30 Day Challenge Day 3

Day 3-Your first love

So i struggled with this topic - I had to call on one of my besties - Aly from Analyze This to help interpret what it was actually about - a boy - an activity - a thing??? clearly - there is nothing EVER simple in my life! So after discussing with her - I think I have had a few first loves ...
i love babies!


i have always loved them even from when I was small... there was nothing better to me than to get to hold my baby cousins when i was 7 or 8 years old. i loved every minute of it - it probably explains as to why i babysat all through middle school, high school and college, and now i volunteer to watch my friend's kids if the parents need a day/night out! i just can't get enough of them! there is nothing better than a baby laughing, smiling, or falling asleep in your arms!

i love golf!
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this was the first sport that i played, that i loved. i had a passion for it, which helped me be dedicated while practicing and playing. i played all through high school on the varsity team [and yes we had more than just the varsity squad - we had a jv and and a jr jv]. i loved the girls that i played with at both my school as well as the local schools in the area that we would compete against. one of the great things about golf is that i continue to enjoy the sport with justin and our friends during the summer months - its a passion that i started in 8th grade that keeps on giving

and finally Justin!
[i know shocking - right?!]
sure, i dated guys briefly throughout high school and college, but in my opinion if i new i wasn't going to marry the guy i wouldn't prolong the dating because honestly- why waste my time?? i would rather just be friends than put someone through something that i knew wouldnt be forever
i think this worried my mother just a little bit because at one point she told me that i needed to "practice dating" - thanks Laura -ha!
I think everything worked out pretty well ;) i kinda like the guy that i'm with now!



Day 1 and 2 are here

Happy Hump Day! we're half way through the week - woohoo!

Just a few updates....

First - Molly had exciting news to share with people earlier this week...

That's right - she's going to be a big sister in the beginning of May [unless her sibling decides to come 3 weeks early like she did!]

I am so excited for Jason, Katie and Molly.. i just have to wonder if they can possibly make another baby as cute and lovable and perfect as my little Goddaughter?!!?

[i have known about this secret for about 2 1/2 weeks now - and i kept it in.... i'm pretty proud of myself!!!!]

Second - I won Taylor's BedBuggs Pillow give-a-way and I honestly couldn't be more excited! I can't wait to get my pillow :) I will for sure be posting a picture as soon as I get it!
Third - do ya'll drink a lot of soda? Well i know that i'm totally addicted to it.. [as if you didn't know that about me already].. however I have been logging my coke points - you know those codes that are on the lid of your 20 oz bottles or 2 liters, and under the opening flap of your 12 or 24 pack of cans? to mycokerewards.com for the past few months and I got a free subscription to The Food Network Magazine which is honestly one of my favorites!!
Fourth - Although the US ended up loosing the Ryder cup yesterday and my boyfriend Luke Donald plays for England
i'm pretty sure he is going to be replaced with my new found [well previous crush] love for rickie fowler!
i had never heard of him prior to the Memorial Golf Tournament, but he made a name for himself that week here in Columbus. He was leading Thursday - Sunday morning and then Justin Rose came on strong. He is young, vibrant [not only with his golf outfits but also his personality], and just enjoys the game of golf and has fun while doing playing. He rarely gets discouraged [or at least he doesn't let it get the best of him during competitions and he hides his frustrations well - unlike some people - ahem TIGER!]
So back to the reason as to why he replaced Lukey....yesterday he was down 2 going into the 16th hole in the Ryder Cup and he came back to end up halving the match [tying the match]. This is not an easy feat to do - and the fact that he is so young, a captains pick, and his first Ryder Cup, makes it all the more unbelievable that he was able to do this!
Justin and I both follow him and Bubba Watson on twitter... if you need some funny in your life I highly recommend adding them! they are besties [hope they never read this blog - i would be incredibly embarrassed that i referred to them as besties - ha!] and they go back and forth ALL the time with tweets and videos!
@bubbawatson
@rickiefowlerpga

I think thats enough rambling for now...

I hope ya'll are having a great Tuesday!

Weekend Recap

This weekend was very LOW key! which i loved! we did a whole lot of nothing

we cheered on the buckeyes to a victory over the illini

we watched the us in the ryder cup

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and today we went to the pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins
i absolutely loved it! i had been asking justin to go with me to the pumpkin patch for the past 4 years .. so i was so excited when he finally agreed to go!
I'm so thankful that we chose to go to the Pumpkin Patch on Sunday because 1/2 of their proceeds that day went to the NICU at Children's Hospital. I loved knowing that the pumpkins that we were picking were going to help out a little one in need!

After the pumpkin patch we went to Roosters and cheered on the Browns to their first victory of the year!

I love watching my favorite teams play and come out with a victory - now we just need to cheer on the US to a victory tomorrow over Europe in the last day of the Ryder cup!

I hope you had a great weekend as well!

Just a little recap

Yesterday was a big day for the OSU buckeyes - we played #12 Miami in the horseshoe

We headed down to campus for the day

This is how I watched the game - on a big screen at the Varsity Club [prior to the rain].. and then we went to roosters for much cheaper drinks and to stay dry
and this is how justin watched the game... lucky guy
It was an awesome game to watch - I am glad our defense showed up to play... I think after this game we have proved that we deserve to be #2 in the country! Bring on the bobcats next week!

and.....

I meant to post this yesterday but happy birthday to one of my besties...

Stacey!
last year in Boston

We were so excited that my camera was working again
this past summer at her parents house around a bonfire

I hope you have a wonderful birthday in NYC and that you enjoyed your day - because you certainly deserved it!!!

We're off to play golf and then back here to watch some football!

Let's go Brownies!! [and aaron rogers and the rest of my fantasy team :)]

miscellany on monday

[1]
i hope ya'll had a wonderful weekend!
ours was pretty uneventful but very productive :)
friday- JM and I golfed and then went out to dinner
saturday - i watched my friends baby beckett and cleaned the house
sunday - we celebrated JM's grandma's 89th bday and watched the PGA championship

[2]
all the TLC that i have given my tomato plant this summer has finally started to pay off - i picked all of these little guys this weekend and I can't wait to make a meal out of them today

[3]
i got my first silly band today from Michaela [justin's cousin] and i'm kinda excited... thanks Michaela!

[4]
i'm still a little bitter about the ending of the PGA championship... i feel badly for dustin johnson [i don't agree with the call regarding him grounding his club] and bubba watson [that he put his 2nd shot into the water on the final playoff hole]... oh well there is always next year!

[5]
we have some new residents living with us.. ANTS.... i totally understand that it is 90+ degrees outside, and my air conditioned condo is much more comfortable to live in - but srrsly - its time for them to get out of here!

[6]
i made a new meal this past week that was delicious! i forgot to take pictures while making the dinner - but here is the recipe from real simple - it was delicious!
sauteed chicken with peanut dipping sauce

[7]
big brother has totally sucked me in - however i still have questions after every show - and yesterday's show is no different
**can matt use the diamond power of veto to put brendan on the block?**

alright now head on over to lowercase letters by carissa and link up to her blog on your randomness for a monday!

Preperations for the Golf Outing

Happy Saturday!

I feel like i have been a little MIA the past few days but I have been busy doing things for a golf outing that is today! [clearly you can tell that i'm not too overly stressed about it since I am sitting here updating my blog when I should be getting ready - priorities - right!?]


So over the past few days I have been making these:

And putting the finishing touches on this

I am so excited for today's golf outing - it should be a lot of fun!

Here are the recipes that we used for the pudding shots...

**a little hint when making jello shots/pudding shots - spray all of the cups with PAM/cooking spray first - that way the shots come right out**

Buckeye Shots

**I only made 1/2 of this recipe**


2 packages of instant chocolate pudding (small box)
1 qt whipping cream
16 oz of baileys
12 oz butterscotch schnapps

Combine pudding and whipping cream
Pour in Bailey's and Butterscotch Schnapps
Ladel into jello shot cups
Freeze
Serve with mini plastic spoon
you can find the spoons at GFS along with the cups and lids

Mudslide Shots

1 small box of instant chocolate pudding
1 3/4 cup of cold milk
2 oz Kahula
2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
2 oz Creme de Cacao
Add liquors to cold milk, pour this into pudding mix, blend thoroughly, pour into cups and chill

Drunk Gummies

3 shots of Absolut Citron
1 bag of Haribou Gummies

Refrigerate Gummies! Let the Gummies sit in the Citron for 2-3 days and soak up all the liquid [aka alcohol] and then enjoy! even Justin [the kid who doesn't like anything gummy enjoyed them!

Adventures for Memorial Tickets

As of this morning JM and I were patiently waiting to see if we would get tickets for the Memorial Golf Tournament which is in Columbus this weekend....

as the day went on we became more and more discouraged that we may be sitting in the comfort of our living room watching it

and then i got an email from one of my besties Aly saying that her dad had 2 extra tickets, and if I met her half way from her house [we live in OH and she lives in IN], we could have them.....

So JM drove

and I was a good passenger

mainly because JM handed over his Ipod Touch about 2 minutes into the trip and told me to play my games [he clearly knows that i'm not a good car traveler - i'm worse than a 2 year old with having to stop to go to the bathroom, asking if we are there yet, asking how much further, begging him to stop for a drink, ect - you get the point!] so i played this game - the WHOLE time... if you don't have the app - i highly recommend it - its free.. and totally worth it!
leaving Ohio....

passing the Indiana border sign [sorry that i zoomed in too much!]

and in 2 miles after we crossed the border we met up with Aly... I still can't believe that Aly drove 2 1/2 hours round trip to meet us to give us the tickets...ALY you are truly the best, and we can't thank you enough! We are so lucky that you drove all the way for us - thank you for being so thoughtful - and thank you to Big Jim for giving us his tickets!

We literally saw each other long enough to hand over the tickets, hug and then we were both back on the road.

It was a short trip to Indiana but it was sure with it!

JM and I are very excited to go to the tournament today!

Top 2 Tuesday - Things to do in your lifetime

Its Top 2 Tuesday time...

this weeks theme is top 2 things you want to do before you die

1. mentor an under privileged child

I have been slightly addicted to the story behind the Blindside for the past month or so. Justin and I watched the movie a few weeks back, and then his parents got me the Blu Ray for completing the half marathon (and I could honestly watch it everyday), but every time I watch the dvd, i have to immediately watch the E! True Story behind the blindside - it is such a moving story. I think the Touhy's are amazing family, and to watch Mrs. Touhy's determination in making Michael successful is pretty motivating. I also happened to watch Extreme House Makeover this past week where the Touhy's helped in designing the house/field house for the dad of the family. I just think that there are so many more opportunities to help out an under privileged child in your community and that I could hopefully be half as committed and dedicated as the Touhy's I could make a difference.
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2. getting a hole-in-one in golf
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i used to be a pretty competitive/decent golfer in high school, and kind of lost interest after i graduated HS and got to college, but this year JM and I are going to work on getting out to the links at least 2 times a month together. i can't guarantee that a hole in one will happen any time soon... but it would be nice to get one :)
**on a side note I do need to give a shout out to my dad who got his first hole-in-one ever on Saturday! he has been playing golf since he was in middle school - so it was about time he got one! CONGRATS dad!**

Honorable Mentions

• Adopt a pet from a local shelter
• Find my dream job, one that I don't feel as if I am going to work every day
• Run an entire half marathon, not stopping and walking
• go to Augusta for the Masters
• go to the Winter X games
  

What are the top 2 things that you would like to do in your lifetime? Head on over to Taylor's blog and see if anyone else has your same ideas!