One thing for sure, this is going to be a HOT summer!!!!!  I am so ready for it though!  It was a great first weekend of summer full of games, relaxation, and pool lounging!  

Jessica had a fun 60's themed pool party at Jason's house that wasn't much of a 60's theme at all... but it was fun!  It was nice to just kick back on a float in the pool with a chilled drink while listening to some music!!  When it comes to parties with our group of friends Jessica (and Isadora of course) and I are usually the only girls... so we were very happy that Katie and Jennie came!! 

Notice Isadora peeking at the camera!

So stinkin cute!!!

It was a fun day... we grilled fresh shrimp, hot dogs, some burgers, chicken, steak, and ribs... we had a TON of food and it was all very tasty!!  I am so lucky to have so many friends to spend a fun relaxing weekend with!!

 

Great turn out for the party!!  Can't wait for many more parties this Summer!!!  

back to reality.

Now that the beach fun is over and tomorrow is Monday I really don't have a choice.... I had a wonderful, long, relaxing, fun weekend with Peter, my Mom, and my Grandma in Charleston!!!  It was so great!  I also didn't get fried so that was spectacular!  A little pink on my shoulders but that's okay, it will freckle in a day or 2 anyway! :-)  

We also brought Bella with us too so that was fun, it was her first vacation and she seemed to have a good time.  She was definitely home sick though.  Since we have been home she has been passed out on the couch and hasn't moved (I've checked her breathing a few times) which is VERY odd for her.  Usually if anyone moves she's up and checking everything out, but she is more than happy to be home!! 

We spent most of the weekend on the beach in Isle of Palms... it was HOT but so nice!!  I made sure to keep SPF on so I wouldn't get murdered by the sun like I always do!  On Friday night we went to eat dinner at The Wreck again, it was delicious as always!  Then we had some ice cream for desert... then me and Peter parted ways and went downtown for some drinks!  Peter had been to this one bar (Coast Bar & Grill) before and it's kind of hidden so mostly locals go there!  We had the BEST bartender ever and he made the most AMAZING Mojito's I've ever had!!!  Mine was a Hawaiian Peach Mojito.  Peter had a Honey Dew Cucumber one that was out of this world!!  The bartender has won the Mojito Challenge for 4 years in a row in Charleston... yea, they are THAT good!!
  

Then we went to another local bar that a couple told us about called Closed for Business (Love the name!!) and they had a TON of beers on tap, including Kwak, which is one of my favorites, thanks to Peter!! We called it a night pretty early since we had an early morning planned on the beach again.

After a full day of sun on Saturday we got to go to my FAVORITE place in Charleston!!!!  YAY, I was so excited!  Yea, it looks like a hole in the wall, sketchy diner but it's so great!!!  They have something for everyone and it's all amazing! 

I got to share the wonderful fried pickles and fried green tomatoes with my mom, then the grilled pimento and cheese sandwich with bacon... definitely life changing!!!  ALSO we got to have the strawberry shortcake! AH, great meal... and it's so cheap!! 

THEN after that Peter took me to see Cowboy Mouth for the first time. WHAT A SHOW!!!!!  

I mean, WOW... it was definitely an experience!  I was soaking wet after the show, partly from jumping up and down the entire time and also from the bartender spraying water on the crowd (which I greatly appreciated since it was SO hot!!)  We started out behind around, 6-7 rows of people but by the end of the show I had pushed my way up to the second row!  It was so great!!  We got in MUCH later than Friday but we also got to sleep in since today was the check out day and our lazy day in Charleston... 

I have realized that I absolutely LOVE Charleston!!!! I would TOTALLY move there if I could live in a small, quaint home like this... hehehe!! ;-)

and wake up every morning with a view like this.... 

And do all the Charleston things like, walking the pup by the water on Broad Street!

....and having a late brunch at Carolina's (which we did today!  I had Shrimp and Grits, of course... and Peter had a Duck Confit Omelet with sultana’s, goat cheese, onions, and spinach which was incredible!!) 

....and shopping around the Market, and catching a game at the local bar down the street (MOE'S, so much fun and great service)

....and then ending the day with a coffee (we went to Baked... its a small coffee shop that's based out of NYC with the most adorable deserts and yummy coffee!!)

.....MAN, I could SO live in Charleston!!!  It was a wonderful day with a wonderful man!!  LOVED IT! 

ALMOST 2 Years.

I can't believe it's ALMOST 2 Years for me and Peter! In some ways it seems like it has flown by but then in other ways it feels like we've been together for so much longer!!  Very surreal.  I'm a very lucky girl... and since on our actual 2 year date we will be at his family reunion in NY I thought I'd take some time to do this now!! Hope you enjoy... 

Here are some highlights from the past 23, wonderful months!!!! :) 

One of our first pictures together... he grabbed my side and tickled me right when the camera was flashing.  I should have known I was going to have my hands full!! 

One of my MOST favorite pictures of us... this shows how incredibly happy he makes me! 

My 22nd Birthday dinner at The Melting Pot! 

Charleston Trip last summer for Peter's Birthday!! 

Shower in NJ for Joy and my first trip to meet Peter's HUGE Family!

Rehearsal Dinner for Joy and Fadi's wedding, such a fun time!

Favorite picture of us!!! 

This was taken at Joy and Fadi's wedding and I just LOVE it!!  :) Makes me smile!!! 

Halloween '09, went to see the Roots at The Handlebar... 60's theme! 

Christmas Festivities!! 

New Years Eve in NYC with Peter's cousins!

New Years Day, beginning of 2010!!

Jay-Z concert in ATL!! 

My 23rd Birthday party with Peter and his Mom! 

Spring 2010!

Peter's Surprise Birthday party!!  He had no idea! :) 

First Beach trip of 2010, Charleston! 

That's just a few of the fun moments of the past 2 years that I've loved so much!!  Can't wait to see what's going to happen next!!! One thing for sure, it's going to be amazing! :) 

Thank you, Peter for the best time of my life... I LOVE YOU! 

xoxo, Cas

weekend love...

This weekend was such a nice, relaxing weekend!  Peter had Lasik eye surgery on Friday so he is no longer blind!   YAAAAY!!!  It may seem like I am exaggerating but I'm not, he was almost blind!!  So now he can see all by himself!  :) Very exciting!  The surgery was successful, the doctor said everything went perfect.  He has all these crazy drops he has to use which makes his eyelashes look like he has some chalky white mascara on.  He also has to wear sunglasses all the time, that was interesting... going out Friday night (because Peter couldn't just sit at home) while he wore sunglasses inside and outside at night, fun times.  We got plenty of stares, haha! 

So, most of the weekend we watched movies... napped... ate some snacks.... watched a movie... napped.... it was NICE!  Exactly what I needed!!  

Peter and I also went to church this morning and I LOVED it, it was such a good service and message.  It really hit home and it was everything I needed to hear today.  I haven't had a chance to read much of Crazy Love like I was hoping since I wasn't home for most of this weekend.  The little bit I have been home I've been cleaning, which is nice... definitely needed to get that finished!  Going to jump back into the book when I'm in bed tonight... easier to focus and let everything set in, and pray then anyways. 


Hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend as well!!! 
xoxo, Cas

New Start!

So... I have been having such an amazing time lately!!  I am surrounded by Godly, amazing friends that just lift me up spiritually every time I talk to them!!  It really is incredible and I am extremely blessed!

BUT, I have been pretty down lately (spiritually) because I feel like I, myself have been cut off.  Not sure why... no idea what is the cause of this?  I've been praying and trying to find the perfect church for me but it just hasn't happened yet.  This Sunday I am going to try a smaller church again and see if it clicks this time.  If not, I will go to every church (and there's a lot) in Greenville/Greer/Simpsonville until I find that perfect fit that I so badly desire.  I want to wake up and LONG to go to church, and NEED the fellowship with other Christians that want the same GROWTH that only God can give.  So, I will be praying and if you want to shoot up a little prayer as well feel free to!  I'd appreciate it!!! 

As for myself right now, I'm going to try to push through that tough spot spiritually that I've found myself in.  My WONDERFUL, Best Friend that is such an amazing Christian woman and is constantly reminding me of the kind of Christian I SHOULD be gave me a book a couple of months ago.  I threw it on my dresser and haven't touched it since so I am going to dive into that.  She gave me this! 

I know it's a very intense book and will probably change my life but that's exactly what I need.  So, I am going to go curl up in my bed with a pen and my bible and start Crazy Love.  Wish me luck and I would appreciate any thoughts or prayers right now.  

xoxo, Cas

Chucktown Fun!

The Memorial Day weekend trip to Charleston was so much fun... I am so blessed to have such wonderful people around me!  We all had an amazing time.  There was NO drama, everyone got along so well and a lot of new friendships were made.  It was great!!! Here are some highlights from the trip! :) 

The group in front of our cute beach house we rented! 

The girls at dinner on our first night in Charleston. 

"The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene"

Google it, you won't be disappointed!  

The BEAUTIFUL view while waiting on a table at dinner. 

Out for dinner 2 at The Crab House, then downtown for some fun!!!

Some of the girls at the Rooftop Bar in downtown Charleston... 

a little pricey but I love this place!

The group at Tommy Condons, Irish Pub in downtown Charleston!

We had such a blast here... some Guinness and live music was wonderful!!

Last night, waiting on the dinner the guys were grilling for us!!!

After dinner on the last night in the house we enjoyed music by the very 

important, Cody Alexander Penland.  It was so much fun! 

Favorite part of the trip was spending time with friends, 

especially my wonderful boyfriend!!  :) 

After leaving the house and some brunch downtown we had some 

VERY successful shopping and a much needed coffee break! 

Peter was a sweetie and stayed with us all day, and also took this picture! 

It was such an awesome trip with some amazing people and I wouldn't have changed a thing. (well... maybe a little less burning but that's impossible) I can't wait to do it all over again next year!  It will definitely be a yearly  tradition from now on. 

As of right now, I am going to try and get some sleep!  Good thing I don't have to open tomorrow morning at work. :)