Congrats Will and Kate

In honor of the Royal Wedding today!

Holy cow....

Just paid $4.07 a gallon....

I know it's worse other places especially Europe!

But ouch!! 

My heart goes out to all the people affect by this last wrath Mother Nature threw at Alabama and Mississippi. Yesterday in Western New York we had severe weather watch...Tornado warnings!
It was a gorgeous day in the high 70's yes it was windy....by mid day I watched the dark clouds, rain and hail show up and then it all quieted down and we actually had dinner on the porch.

Today is a different story, it's still so windy and gusts that shake my house. When I took Sophie out I noticed shingles missing from our roof. Our BBQ Grill rolled across the deck landing against our table. Sophie wanted nothing to do with this wind and ran inside.

My neighbor told me this week if you don't like the weather in Buffalo, wait a few minutes and it will change. So true I'm learning nothing is what you expect or what the weather man say.

Feeling a little like Dorothy and Toto today...minus the rudy slippers and bobby socks!
Have a wonderful day!

Spring Break

Spring Break 2011

Some people went to the sunny beaches of Florida or Mexico but not us we road tripped it across Pennsylvania ending in our Nations Capital DC! 

It was College Tour 2011 for the West family...started in Erie, PA and ended in Philadelphia, PA. Seven college campuses and four official tours....lots of walking and questions. Our heads are spinning, but we are well informed and our daughter is excited for the future. She liked all but one school. It's been many years since I've visited Pennsylvania.....we saw a lot of the state and loved it. 

Pittsburg was one of my favorites and most surprising. It was not at all what I thought. While there we ate at a fun authentic German restaurant called Hofbrauhaus. It had great food,beer and music. The atmosphere was so authentic, you could close your eyes and you would think you were in Germany.

Philadelphia was a nice stop too but the city is grittier than I remembered. We had only a little time to see  the city. Arriving at Independence Hall after it closed, so we saw the Liberty Bell through the window. 

After Philly we headed to DC to see all the sights.....it was insanely crowded! I thought everyone went to Florida! We stayed in Alexandria Virginia outside Old Town. I loved walking and riding the trolley up King Street with the shops and restaurants. 

DC was beautiful they are several weeks ahead of us in Spring. We missed the Cherry Blossoms but everything else was in full bloom. 

There is so much to see and do, we just saw a tip of the iceberg of DC. I think several trips are in order to see and do it all. The weather started out good but changed quickly from 80 degrees one day to cold and raining the next. 

Katelyn and I really wanted to go to Georgetown Cupcakes....do you ever watch that show DC Cupcakes on TLC? Omg......there was no way we were getting a cupcake that day or any day with lines like that. There was at least a 3 hour wait....for freaking cupcakes! No thanks! 

I'm happy to be home, in my own bed. I missed my Sophie. Something to be said for 

HOME SWEET HOME! 

Happy Easter Monday!

Pictures both mine and Katelyns

Heading out...

This little baby is going to do some driving....her first road trip....she is behind the wheel. Well it's Spring Break here and we are heading to Pennsylvania to tour colleges making our way to Washington DC.

Seems like yesterday she was playing in the car and now I've been booted to the back seat and she is in control of the radio, temperature and our lives!  I'm really excited to be heading to see colleges...she wants to be at least 3 hours from home.....3 hours!!

So Pennsylvania here we come...not sure what to expect, either is she...I can't wait to see what she thinks or likes......rural or urban.....big or small!

Also excited to head to Washington DC my first visit.....I think we are too late for the cherry blossoms. I can't wait to see it all...maybe run in to Obama family!

Have a wonderful week catch you after Easter!

It's all about me too!

I'm joining my sister Preppy Player meme: IT's ALL about ME!

A. Age: 40 45

B. Bed size: King and I wish it was bigger.

C. Chore you dislike: Cleaning bathrooms

D. Dogs: Sophie 5 year old Wire Fox Terrier

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee and Greek Yogurt.

F. Favorite color: Green

G. Gold or silver:Silver

H. Height: 5'4' and half!

I. Instruments you play(ed):Played Flute back in the day and Wii drums! 

J. Job title: Domestic goddess

K. Kids: one 17 year old daughter 

L. Live: Western New York

M. Mom’s name: Cecelia

N. Nicknames: Frau

O. Overnight hospital stays: twice

P. Pet peeves: People with expectations, no body knows what they are but themselves.

Q. Quote from a movie: Never leave a man behind-Raising Arizona

R. Righty or lefty: Lefty 

S. Siblings: Four sisters.

T. Time you wake up:  6:00 am

U. Underwear: necessary.

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Beats, Brussel sprouts, cabbage....

W.What makes you run late: My husband

X. X-rays you’ve had: teeth, wrist, arm

Y. Yummy food you make: Pot Roast, Pasta...

Z. Zoo animal favorites: Giraffe 

Ok, now your turn!

Sophie ❤ Bucks!

Never step away from your Chai Latte when Sophie is around.....

It's a good thing I was around, the cup ended up being stuck on her snout! 

Sophie has expensive taste...good thing it was almost gone! 

Today.....

I'm singing the lazy song today.....
It's pouring rain out...cold and like the words of the song say....I don't feel like doing anything!
I had to fast this morning, had a blood draw today....no coffee omg.....I was a bear! Especially on a cold wet morning...coffee is a must! I walked into the blood lab place, and was met by 12 angry fasting no coffee in their systems people all ahead of me. Yikes that was a long painful hour of waiting....7 vials later I was out the door.
Thank god there is a Dunkin Donuts next door....thinking of hot coffee and donuts holes kept me going vial after vial. I drove, I mean I attempted to drive into DD parking lot but no, a big semi truck blocked the entrance so I had to abandon my DD trip and raced home to my own coffee and toast! Like Bruno Mars sings.....I don't want to do anything!

Happy Hump day! 

Sundays in my City-Fish Fry

On Friday we went to a Fish Fry with our neighbors. Our first since moving here. Western New Yorkers during the year and during Lent flock to their favorite restaurant, Fire Hall or church for fish fry. There are signs all over the place advertising and almost every restaurant has Fish on Friday specials year round.  After living in Utah for so long it's rare to have a Fish Fry event....but since moving to a predominant Catholic area is all Fish Fry and Bingo. It's starting to feel familiar It brings back memories of my childhood in NJ....Mrs. Paul's or Gordon's Fish sticks....dropping my Grandma off at Bingo night when she visited. I chuckled this winter when we had big snow storms they would announce all the Bingo closures.

It was pretty darn good fish....beer battered with sweet potato fries and macaroni salad washed down with several beers....Yum!

Head over to UNKNOWN MAMI for more fun city adventures!

Happy SUNDAY all! 

Time flies.....

Time is passing by like a blink of an eye and I'm freaking out! It was just yesterday my sweet baby started school. Picking her up at the brown door is so clear and vivid. Those eight minute car rides, where you get the most conversations, are close to ending. Soon she will have a license and take her self to and from.

We have been planning our spring break of the first series of college tours. ACT/SAT prep and test taking is well on the way. And yesterday home from school came Senior picture form and deposits needed for Senior trip next year!! I feel like the last half of Junior year is requiring skills of a full time job. The organization skills, planning and prepping involved and the endless checks here and there.
I thank god I have the time, resources and skills to cross the t and dot the i.

But I long for the days of singing Barney songs, practicing our abc's and cutting crust off the sandwiches versus being a passenger in a 17 year olds fast paced life.

seems like yesterday.....time flies!

Sunday in My City-Spring

In most places the signs of Spring are popping up....Crocuses, Daffodils, Tulips and Forsythias but here in Western New York the signs of Spring are different.

Yes my friends the Summer cars are coming out of storage.....! To me this is a sure sign ol man winter is gone. Yesterday was a gorgeous day here and everywhere I turned were bitchin Camaro, Corvettes and Trans Am's baby! 

Woot Woot It's official Spring is here!!! 

Happy Sunday!

Stop by UNknown Mami and travel the world with her! 

Keep Calm and....

I love the British posters....Keep Calm and Carry On.

For Katelyn's Birthday I bought her this one..

From Photojojo

Perfect for her, I bought the pink because that is her color! 

I love the one I used in my March Collage

Here is some more of my favorites

So today is April Fools Day my thoughts are 

KEEP CALM and Watch your BACK!

 Have a great day!

Images from Google