Monday, February 23, 2009

~Chocolate Day Cont.~




We ended our fun and memorable day by having supper at P.F. Changs.
Neither one of us had ever been and both have vowed to go again.


~A Very Chocolate Day~

Saturday was such a fun girls day! I picked up Rhonda and we went downtown to the Durham. Right now they have a Chocolate Exhibition on loan from the Field Museum in Chicago. It is a thorough history on all things chocolate. It takes you from the growing process of the "cacoa" seed in the rainforest to the introduction of the luscious treat we have today.


The gift shop display of chocolate jewelry was exquisite~ though not edible and NOT in my price range.

It was really neat to see all of the familiar treats and how far we have come, even in the appearance of the wrappers.
Remember those tin molds in the shape of eggs and hens and little trains? They had those on display, it was so nostalgic.
Cadbury and Nestle' are some of the familiar names we read about who made millions on their delectable delights.


Hello Rhonda. Now entering the zone of bliss...



I am always awe struck at the architecture and design of this marvelous building.




~Put the Kettle On~

I love my new red KitchenAid tea pot. Matt surprised me and got it for me as a little something for happy heart day.




Saturday, February 7, 2009

"1. Lucky - Jason Mraz"

Thursday, February 5, 2009

This is the napkin from the Signature Room, I cannot believe I saved it!



...But the greatest of these is love





~Call Me Sentimental~

The other day I came upon a couple shoe boxes in the back of my closet.
However rather than shoes, the contents of the boxes were old letters, notes, cards, pictures and so forth. Some were drawings Spencer and Chandler had made for me when they were very tiny. Also amongst the treasure trove, were several Valentine cards Matt and I had exchanged~some dating 13 years ago!
As I sat on the edge of the bed and read them, for a few minutes, time seemed to stand still. I was taken back in time. It is difficult to even put into words how I felt. Some of the cards made me laugh out loud, others made me sigh and smile.

It was on Valentines Day 1996, that Matt first said those "3 little words" to me for the very first time. I know, I know Valentines' Day is such a Hallmark holiday and it is so cliche' to say "I love you" to a girlfriend for the first time on that day.

'Twas on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building in Chicago, with a jazz band playing in the background, that we had that first Valentine's day together.
I think back and laugh, because when Matt told me he loved me, I couldn't hear him over the music. I proceeded to LOUDLY say, "huh?!?"
Poor guy, he probably wanted to crawl quietly away from me.

But he didn't, he stayed, I stayed and we have been together for 13 amazing years. God is so goodto me! I have been blessed with love. And as Valentines Day approaches, and as those cards go back in the boxes, and as I store those past memories, I grab on to the present and the future and the promise of many more sweet memories.
I know this may be silly, and sentimental to write about, but to me it is how I am feeling tonight, and isn't that what blogging is all about anyway?