Haircut

From this:

To this:

I have needed a haircut for a while and fall seemed like an appropriate time for a change. I am loving the shorter/easier style but knowing me it's very likely I will let it grow out again waiting forever to get it cut. Sean suggested he could also do the same with his hair. I don't think I will take him up on that offer even if it will save us some dollar bills.

Two Years

Our two year anniversary has come and gone and it was rather ordinary compared to last years weekend extravaganza celebration. I got home from work and did a ton of dishes. Sean got home at eight. We ordered thai food and watched Netflix instant streaming including the series finale of Friday Night Lights (that was epic). Marriage. So romantic. For the record, Sean did bring me home an orchid so the romance is not completely gone.

We were able to go out for a nice dinner the weekend before to a restaurant I have been dying to try for a while. Horrible thunder storms made the typical long wait much shorter, since we hadn't thought to make a reservation the necessary one month in advance. It was delicious.

Thanks to all our friends and family for the sweet cards and messages. Having an anniversary is like having your own special holiday but it's very nice when everyone else remembers it too :-)

Fall Changes...

Last week, Sean started his Master's in Public Health program at Columbia. Due to a curriculum change, even though he technically "part-time, " he is taking 10.5 credits this fall. While trying to work full time. This means he is at work/class from around 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. This is bringing lots of changes to our lives.

The good:
Sean is really geeked about his classes and all the social sciences he is learning about.

I get to watch Gossip Girl on Netflix while he reads and does homework at night.

I have more time for blogging!


The bad:
Now that I get home earlier than Sean (although still late in the evening) I am cooking dinner.

Simpler meals are a necessity. We bought chopped garlic and jarred pasta sauce for the first time in two years.

I saw a horribly scary many legged bug in our apartment this morning. Then realized Sean wouldn't be home until 8 pm to kill it. 

Less time to spend together. The worst.


Needless to say I am already looking forward to next semester when Sean will have an actual part-time course load and be working full time. And maybe get home earlier one night a week? No matter what, I am excited that he has this opportunity. But I am struggling to come up with enough quick meals that will keep us from ordering food during the week. I'm happy to have a "Easy Vegetarian" cookbook from Sean's Aunt Kathy that has several 30 minute meals in it. The one that I made tonight was great! I am also trying to prep more ingredients on the weekend, storing chopped veggies until they are needed in the fridge. And if anyone has any great vegetarian crockpot recipes, send them my way!

Sunday Afternoon

Queens Kickshaw is hidden next to Subway

After a rainy/stormy Saturday, Sunday turned out to be a nice mid 70's sunny day. Sean needed to return some library books and there is a great coffee shop, Queens Kickshaw, that specializes in grilled cheese (I know, what a great combo) across the street that we usually visit when venturing to the library. Today Sean had the Gouda grilled cheese with black bean hummus and other yummy toppings, including pickled jalapenos that were too spicy for him to eat. I had the kitchen sink salad. You never know what will be in it, today it included pickled asparagus, golden raisins, big green olives, tiny eggs, and a fruit I have never had before and still have no idea what it was. Their iced coffee is the best. On our walk home there was a concert going on at Athens Square with a man in a white wig enthusiastically dancing. Never a dull moment in Astoria.

Smitten with the Finger Lakes

After spending a Labor Day weekend on Seneca Lake I can finally make it official, I love the Finger Lakes! We explored new wineries, enjoyed the sunshine and beautiful weather, and played euchre and Yahtzee. What more could you want in an end of summer celebration??

Maybe another day off and less traffic. But I'm not complaining.