Welcome to Friday

Goodbye, insanely busy week! Geeeeeez. I am so flippin' happy it's Friday. More than usual, actually. Partly because it's a holiday weekend and I get to spend 3 glorious days with D instead of just two. Always a win in my book. And partly because this is the first weekend in like a month...maybe even two months...that we've got absolutely NOTHING to do! Nowhere to be, no one to entertain, and no schedules. I hate that word. Schedules. If schedules were a person, we wouldn't be friends. Let's just be honest. Needless to say, because of all the nothingness going on, D and I will finally get to do things around the house we've been neglecting for far too long. Like watching the movie The Campaign (heard it's hilarious times 2), mopping the kitchen floor (seriously, it's disgusting, I'm kind of ashamed), and eating food that's not a lean cuisine or bowl of cereal. Yeah, it's been that kind of grab-and-go, too tired to cook real food kind of week. So, here's to saying goodbye to a week of stress and hello to a weekend of awesome! Awesome, you really should come around more often.

What fun or not-so-fun nothing type things are you all doing this weekend? 

Oh, and don't forget to enter my TOOKIES giveaway! It's a sweet one! Now, on to this Fridays Letters!

Dear rumored 'Boy Meets World' Disney spinoff,

Great idea or best idea? Umm, duh. BEST IDEA EVER! Coming from one of the biggest 'Boy Meets World' fans ever (D and I may or may not have every season on DVD...no judging), I'm on board with 'Girl Meets World' 200%. Who doesn't want to know what happened to Cory, Topanga, Shawn "I hate my life" Hunter, and the always infamous Mr. Feeney? Disney, if you don't make this show, and cast the same lovable characters as the original, you're all iditos. 

It would be a total TV goldmine. 

Dear Summer,

 I realize you just left, but I already can't wait for you to come back! Why? Because we've booked not one, but TWO fabulous cruises that set sail when you make your appearance in 2013! In May, we will spend 11 days cruising to the gorgeous ports of Santorini, Greece, Naples (Capri/Pompeii), Italy, and Istanbul, Turkey...just to name a few. Then in July, we will be shipping off to the Baltic Sea for 7 days of sightseeing in Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and St. Petersburg, Russia! These will be the first two cruises that D and I have EVER been on and we absolutely can't wait. Even though we've basically drained our travel budget from now until next August, it couldn't be more worth it. I've been dreaming of going to Santorini and Istanbul for years and now my dreams will come true! I'm packing my bags as we speak. It's never too early to pack for the trip(s) of a lifetime!

Dear Little Sister,

I love big puffy heart love you. Can't wait to see you in ONE MONTH! And thank you for outfitting me in the cutest, most fabulous Rachel Roy cardi that ever was. I adore it, and I adore you! Friends, this cardi is just one awesome reason I love having a sister in the NYC fashion industry. She sent me two great pieces from the Rachel Rachel Roy collection and now I'm lusting after practically everything on her website. Go check out the Rachel Rachel Roy line and add a few fancies to your Christmas lists ladies! 

Dear America,

Ummm, excuse me. Why do you decide to start making these awesome holiday things when I'm not living there anymore? It's cruel. Ok, so now that I know they exist, let's work on how we're gonna get them from this computer screen to my mouth, kay? Friends, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Care package pen pals? Let's make it happen.

Happy weekending, dearies!

Holiday Things, SAD, and Disaster Relief: This Friday's Letters

Hi friends! Everyone recovering from their Halloween candy comas? Gosh, how is it already November? In just a few short weeks, Thanksgiving will be here, then the Christmas Markets open up (which I'm totally stoked about!), and then poof, we'll be back home in NC for Christmas! I told you guys having birthdays always ends up speeding up life. If I didn't love my birthday so much, I'd just not have one. Cheat time or something. But alas, not possible. Time marches on. And now you should march on and link up with Adventures of Newlyweds for Friday Letters!

Dear Handmade Shops,

Are you looking for some advertising opportunities this holiday season? Do you have wicked cool items in your shop that you know would make perfect gifts or stocking stuffers? Well, you and I should talk, because this year I'll be hosting my very fist Handmade Holiday Gift Guide! I love handmade shops and shop them frequently on sites like Etsy and Store Envy. I'm quite positive many of my readers do, too. I've already got a few awesome shops lined up to participate, so spots are limited! If you want to promote your shop and give my readers some fabulous ideas and discounts for gift giving this year, shoot me an email for all the details (offer open to all handmade shops and blog designers with gifts and rates under $100)! The gift guide feature post will go live on November 15th, so snag your spot today!

Dear blog friends,

I've still got a few large and medium ad spots left for November and my sidebar's looking kind of lonely. So, until next Tuesday, I'm offering 40% off all ad spots! Why sponsor We Took the Road Less Traveled this November? Well, I've got lots of awesome things coming up...think giveaways (multiple!), co-hosting a fabulous link-up, and, of course, the Handmade Holiday Gift Guide...so lots of potential exposure and traffic coming your way this month! Use code NOVEMBERLOVE and let's get to promoting you!

Dear Germany,

Did you just decide to skip right over fall? Barely a month and then done? Because it snowed in October, it's constantly in the 30's and low 40's and raining, and all the leaves on the trees are already gone. Gone. Winter is here and fall has officially left the building. Because of your warm, dry summer, they're saying this winter is going to be an awful one. I'm not happy about that in any way, shape, or form. What's even worse, the hubby has already turned on the Christmas music...not once...but twice! I'm not ready for that. Almost all of my Christmas shopping IS already done, but I'm still not ready for that. That and the fact it starts getting dark at 3:45pm now. Makes me depressed just thinking about it. Goodbye, dear sweet autumn. Hello, Seasonal Affective Disorder. I hate you.

Dear Italian Blate,

You. Were. Awesome. I've been daydreaming about Venetian canals and pesto pasta all week! Jess and I had an absolute blast on our Italian blate. She was a super gracious host and showed me a side of Italy I'd never seen before! Truth be told, I left Italy after My Big Fat European Family Vacation with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth (i.e. Florence), but after a week exploring Venice, drinking wine, and purchasing a ridiculous amount of Italian pottery, that sour taste has left forever. I've rekindled my love for Italy and can't wait until we head back there in May for a few stops during our Mediterranean cruise! Gobs of gorgeous photos to come, my friends. Gobs.

Dear Hurricane Sandy,

This is what you did to my little sisters neighborhood in Hoboken, NJ this past week. Comeplete insanity. She and her roommate have been trapped in their apartment without power since Monday, with no chance of it coming back on for at least 6-10 more days. My sister, although inconvenienced, was far more lucky than many on the East Coast. Homes were damaged, entire cities flooded, and lives were lost. Frankenstorm, you definitely lived up to your name. Now, its time to regroup and rebuild. This is how I've helped and you can help, too! Donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and help get Sandy victims back on their feet and out of harms way. No tax deductible donation is too small to make a difference!
{Update: my sister is now staying with a friend in NYC until Hoboken and her apartment has power again. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes, friends...she appreciates them all!}

Happy Friday!

Really Important Things

A little blog housekeeping...
First up, thank you all SO MUCH for your kind birthday wishes this week!! My heart is so full! Please don't forget to enter my 500 Follower Birthday Giveaway, the giveaway just for all my awesome readers! FREE STUFF, guys. FREE! You've still got a little over 3 days left to enter, so go tell your friends and add your entries!

Secondly, because I'm still feeling rather generous and this little blog is still growing like a weed, I'm going to be offering 20% off all LARGE AD SPACES (use promo code FALL20) on the blog until October 31st! Head on over to my sponsor page and get hooked up!

Whew. Now that business is out of the way, it's time for some Friday Letters!

Dear Internet,

WELCOME BACK MY LONG LOST FRIEND!! It took 36 days, 23 emails, 3 stumped technicians, and 1 BRILLIANT specialist to finally connect us to the world again! Guys, this insanity went on for far, far longer than it should have. Turns out, all that needed to be done was to uncross some wires and to re-terminate the fried cable running from our modem to the wall (not the friggin' cable underneath our sidewalk like some do-do birds thought...idiots) and boom, internet! I swear, I could have kissed that Deutsch Telekom specialist when he said "Alles gut!" and that Google search bar popped up on my Mac! Don't worry, I refrained, but D and I did do a major happy dance in the living room after he left. We're SO happy it's back and we're no longer cut off from our friends and family back home. Praise the Lord!!! America, expect an ungodly amount of phone calls from me very shortly. And it's true, our house has never been cleaner. ;)

Dear Birthday,

 Truth be told, I was worried. Worried because for yet another birthday, I was going to be 4,000 miles away from my closest family and friends. The sad feeling came and I foresaw lots of Häagen-Dazs and ugly cries happening that day. But, turns out, you were a pretty fabulous day...all thanks to my amazing husband. He totally tricked me by going into work at 6:30am (as usual), but then came home at 8:30am with breakfast in his hand and a smile on his face. My sweet boy took the entire day off just so I wouldn't have to spend my birthday alone. Folks, there was still an ugly cry, but it was for much happier reasons. :) We spent the day snuggling on the couch sipping wine, shopping for Halloween costumes, and ended the night with Mexican food and margaritas with friends. He managed to turn a potentially craptastic birthday into a really, really wonderful one. Ladies, if you don't already have one, get yourselves a hubby like mine. They make life so much more lovely. Ahem, but notice I said like mine, not my actual one. Then I'd have to cut you.

Dear Germany,

 You never cease to amaze me with your beauty and plethora of fall actives that completely warm my soul. It's harvest time in your vineyards along the Rhine and you graciously allowed me to fulfill one of my life long dreams...turning grapes into wine. Did you know D and I would love to own a vineyard one day? Did you know we had no clue how to start the winemaking process? Well, we learned a lot that day picking grapes for Weingut Eugen Werheim. Mostly about how grape picking is backbreaking, knee-killing work...and that I like drinking wine more than making it. Never, ever again. Despite our aching bones, we've made a mental note that when we have our own precious vineyard one day, we're buying grape picking machines...or hiring people. It's completely necessary and a small price to pay for a life making wine. Believe me. Anywho, thanks for letting us spend the day in your vineyards above the Rhine, sweet Germany. The view was indeed beautiful.

Dear Blog Friends,

I've been keeping a bit of a secret. And no, I'm not preggo. But I am jetting off to ITALY Monday to have a 5 day blate (blog+date=blate) with one of my dearest bloggy friends in the world, Jessica from Jessica Lynn Writes! Excitement times 1,000, friends. I'm doing cartwheels in my head as we speak. And while I'm there, I also plan on hanging out with Amanda from Adventures in Italia and Tessa from Caio, Blogga since they also happen to be fabulous and in Italy. On the agenda for the week will be exploring beautiful Venice and Verona, with a little shopping in Nove and some wine and olive oil tasting thrown in for good measure. :) There will probably also be an insane amount of laughing, lots of pasta, and little rubbing of Jess's cute pregnant belly (totally not weird, right? I'm going with no. Jess, you've been warned!) A blate of EPIC proportions, to say the very least. Since I'll be out galavanting around Italy, I won't be much of a prompt blogger next week. So, make sure you follow my Instagram feed (username: @CaseyCote) for photo updates of our Italian adventures! Caio, bellas!

TGIF

Hey peeps. TGIF! Can I get an AMEN?!

Holy cow was this week a long one. I don't really know why, but it kind of kicked my butt. That might be the lack of sleep talking, though. I blame my brain. It always wants to replay the day for me over again as soon as my head hits the pillow. Thanks, brain, but I've been there, done that. Let me sleep for heaven's sake. Anywho, nothing really exceptional happened this week. For example, the highlight of my Thursday was finding a piece of string cheese stuck in my hair after wandering around the house for oh...2 hours. Seriously. I live an ultra glamorous life, if you didn't already know (<--insert sarcasm here). So, forgive me if today's letters seem mundane. It's been the theme of the week. Oh and in case you were wondering, we're now moving into week 4 of The Great Internet Blackout of 2012. A month, people. Almost 30 whole days without proper internet. This internet catastrophe has become so ridiculous that it's now got its own Facebook page (because, you know, all idiotic things like "I bet we can get this photo of a pickle more likes than Mark Zuckerburg" get their own Facebook pages)...which of course I can't access because, well, I have no internet! Ok, I'm kidding, there is no FB page. But this situation has earned its own title and dark spot in my heart for all eternity. Are you surprised? I feel like I'm starting to sound like a friggin' broken record. Somebody shoot me now.

Moving on...here's this weeks Friday letters via Instagram:

Dear Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival,
We had a blast visiting you last weekend...which was evident in the 200 photos I took of you. All were completely necessary. Especially the ones of the Swiss Army knife made out of pumpkins. Brilliant. Here's a few sneak peeks. There was a whole lotta pumpkin lovin' going on.


{Pumpkin Spaghetti & Pumpkin Champagne, yum!}

Dear Margarita I drank at Mexico Lindo in Mainz right before the hockey game on Wednesday,

Thank you. Thank you for being you. You're the only margarita I've tried in Germany (that wasn't made by my own two hands) that's actually tasted how a margarita should taste. I've spent the last year and 4 months looking for you. And now that I've found you, it's Margarita Wednesday from now on. You're all invited. :)

Dear October (a.k.a the greatest month of the year),

{last year's birthday eggies & toast-cake made by my sweet husband}

Thank golly you are finally here! You always bring such fun things with you when you come around. For example, this year you're bringing me grape picking at a vineyard on the Rhine, a blate (blog+date=blate...it's a word, trust me) of epic international proportions (more on that later!), Halloween parties (duh, awesome), and last, but certainly not least, MY BIRTHDAY (11 days to the main event ladies and gents! Get yo party hats on!)!! These are just a few of the infinite reasons why I love you, October. If my year was filled with just a succession of you, life would be blissful. Oh and October, I almost forgot one other amazing event you've brought me this year....

Dear Oktoberfest,

Pinch me. I absolutely cannot believe we are FINALLY getting to experience the awesomeness that is the REAL German Oktoberfest in Munich this year! We've heard stories for years and years about the insane amounts of fun will have (and how the beers and pretzels are the size of your face), and now it's our turn to enjoy your famous beer tents! Our dirndls and lederhosen are pressed and ready to go! But please, dear Oktoberfest, go easy on us. We're newbies. Have mercy on our livers.

And with that, I bid you all adieu. Our bags are packed and we're hitting the road to Munich in just a few short hours! We've yet to visit Munich, so we'll spend tomorrow sightseeing around the city, but come Sunday (the last day of Oktoberfest for this year), we'll don our traditional Bavarian garb and make our way to the Oktoberfest grounds. I am BEYOND excited! I'm positive I'll be taking a bagillion photos, so follow my Instagram feed (username: @CaseyCote) to keep up with all the fun! Happy weekending, friends!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Friday Letters: Rants, Raves, & Plans

Dear friends in America,

Hold on to your horses, I have a small bone to pick with you. Stop posting on various social media outlets about what happens on popular TV shows right after you watch them...please, I beg of you! Better yet, stop posting WHILE you're watching! I mean, geez guys. We don't need a play by play of your emotions while the show is on. Do you think ANYONE cares that you were shocked that so-and-so died while riding a bicycle through a fire pit? REALLY? Because so was everyone else in the world, they just chose to scream at their TVs instead of posting their astonishment on Facebook. I can't even get on Facebook or Twitter anymore without you guys spoiling everything for us here who are 6+ HOURS AHEAD OF YOU! No we don't live in the future and already know what happens, contrary to popular belief. I think I can speak for all expats when I say that you are literally ruining our TV watching lives. Unabashedly taking away my one joyful piece of America I have left in this sitcom deprived country. And don't you dare tell me just to not get on FB or Twitter until I've watched it...why don't you just go ahead and slap me in the face then? That'll be faster. If you get deleted, it's nothing personal. Just shut your mouth. Shut it.

Dear Internet,

You're STILL gone. Why? WHY?!?!

*Bangs head on table...multiple times. Or eats computer. Whatever works.*

Dear USDTravel,

THANK YOU! I just bought a plane ticket home for Christmas for $600. Yep, you read that right. $600. I love you. 

Let's get married and have lots of cheap airline ticket babies.

{Fellow military families, USDTravel gives you commercial airline tickets at deeply discounted military rates. I'm talking BIG discounts. A flight home for Christmas from Frankfurt, Germany to North Carolina would normally run me anywhere from $1100 to $1600 round trip. USDTravel scored me one for half that. I just want to kiss all of their faces! And kiss Emma from It Happened On A Sunday for telling me about them!}

...And speaking of Christmas...

Dear New York City,

For the last 3 months you've taken care of my little sister as she makes big moves working and thriving in your high-paced fashion world. What an exciting life you've provided for her! And subsequently for me and my family. Because of my little sister's divine placement in the 'Big Apple' this year, we get to visit you at Christmas!!! 4 days of Christmas shopping, frozen hot chocolate eating (Serendipity, I'm coming for you!!), and galavanting around your electric city with not one, not two, but FIVE of my favorite female family members in the world! We've already conquered Germany and Italy together, why not NYC?! Only rule is, no boys allowed. To say I can't wait would be a serious understatement! NYC 'Just the Girls' Trip 2012...let's do this!

Dear Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival,

I am SO excited to come visit you tomorrow! We had such a blast exploring your rows of dazzling pumpkin sculptures last year. And the pumpkin flavored food...oh man...I'm getting hot flashes just thinking about it. I could think of no better way to ring in the fall than frolicking among pumpkins all day. Hubby, get your wallet ready. A few of these colorful bad boys are coming home with us. Just sayin'. ;)

{By the way, I am so LOVING all of your comments from yesterday's post! Thanks so much for sharing and allowing me to get to know each of you more! If you haven't already, head on over there and introduce yourself! Also, there's a pretty rad giveaway going on over at Jenna's awesome blog today. Go there and you might see a familiar face giving away a $30 Giftcard to Piperlime! WHAT THE WHAT?! :) Here's wishing you the happiest of weekends, friends!}

Friday Letters

Dear Internet,

I miss you. You up and decided to leave our house last Friday and won't be back until next Tuesday...maybe. Why did you leave? You know how much I need you. Right now I'm using you from the army community bowling alley, amongst snotty nosed kids and the smell of bowling shoe cleaner. Less than ideal blogging conditions, to say the least. Not to mention, since you left, we have no home phone and no TV. Yep. Virtually cut off from the world. No phone calls to my mom, no catching up on our shows that have been on summer hiatus, and no entertaining the blog world with my wittiness and gobs of travel photos (Sorry for the radio silence, folks! I know you guys miss me...you don't have to say it. ;)) Needless to say, I feel lost. And annoyed. VERY annoyed. Come back soon, old friend. I beg of you!

Dear God,

I'm well aware of what's going on here. What You're doing with this little internet blackout we just happen to be having. You're teaching us a lesson. A lesson about our obsession and reliance on technology. Well, really my obsession and reliance on technology. Being "unplugged" at home for the last week has proved to be inconvenient and at times stressful, but it has also reminded me that I have a loving husband who needs my attention more than Facebook or the J.Crew website. It's obvious reconnecting our marriage instead of our internet was in Your plan for us this week. Although I am bent out of shape and resisting, Your message has been heard loud and clear, Lord. You never cease to amaze me with how You reveal Your truth. Lessons wrapped up neatly, masked in everyday life. Placed right in front of me so I can't miss them. These messages, while hard to hear, always remind me of Your provision in my life. Though I may go astray, You faithfully save me from myself and my worldly obsessions. I'm hanging on to that bit of positivity this week.

Dear Husband,

You're back! And have been for almost a week now. THANK THE LORD, too! I don't know what it was about that week, but I missed you more than usual...especially for a short TDY. The quietness was deafening, and you know I hate the quiet. So sorry you had to come home to an internet-less house and a crazy hunt for English speaking T-mobil workers last Saturday. That wasn't in the plan. But we plan and God laughs, right? The important thing is you got home safe and sound and I'm no longer missing a limb (that limb being you, of course). Never leave me again, capiche? 

Dear Fall,

{Hubs brought home these bad boys and a crap-ton of Chick-Fil-A sauce from his TDY. Reason 1,593 why I love that man!} 

You've officially made your appearance here in Germany these last few days. Can I get an AMEN!? Care packages from America keep rolling in the pumpkin flavored gloriousness of your time of year. Those Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Via's are almost like having the real thing. Almost. {Germany, get on board with the PSL, please! You have pumpkin flavored pasta, beer, and champagne...why the coffee torture?!} My kitchen is rich with the smells of apple cinnamon and maple--and it'll stay that way till February if I have anything to say about it. The weather has been nothing short of perfect, too! Sweaters, boots, and scarves are finally out and sundresses have been retired. That puts a big smile on my face. I love wearing layers. Now I don't have hide that friggin' pooch I've been sucking in since May 1st. You ladies know what I'm talking about. Ahhh, sweet fall. You're nothing short of amazing. Won't you stay all year?

{A few people wanted the recipe for this Caramel Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread I posted on Instagram last week. Well, this recipe is where I got the idea...but once I tweak my recipe, I'll post it!}

Dear Weekend,

You are a sight for sore eyes. This week's been a tough one, but now comes the fun! We've got a 25 bottle wine tasting tonight (oh yes!!), an adventure exploring Cochem with friends tomorrow, and a Sunday evening of football watching, fantasy league teammate bashing (my fantasy team is kind of awesome, let's keep it up boys!), and greasy food eating planned for you, dear weekend. Please don't disappoint. We NEED you, weekend. Let's do this!

{Go link up your letters with Adventures of Newlyweds!}

Friday Letters

Dear Germany,

You thought you were going to get me in that heat wave you brought on this week, didn't you? Yes I may have walked around in just my underpants in my A/C-less house for 4 days straight, sweated at the slightest movement away from an oscillating fan, and watched my favorite blue candles melt right before my eyes in the living room, but I didn't spontaneous combust like the German at the grocery store told me I would. Take that, you masochists!
{Seriously, get some A/C Europe! What are you trying to prove?!?}

Dear Hair,

You are WAY too long. I'm starting to feel like Cher, always flipping my hair from shoulder to shoulder. I saw this picture of you and thought...dang...girl needs a hair cut (and color, yikes!). Think I can wait till I'm home in December and go to my favorite salon? Fat chance. I can't do anything with you. Not to mention, you get caught under my armpits...and that's just gross...and painful. Shooting off my hair flare now. H-E-L-P.

Dear Girl Scout Crunch Bars,
OMG. I die for you. If it wasn't for my sweet SIL sending you in a care package to us this week, I'd never know you existed. But, now that I do, I can't get enough of you. You are (dare I say?!) BETTER than the cookies. Gasp! It's true. SIL sent enough for both D and I to try each flavor...but, I might eat you all. Sorry, hubby.
 {Have you guys tried these? SEND MORE AIMES! ;) }

Dear White Collar,
Also known as the greatest show currently on TV. Why it took me so long to get on board with you, I'll never know. But, I'm glad I did. Matt Bomer is some major eye candy...and pretty much the only reason you ever came on my radar. I'm well aware your leading man bats for the other team, so to speak, but I could care less. I could watch him fight crime, steal art, and banter with that bald guy from Sex and the City for days. Which reminds me, I STILL haven't seen Magic Mike. MUST change that.

{Oh my goodness. Yum, right?}

Dear London,
Guess who's coming to see you today?! TEAM COTE!! You are, in fact, the greatest city in the entire world and I cannot wait to explore more of you! I've got us tickets to see Jersey Boys at Prince Edward Theatre, a tea time scheduled at Kensington Palace, and a WICKED COOL SURPRISE for my handsome husband that he might pee his pants over. I plan on getting his reaction on tape...the excitement, not the peeing. London round two, let's do this!

{You can follow all our fun in London via my Instagram stream! Username: CaseyCote}

Happy Friday, friends!

Friday Letters & Some Fun News!

Dear Blog World,

Does it make me some kind of super blogger now that I officially have two of these babies? Bubble necklace bloggers unite! Get yours here or here!

Dear Jewelry,

Speaking of you, I've had quite an obsession with new pieces of you lately. Case and point- Neon & Nude. I got these beauties in the mail this week and I'm IN LOVE! And so is everyone who's seen me wear them. I see lots of business coming your way, Jenna!

Dear Wine Flu & Migraines,

You almost ruined our 5 year anniversary on Saturday. Almost. Thankfully I've got an awesome hubby who knows how to take care of his sick girl and make her feel like she was never sick at all. This card pretty much sums it up.

Dear Germany,

I love that you put salads on top of most of your pizzas. That way, I don't ever have to order a side one. Plus, you make me eat my veggies whether I want to or not. Gotta get to the good stuff somehow! 

Dear Husband,

Thank you so much for helping me clean house, grocery shop, and cook meals this week. Although there was alot of grunting and pouting (they don't call it grunt-work for nothing, my dear!), you made preparing for guests so much easier. I'll reward you with many kisses in Paris. Promise. 
 { Sorry, babe. You don't scare me. ;P }

Dear Paris,

In case you didn't know, I'm coming to see you on Monday! For 4 glorious days! I'm planning on stuffing myself silly with baguettes, macarons, and French champagne. And I'm bringing these two crazy knuckleheads (and the hubs, of course) with me. Should be an aaammaaazzzing time!

{With that being said, you won't see much of me on this here blog for a few days (remember, I suck at scheduling posts...but I'm working on it). We pick up my college roommate, Nancy, and her hubby from the airport this morning, then it's off to explore Germany AND Paris till next Thursday! YAY times 1,000! Wanna keep up with our adventures over the next week...follow my Instagram stream for all the cool photos I'll most definitely post. Username @CaseyCote.}

 Au revoir, loves!!