NY Blog Swap Link-Up

So when I saw this link up over at Crowley Party I jumped on the chance to be part of the action.

I had seen a lot of other bloggers doing swaps and I knew I wanted to start participating in them when I could! What better way to start off the new year with something new like this :)

My partner was H. over at Sew Dysfunctional. If you have not seen her blog, pop on over! She's done a ton of awesome DIY stuff, loves to adventure, and is funny :) I'm sure she'd love to see you!

Anyways, H and I start to email and I knew instantly that this was going to be a ton of fun, yet pretty hard consider you would be shopping for someone you only knew via blog and email! The more I read her blog and we got to emailing back and forth I knew we had a lot of similarities. What's even better is we live in the same area of Ohio and can start to swap new restaurants and events as we try them! We'd both openly admitted to loving the charm of this state and all the little places that it has hiding, but we both know we help finding those places sometimes!

So without further adiue what did H get me you ask?

She mimiced this bag she had seen me post:

Source: notonthehighstreet.com via Megan on Pinterest

I am in LOVE with this! I wanted that bag so bad & now I have one, and it's customized!

I don't think the gift would have been complete without something Queen-y :)

She knew I liked candles! A lot!

Of course we all know how I feel about nail polish. Guess's who's fingers will be gold soon?! I would also like to mention I love that Elf Chap stick! I use it every night before bed and have yet to have any dry lips (Kev thanks you H!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you H! I love all my gifts! I love them.

I feel like I didn't only get stuff I got a new friend, fellow new experience enthusiest, and of course another awesome blogger to follow :) I can't wait to keep up with her blog and share more of the neat things we find to do around her for her and her hubs to try!

What did you get during your swap?

Valentine's Day Challenge: Day 2 - Worst Date

Day 2 of the challenge! I love these things...they make things us a little bit easier & so much fun! I love getting to learn these things about people.

Today's Topic: Love Telling This Bad Date Story Worst Date Ever

 This topic is tricky because I have honestly not really had a terrible date. I blame this on the fact that I have never been much of a "dater". I mean that in sense of going on a date with guy A and then going on a date with guy B because I'm not exclusive with someone. I've always had the official boyfriend/girlfriend title with anyone I've dated. Not that dating around is a bad thing by any means...just didn't happen with me I guess.

I honestly think the worst thing that ever happened on a "date" to me wasn't because of him, but because of me and it didn't make the date horrible, just mortifying. It was as simple as being out and about and me fainting. Oh yeah, btw, I'm a fainter, not like an "omg blood" sort of faint, I think it has to do with an excess of emotion or adrenaline. If that's the case I have no idea why it happened here when it did! 

Well anyways we were out and about with one another and all the sudden I could feel the lightheaded-ness coming on. I don't really know what causes my fainting at times but this happens every time I faint. As soon as I feel it I know what's coming and I swear I always try to say something. Ya know something along the lines of "oh shit I'm going to faint, catch me!", but no words come out of my mouth (the only time they don't!...great timing Megan!) 

So there I am walking and all the sudden BAM! I'm on the ground, partly on my back and partly on my knees because I just kind of sank. To top if off I was like drooling because of the way I was positioned (told ya, mortifying!). I came to, and I was fine but I was really embarrassed and he was terrified! Granted it felt good knowing he was worried but at the same time I felt bad that it'd happened and he had to feel like that. He asked me to promise I'd never do that again (as if I had a choice you dumbie!).  I will say that I kept my promise because we broke up shortly after.

At least I didn't do this!

Clearly the fainting was a sign!

Valentine's Day Challege: Day 1

It's time to rev up those blogger engines for another challenge brought to you by Neely, Amber, and Casey. 

Let's get party going shall we.  

Today's Topic: Loved This Date - Best Date Ever

So first, I think I should say that my best and favorite dates with Kev are the ones where we just hang out. Go to dinner, rent a movie, just enjoy each others company by doing nothing. BUT that's not really fun for any of you & I don't really have any pictures to share.

So I'm going to talk about our weekend get away date. I know that's not like a typical date, but it's been one of my favorites! Last winter I got one a Travel Groupon for a hotel in Chicago so Kev and I headed out to the city for a weekend.  It was the first time we've really done a get away weekend alone, and it was Valentine's Day weekend to boot. A year from the point in which Kev had proposed to me (yes, I'm sentimental about dates).

It was a great way for us to spend sometime together just the two of us. Not that we don't enjoy others company because clearly that's not the case. It's that we don't spend multiple days together alone...we really don't. 

We took off work that Friday and drove ourselves to Chi-town. As soon as we got there we were ready to hit the town!

 Of course, we were also ready to eat! First stop, Chicago Style Pizza.

 With a little help from Yelp we found a pizza place within walking distance of the hotel: Lou Malnati's

We are pizza fans overall so we knew that this was a must! The options for pizza in that town though are endless. 

 Also, with the help of yelp (I love that app). We found a little bar & blues club called Buddy Guy Legend's. I'd never really been to a blue bar before and it was a lot of fun! The musicians were really good and like to showboat a little so they were funny too. To top if off the host was this man in an all camel suit (see picture below. Told ya, head to toe camel suit). He was awesome, he interacted with the audience, sang, and told some jokes.

He also, pull some of us up on stage for some booty shaking. First the guys & then the ladies! Kevin did not have the privileged of making it up there to show off his booty popping skills...but I did! And I was nervous as hell lol.

Day two was spend on even more good food and some sightseeing/shopping! A must in Chicago!

 If you ever go to Chicago you need to find this pancake house: The Original Pancake House! It is a franchise but this location is a little place(aren't all the smaller places the best). The breakfast is amazing! You will absolutely love anything you get there.

 We did some shopping and site seeing on the Magificent Mile. The one thing I like about going to the city is getting to do some walking and look at all the buildings and sites around you!

You act as if you are surprised we got sushi or something. I think that is just part of the overall travel criteria. Must. Get. Sushi! This place, Ra Sushi, was no disappointment.

We only really had half of a day left on Sunday so we decided to do some more site seeing as we were on our way out. What better place to head to then Shedd Aquarium? Kev and I both love going to the aquarium and this is one of the best around!

 

Big Fish

I love all the bright colors you can find at the aquarium. I have more pictures from this place than I know what to do with!

Kev and I have had many awesome dates. It was actually difficult to choose which one my favorite was, but this is definitely up at the top of the list. Also, one of the most fun to share! 

What was your best date ever? Link up & let us know!

Happy Monday

Fill in the Blank Friday

Yes! It's Friday! Thank god!

1.   My favorite place I've ever traveled to is    I always hate this question because I've been to a lot of cool places & like all of them for different reasons!

2.    Australia     is somewhere I'd love to go someday.

Source: google.com via Selena on Pinterest

 
3.  I pass the time on a plane (or bus, or car ride or train) by    usually it's something like play little electronic games or listen to music. I get SUPER motion sick so there is none of that reading business in a plane or car!

4.  My three must-haves when I travel are     my iPod  ,  word search/crossword and a sweatshirt - it's always freezing on planes & who doesn't like to me comfy?! 

5.  My favorite travel companion is    Kevin! Of course!

6.  The craziest thing that ever happened to me while traveling is   Oh man, that's kind of tricky! I would say craziest bad thing was being bombarded by these French guys about the war in Iraq...the war was just starting & of course it was when the french were not about helping us. Apparently they thought a 17 year old could change something. Don't worry I yelled right back saying "I'm 17 I can't even vote! WTF do want me to do about?" Craziest fun thing - being in Italy when they won the world cup in 2006...it was epic!

7.  The most exotic food I've ever tried while traveling is    probably alligator.

8.  If I could live anywhere else, I'd live in    Kauai, Hawaii! Went for the honeymoon & it's lucky we came back!

9.  I have been to  12 (including Ohio)

states in the U.S.

Happy Friday and have a good weekend! 

It's Okay Thursday

It's a very very gloomy Thursday here in O-H-I-O. One of those days just BLAH days. Also, a good day to tell yourself that somethings are just okay...things like these:

~ that despite being an active person I don't enjoy exercising. Lucky for me though yoga is changing that!

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~ to be super pumped for yoga because it does de-stress me and make me feel good! 

Source: society6.com via Megan on Pinterest

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~ that I am forcing myself to take over some of the cooking from Kev. I just need to learn what I'm doing...even if I don't like it very much.

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~ that I've been craving sushi for days & days...and I've eaten it once this week already.

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~ to slightly regretting changing my email address. It's been a pain switching everything over & it makes me nervous I'm going to miss something. Lord knows I'm already scatterbrained!

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~ that I've come to the realization that there will always be someone getting paid more than me that shouldn't be! And I'm still not very happy about it!

Source: weheartit.com via Megan on Pinterest

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~ to put your foot down whether it be with someone else, or yourself.

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~ to still have a lot of questions about our last month's book club book. What the heck lady, you didn't really wrap up any of the doors you opened?! I think we may have to email her ladies! 

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~ that I want to do something a little special for the friends this year around Valentine's Day. What that is I'm not sure yet...and that's okay too!

Source: everythingetsy.com via Megan on Pinterest

Maybe I'll get some ideas from here?! 

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~ that I have about 7 drafted blog posts about things I want to write about and just cannot seem to get them finished. Hmmm...do I smell my activity for tonight?!

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~ to feel just how you feel, whether it be happy, sad, mad, content...don't let anyone tell you how to feel. However, always remember you are the one in control of those feelings, no one else.

Source: onederstrucked.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

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~ to have a Happy Thursday despite this wacky, crappy weather!

Pinspiration for recipes!

Lately I've been in a mood to cook. Have I cooked? Nope not really. It's something that I've decided to challenge myself with this year. Cooking, and cooking better...for the sake of my husband and friends taste buds. I don't think I really have made anything terrible but I do make the same things over & over again. I do tend to be a creature of habit but I don't need to be with food!

I've found some reallllllly tasty looking meals and even some beverage - I'm also working on my inner bartender - that I want to try out over the next several weeks. I think I'd also like to challenge myself to come up with a weekly menu on Sunday's. One grocery trip & hopefully can cut back on wasting food.

Source: theberry.com via Megan on Pinterest

I. LOVE. French Onion Soup. It's a goal to master this! 

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Source: aisletoaloha.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

These are getting made tonight for book club tonight. A few sans bacon for the veggie only eaters :D 

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Source: skinnytaste.com via Megan on Pinterest

I've heard so much about these Green Monster that I think I might need to try it. 

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Source: themealplanner.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

Indian food is a weakness of mine...I also have a matching naan bread recipe to go along with it! 

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Source: thefiftybest.com via Megan on Pinterest

50 champagne cocktail recipes? Don't mind if I do! 

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Source: realsimple.com via Megan on Pinterest

Kevin and I bought a third of a cow this year. Needless to say I have more beef in the freezer than I know what to do with! The more beef recipes I can find, the better! 

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Source: tampopopress.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

This one will warm ya up this winter! Ginger Ale, Cider, and Bourbon. I die. 

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Source: asmallsnippet.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

You can never go wrong with noodles! Period. 

We will have to see what the February meal menu brings along!

Any recipes suggestions? 

Happy Wednesday!