Happy October!

Can you believe it is October 1st!! Where has this year gone? I swear just yesterday it was Easter. I am embracing the fall and can't wait to wear my PSU hoodie this weekend. We have a tailgate planned for Saturday at our house so it will be a fun day. The weather looks perfect ' Mostly Sunny with a high of 69' Great tailgate weather. I can't wait for the leaves to start changing as well. Fall is so beautiful. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up to this everyday and sip your warm drink in your slippers and sweats.

And of course tribute to the Nittany Lion. PSU campus is so pretty in the fall, I miss it.

Have a wonderful fall filled weekend!

I'm going back to Cali

Ok so I went back to Cali and it was a blast. Mike and I and Mom & Dad took a trip back to Sacramento to visit the Ochipinti clan. We stayed with John and Sheri on their boat for the weekend. We (John) drove the boat from Sacrament to Sausalito, which is right around the corner from San Francisco. I have been to San Fran before but it was a lot of fun to be there with family and on an amazing boat.

We spent the weekend catching up, telling stories, eating, drinking wine, and of course sight seeing. I was able to walk across the golden gate..which was pretty cool and uber touristy. I had no idea the bridge was so long but we walked the 3.4 miles across and back. I am glad that I did it. We also went into San Fran for the day and of course spent some time at Pier 39. We spent some time walking around the cute town of Sausalito and had dinner on the water one night.

It was great to spend time with the family since we don't make it out to CA that often. Mike is now convinced that he wants to live there.....stay tuned :)

Here are some pics from the trip. I think I would need about 5 blog posts to share them all so enjoy.

View from our little boat ride

I loved the seals

Dinner destination one night

Super weird boat that was right by us

San Fran for the day

The walk across the Golden Gate

Me and my favorite cousin!

Mikey on Lady O

LA FAMILIA

Officially Fall...in my book anyway

Well its techinally not official until the 22nd but in my book it is FALL. All the stores have their fun and festive fall decorations (which of course I had to get some). And the best thing is all the pumpkin food, drinks, and flavors all around. I started the weekend off right with a pumpkin spiced latte and that really got me into the mood for more pumpkin. So I decide to do some baking since it has been a while. What to make was the big debate. I wanted something pretty quick and easy. So I visited my favorite food blog and found a recipe for pumpkin cupcakes that was quick and easy. Plus from my shopping adventures I had some super cute cupcake tins that I had to use. It was the perfect saturday afternoon recipe. The house smelled absolutely amazing!! I couldn't wait to dig into these delicious treats.

The best fall spices

My cute cupcake tins

Yumminess

I think next on my list is making a trip to total wine to load up on pumpkin beers. Of course I will have to hit up one of the great american restaurants to get a growler of their pumpkin beer. I am totally obsessed with pumpkin and fall. The weather has been very comfortable all week. We have actually had our air off which has been really nice. It is great to go outside and not sweat to death.

After getting some pumpkin beers I will have Mike take me somewhere to pick out our personal pumpkins. Last year we were so busy with the new house and traveling that we did not get pumpkins. So I am excited to get some this year. Not sure Mike will be able to top his carving job from 2 years ago. They were pretty awesome! I guess Louie will also need a new halloween shirt.

PSU Pumpkins

Louie in his pumpkin shirt

What is your favorite thing about fall?? Or am I the only crazy one that loves and craves pumpkin anything.All this pumpkin talk I think I need another cupcake!!! Have a good week.

See Ya Summer!

eah for Friday! Ciao Summer! Welcome Fall and Happy Friday! I can't believe it is September all ready, but as you all know I am ready for fall. So I am ok with summer being "over". Granted it is not officially fall until September 22...... I always think fall begins after labor day. So bring on the cooler weather and PUMPKIN anything. (I love pumpkin but I will save that for another post). I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend. Any big plans out there? I will be headed to the boat for one last hurrah. I am sad for boat season to be over but we have a bunch of fun events coming up this month. One notable event this month was our 3 year anniversary! I can not believe it has been three years! Time really flys by. It has been a great three years and could not have asked for anything more.

Any who...happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Telluride

So the first week in August I made my first trek to Colorado. I have heard great things about this state from its beautiful scenery, great skiing, cool people, outdoor activities, so I have always wanted to visit. Let me say that this trip did not disappoint. Although it was a very quick trip it was a lot of fun. I flew out to Telluride, CO on Tuesday am and stayed till Friday. I flew into Montrose airport which was only about an hour drive to Telluride. The Bertino’s and Mark picked me up at the airport and then we headed on our way to Telluride.

When we arrived we got settled into our hotel and headed out to the actual town of Telluride. It was awesome because there was a gondola at our hotel that would take us to the top of the mountain and then into the “city” of Telluride. I loved it bc there were dogs everywhere as they were allowed on the gondolas. We walked around and took in all the sights and then headed back for some grilling on our patio. The next day we took our bikes into Telluride and rode on the trails along the mountain. We all had a blast (minus my fall) and stopped for some beers and headed back to the top of the actual mountain to ride some of the trails there. The trails down the mountain were challenging but fun (even in the rain). That night we grilled again on our patio. Our hotel had a full kitchen so we took full advantage of it.The next day it was raining majority of the morning which really put a damper on things. So when it started to clear I took my camera and headed out to Telluride to take some pictures. I got some great ones so I was really happy. That night we went to All Reds (a bar at the top of the mountain) for some drinks. A quick rain storm came by which cleared way for an amazing rainbow. A great ending to a good day.

And just like that my trip was over. The next morning I had to go back home. Needless to say it was a blast and I want to go back ASAP. Mike wasn’t able to come with me so next time he must be there. We are thinking of going to ski there this winter. Here are a few of the MANY pictures that I took.

The gang outside our hotel

Sunset on our first evening in town

Kori & I on our ride up the mountain

Awesome rainbow at All Reds...not a bad bar view

View after getting off the gondola

PSU FOOTBALL

NFL preseason has begun and since then I have been sooooooooo fired up for football season. Which is the Best. Season. EVER. I love college football and everything that is associated with it. I went to all the PSU games when I was a student and since I have graduated, which is so long ago I hate to think how old I am getting, I try to go to as many games as I can. Thankfully I have an amazing friend who takes me to a bunch of games with her. I don't even know where to begin to describe the awesomeness that comes with the Dunks tailgates and football experience. It is pure heaven...one day I will write to tell you all about it.

This fall Mike and I will have a unique PSU experience. We will be attending 4 games but 2 of the games will be away games. . I mentioned before that we will be headed to Alabama for the game and we are also going to the Indiana game at FedEx Field (which just happens to be in our back yard). I have never been to another stadium to see PSU play except for bowl games so it will be fun to experience different stadiums. I am really looking forward to all of it.

We do not have a great schedule this year, especially our home game schedule. Which means we have to play 2 of our toughest games away (Iowa & Ohio State). Iowa has had our number since they shattered our dreams of a national championship 2 years ago. I can't decide who I hate more OSU, Michigan or Iowa. Those 3 teams always play us tough so we better be ready this year.

Anyway, I could go on and on about PSU football but I really just wanted to express how excited I am for college football to begin. Here's to an amazing season!!!!

LETS GO PSU!!


I have so many pictures from PSU Football weekends I would have to start a new blog just for that. But here are a few of my favorites.

I LOVE the Lion!
Love my sis and this is one of my favorite pics of all time

My bestie Ash with the Lion

Gotta love the White Out

Momma Dunks love love love you.

Me & the Hubby

Again the LION!!!

The Hotties

Summer Heat

June 2010 sets warmth record in Washington D.C.
As of 4 p.m., the temperature at Reagan National (DCA) had already soared to at least 100 degrees, breaking the record high of 96 set in 1987. The heat index has reached close to 110 this afternoon with dew points near 70. This morning's low at DCA appears to have been 81, breaking the prior record high low temp of 78 from 1987.

Were do I even begin? I have never been so hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable for this long!! The DC area is having the hottest summer on record and it is unbearable. We have had about a million heat waves which according to wiki a heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity. And this is the truth. You go outside for 2 minutes and you are sweating and standing in the shade does not provide any reprieve from the heat. I will be so happy when this heat is gone. I do love summer but my favorite season is fall and summer is getting in the way of fall. I never really go to the beach during the summer so I won't be missing that. (I like to go to the beach when it is miserably cold here, to get away) I totally will not miss all the mosquito bites I have all over my legs and I 100% will not miss sweating. The only thing I will really miss about the summer is heading down to the boat and relaxing. Mike and I try to get down to the boat as much as possible so when I think of summer I think of boating. We have been down to the boat a fair amount this summer and have had some friends come down as well.

Here are a few pics from our boating trips this summer.

One of my favorite past times at the boat is jumping off the top and getting everyone to do it with me. The ladies after a day in the sun
Louie LOVES to ride on the waverunner. He is just too cute