On a hunt...pumpkin ice cream anyone?

So is something monumental supposed to happen when I turn 30? Nothing fabulous happened other than a great night with Burr and some really nice gifts and cards (always fabulous). On the morning of my birthday I weighed myself, more or less so I could know exactly what I weighed when I was 30 and know that I will never weigh that when I’m 40…all the more reason to eat ice cream right?! Speaking of ice cream…I had my fair share of it this past week. Friday night I forced Burr to go to ben and Jerry’s after he forced me to Pizza Peel. I really wanted to go after I read someone’s facebook post talking about Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream at Ben and Jerry’s – that is my favorite 3 things ALL IN ONE – I must have it. But when we got there they had pumpkin pie. I tasted it (along with 3 other flavors*)

*Side Note – Burr always gets so embarrassed at ice cream places with me. Because I always try a MINIMUM of 2 ice cream flavors that I have no intention of getting. I just want to know what they taste like – hehe.

*Side Note – I really wanted to taste about 2 more – they have some flavor called “Late night snack” that apparently has chocolate covered potato chips in the ice cream. Interesting yes?

So after I didn’t love pumpkin pie I was left to eat my double scoop of Milk and Cookies and triple carmel chunk, in a spinkle cone no less….yep I’m 5 when it comes to ice cream. Next time I’m sticking with my original combo – half baked and cherry Garcia, you can never go wrong.

Sunday I went to Chicago for work and I had to book it down to completely the wrong terminal, where pinkberry was, to try there pumpkin yogurt before my flight took off. Why is pinkberry in the international terminial in charlotte? I think just so people burn off the calories walking there and back to the domestic terminals – haha. Needless to say I was not so impressed. So question for you all – who has the best pumpkin ice cream and where can I buy it?!

Now I am on my way back to Chicago. The lady next to me told me I definitely did not look 30 so she is my new BFF.

In Charlotte all is well… I would still like to become a Jazzercise instructor but I need a sponsor, say to the tune of $1000 to pay my “franchise fees” because for some reason Mr. Burr Farrar is not really up for that , no clue why? Haha.

We are still attempting to furnish our empty house and I know I’m supposed to be really “enjoying” this time, but I honestly believe anyone who enjoys living in an empty home must be one of those laid back, relaxed individuals – have you met me? I’m not one of them!

Dad comes in town this weekend and we have a HUGE laundry list of things to do around the house! Hope he brings his tool belt – haha
Love

Anne

My 30s ...

Miss Ellie!!!

Clare - My Dad gave her that shirt, terrible. she belongs in leapord :-)

 So the last couple weeks recap:


So we had a CRAZY week last week, some recruiting, and Burr dealing with quarter deadlines coupled with me having the world’s worst cold. BLAH. And perhaps I may or may not have tried to become a Jazzercise instructor – haha. Yes, about 2 weeks ago I was introduced to Jazzercise. It is quite Jane Fonda-eque just to Rihanna, Beyonce, JT and Chris Brown type music. You dance (or grapevine, hop and clap) for 40 minutes, then do weights and abs. Its actually really fun and you burn at least 400 calories each class and you wouldn’t even know it.

So anyway I’m watching the instructor up there doing her thing thinking “I could definitely do this, it looks so fun, I’ll sign up to be a teacher – It will be something new and different for me” And in true Anne form, So before reading all the requirements about becoming an instructor ,I fill out my interest sheet online….then….then I read that you have to pay over $1000 in franchise fees to become and instructor. And apparently the instructors make maybe $25/class. So the benefits do NOT exceed to cost to become and instructor. $1000 is crazy! No thank you – I’ll just stay on the floor (as opposed to the stage) and dance. YIKES.

This past weekend we went to the UVA football game with Burr’s family. Always a FABULOUS time. Burr, however, may have been overserved on bourbon. I had a great time chatting with all our friends and family, perfect football weather, loving the US of A.

This past Monday, yesterday infact, was my 30th bday. Yep….I said it. I’m officially 30. Ugh ugh ugh. I didn’t want it to come at all but it came and went. Quite wonderfully I might add. Burr and I got up for my fav yoga class with Tanner at Y2 yoga. Then on to work. Over lunch, instead of going out to eat I went to orientation for A Child’s Place in Charlotte to learn how to volunteer with a child one day a week and be their “buddy.” Its for homeless children in our community and I’m really looking forward to it but know it will be difficult.

After work Burr and I met for a drink (pink Champagne or me!). Then onto Customshop in Charlotte for a wonderful long dinner with Burr. It was fabulous. Customshop never disappoints with beef carpaccio for Burr, saffron fettuccini for me, and bread pudding for my birthday cake we were in heaven. Oh, and some delicious Montepuciano wine from Tuscany – love Italy. Then home to open gifts (my fav part). And for all of you wondering…Burr did great (were you worried?) with a beautiful blue Tiffany’s box with earrings inside for me!

Not sure exactly what this weekend holds except for lots more house work, furniture shopping, seeing my friend Jess and her baby, and hopefully going to the movies!

XXXX

Anne



Bday Birthday Cake (Bread Pudding and extra ice cream with carmel sauce!)

I look scary...

Burr very proud of his bday dinner and celebration and ready to help me enjoy some cake (or bread pudding!)

Cheers to my 30's!

PS  - For those of you wanting pics of the house. I promise to take some this weekend. Very sorry.

Loving life in CLT

Hello there! This weekend was our first weekend to host people in our new (yet still empty house). In turned out to be great fun, perhaps ending with Burr and me having a dance party just the 2 of us....not wine or beer induced at all. We served a Mexican feast (shocker!) and then I cooked up a storm Sunday.

I made overnight pumpkin oats for my breakfast this week (one of my new favs!)  - http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/10-new-ways-eat-oatmeal?slide=32895

Then for dinner we did Spaghetti Squash with Chicken Sausage Marinara....no I didn't make the sausage but I made the sauce in the crockpot - delicious (No link,  its from the everyday slow cooker recipe)

For dessert I made greek yogurt pumpkin ice cream - Burr didn't love it, but I sure did.

I am TOTALLY loving our dishwasher, sink with disposal, laundry room, and huge closet. Not tyring to brag...just saying that there are some ups to leaving our wonderful 500 sq. feet on Walton Street.

Hoping to make it to a fun work dinner with friends at Charlotte's new - Burger and Sushi bar. Sound weird? It is! You can get a filet in a sushi roll, but its yummy. 

This weekend we are off to UVA for another football filled weekend. Loving this fall weather and football season!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week.
MUAH
Anne

PS - If you have some brillant decorating ideas specifically for : Bedroom headboards, Living room, or best and most comfy couches please let me know!

Our new niece, Ellie Grace Ziegelmeyer!

She is here she is here!!!!



That is right. Burr and I are now Aunt Anne and Uncle Burr to TWO little girls!!!



Ellie Grace Ziegelmeyer was born on Tuesday September 27, 2011. I’m SOOOOO excited to meet her. Now when am I meeting her you ask? Well….it should have been this coming weekend but I accidentally booked our plane tickets to go last weekend! YIKES!!!



So after a long conversation with US Airways and United Airlines, and a Godsend that our flight from Chicago to Wichita was cancelled twice (which we wouldn’t have even made since we weren’t in Chicago), we ended up not losing any money and not having to pay a change fee- thank the Lord. We will use the tickets another time, when the incremental cost is minimal but this weekend I will no longer be going to KS  That’s ok though cause I figure Johnny and Meg probably still won’t know what day it is next weekend…I will give them some more time.



Hope you love the pics.



XXX

Anne

Before pics of the new house!!!

Front of the house. The right side is a bit cut off.

Master bath = Anne's heaven.

Master bedroom

Backyard, porch is red brick.

Dining room. Don't worry no longer mustard yellow.

Floor plan.

Kitchen/Living Area

Kitchen

Burr in Master bath

Yes that is RIGHT! We moved into a new house on Friday. I mean, the hotel was nice and all but 50+ days and I'm a little sick of the same breakfast....I mean can I get an omelet people?! How about some berries – I’m over this melon! Hehe.

So my Mom arrives on Thursday evening and she says “What is wrong with the weather?” I am thinking “ What is she talking about, its always 85 degrees with the windows covered in fog from humidity at 9pm at night…oh dear she is in for a treat!”



Friday morning bright and early we go to meet the movers. (Well I have a brief dental appt – Burr meets them). They finish around 4pm that day and we continue to stare at all these boxes EVERYWHERE. Friday during the day we see our first task as trying to find sheets to wash so we can sleep there. So, yes we found the sheets – problem: the washer doesn’t actually wash anything. The washer just spits water out onto the floor and leaves all the dirt inside to mix with other sheets/towels dust….awesome. SO Burr and I spend a good bit of time attempting to find a new washer – ugh! Saturday afternoon Burr retrieves a gently used washer and it works – yeah. This means we had to spend the night in the hotel again on Friday, but at least the sheets were clean.



Saturday the movers come back to unpack us. The movers were called “Gentle Giants” and they are these huge x-football players. So watching them attempt to unpack my china/crystal very delicately was slightly unnerving, but everything was fine.



Today there are still lots of clothes and boxes to be unpacked. In the midst of everything this weekend I came to a few conclusions on my closet:



1. I am not allowed to buy anymore pink

2. I am not allowed to buy any more JEANS on sale just because they are on sale, because I inevitably hate them.

3. Summer dresses are off limits. For a LONG LONG time. Especially strapless.

4. Coats and jackets. I have approximately 1 to wear each day of the year.



Gotta run. More pics to come since the floors are redone and walls painted.



XXX

Anne

A day in the life….

I know I know. I haven’t written in ages. What do you do without Anne in your life?! So I don’t have any horribly crazy stories like I had when we first moved to London but here is what is going on in our life right now, I’ll take you through a glorious day:

5:45-6am – Wake up to my fabulous new app “Sleep Cycle” – yes its free and I LOVE it. It tracks your sleep pattern and wakes you up at the best possible time in a 30 minute period of your choice. So I rarely wake up “tired”, unless I work too late. Try it! It rocks. (Yet, another fabulous bonus of being in the US – Iphones that have work email on them!!!) It also has this beautiful peaceful music tune to wake us up….Burr you love it don’t you?

6-8am – Work out, get ready, eat breakfast. What is so special about this?! Well its awesome in the hotel. So I roll out of bed, go downstairs to the gym (approx. 30 second commute) without waking up Burr unless he is coming with, then back upstairs to shower – where I can leave my towel on the floor, bed unmade, and ironing board out. Then downstairs again to have a fully cooked breakfast all for me, no dishes, no cooking, just ta-da prepared! Finally before getting on the shuttle, I drop my grocery list off at the front desk so they can do my shopping, buy the items, and leave them in my fridge during the day. Then I either walk to work or jump on the hotel’s shuttle a few blocks to work.

8am - ? – Work and lunch with a friend. I have been trying to make lunch plans with someone different each day. Its so nice to take an hour and have a normal conversation. I bet I did that about 20 times in 2 years in London, love America. Also totally loving the plethora of options to eat. Sushi, Chinese, Organic, Pizza, Burgers, Fushion all within 100 yards. Now, there were amazing places to go in London to eat….but at work…not so much. And, not exactly “affordable.” Sorry go ‘ole Hilton salad bar, I don’t miss you and your employee turnover.

After work - We either have dinner out or just hang out in our hotel room. But I get to do things like “Face time with Clare” or talk on the phone to all my long lost friends…I mean they were not lost, they just didn’t talk to me at 8pm because that would be 3pm usually and the middle of their work day. And best of all – all the trashy TV you can get a hold off (Anyone watching Ashley on the Bachelorette?...she is totally killing me…really nice gal…just not near dramatic enough to make the show interesting in the least, but I still watch – don’t lie you do too).

Time for bed – Ends every night with a bath. A bubble bath! In my very own bath tub. A M A Z I N G.

Wake up and do it all over. I’m in love.

The end.
PS – As I am writing this I’m a little worried about what I’m going to do once we move out of the hotel. But then I remember I get to see all our belongings!!!! AHHHH - SO EXCITED I’m almost brought to tears! I mean, I know they are just things…but they represent our wonderful life, in a house, and I’m thrilled.

PPS - To all my London friends I love you, you know that, don't forget it...I just like America too :-P

Swimming with Elephant Photos

a few more from Chiang Mai!

I hope everyone is doing fabulously. I am really really loving being back in the states. Its feels so comforting and wonderful.  Enjoy the pics!

XXX

surfing on my elephant....think this may be the closest I ever actually come to surfing

 Burr and me!

 haha

Back to where it all started…..

yes….we have returned. Our 2 years of living a dream life have ended, but I still kinda feel like I’m in a dream. I am loving everything in Charlotte and have not woken up yet…which is nice! Have to say we are missing our London friends dearly…wagh…and its hard to be away with this time change.


So we started work Wednesday and both of us decided we are going to retire. Would anyone like to sponsor us? Come on….I will write blogs everyday for you, and I’m not sure what Burr will do but he he will be great at it. So sponsor us already! Unfortunately, our companies will sponsor our retirement, but in approximately 31 years – oh my goodness that is a Long Long time away! Oh well in the meantime it was awesome to see all of our old work friends and be back in CLT. All joking aside we were both super excited to start work again (I guess we are truly workaholics if we were thrilled to come back!)

Before anyone asks….no we do not have a house….not we do not have any cars….no we do not even have an apartment yet. We still live in a hotel uptown and are not moving out for at least another 3 weeks. At first I was whining about this hotel business (I know me, whine?, never). But now I quite enjoy it. Can I please hire someone to make my bed, clean all my towels and dishes, and vacuum everday. Oh , also please make me breakfast and have a glass of red wine waiting for me when we return home –yes thanks, that’s it. So I am no longer whining and counting down the days until its my turn to make my own bed again, ouch. That will be a reality shock.

We are looking for a home and cars. But more talking then looking…I’m great at at talking (shocker) see the problem is looking for cars is heinous. Terrible. Horrendous. Car shopping is terrible, especially when you are in the need of a cheap used car. In my mind, a used Leuxs SUV would just drive down the street with a for sale in the window, I would call, and TA-DA – I would have a car…..yes, I told you I was still totally dreaming. (I am kinda missing the tube right now…I mean there is no one to look at when I’m driving the car alone, Burr doesn’t count. I cannot scope out girls outfits or bags, look at couples on the train or listen to the music of the person standing next me, so this is quite sad, actually its just quiet. I want to roll down my windows and talk to the person in the car next to me, well not talk, you don’t talk on the tube in London just observe. No all I observe is cars and that is zero fun.) I mean wasn’t I just complaining about the tube never working about 2 months ago and look at me know!! Please bring on the hour commute just to entertain me!

For those of you who we have not talked to we are very sorry and we would like to blame that one the following reasons.

1. Jet lag

2. AnneBell (our relator, love you Anne mean this is the nicest way!)

3. Farrar Family Reunion

4. Car shopping

5. Dealing with our idiot movers

6. Jet lag

7. Yoga at y2yoga in charlotte

8. Anne’s hair appt and other appts (come on, I was almost down to 1 eyebrow!)

9. Jet lag

10. WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE’S NUMBER!!!! CALL US @

ANNE = 704-621-5212

BURR = 704-591-2855

So we love everyone and are very sorry to have not called….but you should call, email or text us…especially if you want to sell your house, car, sofa, kitchenaid mixer, hermes birkin bag, or any other item you think we may need (kidding of course, kinda)
XOXOXO - MUAH

San Fran pics

We loved loved loved San Fran, as we always do. We arrived super later on Friday night (after 14 hours on a flight from Hong Kong - stayed at a airport hotel and woke up bright and early to go to our fav spot - Mama's)

Coit Tower - where we got engaged!

Mama's

Inside Mama's

View from our hotel room, yeah it was awesome.

Coit Tower - in the spot we got engaged!!

Coit Tower

Chinatown

Transamerica tower - where burr usually works when he is out here, also a view from our hotel.

Baseball game with Robert (friend from UVA) and other friends! so fun!

The stadium (giants) overlooks the bay, are you serious?!  Soooo pretty....not sure I actually watched any baseball though!

The best ice cream place ever...I needed to remember the name, so I took a pic....it rivals Hilton Head's.

Whitehall Lane private tasting thanks to Tim and Kate Gunning (miss you guys!xxxx)

Tasting room - check out that guys' stash..a.wes.ome.

Wine!

Tasting room, so pretty.

Whitehall lane reds////yuummmmm

Tasting

Frank Family Vineyard, recommended by the Bells'

At Mum - They are famous for "sparkling wine" - needless to say we tried a lot, this might have brought on the horendous car ride later...but it was delicious.

Tasting!!!

Robert Sinskey Vineyard, the best!

Napa

Burr and Ben in San Fran

Me after wine tasting all day....I look beautiful!!!

Hearts at Union Square are still there (just different paint)

hug

ahhhh