Reading Rainbow

Since getting my nook for Christmas I have turned into a ravenous reader. It is just so wonderful and convenient, I love it. Over the past couple of months I have read 5 books and loved each of them. I love feeling like I get to experience so many different places and times in history. Books are amazing. All of this gushing is starting to make me feel a little bit like this guy

Anyways, I thought I would share my latest reads in hopes that someone will appreciate a good book recommendation.

1. Pride and Prejudice
- I was surprised how much I loved this one. I now understand why it earned the "classic" status

2. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
- Really good look into traveling train circuses in the 1920's-30's. Now I can't wait for the movie to come out in April :)

3. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
-I won't even put who wrote it because I am a little ashamed haha but it was great! Quick and enthralling. I couldn't put it down. Say what you want about the unmentioned author but she has a gift for creating great characters if you ask me.

4. Splendor in the Silence by Indu Sundaresan
- Set in India in the 1940's. Very good but not as good as her other two that I have read: The Twentieth Wife, and The Feast of Roses. Both are SOOOO good. Probably two of my favorites of all time

5. Cutting for Stone
-about a family of doctors in Ethiopia. Very good. I was surprised how much I loved this one but I really really did. All of the medicine in it was so exciting to me and it reminded me of why I was drawn to that profession. But, you don't have to be into medicine to enjoy it, it is a great story.

So there are my most recent reads. Currently, I am working on a book called Cleopatra's Daughter and so far I am loving it. Basically, I am in love with all things Roman and Egyptian :)

Pride and Joy

We are happy to announce the arrival of this beautiful new addition to our little family. After lots of saving, research, and stress we decided on this camera and a 18-200mm lens. Phew! I am glad the research portion is over with and that we can now start the fun part. Hopefully our pictures will be slightly better now that I have upgraded from what I think was one of the first digital cameras ever made.

Swans and House Parties

Last Friday Nate and I got to see the Swan Lake at the Pennsylvania Ballet Swan. We went with Nate's Momma and his Dad was kind enough to give up his ticket so that Nate and I could go together. I have wanted to see Swan Lake ever since I was little and I had a little jewelry box with a ballerina inside that played swan lake when you opened it. I loved that jewelry box so the actual ballet had a lot to live up to. I was definitely not disappointed. The ballet was so good, I loved it! And, I am happy to report that even Nate loved it :). The dancers were all so wonderful and they, along with the live orchestra, costumes, and props combined to form a magical performance.

As a side note: apparently, the extra ballerinas in the movie "Black Swan" were from the Pennsylvania ballet which almost makes me want to see it. Almost :).

On Saturday we headed out to Bryn Athen to Linus and Browynn's for a house warming party which was really fun. Lots of good snacks, friends and Taboo :).

Blades of Glory

A couple weeks ago we went ice skating with our friends the Metcalfs. My skills were quite rusty making the first half hour quite terrifying. After a couple dozen precarious loops around the rink though, I started to get my ice legs and have more fun. Nate on the other hand was a pro! He was twirling, skidding and jumping like a regular Johnny Weir.

I was very impressed. Who knew he had this hidden talent? Sometimes he got a little bit carried away and tried to whip, push, and race me which I wasn't too thrilled about. I tried to explain to him that I was his wife and not his little brother :). As you can probably tell from these epics pics, we are thinking about going out for a spot in the ice dancing competition in the next winter Olympics.

Wing It Up

A few weeks ago I had my first lacrosse experience. We went to watch Philly's indoor lacrosse team the Wings. It was very fun and very entertaining. This sport seems to draw a very unique crowd. The tobacco chewin, cut off wearin, profanity spewin friendly type that made me feel right at home. The two guys behind us were both very friendly and very loud. I thought my eardrums were going to burst and I could feel flecks of spit literally hitting the back of my head.

we sort of lucked into some really excellent seats :)

The game was very intense, I had no idea it was going to be so physical. Towards the end of the game one of our players and one from the opposing team ripped off all their gear and started fighting. I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a joke at first. Then all of a sudden the wings player nails the other guy in the temple and his knees buckle and he is out cold. It was ridiculous! I have never seen anything like it! Of course the whole crowd erupted, they were so stoked to see some guy take a massive blow to the head. But after about a minute of the guy not moving at all, the applause started turning into awkward mutters and shoe looking. As Jables put it, "did we just cheer on this guy's death?" Luckily he did not die. He got up a few minutes later at which point the audience resumed their triumphant cheering. It was nuts. Like I said very unique and very entertaining :).

Nate, Jables and Momma shortly after the guy regained consciousness

76ers & Restaurant Week

At the end of Jan. we got to go to the 76ers-Jazz game. While neither team is superb this year, it was still a really fun game. My mom gave Nate the tickets for Christmas and they were 9th row from the court! It was so cool to be at a basketball game where I could actually see the players without help from the jumbo-tron or binoculars :). A first for me. Towards the end of the game I felt a strong smack on the back of my head. Thinking it was just an accidental bump from the over-zealous fans behind us, I decided not to turn around and just brush it off. Later when we stood up to leave I discovered the true culprit. A nasty jumbo hot dog entangled in my hair hahaha. Lovely.So not the best pic, but you can kind of get a sense of how close we were.Thanks for the tix Ma.

Around about the same time, my favorite week in Philly rolled around. Restaurant Week. During restaurant week all of the Center City eateries offer 3 course lunches and 4-5 course dinners for discount prices. It is AMAZING. We went to this really nice French restaurant for lunch one day called Le Bec Fin. Probably the nicest place I have ever been to. I brought my camera hoping to take pictures but quickly realized that in such a ritzy establishment I would have looked like a real hillbilly snapping shots of the fine china. The mushroom ravioli were divine and the sea scallops were so tender they melted in your mouth. But I'd have to say the highlights of the meal were getting to try pâté, and the creme brulee which was heavenly.

We also went to a cute little Italian spot for a lunch which was charming and delicious.

For our big dinner night during restaurant week we chose Buddakhan, an Asian fusion place that we have been wanting to try forever. So incredible. If you are ever in Philly I highly recommend it. It is hard to even single out individual courses because it was all so good but our favorites were my steak, which was the best I have ever had, and Nate's passion fruit/raspberry mousse dessert.

"One Day More!"

I have been meaning to play catch up on some 2011 adventures and am just getting around to it. So here we go!

In Jan. Nate and I went to Les Mis with the girlies that I work with and holy cow the singing was amazing. Our seats were much less amazing but the sound is what is really important right?...Aw aren't these ladies so purty!and such a handsome hubby

After the show we ran into some friends from Delaware, Brett and Kim, and hit up the Naked Chocolate. Unfortunately, there was no actual nudity but the chocolate was very tasty. They have this super thick drinking chocolate flavored with different spices that Nate loves, and usually drinks to much. My personal favorite is the oreo mousse. Mmmmm. So delicious.

If and When

For months now whenever I would threaten that one day I would finally beat him, Nate would reply "if and when...if and when". Well the when finally came. I beat Nate in racquetball. After about 1 year of playing multiple times a week, probably thousands of games, not to mention many bruises on my part, I came out the victor! Of course he stomped me the very next game but that is totally irrelevant :). Here is to hoping that this is the beginning of a winning streak!