Blessed.

It's funny how after a busy week, just taking a moment to stop and reminisce makes you feel so blessed! Just think of everywhere you have been. This week, I started off being stuck in a house due to the terrible wrath of Hurricane Sandy. Though we did not have electricity (which means no heat), we were blessed enough to have running, clean water, food, blankets, good books, and great loving company.

Then, I went back to work Wednesday (which I am thankful for having a job where I can make a living). Back at home, Vasili (my boyfriend) and I made our Halloween costumes (guess who?!)

Being the brainiacks we are, we couldn't find red striped shirts so we bought cheap white ones from Target (less than $10) and used red duct tade (less than $5) and made our own stripes! Add glasses from the dollar store and red striped tights ($5) and you have a cute Waldo and his Wenda!

So, we enjoyed a few hours not giving out the candy (what happened to all the kids?! we only got 15 trick-or-treaters!) and then my adorable little cousins also came over with their Grandma who is visiting from Greece (she's fabulous!), pooped from all the candy taking hah. Oh to be young again! After, we went down to Fells Point (crazy-fest in Baltimore) for the first time! Tons of people everywhere (and thankfully security!) I guess we found the kids! Haha... Best costume goes to.... :

From there we went dancing for a bit and met up with a few people. It was a blast even though we called it an early night :) It was surreal to look around at all the people dressed in wacky costumes yet acting completely normal. We found another Waldo, but after talking, we agreed we wouldn't confuse anyone if we stayed at opposite sides of the bar lol. Favorite part: People calling out "I found Waldo!" from far away!

Thursday was Vasili's White Coat Ceremony. I was able to spend time with his family and get even more excited about the next few years in his (read: our) life! After a great lunch, our evening was spent with his family, watching movies cuddled on the couch in sweats (courtesy Vasili's awesome sister!) and looking through his parents wedding albums/videos, hearing funny stories, and watching the younger ones cringe as they watched their parents kiss at their wedding. I can only imagine what it felt like for them watching a movie from sooo long ago, when their lives have evolved so much since then!

:) One for the memory books!

Now, Sunday night, should be 11:20 but its 10:20pm and I am exhausted. I had a lovely dinner with my brother and sister at Ryan's Daughter in Belvedere Square. We shared the Dubliner Cheese for the appetizer. My sister and I got it the first time we went there with a friend and HAD to have it again. Its warm, gooey, delicious cheese! How can you go wrong?! I also tried a Pear Cider which I absolutely loved! It like a sweet champagne.... but its beer! No buzz or hop-iness or dryness! Its great for a non-beer drinker lol. For dinner I stuck with the dubliner burger in order to satisfy my desire for good, fatty food (yea... you know what I mean). 12 oz is a huge feat and I barely finished half, but it was a good piece of meat! The best part was talking with my siblings and catching up... on all the silly things, all the dramatic things, and all the serious things. It's always good to catch up. I am truly blessed to have such awesome siblings that are both amazing human beings, both unique in their own way!

Family is such a wonderful thing. I am blessed to have a wonderful family, great friends, a healthy life, and to be constantly surrounded by love!

PS- I promised you pictures of my pumpkin seeds. They aren't anything to call home about, so I have to rescind my promise!