Brad’s snoring use to drive me nuts. So much that I would make jokes about smothering him with our beloved kitten. Now it is a comfort to know one of use is truly asleep. For the past month, our nights have started with pure exhaustion taking over and a wake-up call at an ungodly hour. We have found a sense of norm in our new hours, and taking turns on who is up half the night. I jokingly tell people it is good practice for a newborn baby when the time comes. Read more

Busch Wildlife St Charles Missouri

We are 22 days into this new journey, more needles than I would like to count, meeting our new BFF, CT and MRI at every turn, 2 nights in the hospital and one scar forming. We should be 22 days into the most terrifying journey of our life. 27 years old and faced with a tumor straddling language and reading. My two favorite parts of my husband. The parts that will last when the laugh lines settle in and our family is grown. The parts that matter when you are 80, sitting on the porch and telling stories about when we were kids and newspapers were actually paper!

Here we are 22 days later feeling more blessed today than the last. Stress fades a bit easier and finding the joy seems to come a bit quicker. 22 days of terms we don’t understand and unthinkable outcomes, turned into hundreds of prayers, unmeasurable love and God being everywhere we look.

At first, I am sure people thought we had lost our minds. How could we receive devastating news with unknown around every corner and still smile? How could we handle it with grace and faith that we will be ok? How are you accepting ok might not be the outcome we want? The answer is simple and oh so hard all at the same time.

God took care of us to this point. He prepared us in every way without us ever knowing it. I once heard, when you look into the rearview mirror, you can see how God has gotten you there. Well, when you are analyzing ever moment of your life to determine when the symptoms started and how you are feeling, you get to see the path a little closer up. Honestly though, there is too much good not to think that God will carry us through.

As I have since watching my entire future get whisked away into an ambulance, I pray not for my own desires, but to be given the peace and strength to accept God’s will. Something that is hard for a stubborn woman like me.

When faced with tragedy, you can ask why me or be thankful for what you have. Brad and I chose to be thankful for each other, our faith, family and friends. Thankful to love a bit fuller and get to do this crazy journey which some think is incredible grace and we now call life.

Brunch at Tiffany's

So what is a girl to do when her husband is out of pocket for the weekend, call up her Mom and take a Brunch at Tiffany’s cooking class! While there are a variety of cooking classes in St. Louis, The St. Louis Community College’s Continuing Education is my favorite. This past weekend, my Mom and I took Brunch at Tiffany’s which was hosted by you guessed it, Tiffany! The class description alone inspired me to learn some new dishes, and the class didn’t disappoint. Read more

Herman, Mo

All aboard the train to Hermann for a day of Missouri countryside, delicious wine, gourmet food and most importantly ending the night in your own bed! As the weather starts to cool, I want nothing more to find a beautiful view and sip a full body Missouri red wine. Like most people, it is hard to carve out an entire weekend to get away. Between, wedding, showers, baptisms, birthdays and work, Brad and I do not have a full free weekend until Novemeber! My need for Missouri wine has to be satisfied before then which is how our day trip to Hermann was born!

Here is how you can plan your own day trip to Hermann!

  1. Pick a Saturday that you are free to run away to wine country.
  2. Book your train ticket! You will want to take the Missouri River Runner #311 which leaves St. Louis at 9:15 am. Don’t forget to book your train back. While we want to get away, the goal is to end in your own bed. I would suggest taking the Missouri River Runner #316 which leaves Hermann at 7:48 p.m.
  3. Plan fun activities for your train ride. I suggest packing a deck of cards, light and gives a wide variety of games to play. My obsession with trains and playing cards started when I backpacked through Europe. We use to play cards for hours to pass the time as we galavanted from town to town
  4. Do a happy dance you made it Hermann in under two hours.
  5. Catch the trolley and enjoy the ride all day and night for only $15
  6. Choose from five wineries to visit or visit them all!
    1. Stone Hill: Stone Hill is the oldest and largest winery in town. It also has a restaurant if you are looking for a larger menu than Hermannhof. It is easy to spend a few hours at this large winery between the rich history, wide variety of wine tasting and tour.
    2. Adam Puctha: This is one my favorite wineries from when I only drank sweet white wines. Fors those who love white wine, the Adams choice is delightful it is crisp, refreshing and a sweet white. Adam Puctha is tucked away in the Hermann countryside and has a family feel which makes sense as it has been family owned for 7 generations!
    3. Hermannhof: This is a quick walk from Amtrak and the perfect spot to start your day. They pride themselves on being a small winery rooted in the German history of the town offering locally german made sausage to accompany their wine collection.
    4. Star Lane: The converted cattle ranch turned into a family owned winery proves making wine is a mixture of science, passion and the right environment. The family brought in experts to ensure their harvest would delight guest, and is known for their cabernets. You know you can find this red wine lover sipping on a local favorite.
    5. Oak Glen: Oak Glen is new to the Hermann Winery community and has been in existence for only about 10 years. What they lack in history, they make up with the view. They have what I would claim to be the most stunning look out point in town overlooking the Missouri countryside and river that will take anyone’s breath away.
  7. Ok, I am down right hungry. FEED ME!! Here are three restaurants that the trolley will take you to directly. Not in the mood for any, check out the wide variety of restaurants Hermann has to offer here.
    1. Simon’s on the Waterfront
    2. Vintage Resturant
    3. El Ranchito Mexican
  8. I had so much fun, but my tummy is full and my wallet is empty it is time to go home. Let the Trolley finish your delightful day and take you back to the train station.

Hermann is a wonderful day adventure that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of city life while still letting you sleep in your own bed. It is a great staycation and an easy way to recharge your battery and enjoy great wine without taking a plane to Napa.

 

September really has flown by in a blink of an eye. Here we are just days from October and I am still thinking about squeezing in one more day in the sun before I cave to the fabulous of fall. For me, that means apple spiced candles burning all day, chili on the stove, sipping a pumpkin spice coffee while blogging, and adorning my house with mums! To help me prepare for the next season, let’s chat about the top ten memories of September!

  1. Going to Columbia, Missouri for a sorority sister wedding. Not only did I get to catch up with good friends, but I discovered what I think will be the new rave…painting your wedding live!
  2. Celebrating 5 years with BJC HealthCare, and getting to enjoy one fancy party with 800 of my closest friends
  3. Getting a new flirty hairstyle. While I might mentally be ready for fall, my wardrobe and hairstyle are certainly ready for cooler weather.
  4. Taking my first class flight. It was big splurge for us, and Brad was thrilled for the extra leg room. I was over the moon about real silverware.
  5. Seeing great friends and exploring their city, San Francisco. From sailing under the golden gate bridge to drink pure hot cocoa, it was a blast to see their new home.
  6. Hiking in California and being in awe of the patchwork hillside made of amber, rust, rose, red, purple and green lush ground covering plants.
  7. Watching whales in the distance and hearing them call out. This was a first for me!
  8. Enjoy wine and more wine and more delicious wine.
  9. Coming home after an amazing vacation to snuggle my kitten and sleep in my own bed. 🙂
  10. Catching up with family after a hectic month and enjoying some pumpkin beer on a cool night.

Cheers to an amazing month and a whirlwind of stories to catch you up on!

BBQ Ribs

This past weekend, I cooked BBQ Ribs for the first time and I really surprised myself. The BBQ Ribs turned out delicious. The only change that I will make next time is adding more sauce right as the BBQ Ribs are coming off of the grill.

 

My BBQ Ribs Ingredient List

How to make BBQ Ribs

  1. Cover ribs with BBQ spice with smoke seasoning – to taste.
  2. Smoke for 2 hours at 225 degrees (apple wood chips)
  3. Brush ribs with Freddie Lee’s Gourmet BBQ Sauce
  4. Set ribs on tinfoil large enough to wrap ribs.
  5. Add a small amount of Apple juice and then wrap the ribs.
  6. Place ribs in the oven for 2 hours at 180 degrees.
  7. Unwrap ribs and put on grill with medium heat for a few minutes on each side.
  8. Top with Freddie Lee’s Gourmet BBQ Sauce and grill for a few additional minutes.

 


 

Liverpool - Anita Skinny Pant

I have started to track my life by time in between Stitch Fix Boxes. I get one per month, but every time I blink, I feel like I am sharing my newest box and adding a few more Stitch Fix pieces to my collection. They say as a parent; the days are long, but the years are short. I would say it is the same of your late twenties.

So here we are again, a month later with failed dieting to lose the last ten pounds, a few more gray hairs and on the quest to build the perfect closet.

This month, I asked my stylist to help me prepare for my upcoming trip to San Francisco which will consist of three parts – downtown San Francisco, Northern California hiking and Napa Valley. It will be a difficult task to pack the wide variety of outfits needed to satisfy this trip all in a carry-on, but that will be an adventure and blog for another day!

Liverpool – Anita Skinny Pant

Liverpool - Anita Skinny Pant

The pants fit like a dream, but I didn’t need another pair of black pants, so they were returned.

41Hawthorn – Meera Split Neck Top

41Hawthorn - Meera Split Neck Top

I enjoy that Stitch Fix is always pushing the boundaries of my personal style. I would never think that I could rock animal print, and would not purchase it on my own. From the feedback I have provided and my style profile, my stylist at Stitch Fix thinks I am bold. I was cautious to get that far out of my comfort zone, but the shirt was very comfortable and screamed confidence.  In the end, the shirt was returned. As much as I liked it, I am not bold enough to get sufficient use out of the shirt.

Skies Are Blue – Becky Cutout Detail Blouse

Skies are Blue - Becky Cutout Detail Blouse

Skies are Blue – Becky Cutout Detail Blouse was almost in the return pile, but Brad raved at how well it fit me. While I loved the cut and thought the pattern and back cut outs were amazing touches and my style, I didn’t want to purchase two almost identical cut shirts. 41Hawthorn – Carla Crochet Detail Blouse is very similar and to be mindful of my shopping habit (self-imposed of course) I was only going to keep one. Thankfully, I listened to my better half and kept it. It is the perfect work to drinks with friends shirt which is where most of my purchases have been focused recently. A shirt that can transcend different parts of my life is certainly a keeper.

41Hawthorn – Carla Crochet Detail Blouse

41Hawthorn - Carla Crochet Detail Blouse

I would call the 41Hawthorn- Carla Crochet Detail Blouse, the sister shirt to Skies Are Blue – Becky Cutout Detail Blouse. They are very similar, cute and oh so comfortable. I immediately fell in love with the color. It is vibrant, bold and adorned with small details that provide it with a subtle complexity that screams of my fashion sense. I like to wow you with the simple details from cutouts of a shirt, unique pattern or creative layer of jewelry. This was a piece that was bound to become a new staple in my wardrobe. Just like Skies Are Blue – Becky Cutout Detail Blouse, it has the initiate ability to go from work to after work functions which is becoming increasing important as my nights are ruled with visiting with friends, church functions and volunteering.

Pixley – Millie Textured Knit Dress

Pixley - Millie Textured Knit Dress

I asked my Stitch Fix stylist to send a dress that could be worn for a September wedding and possibly a gala in Napa. She sent a dress that fit like a dream with good structure and a little stretch to hide my extra helping of wedding cake and an extra drink. What I loved more than the dress was my stylist spending extra time to think about the feedback that I had previously sent. Her note was perfect and shows the pride Stitch Fix takes in styling each person based on their needs, personal style and body style.

Hi Nicki! I had fun styling you today! We are actually close to the same size! I noticed the dresses send in the past have been a bit snug. Let me know if you would like to size up for the Millie Textured Dress. This pretty dress will work well for your gala and wedding and any upcoming holiday parties later this year.

As always, I am overwhelmed by Stitch Fix and their ability to get to know me and my style even through the many miles. Each box is a bit more refined and allows me to test the water with a new look I would never dare to try. I love Stitch Fix because it helps me evolve my look without being the 27-year girl trying to be too teeny bopper trendy…we are on this delicate line, and Stitch Fix is the expert of walking it with grace, hipness and appropriateness for my fuller woman frame.


Dirt Candy Supper Club

Dirt Candy Supper Club hosted by The Foodie Nurse was the perfect way to start a relaxing weekend after an extra long week. It set the tone just right!

Today has been a much needed lazy morning with kitten snuggles and procrastinating getting out of bed. After many failed attempts, I threw on a cards shirt and yoga pants to do what I love most Saturday blogging.

I even feel like a real hip blogger because of the past 24 hours. Not only am I blogging on Brad’s new Mac at our favorite coffee shop, but last night, my mind was opened to a whole new type of dining experience, and I have to share it with you! Have you every heard of a pop-up dinner? Neither had I, but after last night, it will be a staple in our social calendar.

The concept of a pop-up dinner is really simple while being a unique experience every time.  Pop-up dinners like Dirt Candy Supper Club are a one night only event that brings like-minded individuals to a unique venue or at the host’s home to enjoy brilliant conversation and even better food. Read more

Busch Wildlife Sunset

We have officially entered the final month of summer, and I still have my H&M $9.99 sunglasses from April. This is a huge accomplishment! In prior years, I was on my 15th pair because I lost the glasses, smashed them, scratched them or my favorite…eaten in the death grip of my dog. Needless to say, after one summer of cheap sunglasses and mishaps, I had spent a pretty penny on my sunnies. I could never fathom buying expensive glasses because that summer total would be the same as a nice vacation. 🙂

After a successful 129 days, I am ready to buy my first pair of expensive glasses. Thankfully, Stitch Fix  posted about this very topic to help guide me in my decision. Currently, I own a pair of every style listed below because when they are cheap, why not try them all! What style do you think I should buy?  Read more

Yoga under the stars - Yoga Buzz

Yoga Buzz’s Yoga Under the Stars is an innovative way to make your practice social and a memorable night out with friends. Your evening will begin with a star show, followed by yoga in a dark room with the constellations overhead. It truly is moving to be part of this experience and makes me want to find a country field to practice in. 🙂

Read more