Annie Came to Visit

My sister, Annie, and her husband, Tony, came to visit over the weekend. It is the first time they have come to visit since Derek and I moved to Vancouver, so it was quite exciting! We had an adventurous weekend I must say. They arrived Saturday in the late afternoon and we pretty immediately went out to dinner from there. We went out to at a fun italian restaurant called Incendio, one of Derek and I's favourites. From there we headed down to Kits Beach to watch the fireworks because, like every summer in Vancouver, we are in the midst of the Celebration of Lights. It was so much fun to be able to go down and watch the fireworks with my sister, we had a blast! Part of the reason they are here is to celebrate their 2nd Anniversary, so that night when we got home we had a mini celebration and ate cake! YUM! Sunday morning (yesterday) Annie and I went on a super long runand kind of got lost, which made the run longer and so much more exciting! haha! Then it started raining on us...it was gross. After our showers we went downtown and got Annie and Tony checked into their hotel (they are staying in a hotel for 2 nights for their anniversary) then we walked over and had breakfast at Cafe Crepe just 2 blocks from their hotel. Why are crepes so darn good?! After the crepe-fest we went to the Vancouver Aquarium!!!!! Derek and I have lived in Vancouver for nearly 2 years and until yesterday, had not yet been to the aquarium. It was due time and we had such a blast...I love things like that!! After the aquarium we wandered up to Prospect Point in Stanley park and got ice cream and looked at the view. It turned out to be a beautiful day despite the morning rain. Derek had to do a bit of studying so we parted ways for a bit and I took a nap! We met up with Annie and Tony and had dinner at Bin 941 downtown, which is a Tapas Parlour. It was very hip and trendy...we felt cool! We took our time and ordered several tapas which was very fun. I had never been to a tapas place before. We then took Annie over to Denman Street to get a cupcake at Cupcakes, she had found it online and really wanted to go there and couldn't stop talking about it. So she finally got her cupcake! It was very pink in there, I wish I had take a picture :(
That, for now, ends our time together. They are still in Vancouver for tomorrow, but Derek and I have a wedding to attend later today. Hopefully we will be able to hook up with Annie and Tony later, but regardless, we had a great time together! See the excitement in colour here.

P.S. No big deal or anything, but this time next week I will be in NEW YORK CITY!!!
As for those of you who want to know what we are going to do in NYC...I can tell you
this, we are going to "Do New York". 4 Days and counting...

Let the Countdown Begin!

7 Days until we go to New York City!!

Happy Monday!

Woke up a little later than normal today...

Went to pack my lunch with yesterdays leftovers and it turned out that we took Grace's leftovers from the restaurant instead.

Had to get creative and pack another lunch. Bagels...again.

Derek spilled peanut butter oil all over himself while packing that back-up lunch.

Sprayed body spray on an open wound (accidentally), ouch!

They are filming yet another movie near my building today and the parking lot was full of trucks and catering vans, etc. Parking was a bit hectic.

And was only 10 minutes late to work!!

But I got a new skirt yesterday and got to wear it today! Yay!

On another note...we think our landlords are out of town, but didn't tell us. What the crap?!

11 days until NEW YORK CITY!!

Under Construction

Please forgive me for the bit of mess and some overlapping on my
page right now. I am in the process of changing up the template a
bit to make it look better but is taking a little longer than I had
hoped. Bear with me :)

Top 10 Reasons you Gotta Have 'Em

Top 10 Reasons You Gotta Have Crocs:

1.) Really soft, super comfortable, molds to your feet
2.) Barely there, weighing only 6 ounces
3.) Vented so air passes through, keeping feet cool
4.) Non-marking slip-resistant soles
5.)Bacteria and odor resistant
6.)Ultra-hip Italian styling
7.)Port holes allow water and sand to through - go ahead cross that river!

8.)Can be sterilized in water and bleach
9.) Easy maintenance, just wipe clean
10.) Ortotic molded foot bed for ultimate comfort and support

Rain, Sun, Brunch and more!

Last week, for several days, Vancouver produced many clouds and much rain. It was quite sad really considering the fact that it is the middle of July, but whatever. All week my friend Shelley and I had been planning a Birthday Brunch for Saturday morning because two of our close friends (Grace & Elizabeth) were celebrating birthdays and we wanted to do something special for them. The thing about this brunch though is that it was intended to be outdoors in Shelley's back yard. We were freaking out about the rain and were so nervous that our garden brunch was going to be rained out. We prayed and prayed all week and on Friday it didn't rain was chilly and cloudy and by Saturday morning the clouds had passed and the dun was slowly peaking through the clouds. We were setting everything up and the grass outside was still soaked with water and dew from the night before. We were nervous still. But by 10:45 the sun was blaring and the grass had dried and we were blessed to the max! Some of the girls even got sunburned! Needless to say, the brunch was a success and the birthday girls seemed to enjoy it.
You can see the pictures here.

2 other bits of news...Derek and I went shiopping yesterday and both bought a pair of chocolate brown crocs, they are amazing!
And the most exciting news of all, Derek and I bought plane tickets to New York City and we are officially going on Vacation! We cannot wait to "do New York". We are going to see it all!! It's less than 3 weeks away!!

thoughts about summer

I believe that weather truly can affect a persons mood. We are a little ways into summer now and I feel like I have never been happier. Maybe it is life, maybe it is Derek, maybe it's friends, but maybe it is the Lord providing this beautiful sunshine that tans my skin and brightens my day! I love everything about summer. I love how early the sun rises in the morning and how late it goes down at nigh, I love the sound of flip-flop, flip-flop that surrounds me, I love wearing flip flops for that matter, I love tan lines and capri pants, I love that my hair gets lighter and my smile gets bigger, I love all the pregnant women that seem to bloom in summer season, I love tank tops and pony tails, the beach and the sand. There is nothing that I love more than summer. Can't we just move somewhere that it is summer all the time? I would never tire of it.

oregon, coffee, wedding, groomsmen, beer, friends & family extravaganza!!

Derek and I just got back on Sunday from a crazy trip to Oregon. It was a crazy trip indeed! We left Tuesday after I got off of work and stayed the night in Portland at Derek's sister's house. We got to see his cute niece and nephew and had a short but good time.
On Wednesday morning we got our coffee and hit the road to Eugene where we spent only about 5 hours total. We had to visit a place that is near and dear to our hearts, Camp Harlow. We got to see some good friends and see all the changes they have implemented at camp. It's wierd...but good. From Eugene we took the next drive two and half hours over to Central Oregon to my hometown, Bend. Here we were able to find out footing for a good 4 days. But the madness began as soon as got there. We walked in the door to my parents house and of course they were all excited to see us and immediately we went out for dinner and enjoyed a nice Mexican meal (which is truly missed here in Canada). We then went straight to our friends Dave and Majell's house who are the couple whose wedding we went down for. It was great to see them and be able to spend the evening with them and a few other friends before all the wedding events began the next day. I will spare you all the details but the next 2 days consisted of coffee, the arrival to Bend of Dan and Amanda Johnson, Derek and I applying for our passports, one heck of a Bachelor party (so I hear), some good beer and just a tiny sprinkle of rain at the rehersal. The rehersal dinner on Friday evening was so wonderful. And leave it to Dave to get a keg of Mirror Pond Pale Ale for his rehearsal dinner...thanks Dave! Finally the long awaited day arrived where Dave and Majell would get married and did they ever! It was a beautiful ceremony, a perfect union and a great reception afterwards. Derek did a great job being a groomsmen (along with the 8 others) and got to be an up close witness to one of our best friends getting married. It was such a blast to a part of it all and to be able to connect with so many friends over the couple days prior to the wedding and even more at the wedding. Overall it was a very fruitful trip but of course it wasn't long enough. I miss Oregon :(


Like always....
You can find more pics from our trip here