We're supposed to get a big thunderstorm here in Missouri, tonight. It's already started to get windy, and a little spooky, so I popped outside to snap a picture:

Ever since that stupid F-5 tornado hit Joplin last year, I get (along with a lot of other people I'm sure) a little anxious. 

The one good thing about this picture? 

 The blossoms on the tree! Which can only mean one thing:

BRING ON THE SPRING!

Are you ready?

This morning I was woken up at 4:45 to a kiss from Chris saying good-bye. I was slightly confused at first why he was leaving the warm cozy bed, and then I remembered: High School baseball season started today for our sleepy town. I wished him good luck and bid him farewell,  telling him I'd see him again in late August.

 I looked through some old pictures to get myself ready for Spring:

Aside from sunflower seeds, Big League Chew is a baseball necessity. This is the first step in becoming prepared for baseball spectating.

Layla knows when a hat is forced upon her head and a thousand pictures are being taken, it's baseball time!

These umpires are probably getting their eyes checked right now and getting into tip-top shape....

....maybe not.

It's still cold when baseball starts, so it's imperative to gather all warm clothing:

Amanda understands this and is totally ready!

Chris and my dad have been giving up their weekends, and have worked tirelessly on the field...

and now it looks like this:

Ok so not really, but pretty darn close!

I decided this year needed a good luck charm, so I made one. 

We use to make these in college all the time.

Baseball charm bracelet? Check!

Now that I am more prepared than ever before, I just need to convince Chris to let me kick off the first game of the year like Aunt Bethany in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (start at the one minute mark): 

See you at the field!

Fat weekend, Part 2

Every time I climb aboard my private jet (2006 Kia Sorento) and fly (cruise control at a comfortable 75 MPH) to Kansas City, like the true jet-setter I am, there is ALWAYS something new, or somewhere I have never been to experience.

Once, we went through this exhibit called "Dialogue in the Dark"where you are in total darkness, given a walking cane and led by a blind guide through different simulated scenarios like a park, grocery store, and a busy street . We used our other senses to discover our surroundings. It was INCREDIBLE! I think about it at least once a week.

My best friend, Lesley, knows all about this unending "quest for something new" personality trait of mine, and always graciously tries to accommodate me. This trip, she was able to tug on my heart strings. Enter: THE CITY MARKET!

For once I took an iphone picture that isn't blurry! Huzzah! Do you think "Historic City Market" would pay me for this masterpiece?

Apparently this place hosts a HUGE Farmer's Market, but only on certain days. Unfortunately, we missed those days BUT they still have shops open with unique, funky goods, and a slew of specialty shops where you can buy items you won't find at your local Wal-Mart. I was so excited, I decided to wear a hat:

The light was so perfect, I insisted Lesley let me take her and Blake's picture too:

Ok! Enough pictures already!!! Let's GOOOO!!

When you go to Historic City Market you see all kinds of goodies for sale:

Anyone interested in this framed-stained-glass-teacup-set-work of art? The spoon is included! 

It costs $115, it's kind of an investment piece. 

Lesley was confused as to why someone would want to pay $60 dollars for a boring black dress. 

When you go to the Historic City Market you see delicious sights that make your stomach rumble:

This was about the time I found the Italian Deli/Store, and realized I was actually visiting heaven. They had fresh ricotta cheese. FRESH RICOTTA CHEESE!

CHRIS! Show me how excited you are!!

This is his: "I'm humoring you, and pretending to be excited because you'll pester me until I act as insane as you" face. After this he said, "why don't you let me handle the camera for awhile."

Now THIS is an olive bar! I thought this place couldn't get any better until I rounded the corner and saw this delicacy:

Have you ever had truffle oil? If not, drive yourself to Historic City Market right now and buy some. I was so excited I did a little dance right there in the shop:

HUZZAH!!  

Our wonderful morning at Historic City Museum made us realize we were starving. Lesley and Blake swore to us that once we ate at "Oklahoma Joe's" we would never look at BBQ the same way: 

And boy were they RIGHT.

So next time you go to Kansas City, be sure to stop by Historic City Market, I'll be the one dancing with the truffle oil.

Fat Weekend, part 1

While a majority of the world is celebrating Fat Tuesday today (practicing Catholics and non alike), I am still reveling and enjoying what I'm calling last weekend's, Fat weekend. Chris and I spent a most magnificent and grand time in Kansas City. However, it didn't start off so swell.

 Friday afternoon, I got a new tire and an oil change; and paid $277.79 for it. I was slightly taken aback by the figure, but consoled myself in the fact that I got to hang out with this sweet fella while waiting at the tire shop:

This little dog is Sheldon, at first I thought he was really cute. He started sniffing me in personal places and I could have sworn I saw him pee on that pile of stuffed animals on the left, and then I remembered I was paying his human $277.79; and I didn't think he was so cute anymore.

We finally retrieved the car with the expensive tire and began our mini-road trip. About 25 minutes into our 2.5 hour car ride my Attention Deficit Disorder  (that the internet informed me I have) kicked in. I started digging around in my cluttered glove compartment, and found this picture of Christian: 

I have never seen this picture, nor do I know how it got there, but if I ever meet a modeling scout I will be sure to present them with this. Yes, that is his real hair. Yes, I am jealous of it.

I decided the weekend needed to start off right, especially if I was going to begin it with a long car ride. That's right, Shamrock shake from McDonald's baby!:

As the McDonald's employee handed me my minty Shamrock shake, I heard her say: "You know they are really good as a half-chocolate, half-shamrock shake." Immediately, I wanted to throw this at her and say: "WHY DIDN'T YOU MENTION THAT WHEN I ORDERED!??" but Chris sensed my chocolate antennae go up and drove off quickly.

Shake mishaps and ADD be damned, we made it to Kansas City in record time. Actually, just in time for dinner. Fortunately my friend, Lesley, is engaged to quite the chef. He had Chicken Stuffed Peppers on the menu, and insisted I just sit back and relax:

To be honest, I only asked him once if he needed help and it was like this: "You don't need any help, do you?"

I started to feel a little guilty, and a little hungry, so I poured myself a glass of  'chef juice' and made guacamole for everyone:

 I made a LOT of guacamole, so I needed an equal amount of chef juice of course!

 It's science, people!

We also had these for snacks: 

Can you see why I'm calling it Fat Weekend?

I was enjoying my evening supervising Blake's cooking (lie-he needed zero help), when in walked two MORE of my favorite people (could this night get any better?):

Ta-da! Rick and Rachel!

You know how I feel about getting a candid shot, and I was bound and determine to capture our moment as three couples being awesome like bosses.

 Then I took this: 

I love this picture. Not because of Rachel's great laugh face, or Rick picking his ear; but Chris' face in the mirror. I think he took one look at our feast (or Rick's hair) and said: "Not bad."

If you are ever with me and I say: "I want to take a candid picture!" just tell me no because it will end up blurry anyways, and I will be severly disappointed: 

 See what I mean?

Looking at this feast just made me realize I have not eaten lunch yet and I'm starving; but since I already had my fat weekend I should really eat something healthy like a salad, right?

Yeah... totally... a salad. Definitely.  One that comes in a cup.... and is topped with whipped cream, a cherry .....and is half-chocolate, half-shamrock...rhymes with the word, make....and it's from McDonald's.....totally healthy.  

Meet you there.

A preview, just for you:

I had a FUN-tastic time in Kansas City this weekend. I can't wait to tell you all about it, but my fingers....are....very tired....and want to only type the letter zzzzzzzzzzz. So, before I fall asleep at my computer, I leave you with this picture of me being VERY excited about something that still makes my feet dance on their own accord....

Huzzah!

When someone tells me some good news or something exciting, I feel a simple: "Oh how nice!" or "I'm so excited" just doesn't do how I feel inside any justice. That is when I break out the old-school phrase HUZZAH! (pronounced huh-za like pizZA!)
For example:

"You got that dream job in Fiji and you're going to fly me over there on a private jet once a month?! HUZZAH!"

or

"You mean as an adult I get to CHOOSE cookies over a sensible dinner, and no one can tell me no? HUZZAH!"

or

"There is an Andy Griffith marathon on t.v. this weekend!? 

HUZZAH!"

This morning, I woke up wanting to shout and extra-large and extra loud HUZZAH!  I get to see one of my best friends/favorites this weekend in Kansas City (shout with me, friends: HUZZAH!)!

 and it's Friday!

All together now:

HUZZAH! 

and

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Have an adventurous weekend, even if it's spent relaxing on your couch!

No talking!

I'll take the blogosphere's "Wordless Wednesday" and raise them a "No Talk Thursday."

Here are some pictures you've probably never seen before:

Ok. Real quick, I have to explain this one: The is the very last scene of our latest movie we made. I'm acting as a talk show host, and Christian and Chris are my guests. One of them is playing a musician and the other is playing a red-neck that won the lottery--you decide whose who....

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Say Cheese!

One of the great things about going to High School with Chris is being able to share memories, "Hey, I remember when that happened" or actually get to the bottom of a story, "Explain to me in detail why you guys decided to drive by the police station for hours then prank call them saying a mysterious vehicle was circling the police station?"
Chris' doesn't really ask me anything about High School, other than to say: "What the hell did you see in that guy?"

We found our old year books in his parent's garage, which is always fun. Fortunately, I am not one to be humiliated, but I did notice some interesting things: 

Hello friends, what strange memory are you going to bring up that I buried long ago? Oh,  just that we're still rockin' it and  totally living like bosses? Duh.

Freshman Year:

Clearly this was before Chi irons were invented...and invisalign. That is mouth FULL of metal.

Awwww! Honey, your weird haircut, odd head position and non-smile makes you look like a sweet lost little muffin! I wuv you! That's ok, you'll always have next year's photo to really show off your baby blue eyes, cute smile, great lips and...

WHAT?! 

You let them give you ANOTHER mohawk hair-cut?! I guess that's ok, maybe you didn't remember it was picture day. And you know I'm nothing but a picture-perfect fashionista:

Classy!

Ok it's now Junior year, let's kick it up a notch:

Not too bad...what are you working with Chris? 

I know you probably took this year's picture very seriously, smiled your best,  and you most definitely....

*Sigh.

I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Maybe all boys don't take their yearbook photo seriously? Let's not forget my smooshy faced brother, Andrew, senior yearbook picture.

Speaking of senior photos, let's see if we can get it right:

Have I told you I was voted "most photogenic" my senior year? That means "most pretty"...not really, but that's what I tell myself anyways when I feel fat.

OK CHRIS. This is your last chance to make your momma proud....

There he is!  What a GREAT picture, honey!

 Although I gotta say, now that I'm thinking about it, those first three weren't so bad. Yearbook photos are silly anyways...both of us should have really smiled like this:

Now THIS is a framer...