vanity area- thanks Jon for letting me take over the space you used to have for your stuff ;)

 

 

My man made chicken in a home made cream sauce. It was SO GOOD- recipe post coming soon!

 

 

It's true... Corrado fell asleep like this while getting his belly rubbed.

 

XoXo



Festive Christmas Dinner Party

Tonight we are having my sister and her boyfriend, Dominick over for a festive dinner!!!

The menu:
Wine
Caesar salad
Shrimp scampi (recipe post coming soon)
Garlic bread
Peppermint cookies

The table setting:

(table runner, santa bella candleholder)

Everyone has been instructed to wear Christmas colors- Jon hates tolerates it lol! I am so excited to relax with some drinks, watch Christmas movies, and play Christmas music :)

XoXo

Homemade Hand Scrub

Anyone else starting to get dry winter hands? Here in Baltimore we just had our first snow last week- this weather is making my hands look and feel terrible! So I made my own hand scrub and wanted to share it :)

What you will need:
1. 1/2 cup of sugar
2. 3 tablespoons of olive oil
3. 3 tablespoons of water

What to do:
1. Mix all ingredients together
2. Scrub until the sugar starts to dissolve
3. Rinse
4. Apply lotion

 

 

SO easy and SO effective-my hands have never felt softer. I know I'll be doing this all winter. If you try it, let me know what you think!!!

XoXo

Christmas Cards

I ordered my Christmas cards early this year. I went through Mixbook while they were having a sale so I got 10 free cards. Since I sent my cards out the 1st week of December, I figured it would be okay for me to share them on here now.

I love the design I decided to go with! You can find them here. The only problem is, the photos that I chose came out a little dark- my fault! But I still think they look great :)

 

XoXo

Restaurant Review, Freddies Ale House

Name: Freddies Ale House

Location: 7209 Harford Road Baltimore, MD 21234 On the line dividing the city and the county. Surrounded by old school Italian deli's and an Italian restaurant. Minutes from Hamilton and if you keep heading South you will soon hit downtown Baltimore.   

Prices: The $5 mini pitchers (32 oz.) of beer during happy hour is probably the best deal they have. All other prices were normal and what I would expect for a neighborhood bar :)

Food: We really like the large beer selection and that they are always rotating what they have on tap. The menu consists of sandwiches and appetizers, no entrees (although they say they are in the process of adding new items). And the weekend breakfast menu is to die for... Lots of specials too... Hint hint $3 Bloody Mary and mimosas!!! 

The food tasted great. The fries that we got as an appetizer were a little undercooked though and we would have liked scallions on top (the old Freddies in Bel Air made them that way).

The powerhouse wrap was SO delicious! I asked to add cheddar cheese because it said that it didn't come with any. This would be the perfect dish for any vegetarian or just for someone like me who prefers refreshing dishes over wings (sorry Jon) lol

Jon said the lemon pepper wings were perfectly crispy and the hot 3 sauce on the side was good and not too spicy for him (it's the spiciest sauce they serve and it has a lot of black pepper in it)

Ambiance: Its your typical old neighborhood bar with games like foosball in the back. They recently did some renovations that were very needed and they added a chalkboard beer list when you first walk in, which I love! They did a really good job with the holiday decor (lighted wreaths and garland around the windows). The only thing I didn't like was the music. We asked the bartender and she said it was pandora on their iPod playing. One minute it was playing Oasis (what I thought was perfect for the audience of the bar) and the next it was playing some rap song which reminded me of a club (mind you it was also 6pm on a Monday evening) so that really turned me off. 

XoXo

New Years Eve Outfit Ideas

Well I just figured out what I'm going to wear for Christmas (only 12 more days!!!) and now I'm on to New Years Eve. Every year Jon and I go out to a nice dinner; sometimes with friends and sometimes just by ourselves but whatever we do we always make it special. I like to wear something sparkly in the spirit of bringing in the new year. Here are some ideas I have for this year!

Zip front dress

 



 

Jessica Simpson dress

 

 

 

 

Gianni Bini dress

 

 

 

What are your New Years Eve plans? And what do you plan on wearing? I hope these 3 dresses have inspired you!

 

XoXo



Baltimore's Adoptable Dogs, December 2013

Daphne adoptable through Baltimore Bully Crew

This is Daphne. She is around 2 years old. She gets along with other dogs. She LOVES her tennis balls and to be with her people. She is gentle with children. Daphne is learning about cats and not chasing them. She gives marshmallow sweet kisses. She is current on shots, micro chipped and spayed. Contact Baltimore Bully Crew to adopt this beautiful girl.

 

 

 

Dubi adoptable through Bella's Bully Buddies

 

Oh. My. GOODNESS!!!  I am SO excited to meet you.  You see, I'm a little bit of a local celebridog.  I walked the runway at a big event here in Baltimore, but I'm just as excited to meet people and other dogs as my adoring fans are to meet me!  Right now, my foster mom is working with me to contain my excitement when I meet people and other dogs by taking me to training.  It's really neat to learn new things and I really like it!  Guess sometimes I just don't know when to stop wiggling, but I promise I'm working on it the best I can.  I really do like new places and people and dogs a lot, and I've been told that is quite a good quality in a pup.  Everyone I meet tells me that I'm a total love bug.  While I am super excited to play with other dogs, I also get that not everyone wants to play or have me near their food and I totally respect that.  Hey, some fellas just need some space (I don't, but some do!)  Sometimes I really get my foster family laughing- especially when I scoot around on the bed in the morning while foster mom gets ready for work, just to inch a little closer to her side, or when my ears bob around on my walks.  The first step to making this awesome dog part of your family is to fill out an application at http://bellasbullybuddies.org/bbb-webapp/adoptionApplication/index.  But you have to hurry... you don't want to miss out on this furbaby!!

 

 

 

 

Diesel adoptable at BARCS

 

Hi!  My name is Diesel, I’m 2 ½ years old, and I’m quite a sweet, gentle, and smart boy!  I have to brag that I have very good leash manners.  I don’t pull and I calmly walk right along with you.  I even know how to be polite at doors – I sit on command and patiently wait for you to open the door and let me know when it’s okay to exit.  The volunteers say I’m very “obedient”, whatever that means.  I just know I’m a very good boy and will try my very best to please you.  And I have to mention that I’m quite the lover too!  I like to snuggle close to you and lavish you with kisses!  I recently went tailgating and I was very well behaved!  I’m very friendly and playful with the other dogs here.  Please come visit me at BARCS and let me show you just what a fantastic addition I would make for any family!(http://www.petango.com/Adopt/Dog-Terrier-Pit-Bull-Mix-13577843)

 

 

XoXo