A Woman About Town

I had a very Grand Rapidsy day on Saturday.

I hit up the ymca downtown - it was jammed and I was jammin'!

Then I stopped by Dorothy and Tony's for a little local popcorn lovin' - it's cheaper and way more authentic if you get it in the shop, and dont tell Chicago's Garrett's but I think I like D&T's better...

Next I drove down the block passing Sweetlands (yes, passing not stopping) and I hit up Kingma's Market where I saw Nancy the Sample Lady and purchased cheese and some on sale Miniolas.

After that, I went to the Frederick Meijer Gardens with my mice friends.

Eliza and I were being circled by a pink and black Butterfly who kept landing on my camera!

Flutter... flutter... flutter...

Someone really wanted the butterfly on her, not the cam!

Blue Beauty

Got a Monarch to land on her

Here's how it went on video -

 

 We also played in the Children's Garden in the fluffy snow - had the place to ourselves, so beautiful even this time of year.

I love my city - what have you done in your local lately?

Say Holla to Chicaga!

Saturday I spent the day in Chicagoland with Lindsay and Lisa her exchange student.  Very fun day full of Chicagoness.  We hit the usual spots and a few new stops, including one that will probably become a regular!

Sprinkles! Check out the link - this place is all the rage now!

Ra Sushi Bar

Devour time

Photos in The Bean

Thanks to Chicago's obsession over Obama, we also scored some dealios in the stores because it's President's Weekend!  Holla!

bsf Homies

This year I decided to join Bible Study Fellowship.  Great decision and I've had so much fun with the other girls in my discussion group, not to mention reconnecting with my former tennis homie and now boss leader Anna!  We have so much fun, it's a great group!

Annizzle, Michelle and me

Abby and Kerry

 Fellowship!  Anna, Allyssa, and YUM!

A closer look at YUM! :)


I'm so thankful for these girls and the blessing they've been in my life!

Good Mail Day

I love getting mail. Love it.  So when all these showed up in ONE day - WaHooooooo!

What's your latest WaHoo moment?

Treat off

If you know me, you know I l-o-v-e desserts!  So when it's my birthday there's usually an overflow of treats; one year I had 6 cakes in one weekend! :)  Anyway, here's how things were this time around -

Sugar Cookies with icing - took these lovelies to work and bsf

Arnie's Marble Cake with white buttercream frosting - oye!

Arnie's chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting - Bill Knapp's who?

Brownie Obsession from tgi Fridays - party in my mouth!

So what's your pleasure? 

It's hard to say for me, I do love good cake, but there's something about warm brownies and ice cream!!

Valentine lovin' from the oven

I'm a huge fan of Valentine's Day so it works out nicely that I can bring Valentine themed birthday treats!  

Tucked away and ready to go!

All the colors of the rainbow!

I love a good birthday treat!

Nearly Perfecto!

Cross Country Skiing in the fresh powder, eating at a favorite restaurant with friends, volunteering, and seeing a movie.  This is what I did on Saturday to celebrate my birthday with my bogo!  Anna joined us in the morning, it was B-E-A-utiful! lunch was D-lish and the rest of the day was fun just paling around with K.  

Check the photos -

Snow Bunnies

Annizzle and me rockin' the slopes

Before the big devour

Kari's first time! Welcome Friend!

It clearly was 'Wear your matching yellow sweatshirt day!'

 

I hope you all have a Nearly Perfecto Day too! :)

Pink Day!

Happy Happy Pink Day!  I just love today! Flowers, chocolates, gift/card exchanging, pink, red and hearts everywhere...sounds like the best day imaginable to me! If you didnt get a Valentine here's a few I found, take one as your own -

Have a Happy Day!

Birthday Princess

My cube was decked out on my birthday when I got to work, all with Princess stuff - it's like they knew I was going to the Princess Diana exhibit for part of my celebrations this year!

Streamers, banners, balloons, cards, treats and hats - someone asked if this was a half or whole birthday?! :)

Thursday night my 'family' girls took me to the Princess Diana exhibit at the GRAM - very fun!  We went to dessert after - yumo!

Me, Jenn and Becca (and Diana) :)

We couldnt take photos inside...

Baby June goes out with the girls for dessert!

So, who makes a better princess?! :)

Happy day everyone!

Birthdays in Boyne!

Over the weekend my family (the Michiganders) was able to get together for a combined birthday celebration.  Dad's was a few weeks ago, and mine was this past Monday.  We had a great time enjoying Northern Michigan and all the fun it offers during the winter time. 

Dinner at the bottom of the slopes - yes please!

Breakfast at Roberts! It was highly recommended :)

Avalanche Bay! (free plug): Michigan's largest indoor water park!

Happy Birthday to me!

Beautiful Cake - delish too.  Check back later for a Birthday treat off!

Gifts - darling mittens

Snowshoeing!  I've been talking about this moment for at least 3 years! 

We went out on the frozen lake and found this little igloo someone had built!

We had a very fun weekend - a Michigander's paradise! :)

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Birthday Guest Blogger

My dear friend sent me one of the greatest things ever today - a rhyming ode to friendship!  Sarah's been on the bloggeroo before, but little did she know, she'd get to be a guest blogger today!  

Dont be confused by the pearls, or the fact that she hails from Massachusetts - Sarizzle is phabulously ghetto and a rhyming fool!

Dear Betsy,

 

Its Birthday Time,

which calls for a rhyme.

Im gunna lay a phat beat

Cause you know Im that 'street'

 

You're a pretty awesome person

I never hear you cursin'

Always stylin with class

But give a little extra sass

 

You make delicious cookies

And were kind to tennis rookies

Verse song memories are rich

though always slightly off pitch

 

You caught the Eagle Landing

and your blog is really outstanding

You always make me smile

"Can I stay for a while?" (colbie calliet shoutout- how the hiz do you spell her name?!)

 

Life without you would be sad

So now I will rejoice and be glad

Because 20-something years ago

B Vervys entered the show

 

With all my love

and all my heart

Happy Birthday Verwhizzle!

..its only the start.. (of the adventure of life, that is) :)

 

I am SO blessed :)

Snowflakes - No two are alike

 Here's to my dear friend Alisa!  I was able to spend the weekend with her for her 25th birthday!

 I baked these cookies to celebrate!

Pretty fitting after the Snowpalooza we've just experienced here! 

Happy Baking to You!

Fabulous 5

I've mentioned before that I work for the greatest company on earth, and I stand by that even today as the blizzard blizzes outside and they've asked me to, 'Please make every effort to come tomorrow' I still love the GFS.  Anyway! On Friday I attended the 2011 Fab Five Celebration Dinner with the rest of my team.  Our department teams compete against each other and the prize is a dinner cooked and served by our managers.  So good! and so much fun with the Bogo and work friends:

Appetizers: Gnocchi, Bruschetta and Fresh Mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto

 Dinner:  Lasagna Rolls, Tilapia, Risotto, Squash Ravioli

Also Dinner: Stuffed pork loins

Dessert: Mile High Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Bogo came too!  She's a hit with the work friends!

Saturday was Al's baby shower and Broomball at night! 

Kim and Em

Em, Kari and me

All the girls

Anna and Me - tough middle ice sweepers

Bogos goofing around!

Hunkering down tonight and visiting Marvin and Linds this coming weekend!  YAY!