My Thanksgiving break

Hello everyone!  I am back after a nice and long one week break to finish up my last 2 weeks of my first quarter-I can't believe how fast time is going by!  I had a great time back in Ohio visiting family and friends and eating some wonderful food, of course!!  Here are some pictures...

A pre-Thanksgiving feast with Kevin and Nena at Melt (an amazing sandwich place!!)

Nena giving Marley and Jasmine some licks from from her cookie batter

Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt's house... LOTS of food!!

Great Uncle Art and Uncle Dennis-cheers!

Cousins coming to chow down!

One of the 2 tables (g-pa is really excited!)

It was so great to see and chat with my family!  Mark is in our thoughts and prayers and was missed.

After Thanksgiving, I went to see Abby and Johnnie's new house in University Heights (which is amazing!!) then I headed back to Columbus.   Nena and I met up with mom and Frank at LaScala restaurant to listen to the Eddie Pollina Band-they were really good!!  

Here's mom and Frank getting down on the dance floor!

Finally, Nena and I helped mom decorate the house for Christmas-it's officially the season!!

Pretty ornaments!

Marley offering some assistance!

Of course I have a picture with the Jas!!

Bonus pic of Jas!!  Can't help myself!

It is starting to get really cold and windy up here in Michigan, but I guess I knew it was coming.  Brrr...   I have a paper and presentation for my business writing class this Thursday, then 2 finals next week.  Once I finish up the quarter, it is back to Columbus to hang out with family and friends again and get ready for the cruise!!  It will be SO nice to be in a warm climate =)  I hope all of my readers had a great Thanksgiving and are getting in the Christmas spirit!!!

Past few weeks...

Hi everyone!  Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, just been busy the past few weekends visiting family!  I also started my Culinary Math class which is really fun, as I predicted!  The instructor guarantees that we will use this in our jobs, which most math teachers say (anyone use the Pythagorean theorem, really??), but I actually believe him!  I also found out that I got an A in my Product ID class and the final wasn't too bad!!

I have some pictures of my past few weekend trips... First, I went to visit my aunt, uncle, and cousin in Valparaiso, IN and we took a day trip to Chicago!!  It was a lot of fun and great to see them!

First, we ate at a great little place in downtown Valparaiso and I had this great chicken dish... even though it wasn't completely cooked when I first got it and had to sent it back!!  And, I had just studied and taken my servsafe exam again and all that food bacteria knowledge was front and center!!!

We had lunch at the Luxe Cafe which had these awesome glass lights above our heads!

Here I am with my aunt Paula at Sprinkles Cupcakes-yum!!

Here are some pictures of Chicago-SUCH a sweet city!!!

View from the Hancock building

 View from the women's room at the Hancock building-awesome!!

"The Bean"-this cool, huge metal mirror bean-shaped structure in Millennium Park

We're in there somewhere!!!

The new Trump Tower

Ended with dinner in China Town-it was delicious!!

Then, last weekend I went to Cleveland to go the Brown's game with Nena, Robin and Ian.  Major surprise, the Brown's beat the Patriots!!  I also got to see some family and catch up with everyone which was really nice.  My great aunt recently fell and has 4 broken ribs right now!!  She is doing okay, should be good for the cruise next month!!

Here are some pictures of Jasmine and Marley hanging out (with Kevin in the background!)!!

Being excellent watch dogs!

Marly was pooped!!

 And, here we are at the game!!

Walking in...

View from our seats

Me and Nena

Robin and Ian

Here is the soup I made last night... it was the first meal I have prepared since living in my apartment, so I'm finally getting back into the kitchen and it was tasty!!

I will be taking it easy this weekend and getting ready for Thanksgiving!  I am have a whole week off (LOVE being a student!) and am going to Columbus and then Cleveland for Thanksgiving Day.  I'll have more pictures soon!!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!