If you have never heard of Lisa Klypas she is a romance writer.  One of my favorite in fact. (Yup I admit it, I like to read romance.  Light fluffy books that have happy endings and are easy for me to read between work and the kids.  They make me happy and I love them.)   My dear friend Kimberly introduced me to Lisa a few years ago and I quickly worked my way through all of her books.  If you haven’t ever read her books, I highly recommend them.  They are fast feel good reads.

In the fall she released her latest book: Christmas at Friday Harbor (http://www.lisakleypas.com/bookChristmasEveatFH.asp) and I immediately downloaded the audio book to listen to on my way to work.

Then I found out the best news.  She was having a contest of sorts.  She was going to pick fans to become “Lisa’s Divas”.  We would receive copies of Christmas at Friday Harbor to share with friends and also previews of the whole series.  We got a groovy welcome kit complete with a fun tank top and really cool sun glasses.

I was even lucky enough to get a preview copy of the next book Rainshadodow Road.

http://www.lisakleypas.com/sneakpreviews.asp

I felt so lucky to be one of the few to get the books and be apart of this really cool event and the best part is Kimberly was chosen too!  We are doing this together!  What more can a girl ask for?

How can I not when I get a view like this out my hotel window

and I can enjoy super yummy food and drinks with some amazing ladies.

Of course they have begun to decorate for Christmas and that just adds to the magic.

What’s left for the month?  Rome tomorrow (my one trip this month where I don’t know any of the crew) and Edinburgh next Monday with a really great crew.  Not bad if I do say so myself.

Chicken Garlic Tika Balti - my fav

NAN!!!

(Leave it to me to take pictures of the food but not the crew.)

We all came together to reconnect and to walk for the cure.  Saturday consisted of old friends and new gathering to laugh and have fun.  Sunday 36 of us did the Susan G. Komen for the cure 5K.  Some of us walking some of us running (including Kimmy).  It is always such an amazing day to me but especially this year because two members of our team were breast cancer survivors.

After the walk the fun continued with the opening of Kimberly and Richard’s Tikki Bar at their house.

I laughed so hard during the weekend that my tummy muscles even hurt it was what we all needed. A weekend celebration of life, love, and laughs!

I’m helping to raise money by holding a raffle.

If your are interested in winning this really cool – if I do say so myself- bag

made by me and helping a wonderful cause just go to:

http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/General?px=7867019&pg=personal&fr_id=2261

and donate at least $10 to Goldie’s Angles under my name.  I’ll enter your name into the drawing and will have Goldie herself pull the name of the winner out on Oct. 16th the day of the race.

Thanks and good luck everyone!

It was a great send off to a wonderful city.

Ken and I had a “staycation”.  I flew the girls down to my parents in Virginia for a weekend and we stayed home.  We checked out a few local restaurants we had been wanting to try and even went to a movie while Mom and Dad spoiled the girls and enjoyed some time with them.

After collecting the girls we headed to the coast for some time with friends and Ken’s 20 year (what?) high school reunion.  It was awesome to reconnect with old friends!

The girls first trip to DUMARS

Hanging out!

Lots of cuddles

The look that Lily gave my crazy girls the whole time they were there.

Reunion and Kayoke

I celebrated a friends Birthday in Edinburg and had fun at the Fringe festival.

Cheers

Ellie had a week alone at Mom and Dad’s and the week finished with Mom’s work picnic.  Mardi Gras theme.

We had a lemonade stand,

some park time,

and finally some beach time before the Summer ended.

Busy but fun August for the Pankos.

What a pleasant surprise that it ended up being a truly wonderful few days.

It started two days before my birthday when Ken brought me home a beautiful bunch of flowers.  It was such a pleasant surprise and made me smile.

My actual birthday started with a bit of a lie-in and coffee and pasteries.  Ken and Sadie went to work and school and Ellie and I headed to get our toes done and to the beach.

I got a chance to use my very cool new sandfree beach blanket.

We arrived home to a yummy box of Georgetown Cupcakes! Thank you Julie!  Ellie was so excited and trust me I was too.

It continued with a lobster and shrimp dinner and cake of course!

I got to spend my day with my four favorite people and received loads of messages and packages from friends and love ones that humbled me and made me have a smile that couldn’t be blasted off all day.  Thank you all for making my birthday surprisingly wonderful!

Last September my friends Julie, Kathe and I hit the 20 year mark.  We all meet at Express Greenbrier Mall when we all opened the store and worked there.  We left- one by one – and all ended up at 17th Street Surf shop.  I mean you just couldn’t break us up!

In the last 20 years there have been boyfriends and breakups, marriages and kids, jobs have come and gone, and we have even survived one of us -me- moving far away, but we have all remained in touch and in friendship.

Julie decided we should do a 20 year trip -  sans kids and husbands.  Just us, hangin’, talking and enjoying each other without life intruding too much.  It took a few months of trying to figure it out- thanks Jules for doing this- but at last it was decided.  What better place to do it than the laid back beautiful Florida Keys.  How lucky are where that Julie’s sister just bought a place down there and offered it for our girlie weekend away – THANK YOU SO MUCH Kim!!

We had a few issues getting there – it included a unplanned group road trip from Miami- but we made it and it was so awesome.  We had beach time, yummy food,  loads of laughs, and most of all time to just be with each other – we even snuk in a little HGTV time.

I am so glad I have these wonderful women at my back and on my side now and always.

On May 28th at 6:30 a bunch of us – no matter where we were- made a toast to my friend Kimberly.  She had her last radiation treatment on May 26th!  Now that is something to toast about!