Changes

Every couple of years I feel like great moments of change come. Big decisions need to be made and they're never easy. This year has started off in that fashion. I was presented with an opportunity last week to accept a promotion that would require me to relocate to North Carolina. UCF has been my home since 2004, even thinking about leaving has been hard. Not only that but also thinking about leaving behind family and friends has also been hard. Oh, what to do...

There needs to be less week and more weekend!

Ah, how I love the weekend. The weekend is a chance to relax, spend time with the people you love, and enjoy the things you want to do. This weekend was exactly that. I was able to spend time with N and my sister. We were able to do what we wanted when we wanted.


Friday night we ventured out to Ikea. We were able to shop around for a dish set and look for a spice rack. Ikea always makes me want to redecorate my living spaces. I wish I was good at making effective use of my space. After exploring Ikea we ventured out to the outlet mall. We had a great time trying on different outfits. N and M were great at helping me puck out some cute tops! Pics to follow later!


Last night N and I celebrated our friend Zack's birthday at Seasons 52. We had a great time dining with a great group of friends. The food and service there was great! Shot glass desserts are the perfect size!

N & I at Seasons 52

Today I was able to sleep in then continue reading the Hunger Games. I am now 100% addicted. I finished reading the second book in a matter of hours. As I'm writing this I'm fighting the instinct to pick up my Nook and continue reading the third book. Thus far the final installment of the series is just as enthralling as the previous two. I'm looking forward to see what new challenges Katniss will face. After reading all morning and into the afternoon headed over to N's parents' house to make dinner with Mrs. B. I had a great time picking out a recipe with Mrs. B and preparing it. We had chicken with portabello mushrooms, green peppers, green onions, zucchini, and noodles as well as creamed corn casserole. Nom, nom, nom! I love Sunday dinners with N's parents. We always have a great time and a delicious meal.

Great chicken dinner!

A new week awaits with a new adventure! This week N and I will celebrate 1 year of blissful happiness together! I have a trip for work this week as well. So much to do, so little time. Adventure is out there!

Cafe Tu Tu Tango!

On Tuesday my best friend of 15 years was in town. N, my sister M and I were able to drive down to the touristy area of town and have dinner with her and her boyfriend. We went to Cafe Tu Tu Tango on International Drive. If you've never been there you really should go. The restaurant is designed to look like an artist's loft. It is a tappas restaurant so their menu consists of mainly appetizer dishes. Each dish is of a decent size as they are meant to be shared. It's great to go with a group of friends and with everyone ordering all sorts of different things you really do get to try a wide range of dishes. For example between everything everyone ordered we had Dynamite Shrimp,  Hand Tossed Five Cheese Pizza, Langostino Mac & Cheese, Oriental Marinated Steak Skewers, Argentinean Style Orange Chimmimchurri Steak, Shrimp Chicken Potstickers, and Cajun Chicken Egg Rolls. All of it was amazing; my favorite is probably a toss up between Longostino Mac & Cheese and Dynamite Shrimp. I had a great time hanging out with A and reminiscing about old times. 

Me and my besty A

Me and my sister M

N and me

A and her new beau J

Happy Year of the Dragon!

Happy Chinese New Year! 

N and I had the pleasure of joining some friends this weekend in celebrating the Chinese New Year. This was a first for me and I had a great time. We made sure we stuck to some of the traditional Chinese customs such as eating traditional New Years Foods, wearing yellow and red and of course at midnight we lit the first incense of the year! Below you'll see some of the tasty treats we tried. I know the fish doesn't look that great, but it amazing!

Salted Fish with various dipping sauces

Buddha's Delight

Rice wonton rolls

Traditional LoMein

At midnight it is customary to eat from a selection of sweet treat; above you'll see our spread.

All in all we had a great night, it was good to spend time with some good friends.

Treasure Hunt

Today was filled with adventures! N, Mrs. B and I went on an antiquing expedition. We started our day eith a delicious breakfast at White Wolf Cafe in Winter Park then headed to Renningers Antique Extravaganza in Mount Dora. I've never been to Moynt Dora, so I was excited to explore a new part of the Central Florida area. The extravaganza itself was massive. It was row after row of tents. They had some extremely cute furniture that I would some day love to have in my home. I found some good finds! My treasures included an anvil, chalkboard, lobster bottle opener, a multitude of spoons and knives, salt and pepper shakers for M, a Vera Bradley wallet and the cutest geese measuring cups.

After exploring a large part of the fairs offerings we headed to downtown Mount Dora to The Goblin Market Restaurant. The food was delicious but the decor and ambience make this place truly amazing.

All in all I had an amazing day with people I love!