It's OK

Its's OK...

...to be confused about a decision that needs to be made and have no clue what to do.

...to want to confront a few friends on a few issues and be PO'd that I know they'll just brush it away

...to not want to share details but when you do, to get PO'd that the person just wanted to know details and not suggest ideas to you.  This is a major pet peeve of mine.

...to not want Hurricane Isaac to ruin St. Louis area weekend plans...and its looking it might :(

...to want life to be like it was back in 2009, give or take a few things.

...to want to go couponing but knowing that you really don't need any of it right now.  Its addicting!

...to spends hours catching up on RHONJ and procrastinating on everything else.

...to not want someone's wedding to be on the same day as mine was.

...to wish someone(s) would keep their word

...to wish I had cable but not have to pay the price for it.

8 fears

8 fears...in no particular order!

1)  Death ~ My mom died when I was 18 from a battle with leukemia (she was 45).  She fought it for 3 years, and I was there every step of the way as she progressed to the end.  When someone innocent loses their battle of life, it really takes a toll on you and it really makes you think.  I think seeing her fight it and the fact that I can't imagine not opening my eyes again, really scares me.  I understand we have a world to explore once our time is up here but because of the fights I've had with the owner of that other world, I'm just not ready to even think about it.


2)  Ticket/Car accident ~ in my short 30 years of life, I have never (knock on wood) been in a car accident or have gotten a ticket.  Yes, I've had my times where I'm shocked that I haven't and I know my day is going to come where those lovely red and blue lights are blaring behind me.  I just hope its because I'm speeding or something, not because of some reckless driver who doesn't pay attention to what they are doing.

(I can say, though, on the flip side of this, it was very fun to ride along as my brother's companion when he pulled people over.  Now that's fun!)

3)  Children ~ I have had several friends the past few years have trouble with conceiving and having to explore other options.  Many have been successful with those options, others have not.  A part of me hopes that when it comes our time to have a child, that it won't be an issue.  Same with having a child with a disability or disorder.  I want my readers to understand that while its a  worry of mine, doesn't mean I won't support or love the child and go to the ends of the earth to care for the child, I'm more afraid of the reaction of my extended family in their so-called "I'm perfect" world.  A lot of comments made in regards to different issues through the years has led me to believe that if the above were to happen, I would not get support from them.  Because they are perfect...and nothing can be blamed on that side of the family.


4)  Divorce ~ what a nasty word!  I have had several friends over the years go through divorce, many because the marriage just wasn't meant to be, many for other reasons.  I am not a child of divorce but I am a child of a widow and it has its similarities.  I plan on only marrying once, come hell or high water.  I will work hard to keep my marriage going that this won't be an option.


5)  Bugs ~ can't really explain it, just don't like them!  I hate it even more that when I ask hubby to kill them, he either a) takes his dear old time or b) grunts and groans about doing it.  Oh well I hate bugs!


6)  Zombies ~ alrighty, this is mainly because my hubby is obsessed with these types of movies that I already know his plan of attack and what he thinks we're going to do if they come.  I also know that he would most definitely say adios to me if I was attacked before him.  Love you too honey!


7)  Failure ~ I'm at a point in my life where I'm tired of being handed the bad card.  I went into education thinking I'd be in a classroom already.  Silly me thought I'd climb the ladder to get to one only to find out that now I have too much of an education background that no one wants to hire someone with no experience in a brand new field.  Lovely huh?  I just hate this feeling I have currently.


8)  Rape/shot/killed/attacked ~ there is so much of this happening lately in St. Louis that you really can't go anywhere without hearing that it has happened here at some point.  Its scary.

What are your biggest fears?

Let's go Cardinals!

Last Sunday hubby and I finally made it to our first Cardinals game of the season.

On our way downtown, we made a little detour to Gus' Pretzels and got a snack for the game.

Great weather, great seats and 2 games for the price of one as the game went into 19 innings.  It was a bummer that we lost but it was still a fun time.

Go Cards!!

Sunday Social

So every time I go to post the Sunday Social, I can't help but hear a local karaoke guy in St. Louis shouting "SOCIAL!" and raising his drink glass.  He is widely known for that phrase and I hear his voice each.and.every.time!

Okay moving on!

This week is all about the internet.  Hope I entertain you with my answers!

1)  What is the first website you log into each day?

 

I have 1 Yahoo! Mail account and 2 Gmail accounts I check periodically throughout the day.  I do have a gmail from my old work that still works (why they didn't take me off, no clue) so I will check that on occasion because I can keep up with the district and have the behind the scenes scoop!

2)  Give us some funny websites that we need to know about.
These aren't necessarily funny persay but they are time killers and you should go to each one and join and then add me as a friend!

 

3)  Pinterest or Facebook?  Why??
I am on both but can honestly say I probably visit Facebook more.  It keeps me up to date with friends and events.  Pinterest is very fun but its really all just a dream on that site.

4)  Twitter or Instagram?  Why??
I am an avid Twitter user and really have never touched Instagram.  I don't need another app on my phone and I like my cameras abilities just fine.

5)  Favorite YouTube video:

That is my awesome and talented hubby up on the stage trying out for Harrah's Lucky Break singing J. Geil's Band's Centerfold.  He made it pretty far!

6)  Biggest online pet peeve?
In the attempts to become friends with the people that friends are dating, several have asked me to be their facebook friends.  I usually accept them but I hate hate hate when they b*t*h and complain to me about pictures of their current interest up on my photos with another person.  This has happened a lot, esp with my wedding pictures.  Someone unmentionable complained that the guy was with another girl at the wedding and she didn't like the pictures.  I'm sorry but you weren't around at that given time in our lives.  She went as far as to ask me to tell the photographer to cut the girl out of the pictures.  Please respect that the Facebook page you are on belongs to someone else and they have the choice to put up/take down what they want.  Needless to say the neither of the girls and the guy are together at the moment.

Festival of the Little Hills

For as long as I can remember, I grew up going to the Festival of the Little Hills each year in St. Charles, MO.

Its a weekend event that is known for its unique fair food, live music and tons of craft booths.  It is situated on Main Street St. Charles, and the Riverfront and attracts many a crowd every year.

To continue the tradition that my Mom started with our family growing up, I started taking my hubby with me and a group of friends.

This year was no exception.

We met at the famous Lewis & Clark's Restaurant ready to munch down on some grub then walk the entire fair.  It was a fun, relaxing night compared to the year prior when the fair was shut down in the middle of the action due to tornado like weather.  This year, all I had to account for was dirty feet from the gravel walking.

Doesn't get much better than that!

Lime A Rita

In honor of Thirsty Thursday I am sharing with you my new latest love:

I tried the Budweiser Lime A Rita at Helen's the other night and I fell in love!

I am not a big drinker but I do love me a mixed drink or two on occasion.

Thank you Budweiser for making me a fan :)

9 Loves

I'm linking up with Lauren & Tiffany again for their fun challenge!

9 things that I love:

1)  My hubby!  I know, that's probably cliche and expected but he's my main man and he captures a lot of my heart :)

2)  Scrapbooking - if you are friends with me, you know that I love to take pictures and I love to have photo albums and scrapbooks.  The welcome table at our wedding was filled with our picture books.  It was awesome!  I have 2 books that I need to get done so I got my work cut out for me.

3)  Popcorn - cheese, butter, kettle, you name it, I'll eat it.  Its my go-to snack :)

4)  Traveling - I've been visiting places all my life and I love to just get away.

5)  Reading - I am a reading machine.  The library is my best friend now that Borders has closed up shop.  I'm sorry but Barnes & Noble will never measure up.  I always try to have a good book on hand and I am a proud member of Goodreads so I can track what I've read and what I want to read.

6)  Wine - I love wine.  I love the smell, the taste, the atmosphere of a winery.  I love the concept, the ideas, the friends, the locations.  I just love it all.  We got engaged at a winery.  My wedding was wine themed since we couldn't have it at a winery.  Wine and I are like two peas in a pod.

7)  My friends - throughout the past few years I have truly found out who my friends are.  Some have come and gone but those that are here today are the ones that mean the most.

8)  Hockey - hence my blog name, I am a big St. Louis Blues fan.  I have grown up having season tickets to the Blues and I am lucky to have married someone who loves it even more than me.  Ever since I could imagine my birthday always has fallen on the hockey season opener and I have always had tickets.  Nothing says winter like a good ole' hockey game!

9)  Teaching - its been a rough go since I got my degree in teaching way back when but because I am dedicated to what I love, I am doing my best to get back there.  It takes time but hopefully it comes soon!

10 Secrets

I caught this link-up on my friend Ellen's website via Lauren & Tiffany and I thought it looked like fun to link up with.  I'm catching up with last weeks entry today and then will be on track tomorrow with the normal Tuesday postings.

1)  I loved college a lot more than high school.  High school wasn't rough academic wise (personal wise yes it was), I wasn't bullied, nothing like that, just that I had a lot more fun in college.  However if I could do college over again, there are a few things I'd change.

2)  I tend to always think I'm the one to blame in situations.  Clearly it takes two in many things and there are those who are blinded by their own light.  But I always feel that way.

3)  I was a swimmer and on the swim team all the way up until high school.  Then I just got too busy that I had to quit the team.  But man did I have a mean backstroke!

4)  I daydream a lot.  Probably because my life hasn't turned out the way I had imagined it would.

5)  I love to take pictures.  I will always have a camera with me.  People love it!

6)  I have never traveled out of the country.

7)  I am addicted to my smart phone.  When I first got my cell phone, I had everything basic and I started getting jealous of those around me with their fancy dancy phones and ability to get on the internet.  Well I finally got upgraded to a new phone and everything unlimited back in December and I honestly don't know how I didn't have text messaging before now.

8)  I hate to vacuum.  I will do every other house chore needed but vacuuming is not my favorite thing to do.

9)  I am a picky eater.  There are certain things I will not touch if they aren't mixed in a dip or something.  If you don't tell me what you used to make something, then I'll probably try it.

10)  I collect keychains.  I have a keychain from just about everywhere I go so I can look back and remember.  I even have a display for them.

Sunday Social

Time for the Sunday Social...throwback style!!



1)  What were you like in Middle School/High School? (pictures)
I was a very busy lady!  I babysat for a lot of families on the weekends and hung out with "friends" when I had a the chance.  I didn't really date.  I was involved with Girl Scouts and the Venturing program.  I looked a lot different than I do now.

2)  What were your favorite past times?

I loved babysitting.  I loved traveling with my family.  I loved teaching my siblings and neighbors in my classroom.  I was always reading something.

3)  What songs were you obsessed with?

I was obsessed with NKOTB, NSync, Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees.

4)  What fashion statement do you look back on and cringe?

Bangs....in a way!  Sometimes they are cute now but when I think about having them on me, not so much.

5)  Who was your celebrity crush?

Luke Perry aka Dylan McKay was one.

Zach from Saved by the Bell

6)  What were your favorite tv shows?

Oh man...where do I start?  90210, Melrose Place, Saved by the Bell, California Dreams, Boy Meets World, Step by Step and I'm sure when others post this I'll see a lot more!  My favorite movie then was Top Gun and any Disney classic.

That was fun - hope you have a great Sunday!

MWF seeking BFF

I am very excited to share with you the book I just finished most recently.

Friendship is one of the most important elements of life but it can be hard to make new friends.  In this book you read about the author's experiences in meeting new people.  Think of speed dating only with the friend twist.  I have never done either the way Rachel does in this book but it makes it seem fun.  What's even better is that if you're a Chicago native or fan, you will recognize many of the places she has her friend dates at.  I found myself looking them up and trying to figure out if I had seen them before.

You will love this book and you will not be able to put it down!

The background of the book:

When Rachel Bertsche first moves to Chicago, she’s thrilled to finally share a zip code, let alone an apartment, with her boyfriend. But shortly after getting married, Bertsche realizes her new life is missing one thing: friends. Sure, she has plenty of BFFs—in New York and San Francisco and Boston and Washington DC. Yet in her adopted hometown, there’s no one to call at the last minute for girl-talk over brunch or a reality TV marathon over a bottle of wine. Taking matters into her own hands, Bertsche develops a plan: she’ll go on fifty-two friend-dates, one per week for a year, in hopes of meeting her new Best Friend Forever.

In her thought-provoking, uproarious memoir, Bertsche blends the story of her girl-dates (who she meets everywhere from improv class to friend-rental websites) with the latest in social research to examine how difficult—and hilariously awkward—it is to make new friends as an adult. She asks why women will happily announce they need a man but are embarrassed to admit they need a BFF. And she uncovers the reality that no matter how great your love life, you’ve gotta have friends.

What makes this book really great is that its a real person and she even has a blog!

MWF Seeking BFF

Read it and try to tell me that its not one of your newest faves!

MO State Fair

On Saturday my family and I headed to Sedalia for the Missouri State Fair.

This year's theme was:

It was a fun event.  My Dad, sister, sister's boyfriend and I rode up together that morning and my hubby joined us early afternoon for a day of exhibits, judging, bbq and more.

The weather took a nice break from the heat for us to enjoy the day.  We ate a hearty lunch at Good Time Charlie's BBQ, which is a staple at the fair with its ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and homemade fries.  Add in some live music and its a great break from walking around.

I cannot wait to head there again in 2013.  There's just something about a great day at the fair :)

The King and I

Friday marked the last night of our season tickets at the Muny for the summer.

I made it a girls night and brought Ellen with me.

Despite some issues brought on by other people (lets just say there's never a dull moment when the 2 of us are together) it was a fun, relaxing night and the weather was AWESOME!

I had never seen "The King and I" which made it more fun.

I cannot wait until next year's season.

I love the Muny :)

Gateway Grizzlies

Over the weekend, we were invited by our friend Ryan to be guests of his work at a Gateway Grizzlies game.

Having never been, we took him up on the offer.

Ryan works for Wells Fargo and each employee was offered 4 tickets, along with $6, per person, in Grizzly bucks to spend at the game.

It was a fun time.

The Grizzlies beat the River City Rascals, the night air was cool and baseball nachos rock!

Sunday Social

Its all about FOOD!!

1)  If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Hmmm its a toss up between anything chicken, mexican and BBQ...assuming I wouldn't gain pounds in so-called perfect world!!
 

2)  What is your guilty pleasure/comfort food?
That would be anything CHOCOLATE!!


3)  What is the weirdest, craziest thing you've ever eaten?
On my first trip to Captiva Island with my stepmom a few years ago, we went to the Mucky Duck and I tried Duck as an appetizer...it was fried and tasted like chicken!


4) What foods to you avoid at all costs?
Mustard, sour cream, mayo, tomato slices, cream cheese - however, with sour cream and cream cheese, if its in a dip or something and I don't know it and I eat the dip, its okay but if I know it, I won't even try it!
 

5)  Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it!
My stepmom makes awesome meatballs for spaghetti & meatballs.  I make it on occasion for my hubby.  If you'd like the recipe, I'll certainly share :)