A Newport State of Mind

Annnnnd we are back to the work week....yippie! ;-) Ha.

I hope you all had a good weekend! My weekend was pretty damn good if I say so myself. Friday night, Kurt and I tackled Dave and Buster's like pros. Busted in like we owned the place...winning tickets and taking names. We (I) are kind of aiming towards an iPad...only have about 15,000 more tickets to win!

Saturday I went down to Newport, Rhode Island for a little girlfriends getaway which was just fabulous! One of my friends lives literally 5 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Newport; aka the mansions, shops, the beach, bars, clubs, the whole shi-bang!

During the day on Saturday we played tourists and went on a mansion tour of the Marble House. HOLY GORGEOUS! Can you just imagine living in a house with 100+ rooms? I die.

If you're ever in Newport, DO THE MANSIONS! There are so many of them. All equally gorgeous. There's this one mansion called The Breakers which is just breathtaking. I called them once last year saying I was getting married and wanted to inquire about prices. Over $150,000 just to RENT the place. I think I cried.

After we goo-goo-ga-ga'd over the mansions, we headed back to the apartment for some margaritas and taco salad before we got ready to hit the town!

We had a freakin blast. I had the most delicious pineapple infused vodka. We watched a journey tribute band at one of the bars we went to. Got asked if we wanted to "join a party upstairs" by some hideous men. 

Members of the Navy happened to be in Newport that weekend so we were saluting those men! We even happened across two in the bar; one of which who was so plastered he was poking us in the forehead and then saluted my friend Bianca after she did the worm. Yes...it's sort of a tradition that every bar we go to, we clear the area so she can do the worm. Love it! We dougied. Dropped it low. Just a typical night out with some girlfriends!

Sunday we did a wine tasting and tour. It was delicious and so so cool! I was really obsessed with the little crackers they give you to "cleanse the palate" so I pretty much ate them out of house and home and almost asked where I could buy them.

All and all, a perfect weekend! And THEN I came home to Kurt grilling...naked. Just kidding he wasn't naked, but he was grilling ;-)

What did y'all do this weekend?! Happy Monday!

A delicious mouth-gasm

Happy Friday Party People! I've been jamming to this song all week long. Thought I'd share :-)

Okay so after sulking for the past week about not being in Ohio anymore, I figured I needed to drown my sorrows into food that would make me feel better, and that would give me a food baby.

These are a little something I like to call Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats. I've made these a bunch of times, and every single time I goo-goo-ga-ga over them! Plus, they are just so damn pretty looking!

I got the recipe from an amazing website called Gimme Some Oven. It is SO easy. And amazingly delicious.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp of butter
• 1 (10 oz) bag of mini-marshmallows
• 1/4 cup of yellow cake mix (the dry cake mix, not prepared into a batter!)
• 6 cups of rice krispie cereal
• 1 container of sprinkles

Directions:

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir until they begin to melt, adding in (dry) cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined. Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle in half of the sprinkles and mix. Press into a baking dish (any size will do) and top with remaining sprinkles. Let sit for about 30 minutes before cutting. 

Seeeeeee? Easy as P-I-E!

Hope you have a fantabulous weekend! I'm off to Newport, Rhode Island Saturday night for a girlfriends weekend!

My Big Ass Blate--Part 2!!

Hi friends! I got so sad just now re-reading Part 1 of my amazeball blate to see some fabulous chickita bonita's!!

So on our second day there, we woke up to the sounds of men hard at work in the kitchen. Billy was whipping up something spectacular for us to eat for breakfast! Billy made us scrambled eggs, potatoes, and Katie cut us up fruit! I felt so glam glam! Seriously...awesome people I tell you!

We hopped, skipped, and jumped into our little bee-keeny's and headed to the pool in Katies area called THE GOAT. Let me be the first to say, The Goat is amazing. I seriously wish Boston had something like it. It was basically just a pool in a condo/townhouse complex that had a giant clubhouse, outside bar, and possibly the best live band I have ever seen in my life (no joke!)...they sang Lil Wayne and T-Pain..hello!!

We had such a blast relaxing by the pool, getting some rays, drinking and drinking and drinking, and even played a round of volleyball! I just loved it there.

After a drink (or 3....really Erica!?) I decided I had to let Kurt in on this dirty little secret called, The Goat, so I sent him a video! Mind you, my voice sounds scratchy...I guess I had been screaming a bunch the night before...ha!!

That night, we chilled and grilled on the Krysh's new deck and it was absolute perfection. Katie and Billy's friend came over with his girlfriend, and we played a game that Steph and Beau brought for about 4 hours. It was a word game that turned naughty. Isn't that how all group games turn out?! ;-) Blame it on the booze, but we all got pretty naughtily personal and it was just hysterical! I may have even indulged them in a little game Kurt and I play. Some of you may already know this "game!" hehe! Laughing with these people made me feel like I knew them for ages! And I just loved feeling that way with people I "just met" in person. Even the coolest little dude EVER, Rocky, hung out with us and I fell in love with him each time I picked him up and he jumped into my arms!

Stolen from Stephy :-) Beau schooled me in the handstand contest!! Look at that formality!

Our last full day there, we finally got to become Ohio State Buckeyes. If there is one word to describe Ohio, besides from AMAZING, it is Buckeyes. Ohio really loves their school, and I cannot blame them! Billy and Katie took us around Columbus and we got to see campus. Us girls even showed this guy our boobs so he would let us out on the field! Just kidding... ;-) We happened to luck out and be let out on the field! It was HUGE!! We took advantage of it and ran out on the field screaming and laughing and doing cartwheels!!

It was just perfect. After drooling over how much I was loving Ohio State, Katie and Billy took us to the Columbus Zoo. Katie sure knows the key to my heart, as she knows I just love zoos! I swear to all of you; this zoo is now one of my top 5. It was gorgeous! Perfectly laid out; great themes; awesome exhibits; lively animal; everything you could ask for in a zoo! We had a ball! Some of us got up close and personal with some animals. Including Steph, where two bears decided to mate/play in front of her!

We were drawn to the zoo characters and of course had to take pics with them! I love that when we saw these peeps in the zoo, we all looked at each other, and gave our cameras to Beau and Billy to take pics of us. It was as if we read each others minds :-)

After walking around the zoo and loving every second, it was unfortunately time to leave! And little miss Jess had to leave us too :-( Her fam was preparing for a Memorial Day cookout and she had to put her little apron on and skiddaddle back to Kentucky! It was so sad to see her go because then I realized we were almost ready to all leave each other! But I pushed it to the back of my mind and we hugged our little Southerner and heard her say BAHH!! (Kentucky accent for BYE!)

But our night wasn't over yet, and we headed over to Katie's dad and stepmom's house for a cookout. Holy sweetness! They were so welcoming; so kind; so cute and wholesome and really loved their lil girl! I absolutely loved getting to know her family and listening to stories of Katie when she was a little girl and a rebel! WHO KNEW! This sweet person has a bit of a wild side to her ;-) I knew I loved her!!

I went to bed that night so sad. I was organizing my suitcase and picking up a bit and had tears in my eyes. I wasn't ready to leave these people. So I snuck out and slashed my car's tires so I would have to stay. Just kidding, but I thought about it! Let me profess the love I have gained for these special people!

Katie and Billy: 

I cannot thank you both ENOUGH for letting us crazy kids stay in the Krysh Country Club! I loved getting to know you both even more than I already did and loved seeing you two together as a couple! So sweet, loving, and the type of married couple I want to be one day! (whenever Kurt does decide to pop the Q!) Katie, your dance moves are SICK, you're heart is made of gold, and I'm already looking forward to the day you guys come back to my home turf! Billy, your cooking skills are bomb, your one-liners are hilarious, and your love for your wifey is so sweet!

Jessica: 

The moment I saw you pull up in your two seater, with your Louie bag, and your tan, I just knew I would love you! I absolutely loved hearing your accent (even though sometimes I could not understand you haha!) and loved the hilarious stories you told us. I am over-the-top jealous that you can walk and dance like crazy in high heels all while carrying a ginormous bag and steamer! You would rock the socks off them Boston folk! You have the sweetest southern charm and y'all, she is just as cute as a button as she is on THE kentucky priss :-)

Steph and Beau: 

My little Texas, cowboy boot wearing loves! Just like I said about Katie and Billy, you guys remind me so much of how I want to be as a married sexy mama! Steph, we tore it up on the dance floor and got cozy with lobster claw chef men. I am now saying y'all more than ever. You are the sweetest, adorable little thing, and it seriously upsets me so much that you guys live 1 day, 6 hours driving from me!!!! Beau Beau, your smile is contagious! You rock at handstands, and are one of the funniest guys I've ever met! I am still so regretful that I did not bring my yellow bikini for you!

It was the most PERFECT weekend I could have asked for and I loved every single second of it! I will say this again...if you have a chance to meet anyone on this little slice of the internet, DO IT!!! Girls and Guys, we will meet again! I can feel it in my bones! Love you all more than ever!! :-)