Jet Setting with Perfect Strangers...

I went to Vegas. For 4 days. With 6 of my closest friends. And it was amazing.

I never took big spring break trips growing up like all my sorority sisters did. So this travel-with-a-group-of-girls experience was new to me. And it didn't disappoint. In fact, it rocked my world and I won't soon forget them memories we made. Here are just a few standouts:

Airplane ride watching the sun rise, to playing crosswords and Sudoku with Bri.

Afternoon run with Jaim, Karen and Christi taking pics in front of all the casinos

The pool time. Ohhhh, the pool time. We laughed. We cried. We peed (maybe that was just me).

The hotel: Aria. Didn't disappoint and I'd definitely stay there again.

Photo shoots...these happened. Often. This one reminds me of ANTM...so much fun.

Dancing late night on a boat (of sorts). Learned the Cupid Shuffle. Epic.

The OG PS. Work it out.

Losing lots of money (LBS, it was the penny slots). Leaving with 1 penny on my ticket.

JZF slotting it up

And more pool time. With more pitchers. And snuck-in beverages. And dance parties pool-side.

The Bellagio fountain at night and singing "My heart will go on" through tears. Saps-R-Us.

Ran into several Evlis (Elvi?)...these men were vacationing and all decided to dress up as Elvis to spice up their trip. I don't even want to know what kind of shenanigans they came across in the white body suits. But it was picture-worthy fo sho.

Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan. Beautiful. And the bar was, too.

Dancing the night away at Eye Candy inside Mandalay Bay. I'm not kidding you when I saw we danced for hours. This was by far the most fun I had while out there. When I took my shoes off at the end of the night I thought the bones in my feet were broken. I dance that much. And every ache and pain was worth it.

Casual dinner at the Cosmo...but the best conversation ever. I love these girls so much.

Up to no good...

Did I mention we spent a lot of time at the pool?

BFF. TLA. LYLAS.

Beautiful gardens inside the Bellagio

Soul sistas. Team Intensity. Perfect Strangers. Love.

Go-go dancers and meeting randoms inside Planet Hollywood.

Back at Mandalay Bay for round 2 of dancing before we left the next morning.

We had the greatest time and it was honestly the trip of a lifetime. So many memories were made and our friendships were forged even deeper. Can't wait to relive all of these moments pounding the pavement with these girls, passing the mile markers on the trail and in our lives.

#PSLV12 fo eva.

Viking Commander Way

So you may have heard: we moved. Out of the apartment. And into our new house. On Viking Commander Way. Don't worry, we know it's a ridiculous name, too. And you better believe I spent hours attempting to change the street name. With the developer. And the city. To no avail. So Viking Commander Way it is.

Our new development used to be owned by the Mayor's family for years and years. Was a very large horse farm that had two loops: a 1 mile loop and a 1/2 mile loop. Our house sits on the perimeter of the 1 mile loop and backs up to the Monon Trail. You can see the rest of our street has yet to be developed but there are already about 20 or so houses built. And they keep going up daily. 

These pictures are somewhat out of order, but they'll have to do. The above pic was prior to the exterior being painted. You can see the raw hearty wood plank siding naked.

Entry stairs

Kitchen before appliances went in.

Below is of our bathroom before the tub and shower doors were installed

Below is the day we closed (and prior to moving in). We went to the house and started putting furniture together and moving a few things. Was so fun to be able to leave our belongings there instead of erasing all traces of our visits.

The girls watched movies in the loft while we worked...

...until they found boxes and got to playing in them.

Music and beverages...how else would you unpack???

Painting complete

Borrowed Jaime's truck to take apartment contents over while Mike was working with the movers packing up two large trucks.

Nanny Natalie thoughtfully brought us flowers...and they were a beautiful touch to our new space

After Thursday, Friday and Saturday moving and unpacking, we invited our closest friends to help us celebrate our new home.

Lukey and Gigi above, Amy and Jill below

Chandelier installed and new table/chairs put together

A view from our stairway...gives you an idea of the colors

Entry way...my Nana's church pew fits perfectly in this space.

View from the living room looking into the mudroom, planning center and entry way

Girls' bathroom...double sinks is where it's at. Seriously. Two kids. Two sinks. Makes night time routines that much easier.

Mudroom looking into kitchen

Mud room

And that is Viking Commander Way in a nutshell. We're loving our new space and can't wait to start decorating. Still have lots of unpacking to do (home decor et al)...seems every day there's something we can't find. Three day weekend ahead of us with lots of rain = productive time at home!

Stay tuned for a Viking themed party coming up. Mike's brewing beer in anticipation. I'm searching for Viking hats. Totally normal activities around the McCulloch house!