More punkins!

Go here and look at these pumpkins! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Happy Halloween!

We went to Ryan's parents house Sunday for our pumpkin carving tradition. Here we are 'digging in.'

Alyssa getting ready to show her's off.


Ta-da!

First timer-Jessica's

Momma Everett's and Aaron's.

Mine and Ryan's. I came up with Tiger for Ryan.

Brianna and Janessa's

Proud punkin carvers!

Fire at Eagle's Landing

My sister sent me a text today regarding this. This apartment complex was our first 'home' after we got married. It caught fire last night from a bbq grill. Read here for more. Thank goodness we don't live there anymore. My heart goes out to those residents who got hurt, lost their homes and pets.

Let's go Jazz

I got free tickets to the Jazz game Thursday night from a drawing at work. We were row 26 on the lower bowl. $116.00 tickets, not bad! Ryan even caught a ball! If you look closely you can even see Hot Rod Hunley in the background. Ryan was too scared to get an autograph though...

Needless to say, I won for best date this week!

Learning experience

So I was trying to cook bacon in the microwave the other day...

Yea, I guess when the instructions say place a few pieces, it means not half the package!

I said, "I know it smells like somethings burning, but it's just the bacon cooking." I walked in to see smoke coming from the microwave. This was what happened to the bacon.. Eventually my dish broke too because it got so hot! Note to self, next time just cook it on the stove.

Propel

We get free propel at work. Ever since I've been drinking it (many months now) I have gotten headaches. I've been trying to figure out what is in it that could be causing them. Today I did some research. Have any of you heard the 'myth' about aspertame? Whether it's true or not, acesulfame, and sucralose are also sweeteners that can be found in Propel. Mystery solved? You be the judge. What have you heard or experienced?

10 things to be happy about right now

1 a brand-new fall sweater...over your favorite frilly summer dress
2 icanhascheezburger.com
3 sunflowers
4 "Getting together with my girlfriends in a cabin for one weekend a year to act like kids again!"
5 apple picking

1 Finding $10 in the pocket of your fall jacket
2 Breakfast for dinner
3 That one house that always goes all out for Halloween (even better if it's yours!)
4 A good hair day
5 "Watching my kids laugh when they don't realize I'm watching!"

Flashback Friday

My blog is two years old today. Yay! And since it's Flashback Friday. Here was my very 1st blog entry. Enjoy! (The link doesn't work, so don't even bother)


Hello fellow friends, neighbors, and family! Welcome to our blog! We've been married for about a month and a half now, and we just got our apartment put together, it was a long and grueling process, but it looks great! Now we just have to focus on wedding pictures and scrap booking and all that fun stuff. if you want to view my bridals here is the website. http://www.collages.net just type in 081006Teandra_B for the username and 10106 for the password. They will only be able to view online for a little while longer. Enjoy!

You know, you're a grown-up when...

...uninterrupted thought is a luxury you now treasure.
...you decide that crossing your fingers that there's enough in your checking account to cover the rent is not actually a financial strategy.
...it's become completely impossible for you to ignore a sink full of dirty dishes.
...the perfect job is one you enjoy doing instead of one that impresses people at parties.
...you've finally figured out that if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will.
...the person doling out the vitamins in the house is you.

...you check the headlines more often than (or at least as often as) you update your Facebook profile.
...you finally get the concept: Less is more, especially when it comes to eyeshadow, barrettes, and fingernail embellishments.
...you've learned to say no to people in a way that's every bit as firm as it is friendly.
...you always said that someday you'd go to India/write a novel/learn French cooking/become a dog trainer and you realize that someday has arrived.
...instead of trying to guess what perspicacious means (really sweaty?), you just ask.
...you know that even though your best friend is asking for your advice, she really just wants a chance to vent, so you simply sit there and nod wisely.
...one of your guests offers her help in the kitchen and you take her up on it.

...sleeping in means 9 a.m.
...you realize that enjoying Thanksgiving is more important than making the pie crust from scratch.
...you understand that your vote really matters, even when the numbers say it doesn't.
...your high school reunion become snot simply an opportunity to see how much better you look than everyone else but a time to...oh, forget it. No amount of maturity will prevent you from gloating.
...gossip starts to taste like junk food it is.
...you face the fact that pushing a load of stuff under the bed is not actually a form of de-cluttering.
...you develop a girl crush on Tina Fey.

www.redbookmag.com

Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert Tickets

I got this email today:

Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert Tickets on Sale October 25-November 4 The registration period begins for tickets to the Christmas concert provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. All registrations received during the registration period will have equal chances at receiving tickets in the random selection process. To register during these dates, visit the Events Page.

I was in this last year. Great experience. Tickets are very hard to get, but be sure and try to get some! If you are one of the lucky ones, you can give them to me!

Kitchen Aid

For Christmas last year my mom got all of us girls Kitchen Aids. I know most of you will gasp, but I used it for the first time on Sunday. Part of me said that it's too pretty and new to use, but honestly, I'm more of a cooker than a baker. I was really in the mood for cookies, so we decided to make peanut butter cookies. I got on to my favorite recipe site, Tasteofhome.com, and found an award winning recipe for peanut butter sandwich cookies. I started creaming the ingredients then realized I didn't have any baking soda. Knowing that I couldn't just not use it I called 3 of my neighbors, none of which were home. I called my mom to see if she knew of any substitutions for baking soda, but there is none. Disappointed, I put it in the fridge and added it to my shopping list. Meanwhile, Ryan was making some green beans with bacon and what do ya know? We didn't have any nutmeg or cream of tartar. Obviously I don't bake very much. Needless to say, Monday I made a trip to Walgreens with my 2 for $1 coupon and bought what I needed. Oh, and I should add that I was also short on shortening, confectioner's sugar and peanut butter. I made due with what we had ;)and they still turned out delicious even though Ryan thought they were stuck together instead of sandwiches. Now for the pictures...

Leatherheads

I love my free redbox Mondays! Ryan works evenings now, again, which means that I'm all by my lonesome. I took advantage last night and rented Leatherheads. I heard it was good, and I really enjoyed it! That John Krasinski is a charmer. I couldn't help but be reminded of The Office when he gave those same looks. (All you fans out there know what I'm talking about.) I really loved Renée Zellweger in this as well. She's so cute! Let me know what you guys thought of it!

Deleted Scene #2 - Business Ethics

Kevin meets the all-new Ryan 2.0.



I really do not like Ryan, so I love this deleted scene! Sorry that all I can think to blog about is The Office. It's a lot more entertaining than my life.

Chicago day 3 &4

Enjoy the last pictures!

Chicago Day #2!!!

The 2nd day we went to the top of the Sear's Tower. It was very cool to see out to Lake Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Not to mention our audio tour told us what lots of the buildings were.

Sneak Preview-Business Ethics

WiNdY CiTy: Day 1

When we landed in Chicago it was pouring rain. We took the subway to the stop by our hotel. Ryan was sure he knew which way to go. We started walking, in the cold rain, with our luggage for blocks. After awhile he said "we should be there by now." So, we turned around and walked all the way back. He asked for directions and we had been going the opposite way! A few blocks later and we were safely in the hotel. We had to wait for Ryan's dad to check in, so we just sat in the lobby and tried to warm up and dry off.

You can't tell in this picture, but my legs were soaked from my knees down. Oh, and it was about 50 degrees outside.

The view from our room.

We walked to the Navy Pier after drying off. Here's a view of the coast from Lake Michigan.

That tall building is the Aon building, the 2nd tallest in Chicago.

There were boats up and down the pier that offered lunch and dinner cruises.

From the pier we walked across town. This is the Chicago River.

Looking across the drawbridge.

We walked through the park and there was a huge amphitheater.



Last stop of the day was the Art Institute of Chicago. It is one of the nation's top art institutions, with one of the world's largest collections-more than 225,000 works in all, shown among ten departments. Two of American art's most recognizable paintings are here: Grant Wood's American Gothic (the artists dentist posed for the pitchfork-holding farmer, and the artist's sister for the spinster daughter at his side) and Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, his famous all-night diner scene. This museum has the largest membership of any U.S. art museum.

Mom's Bday

We all got together to celebrate my mom's birthday on Sunday. I found out a surprise...my other sister is pregnant! She's about 12 weeks along so I'll get another kiddy this Spring around my birthday.

Precious. 3 1/2 weeks old

Still looks great!

I held Porter almost the entire night. I just love him!

Cutting the amazing cake by Toni.

The new mom and my hubby.

Flashback Friday

100 years of film in Chicago

Did you know the movie The Count of Monte Cristo was made in Chicago in 1908? Since then there have been numerous hits filmed in Chicago. We all love such movies such as Somewhere in Time (1979), Uncle Buck (1989) When Harry Met Sally (1988),
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1985), Sixteen Candles (1983), National Lampoon's Vacation (1982), Risky Business (1982), Save the Last Dance, Return to Me (1999), Hope Floats (1997), My Best Friend’s Wedding(1996), Miracle on 34th Street, While You Were Sleeping (1994), The Fugitive (1993), Groundhog Day, Rudy, Sleepless In Seattle, Meet the Parents (1992), Wayne's World (1991), and all 3 Home Alone's. Did you know they were all filmed in Chicago? Along with many others, Eagle Eye was also filmed in Chicago.

We really enjoyed our trip! Pictures will soon follow...