Rainy Day Survey

So I stole this a while back from a link up. Since I don't really do link-ups, I just saved it for a rainy day.  It's probably raining somewhere today, so here goes:

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?
I started blogging when we were getting ready to get married. I blogged like once or twice per month about whatever I was doing to get ready.  After we got married, I started on blogger and at first my posts were kind of fake/not 100% me.  One day along the line,  I decided I was over fake bloggers that used their blog to paint a picture of their fake life, so I decided to be sure that I'm always real on here.  I didn't want this blog to become a picture of what I wish my life was like.  I want it to be something I and my future children can look back on someday to read about what our life was like when we were first starting out.  With the good, the bad, and the downright ugly!

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
The same thing happens every time I tell someone I went to George Mason- Yes, they went to the final four. Yes, I was there when they went to the final four. Yes, it was enthralling. Then I get tired of it so I tell them how I was captain of the dance team so I spent the entire final four run sitting on the basketball court and flying around in chartered planes. People usually get annoyed with me/change the subject pretty quickly after that ;)

3. Where have you traveled?
I went on one, crazy Eurotrip in 2007.  I visited my best friend in Geneva, Switzerland.  We did a day trip to Paris and I visited relatives in Italy for a couple days after that.  It was a whirlwind and I would absolutely 100% go back.  Our honeymoon was an island hopping cruise in the southern Caribbean. We went to 9 different places that I don't feel like remembering.  And we did a cruise last year that went to the Bahamas. 

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
Pay off the house, student loans (oh yes, still have those!), and other various debt.  Then we'd buy Disney Vacation Club. (Go ahead, judge.)

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?
1. Pruny hands and feet
2. Odd numbers
3. Bad spellers

6. What is your favorite movie?
Muppet Treasure Island.

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?
Yes please?
Wine- I'm on a red kick, but I really don't discriminate.
Beer- Coors Light is the norm.  I also enjoy Oktoberfest and other seasonals.
Liquor-Not so much. I'm not 22 anymore.

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
Shopping at Kohls.  For some reason it was what I would do every Saturday that Joey had to work.  Now that he doesn't work Saturdays, I guess I'm not shopping at Kohls as much...

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Did you think I'd say Kohls?? haha. Wrong. Gosh I don't know. I haven't had money for real clothes in so long.... (not that Kohls isn't REAL but you know what I mean.)  Maybe I'd just take the $10,000... is that an option?  I think I failed this question. Next!

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
Dance floor at Mike and Jenee's wedding. Dinner was being served and the dance floor was empty.  My bff Peyton pulled me out there for our duet, and after ~2 minutes of dancing/spinning/etc, my faux J-Crew bubble necklace fell to the floor in like 4 pieces.

11. What day would you love to relive again?
I don't think I would pick our wedding day just because of all the anxiety involved... I think I would actually pick one of the days on our honeymoon.  I've never been so happy and at peace.  I want to go back to that. Now.

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?
I can't pick Johnny Depp, can I...

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
Early jobs- worked at a dance shoppe, local restaurants (John Harvard's and Chilis).  I tried to get a job at Hooters but my Mom and dance coach nixed that immediately.

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

This is a good one. It's from like Soph year and we were at Disney World for a school trip.  I'm so glad somebody finally told me that pencil thin eyebrows are not a good look for me....

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I don't think my husband would allow me to choose. Cause I know he'd pick Japan and that's where we'd go. ;)

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you and your family.

I don't have one. But I CAN tell you that I have grandeur plans for our family Christmas card this season. It has to do with our awesome Halloween costumes.  Oh yes... you just wait and see. Doc and Chloe are THRILLED as you can imagine ;)
17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
It could go a variety of directions.  All I want is for us to be happy and healthy. :)

This craaazy blonde chick...

Oh HAAAY girrl!

Where have I been?

Oh no big deal, just running 197 miles as part of a 12-person relay team.

Say whaaaaat??

Rewind.  The Ragnar Relay is a race run all over the country for a span of 200 miles, with teams of 12 packed into 2 vans- 6 people per van.  They leap frog through 36 legs of the race, each person completing 3 legs.  For 24-36 hours, depending on how fast they are.

Our team was called "Running on Empty".  I was in Van 2, with a bunch of other rookies, and we totally kicked a$$.

Since this isn't a running blog, I won't get into the specifics.  But it was a long, sweaty, smelly, exhausting and totally rewarding 31 hours!!!

We pushed ourselves to the limit and reaped the rewards.  I ran at night, by myself, through a cornfield with only a headlamp to guide me.  And I survived.  The last 4.4 miles I ran through DC were pure hell, but I pushed through and endured. 

During the race, I was just keeping on with the keeping on.  Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!

But looking back, I cannot believe I did that.  13.7 miles over a span of a day and a half, with 4-6 hours of lactic acid build-up in between each run.  Definitely different than doing it all in one fell swoop!

Also proud of Joey, who has been running for... oh.... 3 months.  Completed his legs with style.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures:

Freezing cold, waiting for Joey's night leg of 6.7 miles

Van 1, coming in for their first break

Everyone (but me) who was in Van 2

Anybody wanna join for next year????

~SG

Treats

So last week we were finally able to actually go OUT for date night, which is a rare treat.  We headed over to the Potomac Town Center, which is still a work in progress but is going to be awesome once completed.  We shared some shrimp fajitas and had margaritas at Uncle Julios, then we decided to walk around the town center to see what was there.  I also wanted to sample the new fro yo place (oh yes, I said it).

One of the places we stopped was a new store called Unleashed, by PETCO.  It's basically a smaller version of Petco, from what I could figure out.  They had a TON of cute Halloween costumes, but we already have plans for our little family... muhaha.

We checked out all the little toys and treats, and finally decided upon some little bouncy balls.  As we approached the register, there they were.

Deer Antlers.

For dogs?? Oh yes, the woman behind the counter told us. Her little westie absolutely LOVES them.  Being the complete skeptical, overprotective dog-mom, I immediately nixed the idea because there was no way that is healthy!!

It took some convincing, but Joey finally got me to say yes to a small, split antler for each pin.

When we got them home, it was like Christmas.  They had never seen them before, but they knew it was something special.  Chloe was a little freaked out by it, but she took it upstairs to bury it.  Doc wouldn't put it down for the rest of the night.

I'm still only allowing them to have them under supervision, but these little treats were a BIG hit!!!

Happy Birthday Danielle!

What a lucky girl she is, sharing her birth month with her daughter.  Saturday night we headed out to The Park, a nightclub in downtown DC to celebrate Danielle.

Joey's good friend/our best man, Teddy, is a bartender/promoter and was able to get us the hook up.

I definitely felt out of place. Like I was 28 and trying to be 21 again.  I felt the same way when I was in Forever 21 trying to find something to wear.  I'm going to sound like my mother, but GOODNESS the dresses there are SHORT!

After a 14 mile training run, chik fil a, and a long nap, Joey and I headed up to DC to join the crew.  We had a great crowd. I didn't take many pictures, but it was a great combo of Danielle's close friends, our dancer friends, college friends, and new friends.  We loved the VIP status at our table, with free apps, mixers (including redbulls), and 2 bottles of vodka. 

The birthday girl, and her lovely brother.

The only pic I got of us former/current WG, RR, WRC girls

Me and Joey

Joey and Teddy

Beth, D and Me

The night ended on a fun note which I will not go into detail on but let's just say the car we were in didn't have working windows, and Joey wasn't feeling well.  Sorry, Joe K.  I also ate his king size Twix bar which I found in the back seat. Sorry I'm not sorry. We'll get you back ;)

The night was a total success, and I don't know whether my sore legs are from 14 miles, or breaking it down at the club in stilettos....

Happy Monday!

~SG

Wrapping up Summer

In early June, I wrote a Summer Lookahead post with a list of all the fun things we were doing this summer.

Well..... We have officially done everything on the list!!

Last weekend we finished our summer with a Labor Day half marathon in Virginia Beach.  It was SO humid, but we finished and Joey has his first half marathon medal! We did not have a time goal, and it felt great to not be focusing on beating the clock.  Our goal was to finish the race and we did. :)

Yes, I will probably man up and buy the actual picture eventually.

This weekend, we gambled with Mother Nature and went to Richmond for the NASCAR Race amongst warnings of severe thunderstorms and relentless rain.  Somehow, the race actually happened.  Bonus? We got to wear our bright yellow Disney ponchos...

I got yelled at for not posting anything about the race on my blog yesterday.... so here are a few pictures since my phone (aka camera) died.

Storm Damage.  We got really lucky with the weather, actually.

Tailgating. Which cooler is ours?? Thanks, Sister.

The one picture we got of the track.

Joey didn't think I'd put this picture up. HE WAS WRONG. 

Folks, don't split a case of beer and then go sit in the rain at a Nascar race. It makes you tired.  I took a nice little nap inside my yellow poncho and came out when the race started again. I felt like a hibernating bear. A big, drunk, yellow, bear. (Pooh? Is that you?)

Anyway....................... The rain and storms brought a front of BEAUTIFUL FALL WEATHER.  I am so excited!

The first OFFICIAL day of Fall is Saturday, September 22nd.  We are only days away!

So raise your glass (of pumpkin spice latte)... because Fall is almost here!!!!

~SG

Patriot Day

"Patriot Day occurs on September 11 of each year, designated in memory of those who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. On Patriot Day, the President directs that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff and displayed from individual American homes. The President also asks Americans to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 A.M. (Eastern Daylight Time) marking the first plane crash on September 11, 2001."

~flagandbanner.com

via

Flying our flag today and every day at the Gish house.

(Although now that we have a flag pole I'm pretty excited about getting a flag for every season/holiday... *evil grin*)

~SG

A First "Bee-Day" Party for Georgiana

Yesterday I attended a beautifully themed first birthday party for my friend Danielle's daughter, Georgiana- or Gigi for short.  The invitation arrived in the mail a while ago and I was just so excited. Danielle and I share the same type of enjoyment for all things themed... (coincidentally, she also loves Disney).  So I knew this was going to be an awesome party.

Sunday morning I donned a yellow top, black shorts, and yellow heels to match and headed off to the party!

The decorations were absolutely beautiful.  Danielle made everything herself.  The entire banner said "Happy Bee-Day Georgiana"

The tables were FILLED with bee-themed goodies.  The take-home was a little baggie that you could fill with scoops of candies, cookies, cheerios, etc.

Bee-Day Cupcakes, of course!

Lemonade and wine, for that buzzzzzz ;)

BEEr. Hahaha

Soon it was time for the main event!  Time for the cake smash!



Gigi's cupcake was made out of pancake batter. A much healthier baby cake!



Ummmm what IS this??

And then it was time to open presents!! Danielle told me she was into anything that lights up/makes noise when you hit it.  So I got her a little cell phone toy that makes all kinds of noises and lights up in all the colors.  It turned out to be a great idea, because Gigi kept trying to steal my phone!!

Happy Bee-Day, Gigi! We love you!!!

Mama D and Baby G

~SG



An Unbiased Study

Good Friday, readers.

Today I'm going to share with you a recent scientific study I conducted with the general public in mind.  As you all know, September means it's pretty much Fall.  And Fall means pumpkins.  And more specifically, pumpkin flavored coffee.

Now, most of you probably get your PSL from Starbucks.  But this season, Dunkin Donuts decided to one-up their competitor by releasing their version of pumpkin spiced coffee a liiiiittle earlier.  So this week I decided to taste test BOTH of them in order to determine which was more delicious.  (And yes, I did this on different days.)

I asked for the same size (medium) for both, and I even took one for the team and got whole milk so as not to distort the taste. Here are my findings:

1. Dunkin Donuts

My first sip tasted more like hot milk than coffee.  I could taste the "pumpkin spice" but it was kind of faint.  Also, I knocked points off for lack of whipped cream. Was I supposed to ask for that?  When I got to the bottom of the cup, I realized where the "pumpkin spice" had gone.  Woooo! That was a tangy last sip. 

2. Starbucks

The first sip was heavenly.  It was delicious, sweet, and this one had whipped cream!  I have to say, that Starbucks totally takes the cake. But not without making a few important observations:

-If I had asked for whipped cream on the DD coffee, it would have tasted better
-I have had Starbs PSLs before where the spicy stuff ended up in the bottom too
-DD gets extra points for having better breakfast options

So, in conclusion...

I will still be frequenting DD as it is directly on my way to work and I love to eat bagels/cream cheese and donuts and also I really like their basic coffee w/cream and sugar.

IF I want a PSL I will 100% be getting it from SBUX. Same with a Caramel Macchiato or any of their other frou frou drinks. 

I guess it just depends on what you are in the mood for. In my mind, DD and SBUX are not competitors.  They are both good at offering different types of things.

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to read my thoughts on coffee...

~SG

I love it when they snuggle.

Goodbye to Ashley :(

Friday night after work I picked up my friend, Danielle, and we headed off towards the Bay Bridge to Kent Island, MD.  Our good friend, Ashley, who we cheered with on Red Rockers, Kastles, and who recently cheered for the Ravens and Bayhawks, is moving to Arizona :(

We decided to throw her a little shindig at a place called Hemingways, right across the water on the Chesapeake Bay.

Check out the view we had from the bar as the sun set:

When Ash arrived, we had a quick little photo shoot down by the water.

I even got a picture of the Blue Moon!

Our going-away gift for Ash was a scrapbook.  Each person that came to the party brought pictures and other mementos and we sat there at our table cutting and pasting and making a mess.  People were definitely staring.  But hey, how often do you get to scrapbook in a bar??

We're really going to miss her, but we know Ashley will be successful in Arizona.  We wish her all the best!!!!

One last Weagle out, for old times sake!!!!

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!

~SG