The Big Four Oh!

Oh yeah, Bee Day Weekend 2013 was a raging success!

My co-workers got me an ice cream cake to start off the celebrations... It was yummy!

Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Cake

Partaking of the Yummy Cake

Friday I had off from work. I picked up Daniel in my little ZipCar and we shopped for my present: Queen sized air mattress with new linens. Very pretty. Very functional. Exceptional gift!

Lilac and White. Very lovely and comfy.

We thought the air mattress was a functional way to see if a queen bed would fit in my room as well as have something for later so guests could use it. We're saving up for the platform bed I want from IKEA. Can't wait!

We got ready for my Surprise Birthday Dinner. We got all fancy, too. Princess Jini. LOL

Daniel in his new threads!

Had to add the color somewhere! Fashionista?

Where was this fancy dinner, you ask? The Capital Grille in Back Bay. We hailed a cab (I "la la la'd" while he told the cabbie where to go) and headed that way. Once there, Daniel ushered me into the bar area. Some of you know how I get very tunnel vision when I'm focused, right? Well, I was completely at a loss as to why he was pulling out a chair for me at a table with two people already at it. After what should probably be an embarrassingly long 30 seconds, I figured out why...

Aunt Leigh & Uncle Courtney...Daniel and Myself

Yes, Aunt Leigh and Uncle Courtney flew up to Boston for the weekend to surprise me. I confess, I teared up. Very awesome surprise, indeed. Apparently, Leigh and Daniel had been planning this since late November. Sneaky and Amazing!
(So when I introduced them at Christmas, the joke was on me b/c they had been conversing for a month at that point.)

Proscuito wrapped mozzerella, calamari

Merlot

My filet

Bday chocolate cake

Needless to say, I was a very happy camper: Amazing food, beautiful location, with people I love!

Saturday we met up with Leigh & Courtney again and  had brunch in Somerville at The Independent. Yum again! Leigh & Courtney were more adventurous that Daniel and I. They tried the Irish Breakfast: TWO FRIED EGGS, GRILLED TOMATO, BLACK & WHITE PUDDING, IRISH BACON, BEANS, HOMEFRIES, TOAST. It was actually tasty, though.

Saturday night we met up with Shawna, Paul and our co-worker, Ashley at a place in Harvard Square called, "Fire and Ice." It's an all you can eat extravaganza: You grab a bowl and fill it with whatever meat, veggies, fruits, pastas and/or rice that you want. You pick a sauce. Then you stand around a circle grill while they cook it for you. Also? Pomegranate Margaritas there are primo! Daniel and Ashley made the cooks get everyone to sing, "Happy Birthday" to me. Not at all embarrassing. Right!

Cozy at dinner

Ashley, Jini & Shawna

Good times were had by all. We are a fun group, for sure. I love my friends and family!

Yoda Mug w/Hot Chocolate - From Shawna

Darth Vadar Gumball Machine - From Shawna

Sangria and Chalk Writing Mug - From Ashley

So, all in all it was a great weekend. Thanks to everyone who made it possible!

BTW: I'm keeping Prince up here with me. Psycho, neurotic cat be darned! Love my Boo!

Everyone have a great week!

Much love, Jini

Insanely Busy But Loving It

Hello, All. I hope you've all managed to avoid the plague that's happening everywhere (Flu). It's been really bad up here. We've had over 70,000 cases reported and 18+ deaths. Scarry Captain Trips stuff (look it up). So far, I'm good. Fingers crossed.

Shawna found Kumquats up here so we had them in the office. Everyone was tasting and enjoying... especially Jarrett who is from Tampa/Florida like Shawna and I. Adam replaced the cookie stash with kumquats at one point. He and Ashley have quite a little joke thing going on. It's a lot of fun in our bullpen.

The YAB Winter Dance went off without a hitch. It was amazing. We had over 350 kids from all over Metro Boston dancing and having a good time at The State House. Jarrett came and spoke briefly (former politician who knows brevity? Rare?!) as did one of the State Reps. All of Shawna and my bosses were there to support us (Bob, Regional Director of Volunteer Services...and Lilly, Chief Program Officer). I think they were impressed and well, we made them look GOOD! We even had proper Press there: The Improper Bostonian!  Pictures galore were taken. We haven't gotten the "official" ones back but here are a few of mine. Some others are at: ARCEM YAB Winter Dance 2013

Jarrett Barrios, ARCEM CEO, Lilly Mendez Morgan, Chief Program Officeer and Bob Bowers, Regional Director of Volunteer Services

Oh yes, I am rockin' the professionally done make up!

Lilly, Shawna, Bob and Jini... Youth Programs and our Directors!

Thing One and Thing Two!

Shawna, Bob, Jini, A reporter for The Improper Bostonian, and Jarrett

Our awesome Coat Check Gentlemen, led by YAB Co-Chair, Thomas Vu (with the ear pods)

Jini, Jarrett, Lilly and Bob

Jini and Alex...she's an AmeriCorps, too but works in Disaster. Alex awesomely volunteered to chaperone with Shawna and myself.

Last week I went to The Cape for the first time. It was cold and foggy so I didn't get the full effect. However, before our appointment Shawna and I hit the beach to look and then we stopped by...

The JFK Memorial. During peak times there is a reflection pool in front of the wall with his face plaque. It's pretty nice.

The Korean War Memorial

We were on The Cape to visit one of our Middle School clubs at a Charter School. Oh my goodness. This particular group of 12 or so children belong to a national group called, "Destination Imagination." Every year they pick a specific project and compete regionally, state-wide and nationally. This year they had to choose a community need, partner with an organization that might help to fill that need...and then jump through all kinds of creative hoops to present it in competition. Look up the national group for more detail because I am so NOT giving it the proper due. 
Anyway, these kids picked fire safety (remember I said that the number one disaster in which ARCEM responds is Fire?) and chose to ask us to partner with them. These MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN, created a fun and imaginative Fire Safety Program and presented it to us like they would teach it...and then filmed an interview with us to use in the competition. Like I said, there are a bunch of details they have to incorporate.
They made coloring books, stickers, rulers, interactive games to teach fire safety...and a boy created by himself an "Operation" style true/false game that lights up when you get answers correct. It was incredible. We are "mass producing" for their competition as well as using the program to teach in our department. I'll be teaching this in Metro Boston.

They made us cupcakes! Look at the Red Cross Logo! So cute and tasty!

One of the games...they created characters that would ask the kids a question when they spun the dial and landed on that particular character.

 
 Anyway, they are amazing kids. They invited us to their competitions. I am SO going! 

View from my bedroom window last week.

It has been crazy cold up here. It was 10F today. It hasn't snowed a lot, though. More this weekend, I think. We'll see.

Prince Riding the T...like a Boss!

He was a tad cold waiting for the bus, though.

I have loved having Prince up here this week but alas, he's going back with Daniel this weekend. I'm sad about it but:

1. I'm gone a minimum of 13 hours a day and it's not fair to him to have to "hold it" all day long like that. He's almost 11 (April for those of you who want to send a gift). 

2. My roommate's cat is a neurotic beeyotch (I know that's redundant since I said, "cat.") who attacks him.

So, yeah...I'm sad but it's best for my boo. Daniel lets him out when he stops for gas and food and he's got company (both of them) all the time. He's got a bed and heat/air. Sad. *tears* because I love having him.

Not much else has been going on (I know...that's funny, right ... since I'm so busy). Just work stuff. And some fun stuff, too. I'm actively looking for a bed. I'm SO tired of sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Shopping this weekend...to at least look. Probably IKEA b/c cheap and good and they install!

This weekend Daniel will be here for my birthday. I'm being taken to a "surprise" place for dinner. It's fancy so I've been told to dress up. FUN! I may have some people over to my furniture-less apartment on Saturday night...or I may just go out and invite people. It's pretty low key. I'll post pics next week.

Oh yeah, my "ring" had a little mishap with a piece of it falling out. We tried to exchange it for the same one but the store was being uncooperative. Don't get me wrong, I loved that ring. Daniel did an awesome job picking it out. Instead of the exchange, now I'm getting a new one. I'll have it Friday and he picked out another gorgeous one. My man has good taste and knows what I like. Shawna teased me that I'm going to get super spoiled and be one of those Princesses who want an "upgrade" every year or so. LOL. Never say never.

Everyone have a great week. 

Much love, 
Jini

Goodbye, 2012...Hello, 2013

Hello, All. I hope you've all been well these past few weeks. It's been a crazy time, for sure. Be prepared for wordiness and pictures, galore.

And ... here... we ... go...

We finally finished all of the holiday gift wrap at work. We overshot our goal of $1,000 for Youth Programs. I love my job and the work we're doing for Eastern Massachusetts Youth.

 Brooklynn meeting Santa for the first time...how cute!

I just got home from a lovely 2 week vacay in Florida for Christmas and New Years. What a great trip. I didn't get to see everyone but it was a great time, for sure.

 Look who surprised GiGi at the airport! I was so happy. Wendy was supposed to pick me up but instead she showed up with Tyler, Rachael and Brooklynn. Yay! We had a lovely family lunch at Hooters before heading back to Dade City.

Mom and Dad went all out for Church Street Christmas. We had a great time at the party. Food was great and it was awesome seeing everyone. 

We stayed in the garage apartment. Dad had it cleaned up before I got there. He missed a great opportunity to fake brag on himself, though. I mentioned that I thought it was sweet that he and mom put up a beautiful tree for Daniel and I to enjoy for our first Christmas together. Turns out that Ava had just left hers up all year long from 2011 Christmas. LOL. Works for me. For the record: I totally didn't steal any of her cool ornaments.

One of the greater highlights of my visit was seeing Momma Lee. She seems to be doing really well, considered. She was starting to get a "bug" that was going around, though. Hopefully she gets over that soon. 

Daniel got to Florida just in time for Christmas. We all headed down to Sarasota for dinner at Raison and Lou's house. It was a wonderful dinner with family. I love getting to see The M&M Boys. They are getting so grown up.

Lee genes rock. Those are some gorgeous ladies right there!

And, yeah...that happened. LOL. Yay, me! Daniel did a great job picking that out, right? Love it. He's pretty awesome.

Bye, Darla. You were a great car! I'm vehicle-less now in Boston...for the better. I take MBTA (bus and train) pretty much everywhere. I'll be getting a ZipCar account for times I truly need a vehicle. My roommate has an SUV so I have that option, too. Big city living is real, yo! LOL.

New Years Eve I cooked for Wendy, Chad, Daniel and myself.  Cranberry Walnut Rice with Apple & Sweet Onion Pork Tenderloin. MMM. Bacon crisps were the appetizer. Sangria, also.

Tyler & Rachael came by with baby Brooklynn. She's so sweet. GiGi adores her for sure.

 

 Overall I had a great time visiting. I remember why I left but also what I love about Dade City. Good visit. Glad to be home, though.

This is what my walk home looked like. SNOW! It's frigid here right now...in the teens but sunny/cloudy (not snowing). Maybe more snow Friday. We'll see. Meteorologists are horrible at their jobs.

Random thoughts:

Watching Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on New Year's Eve made me realize...they are hilarious but Honey Boo Boo and Dance Moms are the start of the decline of civilization.

Leila and Mick Exel are awesome. JetBlue is the best airline for so many reasons but not least of all... I got to watch Sleepless in Seattle and a Law & Order SVU marathon on the way home.

The parent on the plane with 2 kids is wonderful. The 8 year old next to me was pleasant and polite. We bonded over Sponge Bob Square Pants.

I'm sure I'm missing so much of what happened. I may post more pics on my Google + account so stay tuned for that. 

The next couple of weeks will be filled with Youth Advisory Board "Winter Dance" preparation. Be prepared for that info overload. 

Work tomorrow...gotta sleep. Everyone have a great week.

Much love, Jini