Good Ol' West Chester

Sorry for not updating in awhile! I switched shifts at work, so I am all sorts of off! Last weekend, I went back to PA for a few thing events. Jack was not able to go because he was house/dog-sitting for a co-worker. Usually my first stop on my way home is try to meet friends for coffee in the morning.

Sometimes, this doesn't always work, but we always try to set something up. I lucked out because 3 of my good friends were available! I have a group of friends from middle/high school and we still have annual get-togethers and try to visit one another. It was easier when we all lived in West Chester together, and now we are spread out all over the world from New York, Colorado, Iowa, DC, Delaware, Maryland, and Morocco. I love them dearly. They my sisters, best friends and confidants. I woud be lost without with fabulous group of women.

Sometimes there is no place like home!

A Sweet Escape....Literally!

For Valentine's Day, I wanted to surprise Jack with something fun. I don't really see Valentine's Day as a real holiday, but I wanted to do something nice anyway. Jack & I are going to different work schedules, and won't see each other as much for awhile, so I wanted to do something extra nice.

I was thinking, maybe making dinner reservations, but threw that idea out the windowl. Then an idea just came to me! Why not celebrate Valentine's Day at the sweetest place on earth??? Hershey!!!!!!!! It turned out Hershey had some sweet packages left to book at a great price. I booked it, and told Jack I had a surprise for him. I didn't give him any hints. On Sunday, he even fell asleep in the car till we arrived at our destination!

Hershey is a great place for people of all ages, and there is tons to do! It is only 2 hours from DC, so it makes a great weekend trip! When you enter downtown Hershey you are immediately hit with the scent of chocolate in the air. Literally, the air smells like chocolate. YUM! So, I had some things lined up for us to do. Visit Chocolate World, Go to Hershey Museum. And Hershey, PA: just gives away free candy. Why wouldn't you want to visit!? :-)

Hello Chocolate Avenue! All the street signs have cool names.

Upon our hotel check in, the reception desk hands your two free Hershey bars.

I am loving it already. ( and so was Jack!)

Here on a walking tour at the Hershey Story Museum.

The street lights are Hershey Kisses...super fun!

Jack 'holding' the street light. Yup, we are cool.

Playing around at Hershey Musuem. Jack liked this interactive display.

The parade at Chocolate World!

I am LOVING the Reese's display. My favorite candy!!

On Chocolate World tour ride

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Valentine's Day dinner.

Part of the Romance Package:

Rose petal turn down, chocolate covered strawberries and champagne.!

Look....more candy...

Yum Yum!

Even Breakfast Room service came with candy......we were all "candied" out that this point.

When we got home, Jack had ordered me flowers to be sent to the house....well the flower delivery person left it outside our front door. All night. We came home....they were a bit dead, and a bit frozen. I saved the flowers I could from the frozen bunch. Sorry Jack!

Goodbye Blue, Hello Yellow!

The project: The 'Blue Room'..a.k.a the Guest Room

Mission: Give it a new look, get rid of the blue.

After moving all the furniture out of the room to prep for painting, I decided I needed a break.

I'm a photoholic. Jack points this out a lot. Sometimes I think he wishes I didn't own a camera. I for some reason find the need to document everything on life on my digital camera. Don't ask me why.I like memories.  I take a lot of pictures. So, I asked Jack (politely) if he would pose for a picture. He did a bit of grumbling, but agreed :-)

I snuck this picture. Here Jack are prepping walls for the paint!

I picked the color. It is called "Picking Daisies." Yellow is bright and friendly. A happy color! This is also where we learned we should have put a primer paint down. Jack was adament we didn't need it, but I thought we did. So, we went with Jack suggestion of just putting a few coats on. What went from 2 coats, went to 4 coats of paint. Blue is very hard to cover! For future reference. Always use a primer paint if the color you are painting over the orignial wall color is lighter. LOL.

Jack made the mistake of giving the job of the paint roller. BAD IDEA. I am deadly with a paint roller, but not 100% accurate.....I went a little roller happy I guess you could say.He told me to roll the paint as close to the ceiling I could get...without hitting the ceiling...There were a few spots where I went a little roller happy. We have to fix the ceiling in a few spots.....ooops!

5 days later. FINALLY finished. We started on Saturday, and finally finished on Wednesday. Thank goodness for all the downtime with the snowstorm. We definately got irritated during the process. The room is not perfect, we messed up in a few spots, you can hardly tell,  but it looks a lot better then the blue! Next time we are hiring a professional. I am not painting any more rooms in this house.

We are ready for people to come visit! You have new painted guest room to stay in! Come visit us!