Tuesday, June 29, 2010

blogging silence for baby Cohen

Some of Megan's friends have organized a day of silence for the blogging community in honor of Megan and Brent's baby Cohen. 


Details are below. 



What: Moment of Silence for Cohen
When: Thursday July 1st from midnight to 11:59 pm.
How: Bloggers participating will post the Cohen banner (below) or simply post Cohen’s name in large letters on their blog.
Why: July 1st Megan and Brent will be holding Cohen’s memorial service.  The moment of silence is an opportunity for Megan’s blog community to stand behind her and support her on this difficult day.  Linking up will give Megan a chance to see the support at a glance.
Sweet Cohen came into the world on June 7 and lost his battle with congenital heart defects on June 18. Though he put up a great fight, his little body just couldn't keep up. The memorial for Cohen is on Thursday, so the day of silence will coincide with that.

Bloggers who are participating can Link Up on July 1st through Sending Love to Cohen. Join in and spread the word!

my thoughts on ...

The last season of The Hills.

I've watched LC, Whitney, Brody, Audrina, Heidi, Spencer and Frankie since day one. And, I'll admit, I was an avid Laguna Beach watcher during my senior year of college. {My first encounter with LB, I was really unsure if these were just really terrible actors or if it was a reality show. Good work MTV. }



Although I've been highly skeptical of the show since LC moved on, I still tuned in. I mean Speidi is a total train wreck and I cannot take my eyes off of them.

But now, with Speidi all but ousted from The Hills and Kristin manufacturing drama, I'm only watching because I've watched from day one.


I don't think I've watched a single episode from this, the last season, live, or even remotely near the date of its original airing. I don't really care about Audrina and Ryan {are they still together? Who cares!} or her weird obsession with Justin Bobby. I don't really care about Kristin and McKaela and Brody and that other girl that some people think looks like LC but really she doesn't at all. I don't really care about Stephanie and trying to find a guy. And I definitely don't care about Stacey.

The only normal-seeming one in the group is Lo because she's never in on the drama and she seems to just go about her life, with a real job and a real boyfriend and other real friends.

they're friends in real life. enough said.

If anything, this show should have ended with Lauren, but no, MTV had to milk it for all it wasn't worth. I'm not sad to see any of these people go or my feeling of having to DVR this show.

Here's hoping some of those people go out and get real jobs, or at least figure out a new and more interesting way to stir up press about themselves.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

who has two thumbs and won a tv Saturday night?

I do!

At the banquet for the 2nd Annual Billy Khourie Memorial Golf Tournament there was a raffle for several big ticket items: an all expenses paid trip to Vegas, floor seats to a Thunder game and a signed basketball, an iPad. Oh, and a 40" Samsung TV.

With the thought that raffle tickets were only $15, J was going to buy 2 for the tv and one for the Vegas trip. Turns out the tickets were $30 a piece, but he'd already ordered up what he wanted, and since it was for charity, he couldn't really ask for his money back.

And, really, in the end, we won a bomb TV for the total cost of $75 {his brother gave us $15 for part of one of the tickets}. Not a bad deal, if you ask me.

Now our main issue is figuring out where to put it.


I'd say it's a good problem to have.

Friday, June 25, 2010

the last rodeo.

Contrary to popular belief {mine}, J loves baseball. And the Sooners.

So, when OU beat Virginia in the super regionals and made it to Omaha for the College World Series for the first time in 15 years, we had to go.

This was our conversation:

J: When's the College World series again?
E: I think it's this weekend. That's what I keep hearing.
J: Are you sure it's this weekend?
E: Well that's what they keep saying.
J: Look it up. Is it really this weekend?
E: Ugh! {looking, looking...} Yes, it starts this weekend.
J: I'm thinking about going.
E: With who?
J: YOU!

After that conversation and some mapquesting, it was a real possibility that we'd be packing up the car and hitting the road for Omaha.

Once we got the tickets and the hotel reservations, it was a done deal. Omaha or bust!

Saturday morning we were off. Our plan was to drive to Topeka and stay the night there and then drive in to Omaha for our 1pm game on Sunday. 

The drive to Topeka was easy and only about 4.5 hours, and even though we had a bit of directions mishap {the upside was getting to see downtown Topeka!}, it was relatively easy to get to and find our hotel. That even we hung out and then had dinner at On the Border. I know, I know...we should have gone somewhere local, but I've been having a bit of a fajita obsession and I had to get my fix. 

We went to bed early on Saturday night because we knew we'd have to hit the road around 7 or 7:30 for the 3 hour drive to Omaha. {We wanted to get there early to pick up our tickets and walk around}

Unfortunately it rained on us the whole way there {an omen for weather to come in Omaha}, but we made it just fine -- and brought the rain with us. 

By game time the rain had mostly stopped, but I guess there was lightening in the area, which means the game was delayed. Around 1:45 or so, they told us that they were going to wait until 3 to make a decision as to when they would start the game. So, to make the most of the delay, J and I left the stadium and wandered to a bar down the street, Starsky's.

It was packed, but we had a blast! We met several people who were native Omahans {is that even right?}. They go to the CWS every year and all of them expressed how sad they were that the NCAA and the city of Omaha were tearing down Rosenblatt and building a newer stadium down the street.

We stayed at Starky's for about 3 or 4 hours and some of our new friends bought us some beer! By around 4:45 or so we'd heard that our guys were warming up and that the first pitch would be thrown at 5:24 {so exact}.

The weather for the next two hours was pretty perfect. Sunny, cool and with a nice breeze. But, then around 7:30 the game was delayed again for more lightening in the area. This delay was not fun. We left the stadium and stood outside and people-watched and then walked around inside and then finally just went to some seats to sit down. The game started again at 9, with only about a third of the spectators. 

Even though we all had a mild heart attack in the last inning, the Sooners won and went home {tired and} victorious! Oh, and whatever lightening it was that caused the first two delays was nothing in comparison to the lightening show we had at the end of the game.


The countryside between central Emporia and Omaha is really pretty. Around Emporia are the flint hills. They span for miles and there are cows of different colors everywhere. And then on the way to Omaha from Topeka there are tons of old abandoned barns and hills and tons of creeks, and streams and rivers. So pretty. I have some pics of barns, but I'll save that for a post of its own.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

way behind.

Oh.my.gosh.

It's been forever and a day since I've been on here -- I miss all my daily reads!

I've been really busy {who ever said things slow down in the summer?} and, again, blogging has taken a backseat.

But, J and I went on a fun little roadtrip last weekend and my brother sent us a hilarious gift {that I love}, which means I have posts coming. Soon.

For now, here's a little something to peak your curiosity.


And, how the heck is it already June 23?

Thursday, June 17, 2010

problems?

Are you guys having trouble with my blog fully loading?

When I try to reload even my header doesn't come up completely and all those beautiful headboards are lost!

Let me know if it's not working for you guys too!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

where i lay my head.

I've always wanted a beautiful headboard -- whether it's wrought iron, wood or fabric-covered, I don't care, but I want something nice and cheap!

Enter the newest issue of Lonny. {Have you seen this online-magazine? It's awesome!}

So many awesome spaces, so many gorgeous custom headboards!









And, just for good measure, this guy was in the latest issue, too!

Monday, June 14, 2010

coooome 'n get it.

I had some success a couple weeks ago with making a dinner menu and sticking to that. And, after going way too long without a grocery store run {save for random necessities}, I've made another grocery run and another weekly menu:

Sunday -- Hot Chicken Salad with Ranch Dip and chips
Monday -- BBQ Shredded Beef and Kraft Bacon Ranch Pasta salad
Tuesday -- Taco Spaghetti {we've had this and J requested to have it again}
Wednesday -- we usually go out with the in-laws
Thursday -- Spicy Jalepeno Burgers with sweet potato fries
Friday -- this was salmon, but now we have plans with friends!

So, the verdict on the hot chicken salad was that it was good, but definitely missing something. J said he liked it but wasn't sure he really wanted it again. Maybe if I can add grapes or apples to it to add something sweet {it's a very savory dish}, he'll like it a little better.

And, tonight, I made the shredded beef. And, can I tell you, it was beyond easy {my fave!}. If you have a crock pot and a significant other/group of best friends/strangers off the street who love BBQ this is the recipe for you!


Ingredients:

3 lb. chuck roast
Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste {we used J's dad's trusty pepper/onion salt/garlic salt rub}
1 bottle Kraft Sweet and Spice Chipotle BBQ sauce {couldn't find it, so we used Albert's Medium BBQ sauce}
1 bottle of beer {we used Miller Lite}
I bottle Sweet Baby Rays Honey BBQ sauce

Directions:

Season all sides of the beef with salt, pepper and garlic powder and place in a large crock pot
Cover roast with Sweet and Spicy Chipotle BBQ sauce
Pour beer over and on sides of roast
Cover and cook on high for 7 hours
Remove roast from crock pot and discard remaining liquid
Shred beef with fork and put back in crock pot, add honey BBQ sauce
Cover and cook on warm/low another 1-2 hours, or until ready to serve

Saturday, June 12, 2010

mustaches, chest hair and 'fros, oh my.

Last Saturday I went to a bachelorette party for a sorority sister, Amy, in Dallas.

I went down on Friday night to stay with another friend, and can I tell you that traffic was awful? I was anticipating terrible Dallas traffic, but I didn't anticipate being in park on I35 in Denton for an hour. Yep, you read that right -- park, Denton and an hour. Not fun.

Anyway, when I made it to Dallas I had a great time. Libby and I had dinner at Hacienda and then chilled. On Saturday we ran some errands kind early -- her vet, Target, Nordstrom Rack and then lunch and then layed {laid?} out at her apartment pool. We were done with our errands pretty early and it reminded us of the time my friend Kelly and I had "lots of errands to do" freshman year of college. So we left the dorms at like 10 with the intention of doing our errands and then getting a cheesy gordita crunch from Taco Bell {our obsession at the time}. Well, we were at TB by 10:30. Hilarious!

Back to the bachelorette party.

We met at one of bride's friend's condos and drank and played games and then hit the bars. One of the games we played was such a great idea.

Four of the girls had come up with 8 or 9 questions about Amy and then they had a poster with numbers 1-33 on there that corresponded with a "costume." So, you chose a number and then a question was chosen at random. If you got it right, you could pass your costume on to someone else, if you got it wrong, you had to wear it. A great idea, really!

I got both of my questions wrong and ended up with a Pinocchio nose and a mustache.

Chi Os -- me minus my mustache. Amy is the one with the champagne bottle. Don't you love the chest hair??


Group picture taken with the timer -- my idea! ha...


At some point in the night I might have put my nose in my purse and traded my mustache for the 'fro.


thanks for letting me us your pics, Megan!

We had a great time going from bar to bar and then when it was time to go home, I knew we were staying at Amy's but I didn't know we'd be taking an hour-long cab ride up to Frisco with the slowest driver ever! It makes for a good story, though. 

Have you ever worn a mustache at a bachelorette party?

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

told ya.

I took a little involuntary time off {thanks busy schedule}, but I'm back.

I've put together some really fabulous posts for you guys. Ok, maybe they're not so fabulous, but at least I'm posting.

Check 'em out.

in the heat of the morning.

You guys know that I'm running again, and in keeping with my plan {although, admittedly, I'm way behind on my goal}, I ran on Tuesday morning.

I wasn't able to hit the pavement until about 9:30 and by then it was over 80 degrees.

So, what are the results of a 35 minute workout in the hot morning sun?

This.


What you can't really see is the sweat dripping off of me. What you can see is that I'm not really that good at iPhone self-portraits. Eh, we all have our strengths.

After Tuesday I'm trying my best to get my runs in way earlier. Like maybe 3 am early {kidding ... maybe ...}.

tell me are you a Christian child ...

Ma'am I aaam tonight!

Name that song.

Time's up ... Walking in Memphis. And, walking in Memphis is just what J and I might be doing later this summer.

Memphis has always been on our list of places we'd really like to visit and since it's much closer to Oklahoma than we thought {only a 4 or 5 hour drieve!} it might just happen this summer.

A couple of my friends have been several times and their must-sees are as follows:

Ducks at the Peabody Hotel

These ducks have it made -- they walk a red carpet everyday. 



Beale Street

Graceland


Chi Omega National Headquarters 

Those are the high points, and, really, for a weekend-long trip, that's probably all we'll be able to do. Well, that and eat. 

So, speaking of eating, what are some must-eat places? I hear that Gus' has the best fried chicken, but where else should we go? J loves BBQ, so no matter where we go, I'm sure he'll be in BBQ heaven. 

And, now, since I'm jonesin' for a little Marc Cohn, here's the video for Walkin' In Memphis.

decorate my walls.

I've mentioned this before, but J and I have lived in our house for four years, and not until recently did we really start to tackle decorating the place.

We painted the living/kitchen/dining area a couple of years ago, and have slowly been painting the rest of the house. The previous owners loved their butter yellow, but I had other {more neutral -- save for the kitchen} colors in mind.

Anyway, I've also mentioned previously that J and I want to do a couple of gallery walls in the house: one above the couch in the living room and one above or across from our bed in the master bedroom.

Since making that decision, I've been trying to make decisions on what all I'd like to have framed and/or hanging on our walls. {And, I'm not the best at making decisions ...}

Cut to yesterday. I hadn't been on Etsy in quite some time, but I constantly see other blogs posting about the awesome stuff they've found on there. And, yes, I've found some cool stuff, too, but I've only bought one thing and it's currently hanging in the house -- and wirewrapped M.

I'm a Chi Omega {hoot, hoot} and really would like to have a little owl representation in our house. Side note: J had a friend staying at our house over the weekend for a golf tournament and he thought I was a Kappa because I have a fleur de lis on one of our shelves {from my MIL, who is also a Chi O -- what was she thinking??}


Ok, I'm really getting to the meat of the story now. I found these babies from littlebirdstudio and thought they would be perfect hanging where the previously mentioned M is now, so that we can move the M into our gallery wall. So I got three. And at only $8 a picture, it was pretty much a steal!

I'm really excited to get these babies in and then matted and framed. I'm thinking either a simple black frame or kind of a thin ornate-ish one. What do you think?

what i'm reading.

Ever since our Spring Break cruise, I've been back on the reading bandwagon {albeit, with a minor break in there}.

My MIL let me borrow a Danielle Steel book she read during the cruise {which was a really good, easy read}, and since then, I've been without a book. So what's a girl to do? Raid the Bargain Books section at my nearest B&N, that's what!

And, can I tell you, I hit the Jackpot! I found 3 books in there {all for under $7!}:


Chasing Harry Winston


All We Ever Wanted Was Everything


Sunday At Tiffany's

Then, because I can't resist a bookstore, I meandered over to the new release area. And, this is where it gets kinda complicated. I'd heard about the book The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, but didn't know what it was. So, while among the NR area, I see it. Then looking further down the shelf, I see The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Uh, I've heard of this one! Turns out they're related {TGWKtHN is the third in a series and the second one is The Girl Who Played With Fire -- it was there too}. I found it in paperback for only $8. Score.


After paying {less than $30!}, I headed home and opened up TGWtDT first. So good. I really recommend it. I started it the Sunday before last and finished it Monday morning. I'm planning on going back for TGWPWF. 

What are you reading? Have any recommedations?

Monday, June 7, 2010

is anyone still out there?

Life has been characteristically busy and, unfortunately, the blog has taken a back seat. I'll be back very soon. I promise.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

watch what happens.

Tonight is the finale of what was probably the most tumultuous season of Real Housewives of NYC. Many questions are left to answer:

What happened to Kelly and did she get a grip on reality the help she needed?

Will Jill convince Bethenny to be her friend again? {My answer: no. Jill pushed her away too many times. And, Alex already told her that she and B are ovah!}

http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/videos/next-on-episode-14-on-the-mend

(I cannot, for the life of me, get this video to embed. So, if you're curious about tonight's episode, click on the link. Ugh!)

Can Countlessess LuAnn sing? {again, my answer: no}

What is new girl, Jennifer, going to bring to the table? {she seems a little more normal than the others and definitely above all the bickering and drama, but we'll just have to watch what happens...ha!}

Even though most episodes were really hard to watch {hello, mean girls!}, I'm sad to see this season end. I'm happy for Ramona -- renewing your vows with the man you love is really sweet. And I'm really happy for Bethenny -- she's married, has an adorable new baby and a thriving career.

Are you tuning in tonight?

Oh, and if you love a hilarious recap, check out Scented Glossy Magazines. She's hilarious!