MIMM : Penn State Edition

Hi everyone!  Happy Monday!  I hope that you all had terrific weekends.  I was lucky enough to take a trip to my alma mater this weekend and had a marvelous weekend.

Most people have a "happy place"- that place that they can go back to visit and instantly feel a calm sweep through their body.  A place where they still get butterflies in their stomach when they take the final exit to their destination.  For me, that place has always been Penn State University.
From my first visit there with my parents for a Penn State/Pitt football game, I was in love.  My four years as a student were truly my best and happiest years, where I got to meet the absolute best friends (and future husband) ever. This weekend, two of those friends happened to be stopping by, and I had to join them to try to re-live our glory years!  Here are some highlights from the weekend.

Dinner at Ottos

Drinks at Bar Blue with these pretty ladies! 

Picnic on Old Main lawn

It had to happen...and it was hilarious 

This picture just cracks me up..

Dinner and margaritas at Mad Mex

Awesome band playing at Cafe!! We stayed until their set ended (around 2AM) singing and dancing. So much fun!

Mini golf happened

Visited the gorgeous Arboretum! Such a beautiful place to walk around. Highly suggest visiting if you take a trip to Penn State!


One of my favorite areas in the Arboretum..the cave

Standing in Childhood's Gate..Shapeless in the Hands of Fate

Did you even visit Penn State if you didn't get Creamery ice cream? 


I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my weekend!  Let me know what fun adventures you were up to in the comments!

Any other Nittany Lions out there?
Where is your happy place?
Favorite ice cream flavor?
WHO'S EXCITED FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL?!?!

Comments

  1. PeggyAugust 3, 2015 at 5:49 AM

    Missed you at Chris' but it looks like you had a great time. Did you know that when you marry into this family you will be related to the owner of Otto's? Roger is my cousin. He was a professor of psychology there but retired now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 3, 2015 at 11:10 AM

      That's what dan told me! That's so exciting and one reason why I try to go there every time I visit. Plus, I love their food and beer :)

      Delete
  2. UnknownAugust 3, 2015 at 6:15 AM

    I was hoping I'd see a photo of ice cream from The Creamery! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fairytales and FitnessAugust 3, 2015 at 6:39 AM

    This fountain pics are cute! You weren't too far from me! We don't get to Penn State often though. The last time we were there was for the 4th of July Fireworks show!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 3, 2015 at 11:12 AM

      Nice!! I'm glad I live close-ish (less than three hours) so it's easy to visit. I try to go at least once or twice a year!

      Delete
  4. UnknownAugust 3, 2015 at 6:58 AM

    Awe! So glad you had so much fun. I love love love that serious face picture of you three!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 3, 2015 at 11:12 AM

      Haha me too! I saw it and couldn't stop cracking up :)

      Delete
  5. JamieAugust 3, 2015 at 9:38 AM

    Ummm what a fun weekend!!! I absolutely love being in Nantucket... which happens to have the best ice cream (Juice Bar!!) for the Green Monstah... mint chocolate chip cookie dough... yes yes yes. And Holy cow I love me some college football!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 3, 2015 at 11:13 AM

      Oh I know your happy place :) we'll have to talk some college football soon. Can't wait for the season to start!

      Delete
  6. Kayla @ Blondes Have More RunAugust 3, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    I live in PA but have never visited Penn State main! It looks like a lot of fun though. I'd consider going there just for that ice cream! I've heard great things about the Creamery!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 3, 2015 at 11:14 AM

      You have to visit!!! Especially to get ice cream haha! It's amazing.

      Delete
  7. UnknownAugust 3, 2015 at 10:43 AM

    Awww, so fun!! And I need to get there for the ice cream :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. AmandaAugust 3, 2015 at 3:26 PM

    Looks like such a fun weekend! Penn State is the best - both of my brother's are alumni and live in the area so we are there a few times a year! Happy Valley is awesome!!

    WE ARE!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 4, 2015 at 3:23 AM

      PENN STATE! :) that's so cool you get to visit so much. I just love it so much :)

      Delete
  9. UnknownAugust 3, 2015 at 6:25 PM

    Looks like so much fun! Both my sisters went there, and my one sister also met her husband there! We visited a lot, and of course always stopped at the creamery. Never been to the arboretum though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 4, 2015 at 3:24 AM

      That's great!! And you definitely have to stop there..:it's gorgeous and free!

      Delete
  10. SokphalAugust 4, 2015 at 8:05 AM

    I'm not a Nittany lion (cougar here, not the kind that goes for young babes but the animal) - there are a lot of Penn State alumni in DC and I love how there's so much school spirit! Everyone seems to have loved that school!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 4, 2015 at 9:44 AM

      I know there are a ton! In my major (information sciences and technology) pretty much the entire college moved down there. I feel like the one left out since I stayed in Pittsburgh!

      Delete
  11. SokphalAugust 4, 2015 at 8:05 AM

    I'm not a Nittany lion (cougar here, not the kind that goes for young babes but the animal) - there are a lot of Penn State alumni in DC and I love how there's so much school spirit! Everyone seems to have loved that school!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jess @hellotofitAugust 4, 2015 at 9:40 AM

    What a fun weekend! I haven't visited my alma mater in so long...at least a few years. I need some of that ice cream! And I love Bill Hader. He's great in The Skeleton Twins.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunAugust 4, 2015 at 9:45 AM

      Ah the ice cream is amazing :) I really liked him in the movie. He usually plays really creepy characters on SNL so this was a nice surprise :) I'll have to check out the Skeleton Twins!

      Delete

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