Neon Dresses, One Shoulder Look, and Hoop Earrings

What do all these items have in common you ask?  These are all items worn by contestants on the Bachelor. Some where only one of the items listed above but there are definitely a couple that wear a pink neon one shoulder dress with large hoop earrings. Where do you buy these clothes?  And when you buy them, what do you think when you try them on? Oh, and I look wonderful and this is completely the look I’m going for when trying to snag a long-term husband.  I mean, I understand the “high-end cocktail waitress” probably just doesn’t know any better. But the dental hygienist and other women who have professional jobs should really know what type of person they are going to attract in hoop earrings in mini-skirts. 

I’ve always disliked hoop earrings. What is attractive about large hoop earrings?  Your hair gets caught in them and its like bracelets hanging off your head. I just don’t get it. 

So yes I have started hosting Bachelor night and it was great fun to have Sarah, Christie, Katie, and Loucinda there!  Next time there should be even more of us :-)  Poor Katie had never seen the Bachelor before and I think we might have scared her.....Katie is a true Southern Belle (sorry Katie, but don’t you think so?)…I don’t think she went to a school where the Hawk was a normal weekend outing and seeing tiny mini-skirts at football games didn’t make you do a double take. So its fun to watch her gasp at the ridiculous-ness escapades of the Bachelor. 

More later

X

anne

Can I be Beauty?

Yes, for those of you who got the title of this blog, I mean Belle, as in Beauty and the Beast the Disney movie. I may, or may not, be watching it right now. Burr has his head buried in a 300 page document he is reviewing and I had some light work to do so I decided what better than to sing to my fav flick and work. Now, for those of you who think you are too old for fabulous singing and Disney music on a lovely Sunday. YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD! You are scrooge if you cannot sing “Be our guest” for just a second when you hear it :-P

Weekend was FAB. Lee came into town. She is so helpful and efficient. I swear I get more done with 24 hours with Anne and Lee, then 72 hours with just Anne. I cannot help, when I’m left to my own devices I usually get horribly side tracked - shopping happens, some immediate need for baking occurs, and perhaps a little extra yoga or something (aka nap) ….then the next thing I know I’m late for meeting Burr and I’m thinking “Now, who can I pay to be my personal assistant and do all these things I was supposed to do!?)

So Friday night dinner with Jenks and JJ = amazing!! I’m going to try this tri-tip (sp?) carne asada Trader Joe’s beef asap. Thank goodness we were in front of company when she pulled out the ice cream – otherwise I highly doubt I would have shared. TJ’s- I heart you. Almost as much as I heart London’s M&S fruit. Seriously , I probably spent $100 a week on fruit at M&S when we were in London. It was so delicious, Burr can attest. I hit my minimum 5 fruits a day by lunch…oh…well at least I’ve saving money now without M&S. wagh

Saturday Lee came into town and we went to browse furniture EVERYWHERE! You know the problem with furniture….well there are a couple things

a) Its expensive

b) It doesn’t move very easily

c) It does not return like a pair of shoes as easily

d) Tax is higher…hence more expensive

e) I cannot take it with me during the day, it’s a stationary item – therefore I have a hard time saying I can spend XYZ on a sofa that I may or may not sit on daily….at least I will use a purse daily (I think I just talked myself into that LV I’ve been eyeing)

f) I have to clean it, or in our case pay to have it cleaned, but I don’t think it will be included in our 7 items for $27 at the dry cleaners down the road.

So I think I’ve come to this conclusion – everyone should just donate their furniture they don’t want to me. Then I can use our money to go travel and on clothes, how I like to spend money!

Perhaps we should leave our living room completed bare and empty as it is now….I can think of some fabulous uses it for it. They are:

1. Group Jazzercise at Anne’s house (technically burr’s house too – but who’s counting) *

( *Side Note – I can just picture it now, 6am, and all us gals are step-togethering-stepping or grapevining our way through Britney’s “On my radar” when Burr comes stubbling out wondering why it sounds just like a herd of elephants…lol)

2. Group yoga at Anne’s house …ummm…too stinking…PPPP..UUUUUU

3. Dance party at Anne’s house. Yes please!

4. Slip and Slide? Is this possible without the water? If not….I don’t think it’s a good idea with our new floors.

5. Meditation room *

*Side Note - (I have tried this, but all I can think about is..”time is money” and how I just wasted a very useful 15 minutes by sitting around…and I didn’t even get to sing to Beauty and the Beast while doing it!)

6. Roller Skating room - I would have to buy roller skates, then I would have to buy an outfit to go with the roller skates , and at this point I probably just should have bought some actual furniture.

7. Bigger closet (DING DING DING) and we have a winner !!! - “Hello guests, welcome to our home – don’t mind my dresses in what should be a living room, I just like to fill our space with beautiful pieces….hehehe”

Oh and today we did Myers Park Pres with Anne Brady as she became a deacon. Way to go!!! And tonight Sally and Andrew came over for dinner – they just live around the corner now! And we had a little early celebration for their bdays. I made homemade pasta sauce (and bought fresh wild mushroom pasta from Pasta and Provisions) – check this out:

Turkey Spaghetti Sauce (super meaty)

In crockpot, on low 6-8 hours

1 lb ground lean turkey

2 cans V8 juice – low sodium

1 32 oz can diced tomatoes

1 jar no sodium TJs pasta sauce

Lots of spices (no, don’t ask me what they are, I just toss things in)

Onions/mushrooms.

DELISH!

Kisses to all – muah - muah.

What’s up this week:

1. Girls night – woo woo 2. Matt Nathanson concert 3. Dinner at E2’s (Emerill’s new CLT location)

Love

A


PS - HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARE!!!!  I love you very very much, even though you love Burr more.

PPS - Back to the title of the blog, I'd like to wake up tomorrow and live in a palace (a fully furnished one)!  Wish me luck.

Menu Mastermind

Hello there! How was your Wednesday?
Mine was great, it would have been fabulous if my job was a personal shopper or something…but I woke up today and I was still an accountant. Oh well. Day in the life of an accountant was good too.

There was no work out to be had this morning, I was on a hunt for a research project so it was straight into work. But I did manage to grab some yummy food that my friends and I made on Sunday.

So this past Sunday we had “Menu Mastermind” – which is basically where 2 other gals came over who wanted to prepare yummy foods that were healthy. I bought all the groceries, started 2 crockpots early in the morning, and then we cooked 4 main meals and 2 breakfast items. Here are my favs:

1. Protein Pancakes – I think the almond extract in these makes them, they are delish! Especially if you add bananas and agave…..I wish I had more but I ate these on Monday and Tuesday for breakfast.
http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/236144/flaxseed-protein-pancakes



2. Turkey Meatloaf – I got the individual receipe for this so you make it in muffin tins. We also made with whole wheat cous cous….why? because its my house I only have white flour for baking cookies (i.e., when its absolutely necessary!)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/turkey-veggie-meatloaf-cups/

3. Slow Cooker chicken tortilla soup - Any soup in a slow cooker is good! And this was awesome…perhaps a little high in sodium so I added some extra water instead of chicken stock.
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=94735

4. Slow cooker pulled pork – Burr loved this stuff.

5. Asian stir fry – With just a little seasame oil and ginger this really changes the way veggies tatse

6. Spinach, Feta crustless quiche – this was good…only downfall was Anne provided the wrong pan to Becky and there was a bit of a spillage issue.
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=308291

Tonight I went to a ballet barre class. Its unreal how you can barely move your body at all and it hurts SO BADLY. I hope I am moving tomorrow….ouch ouch ouch. Hoping I can make it to jazzercise but who knows.

Really looking forward to this weekend!!! Lee is headed to Charlotte to visit us  And Belle too.

Kisses

Anne

Anne is Back!

Anne is back!!!! WOO WOO …Did y’all miss me? I should certainly rename our blog, or perhaps I could just keep it as anneandburr and blame all my terrible spelling and grammer on Burr (side note 1*) , would anyone believe me?

*Side Note 1 – My mom is still correcting my grammer constantly, love ya mom, but I’m 30 (wagh) – do you think its gonna stick? Keep trying. Love you for trying! Lets hope for everyone who reads this it sticks, but I still get confused with “then” and “than” – yeah I know…but I know the difference between platforms and pumps, or pashmina’s and scarfs :-P

So you have been missing my blogging?! Me too! I totally miss blogging!! The problem I was having since our return to the US is I thought since we weren’t in London or traveling the world I had nothing fabulous to bring – but I thought perhaps I would just start again on the “Life in Anne’s eyes– just minus safari’s and malaria meds”

Today, as a I ran late-ish into the office (because I decided taking a morning jazzercise class was completely necessary) one of the Bank of America greeters was literally yelling at all of us as we piled onto the down escalator (Side note 2) – “Good morning! Have a FAAAAAAAA-AAAAAA-AAAAAAABBBBB-ulous day!” – it was so loud it nearly knocked me over and you know the first thing I thought – it was “SHHHHHH - you would terrify the British people I used to work with….shhhhhhhhhhh!” – seriously no one in the UK would ever imagine talking that loudly in public, they are all so soft spoken. I feel bad for any european’s traveling to the BofA corporate center – no wonder non-US folks think we are abrasive and loud, even our morning greets sound like they are coming out of a yelleader’s megaphone. I mean, I know she was trying to be nice – but perhaps she just needs a cute decorated piece of poster board [I’ll get right on that.]

Side Note 2- Down escalators, or escalators in general people! Or as I previously referred to them as, moving stairs…They are wide enough for 2 people, at least, maybe even 3 of some of the girls at work that eat celery all day, MOVE over people – hug a railing. Don’t stand in the middle. Don’t let your bag hang in the middle. You standing in the middle prohibits me from walking up and down the stairs. (or in some cases, makes me gently nudge you over, gently of course - hehe). And while we are at it – you stand on the right, move on the left. Lets go US folks…why are you standing on the down escalator anyway? You can’t move like 5 steps ? – reflection – my previous blog dated April 1, 2009 - http://anneandburr.blogspot.com/2009/04/scratch-thatburr-starts-today-anne-sent.html - discusses how I HATED having to walk up and down what I called the “MOVING STAIRS” – reading this blog made me laugh so hard!!! Now in comparison to the amount of moving stairs I climbed in the UK vs. how many I have in the US – I’m approximately 250 steps less everyday…and I wonder why I can no longer eat pound cake everyday around 3pm without gaining weight…wagh. Note to self: find additional stairs to climb everyday.

Other interesting items that happened in my day was catching up on this season of the bachelor…I feel this deserves its own blog entry which I plan on writing soon. For those who have not watched it – I highly recommend you do so, but only when you are alright losing brain cells and not looking for simulation…but perhaps motivation, there are lots of bathing suits.

Current question of the moment: To become a jazzercise instructor or not???? Hmmm…not as a carrer. NO NO NO, just as something additional and super fun to do. Some people love to run (I think there is something they feed to my TX family, they LOVE LOVE LOVE to run, or something in their food – I wish I did love to run, but I don’t even know if I would run with something chasing me…probably the lion from the safari, but then again what’s the point its just going to eat me anyway – might as well stand still and see what color its eyes are, right!?) and I love to dance in jazzercise. I swear its so fun and you burn calories without even realizing you are moving. I’m just singing to Britney, Biber, Selena Gomez, or J-Lo and all the sudden 1 hour has gone by I’ve burned like 500 calories and I’m done with my workout for the day. Yippeee. I am positive the chicks next to me are screaming “White girl syndrome – wow” * Side Note 3

(Side Note 3 – For the older folks out there, this means ANNE CANNOT DANCE, but THINKS she can)

So – perhaps I will start a poll on whether the investment to become a jazzercise instructor is worth it? Any thoughts? Anyone tried it? Don’t knock it till you tried it.

Kisses – MUAH MUAH

A

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