07.16.11

A few weeks ago we celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday by taking the whole fam to North Captiva island off the coast of Florida.  None of us had ever been there before but I have a feeling we will be going back sooner rather than later!  

 Due to the fact that you had to take a $60 ferry to get off the island, we had one shot at getting the right amount of groceries for the 9 of us for a week!  

 Tori

 Ellie

 Katie

 Our view

 Cartusciello ladies

 Playing with Uncle Dave

 Post-pool smoothies with Elle Belle

 Three men and three ladies

No one thought we could eat this jar of pickles but Mr. Pickles and I got darn close!

 Morning hike with Dad

 Golf cart shenanigans

 Classic Tori

 Evening nature walk - our house in the background

 One day we chartered a boat and my dad drove us all over the place, hopping from island to island for lunch, shelling, and a little manatee watching!

 Shelling

 Cabbage Key - where Jimmy Buffet wrote Cheeseburger in Paradise

07.04.11

Happy Fourth from Cincy!

06.12.11

We flew home for Memorial Day weekend to spend time with both our families and the Burks.   We couldn't have asked for a better start with my parent's treating us to dinner on the rooftop of Reata.  Lovely weather, good conversation, and delicious food!

Saturday morning we headed over to the Burks for breakfast and proceeded to work off our Whataburger and Starbucks treats with playing inside and outside with the two big girls.  To be clear, Dave worked it off playing; Tash and I worked it off chatting.   It is always so good to catch up with that family!  

On Sunday we had fun visiting Fielder and eating lunch at the newly opened Babe's Fried Chicken.  Nothing like fried chicken on a Sunday afternoon!  Luckily we got to see Gran prior to the Babe's-induced Sunday afternoon nap.

We came back to summer in full swing in Cincy.  I have been re-adjusting to my loss of a "house manager" and we both have been enjoying the stressful, late nights watching our Mavs in what has been a fantastic series thus far!

05.20.11

I love, love, love Louisville, KY!  

Penguins on the Roof.  Why not?

 Cool hotel integrated with a modern art museum

Funky sculpture in the bar

 Louisville Slugger's Walk of Fame

 The Hotel's Mascot

 Fourth Street Live

 Interactive art

 We waaay overpacked

 Churchill Downs!

 The big winner (that never happened to be my pick!)

  Louisville Slugger Museum

05.14.11

We have had a busy week full of work / preparing for work, trainings, and hosting our first house party but for some reason I can't stop thinking about the following: 

This Norman bel Geddes desk that we found at a little store in Cincinnati last weekend.  Granted, ours is sitting in the garage unsanded and polished but (with the help of Dave Cole) I have grand plans for it.

This series and the potential the Mavs have this year.  I don't know why they picked this year to shine over all the years we had season tickets but I'll take it just the same. 

These guys and the fact that I can listen to their album on repeat over and over and over again.  

 

Buying this house in Marfa, TX.  It sits on 25 acres smack dab next to the Rio Grande.  I find myself repeatedly daydreaming about sunshine, saltillo tile floors, and that view. 

05.08.11

It has been a crazy ten days at our house!   Last week, David was busy preparing for his final round interview with P&G and I was busy trying not to constantly "help" David prepare for his final round interview with P&G!   


This job opportunity has been a long time coming and (in typical P&G style) was long and drawn out.  He applied for a Purchasing Manager position in October and finally had his first round interview in late March.  Six weeks after that was his final round interview and they told him it would take three weeks before he heard back.  Imagine our surprise when he got an email this past Monday that started with "Congratulations, David...".  I was actually on the phone with him at the time so I got to hear the gasp, the pause, the announcement, and then the incoherent muttering of details.   He is so, so happy and while we still don't have a start date or a location within Cincinnati, we are both thrilled with the opportunity.


This is even sweeter because it is the perfect answer to many, many prayers.  I'm always amazed when I get a real, tangible response from the Lord and this was no different.   For months, I had felt the Lord's response was to "wait" (not my first instinct) and to see how perfectly this all came together is such a testimony to the power of prayer and the absolutely flawless timing our God has.  So, while David is slightly reluctant to toss aside his flip flops and pick up a razor on a daily basis, he is overjoyed to get rid of his "house manager" duties and we are both looking forward to this next part of the adventure!