by

My Favorite Movies

The Oscars were like a second super bowl at our house. My step-mom was a drama teacher, so she loved this night of Hollywood stars and educating us on the ins and outs of the movie world.

We had ballots, and even though I never really knew what I was voting for it became a fun tradition and sparked a love for cinema.

Now most of my favorites were not seen on the Oscar stage, here are movies that I could watch over and over again. They never get old.

West Side Story

I love love love this movie. I am a sucker for musicals, and for me this is by far one of the best. I loved this growing up, but I developed a personal connection when I was in the pit playing the most amazing saxophone parts when my high school performed it. I can sing all the parts probably in my sleep. I know a lot of the dance numbers. So great!

Singin’ in the Rain

This movie is just so happy. Who doesn’t love watching singing and tap dancing wrapped up in a love story? This is a great movie to just make me feel good.

Miss Congeniality

Apparently movies that make me feel happy is a needed quality to be in my favorite movies category. To me this is uplifting and empowering. I still laugh so hard with this movie even though I know every scene by heart. Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite actresses, and I love her in this role.

Sabrina

I like the old version with Audrey Hepburn, not the newer one with Harrison Ford. That one is still good, but you can’t beat Audrey. She is my spirit animal. This movie is funny with a love story intertwined. I have a personal connection to this one as well since this was the senior show my senior year, and I played one of the supporting roles. It was so much fun so I love reliving it with Audrey.

While You Were Sleeping

Another Sandra film that I love. This one is quite humorous as well. A subway ticket woman falls in love with a stranger (who she has never actually talked to), and she finds him in a coma and accidentally pronounces that they are married to his family. Hilariously romantic.

 What are your favorite movies?

by

Ha Ha Tonka State Park

I instituted a Mother’s Day tradition when I was pregnant to go on a nature walk every year as a family. Making memories through experiences and not things. Now that we are in Missouri, we have a lot of state parks we want to hit up.

0508161028c

This year was Ha Ha Tonka State Park, or as I like to call it Honka Tonka.

0508161028

This is a really cool park that is known for its “castle.”

0508161030_HDR

A businessman from Kansas City built this mansion in the early 1900s as a haven in the wilderness to get away from the city life. The house burnt down but there are still remnants of the frame which have made it look like a castle. You can find out more here.

0508161029

It is near the Lake of the Ozarks, and there is a beautiful natural spring. It is an absolutely amazing view.

0508161032a

There are walking trails around the building property, but it also goes down and up from the spring.

Some of the trails are pretty brutal, so I would not recommend it for kids under 10 if they are walking freely. I was struggling near the end to walk correctly. Lots of stairs.

0508161128b

We would not have done this without the Tula. It was so easy to take George along, and we got a really great workout with his added weight. And there is nothing sexier than a man with his baby man.

There are a lot of little picnic areas or places to stop and take in the scenery or take a break.

0508161107_HDR

0508161058

This is a great free tourist destination if you are at the lake or driving though Missouri.

0508161042a

Fun way to spend Mother’s Day, but maybe not so much to impress a toddler.

by

My Favorite Foods

I could eat all day. My co-workers make fun of me almost daily because every time they pass my office, I have a different snack.

I love that food brings people together. I love events surrounded by food. I love cooking food. I work out so I can eat more food.

Food and me go together like mac and cheese.

Coincidentally, that leads me to my favorite foods list.

Mac and Cheese

I have not found a mac and cheese recipe I do not like. Cheese and pasta, what could be better? I have an emotional connection to mac and cheese too. It was the first meal I knew how to cook on my own. We bonded as kids with our mom when we would make this before our TGIF ritual showings.

Chocolate

I am a chocoholic. I HAVE to eat some form of chocolate every day. EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I like it in cookies, in cake, chocolate bars, pudding…so many ways to eat chocolate. I do prefer it if it has nuts in it, and I will chose dark over milk chocolate. However, I do not like white chocolate. Who let that imposter in here?

Salisbury Steak

I love hearty food, and Salisbury steak fits the bill. Hamburger, mushrooms, and gravy. Perfection. No need to say more.

Cheddar Biscuits from Red Lobster

I go to Red Lobster for these specifically. Forget the shrimp scampi, bring me all the biscuits. I have a copy-cat recipe pinned, but I am afraid to make it in case it doesn’t measure up. They are just warm and fluffy and just the perfect amount of buttery and salty. I am salivating just thinking about them.

Enchiladas

Growing up, my mom made the best enchiladas. Fortunately for me, she gave me the recipe. They are filled with cheesy goodness. Just yummy in my tummy.

Fried Chicken Wings

I am fairly particular about my chicken wings. I like them fried more than baked, even if I regret it later. I do not Buffalo Wild Wings, just FYI. My favorite are from a local pizza joint in Ames, IA. I dream about those wings and dipping them in a big ol tub of ranch. These are my go to appetizer to order.

Absolutely none of these are that healthy (or at all); I prefer all the fatty goodness of them. Luckily for my arteries, I do not eat these every day. I savor the days that I do.

Except chocolate. That must happen every day.

So who is hungry?

by

My Favorite Music Artists

I grew up in a very musical family, so I love hearing new music and falling back on oldies. Music has a way of bringing you to a certain time in your life. Certain songs bring back tears of joy but also remind me of painful times and the healing. I have songs that remind me of people and the memories made.

Here are some of my favorite artists (who are still living) that are always a joy for me to listen to:

Tyrone Wells.

I love this man. He has a voice like butter. It is so sweet and just the perfect tone. I love singer song writers, and he is the cream of the crop for me. (I could honestly do a whole post about all my favorite singer song writers…) I also love that Tyrone stays true to his family and faith even amidst his fame. Tom and I were featured on his Facebook page once, and I have actually had a real conversation with him one of the times I saw him in Iowa. One of his songs, our friend sang at our wedding. I have seen him 5 times now, and every time it is so worth it. This is my go to music if I need to feel anything. Do yourself a favor and buy all of his albums.

Michael Buble

He has an old soul feel to him, very Frank Sinatra-esque, which I love. His songs always make me want to be a competitive ballroom dancer. I just love his rich tones. Yummy music! I would love to see him live.

Celine Dion

She has got the best tunes that are perfect for belting it out in the car or in the shower. (Or when you are 9 singing hysterically “All By Myself” when you are told to clean the basement…this may or may not be based on a true story.) She was also the first cassette tape that I owned.

Jimmy Buffett

I grew up listening to Jimmy since he is my dad’s favorite artist. My dad and I danced to one of his songs for our father/daughter dance. They are just great songs to dance to and make you feel like you are just living it up. Most have a party on the beach vibe. Every day I wish I was partying on a beach. I sing “Cheeseburger in Paradise” to George all the time. It’s amazing my brother and I didn’t didn’t ask more questions about some of the lyrics…

Justin Timberlake

I mean what girl who grew up in the 90s doesn’t love Justin Timberlake? From his N’SYNC days to now his solo career, I love it all. Also our sons are very close in age, which means PLAYDATE? One could dream. Anyway, he is a dreamboat who can act, sing, and dance. But I mostly love him for his singing. I also need to see him live…someone please make that happen. I can’t wait to hear this song on the radio!

I have so many others! But these are my top 5 today.

Who are your favorite artists?

by

Oh Hey Friends

I am going to make a little confession.

I am not the greatest friend right now. I am not looking for pats on the back or comfort words that I am. I just want to share why it is hard for me to be/feel/expend energy on being a good friend.

It’s the reality. I really haven’t been putting my best foot forward in the friend department.

But in all fairness, I am trying to raise a little human being to not be an awful human being, which unfortunately takes all my attention and energy that otherwise use to be spent on friendships.

For me it is hard to be a good friend and to be a good parent to a toddler.

It may take me longer to answer texts or phone calls than the average person. It can be hard to talk on the phone while trying to keep George from eating ALL of the dog food. Or I see a text, but don’t have enough time to answer before George unlocks the front door and walks out to our yard naked. When he is asleep at 8:30, the last thing I want to do most days is to have a conversation, no offense. Being an introvert, that alone time after he goes to bed is extremely vital to my own sanity to make sure I am a good person. Plus I am at a point in life where calling people after 8 seems super late.

I am missing one of my dear friend’s weddings this weekend. I have cried over missing this, but it is the reality of being a parent of a toddler. It just is not feasible or practical for me to travel alone with George, nor really go alone for 3-4 days with Tom’s schedule. Our situation just doesn’t lend well to it right now. He was an angel baby when he was 7 months old driving across the country last year, but this year is a different tune. George thinks he is independent, but he is still at that age where I have to carry things for him and be his shadow to make sure he gets to where he needs to be. And being in a car for more than an hour is just not happening if I am driving solo. Then there is the cost and time of traveling with a toddler…I can be pretty low maintenance traveling and cut corners for myself, but George is high maintenance and will still expect snacks at certain times. As a parent, you are at their beckon call regardless if you are at home or staying in a swanky hotel.

When I have traveled with him lately, I don’t really focus on the company I am seeing. I am more worried about what George can get his little hands into. When a place isn’t baby proofed, I can’t relax and sit and enjoy a conversation because I am worried that he may break something of yours. This makes it easier just to stay home where I know he can’t reach any breakables and I know his limits on climbing furniture. It can be very stressful to take a very curious toddler into unknown terrain, because again I still have to be his shadow. Then there are the tantrums that I don’t normally have to deal with because I am constantly pulling him away from things and telling him no. I know his reach and we have created that buffer zone in our own home. Or I end up having to hold him the whole time. I am not asking that people create that in their spaces, but this makes it difficult to see the fun in traveling and taking George places. It’s not that I don’t want to hang out with you or find your place annoying, I just don’t want my kid to pull a glass figurine on his head or run into sharp corners. Personally I have found it hard to shake the toddler shenanigans and just sit. His safety is always on my mind. As much as it pains me to say, this isn’t my idea of a fun friend date.

And then there is this…

Even going out to dinner here in town is not an easy task. There is a reason that our Friday night’s are spent at a grocery store diner with our family. There are six grown ups (and one spirited 6 year old cousin) to tag team him, and it is social acceptable for him to walk around the store. Most restaurants are not super kid friendly for a roaming toddler. Trying to get a 20 month old to sit still for a couple hours just sounds like torture.

Trying to find a time to “hang out” in between our work schedules and George’s sleep schedule is often a nightmare. We have been trying to find a time for friends of ours to come over for the last 9ish months. Why is this so hard?

I hate that we have had to say no a lot, but it’s the world I live in. George is my priority and that comes with certain sacrifices from our previous lifestyle. It may sound like I am complaining about being a parent, but I assure you this is the role I love most. There is a reason that I am choosing him first. I love hanging out with him, and I want to make the most of the precious time that we have together. I just want people to understand that I personally haven’t yet found that balance of being a good friend and a good parent. I love my kid though and I want to be there and present for him during this time. It can be hard when I have friends living their own life to find time to mesh all of our needs.

I am not trying to make excuses, I know there are things that I can do differently as a friend. I try to schedule a couple lunch dates each month, but that doesn’t help when you don’t live in town. I am not asking for praise that I am a mom and “trying to do it all” because let’s be honest does anyone really do it all? I write this because I am sad that I know some connections have waned because I became a mom and my priorities (rightfully so) shifted to George. And I wonder if other moms struggle with this, and how do we work out of this friend hole?

I ask for forgiveness if I haven’t sent you birthday cards in the past few years. I ask for understanding when I say we can’t make it to your life event, but also don’t want you to stop asking because sometimes we can make it work. I ask for flexibility when you make plans with us and know that my attention will be divided if we aren’t in our own home. I ask if we do invite you to our home, please know that this is a big deal because it means that I have probably taken the time to clean and put away laundry and mail which is a rare occurrence at our house.

I also hope that friends know I am always “here” for you. I still cheer and cry for you from afar. I still pray for you daily. I still cherish the bonds that we have. My seemingly neglectful style of friendship is in no way a representation of how I actually feel about you. I promise I will try to do better!

What I am saying is I would love to have visitors because I miss my friends, but I am also going to put my kid first because he is my world. (And toddlers are needy) I have a lot of peanut butter cheese crackers and wine to entice you for a visit.

I know there are parents out there who manage to be great parents and have a great social life. Please share your secrets. How do you balance wanting to be there for your kid and not missing anymore than you already are and maintaining friendships outside of your family? Is this just the season we are in right now?