Funny Faces

Hello November! Nice to see you!

It has been a whirlwind October, but I’m so happy to report I survived #Unprocessed October!! I feel like I need a shirt or something announcing that!! I had 3 “exception” meals built in before I started, and that helped remove some of the stress, but I still faltered.  But, here’s the deal, because of the heightened awareness, when I did falter, I was able to identify the trigger at the time, so I am totally taking it as a win! I was able to see what situations lead to what food decisions – and that was very insightful.  And yes, I lost a few pounds.  🙂  so… #winning! And yes, I’ll probably do it again next October!

This was a unique October full of grand adventure.  We said goodbye to my beloved Grandfather, and then I think I spent the rest of the month making funny faces to a camera.

Don’t believe me?

We had several pep rally’s, and here is a great shot of Mr. T after one of his performances… he was awesome, he slowed his walk down so I could snap the picture!  Love that kid!

And then we made funny faces!  And were photobombed by the cheer coach.  It was pretty much greatness… even if Mr. T and I were totally out of sync on the face making!

BA and I went to the Meatloaf concert!

And when I say concert, I use that term loosely, it really is more like a show than a concert – it’s pretty awesome.  Above is the start of Paradise by the Dashboard light… and the end… needless to say, if you know the song, you’ll totally understand why her top is off! Like I said, he puts on a production!

And then we made silly faces!

We had Senior Night at school, before the football game all of the Seniors in activities are honored and get to walk across the field with their family, and it was my honor to be able to walk my son across the field.  I don’t have the actual picture yet, but we snapped one while waiting.  All of the Senior Cheerleaders had sashes made with their names, except Mr. T, he got a crown!

But first, we made silly faces!

BA and I also went to the Cowboys vs Seahawks game.  Man, I just can’t even.

But the cheerleaders were great! That is a positive, and Rick, the other guy in the picture, is pretty much the best host in the world.  We’ve worked together for so many years and he is so generous and shares these tickets with us each year, I’m so very grateful for the adventure he grants me each year!

And happy to have an adventure buddy that will take silly pictures 🙂

So, like I said, I think I spent the last half of the month making funny faces and sticking my tongue out at the camera.  At one point I asked BA if he was going to out-grown going to the games with me… we looked at each other and laughed, I have plenty of evidence to indicate that neither of us plan to really grow up!

How about y’all? Ready for November?

In The Kitchen with Kate: Bundt Pan Edition

The other day I had to have a bundt pan. Now, it’s been on my Christmas list for years, so I’ve been refusing to buy one, and now for the life of me, I can’t remember exactly why I HAD to have one, but within a few days, I was at the store. 

I got it home and at a loss for why I wanted it, I still knew I had to bake something. 

Thank you Pinterest. 

I picked the first recipe I found that I had all of the ingredients on hand for. 

  
I’m 100% sure that the batter was supposed to be smooth and pourable.  

In the interest of full disclosure, it wasn’t. It clotted up and the batter was super thick. 

You’ve heard me mention that I’m flexible with my ingredients, well, I was too impatient to wait for the butter to come to temp and I may have done the shortcut and put it in the microwave to temp it, and it might have not handled it very well when it hit the cold stainless bowl, and the cold milk and eggs were added. That is my guess. 

Baking is a science. 

I am not a scientist! 

So I made a quick chocolate glaze because chocolate fixes everything. 

  
It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t something I would have shared with you! Mr. T and I ate it, but since he has grown up with my cooking, he has a lower standard! 

So, I put out a call for new bundt pan recipes! And right now my house smells lovely making a cinnamon apple monkey bread suggested by Holly. 

  
Yum! See those apples covered in cinnamon? Delish! And yes, the recipe calls for green apples. I loathe green apples and have a plethora of red ones on hand… So red it is! 

  
And I think there is something on my iPad camera, as the bottom of those photos are blurry… But I’m just keepin’ it real peeps! 

Another friend, Kari has suggested a Harvy Wallbanger cake… Which has an ingredient I can’t pronounce, but it sounds easy 🙂 

So, help me out here, what are your favorite bundt pan recipies? Which ones do I need to try out? Let me know in the comments below and you could be featured in a upcoming episode of In The Kitchen with Kate… Which isn’t as exciting as it sound so! Lol 

P.S. :  

 
Ugh. Ignore the clumps. I was trying to get it finished during a commercial (see above re: impatience!) #GoCowboys 

PPS:  I remembered what I wanted the bundt pan for!! But I’m not telling until I make it and can show you 🙂 

In the Kitchen with Kate: Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Alternate title: How Pinterest Saved my Life

Other Alternate Title: How I’m filling my time now that my son is really growing up and developing a life of his own and I’m not use to not being a taxi, I’m not sure what to do with myself and all of this free time I’ve developed and I’m darn sure not trying on-line dating again!!

Take your pick, but any of those titles would work for today’s post – I only selected to make this an In The Kitchen with Kate segment because then I could legitimately use this picture and show you what really happens in the kitchen with me:

Saturday morning I had finished my coffee and the news was over and I started flipping through the TV channels.

I don’t want to be a “flip through the TV channels because the house is so quite” type of person so I shut off the TV.

And sat there for a bit wondering what to do!

Then, my computer called me, it lovingly beckoned me, it all but commanded that I open it up… Pinterest was the lure and I was ripe for taking the bait!

But, I was smarter than the not-so-inanimate-object also known as my computer!

Side note:  Not related to the New Year, not a resolution at all, but Mr. T and I are moving towards becoming vegetarian.  So far, I’m loving it! But anyone who has tried to go out to eat with me won’t be surprised by this at all!

Mr. T was still asleep, having worked late the night before, and lunch was not too many hours away, so I was going to open Pinterest, but NOT get sucked in and actually create something!

I create things based on inspiration on Pinterest all of the time!  I really do agree, there needs to be a button to check “I did this!” each time we actually try something that we’ve pinned – and if it could applaud me and toss some confetti, well, I’d be fine with that, too!

I needed lunch, I wanted a treat, I baked a spaghetti squash the other day that I hadn’t turned into a meal yet and I have discovered that quinoa cooks up like 4x in volume!!

Let’s start with lunch.  I took shrimp stir-fry inspiration and made a vegetarian option.  I buy a lot of veggies, and at any given time will have chopped onion, celery, carrots and bell peppers in baggies in my freezer – so I just pulled out everything that looked good and sauteed it all together in some sesame oil. I had some Thai noodles, and I made a Korean soy sauce topper.  It was awesome.  I subbed quinoa for the shrimp for protein and I reduced the number of noodles and added in some spaghetti squash.

Vegetarian Stir-Fry.  It was Instagram worthy!

While that was coming together, I found Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Mini Blender Muffins.  Please click through and visit Averie Cooks, I don’t know her, but she deserves a visit! My friend Erica had mentioned some cookies she made the other day that were flourless, so this recipe was calling my name.

These muffins really are made in a blender! The recipe says it makes 17 mini muffins, and looking at it in my blender, it sure didn’t look like it would make that many, but it really did!  And yes, I know that eventually I’ll need a grown up blender.  I had one, but someone in my life had a greater need for it, and no joke, the Magic Bullet has worked great so far!

Talk about Instagram worthy!!!

But wait – there’s more!

While those were baking, I went ahead and put together a spinach and spaghetti squash recipe, I haven’t eaten it yet – it’s in the freezer right now, but it’s a cheese rue with the squash and spinach, and you can’t go wrong with any of those ingredients!  Mr. T claims he doesn’t like spaghetti squash, so I think this meal will be the real test!

But wait – there’s more!

Pinterest had me collecting free printables, and this weekend I finally had several that really spoke to me, plus, I have ordered a piece of art from Crated, created by fellow blogger Life in the Wylde West, and I can’t wait to get that put up, but I didn’t want it looking lonely!

Now it’s Sunday night and the Cowboys won!!!  Yeah! Go #CowboysNation!!! That’s how you #FinishTheFight!!

Sorry, that just kinda came out of nowhere!

A quick trip to Target, a stop to visit Mr. T at work and I was back by the start of Downton Abby!

I have my pieces printed on matte photo paper, my little trimmer and the frames; I went to work and at the end of the hour, I turned my stack into the start of a collection!

The blank frame at the top is for the art piece I’m waiting on, but everything else got trimmed and framed!  Now it’ll take me days and a call to my grandmother to help me arrange them on the wall!

But, that’s okay, because Mr. T works again Thursday night, so I’ll have time to spare!

So, I utilized Pinterest to the fullest this weekend, and it really helped me fill up my spare time.  I think I can handle Mr. T growing up after all!

Wordless Wednesday: #NYGvsDAL

It’s that time of year again! My best buddy BA and I went to the Cowboys vs. New York Giants game this weekend, and boy, it was awesome!  And in case you missed it, SPOILER, we won!

A little pre-game tailgating action.

Rowdy came out to excite the crowd, and naturally, I had to get pictures for Mr. T

I sent these to Mr T with a note “one day, this could be you!”
His response was “if only I liked football.”

Yes, that’s my BA.

Who, after an elbow to the ribs from me, fixed his face!

The game was so good that I failed to reach for my phone to take pictures until the 4th quarter.  That was when word floated down that Jay Novacek was in the suite.  If you don’t know anything else about football, just know that Jay Novacek is one of the best tight-ends that ever played and is a wonderful human being!

AND I GOT A PICTURE WITH HIM!!

And even though BA told me to leave him be, guess who got a picture with him, too?

Uh huh, that’s right. BA and Jay Novacek.

Tattoos and Tears

I got my tattoo! And, it’s awesome!

Saturday afternoon I went with Karen to help her finish Christmas shopping.  This is the first year that she’s ever waited this long, and oh my goodness – I was amazed at how many people wait so long and are willing to face the crowds!!  It was insane! There were people everywhere!  And don’t even get me started on traffic!!

That’s not the point, but I felt the need to share!

Before we headed out, we had swung by a tattoo shop that was supposed to be open, but there was a sign on the door that they would be opening late.  (Fine!  Be that way! Can’t you tell I am dying to give you my money?) After several days hours of shopping  we were finally headed back.  Karen said it wasn’t out of the way to stop back by the shop – so we did!

I showed the lady what I was thinking and after working on the design for a few minutes her design matched my vision.  So, I rolled up my sleeve, sat down, and promptly burst into tears.

Karen offered to hold my hand.

I have the best friends!

The artist handed me a paper towel to mop up my face and she began.  I was worried at first because I was very clear this was a memorial tattoo and I needed someone who would respect that – and she seemed, well, dry.  I have an overabundance of personality and pretty much expect that in others – so a dry tattoo artist wasn’t first on my list.  But, as we sat there and talked and she worked, I finally saw a human side to her and when it was over and done with, I realized that she did a great job.  She engaged me in a good way and distracted me just enough that the waterworks didn’t flood the building and cause us to float out the front door.

I think we were in and out in under 30-45 minutes.  It didn’t take long at all; and now I have a beautiful piece of art on my forearm.  It is very simple, very elegant and exactly what I pictured.

P.S. I woke up Sunday with what I thought was an eye infection, and after finally managing to get my contacts out, I called and got an appointment with the local Doc in a Box.  Scratched cornea.  Fortunately, not a rip or a tear, just a little scratch.  So, I’m confined to my glasses and have several different eye drops that I’m putting in every couple of hours.  Should be better by tomorrow – fingers crossed!

P.P.S. The Cowboys just suck.  There is no way to sugar coat it.  If I hadn’t already been crying due to my eye, the game would have had me in tears.  How do you blow a lead that big? How do you have such poor clock management skills? How do you have such poor play calling?  And, when did our head coach start pointing fingers? Really? Ugh.

P.P.P.S. If you missed the original post where I found my inspiration for the tattoo, you can find it here.

So, Maybe I’m a Bit Sentimental

So, maybe I am a bit sentimental.  Or, maybe it’s just this time of the year.  I love the holidays, once we hit October 1st, I’m on a high the rest of the year (of course, some of that could be the candy and breads and other goodies!).

Halloween is super fun, Thanksgiving is a great time to renew my vow to live a life of gratitude, but Christmas, Christmas is all about the family life I’ve made.  Not just the nuclear and extended family, but my friends that have become family, too.

We put up our tree yesterday.  I know it seems early; however, Thanksgiving comes late and well, it’s a lot of work to put my tree up and I want to enjoy it as long as possible! I’m sitting here with a nice bowl of chili, watching the Cowboys and letting the glow of the lights on the tree take me away! (And, well, because doing three things isn’t enough, I’m writing this blog post, too!)

Tons of memories are made this time of year, and in our family, our traditions have traditions! Every year when we were growing up, mom and dad would let each of us kids pick out an ornament for the tree.  You could track our lives via the ornaments and year after year as we were putting our special ornaments on the tree, one of us would occasionally hold up an ornament and go “oh, I remember when…”

I’ve carried this tradition on with Mr. T, and yesterday was filled of moments “Oh, this was when you did this” or “I made this back when…”

Our tree is nestled in the corner of the living room, out of the way but still visible from every angle.

Here is the little stained glass church that was one of my childhood ornaments.  It is the first ornament to go on the tree, period.  Nothing goes on until I have placed this little guy.  I absolutely love this ornament.  I don’t remember when I got it, but it will always be my favorite!

Look! It has my name!  All the way back from 4th grade!! Which also gives away my approximate age for those of you good at math!

Merry Kissmas! I got this ornament when I was a teenager – and you know you’re as old as me if you recognize the character!

Here is a new ornament!  My friend Kari sent this to me all the way from Alaska!  It’s entirely too awesome for words!

I bought this for Mr. T’s first Christmas – isn’t it adorable? I did have a traditional baby’s first Christmas ornament that was a beautiful blue china rattle sent to me by my friend Melissa; however, one year we dropped it and no amount of glue was fixing that!

First off, yes, there are candy canes all over our tree.  I load the tree up with peppermint and mint chocolate candy canes.  Everyone has gotten used to this and almost everyone who visits automatically grabs one off the tree to enjoy – including me and Mr. T!

Nestled among the branches and candy canes is Elmo, the first ornament that Mr. T picked out all by himself.

Here we have a cloths pin reindeer that Mr. T made when he was little.

Even Spongebob and Patrick get in on the action.  And, to be clear – those are two separate ornaments, I realize now that it looks like they are attached, but they aren’t.  We also have Shaggy and Scooby doo and on the other side of the tree in a perpetual battle you will find Spiderman and Dr. Octopus.

Putting up the ornaments gives me time to reflect on years past, think about the upcoming year and to spend 30 minutes with Mr. T where all we have to do is enjoy each other and sing along with Christmas carols playing in the background.  We laugh and joke, reminisce and make plans and let the stress of the world melt away.

And then I put up another one of my ornaments… it pretty much speaks for itself!

On a slightly related note – I now have to go search for Supernatural ornaments – cause I think that I’d enjoying looking at this every year! Maybe when I write my letter to Santa I’ll ask if he can just wrap up Dean Winchester and leave him under my tree!

Cowboys vs Broncos OR How I Lost My Voice

This weekend was one of my best!  It definitely goes in the memory jar!

Saturday Mr. T and I did the yard work and ran some errands and Mr. T goes “I’ve had fun spending the day with you.”  Wow, talk about my heart overflowing!  Later in the evening we spent some time with the rest of the family.  Sunday we got up and my sister and her four kids joined us at church.  Mr. T and I had lunch and then the fun began!!

BA picked me up at 2 and we headed to the stadium for the Cowboy v Bronco game!!

Traffic was horrible!  The game had to be sold out based on the traffic we were wading through, and then when we finally got to our parking area – it was full! They had overbooked.  We managed to make up our own parking space and headed up to the suite.

BA and I waiting for the elevator. Yes, my hair is purple.

I got there just in time to see the Cowboys score!  BA and I got our seats and a few plays later he grabbed us some drinks and I fixed us a plate to share.  The food at the stadium is so much better than you would expect!  I love the macaroni and cheese… it would cost me a fortune to try and make it at home, so I make sure to get my fill when I’m there!

Real view from our seats.

See this head in the ball cap, it becomes important later on! This is your teaser!

Can you see how big that screen is?!? I know that I comment about it every time I write this post, but still! It’s huge!

We were behind in the 2nd quarter, and it was tough.  It was so cool to watch Peyton Manning play, though, not going to lie, I was really excited about this game just so I could see his performance.  And he didn’t disappoint – did you see that Quarterback sneak?!?  No one was expecting that!!

At half time, BA and I did go move his truck to a real spot.  We figured at least one person would leave, and they did!

World Famous Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders doing their annual half-time “pink” performance in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

Had to get a close up, as requested by Mr. T!

We were into the 3rd quarter and I couldn’t wait anymore.  Remember that baseball capped gentleman from earlier in the blog?  Well, that was Stoney LaRue.

If you live outside Texas, you probably have never heard of him – and well, based on my Facebook comments, there are plenty of people here who haven’t heard of him.  He is one of the best voices in Texas County.  I’ve been in love with his music for years, and it was all I could do not to totally fan girl, but I calmly got up when he got up to refill his plate and drink and told him that I apologize, and don’t want to disrupt him watching the game, but could I please get a pick?  He was so flippin’ awesome!  I had talked to his wife earlier, we bonded over the buffet selections (and by the way, she is gorgeous!) and she was super sweet – but he blew me away.  Such a gentleman!!

Forgive my goofy smile, but really, it was all I could do not to jump up and down and hug all over him!

My throat is a little sore today, and I do have a voice, but it is a bit scratchy! But it was a great game and there is nothing like watching it with others that jump up and down and scream with you!  And I was up and down and yelling and high fiving everyone in the booth… until the very end.  We may have caused Peyton’s very first interception of the year; however, the one that Romo threw just broke my heart.

Sometimes the loss is so much more painful after a great game! Both the Cowboys and the Broncos played a great game, it was so exciting and I am so blessed that I was able to be there to watch it in person – but oh my goodness… my Cowboys are just heart breakers!!

Are You Ready For Some Football?!?

I know I am and based on some of the posts I’ve read by a few of you – you are ready, too!

We had our first regular season games this week, and boy were they exciting! I did watch the Redskins/Eagles game Monday night so that I could see how our division was playing… and well… I’m not sure if the Redskins just really suck or if the Eagles are that good!  I know that the new offense seems to be working for the Eagles… which I’m not happy about!  The nice thing is that several of my fellow bloggers are just as passionate about their teams as I am mine – so this will be a fun season and I predict that trash talk will abound! (Yes, I’m talking to you Surviving the Madhouse and Me, Myself and Kids!)

Now, onto the team that really matters!

Our game against the Giants was interesting.  My favorite part had to be when the announcers were talking about how the negotiations with the players union resulted in fewer practices, and obviously the fact that there are fewer practices are why both teams suck tonight.  (I might have paraphrased that a bit.)

I will say that, as always, our defense looked GREAT!  We have some great veteran players and a few rookies that are showing some potential.  There was one point where a botched play on offense took us off the field in a highly emotionally charged state and a few minutes later, Romo had cooled down and gone over to talk to the player that goofed and gave him encouragement.  That’s not an action we’ve seen him do very much, and is a sign of a great leader – so maybe he’s finally coming into his own.  (At least, that is my very dear hope!)

As great as our defense looked, that is not what my friends and I text about most when watching the game.  The most common phrase used when we are going back and forth is: “Don’t tell me! I’m still behind!”

I’m not the only one that gets behind during the game!  I did have to laugh that the phrase came up in two separate text messages!

For all you ladies that love football as much as I do!

And, for all of us Cowboys Fans that know exactly how this feels:

I Pulled a Muscle in my Bum

It’s been a super busy and fun weekend.

Honestly, I have no clue what I did Friday night – I’d like to say it’s because I was partying so hard I have no memory – but alas, the reality is that my memory has never been good and is getting worse.  I think we just hung out at home.  Yeah, let’s just say we hung out at home!

Saturday I got up and enjoyed a cup of coffee whilst watching the Pioneer Woman and then got Mr. T up so he could shower.  Papa came and picked him up and they went to repair the fence.  Apparently Cassius (Lee’s boxer) has been jumping the half fence and landing 5′ below in the easement and then visiting the neighbors yard. The neighbors weren’t all that happy to have him visit.  Maybe he has bad breath.   While they were gone I cranked the tunes and got the house clean!  It felt great!

Dad and Mr. T worked until 3:00 pm and dad dropped him back off so he could shower and we went bowling! It was so awesome!  There were 9 of us total, and the guy behind the counter was super cool and worked with me and told me which package was most fiscally responsible and he goes “It comes with ‘six’ shoe rentals, if you get my meaning” (Dude, you are going to save me money with a party package and give us all the extra shoe rentals we need at no extra charge – yeah, I hear ya!!)

My lovely bowling shoes! And now that I think about it – I don’t remember taking my socks back out of my purse… they may still be in there… huh.

It was so much fun!  I’m a crappy bowler, but I don’t let it stop me! Also, I bowl overhand.  I wasn’t aware that this was odd until this event!  I tried to bowl “properly” and go underhand a couple of times, but it wasn’t comfortable.  Oh, and there was the time I almost fell but didn’t!!  I was so proud of myself for not falling – cause hey – it’s me, a klutz,

and a slipper floor – it’s guaranteed I will wipe out at least once.  But I didn’t fall!!

Of course – the effort it took not to fall – well, I pulled a muscle in my bum, my derriere, my gluteus maximus.  No joke.  I pulled a muscle in my butt.  Fortunately, it only really bothers me getting in and out of the car, or sitting down.  Or anytime my butt is needed in an activity.

Mr. T was the big winner! He left the rest of us in the dust!

Me and My Amy

Check out that form!

I know you’ve seen this one, but it’s a great shot of me and the BD boy!

Part of our group.

It was fun, though, and we all went out to dinner afterwards at a cute little Mexican Restaurant – and they had the jumbo Cowboy football schedules, so score! I got one for my fridge.

(Hey Holly – it has the Redskins on the opposite side! I’d send you a pick, but the Redskins suck!)

(Oh, hey – MMK – the Eagles suck too, just making sure that you knew that!)

Man, I love football!

Anyway… Sunday we got up and headed for church, and as soon as I pulled into the parking lot I remembered – they weren’t having classes today, they were having some type of potluck thingy, and I didn’t have a dish.  Sigh.  We turned around.  (Yes, I’m sure I could have stayed, but I don’t like to partake if I don’t participate.)

So, we drove back home – with a quick detour at Denny’s!  The plus side was that Mr. T and I got to enjoy a lovely breakfast together.  It rocked!

Yummy!

Even more yummy!!!!

Then we headed home to change clothes and over to Grammy and Papa’s house.  Mr. T and Papa had to finish fixing the fence and mom wanted my help rearranging the furniture in their bedroom.  This sounds easy, right?

Wrong.  Their furniture is heavy.  I’m not talking about challenging to move, I’m talking about the fact that their bed is so heavy that I almost had to go get a jack out of the garage just to lift the bed long enough to get the sliders underneath!!  Fortunately, mom and I are stronger than we look.  It took a couple of hours and enough sweat to fill the swimming pool, but we got it accomplished!

Quick break for lunch and checked the progress of Papa and Mr. T and they were close… so I went out and helped.  Now, I have been welding a hammer since I was little and it was embarrassing. I messed up in four different places… Ugh.  Oh well, I was too worn out to do more than just grab another nail! Then we were able to put up some chicken wire and voila! Cassius should not be able to escape!

Please, cross your fingers he doesn’t escape.

Mr. T and I made it home and I saw him sit on the couch and I was like “get your butt off my couch!! Go shower!!”  He giggled and goes “Look at my ankles.”  “Oh my goodness!! Get off my couch!! You have a dirt line that is five shades darker than your skin – GET OFF MY COUCH!!!”

In an effort to put a good spin on things, during the drive home I told Mr. T “It’s a good kinda sore, it’s a sore than comes from having fun and working hard!  Shows we really participated this weekend!”

Yup, that totally happened, I tried to convince myself and T that these sore muscles were a good thing!  I think he was too tired to call my bluff!

Oh – he walked through the room so I asked him what we did on Friday night:

We rented GI Joe 2 and had an at home movie night!

Lessons from the Movies: The Bucket List

My eyes are a little swollen and red rimmed.  I just finished watching The Bucket List.  No one told me that the guy died.  I get that it’s better for the story, it’s more realistic, whatever you want to throw my way as a reason; however, I don’t like when people die.  Now I know why I love Disney type movies.  People don’t die in them; at least, not any characters that I’m emotionally invested in.

The Bucket List

None of that was the point.  The point is that watching that movie has been on my to-do list.  I’m all about adventure and making sure that we live our lives instead of just existing on this plane of existence.  We are here to enjoy, to make the best of, to help others and to enrich.

Short of the part where I cried, it was a great movie.  I loved how two people could come together over a common bond, and it really exemplifies that sometimes our greatest friends are not like us, but in fact, totally different from us.  It shows that there are lessons to be learned everywhere you look and that sometimes, it’s the simplest things that make all of the difference.

This got me thinking – I love my bucket list – I should share it!  So, in honor of this – instead of boring you with the lessons I learned from the movies, I’m sharing my bucket list with you!

My bucket list is ever changing, and I hope it always does!  I read something the other day (could have been on Yahoo!, could have been another blog and it could have been in a book, it’s hard to keep straight everything I’ve read!) the point is, I read it, and it mentioned, if you have a bucket list, get to working on it!  If you don’t, then start one, and then get to working on it!

Yes, I know, there are tons of blogs, websites and countless suggestions when it comes to a bucket list.  This is not one of them.  I’m just narcissistic and assume that you want to know all of the details about my life! It’s not in a specific order, as I rearrange it every time I write it!

Catching a game in the new stadium, view from the suite.

1. See Meatloaf in concert – CHECK
2. Visit a haunted house (I swear I lived in a haunted apartment, but that doesn’t count)
3. Ride in a hot air balloon
4. Go skydiving – CHECK
5. See Cowboy game in new stadium – CHECK
6. See the Northern Lights
7. Plant a tree (technically I’ve done this, but it died… so it doesn’t count!)
8. Go snorkeling
9. Fly in a helicopter
10. Ride The Titan at Six Flags – CHECK
11. Ride The Texas Giant at Six Flags – CHECK
12. Visit a castle
13. Fly a kite, again
14. Visit Statue of Liberty
15. Have dinner in a location that overlooks the city
16. Swim in an ocean – CHECK
17. Go on a camping trip – CHECK
18. Make homemade jam
19. Dance in the rain – CHECK
20. Get in a taxi and yell “follow that car!”
21. Taste fried ice cream
22. Kiss in the rain
23. Zipline down the old Vegas Strip (scheduled for 2014!!)
24. Spend the night in a haunted house

Here’s my favorite shot from when I went to the Meatloaf concert. I’m really hoping his farewell tour comes close enough that I can go again!

It’s not a lot, and there are some simple things on my list, but the point is, I have a list and I am checking it twice.  Oh, wait, wrong list!  I have a list; it’s a list of what I want to do, not what the world thinks I should do.  My list has some seemingly simple items on it, and some that you’ll be surprised to discover that I’m scared to do (fried ice cream, really, it just doesn’t make sense.) I will do them, though.  Eventually.  And, occasionally, I’ll add more items.  And, sometimes I’ll do something that is bucket list worthy, so I’ll add it – just to cross it off.  Just to say “I DID IT!”

If you don’t have a bucket list, I highly recommend you start one.  And then get started on it! It’s way too much fun!