Where Did September Go?

The past month has gone by in a whirlwind. Work has been extremely busy, and with the weather growing cooler, Chase and I have had more energy to get out and do things at night and on the weekends. It sounds crazy because most people associate summer with being outside doing things, but Philly summers tend to force us into our apartment where we sit near a fan or turn on the AC to escape the draining humidity.  

Last weekend we visited Jo and Tom in New York. Sports were watched.  Babies were discussed. And two sisters slaved away in the kitchen doing their best to emulate Martha Stewart.  

Pear brioche chocolate bread pudding. Extravagant?  Yes.

Their new apartment in Queens has a beautiful park down the street, and we all went for a walk before dinner.

Bridge into Manhattan.

With dinner came more comfort food--butternut squash lasagna. The recipe called for three different cheeses-ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan. We weren't messing around.

We fly to Maine on Saturday for a weekend together away from Philly. Loose plans include a sunset cruise (pending rain), a hike on the beach trail (with umbrellas if needed), dinner out for Chase's early birthday, exploration around Portland, and of course, time spent with our favorite B&B owners.  Feel free to check out the Holiday House Bed and Breakfast where Chase and I have stayed four years in a row. (Honeymoon included!)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Designating an Office Space

Over the weekend, we finally rearranged some furniture and completed our plans to designate an office space. Our apartment is small, and we knew we were losing out on the separate extra room in our old apartment when we decided to move. This was okay, because I recognized the narrow space across from the kitchen had potential for an office. Nearly a year later, I finally got around to defining this space, mostly as a result of Chase's notebooks and school related study guides cluttering up every corner of our apartment. I ordered some file boxes from here on a 50% off sale and supplemented them with some cheaper white boxes from IKEA. Coupled with a Target bookshelf, we have exactly the organization we need to manage the influx of papers and supplies from the past two years. I also added an old coffee can for extra chargers, some glass jars to hold rubber bands and paper clips and two brown coffee cups which are much to small to satisfy our coffee intake, but perfect for binder clips and sewing pins.

The best addition to our new space is by far our chalkboard. Over Labor Day, my dad helped Chase and I cut up and paint three separate boards that were eventually glued and screwed together to be hung over the desks. The end result is pretty awesome.  Thanks Wally!

Me to Chase:  Do you think the picture I made looks like you?

Chase:  Sure, but why the medal around my neck?

Me:  It's not a medal, it's a stethoscope! Why would I draw a medal?

Chase:  I don't know.  World's best husband?

I leave you with pictures from our Monday night pizza. The summer was not so great for pizza-making, as our little apartment became unbearably oppressive as soon as we heated the oven at the appropriate temperature for pizza. My husband loves making pizza, and he made some good ones on Monday.

"Hey neighbor cat, wanna come up? It's pizza night!"

Nice Things...

-Having dinner waiting on the table after a late night class

-A journal brought back from India by a co-worker.  The paper is so beautiful, I'm afraid to write on it.

-Stopping by a coffee shop after work for a snickerdoodle cookie and the baristo (masculine barista?) asks if you want two for the price of one.  You bet!

-The last of summer's produce from the Mt. Airy Farmer's Market transformed into something delicious.

-Peaches, honey and cinnamon.

Labor Day Getaway

Labor Day weekend was a success.  We took a trip to New England for some much needed down time and an overdue summer visit with family.

On Saturday night we met up with our favorite couple, Dee and Andy, for drinks to celebrate Andy's 26th birthday. We always have tons of fun with Dee and Andy, and yet again after spending time with them, Chase expressed that he wishes we lived closer.

Sunday was spent shopping, boating, lounging, eating and catching up. The weather wasn't outstanding, but we all had a fun time on Meg and Jeff's boat with the boys. William, Teddy and Griffin are all pretty funny kids, and they had us laughing the whole weekend. Chase picked out ginger ale to take on the boat, and even though they had never had it before, it quickly became their favorite drink. There was some boasting amongst Will and Teddy that each of them had nearly, "five bottles of the stuff."  I don't think Meg will be buying soda again anytime soon.  

It's back to reality at work this week, but it really is fun to get away from Philly for a weekend and unwind. We were welcomed back by colder weather and a downpour of rain today.  Fall is around the corner!