Lindsay & Scott

Bad Blogger

2011-04-19T17:30:00.001-07:00

I haven't been blogging lately mainly because I'm bored with it and so busy... I don't feel like I have any time to write decent posts of any substance and I'm sure that nobody really cares about me making posts about birthdays. I'm still reading all my friends blogs and trying to generate some energy to blog, but so far I'm not coming up with anything! So, I'm officially announcing my blogging hiatus until further notice. Hoping it won't last long since I've really enjoyed writing the chronicles of my life over the last couple years. Until then... I'll be searching for my blogging inspiration.

Cheers!

Happy Birthday Herb!

2011-02-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERB!!!

Herb has been my step-dad for almost 19 years (which means he's known me since I was 6)!!!He's a great guy and has always been someone who really cares and supports me in everything I do. I'm so lucky to have him in my life as one of my parents! He's always treated me like one of his own which I think is a very admirable quality a step-parent!

So here we go with the "Birthday Breakdown" as I'm now calling it:

H- Has an allergy to penicillin
E- Eats junk food all the time- think cookies for breakfast
R- Really doesn't like sour cream
B- Bets a lot (and loses a lot) on frequent trips to Vegas
E- Exudes generosity and is never selfish
R- Respects and loves my momma
T- Travels everywhere across the planet (mainly bc my mom drags him around)

Valentines Cliche

2011-02-16T07:45:00.002-07:00

Every year I get a big bundle of red roses at my office for Valentines Day. I decided not to post on Facebook how special or lucky I am since everyone else was doing that on Monday (even though I am both special and lucky). I decided to post today when I walked into work and saw my bundle of 2 dozen red roses once again for the 3rd day... I have to admit I feel special and lucky! I wish I had fresh flowers here every day... it's kind of nice to have them sitting next to me diffusing floral scents. I don't care if it's been celebrated forever or is just a made up Hallmark holiday... I love my cliche romantic red roses!

PS... this photo was taken on my new iPhone that was my Valentines gift!

What a great week!

2011-02-13T15:28:00.006-07:00

It's been a while since I've said "what a great week" so it feels really nice!

Last Saturday our friends Katherine and Jeremy welcomed their first baby girl, Ashlyn, to the world. Kat is one of my closest friends in Tucson and I’m so excited for her. I took a trip down to the hospital to meet the little doll and I already adore her.

I started out the work week with a work trip to San Antonio. The meeting was super productive and we had 2 days together to discuss objectives, big ideas and team build. I love spending time with my coworkers and end up feeling really energized by all the great stuff we are working on. As one of our evening activities we headed to the San Antonio Rodeo and Stock Show (I even broke out my Wranglers and cowboy boots for the event). The rodeo has a carnival right outside so we ate all kinds of fried carny food (funnel cake, fried PB&J etc) before heading in to watch the rodeo. After the rodeo one of my long time favorite country music stars Reba McEntire played. She's a classic artist and it was fun to see her sing both old and new country (including her new single which is a cover of Beyonce's "If I were a Boy").

I haven't shared this, but now that it's over I'm happy to share this news. I've been taking Accutane for the past 6 months and Thursday was my last day!!! That may not seem like a big deal to anyone who hasn't taken this drug BUT it's a huge deal to me. The drug has all kinds of yucky side effects: super dry skin, body aches, low energy, and depression just to name a few. It has been a very rough road, but it's a miracle drug and my skin is now completely flawless for the first time in 4 years!!! This may be TMI for my blog world, but I think this is worth celebrating for me!!!

On Friday I got the long awaited Verizon iPhone!!! It actually arrived on Monday, but since I'd already left for work I had to wait all the way till Friday to get it. Per my previous post, my generous hubby definitely wins the best Valentines gift this year!

Scott had his four day over this weekend so it's one of the rare weeks where I see Scott for more than 1 or 2 days. Normally we plan trips when his four day falls over a weekend, but this time we stayed in town. On Friday we ordered in pizza and caught up on all DVR shows... I love those kind of nights. Saturday we went to a fabulous engagement party for our friends Dillon and Sarah. After we headed out with some friends to a local bar for karaoke. We had maybe just a few too many cocktails and got very silly! Today we are just relaxing before heading out to a nice Valentines dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, The Keg. We are celebrating a day early since I'll commute back to Scottsdale tomorrow.
So, like I said, it's been a great week! I can only hope that there are more weeks like this one to come this year!

iPhone Love

2011-02-04T17:00:00.001-07:00

For those of you that follow me on Facebook, you know that I have an obsession with the iPhone. I'm a Verizon subscriber, BUT last year for 28 days I switched to AT&T so I could finally have my very own iPhone. It was, for the most part, a blissful 28 days together. Much to my dismay, the service was HORRIBLE! Since I drive so much I regrettably had to return the iPhone and crawl back to Verizon... they welcomed me back with open arms. I was definitely one of those consumers who never lost hope (only my patience) that Verizon would get an iPhone. When they announced that Verizon was getting the iPhone last month I was completely overjoyed... not joking! However, only days later I realized I wasn't eligible to upgrade for quite some time since I had left in April to test our AT&T. I have spent that last month trying to convince people to "give" me their upgrade so I can get the iPhone... no surprise that I didn't have much success here. I had completely given up all hope and resigned that I would be one of the last souls on earth with a Blackberry for the next year or so UNTIL... yesterday Scott called to tell me he woke up at 12:55am so he could be one of the first to order the iPhone at 1:00am when ordering began. He also said it was all MINE!!!!! Seriously... giving up his phone upgrade for ME??? If I didn't already know how generous and giving my hubby is I'm reassured of it now! This pretty little sleek black number is my Valentines gift this year and already filling my heart with love!

So here it is:

I'm know many of you are thinking I'm completely crazy and have lost my mind, but technology and staying connected is very important to me. Is anyone else out there this crazy about gadgets and such!?!? Maybe I'm the only one, but I'm sure I have some closet gadget geeks out there reading!

RIP Cruiser

2011-01-24T18:54:00.003-07:00

Today I got the sad news that my step-dad's horse, Cruiser, died. Cruiser had been part of our family since I was in eighth grade. Herb picked up riding Western when we moved to Park City and he became fast friends with our neighbor, Tom Smart. Cruiser was a very well mannered, sweet, gentle horse and we often called him the "Cadillac" because of his smooth gait. I will miss him and the fun rides I had growing up with him, Herb and my horse, Max. It makes me sad that I have ridden in the past couple years since I hurt my back, but I have always loved the spirit of the horses and the pure power and strength they possess. Maybe this year will be the year I get back on the horse and spend some time with Max before it's too late.

RIP Cruiser! You will be missed!

Sunny and 70's

2011-01-22T12:15:00.003-07:00

I've lived in Arizona for eight and half years and I never get over sunny and 70's in January... every year I'm just tickled that we can run, bike, hike and even sunbathe in January. I know most of the country doesn't get to enjoy this so I'm feeling very lucky. Today I'm going to enjoy some sunshine and go to a family barbecue... yes, in January!

View from my porch on this beautiful day:

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-01-11T18:44:00.005-07:00

I think I'm going for a record here... 2 blog posts in 1 day!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

1/11/11- Very cool day indeed

A friend of mine from high school does this name word thing (what these are called??) when she honors someone for their birthday so I thought I would give it a try for my Dad:

C- Cool cat to the max
H- Handy man around the house
A- A big bear hugger
R- Really loves Utes Football
L- Lindsay is his favorite kiddo- don't worry I won't tell Anthony
I- Is the safety king of the universe
E- Every day takes a nap

Okay... so this one is pretty lame. I'll work on getting better for the next go around.

Hope you have a great day Dad! Excited to celebrate with you at dinner tomorrow night! XOXO

Just what I needed to hear...

2011-01-11T08:34:00.003-07:00

In light of all the drama and tragedy in Tucson, I have been working on a pretty lengthy blog post to capture my thoughts and feelings about this horrible thing that happened just a couple minutes from my doorstep. I haven't gotten to a place where I'm ready to share it, but I wanted to share a little quote my mom sent me last night.

"Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world."

I've been thinking a lot about all the fear and insecurity the last few days have brought and for some reason I feel like I should refocus on the above. As a typical "glass half empty" girl it's easy to be swept up in all that is bad in the world. I'm going to refocus on me, this year and making it a great one instead of one that got off to a rocky start.

I'm still going to post the blog about 1/8/11 when I feel ready, but just not today.

Goodbye 2010...Hello 2011

2011-01-03T07:25:00.011-07:00

The end of 2010 came to a very nice close. I was lucky enough to spend 9 days in Utah with my family.

We’ve had the same tradition for Christmas Eve my whole life. We go to the torch light parade at Snowbird and then follow it up with a delicious dinner at the Steak Pit restaurant. I’ve only missed 2 years my whole life (1 in AZ, 1 being a silly teenager) and Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without this ritual. This year it was just our immediate family and it was one of the best years on record.

Christmas day was a bit different than normal since we’ve added my niece Kiera to the family. She is 2 and ½ and starting to understand Christmas a little more which is really fun. My brother and his wife let me spend the night at their house so I could see Kiera first thing in the morning and watch her open her presents. (pictures to come since they’re on my other camera)

Scott finally joined me on the 26th and I was so happy to celebrate the rest of our Christmas with him since we waited to do gifts and such for when he arrived. We of course we soooo completely spoiled by all the parents which was quite the treat. We’re pretty lucky kids to have such generous and loving parents. THANKFUL!

We made it out for some fun on Main Street in Park City and had a blast at the Downstairs bar. So fun!
The rest of the week in Utah is snowed more than I have ever seen in my whole life. It snowed, and snowed, and snowed some more… We got snowed in the house for over 36 hours. We did manage to make it out snowboarding a couple times which was nice, but SO super cold. It was colder than I ever remember Utah before.
We ventured out to bowl at the Park City bowling alley called Jupiter Bowl… it’s the nicest bowling alley we’ve ever been too! Can’t wait to go back when it’s not so touristy and busy with disgruntled guests.

We went back and forth on what to do for New Years Eve, but we eventually settled on going to a party of some of my mom and Herb’s friends were hosting. Liza came with us and we had a ball dancing and drinking the night away to ring in the new year. Don't mind the silly hats... it was the party theme. Alright.. that’s it for 2010.... GET OUT OF HERE!

2011... you're a sight for sore eyes! Here is a sneak peek of some of the exciting things that I’m looking forward to this year…

Visiting Dallas for the first time

Welcoming my good friends baby girl to the world

Trip to see my Aunt Mary and Uncle David in Vail

Bachelorette party and wedding for my WBF (work best friend) Jesse in California

Visit to see my Grandma in Florida

Bucket List trip to Nashville for CMA Fest and to see my college buddy Veronica

Celebrating 4 years of marriage and 7 years together

This is just the tip of the ice berg I'm sure!

Let's roll 2011...

Anyone out there???

2010-12-29T10:00:00.002-07:00

Anyone out there reading this blog???

I update my blog pretty regularly (maybe 1-2 times a month) even though my life isn't that interesting. I'm starting to think that nobody is reading my blog anymore (which I can't blame anyone). Lately my posts get maybe 1-2 comments at the most but usually nothing!!! Despite including my blog URL on my Holiday cards to gin up some readers I haven't had any luck. Just wanted to check in and see if anyone is reading and if I should continue this endeavor. It's mostly for me at this point... a form a journal ling so I can remember all the good times and fun experienced we've had. Anyway, leave me a note and start "following me" if you are reading my blog. I'm thinking of going private sometime soon as I often like to post about upcoming trips etc... I'll let you know if I do and I'll send you an invite.

Anyway, hope anyone who is reading had a very happy holiday! I can't wait to share pictures of all the fun we've had this holiday season!

XO Linds

Dreaming...

2010-12-07T17:00:00.002-07:00

of a WHITE CHRISTMAS!

I'm so lucky that every year of my life (with one exception) I have had a very White Christmas! I have lived in Arizona for 8 and 1/2 years (gasp!) now so the meaning of a White Christmas is truly special to me and here are the top 10 reasons why:

10. Opening gifts- who doesn't look forward to that?
9. Wearing boots that actually serve a purpose
8. Eating at all my favorite restaurants in one trip- mmm hungry just thinkging about it
7. Only time of year that I get to see snow unless we go back for a snowboard trip
6. Buying special gifts for the people I love most
5. Watching my hubby get better at one of my favorite hobbies- snowboarding
4. Spending quality time with my best friend doing fun stuff- spa, shopping & boarding
3. Christmas traditions- pretty much the only thing that hasn't changed my whole life
2. One time a year when I see all of my parents, my brothers and my sister
1. And for the last 3 years spending time with my little niece who owns my heart

I can't wait... brings me to tears of excitement looking forward to this trip!

Butterfly Baby Shower

2010-11-17T12:56:00.010-07:00

That's right...for the second time in a couple months I hosted another baby shower to welcome my girlfriend Andi's baby girl. This time the shower was for Andi and baby Jade. Andi and I met 3 years ago through our husbands. She has 4 older boys and is finally getting her first girl with baby Jade.

Baby Shower Specs
Date: 11/14
Time: Noon
Food: Catered in Mexican food from El Molinitos (a fave of the mom)
Theme: Butterflies with magenta and baby pink
Game: Onsie and bib decorating contest
Decor: Martha Stewart crepe paper balls, hand crafted butterflies, clothes line for the decorating contest, balloons and a homemade diaper cake
Registry: None...opted for anything frilly and girly

I'm not big on recipes, but I have made this "Pretty Pink Punch" for the last two showers and people just seem to gulp it down (it's even good spiked with some vodka or rum for the drinkers out there):
· 2 cans condensed frozen pink lemonade mix
· 1 can condensed frozen pineapple juice mix
· 1 gallon cranberry juice (I do the light kind)
· 2 2-liters of ginger ale (again- I do the light kind)

I have found a love for making diaper cakes. I don't make the huge ones with tons of supplies, but opt for the prettier small ones that make perfect baby shower centerpieces. This cute little baby took me an afternoon while watching football and I loved the way it turned out.

Everybody made something cute for our little baby Jade during the onsie and bib decorating contest
The finished product...so cute!
Andi before she opened all the girly gifts
Me and my two preggo mamas (Kat was the BEST shower co-host ever)
Most of the shower gang....look at all those adorable little girls that came to celebrate.

When it was all said and done Andi had piles of frilly cute clothes to help dress baby Jade. I'm glad we did the shower when we did because Andi's water broke at 33 weeks on Monday night and she's been in the hospital waiting for Jade (almost a week now). We are all thinking of Andi, Levi, Jade and the boys. Hopeing for a safe delivery and a healthy baby once little Jade joins the world a few too many weeks early.

Congrats to Leann & Richie

2010-10-03T08:22:00.006-07:00

Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Fult!

Scott's little sister, Leann, and her boyfriend of 2 years, Richie, tied the knot last weekend in Tucson! Leann looked absolutely stunning! Her and Richie make a beautiful couple!

Did I mention that Richie is a new fireman at the same fire department Scott and Jeffrey work for??? And they arrived to the reception on a fire engine!!!We had a blast celebrating their special day. I love weddings because it always reminds me of the blessing of marriage and sharing your life with your best friend. We are definitely wishing them all the best on their

Happily Ever After!

Brad Paisley Concert

2010-09-19T09:33:00.005-07:00

Most who are close to me know that I'm a complete country music freak!!! If we can all remember back to April when I nearly had a heart attack over the private concert Kenny Chesney gave at our National Sales meeting. Anyway, there are TONS of country music tours coming through the valley in the next couple weeks. I have always had Carrie Underwood on my top list of people to see so I bought tickets a couple months ago. Little did I know that I wouldn't be able to resist some of the other performers. After mulling it over for a while I bought tickets to Brad Paisley on Friday for the Saturday show. I'M SO HAPPY I DID! Now I know why he is a 2 time winner of Entertainer of the Year. Halfway through Brad's show he thanked the crowd for spending their hard earned money on a concert ticket to come see him and said he wanted to make sure we got our money worth...and we did! He played for just under 2 hours straight! Incredible! I couldn't bring my big camera in so all we have is cell phone pics.Darius Rucker (formally Hootie of Hootie and the Blowfish band) was one of Brad's 5 opening acts was amazing too! He did some of my favorite Hootie songs which was a completely surprise since he has quite a few country hits under his belt at this point.

It was such a great day! I love live music! Now it's only 2 more weeks until Carrie Underwood!

Labor Day FUN!

2010-09-11T13:01:00.009-07:00

A little late to the Labor Day post, but here it is none the less...

We headed back to Utah for Labor Day weekend and to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. I haven't been to Utah since January which is, regrettably, the longest time I have ever been away from home. My first priority upon touchdown was seeing my baby niece, Kiera. It has been 7 months since I had seen her and at the age of 25 months I knew she had changed so much.

Friday night my Mom and Herb took us to this great restaurant in Park City call Mustang to celebrate our anniversary. It was super delish and so fun to celebrate with them. After we moved the fun over to High West Distillery to have a drink with Liza. It was a cute place and apparently one of the new hot spots in Park City...seems like there is a new one every summer when I go home.

Saturday Herb and Scott headed out to ride the horses...unfortunately we have no photo record of this event since Scott forgot the camera. My mom, Liza and I went for a hike which turned into a walk since the trails were in poor condition. We then headed for some lunch at my fave Cafe Rio...yummmm! Then we did a bit of shopping in town PC...I even got to visit one of my fellow cheerleaders from HS boutique called Flight...super cute!

Saturday night we went to my Dad and Heidi's for a BBQ with Anthony, Jessica and Kiera. They made the most amazing meal of BBQ ribs, potatoes, and corn on the cob. So good! We spent most of our time chasing Kiera around and being mesmerized the she has grown up so much and now has a complete personality and attitude of her own. I'm obviously super biased, but I just think she is so beautiful. She is incredibly fearless, confident and intelligent. I love her to pieces!

On Sunday we got a chance to golf at Jeremy Ranch (also where our fabulous rehearsal dinner was held). I'm by no means a good golfer, but for once I kind of enjoyed the game and managed to hit the ball. I swear I'm going to try and learn golf since it's something my parents really enjoy and I'd like to do with them more often.

Sunday night we had Anthony, Jessica and Kiera up to Park City for yet another BBQ. This time it was hamburgers, brats, pasta salad and corn on the cob (again)... and yes is was delicious!!! We followed this up by roasting marshmallows on the deck with Kiera for the first time. I swear every time I hear her say Aunt Lindsay it just melts my heart...love her!

It was a great trip...I'm counting down until we go back for Christmas!

Happy 3 Year Anniversary!

2010-08-26T20:53:00.006-07:00

September 1 marks 3 years of marriage and just short of 6 years together for me and Scott. Seems like just yesterday that I was the untamed college girl and met a young hot fireman. Even after all those years, the uniform and the fireman still get me. I couldn't possibly list all the things we've accomplished, places we've been, or dreams we've dreamt in the past 6 years, but I can say that I'm looking forward to many more years together.

I'm very lucky to have found such a honorable, respectful, funny and loyal partner to spend my life with. I love you with all my heart Scotty!

This weekend we are headed back to Utah where we got married...I love spending our Anniversary with family and friends who shared our special day with us in Park City. Maybe we will even stop in at Stein Eriksons for a little cocktail in celebration of 3 years of marriage.

Happy Birthday Liza

2010-08-16T19:45:00.005-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZA!

Friends like Miss Liza are once in a lifetime. Beautiful, compassionate, funny, smart and loyal are some of the words to describe her. No matter the time or distance I know I can count on her for advice, encouragement and to be a voice of reason. She is one of my true constants in a world of endless change.

I hope you have a great 26th birthday my friend! I can't wait to see your gorgeous face in 17 days.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO LF(H)

Life is Precious

2010-08-06T13:00:00.001-07:00

I think we all know life is precious and how easily people we care for can slip away from us, but sometimes it takes unavoidable tragedy for us to fully realize our mortality.

Last week in Tucson we had a tragic helicopter crash killed 3 people including a friend and colleague of Scott. Brenda French was a woman that Scott worked with for a brief time while helping out at the Sunsites Fire Department in Southern Arizona. She recently became a flight medic and had been flying for only 6 months. Yesterday Scott attender her funeral and today he is attending the memorial for all 3 that were lost in the crash.

On top of that, we got the news that a good friend of the Hamblen family, Ravi DeFilippo, was killed in a mining accident in Peru. Scott's younger brother Jeffrey was close friends with Ravi and Ravi was one of the first friends of his I met 6 years ago when I started dating Scott. From what I remember before he left for college was that he had a very infections and gregarious personality and was a very kind person. We will be attending his memorial to celebrate his life tomorrow.

Life is unfortunately very unpredictable and sometime ends too soon. I want to honor the individuals that meant a lot to the people I love and care about and wish their families peace in the coming weeks of mourning.

Welcome to the World Baby Kelcy

2010-07-27T17:00:00.001-07:00

I threw a shower to help welcome this little one into the world a couple weeks ago and she is finally here! After many days of me trying to coax Kelcy out of Jennifer's tummy with no success, Jennifer was induced Sunday afternoon and Kelcy came just after 10:30pm. Since I work in Scottsdale during the week I haven't gotten to meet her and take pictures in person, but I have a couple that the proud parents sent me via text message.

I can't wait to meet my newest adopted niece on Thursday night! A big CONGRATS to parents Jennifer and Eric and big brother Blake!!!!!

4 Year Anniversary!

2010-07-14T08:04:00.002-07:00

Just got a nice little note from General Mills congratulating me on another year with the company...4 years! Hard to believe that 4 years ago I had just graduated from college, returned from Europe the first time, didn't own a home (or really anything for that matter) and wasn't engaged or married. Boy does the time just fly right by! :) Have a nice day everybody!

Chicago

2010-06-30T20:08:00.010-07:00

A couple weeks ago I headed out to Chicago for a work meeting. I decided to head to town a little early to visit some of the family I have in the area. My two step-sisters live there and between them have 5 of my 6 nieces and nephews. I love nothing more than spending time with the kids...they are so sweet and fun to be around. I don't get to see them very often, but when they are older I'm hoping they will come visit Aunt Lindsay so we can bond more. Here are some pictures from my visit with them.

After my visit with family, I was excited to head downtown to see all my work buddies and celebrate the fantastic results we had in our last fiscal year. We stayed at the Trump International Hotel in Chicago and it was FABULOUS!

Before the meeting started on Monday I was able to tour around and see some of the Chicago sights that I've seen so many times in my life. This time was just a bit different because I have NEVER toured around in the summertime! Lucky for me it was also the Taste of Chicago full of all the best Chicago cuisine.

The meeting started midday on Monday and it was fun to see all the field personnel that don't work in the office. I always love these meetings, but this one was pretty special for me because my boss presented me with a Special Achievement Award for our Region. This year has had a lot of my blood, sweat and tears and although I wasn't expecting the recognition it made me feel so great! I love my job and was thankful that they recognized me in front of all my peers for my hard work this year.

At the end of our day 1 meetings we all put on our match General Mills shirts and headed off to the Cubs game. I haven't been since I was very little and never have been to the roof top seats we had. This is my favorite pic of my current team...Jessica, Lisa and Sean. These guys are my right arm and I'm so thankful to have them on my team.

These ladies are on my team and keep my life fun! Yeah HEB girls!

Day 2 was a half day of meetings and then recreation. Jesse and I enjoyed some time shopping on Michigan Avenue and then got massages at the fabulous Trump Spa...we were spoiled!!! That night we had a fun dinner at a restaurant called Rockit. We even had some karaoke with the team and boy do we have some people that can belt a tune. After we headed to a piano bar.

My fab 4 work best buds

It was such a fun trip, but as always it was time spent away from Scotty which I hate. June was a crazy month that had me away from home more that I like, but it was worth it.

Jennifer's Baby Shower

2010-06-20T15:01:00.007-07:00

A few weeks ago I asked for ideas for throwing a baby shower. This was my first shower and I thought it turned out great so I appreciate the tips and advice I received. The shower was fabulous and the house looked great all decked out in PINK!!!!

I started making the decorations a couple weeks ago...a diaper cake, Martha Stewart tissue paper balls, fresh flower bouquets, handmade signs and a clothes line strung with pink and brown baby clothes completed the look for the house.
Since it was a brunch shower I went with lox and bagels, quiche, assorted pastries, fruit skewers, veggie trey and mini cupcakes. Everything looked great and people ate lots of food.
Just a few more weeks before baby Kelcy will arrive and I'm sure Jennifer has everything (and more) than she needs to welcome her new little bundle of joy. I can't wait to meet her!
I love having people over and hosting parties. Honestly I think it's in my DNA. My Grandma is a regular party goer and host. At 80 years old she still throws great parties for all her friends and family. My mom also has always been a social butterfly. I think she has more parties and dinner events than free nights in her lifetime. She really knows how to throw a good soiree too. I attribute my love of throwing (and attending) parties to my Grandma and Mom...thanks for showing me how it's really done ladies!

Work.Service.Golf

2010-06-17T20:02:00.003-07:00

I have been traveling for work a lot lately; thus, no blogging. Last week I went to Minneapolis for a Collaborative Planning Meeting with my biggest customer. I got the chance to see a lot of my favorite people I have worked with in the past and that have moved to MN to continue on at the General. It's like a mini family reunion when I go to MN. There were a few people I missed seeing so hopefully I'll catch them on the next trip.

This week I headed to Texas for a fundraiser for the same customer I was with in MN. The fundraiser is called Tournament of Champions and raises money for children's charities in Texas. While we were there we got the opportunity to spend the day serving a local children's home called St. PJ's. St. PJ's is a home to children who have suffered as victims of sexual and emotional abuse, neglect, poverty and broken homes and it is a community counseling and service center for families in crisis. We spent the day painting the main hall of the girls dormitory. It couldn't help but pull on my heart strings to see such beautiful children who have come from such difficult situations. I was reminded of how fortunate I am to have a great family who nurtured and cared for me as I grew up. It also reminded me of how great it feels to give back to the community and serve others. The fundraiser made $5.2 million dollars that will be distributed to children's charities across Texas this year.

While at the Tournament of Champions I got to golf if my very first tournament!!! It was so fun! I think I have been on the golf course a total of 3 or 4 times in my life, but I was happy to have this experience. I had maybe one good shot the whole game and lost upwards of 10-12 balls, but I did it! I'm almost motivated enough to start practicing and learning how to play. Golf really reminds me of my Papa Joe. It makes me nostalgic about waiting for him to get home from playing his early round of golf when I was a kid. Looking back I wish I would have learned this game earlier and spent more time on the course with him rather than waiting for him to come back. Papa died about a year and a half ago, but I'm 100% positive that he got a kick in the pants and several chuckles while watching me play in the tournament yesterday. Here are a couple shots from my blackberry of the beautiful (and very difficult) Palmer course we played in San Antonio:

This weekend is the baby shower I posted about a couple weeks ago. I took some of the advice from the comments and think I have some special things planned. I don't want to ruin it so I'm going to save the details to blog after the event. I'm really excited though!

Linds

Tips & Tricks for Travelling Abroad

2010-06-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

As previously promised, here is a list of my tips and tricks for travelling to Europe. This is by no means a comprehensive check list, but more of list of things I'm glad I brought along or wish I would have had.

Carry on must haves- makeup, underwear, spare shirt and pants.
Ear plugs- necessary for staying in any of the bigger cities and getting any sleep.
Advil PM- a life saver for adjusting to time change and avoiding jet lag.
Bug spray- the mosquitoes are out of control from about 7pm-9pm.
Trains- don't even bother with a car- high speed trains are the way to go!
Small Charming Hotels guide- small boutique B&B's that are much friendlier and, for lack of a better word, more charming than bigger hotels. They have all price ranges in the book and on the website.
Send Postcards- People love getting mail, especially mail that lets them know you were thinking of them in a different country. Keep a couple addresses handy so you can pick up a postcard when you come across a post office.
Bring a laptop- so helpful when you want to look up directions or research a landmark.
Carry money/wallet in front pocket- Scott carried all our money and CC cards in his front pocket. This makes it much easier to avoid having a pick pocket steal it from you.
Dr. Scholl's Moleskin Dispenser- this is a must for my work bag, but definitely came in handy when touring for hours. Even comfy shoes can take a toll on your toes.
Learn some key words- Europeans try so hard to speak English, but we pretty much do nothing to speak their languages. Any attempt is appreciated by the locals.
Be American- at the end of the day everyone wants to fit in when travelling abroad, but let's face it, no matter how much concealing you do...You SCREAM American just by being you. Be comfortable and wear what you would when in the states. Trust me that you will fit right in because there are tourists and travellers everywhere you go.

Any of you out there that have travelled to Europe feel free to leave a comment with any other travel tips.

XO Linds

Baby Shower Advice Needed!!!

2010-06-03T14:03:00.003-07:00

I'm hosting a baby shower for my friend Jennifer who is having a baby girl in July. I want the shower to be fun and special. I know there are LOTS of you out there who have been to many showers and maybe even hosted a few. I would love some great ideas for games, favors, food, and decorations. Please share any tips for how I can make this a great event.

THANKS!

Linds

Back in the States

2010-06-02T17:03:00.004-07:00

So we made it home...had a bit of drama on our travels back, but we made it. Our bags got left behind in Heathrow because we had a very short connection. When we arrived in Dallas we had a voicemail stating that the last flight of our trip was cancelled. After some scrambling for new flights, we got in late last night ( thanks to Aliscia for staying up to pick us up). Getting home was the least favorite part of my trip...other than getting pooped on by a bird.

I wouldn't recommend working the day after a 27 hour travel day and 9 hour time change. But, on my way into work today I couldn't help but be happy to return to work and see all my wonderful co-workers. We celebrated my birthday today and I was spoiled by my fabulous team. Even though I'm tired, it doesn't pass me by that I'm lucky to be returning to a great job with people I truly love.

I'm going to make a commitment to follow-up my European blogs with some tips and tricks for anyone traveling to Europe in the future. There are some things I wish I would have known before going and I must share them.

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed the chronicles of our trip. Looking back through my blog posts I can hardly believe how great the experience was. I'm thinking Australia/New Zealand or maybe an African Safari for our next adventure. :)

Xo Linds

Switzerland- Day 15/16

2010-05-31T09:09:00.009-07:00

Yesterday was my 26th birthday! This is the second time I have gotten to celebrate a birthday in Europe and what a great place to end one year and begin another. It was rainy and cloudy all day long, but thankfully I had good company to celebrate with. We relaxed in the morning and then went to a delicious lunch. Since the weather was crummy we relaxed a bit more and then played a game of Hand and Foot and then 9 holes of Golf (both favorite card games of my family). I can't wait to teach my friends these fun games!

I thought you may like to see a picture of Les Saisons chalet since I have been talking about how fabulous it is.
View from our fabulous lunch location
Today is our very last day in Europe and we woke up to some surprisingly beautiful weather. Here is a gorgeous pictures off the balcony of the chalet.
Since it's our last day we decided to head out to do some last minute site seeing. Our first stop was the Musee et Chiens du Saint Bernard which is the museum of the world famous Swiss Saint Bernard dogs. I was beyond excited to see the museum because they have the actual real life dogs there. I immediately made a beeline to where the dogs were. They were all sleeping except for the one dog that was being groomed. Once the dog was cleaned up the groomer brought her out so we could pet her. Aunt Mary told me you don't get to touch the dogs because every time she has been there they have been behind glass. I was so excited about the first dog and then she let out a 5 month old puppy girl named Ronya. She was so adorable. We spent 15 minutes petting the dogs...it was fabulous! I would gladly bring the puppy home with me, but I don't think she would fit in my carry on.

After visiting the dogs we headed over to Lavey les Bains which is a great spa that has a bunch of hot spring pools. I visited here the last time I was in Europe and I was excited for Scott to experience it. We had a blast splashing around in the unique water features. The sun was shinning and we soaked up our last few hours before getting ready to head back to the US.

This is officially my last blog post from Europe and I couldn't be more sad about it. I love the US, but I also completely enjoy traveling the world and seeing places I never have. Scott has never been big on traveling, but I'm fairly positive this trip has changed his mind. He has been so adventurous from the kinds of foods he ate (rabbit, pig knuckle etc) to the hours and hours of site seeing that we enjoyed. We had an amazing time together and he was the best travel partner I could ask for. We have never spent this much time together and we did so without a single fight or argument which is pretty impressive. I can't wait to start planning our next big adventure abroad, but I'm sure it will be a while.

Again, I have to thank Aunt Mary and Uncle David for their unparalleled generosity on this trip. They made sure that every minute of our trip was quite literally picture perfect (and I have over 2000 pictures worth of proof). Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!!!!

Ciao for now!

xo Linds

Switzerland- Day 14

2010-05-30T01:50:00.005-07:00

We left Provence this morning for Switzerland. Although, we were sad to leave France, I was really excited to visit my Aunt and Uncle's chalet in the Swiss Alps. I visited four years ago on my last trip to Europe and it was just a little slice of heaven.

On our way to Switzerland we stopped for lunch and stumbled upon a great little restaurant on the a spring fed lake. The water was clear blue and since it's spring fed it was warm and we saw kids and horses swimming.
We stopped in Lutry which was a favorite village of my Aunt when she living in Switzerland full time. This is right on Lake Geneva and even though it was socked in with a storm it was very picturesque.
We arrived in Verbier at about 6pm and headed out for a quick hike to take pictures before the storm rolled in. I love being at the top of mountains and this is for sure a beauty. I have also been trying to perfect the "jump" shot and I think we finally nailed it! HAHA!

Just for fun we took a bunch of pictures of little Bijou. I hear there are some Bijou lovers following my blog so I wanted to send one of my favorites from yesterday. I love her!!!

We ended the day with dinner at a delicious restaurant called Al Capone. I have heard it's a favorite of some of my cousins and it didn't disappoint. I had a great pizza and ate almost the whole thing. I haven't stepped on the scale yet, but I'm certainly not looking for forward to it.

Ciao for now!

XO Linds

Provence- Day 13

2010-05-28T11:58:00.006-07:00

Sadly, today is our last day in the Provence villa. We have had a lovely time here and want to thank Aunt Mary, Uncle David, Mom and Herb for renting the house for us to spend the week in. It was really a great way to experience Southern France and see the village life. THANK YOU!

We went to our very last market in Lourmarin this morning to purchase food for our dinner tonight. Many of the vendors travel from market to market so we have seen lots of the same products day after day. I have been waiting to purchase a few souvenirs and finally bought them today. YAY! Here are a couple pictures we took before lunch.

We had lunch a a great bistro called L' Antiquaire. It was delicious as usual and the presentation was fabulous. We have been amazed by the food and presentation that every restaurant has in even the tiniest of towns in France. Eating and drinking is truly a national past time that we have taken full advantage of.

Tonight our last night at the villa all together. We are heading off to Switzerland with my Aunt and Uncle tomorrow and Anthony, Jessica, Mom and Herb are heading to Nice to fly back home. They surprised me after dinner with an early birthday tart to celebrate my 26th birthday (2 days early).

Ciao for now!

Linds

Provence- Day 12

2010-05-27T12:23:00.007-07:00

I started out the day with a walk to the Boulangerie-Patisserie (bakery) in Cabrieres d' Avignon with my Aunt Mary. It rained overnight so everything seemed very fresh and crisp. When we arrived at the bakery we bought a delicious assortment of pastries for breakfast. I took several great pictures of this little village.

We headed out to the market in Isle de le Sorgue for food for our lunch and dinner. This village is an island along the Sorgue river and was a site of several of my favorite pictures on this trip. Scott has made a new friend with my Aunt and Uncle's Maltese named Bijou. I love this picture of Scott carrying her around at the market in my Aunt's purse.
Here is a picture of the terrace table set for lunch...

Scott and I opted out of the afternoon touring since today marked the 11th day in a row of daily site seeing. There is a private tennis court at this villa so we played around there for a while. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon sunbathing at the villa's pool. Very nice and relaxing.
Our afternoon Boules game didn't go as well as the ladies hoped. The men clinched the series win. :( I do think this may be a game we are going to need purchase to play with our friends when we return home.

Ciao for now!

Linds

Provence- Day 11

2010-05-27T09:49:00.012-07:00

Another beautiful day in Provence! This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite places in the world and I’m dreading our departure. I can’t explain how lovely it is to wake up to sound of birds chirping outside our room.

For our touring today, we set out for Menerbes. This is another adorable and small hilltop town. We walked up towards the top of Menerbes to check out the views of the surrounding valley and wine country. The poppy flowers are out in full force in May and are my favorite flower in the world. Scott took some great pics of the poppies…I have so many and I’m so excited to frame them when we get home.

We had lunch in Coutstellet at a little restaurant called Maison Gouin. I had the BEST tomato and mozzarella salad accompanied by FRENCH FRIES! Yes, that’s right, fries in France which they call pommes frites here. From lunch we went on to see the Musee du Tire Bouchon which is the Museum of Cork Screws. Who knew they had a whole museum dedicated to how we open wine!?! This is also the site of the Domaine de la Citadelle winery so naturally we did a little wine tasting here and toured the wine cellars.

From the museum we headed to another village called Bonnieux. This little gem was a great spot for taking photos as you will see below. We walked all around and then finished our tour with a little ice cream at a local glacier. Look at the pics from this gorgeous place!

Before dinner we had our third Boules game of men vs. women. The men dominated the game and have taken the series to 2-1. LAME! After Boules we had a nice casual dinner of pizza and salad at the house. We have been eating some delicious food but it was great to have something a little more simple. Perfect!

Ciao for now!

Xo Linds

Provence- Day 10

2010-05-26T09:18:00.005-07:00

This was a pretty relaxing day in Provence. We got up in the morning and my Uncle David had already gone to pick up fresh croissants for breakfast from a nearby village. Yum!

We got ready and headed out to the market that was in the village of Gordes. This village is more of a hilltop town and had a great market. Tuesday evening was mine and Scott's turn to cook for the group so we were on a mission to find all the fresh ingredients for our recipes. We planned to make a pasta dish, asparagus, salad, and apple tart for dessert. While in the town we stopped for an aperitif at a cute little cafe before leaving.

After Gordes we headed to Cabrieres D' Avignon for lunch at Vieux Bistro. It was a darling little bistro and we sat outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. We have had some incredible meals on this trip, but the presentation at this little bistro was the best we have seen so far. Check out these pictures of some of the lunch dishes.

Lunch lasted quite a while and, as usual, we drank a bit of wine and decided to head home to lounge at the pool. After the pool, we decided to have a rematch Boules tournament before dinner. The women got off to a very strong start, but came close to giving up the win as the men came back from behind. In the end we clinched the win so we are at 1-1.

Our dinner turned out lovely and we had so much food. I'm glad our night is over with and we are able to enjoy the remaining meals with no pressure!

Ciao for now!

Xo Linds

Provence- Day 9

2010-05-25T00:54:00.001-07:00

Monday was the Fete de Saint Remy which is when the herding of sheep from the low pastures to the high pastures. The streets are lined with people that are coming to see the parade of animals through the town. It was incredible to see 3000 sheep move through a crowd of people in a couple minutes. Scott and I literally took 100+ pictures so we just picked a few to share here. It was a fun French tradition and was great to watch and celebrate with the locals.

After the fete we did a little exploring via car in some towns near Saint Remy. We drove though Le Baux but since yesterday was a French holiday, Pentecost, the town was VERY crowded and we didn't stop. We headed home for some pool time. The weather was spectacular and I'm getting a nice little tan here on vacation. One of the games that French people play often is called Boules. The objective of the game is to throw metal balls and get closest to the target. We have played this before dinner each night since it stays light until about 9pm. Last night we had a boys versus girls Boules tournament. The men won 13-5 so the girls will need to have a little practice time before we attempt another tournament.

We have really enjoyed spending time together in the house. There are so many beautiful areas to eat and last night we choose the long indoor table. Each night one of the couples are in charge of making the meal. Last night was Mary and David's night. Both of them have taking cooking classes and several very well known places and make delicious food. We had a main course of duck with cherry sauce which I haven't ever had. I was pleasantly surprised that I loved the combination. There were several other yummy side dished and we finished off with pear tart.
Ciao for now!

XO Linds

Provence- Day 7/8

2010-05-24T11:54:00.012-07:00

My Aunt Mary and Uncle David have rented houses in the Provence region several times in the past. Everyone one has raved about the experience of staying in a small village in Southern France. I have been looking forward to the opportunity to immerse in the French culture and take in some of the smaller and out of the way places that people don't typically see when visiting France.

We arrived to Provence on Saturday evening and just in time for a lovely dinner on the terrace of the villa we rented for the week. We had a traditional French meal that consisted of bread, cheese, pate, salad and aubergine farcie (some strange combination of eggplant, meats, and other veggies). I'm not a huge fan of the last two items but I ate plenty of bread, cheese and salad for a small army. We drank a bit of wine before heading to bed pretty early (midnight) to get a good night of rest. Here is a picture of the villa when we arrived:
Sunday was our first full day at the villa and SCOTT'S 27th BIRTHDAY! We woke up pretty early and decided to head to one of the local food markets. The nearby town of Coustellet has their market every Sunday. The girls (Mary, Mom and me) decided to take a little adventure and find our way there on foot while the guys (David, Herb and Scott drove down). After a nice 4k jaunt we made it to the cutest market. It was spread out through the tiny town and had everything from socks to wine to garlic. This region of France doesn't have typical grocery stores so this type of market is the primary way the people get fresh meat, fish, cheese etc. There are so many smells and sights as you walk through market. We picked up all the cheese, bread, meats and veggies we wanted and headed back to the villa for a delicious lunch on the terrace. The food is so fresh and some of the best we have had so far on our trip.

Anthony and Jessica were coming in from Paris on Sunday afternoon so we went to Avignon to have a look around before picking them up at the train station. Avignon is the place where the Popes retreated to in the 14th and 15th century. It is a walled city that sits right along the Rhone River. There was a beautiful bridge called Pont d' Avignon that was built across the river and was destroyed in WWII leaving a bridge that only partially crosses the river. Fun fact is that the song "Sur le pont d'Avignon" and is well known by children around the world. After a short tour of the city we scooped Anthony and Jessica up from the train station and Herb and Mom got lost again and went to the wrong train station (see note below).

In honor of Scott's birthday we went to a great nearby restaurant to celebrate. He got the star treatment and we have a very extravagant dinner. We both tried a couple things that we haven't before. I ordered frog legs as my appetizer and Scott ordered pig knuckle. Both sound gross but were absolutely delicious. We thought it was pretty special to celebrate Scott's birthday in a foreign country with some of the best company we can think of!

Note: Herb and my Mom are the absolute WORST navigators I have ever met. I tried to talk them out of renting a car and into taking the nice high speed trains, but they wouldn't have it. We have spent EVERY car trip with a fight between them or between them and Sally (the car navigation system). I'm positive that the car rides have been the least favorite part of my trip so far.

I have much more to post about, but I'm so tired so I will save it for tomorrow!

Ciao for now!

Monoco/Provence- Day 7

2010-05-23T10:04:00.004-07:00

We left Saturday morning to head to France where we will be staying for a week in a villa. On our way to France we had some time and decided to swing into the country of Monaco. Monaco is well known for extravagant wealth, casino, cars and people. As we drove down towards the ocean we saw every kind of expensive car you can imagine: Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maserati, Ferrari etc... We even got to drive on the race track from the Monte Carlo F1 race that was a week ago. As we pulled into the marina there were the biggest and fanciest private yachts we have EVER seen. Scott has seen shows on some of the boats that were in the marina on the Travel channel (although, I have to admit I think it's a little odd he watches the travel channel). We parked the car and walked through some of the yachts...Scott was literally like a kid in a candy store. We had the most expensive burgers for lunch in the American sports bar in the marina (no joke 15 euro a burger which is about $20). It was a great little detour and Scott was a very happy boy...even though it's his birthday we didn't splurge to get him a yacht. :)

Cinque Terre-Day 6

2010-05-23T04:55:00.004-07:00

We left Florence to make the couple hour drive to my most anticipated destination called Cinque Terre. My best friend, Liza, traveled here a couple years ago during a study abroad. She has raved about the area and I have wanted to see it for myself for a while. The scenery and weather didn't disappoint. We arrived in Monterossa al Mare which is the biggest of the five cities. Our original hotel canceled our reservation so we had to book a different one last minute which ended up being much better. Our tiny room overlooked the calmest ocean I have ever scene. There were barely any waves at all and it was beautiful. Cinque Terre is known for the cliff terrain that meets the ocean and the views do not disappoint. The region has seen more rain than typical lately so most of the hiking trails between the towns were closed (hiking is another thing Cinque Terre is known for). We were able to take the train to the other end and walk Via della Amor or Lovers Lane as others call it. We had a nice seafood dinner in Manarola before taking the train back to Monterossa. Here are some pictures from our short visit to Cinque Terre.

Florence- Day 4/5

2010-05-20T08:43:00.006-07:00

We arrived in Florence yesterday around 1pm after a short and uneventful train ride from Rome. It was pouring rain when we arrived so we hopped in a cab and went straight to our Bed and Breakfast. The place we are staying at is a small 5 room B&B owned by the cutest Italian lady named Beatrice. The room here is enormous compared to Rome and the hospitality is much friendlier!!!

We had a nice lunch once we got settled in and I ordered a giant calzone...you should all be very jealous! After lunch we just relaxed and waited for my mom and Herb to meet us here. We were happy to see familiar faces and spent the rest of the day walking around the streets of Florence and catching up. We ended the day at a restaurant a General Mills colleague recommended to me called the Golden View Open Bar. It wasn't at all what I was expecting since it was ultra modern and chic, but it was delicious and the window seat we had was incredible view of the Fuime River and the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

At the B&B
Walking in Florence at dusk
View of the River on our way to dinner

Today we got up early and climbed the tower next to the Duomo to see the most beautiful views of the city. We took a look inside the Duomo which is lovely, and we lit a candle because my Aunt Mary insists that we always do. We plan on climbing to the top of the Duomo basilica tomorrow since that is the tallest building in Florence.

Walking Florence in the morning
The bell tower we climbed
Top of the bell tower
View of the Duomo
View of Florence
Inside the Duomo

Florence has a much more laid back vibe than Rome. People here just generally seem to be at a bit of a slower pace than in Rome. They take the afternoon siesta pretty seriously and are closed between 1 and 3pm...the place turns into a ghost town. Most people here speak limited English unlike Rome where the English was to common language in the melting pot of tourists. There are still tons of tourists here, but since we are staying away from the tourist area in B&B it seems less "touristy."

Oh how could I forget...yesterday when we were walking to dinner a bird pooped on me. I mean, pooped directly on my nose!! As all of you could have guessed, I'm completely freaked out and started yelling at my mom to get it off me. I threw a complete fit in the street while several people watched. Nobody (mom, Herb, Scott) wanted to touch it so the bird turd sat on my nose until I dug a tissue out of my bag. My family thought it was the funniest thing ever and could barely get themselves together. I had to walk back to the B&B to sanitize my nose and reapply makeup. I don't care who says it, but getting pooped on by a bird is NOT good luck! Scott's only regret is that he didn't have the composure to snap a picture. Damn the luck!

Ciao for now!

XO