Sunday Social

Unexpected turn of events this weekend but I'm happy to escape that with a little social time.

1)  What do you miss about being a kid?

I miss not having to be responsible!  I miss not having to depend on a job for money!!  I miss just being able to do whatever, whenever and whatnot!!  I miss going on Jeep runs with my Dad; I miss all the traveling we'd do as a family.

2)  Did you have a nickname growing up?  What was it??

I got the occasional J, Jules, and whatnot that comes with the name Julie.  My dad was big into off-roading with his Jeep and to communicate they'd use CB radios which everyone needs a call sign and because I loved Rainbow Brite growing up, my call sign was Rainbow.

3)  What was your favorite thing to do at recess?

The swings!  My school had like 20 swings and it was always seeing who could go the highest and jump off.

4)  What did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a teacher.  I'd keep all those books and turn them into teacher editions and teach my friends in my classroom.  I even got teacher glasses when I had to get glasses.  I was very much into that field.

5)  What was your favorite toy?

Oh wow, what a hard question.  I had so many favorites it was unreal.  But back when I was a kiddo, I had to have ear surgery and I remember my dad giving me a stuff dog at the hospital to hold on to as my first friend to help me in the surgery, which was my first.  I named it Misty.  I still have it in a box somewhere but I will never rid of that dog, ever!  Up until I was a teenager (and maybe even then) that dog went with me to the hospital all the time.

6)  What is the funniest thing you did as a kid that your parents still remind you about?

I had this obsession with teen magazines and teen stars.  I don't know why but I always had to get those teen magazines from the store when we went shopping because of the posters.  The room I grew up in had glass mirrors on the closets, which were perfect to tape up pictures, etc, so every time I'd get one of those magazines I'd literally cover the mirrors in those posters.  It makes me laugh when I think about it.

 

Book Club Friday

So with my life busy busy beyond belief right now, I haven't had time to really read a book in awhile.

But I'm hoping that changes soon because I have these two books to read:

and

My hopes is to fully finish the 2nd one before starting the first one because I love love love Emily Giffin and I want to fully concentrate on that on.  So my goal is to have one of them (if not both) done to review next Friday.

Wish me luck - happy weekend and happy reading!

Fall = wine time!

My hubby and I love wine.

We got engaged at a winery, we had a wine themed wedding, we.love.wine.

So of course with the cooler weather means plenty of opportunities to visit a winery and enjoy a bottle or two.  That was the case not too long ago on a random Sunday.  One of our favorites in the area is Montelle. They have the best view in this part of Missouri and you can't beat their prices, their live music, their food, its just plain awesome.

When we went to Crown Valley Winery in Ste. Genevieve for our first time (and where Keith ended up proposing) because of our special and getting engaged there, we were given the chance to sample every wine and for them that's a lot.  But out of all their wines we loved the blackberry the best.  Well, just so happens when we visited Montelle for the first time back when they had a blackberry that is very similar - so not its our go-to whenever we find it.

One of the things Missouri is known for is a town called Hermann.  Its a picturesque town in the heart of Missouri wine country and its one place Keith and I have not been to.  It has 10+ wineries, great for a wine hop.  However with October come Oktoberfest and lots of activities and my birthday is that first weekend and we may do a little escape to finally see what it is all about.  I'm quite excited!!

So what's your favorite wine?

4 books

I love love love to read and I'm an English major so this is going to be hard to pick only 4 but I'm going to do my best!!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

I seem to mention this a lot in many favorites list but that's because I can relate to them in some way, shape or form.  I'm hoping she's not done writing them so we'll have to see!

The Babysitters Club series

I grew up on these books!!  I loved to babysit and they had everyday lives just like mine.  My parents always bought me the latest one and I can say I own every book in the series.  They did spin-off with different character series but I stuck with the main one.  I loved how they made a movie out of them (which I own on VHS, talk about how old I am) and they were just very enjoyable to read.  Don't forget, it all started with Kristy's main idea :)

The Berenstain Bears

Who didn't love Mama, Papa, Sister & Brother who lived in a great big tree in Bear Country?  Just like the Babysitters series, I owned every book up until they had a baby (Honey).  I love that they have a PBS show and yes I may be almost 31 but if there's nothing on tv and that's on, I'll watch it.

American Girl Books

American Girl character books are the best.  I don't really remember how I got started on them but I do remember my Mom giving me the Molly doll because it resembled me and telling me that I had to take super-duper care of her because she was pricey.  Their stories captivate readers with hope, heart and history and what it means to be a girl - both in the past and in the present.  My future daughter will have an American Girl doll because it holds such a deep place in my heart.

Stuck on an Island

1)  If you could only take 5 people with you to a deserted island, who would it be and why?

My husband ~ because, really, who else would you want to be deserted with?

My dad ~ he'd figure out a way to get us back with all his outdoor skills

My 2 dogs ~ they would keep us entertained and warm at night

A Coast Guard person ~ because eventually someone is going to have to steer that boat I make out of what's available on the island ;)

2)  Show us which island you'd be deserted at.

I don't know which island this is but the water is gorgeous and I can at least climb the cliffs for something to do!

3)  If you could only bring 3 items to deserted island, what would they be and why?

a camera ~ because I'd eventually want to scrapbook my adventure once I'm saved

book of matches ~ to light a fire and smoke signals

a beach cover up ~ because it will get cold at night and I need something covering me up

4)  Show us 3 pictures you'd bring with you

To remind me that we're making memories ;)

My family

They'd be with me but just in case they swam to safety without me

5)  Tell us what you envision life would be like on that island.  Do you think you would go into survival mode?  Would you be like those Survivor people and eat bugs?  What qualities do you possess that would help you survive.

Well in a perfect world my body would be able to survive on days with only water I'm drinking from the ocean.  I won't eat bugs whatsoever so I'm going to have to be on an island with some kind of fruit growing on trees.  I am a girl scout and a boy scout so I would hope I would instantly step into a mode of that and do what I can to gather things, etc, to make our visit a bit more comfortable.  Ultimately I hope to stay positive and know that someone will find us and we will be safe.  The best bet would be for me to land on Gilligan's Island ;)

Sunday social

Yay for social day!!

Hope you all have had a great weekend!

1)  What is something you have wanted to do but are afraid of?

I always thought it would be a rush to go skydiving...however I have yet to do it and I think I'd have to be strapped to someone because I'd lose the guts to jump mid air!

2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I will be turning 36.  I hope to be in a job finally for more than the short stints I have been in.  I'd love to be in a house with my hubby and out of this condo.  Who knows, maybe a kid is coming.

3. What are you looking forward to before the end of 2012?

I really don't have anything spectacular that will be happening the rest of this year.  Guess I'm boring!!

4. What are your hopes for your blog?

I hope I gain more readers and more friends :)

5. Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city?

Unfortunately the answer to this is yes.  Not that I don't love my family and friends and life that is here but sometimes I wonder what it would be like elsewhere.  I do, however, see us traveling more than we do so at least I can pretend to live in another city!

6. What is your morning routine?

Depending on the day, I'm up at either 4 am for work at 530 or up at 7 to help my hubby get moving in the morning.  The rest of the day is just up in the air after that, unless I have to be at the new job by 5 in the afternoon.  All depends on the day!

Redbird Club

Not too long ago, I headed to Girls Day at the Cardinals game with my friend Becky and her daughter Katie.

Becky had seats in the Redbird Club.  It was a great view, great day for a game and the baby was soo happy to be out and about.

It was my 2nd game of the season.  We lost, however, but girls time is always fun time!!

Can't wait to do it again :)

Go Cardinals!!

So what?!?

So what if...

~ all I want to do is sleep right now.  Getting up at 4 and 5 am for the past 4 days is tiring!

~ I change my background on my blog a lot.  I love being creative!  Eventually I need to make a button, anyone know how to do that?

~ I want to throw our DVR out the window.  It now won't record more than one show for me.  So I'm going to have to list the shows that overlap and stream them.

~ I don't trust hubby's friend with a discount I get that he wants for planning a party.  Sorry dude, if you act the way you act and it gets back to me, then I'm screwed and don't get the discount.  If you really want it, then I have to be there, boys party or not.

~ I really don't care that a "friend" is involved with yet another relationship.  This is now like the 5th girl of the year.  Want a reward?  PS tune in next Wednesday for that story if you're interested I'm going to post it in a Pour Your Heart Out!

~ the NHL is on lockout.  Yes I'm a huge hockey fan and it kinda sucks but money makes people mean and of course this is all about money.

~ I'm tired of all the politics.  All I can say is I don't want to hear anyone complaining about who gets the coveted Presidential seat if you don't vote.  Vote, then you can complain - don't vote, you really can't complain!

~ my mind is a spinning round and round

~ I keep having dreams about a particular contestant from the Bachelor Pad.  Its weird but funny at the same time - even more funny because I remember the dreams in the morning.  I should write a book.

So, what are you saying SO WHAT to this week?

5 foods

This week's topic is 5 foods...yummy (maybe)!

Chex Mix
This is my go-to snack.  I love it store bought and homemade.


Pickles
Icky icky.  I will not eat pickles, there is not enough money in the world that you can give for me to eat one.  I even request them not on my plate at restaurants (I seriously don't get why they always give you one also).  I hate the juices also...ick!


Chocolate chip ice cream
This most likely is the flavor I will pick if we were to go get ice cream.  If they have the concrete option, I'm all over that as well.  There's just something about chocolate chip!


Sour cream/cream cheese
I will not eat either one of those plain.  However if you put it in a dip or mix it with a recipe (and not tell me) I'll probably eat it.  For instance, I love cheesecake, and cream cheese is a big part of that.  But if I clearly know that's the main ingredient, sorry, not happening!


Chicken
My go-to meal, I always am making it or ordering it some way at a restaurant.

Sunday Social

SOCIAL!!

:)

1)  What are 3 items you can't live without on a daily basis (water, food, shelter and clothes don't count)?
My glasses - wouldn't be able to do much without clarity.
Toothpaste - I hate the taste and smell of nasty breath...icky!
32 ounce mug - I refill this at least 6 times a day to help me track how much I'm drinking


2)  What is your all time favorite book and why?
I would say any of the books in Ann Brashare's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series.  You will find a character to connect with, this I promise you.


3)  What is something you'd like to accomplish before the end of 2012?
Not too long ago I started a new lookout with my life, body, etc and I'm hoping one of my goals is met by the end of the year.  There will be a post on that soon!


4)  If you could go back and relive any year of your life, which year would it be?
This is a hard one but honestly any of my years up until I was 18 when my Mom was still here with me.  I miss her like crazy, especially during rough times.


5)  What do you wish people knew about you without you having to tell them?
That if we're going to be friends, I'm loyal to to the end.  If you mess it up, its on you but I've been here for my friends no matter what.

Project 12

On a random dinner outing one night to Frankie G's (one of our favorite places to go) we were asked if we wanted to participate in Budweiser's Project 12.

A-B has 12 breweries in the United States and brewmasters from each brewery designed a style of beer to their liking and tasters like us are going to determine the winner.

We were given this placemat and a cup of the beer was placed on the picture that it represented.  After we were told what was in it, we tasted it and rated it.  Keith, being the beer master in our family (I'm a mixed drinks kind of girl) decided that the New York one was the best in his opinion.

To find out more about this project, go to this website.  Its pretty interesting, esp if you're a beer fan!

Mizzou-rah!

If you haven't picked up on the vibe yet, my hubby and I are big sports fans.

I was raised with in a hockey & baseball loving family.  Hubby was raised with a Dad who loved all 3 major sports - baseball, hockey and football.

Back in my junior year in college, I was dating a guy who liked to call the Hogs.  It was his alma mater and he had season tickets to every home game so we'd make the trek from my college town in Missouri (SEMO) to Fayetteville.  I fell in love with the vibe and I understood why he loved them so much.  SEMO has a great football team but not to the level of the bigger schools.  I even got to go to the Music City Bowl game on New Year's in Nashville to cheer on Arkansas vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers.  It was a blast!

My love for football continued, but he and I went about our separate ways after a year-ish of dating.  I still cheered for the Razorbacks but started to become more of a Mizzou fan and vowed to one day get to a game.

Well that day was finally last weekend!

(I know, I know, almost 10 years later)

Mizzou has recently entered the SEC division (leaving the Big 12) so their first game of this season was to introduce the new brand and to warm the team up before their first game ever.  My hubby got us tickets and we were set to go.  This also happened to be the weekend that lovely Hurricane Isaac was to grace Missouri with its remnants.  But we weren't going to let any weather stop us from going.

We frequent Columbia a lot and were looking forward to trying a new restaurant outside of our comfort zone norm.  A friend suggest we try Truman's Bar & Grill so we stopped there for a bite to eat first and it was great.  Great service, great good, the atmosphere was electric - really got us into the spirit for the game.

Despite the threat of rain, nothing weather wise happened until halftime.  I'd say we got pretty lucky!

Mizzou beat Southern Louisiana University with a score of 62-10.

Needless to say I had a blast and I cannot wait to go to another game.  It may not be til next year but that gives me plenty of time to find a cute Mizzou shirt to wear.  We are the proud owners, however, of awesome yellow tiger ponchos.  Oh and I will get a picture with Truman the Tiger!

MIZ-ZOU!!

6 places

6 Places

1)  Now Jade Riviera Cancun

I have never been out of the country.  I have never been to an all-inclusive resort.  If its meant to be, both of those goals will be obtained next July for my stepsister's wedding at this particular resort.  We shall see!

2)  Las Vegas, NV

My Dad goes to Vegas yearly for a national committee he's on and already has a list of must-sees for me whenever this trip happens.

3)  Napa Valley, CA

Wine Country??  Yes please!

4)  Orlando, FL

Keith and I loved our honeymoon to Disney and we spent one of the nights on the boardwalk at Universal and vowed to come back in the future.  I love Florida!!

5)  Paris, France

I would love to see the Eiffel Tower one day.

6)  Copper Mountain, CO

I grew up coming here once a year for a ski trip.  Keith has never skied in his life.  I vow to bring him here for a full ski experience.  It has some of the best powder one can ask for.  I'd love to go "home".