Just took a walk down memory lane reading this blog. Starting a new one so keep your eyes out for Spicers Quest coming soon to a blog near you.

Sisters Night Out 

sisters three

Jo, Mar, and Kate, sisters three, came together for our first (hopefully annual) SNO in Earlysville, Virginia, home to Kate and family. We only had a few days, but we packed in a variety of activities to keep us busy. No Kerrick gathering would be complete without cocktails, Jo brought fresh strawberries so we started with strawberry daiquiris, YUM. It was a lovely spring evening so we walked and dined on the downtown mall. 

5K ready, bring it on

Up bright and early the next morning and ready for our walk/run 5K. Kate, the multi-marathoner, planned our route around and through the UVa campus. Then it was time to tour Monticello...

and off to the really fun stuff, two wineries...

Jefferson Vineyards

Nice sampling tray

To top off the day we arrived back at the house in time for additional cocktails, wine, a delicious steak dinner prepared by Tom, and we tapered off with a little Tawny Twenty and chocolate. It was a special few days spent with special sisters. We are already planning SNO-2! 

Coffee Dilemma

Anyone that knows me, knows that I like my daily Starbucks run for ice coffee, or whatever my current favorite coffee drink might be. I even have the phone app with my Starbucks card bar code on it so that I can scan my payment directly from my phone. One of the best apps ever. Anyway, I was recently discussing the pros and cons of soy vs. half and half vs. artificial sweetener. Today I looked at the soy box and, as my sister already knew, way too much sugar! Hence the dilemma: half and half has too much fat, soy has too much sugar, artificial sweetener is said to contribute to belly fat. That leaves black coffee and how tasty is that? Bleah.....

21

 1991

The family came together in Ponte Vedra to celebrate Colleen's 21st birthday. There was bonding at the spa, laughter, shopping, purple, reminiscing, champagne, walking on the beach, dinner, presents, cake, and  lots of love.

2012  

Spa Ready 

Relaxing

Funny Man

Sisters

Celebration

It's on the windy and cooler side this a.m. even for northeast Florida. I saw the moon set as I went for my daily Starbucks run and am watching the ocean waves lap at the shore as the sun comes up over the horizon to a cloudless sky. I am going to need my shades in another second.

MiddleAgeWomanProblems

When I look at my twitter feed I see retweets from my daughters and their friends about "whitegirlproblems" or "sororitygirlproblems" so why not "middleagewomanproblems".  My quest is the perfect hair style for the upcoming nuptials of Emily and Kevin. Having been on the move for the past three years, and spending only a few months in any one place, women everywhere can imagine the challenges of finding a salon and stylist that can get it right. On top of that, I have short hair, enough said.  I think I have probably visited 7 different salons, some more than once, in the past 18 months.

The funny thing is (and I chuckle here) that I clearly remember my mother in middle age squinting in the mirror and cutting her own hair. My sisters and I would roll our eyes and wonder why she just didn't leave it to the professionals.

Well now I know -- it is "middleagewomanproblems".

12 Days and Counting

Most would think that a count down at this time of year would be to Christmas. But not for me. I am counting down the days until Colleen arrives home in the good old US of A from her semester abroad studying in Florence, Italy, and traveling all over Europe. She has visited: Croatia, Spain, Germany, France, England, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy (of course), and those are only the places I know about! She left on her adventure in September and I can't wait to get my arms around her for a huge hug!

Colleen says Ciao to her Papa in September.