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Posts Tagged ‘Grown Up Time’

A Month of Travel…

Friday, November 20th, 2009

I must admit that although the blogging world around here has been quiet (I think I have two posts this month), my life has been a whirlwind of travel.  It all started Halloween weekend when we packed up the kids and flew to the San Francisco area for a little family reunion.  I’ve already posted about this trip, but hey it’s part of the month of traveling, so I’m mentioning it again.

Blake and I In Front of Ghirardelli in San Francisco

Blake and I In Front of Ghirardelli in San Francisco

After this trip I was home for three days.  Just enough time for me to unpack, wash the clothes, clean the house, go grocery shopping and re-pack.  Then I hopped on another plane, but this time it was with my bestest bud Shanny and her and I had a girls trip to Puerto Vallarta.  It was five days of sleeping in, drinking tons of beer, eating guacamole and chips non-stop and chilling on the beach with one of my favorite people in this whole world!

Shannon and I Drinking at a Beach Bar in Mexico

Shannon and I Drinking at a Beach Bar in Mexico

Life was so good there!  Here are some of the highlights!  We swam with dolphins, had beach side massages almost every day that we were there, contemplated how to get a pelican to fit in the overhead compartment of the airplane, went on a tequila tour, danced the night away, we were told that we were beautiful by the locals about a thousand times (who cares if it was because they wanted us to buy their goods), learned how to say, “Donde esta mi novio Jorge?”  Also, bought a slice of amazing chocolate pie from the pie Nana who was peddling pie on the beach and last but not least…I slept uninterrupted for four whole nights…it was spectacular!

Oh and let’s not forget:  Todos y todos y todos y todos….y Hugh Jackman!

Don’t get it?  Well you should have been in Mexico.  Okay here is a hint…Dr. Cox.  Still don’t get it?  Okay here is the clip.

So after getting whatever tan I could wearing SPF 70 (hey, gotta worry about pre-mature aging people), I came back to Phoenix.  Again I had just enough time to un-pack, do laundry, clean house, grocery shop and re-pack so we could all go up to the White Mountains for the weekend with our awesome neighbors.  So I went from a warm, tropical beach to freezing my ass off in the snow in less than a week.  It was awesome!

The Newman's Getting Their Snow on in Show Low

The Newman's Getting Their Snow on in Show Low

It was so very cold and it made me remember why I don’t live in a four season state!  I must admit though, that it was beautiful and watching the snowfall was magical, even if it was just a small storm.  We had fun doing family activities in the day and then once the kids were in bed we had a blast playing “Drinking UNO.”  I haven’t laughed that hard in a really long time…Hanging out with the Arthur’s was a blast!

So then we came home and three days later, Travis re-packed his things and headed to San Diego with one of his business partners for a conference and some guy time.  He comes home today.  Then, while he un-packs so I can do laundry, again, I’m going to take the kids to Tucson on Sunday to see my grandparents since we aren’t having Thanksgiving with them this year.  After that, I hope, we are stationary for a small amount of time.

So, I haven’t been blogging, because one of the reasons is I haven’t been here.  Or, I’ve been taking care of the kids solo.  It’s been a fun month and it’s gone by fast…I guess that’s what happens when you travel for a month!

The City Suits Me…

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

There is so much to talk about and I don’t even know where to begin…

My husband has given me some wonderful gifts in my life; love, trust, laughter, happiness, children and security.  But, there is another gift he has blessed me with, one that I probably wouldn’t have in abundance like I do today…and, that is the gift of travel.

This year, Carol and Rich watched our two wonderful children so Travis and I could spend a few days in Manhattan.  It was more than I ever wanted.  This trip was luxurious in every way!

We did some touristy things and then we tried to act like New Yorkers on some of our other adventures.  We did the double decker tour bus which is a fabulous way to see the city.  We basically saw every major landmark New York has…and boy do they have them.  We went on the downtown bus the first day and then the uptown bus the second.  I think I’m more of a downtown type of girl.

We stayed at a hotel one block away from Times Square which was so much fun…every day we woke up and either caught a bus or the subway there and it was like….BAM!  You are here in New York baby!

Times Square In All Of It's Glory

Times Square In All Of It's Glory

So, as far as some of the things we did…and really I am only listing this so 20 years down the road I can look this up and remember…

We hung out in Times Square and ate bagels there (oh by the way, this really was a food trip), we had slices at Ray’s pizza (two different ones across town and both world famous :) _) and shared a mile high pastrami sandwich at Roxy’s.  We welled up at Ground Zero and couldn’t believe the devastation, even to this day…We had drinks with stock brokers by Wall St. (I think it was called Stone Street) and hung around the New York Stock Exchange.  We saw Lady Liberty, the Bull and ate lunch in Central Park by the rowboats.

Eating A Slice In NYC...It Seems They Are All Named Ray's!

Eating A Slice In NYC...It Seems They Are All Named Ray's!

One of the Memorials for Sept 11th.  My Heart Goes Out to Everyone Who Lost Lives and Loved Ones That Day

One of the Memorials for Sept 11th. My Heart Goes Out to Everyone Who Lost Lives and Loved Ones That Day

Travis In Front of the New York Stock Exchange...The Boy Loves Being Around Money Makers!

Travis In Front of the New York Stock Exchange...The Boy Loves Being Around Money Makers!

Taunting the Bull!

Taunting the Bull!

We had drinks at Clo on Columbus Circle…coolest wine bar ever!  We sat in the seats of the Saturday Night Live Studio 8 H.  We tried to drink the 10 light and 10 dark at McSorley’s and had an amazing dinner at Del Posto’s.  It was a six course pasta and wine paring meal in which after a brief talk with our waiter, he magically and swiftly took our menus away and created this tasting menu just for us.  We chilled with the locals at a trendy bistro called Rauol’s in SoHo and speaking of SoHo, we bought some very hip items at the boutiques there too.

Lunch with the Rowboats in Central Park

Lunch with the Rowboats in Central Park

Holding My Lights and Darks at McSorley's

Holding My Lights and Darks at McSorley's

Our Tasting Dinner at Del Posto's

Our Tasting Dinner at Del Posto's

We walked around a young designer studio where I purchased a really cool bracelet from Marc Berstein…so if he ever becomes big, I can say I knew of him when…

We danced the night away at a rooftop club in the Meatpacking District and saw a surge drill from the NYPD on our way to Macy’s.  We ate at the famed Peter Lugar’s Steakhouse and got lost in Brooklyn at night which is not recommended.  We had brunch at Chelsea’s Market and ate at a great restaurant that specializes in local organic cooking.

My Mecca...Where I Would Love to Spend Any Day of The Week...Can We Say Next Food Network Star?

My Mecca...Where I Would Love to Spend Any Day of The Week...Can We Say Next Food Network Star?

Chelsea's Market

Chelsea's Market

The Green Table Had A Fabulous Menu and Concept

The Green Table Had A Fabulous Menu and Concept

We saw Wicked on Broadway and it was absolutely fabulous, walked around the diamond district drooling and hung out with some crazy drugged out weirdos on the subway.  Disclaimer:  Travis wants me to tell you that not everyone riding the subway are hopped on drugs…We only had two seperate experiences of individuals being high while we were in the same car as them.  Really quite actually sad to see since one was only about 8 or 9.

We had $18 cocktails at the Waldorf Astoria just so we could say we were there and finally we bought the kiddies some I Heart New York t-shirts and walked around the largest Toys R’ Us in Times Square so we wouldn’t go back empty handed.

I’m sure there is more that I am not thinking of at this moment.  It was so much fun and I can’t wait to go back and explore more of the city.  Thank god you walk everywhere, or else I would have gained 20 pounds instead of the three or four that I did.  Boy, it’s fun being a foodie in New York.

Here I Come…

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

In less than 24 hours, my in-laws will be taking care of the kids and Travis and I will be here…

Look out Big Apple, I’m planning on taking a HUGE bite out of you!  See you soon!

His Lyrics Makes My Heart Smile…

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

About three summers ago Travis, Brook and I went to Lake Geneva to bum around and eat some lunch.  To our luck a local artist Jon Troast was playing an acoustic set at Potbelly’s.  It’s just a sandwich shop there, but for a moment, it was his stage.  He sang a few cover songs and he also sang some of the music he had written himself.  Both Travis and I were blown away by his talent and I promptly bought his CD Second Story.  As we left the restaurant we discussed how when he made it big, that we could tell people we saw him when…

Well, a couple of weeks ago we were at the movies when I saw a poster for a Jon Troast concert.  I promptly made plans to attend and was really excited to see and hear his music again.  I didn’t know that this show marked the end of a fantastic journey for him.  He just accomplished 100 concerts in 100 days and the concert that we attended was his 100th one.  It was really fun to hear about his adventures and to see someone trying so hard to get his music and his message out there.

What message you ask?  Well, I guess you are asking the wrong person, seeing that I am not him, but if I had to guess, his message is of living life, enjoying the small stuff, learn from love and remember that you and everyone around you are special.  He just has this great gift of songwriting and some of his songs remind me how special my life and the people that are in it are.  Let’s just put it this way, if I knew about his music when Travis and I got married, I would have definitely had You’re That Way as my wedding song.  It is just so beautiful and heartfelt.

So, I confess that although I enjoy his music, I didn’t know much about him and his concerts till last night.  I feel bummed out because if I would have known, I would have made sure that our living room was one of his stops on his concert tour.  Maybe he’ll have a round two and we will be lucky enough to have his music fill our home and we’ll be able to share his voice and talent with our family and friends.  It will also give me the chance to ask him why red shoes?  I know there is a story behind that, but I don’t know it and I’m a curious person :) .

He said he was going to be recording soon, and I hope he does because he has a new song about each moment in one’s life should be their favorite.  It really opened up my eyes and made me realize that each moment with my children and my husband is a great one and to stop and be in that moment, in that minute with those people.  Oh how my heart is smiling.

I Spent Way Too Much Money!

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

I just got home yesterday from a couple day adventure in downtown Chicago and all I have to say is…I spent way too much money!  I tallied up the shopping spree, the spa, the dinners at amazing restaurants and the hotel stay and wow I better get back to working on making more discretionary income.  It was worth it though, I came home rejuvenated as a Mommy and ready to eat boxed mac and cheese, sing kid songs, play and be a taxi driver again.

I just wish I would have slept more while I was gone…aw well!  Oh, and I need at least a week of detoxing my body and working out to reverse the damage, but it was sooooo worth it.