I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends...

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.” - Anonymous

The whole reason I started even looking at taking a trip in the first place was because I needed to be in Arizona the weekend of October 1st for a very special reason...my college room mate, the lovely Miss Amanda Palumbo is getting married!! next summer and I was lucky enough to get asked to be in the bridal party.  Since we are all scattered about, Amanda asked us to all come to Arizona for the weekend to do bridesmaid type things - like pick out our dresses for the wedding!  I was able to meet Ashley - another bridesmaid who has been friends with Amanda since I left for Purdue and I have never had the pleasure of meeting.  She was great and I am so happy I finally got to meet her!  Of course my fellow penguin lover Janelle was there (along with Dustin) from Wisconsin, too.  The wedding next summer is going to be fabulous!  

I also got to meet the future Mr. Palumbo - Bret.  I had not had the pleasure of meeting him yet, but he was nice enough to let me stay with he and Amanda for the entire week I was there...and put up with all of us women being around for several days in a row.  I found him to be delightful, funny, intelligent and kind.  Welcome to our crazy family, Bret!  

The future Mr. and Mrs. Bret Laster-Loftus!  Precious!

My first full day in Arizona was spent pool side with Amanda, Ashley and some other friends.  It was over 100 degrees outside - so we thoroughly enjoyed the water (especially since Ashley and I both came from the midwest chilliness)!  It was a fun day!

We were quick friends!  (Look at that water!)

Lovely weather, lovely pool and lovely ladies!

The first night Ashley was there she and I got dolled up and headed out to Mill Ave.  I did not take my camera with, so I will have to wait on Ashley to upload hers.  But I met Alex's little brother Josh out, as well as my friend Bryce.  We had a great time!

Saturday Janelle and Dustin arrived and we went dress shopping (also did not have my camera for that).  That night we all went to dinner and were joined by our good friend Ana!  I only have one picture of that night and it did not turn out...but when other pictures go up on Facebook I will add them in!

Sunday we went to a BBQ at Jared's (Bret's best man) condo.  He and his fiance Kelly were sweet enough to invite all of Amanda's out of town guests to come along - so we did!  It was a lovely time and we all enjoyed ourselves.  That night Ana invited Janelle, Dustin and I to go salsa dancing.  It didn't last too long...but at least we looked smashing!

From left to right: Myself, Ana and Janelle.  This was just outside of the dance studio we went to for the salsa dancing.

Ana and I playing around in the car while Dustin was kind enough to cart us all around.

I love my Nello! 

So when I went home to change clothes so we could go out clubbing - Amanda decided to join us!  Woo!  

All four ladies out at Zuma on Mill Ave.

Drinkin' up at Martini Ranch in Old Town Scottsdale.  We had a lot of fun dancing here - I had never been! 

 

On my last night in Arizona - long after Janelle, Dustin and Ashley were all gone...Amanda, Bret, Bryce and I all went out to Pattie's in Old Town.  We had a fabulous time - especially since my tab was 1/2 what it should have been (cheers to being a girl)! 

Well this one is a little blurry (or maybe it was Amanda's vision...), but it is the only one I have with Bryce - so here it is anyway!

I love you Palumbo - I miss you so much already!  Thanks for everything!