Focus on Relaxation & Deep Breathing

Last Saturday I started off Birthday Weekend with my monthly massage. I go to Massage Envy and the therapist I like is Jordan. I didn't get my confirmation call on Friday so Saturday morning I called to make sure I still had an appointment. Massage Envy finds new ways to mess up my massage nearly each month.

I called and found out that Jordan had cancelled but a therapist named Natalie had an opening at 10. I reluctantly booked it because when I have a massage on my mind I can't change it. I was checking out all of the therapists as they were walking by, hoping that mine wasn't going to be most of them there. Finally a semi-normal young lady called my name and I followed her to the room. It was business as usual. She was a little weird but I was just hoping it would be a decent massage.

The massage started out okay and after a few minutes of warming up Natalie whispered, "Okay Carrie. I want you to focus on relaxing and deep breathing." Uh, kinda weird but I did go to massage school so it was no big deal. I guess to be an example of some kind of pattern to follow, she started breathing deeply too. Very deep breaths. One after the other. There was no massage going on while she was breathing so I was getting pissy. Not to mention her nose whistle was louder than a train so that made relaxing completely impossible.

She finally got on with the massage and it was okay but once again I learned to go with what you know. I will wait for Jordan.

After my massage, Corey took me shopping at the mall (which is pure torture for him), to a new winery for some taste testing and then to Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian restaurant in Baltimore. We had so much fun all day and I could barely walk out of that restaurant thanks to the endless swords of meat. Corey is the best at planning fun weekends and this one was perfect.

Clay Pigeons

James and Courtney came up from Pittsburgh for the weekend. We went clay pigeon shooting, BBQ'd and almost swam, went to the horse races and to Rita's. Rita's is my motivation all week long to not eat sweets. This is my summertime dessert obsession this year. Gelati baby!!! Italian ice with frozen custard. It is the nectar of the gods and all week long I think about how delicious it's going to taste once it touches my lips.

Ready, Set, Go!

Today marks the first day of birthday month. In my opinion, your birthday should be celebrated all month long and through some careful planning and strategic calculations I will be doing so. Selfish? Yes. Do I have kids? No. You put two and two together.
DSW, in its infinite wisdom and amazing marketing, sends out a $5 gift certificate on birthday month that is only valid during that month. For some reason this small gift forces us to purchase a pair of shoes. $5 is really not saving much, but I bet that 95% of people use their $5 birthday card. I've always known that I'm a sucker for marketing but I think this one gets a lot of people. Even the ones who aren't easily tricked!
I had been really wanting a pair of red, peep toe wedges and DSW must've known that's what I wanted with my $5 birthday certificate 'cause I found 'em! Please drool responsibly.

O'Connor Family Reunion

I learned a lot about Corey at his family reunion a few weeks ago. I take that back. It explained a lot about Corey. I'm not as worried about him anymore knowing there are others like him out there. Just kidding. I freaking love the O'Connors and we had so much fun in Wisconsin/Michigan. Another place I've never been to so I was excited to check it out.

The first thing we need to discuss is fried cheese curds, and why the rest of the world doesn't overindulge on them. They are a gift from the gods. I dream about fried cheese curds!

Number two. It is so beautiful up there and the land is so cheap. We could live like kings. That's how they trick you into moving there. Visit in the summer and you never want to leave...until the winter. Three. Everyone drove scooters around. It made me miss mine and Sarah's Yamaha Vino. 

According to Man vs. Food, Sobelman's has Milwaukee's best burger. It was a buttery bun delight.

 

Miller Park
Brewers vs. Orioles

Corey's dreams are coming true at Lambeau Field.

After our stops in Milwaukee and Green Bay we made it to the Reunion.

13:1 rocks Philly

A friend I met back in Texas joined a band and they've been doing pretty well so she invited me to their first headliner in Philly. Corey and I made a fast Saturday trip up and back. It ended with me dry heaving the whole way home thanks to a migraine, thanks to me forgetting ear plugs for the concert. I have had migraines since I was 14 but I'm pretty good at avoiding them now. There are certain triggers that I know of and a few I don't, but loud music is definitely a trigger. This is not the first time I've left a concert puking. I'm sure most people have, but probably due to alcohol. I could only wish...

Some times you wanna go...to Boston!

We enjoyed our Fourth of July festivities in Boston this year. Definitely a city I highly recommend. We went to a Red Sox game, Boston Common, Lexington, Concord, saw the USS Constitution (Old Iron Sides), went to Paul Revere's house, snuck into a group on the African American history tour, saw the Harvard Yard...there's a lot of cool stuff there. Also, a lot of good food. Legal Sea Food was our first stop. We both got the sword fish reuben. Amazing. I love food soo sooo much. We found a bakery in Cambridge that made really unique sandwiches and they were also amazing. I'm into sandwiches lately.

We tried so hard to see everything but it was so hot and I always forget how tired it makes you. I could live there. I love Boston.

                           

                        

P.S. I give up on the blogspot web builder. It's total crap and I hate it so don't expect my pictures to ever make geometrical sense.

Our new favorite thing to do

Since I've lived out here I've been audibly assaulted with the world's most annoying radio commercial for Charlestown races and slots. It drives me crazy but it obviously worked 'cause after a year or so of hearing it we went out there. I loved it! I love horses even though I'm terrified of them and this is the perfect way to enjoy them. From afar.