Family Tradition...

JBB and I have thought a lot about how we want to raise Cookie; what kind of little person and eventual adult we want her to be. It goes without saying we want he or she to be kind, happy, and really, really good-looking. (HA! Just kidding! Zoolander reference.)While I imagine parenthood is one of those "trial by fire" situations that we can't really plan until we are in the trenches, one thing we both really agree on is that we want to build traditions in our family. Something that, as an adult, Cookie will look back on and smile and say, "Every year my family did...fill in the blank."

Fresh from trimming the tree.

I think traditions are so important. They give you a sense of belonging, of continuity, and of roots. Family traditions were a big deal in the Lambert household growing up, and still are today. I love that I have that shared experience with my brother and sister. That, even as adults in our 30's with our own families, we instantly remember all of the words to the Beach Boy's "Little Saint Nick", as the Beach Boys Christmas CD was played every single year while we decorated the Christmas tree. Nothing makes me happier than hearing songs from that CD; I'm immediately taken back to my parent's family room, with our crazy 1970's orange and brown carpet, with the big tree in the bay window by the door leading out to the pool. I can still recall the exact ornaments we hung on the tree - Nate's orange and green construction paper garland, the green bell ornament with a 5 year old Krissi's face displayed front and center, and the clothes pin angel I made during "craft-time" with my Mimi.

One of JBB's favorite traditions growing up was spending weeks in the summertime at his Grandma and Grandpa Blythe's in Edwardsport. I'm pretty sure that if his parents dropped him off there for the whole summer, he would have happily stayed. What little boy wouldn't love a steady diet of his grandma's pancakes, shooting his BB gun in the junkyard, tinkering on cars in his grandpa's garage (and learning how to drive a car at the age of 11!),  catching crawdads by the creek, and getting to stay up late and watch TV while drinking homemade chocolate milkshakes?



Trying on hats at Churchill Downs!

Last summer, JBB and I went to Churchill Downs so I could experience another Blythe family tradition - a day at the track, betting on horses. I loved everything about it, but mainly I loved how much fun JBB had, and being able to share in such a fun part of his history. When he told me I was the only person he'd ever taken because it was so special to him and he didn't want to invite someone only to have them not like it, I melted inside. A lot.

Traditions, at least in my mind, make everything more fun. The anticipation of the drive to Canada is made a little sweeter knowing that we'll be stopping for dinner at Trapper John's on Friday night, sitting on the screened in porch having a great meal after our long drive. The morning after a sleepover was always extra fun because I knew I'd be getting my dad's biscuits & gravy as a special treat. As adults, we've started a few traditions of our own. JBB and I's "thing" with Henry and Maggie is to take them to the movies. Henry told his mom that he loved going to the movies with us, and it made me so happy to share that with him. The last two Labor Day weekends have been spent in Saugatuck, MI with the Miller family, a tradition I hope to keep going for many years! Someone has to keep Kilwin's ice cream shop in business!


The gang on Labor Day weekend.

I'm not sure exactly what traditions we'll make for Cookie and the Blythe family; some, I'm sure we'll carry over from our own childhoods. I can already picture Cookie jumping into the French River as soon as she unpacks her suitcase in Cabin 16, as her Aunt Kiki and I have done for the last 20 years. I hope our kids love going to the horse tracks with their daddy, just as JBB did growing up. I imagine we'll also make traditions of our own...maybe it will be Saturday morning donuts. Or annual pumpkin carving contests with the cousins. Breakfasts at Betty's in Seymour with the grandparents. Memorial Day pool parties at Muggy and Papaw's. I can't wait to see what evolves and what become favorite memories for our family. I do know one thing - Cookie will love the Beach Boys Christmas CD. I will make sure of it.


The whole family on the deck at Lochaven Lodge.

What are some of your favorite traditions from your family growing up, or new ones you've created with your family?

Me vs. The Pre-Natals

I have a nightly routine, and it goes something like this:

• 5:00 - quittin' time! I call JBB on the drive home and ask him the question I've asked him every night for two years: "What do you want to do for dinner?" He's grown to hate that question.
• 5:30 - 7:00 - we eat said dinner, usually involving a potato. Then we walk around the neighborhood and I try to spy in the windows of neighbors and see if there is anything good going on I need to know about.
• 7:00 - 7:30 - Wheel. Of. Fortune!! Where Jason shouts out answers like "Bertie is a stuffed octopus!" after Vanna puts up an "E". (I'm Bertie. And I laugh every time).
• 7:30 - 8:00 - Jeopardy. Where we marvel at Alex Trebec's arrogance for 30 minutes.
• 8:00 - up the stairs we go. Yes, 8:00. No, we are not 150 years old.

Now - this is where the wheels fall off. Out go the contacts, teeth are brushed, rings come off. I get in bed, fire up episode 919 of House Hunters that I've DVRd. And then I stare at my pre-natals on my night stand, while they stare right back at me. I pretend to not notice them, and concentrate on if the buyers are going to pick the "cute fixer-upper", or the "turn-key ready, but out of their price range" house.

Then, JBB arrives from his bathroom (separate bathrooms = yay!) and reminds me that I have already watched this House Hunters and tells me which house they picked. THEN - "Bertie, it's time to take your vitamin." And I act all nonchalant, like "I know, I'm getting ready to", when inside I'm chanting "It's not that bad, it isn't as big as it looks, it doesn't smell, it won't get stuck in my throat, women lift cars off their children, pony up and take this effin' vitamin woman!!!"

So, I do. And it is dramatic, and I truly don't mean for it to be. Since I've been little I've had a horrible time swallowing pills. My mom used to crush up medicine for me and give it to me in M &M's while she sang and danced "Swallow, swallow, swallow!" That is true. Ask my sister. She still gives me crap for it. Anyway. I brace myself, getting the pre-natal in one hand, and opening my bottle of water with the other. I've figured out that the problem arises when the pre-natal sits on my tongue for even a nano-second; that's when I start to gag, sputter, and generally lose my mind. Sherman had an easier time marching to the sea than I have taking these hogs.

I sit up, take a deep breath, open wide, and in a flurry shove it in my mouth and drink half of the bottle of water, reasoning that the more water in my gullet the faster the vitamin will slide down. Jason watches, warily, and then cheers me on afterwards. "Bertie, that wasn't so bad!" Or, "Bertie, that one went down really fast." And he is serious, bless his heart. He is my biggest cheerleader. And I am getting better. I shouldn't tell you about the pre-natal taking low point, but I'm going to.  A few weeks ago, I was off my game...and...I threw the pill along with the gallon of water I drank right back up onto our new bedspread. It wasn't my finest moment. Speaking of not finest moments - JBB fished the pill up, rinsed it off, and triumphantly announced, "I got it! You can still take it." I didn't; I'm sorry, Cookie.

So - only 196 more nights of this. It gets easier, right? Please tell me it gets easier.





After. Exhausted.

Before. Very nervous.

During. Sheer determination.



Babycakes...!

So...it's been awhile. As in almost 12 months. What can I say; I've been busy. The past year has literally been a whirlwind - in addition to the normal things like working, sleeping, and eating, I have: gotten engaged, planned a wedding, moved THREE times, bought a house, gotten pregnant, and gotten married. I'm exhausted just writing that. I need a nap. You can see why blogging hasn't been top on my list.

However...with the impending arrival of Baby Blythe, or "Cookie" as her Daddy and I affectionately call her, I've decided to give this blog new life. I thought it might be a fun way to track Cookie's progress, and once she's here, all the shenanigans she gets into. (Disclaimer - JBB and I are NOT finding out the sex of our bambino; I just don't like to call the baby "It", so although I will refer to Cooks as a girl, there is no hidden meaning behind "her." Just a pronoun. I think...right? It's been a long time since I've studied the parts of speech.)

So, as of today, I'm 11.5 weeks along. Just hitting that stage where I look chubby but not pregnant. Coincidentally, that's also what I look like after a weekend at the Pork Festival, or a week in Canada. The bummer is, however, unlike with those events, I didn't eat lots of glorious, calorie-laden food to achieve that puffy look. Quite the opposite, in fact. I have no appetite. Which is strange for me. I actually have to remind myself to eat; I used to roll my eyes and scoff at people who said that, and now that has become me. This baby has sucked the appetite, along with any energy I might have had, right out of me. I'm ashamed to admit the amount of nights that I've been asleep before the credits roll on Wheel of Fortune.

Because I'm a sucker for a good list, I've compiled the top 5 pregnancy moments that have occurred this far. I can't wait for the million more the next 6 months will bring!

1.) Telling Jason. We've had a lot of amazing moments together in two years, but that one is hard to top. I wish I could have captured the sweet look on his face at the exact moment I told him. We were sitting on the dock at Canada, eating toast and looking at the beauty of the French River. Fitting that we were in my favorite place in the world when I told him the biggest news of our lives. I'm so, so happy that my kids will get JBB as their dad.
2.) Hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time is the only thing better than getting to tell Jason we were going to be parents. When I heard that thundering heartbeat, the feeling that washed over me was surreal. I started shaking and crying from head to toe. I didn't know how badly I needed to hear that heartbeat until I did. I didn't ever want the ultrasound to stop.
3.) Speaking of crying - it's something I do a lot of. I'm a crier anyway, so throw in a case of raging hormones, and whoa buddy! Perhaps the most memorable moment - home sick from work, I watched E!'s Fashion Police. If you've seen this show, you know it's not known for its tenderness. However, when the usually withering Joan Rivers gave a very touching tribute to her friend and mentor Phyllis Diller who had just died, I. Lost. It. Called JBB at work, and in between hiccups, managed to choke out, "Who's Phyllis Diller?" If Cookie is in fact a girl, we just might name her Phyllis.
4.) The Invasion of the Stuffed Animals. For those of you who knew me as a child (...or an adult) you may remember I have a serious soft spot for stuffed animals. In a moment of genius, I decided who better to watch over Cookie in her nursery than my favorite animals from childhood, already full of love? Soo...to our house they came, from the attic of my parent's house. A lot of them. At this point, they are in their 30's, and are kind of a motley looking crew. Jason is such a good sport; he gamely gave them all nicknames, and I must say, we're having a high old time with them until Cookie arrives. I've come home to animals in the crisper in the fridge, head first in the cookie jar, and chilling in my bathtub. Cookie is in for some fun with JBB as her dad!
5.) Telling our parents and siblings about their coming soon family member! For my family, this will be grandchild #5, and for Jason's  #1. Both sides were equally thrilled. I'm so, so happy Cookie will have both sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles living so close. This little guy or gal won't be lacking for family.


I'm so glad we got a picture of the exact moment we told JBB's family!

For those of you reading who are parents - what were your favorite (or least favorite!) parts of pregnancy? (And please, keep any terrifying stories/labor horror tales to yourself, as I will vow to myself and Jason to not read them, then I will secretly end up reading them, and then end up googling until 3:00 am, at which point I will call my dad in sheer terror asking him if I really am going to have a 3 headed baby/92 hour labor/etc. So, please, for my dad's sake, spare us.)

Until next time!

My 2010 Movie List

In 2010, I saw 48 movies, which comes out to an average of 4 movies/month. Man I love the movies! I thought I would share the highlights - and lowlights - of my movie going year.

Read on for my top 5 favorite movies of 2010, my honorable mentions, and...the big stinkers of 2010. I'd love to hear your least/favorite movies of the year, or any year!

My Top 5 Overall Favorite Movies:

1.) Date Night – Starring Steve Carell, this movie already had a leg-up in my mind, as I adore him, and want to be friends. While The Office is one of my favorite shows, I like Carell even better when he plays the “everyman” in movies. He’s not the best looking guy around, or the most athletic, but he is the most believable, at least to me. (See: Dan In Real Life, Crazy Stupid Love). Couple him with his female counterpart Tina Fey, throw in Marky Mark’s abs, and you’ve got the perfect cast. Loved the light-hearted tone of this movie, and its brief runtime. My favorite scene: the book club, where Carrel is attempting to commiserate with a menstruating Middle Eastern teen as she plods through the desert in exile. Laughed so hard I snorted.

2.) The Fighter – While this stars the aforementioned Marky Mark and his abs, the absolute star of this movie was Christian Bale. His transformation into Dicky Ecklund’s strung-out, washed up boxer is mesmerizing. I honestly couldn’t quit watching him. I’ve always been a sucker for underdog movies, so that, combined with the “local boy makes good” storyline had me hooked. JBB and I saw The Fighter, Black Swan, and the King’s Speech all in one day – while I loved them all, The Fighter was my clear winner. Bonus points for Amy Adams as the spirited bartender who doesn’t take anyone’s crap – bar patrons, or Marky Mark’s. (And you KNOW those abs wouldn’t be easy to resist).

3.) Made in Dagenham – JBB and I went to this one when we were in the mood for a movie, and there just wasn’t much out to see. I love, love, love time period movies, and once I read the description, we were headed to the independent theater in no time to catch it. A true story, set in working-class, factory-town Dagenham, England in the 1960s, it follows Rita O’Grady (played by Sally Hawkins) as she, reluctantly at first, but then vehemently, becomes the spokeswoman for equal pay and rights for women at the Ford factory in Dagenham. Absolutely empowering; I think this should be mandatory viewing for all middle school girls.

4.) Winter’s Bone – The title couldn’t be more perfect for this movie. The gray, somber tones throughout the movie, and the dark, chilling images and dialogue actually made you feel cold. The movie follows a pre Hunger Games Jennifer Lawrence as a teen girl tracking down her deadbeat dad so the bank doesn’t reclaim their home. The movie is set in the modern-day Ozarks, a place apparently riddled by poverty and drug abuse, in particular meth. I had a hard time watching this, as the whole time I kept thinking, “there are actually people who live like that; who have to grow up in that squalor.” Heartbreaking.

5.) Leap Year – The polar opposite of Winter’s Bone! A lighthearted chick flick, as a Bostonian “career girl” Amy Adams follows her fiancé to Ireland in the hopes to get him to finally propose, following Irish lore that Leap Day has more proposals than any other time of the year. Once in Ireland, many misunderstandings and silly adventures occur, and Amy’s character realizes her fiancé just might not by the “guy for her”. (Don’t worry, she finds her real true love by the end. And marries him on an Irish cliff. Sigh.)

Honorable Mention (or, next 5 favorites…)1.) The Kids Are All Right
2.) Morning Glory
3.) Secretariat
4.) Easy A
5.) The King’s Speech


Worst 5 Movies (or, I’m really mad I paid $10 for this, but at least the snacks were good…)

1.) Just Wright - Really, this is my own fault for going to a movie about a pro basketball player and an athletic trainer, starring Queen Latifah and rapper Common. Shame on me.

2.) Eat, Pray, Love – I should have known when I couldn’t get through the book, that I wouldn’t like the movie. But it starred Julia Roberts! So, l rounded up 10 of my girlfriends, and then we all proceeded to half fall asleep, half talk through almost three hours of Julia Roberts eating and meditating. And this is from someone who loves to eat. The love part wasn’t nearly long enough.

3.) Sex and the City 2 – BOMB! As I like to do, I got uber excited, Fandango’d my tickets, and rounded up my book club to view it on opening night. Overly long, COMPLETELY out of touch with the present-day economy, and self-indulgent.

4.) Why Did I Get Married Too – Starring Janet Jackson. All I need to say.

5.) Remember Me – I really, really don’t know why I saw this. I think I probably didn’t know how to say no to a friend who invited me. Stars Robert Pattinson from Twilight, who I can’t stand because I think he looks dirty and in dire need of sunlight, a haircut, and a shower. So, him for two hours, plus gratuitous exploitation of 9/11 – a real stinker.

I've Been Everywhere Man...

Whew! If you were wondering why I haven't blogged (and I'm SURE you were) it's because I haven't been in one place long enough to pound one of these out!

The past 6 months have been a whirlwind of travel - in the words of Hank Snow, "I've been everywhere, man!" My pillow and I have traversed the globe, and while we have had a merry old time, we. are. tired.

Let's make like Carmen Sandiego and review where in the world I've been!

Last spring, I was lucky enough to take the trip of a lifetime with my sister and some of my best friends to Europe. It was my second time "across the pond", and this trip definitely left me wanting to see more! (It also left me wanting crushed ice. And American tasting pizza.).

Our original itinerary was to travel to Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. We ended up visiting Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. (Plus a bonus pit-stop in Luxembourg, which is about half the size of Indianapolis). I've got to say, while originally bummed about missing Italy, the time we spent in Austria more than made up for any disappointment. The country is truly beautiful.

The highlights of this trip are so many I can't possibly name (or remember!) them all, but I'll hit my favorites below:


1. Traveling through Bavaria, which is so impossibly quaint and picturesque that I felt like I was on a movie set...

2. Sharing the "penthouse" with Jen in our Swiss chalet nestled in the Alps. (Least favorite moment - hauling my suitcase up 4 flights of stairs. Then down one. Then back up. My arms still hurt).

3. Tracking down the German equivalent of chicken fingers and fries in an outdoor market in Munich - angels sang, I was so happy.

4. Learning the mysterious story of King Ludwig's death - and his borderline obsession with swans. Why no one has made a movie about this guy, I don't know! I picture Johnny Depp as Ludwig, and Jude Law as his "personal doctor". (Who coincidentally, was found dead with Ludwig floating in a pond....intriguing, no?)

5. Sitting outside at a cafe in Germany with Jen, Ali, and Susi and eating maybe the best meal I've ever had, while snuggled under the blankets they put on every chair. Why don't all outdoor restaurants do this?

6. Listening to live polka at THE Haufbrau Haus in Munich. And watching Liz get propositioned by a local German politician. He was a smitten kitten.

Europe itself was amazing; the fact that I got to do it with some of my favorite people in the world made it absolutely incredible. The icing on the cake? Our hot Czech bus driver, Roman.

Got back from Europe, and spent the next two months in a sleep-deprived blur known as "season" at the 500 Festival. Training series, mini-marathons, Kids' Day, Rookie Runs, parades, Snakepit balls, study trips, Community Days, princess receptions - I know I went to all of them. And I know I provided volunteers.

I rewarded all of my hard work with a great 2-night, 3-day stay at the IU Health Tipton County Hospital! Three cheers for kidney stones. I'll spare you the details of this sojourn; suffice to say, it was miserable. However - the nurses and doctors at the hospital ROCKED. And, I lost 10 lbs, which was fun. And then I got better and ate my way through the rest of the summer. Which was even more fun.

Next stop - Chicago! My roommate turned 30, and to celebrate a group of 30 family and friends rented a rooftop and watched the Cubs game. JBB and I went up a day early and stayed at a very cool "boutique hotel" on the Magnificent Mile. We wandered all over Millennium Park, had a drink at the hotel bar, and then set out for a BBQ joint I had found on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. It was in the near-southside of Chicago, and had some of the best BBQ I've ever had. The restaurant also had live bluegrass,which I'm a sucker for. JBB and I had the good fortune of bellying up to the bar next to a local named CJ, who appointed himself our personal tour guide of Chicago. CJ entertained us and bought us drinks for the next two hours, and ended up giving us a ride back to our hotel. After getting over my initial fear that we were being kidnapped, JBB and I rallied and soaked in CJ's extensive knowledge of Chicago history. It didn't hurt that I had just finished reading "Devil in the White City" and was bursting with Chicago trivia from the book. The rest of the weekend was spent in happy blur of eating, toasting Katie (and Katie getting toasted...), drinking, walking, and eating some more. Thanks for the hospitality, Jen!

Here we come Canada! The very next weekend, our crew (13 people strong!) headed north for our 27th year on the French River, in northeastern Ontario. This is my favorite place on earth. If someone told me the only way I could keep my Canada trips was to never go anywhere else again, I would easily pick the Canada trips. I can't put into words the peacefulness and happiness of this week. This year, Krissi's husband Nate, and JBB, both got to come for the first time, and it was so fun to experience it through their eyes. We did it all - paddleboating, shore lunch, euchre tournaments, swimming to lunch, reading copious amounts of books, weekly Monday night fish fry, laying out on the dock, and just simply being. There were no cell phones, no TVs, no facebooking or computers. Paradise. We also did two hours in a holding room at Customs. That's a story for a different blog. When people say "go to your happy place" I automatically go to Cabin 16, with the brown paint and green trim.

After Canada, I took a week off to do things like, you know laundry, cleaning, and grocery shopping. One can only get by on swimsuits and sundresses for so long. Mid-August JBB and I set our compass for Oconomowoc, WI, home of the most "O's" in any US city and one of my very best friends, Nicole Rosi Wagner! JBB and I set out early Friday morning, confident and shiny in our smugness that we had timed our trip just perfectly, thus ensuring we would miss Chicago traffic. Fast forward 4 hours later, as we sat at a dead stop on the Dan Ryan in downtown Chicago, and we realized we'd been served. Why is that you always have to go to the bathroom THIS INSTANT when you don't have a shot in hell of reaching the next exit for at least a good hour? (Or is that just my bladder?) Once we finally met up with the Wagners, we had an awesome weekend, kicked off by a tour of the fabulously quirky Lakefront Brewery and ending with a mountain of food at Sunday brunch. In between we tailgated, went to a Brewers game, played euchre, and just caught up. Great weekend.

After Wisconsin, JBB and I decided to stick around Indy for two weekends, so we could remember what our houses looked like, and more importantly, attend Devour Downtown. I'm still dreaming about my Shula's steak. (And, still paying for it. Don't veer from the Devour menu unless you want to sell them your firstborn).

Labor Day weekend we headed for Pure Michigan - specifically, Saugatuck. We went up with Emily and Zach Miller, and, of course, Olivia, who had been the summer before. It was everything the Millers told us it would be, and then more. We spent part of two days at the beach, drove into Holland, MI for their Farmer's Market, ate our way through the town, made waaay too many stops at Emily's favorite ice cream shop, Kilwins, and played hours worth of Pegs & Jokers. (At which, I'm pretty sure, the boys cheated). If you get the chance, I really recommend checking Saugatuck out - it's only a 3.5 hour drive from Indy, but you truly feel like you're in a different world.

The weekend after Labor Day, we made a trip north to the exotic town of Tipton, for something the locals like to call "The Pork Festival". It was fabulous. Of course. It was the Pork Festival - do you expect anything less? Who doesn't love pork on a stick?

And, finally, last weekend, we hit up Cincinnati to visit Jason's sister, Eli, for her (belated) birthday. Because Jason is a little unhinged, we hit the road at 7:00 am (yup - on a Saturday) and were in the IKEA parking lot before it opened. After enjoying a delicious .99 cent Swedish breakfast, we tore that place up. Pillows, lamps, giftcards, lightbulbs, vases - I mean, it's IKEA - why not? Post IKEA slump, we hit Jungle Jim's, which is like a grocery store on steroids and maybe some acid, too. (Not that I've ever been on either one). This place was nuts. Food from quite possibly every country in the world, octopuses in aquariums, Beach Boys tunes blaring over the stereo - it was a trip. Me? I was most interested in the "Midwestern" aisle that featured things like Lay's Potato chips, and Hershey's chocolate. Following lunch with Eli and her boyfriend Brad, we checked into our hotel, which was actually a B & B. In the 'hood of Cincinnati. But sooo charming on the inside. I was more than a bit skeptical when we pulled up (Jason was in charge of lodging for this trip) but I have to say, he delivered. Called the "Symphony House" because it's right around the corner from the Cincinnati Opera House, each room (of which there were only 6) was named after a famous composer. We had the Schubert room (Austrian! I learned this on my Europe trip which feels several lifetimes ago), which was complete with a fireplace and the comfiest bed known to man. What it was not complete with? A toilet. Or shower. That was at the end of the hall. I did my best to time my bathroom breaks when I was out and about as to avoid any awkward encounters with our fellow B & B'ers. After checking into our hotel, and making a run for our car, we met up with Eli and Brad for the Reds/Brewers game. The Reds lost. Miserably. But the weather was perfect, it was Johnny Bench night, and the hot dog was delicious.

Whew. That's it. That's everywhere I've been this spring/summer. Lessons learned? JBB and I travel very well together, fountain drinks have not caught on in Europe, always bring your own pillow, and remember to pack a cardigan because the AC in restaurants is freezing! Happy travels!

Escaping the Winter Blues

Let me start by saying, I love Indiana. I mean that in the least ironic, most earnest sense possible. It’s my home – my parents, grandparents, and their parents were all born and bred Hoosiers. I have never lived anywhere else, nor do I want to. (Hush, hecklers! ) I take great pride in my home state – I appreciate a crispy, juicy tenderloin as much (okay, probably more) than the next guy. I know all the words to “Back Home Again and Indiana,” and I truly bleed cream and crimson.

However. Wow – does wintertime in Indiana really stink or what? The cold is so damned bitter that it literally makes the inside of your nose feel like it might frost over when you walk outside; it’s dark when you get up and leave for work, and it’s dark when you drive home. Mother Nature keeps dumping snow and wintry mixes on us, but the problem is, there’s really nowhere to go play in it. No mountains to ski down, or quaint little mountain town to sip hot chocolate in. It’s business as usual in Indiana, only now it’s conducted with a permanent layer of gray sludge and slush everywhere you go; staining the bottom of your pants; tracking inside and smearing your floors; getting the baseboards or your car dirty. It’s just so…gray.

So, to combat the winter blues, I’m currently dreaming of my favorite nice weather activities. Eating a green freeze pop while sitting bare foot on my front porch swing reading a magazine. Going for a bike ride on the Monon on my pink cruiser. Getting yogurt from Huddles and loading it up with strawberries and brownie bites, then trying to eat it before it melts. Floating in my parent’s pool, listening to Kokomo’s country station, chatting with my mom and dad. Getting a coke with extra ice and a hot dog from the South Pole. Sitting outside at Moe and Johhnys with friends, having a few cocktails and laughing at the same stories we’ve told 1,000 times . 4th of July in Cicero, playing cornhole and euchre, waiting for the fireworks to start. Movies on the lawn at IMA, complete with a picnic and pre-movie games, trying to stay awake for the whole movie. And, of course, saving the best for last – 7 glorious days on the French River.

What about you? Where do you mentally teleport yourself to in order to escape the winter blues? Are you counting down the days until Spring?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, it's been (ahem) quite awhile since I've blogged! When I started this sucker, I thought I would have all kinds of things to post about. I mean, I love to talk, often and about anything and everything, so I thought blogging would be right up my alley! Turns out its harder to put those ramblings into a coherent piece.

That said, I'm sitting at my parents with a belly full of Turkey and the satisfaction of a good euchre win, feeling especially contented and happy tonight, and wanted a way to express just how thankful I am. For so many things - the biggies, like a new job which I'm so lucky to have found, a warm bed and plenty of food, a certain fella' who puts up with all of my quirks, neuroses, and ramblings, and of course, my family. My family. I could write a book and still not express my gratitude to my parents, siblings, grandparents, the Rotten Babies, and all the cousins, aunts, and uncles who have been my best friends, biggest cheerleaders, and most strident defenders for the past 30 years.

Moving on to the smaller things - can I tell you how pumped I am that mint Hershey's kisses are once again upon us? WHY do they only make those 3 months out of the year?? And how about holiday movie season? Morning Glory, Unstoppable, Fair Play, Love & Other Drugs, Country Strong. The list goes on. I am so thankful for modern technology so I could watch my 5 year old nephew Henry be "Narrator 2/Pilgrim" in his kindergarten Thanksgiving play. I was so proud of him. Hands down the smartest, handsomest, best actor of the bunch. (Not that I'm biased at all!) Other things that are on my "I'm lovin' it" list at the moment: the new Kid Rock CD; how riveting the new John Grisham book, The Confession is; the new cozy sweater I found at Target and added to my collection; IU BASKETBALL IS BACK!!; listening to the rain on the sky lights; Pegs & Jokers night at the Millers; and, last but not least, the fact that my new bangs turned out cute. Whew - they're a big commitment, folks, and bad bangs can turn a good day sour in a hurry.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone - I hope you have a great day full of turkey (or ham, pizza - whatever floats your boats), family, laughing, and napping. I know I will!