Spring Fun & a FL Vacation!!!

So much to share... where to begin?  First of all, have I mentioned lately how beautiful spring is here in CT?  Because it's crazy beautiful.  Been enjoying afternoons by the lake, walks on the Airline Trail with my zen buddy Erin, and finally went to one of her amazing yoga classes :)

In other news, I am still dating the guy from the "amazing date" I mentioned last weekend (7 more dates to be exact, so I guess you could say we kinda like each other a little bit ;)  We went for a lovely walk around this pond near his house...  

We also had another event at the inn, a baby shower with the cutest cake ever.

It was kind of a gray, rainy day, but everyone seemed to have a great time and really enjoy the house and each others' company.

Then my guy and I went to Six Flags, which was awesome until I got motion sick on the last ride :(

Then the weather cleared up and we had some incredibly blue, sunny, breezy days.

 

We spent as much time together as we could before I left for my FL vacation, which I have been sooo excited about.  Shout out to my sister for picking me up stupid late at the airport with 2 kiddos in tow... (she's the best :)  

I especially spent a lot of time with my nephew Ryder, who turned  today!  He has grown up so much in just a few months, and all of my favorite quotes from the trip are from him.  For example, I was exhausted the morning after I arrived, and I was snuggled up on the couch and he couldn't resist climbing over me and squishing in behind me.  Then he leans over and whispers in my ear: "You're all mine..."  Hahaha!  That second picture was taken when he decided he "wasn't sleepy enough" for a nap and wanted to sit with me and watch Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 for the hundredth time instead.

 

We took the kids the park at the library to play for a bit, then visited my mom at work, then Shannon at work.  

It was overcast and/or rainy pretty much every day, but I didn't even mind, because I just wanted to spend as much time as I could with the gremlins. 

Friday night my BFF Kelsey came down and we had a girls night downtown.  We looked in a bunch of shops and had gelato and found this sweet outdoor venue playing live music, so we stopped in for a bit to listen and enjoy.

 Saturday some of us went to the Farmers Market at the Amphitheater.  It was wicked hot and humid out, but it was still fun walking around with Ryder and looking at all the cool arts & crafts.  Dad went a little crazy and got shrimp, boiled peanuts, swiss chard, peaches, and honey stix, so we had a very unusually but yummy dinner.  And speaking of arts & crafts, look at this adorable crocheted Frida Kahlo cactus Brittany made me!

One afternoon Brit and I went and helped Dad with a tile job on the beach.  

For my b-day Brit had balloons and breakfast waiting, and Ryder picked me these pretty flowers :)

I went shopping at the mall, then to a movie with my brother, then to Mango Mangos & bowling with some of my favorite people ever :)

I bowled the worst game of my life, but I had so much fun I didn't even care :)

Then a couple days later I was on the plane and headed back to CT.  Always a little sad to say goodbye to everyone, but I had such an amazing visit this time.

And now back to your regularly scheduled "Belle of Bevin House" exploring CT program!

What is my LIFE?!

I don't know if it's something in the air, or if I'm just finally bouncing back from my "winter blues," but life has been especially sweet lately.  Finally went out to a place called "Two Wrasslin Cats," in East Haddam.  Met the owner, Mark, who is as delightful as his neon goatee, had a delicious sandwich--the Catprese, and a really good talk with a friend from my Writers Guild. 

Such a fun, quirky little place.  I'll definitely go back.  On the weekends they have live music :)

Saturday I spent the afternoon in Norwich with my friend Ben.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and the trees are blooming and beautiful.  

We went to the Slater Museum b/c he'd never been.  We had the place pretty much to ourselves, and though it was a little warm, we had a nice time.  They had some very cool art in the last gallery...

 Aaaand then I took more pics b/c I'm a nerd.

Beautiful, right?  How could I not take a bunch of pictures?!

From there we went to Yantic Falls, which was also beautiful...

And then he took me to see the prettiest Town Hall I have ever seen.  It reminded me of Hello Dolly!  Harmonia Gardens, maybe?  But for the life of me I can't remember what the exterior of the Harmonia Gardens looks like.  Guess I"ll have to watch it for the 100th time...

In other news I had an amazing date Saturday night, which I will not go into the details of here...

Sunday we had an event here at the Inn, a Wedding Shower for a lovely couple.  Their family was super sweet and fun to host.

Then yesterday my friend Maureen wanted to celebrate my birthday early, 

so she had a whole fun day planned.  Starting with brownie cake & presents...

Then we drove around a bit...

 And went to Harvey's Beach, where we had a lovely picnic lunch, lounged, talked, and dipped our toes in the water.  I was sooo relaxed I could've stayed all day.

After that we drove along the shore a bit with the windows down and the music up.  We got back to her farm and I took a nap on the couch while she fed her animals, and I just felt so at home and cozy.  It's amazing that I didn't even know her 8 months ago, and now she's like family.

Then today after working at the Inn and running some errands, I walked down the hill and finally went to a Yoga class at my friend Erin's studio.  It was a great experience, and a wonderful way to end the day.  After her class we walked up the hill and I found out she lives just down the road!

In mushy news... I have fun plans lining up for the rest of the week/weekend, and no one is more surprised about it than I am.  Lately, I've been overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for the new tribe of wonderful people I have here, and I feel so blessed.