Category Archives: Adventures

10.08.13

Michaels craft tour...

Posted by Christina // 4 Replies

I don’t think I have ever been as excited as the day that I got an invite to the grand re-opening of our local Michaels store. The craft store has always been one of my favorites, but I used to always choose a competitor because finding what I needed quickly was not going to happen at Michaels. Lucky for me…that was their primary focus in the new design. They simplified the whole shopping experience, and who better to show off the new digs to than crafty bloggers. We got to take a tour of the new design and got inside scoop on some of the details they added to make shopping easier. Things like widening the aisle, reducing clutter, adding high signage, really putting thought into how the departments were organized, and the best part was lowering the aisle displays. Yes, you can now see the majority of the store from one spot and it is glorious.

My favorite part was stepping onto my dream bus. We got to craft with Jo Pearson, the creative expert for Michaels and host of TLC’s Craft Wars. As if spending time with other bloggers isn’t enough they threw in endless supplies of cute paper and a crafting genius. Pretty much the best day ever.

To top it all off, we got a gift card to shop the new store and I am happy to report that it was so easy to find everything I wanted. I can’t wait to show you what we got, it was so hard not to go crazy on all the Halloween decor. Since the Craft Tour, I have stopped back into Michaels to pick up a few little things (I go through modge podge like a maniac) and have been so pleased. Honestly, I haven’t even been to that other store since…which is crazy since they know me by name.

As I mentioned, Michaels did give us bloggers lots of goodies and a sneak peek….but you all know we only work with brands we use and love. All the sappy love professions are straight from my heart because I can now find the ribbon aisle lickety split.

What are your store pet-peeves? Clutter? Customer service?
Do you have a Michaels by you?
Have you seen Craft Wars? Obsessed.

06.12.13

Our camping adventure-ish day....

Posted by Christina // 4 Replies

Last weekend we got a little wild and decided to abandon the seventy-four projects we have on our plate to take a day off in the woods. Sometimes I need a full day of phoneless bliss. Usually the day after I started pulling my hair out trying to keep up with twitter, pinterest, facebook, instagram, bloglovin, klout, hometalk, and whatever else I am behind the times on. Sometimes you just need a break.

Six years ago, one of my closest relatives retired. She sold everything and bought an RV. Now she spends her days traveling the US just her and her GPS. A real-life American gypsy, and my role model. Since she hasn’t rolled into our neck of the woods in a few months we hopped on the opportunity to roast a couple marshmallows with her. And play gin rummy with her. And bingo. And an outdoor movie. It was quite the eventful day. Retired RV life is totally for me. Hope you don’t mind the grain.

Do you like camping?
Have a sore loser boyfriend like me?
Did you spot the fluffy dog?

05.29.13

A mini-vacay recap....

Posted by Christina // 8 Replies

For our long weekend, we decided to take a mini-vacay with the family.

It started off great, got a little bumpy, and ended with a bang. Ok seriously, if you walk into a hotel and it is swarming with tweens for any sort of event…just turn around and run. Run right out the fancy foyer and sleep in your car. You can thank me later with cookies.

We were lucky enough to be surrounded by middle school softball players for a tournament. At first, I was all googly-eyed. I always dreamed of playing on a team (any team) that got to travel and compete. They were so cute with their braids and braces, I was smitten dreaming of the day Tim and I are hauling all the kids around trying to become parents of superstars.

Then came the screaming, and the dance parties (that I wasn’t invited to), the running of the halls, and the incessant giggling. I was about to break a pitchers arm, and then it happened. While drifting off into sweet, sweet slumber. Flashing lights, blaring sirens. A late night wake up call. Furious is an understatement.

Don’t get me wrong, at fourteen I would have thought this was hilarious too. In my late twenties, watching babies crying in terror and grandmas hustling down the steps…it loses the humor. Can’t we just watch Chris Farley re-runs instead girls? I’ll pop the popcorn, you can braid my hair.

I bet those little boogers called up Mother Nature too. I know that we could have done without the late night fire alarm and the downpour, but I think this trip will go down in the books as fantastic.

I’m sure when we are eighty we will still be laughing about that silly fire drill.

Have you been on any fun trips lately?
Ever pulled the fire alarm as a prank?
Have any travel disaster stories?

04.17.13

I am in love with Louisville....

Posted by Christina // 6 Replies

You may remember that Louisville, Kentucky was our first stop on our East Coast Road Trip. I declared my love then, and fell even harder this time around.

For Christmas I got my family tickets to go see our favorite band, Fleetwood Mac. Unlucky for us, no one ever deems Missouri a great venue for rocking out. So I decided a family road trip was in order to check a box on our bucket lists.

I grew up traveling with my family, and our trips are always at the top of my awesome-memory bank. As we grew older and went through the “can my friend come” and eventually “can my boyfriend come” stages of life the trips became rare. I miss those family trips more than I miss Zach Morris, sometimes I hate growing up. Throw in three members of our family going to school for a couple of years and you have quite a scheduling conflict, but somehow we made it happen. Call it a testament to our love for Fleetwood Mac. I suppose you could also say we actually like spending time together.
Gramma look away, there may have been a teensy bit of drinking going down. Ready for a photo-throwdown…. Please check out the bottom picture in the center, my mother was teaching my dad how to Gangham. Aren’t you sad you missed out on that.

The concert was fantastic, Lindsey Buckingham is my hero. Afterwards, we took our high (of the music variety, no illegal drugs in our veins) down the road to Fourth Street Live. We stopped in at the piano bar Howl at the Moon, where they successfully sang Nikki Minaj and Tupac. It was impressive.

If you follow us on Facebook you caught a glimpse of the horse playing drums….which made the night fantastic. Even though whilst powdering my nose I encountered a group of super-excited bathroom goers that couldn’t have told you who Fleetwood Mac was if you were holding a bottle rocket to their head. Look, if you have never karaoked “Sings a song it sounds like she’s singing…ohhh babay ohhh baby ohhh” well then I feel bad for you son. At the end of the night, my mom realized that we hadn’t eaten since 1 p.m. and declared a state of emergency. Everyone I asked said that there was only one place to go for some “effing great pizza man”. Everyone except our cab driver, who said it was too late for food. Too bad for him our hotel receptionist had our backs and gave us a menu for that “oh my gosh you are gonna love this pizza” place and their number.

I called and ordered some pizza and soda pop, then my mom yelled at me for not ordering fried Oreos. I thought I was being healthy by avoiding the fried dessert at 3 a.m. but Mr. Spinelli thought otherwise. Miracle of all miracles, they gave us fried Oreos. Let me tell you, fried Oreos after three buckets of beer is better than heaven.

So the next day, we did the only reasonable thing…got seconds. If you are local to Louisville, I am jealous.
If you are traveling to Louisville, go there and I’m jealous.
If you have no plans to go to Louisville, make them.

After lunch we explored a little and found eclectic little homes and shops.
This was my favorite. What is your favorite “family vacation” memory?
Ever been to Louisville, KY?
Want to be a gypsy like Stevie Nicks?

03.14.13

What happens in Vegas....

Posted by Christina // 11 Replies

Usually ends up posted all over the internet thanks to all our instant sharing.

I mean, doesn’t the world need to see what I’m eating every meal. Thought so.

Luckily, this weekend our photos were a little more interesting than usual, thanks to a short little jaunt out to Sin City. That’s Vegas not Cancun okay.

Ready for the Vegas photo drop?
Sing it with me now….I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly. 1. Only got to the airport three hours early.
2. Think these letters will fit in my suitcase.
3. We found glasses, we wore glasses.
4. My mom wanted in on the action.
5. The Luxor letting the aliens know whats up.
6. I do love an accordion player.
7. Having a little drinkity drank.
8. Everything is pretty in Vegas.
9. First night out was the Mandalay Bay. 1. My favorite casino…the Venetian.
2. Just hanging out with gold tigers.
3. Do you feel like you’re in Rome yet.
4. Our view from lunch, gorgeous.
5. Double fisting like a pro.
6. So did Caesar actually live here?
7. Future millionaires of America.
8. Those flamingos were so in love.
9. Crushed by a bicep. 1. Again, can I take these home?
2. Bright lights in the city.
3. Hey hey you you.
4. I drank that whole drink too.
5. The chandy at Cosmopolitan.
6. Every vacation needs one of these.
7. Where we laid our heads.
8. Traveling the world one casino at a time.
9. Ohhhh yummy little cocktail. 1. I thought these were an urban legend.
2. The largest TV in the world.
3. Had to visit the classics.
4. Giddy up on in here cowboys.
5. Do I need to explain this?
6. If you didn’t know, we are related.
7. The whole gang.
8. The birthday girl and me.
9. A sweet treat at 2am can’t be beat.

Even though I did not come home a big winner….I feel like some Vegas fun is worthy of an award. So I am throwing some gold stars at them.
Of course I couldn’t choose a favorite aquarium…that would be like choosing a favorite child.

Do you have any favorites that I missed?
Do you love live bands and photo shoots?

03.13.13

Random Thoughts....Vegas Style

Posted by Christina // 14 Replies

I am back from Vegas….and I am broke. And sick.

Two weeks before we left my dad came down with a nasty cold, you know the one….gross cough-headache-achy all over-feverish chills-all around disgustingness. For two weeks I evaded it. I bobbed and weaved even when my mom came down with it and Timbo added a sore throat to the mix. I felt victorious.

Then I went to Vegas, and that cold laughed right in my face .
Struck down in my prime.

I toughed it out, and although I couldn’t manage any all-nighters I did keep up with the Vegas Veterans. You know the ones…..sparkly hats-empty pack of cigarettes-fanny packs-totally reasonable shoes.

While there I did some very legitimate research, here is what’s up:

Of the many dealers, bartenders, taxi drivers, servers, street performers, and cops I “formally interviewed” only one was a born-and-raised Vegas kid. So what are all these Vegas natives doing? Do they avoid the tourists and become teachers or do they move to Nebraska on their 18th birthday? Or is there a whole Vegas underworld I should know about?

No one, I repeat no one said they “hang out” on the strip on their downtime. I get it. I don’t like dealing with $9 beers and Stumble McGees either. But then are we “faking” industry nights? Am I not talking to the right people? Is it a gimmick to make me feel like part of the gang….you know a local. With that many people working on one road, do you all know each other. Is it like Cheers? Where is Norm?

Do you think the Chippendales hang out with the Show Girls by the pool?

Taxi drivers can make a real good living off drunk people. Let’s face it, when you are bombed your best friend is the guy who is getting you to Fat Burger faster…..he totally deserves all your Blackjack winnings. Or at least a couple of those escort cards that you collect at every corner.

Most people who visit Vegas act in a way that they would normally deem inappropriate back home. Dresses are shorter, heels are higher, boys walk around with foot-long pink frozen daiquiris….but almost everyday you see a reunion of some sort. What a small-big town, huh? So my question is…how do you explain that pair of thigh high stockings to your frat brothers when you get back home?

If you have an accent, can sing, do magic, throw fire, or tell fortunes….become a bartender. Get rich.

Bartenders would never want to be a Dealer, Taxi drivers couldn’t stand bartending, and Drummers are super cute but none as cute as Timbo.

How many Transformers, Mickey Mouses, and Spongebob characters can you fit in one town? This place rivals Orlando….this seems like a fantastic “children clause” built into Sin City. We can definitely bring the kiddos, they will love drunk Elmo.

On an unrelated note, thanks to getting down with the sickness my flight home was a bust. I always have trouble with my ears. If you have ever sat next to me on a flight I am sorry for the rapid gum chomping, compulsive water sipping, and yawning on repeat. My ears are overly sensitive, and that could be a whole post on its own. for today let’s just say that my ears are still stuck at 38,000 feet.

Completely clogged ears, shooting pains, and a ridiculous equilibrium is all up in my business. I need help folks. How can I get them to pop? I can’t hear a thing. T wants to take me to the hospital but this is about the third time my ears neglected to let loose.

Do you have any tips for helping with those pesky ears while traveling?
Do you think I could get my hands on an astronauts helmet? Or Jay Z headphones?