#s 9 and 25 – Rock/Wall climb and Zipline

I found a Groupon for the Wyman Center.  It offered 3 hours of climbing a rock wall, ziplining, and a challenge course.  I bought 1 for my husband and me and talked my sister into buying one for her and her husband.  Unfortunately it didn’t work out to where she could join us (they live 3 hours away) but a friend bought the 2 deals from her and came with us.  It was a bit chilly the day we decided to go but at least the sun was shining.  The first thing we did was sign it, sign the waiver (if we die, it isn’t their fault), and get strapped in.  I understand that the harnesses had to be tight but I think I bruised my ribs!

The first thing we came to was the climbing wall.  There was an easier side and a more difficult side.  Obviously I climbed the “easier” side.  I am scared of heights. They make me very, very, very uneasy.  You had to climb a ladder before you got to the rocks to climb.  I made it to the top of the ladder and tried to convince everyone to let me be done.  I was already freaking out!  They encouraged me so I went a little further and made it to the top of the first ‘ledge’.  I was really sure I was done now.  Looking up, it seems like you’ll never make it to the top to ring the bell.  I was so intimidated and didn’t think there was a way I could finish it.  Luckily, the lady from the center holding my rope on the ground kept tugging on it and I could really feel her supporting me.  This gave me a lot of confidence so despite really wanting to give up, I kept going…and going…until I finally made it to the top and rang the bell!  The descent down was fine.  I just had to lean back and walk back down the wall.  I was nearly shaking when I made it back to the ground.  The combination of disbelief that I’d made it and adrenaline was a strange feeling!  I’m glad everyone encouraged me to keep going, even though I wanted to quit multiple times (at least 3).  It felt good to accomplish that and I’m pretty proud of myself.

(Ringing the bell at the top!)

Next up was ziplining.  The line was about 10 people long and it took quite a while to get to our turn.  Some people had trouble climbing up the tree onto the ledge but a lot of it was the time it took to harness and hook/unhook everyone.  I didn’t mind very much since it was a safety precaution and I would rather they take their time than rush through those steps.  After succeeding in the wall climb, the tree climb to the ledge was no big deal!  I got to the ledge and the guy up there got me hooked and ready to zip.  It was scary stepping off of the ledge.  What if the rope broke?!?  What if I didn’t zip?!?  Luckily, none of those things happened.  I closed my eyes and stepped off.  The line wasn’t very long so I was halfway done by the time I opened my eyes.  It was a lot of fun but I wish it had been longer.  This may be something I do again so I’ll look for a course with more ziplines to choose from.

We were going to do the challenge course next but the line was even longer than for the zipline and it was only manned by 2 employees.  3 people were on the course at a time and parts of the course didn’t look like they were being used because there weren’t enough people to staff them.  So we waited for a little while and then decided we didn’t really want to wait anymore.  It was starting to get chilly and we were getting hungry.  On our way back to the car the guys decided to do the rock wall one more time.  Dave mastered the harder side and Justin climbed the easier side because he chose the hard side the first time up.  I’m glad they were able to do this again so that I felt like it made up for not doing the challenge course.

We turned in our gear and headed for lunch.  It was a fun time and I did conquer some of my fears.  Like I said, I think if I go again I’ll find a place with more ziplines.  A friend said there’s a place with 10 different lines to choose from, all different lengths and views.  So maybe that’ll make it onto next year’s list.

(Zipping along)

# 16 – Find an organization I want to volunteer with on a long-term basis

(Me and Erin after being sworn in as VP of Membership and VP of Programming)

I realize that I’ve posted about Gamma Phi a lot in this blog, but here’s another one J  When I thought of this to add to my list, I wasn’t thinking of Gamma Phi.  I was thinking that I would find another organization to contribute my time to.  I care deeply about veterans issues so I thought I would find an organization along those lines to volunteer with.  And while I did participate in a service project this spring with The Mission Continues, I haven’t had the chance to do more than that. 

A friend pointed out that I contribute a lot of my time and efforts to the alumnae chapter.  It hadn’t even dawned on me!  Maybe because I consider it something that’s such a big part of my life, I didn’t look at it as “volunteering” but it’s very true that I do. 

I currently hold 2 positions within the chapter: VP of Membership and Assistant Treasurer.  I’ve been the Assistant Treasurer since I joined the chapter 5 years ago.  It was my way “in”.  After I met all of the women I asked if there was a position on the executive board that needed to be filled.  They’d never had an Assistant Treasurer before so they suggested it to the Treasurer and she was happy to have me.  Joanne is amazing at what she does and I’m so glad that I’ve been able to work with her all of these years. 

I’ve been the VP of Membership since the spring this year.  Before that I was chairperson of the Moms and Kids group.  VP of Membership has been especially rewarding for me.  I get to reach out to and welcome new members to the group!  I get to tell women about how great of a chapter we are and follow up with them after they’ve attended their first event.  It’s been a lot of fun.  And while I do plan to continue volunteering with other organizations, I know that I’ll be with Gamma Phi and the alumnae chapter for the rest of my life.  That’s pretty long-term to me J

# 30 – Participate in a flash mob

This was one of my favorite accomplishments this year!  I love organized dancing, probably stemming from my years as a cheerleader.  Seeing people unexpectedly break into dance as a choreographed group?  Love!  I knew I wanted to be a part of it.  Thanks to the lovely power of the internet, I simply Googled “St. Louis flashmob” and found that there was a very active group here in the city.  I joined their Facebook group and saw that they were starting rehearsals for a flashmob sponsored by Charter Communications at the Taste of St. Louis (a big gathering of food and drink vendors, concerts, and other fun things). 

I went to my first rehearsal and learned we would be performing an “evolution of line dances”.  This included the hokey pokey, hustle, electric slide, Macarena, cupid’s shuffle, the cha-cha slide, and the wobble.  I knew most of these dances already so practice wasn’t too tough. 

One of my favorite parts of this experience is making a new friend!  At the first rehearsal I started chatting with Mary, who was new to the area and joining the mob for some fun too.  I gave her my name and number after practice and we met up for dinner the following week.  She’s a great person and I’m so glad that we’ve become friends!

The Taste of St. Louis was held the last weekend of September.  We found out we would be performing before The All American Rejects concert.  I quickly noticed that we would be featured on the big screens in front of the main stage!  I was pretty nervous but once the music started I was too excited to be nervous.  We all did great and had so much fun.  People were surprised and started dancing along and taking pictures.  It was a really fun experience and I know that this will not be my last flashmob!



# 1 – Read 30 books - The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Steadman (book 21)

Read this book.  But I am warning you – it will break your heart, multiple times.  I’m a mom and by the grace of God I didn’t suffer painful miscarriages or heart-wrenching stillbirths.  But as a mom I understand the love and want for a child and how that can suspend all logical thinking.  Tom and Izzy’s love story is beautiful and their life together on a deserted island, taking care of the lighthouse only strengthens their love.  The meticulous care Tom takes of the lighthouse is fascinating.  I loved the parts of the story that had to do with Tom and the lighthouse, partly the technical aspects of it and partly the emotional attachment he has to it and his responsibility of it.  The choices Tom and Izzy later make and the ramifications of them are unimaginable.  I don’t know what I would do if I were in their shoes, in any of the complicated situations they find themselves in.  It’s heartbreak after heartbreak for them and I found myself truly sorry for what they had to endure.  But surprisingly, I also hated them for the choices they made and the pain they caused to others, even if it was unintentional.  My emotions ran the spectrum during this book.  I felt so entangled in the story and bound to Tom and Izzy even if I didn’t always agree with their actions.  I don’t have the words to explain all that this book was to me!  I highly recommend reading it, even if it keeps you up until 3 am like it did me.

Find out more here.

# 1 – Read 30 books - The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones (book 20)

I have never read a book like this one ever!  They describe it as an “Edwardian comedy” which didn’t really mean anything to me but sounded intriguing.  I love stories set in the early 1900s so this was right up my alley, but this book was so much more.  A family is dealing with the death of their father and re-marriage of their mother.  They live in a sprawling home with land and animals, which is being threatened by foreclosure.  The events that transpire throughout the book are so unexpected and surreal I could not put it down.  It’s fantasy and ghost story and comedy all in one.  Such a good and original book!

Find out more here.

# 27 – Visit Cahokia Mounds

(Getting ready to make the hike up one of the mounds)

Living Social offered a deal on an iPod guided walking tour of Cahokia Mounds so I quickly grabbed it.  We took advantage of a beautiful day in April (yes April, I’m very late) and the whole family headed out to Illinois.  It’s just a short trip across the river and was really easy to find.  Justin loves artifacts, especially arrowheads so this was right up his alley. 

The history of Cahokia Mounds is amazing.  We have it so easy nowadays, everything is at the touch of our fingertips.  If we need something, we drive to the store and pick it up, or order it right from the comfort of our living rooms!  These are luxuries that couldn’t have been dreamed of hundreds of years ago.

# 21 – Participate in a grape stomp

This is another one that I dropped the ball on.  I started researching grape stomps and found a local winery that hosted one in August.  I put it on my calendar and put a reminder in my phone to keep checking back to see when registration opened.  I don’t know where the summer went because before I knew it, August was over and I had missed my grape stomp.  I am determined to do this though.  There’s an I Love Lucy episode where Lucy stomps grapes, which is what made me think of it.  There are so many wineries in this area so I’m glad that there’s at least one who offers participation. 

# 13 – Take the girls to the Balloon Glow in Forest Park

I usually hear about the Balloon Glow/Great Forest Park Balloon Race weeks in advance of the event.  But for some reason I didn’t hear about it this year until the day of the glow.  So needless to say, I did not make it to this one.  Justin and Lauren were out of town and I didn’t have Natalie that weekend.  So it looks like this is going to be something I put on next year’s list and hopefully plan for it better.

Here's a view of the balloons from up above, so you get an idea...

# 11 – Attend a Gamma Phi Beta convention

(This is me, our International President Linda, Erin Risk, and Pam Getman)

Conventions for my sorority are held every 2 years.  This year’s convention was held in Denver, CO which also happens to be home to our headquarters.  I decided that this would be a good convention to attend because I could also get in a tour of our International Headquarters.  Because of vacation time and hotel costs, I chose to attend convention from Friday-Sunday (it starts on Wednesday night but you can choose what days you attend if you’re going as an alum).  Luckily I was in great company because quite a few women from the alumnae chapter attended this year as well.  I was able to share a room with 3 other sisters to help cut down on costs.

Our flight was bright and early out to Denver but not too bad since we had a straight flight.  The cab ride was a little strange thanks to our cab driver and his R. Kelley soundtrack circa 2000 but we made it to our hotel in one piece.  I’d never been to Denver and it was as beautiful as I could have imagined.  We stayed at the Denver Sheraton, which is where Convention was also held.  It was so cool to stay on the 16^th street mall.  That is a great strip!  The weather was gorgeous so we had a lot of fun walking around downtown.  We even made it to the Capitol building.

A lot takes place at Convention – business sessions, approving bylaws, and presentations.  I felt like those were geared more towards the collegians and Presidents of alumnae chapters so I didn’t make it to any of them.  I did attend all of the meals, Confirmed Conventioneers Dinner, and the Pink Carnation Banquet though.  I also made time to volunteer in the Foundation Room, where there was a silent auction and sisters could donate to our Foundation (to fund scholarships, collegiate programs, etc.).  That was a very worthwhile experience because I truly believe that Gamma Phi Beta has the power to positively impact many women’s lives and we couldn’t do it without the generous giving from our sisters.

It was a great trip and I loved being a part of ritual with 700+ sisters.  It was amazing to see that the love and spirit of Gamma Phi just keeps going and growing!  I’m so proud of my sorority and attending Convention further affirmed that love and pride.  I was thinking that I wouldn’t attend the next Convention because it can be kind of pricey, but they announced that the 2014 Convention would be in my hometown of Seattle so I will definitely need to make it to that one.  I’m hoping to make a weeklong vacation of it so that I can spend time with my friends still there.

(After the Pink Carnation banquet)

# 1 – Read 30 books - Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close (book 19)

This book was on a list of books you should read in your 20s so I thought it would be relevant.  It totally was not.  This book may have been intended for women in their early 20s but even then I don’t think it’ll teach you anything.  Yes, it’s about graduating from college and not having a plan but surviving anyway.  And yes, it’s about friendship and growing up and finding yourself.  So you would think that it’d be a decent book but I just did not care for it.  I had a hard time following the stories of the main characters and I didn’t develop any sort of attachment to them.  I wasn’t in the story so I had a hard time caring about what happened to them.  Maybe someone will get something, anything, out of this book.  I was not one of them.

Find out more here.

# 1 – Read 30 books - I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella (book 18)

I love Sophie Kinsella’s books.  They’re fun and easy to read, helping me to escape reality for a little while.  The main characters are women whose lives aren’t all together and usually involve a mishap or embarrassing misunderstanding.  This book was no exception.  The main character is engaged to someone and because of a series of bad luck (?), meets another man.  There are a lot of shenanigans that go on and some unrealistic propositions but it was fun to see it unfold.  If you’re looking for funny and easy books, I always recommend Sophie Kinsella.

Find out more here.

# 1 - Read 30 books - The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty (Book 17)

I couldn't put this book down!  This story spans decades and does such a great job of developing characters.  I was really invested in this book. There's so much more to it than the synopsis gives, which was a big part of its appeal.  There were so many surprises and so many good plots.  I can't say enough good things about it.  A big portion of the story takes place in the 20s and 30s, periods I love.  It's so odd to read things set in that period and know that things like skirts above the ankle and blush on your cheeks was taboo.  The women's suffrage movement was also going on at this time too and I find it all fascinating. 

The synopsis highlights the story of Cora and Louise.  But there is so, so much more to this book.  Read the gist of it here.  I really encourage you to read this book!

# 19 - Take a risque dance class

How perfect that I put this on my list and weeks later saw a Groupon for burlesque classes at Van Ella Studios?  Very perfect.  So I convinced a friend to join me and we signed up for their Burlesque Basics 1 class for April (I'm just a little late in blogging about it).  The deal was for 4 classes so once a week we headed to the studio to emulate burlesque dancers who dance with grace, confidence, and charm...4 classes was not quite enough for me to achieve this, but I had fun all the same.  In case you're wondering, no, we didn't remove any articles of clothing in class other than gloves.  Burlesque is about performing and a little about teasing.  I was nervous and self conscious but our teacher, Greta, was encouraging and hilarious.  That's her and me in the picture.

It was important for me to have things on this list that were out of my comfort zone.  This was one of them.  Even after 4 classes I think that I gained some confidence and carried myself a little better.  I will never perform the moves I learned in front of an audience and that's okay (in fact, my husband probably prefers that I don't) because I did something I was embarassed to do, but ended up really enjoying.

Van Ella Studios works with The Jumpin' Jupiter in Maplewood to put on some very fun shows.  After taking the class, some girlfriends and I went to their Dinner Revue, where we had a delicious 4 course meal and enjoyed a variety show.  I would recommend seeing it if you can.  It was very entertaining and their drinks are delicious!

# 1 - Read 30 books - 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James (Book 16)

Yes I gave in and read it.  Everyone was talking about it and I was starting to feel left out.  No I didn't care for it.  It was redundant and the main character, Anna, got on my nerves.  Stop biting your lip!  Stop whining!  Be proud or excited or relieved to hear that you're the exception!  I've heard the second and third books are better so I'm on the list (# 90 in the St. Louis Public Library queue to be exact) to read them too.  Just because I need to know how they end, even if they aren't written much better than the first book.  We'll see how they turn out...

If you don't already know what they're about, read more or buy it here.

# 1 - Read 30 books - How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donahue (Book 15)

There's a lot of history between the 2 main characters of this book, Annie and Julia.  And much of it is complicated (but I guess who's past isn't complicated, really?).  When their lives intersect again after 10 years apart, the past comes to the surface and we find out whether or not they're able to work together and become friends again.  This book was funny and suspenseful, with hidden surprises scattered through it.  I read it very quickly and as I neared the end, I couldn't put it down.  It was written beautifully and touches on childhood, friendships, trust, betrayal, and the kind of future that is uncertain but exciting because you have people you love surrounding you.

Read more about it or buy it here.

# 22 - Make a new recipe a month - July

In honor of the 4th of July I decided to make some flag cupcakes I saw on Real Simple.  I have never made cupcakes or frosting from scratch before but this was too cute to pass up and the recipe wasn't too intimidating.  I prefer baking to cooking anyway so I really enjoyed making these.  Lauren helped place the fruit on top and arrange it into a flag.  These will definitely be an annual dessert.

I used blueberries, raspberries and coconut flakes for the toppings.

# 1 - Read 30 books - The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes (Book 14)

Read this book. I loved it. There were twists and turns and the love letters written to the main character will melt your heart.  It takes place in both the 60s and then again in the early 2000s. It was very easy to follow and very hard to put down. So. Good.

I know that if I start typing about the plot, I'll give something away. I don't want to do that so read the published review here and then put it in your shopping cart.

# 1 - Read 30 books - Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan (Book 13)

This book wasn't quite what I expected. I thought it would be a fairly light read about friendship and graduating from college and the lives we create afterward. While that's the general plot, it was way heavier than that. It tackled serious subjects like rape and sex trafficking. It kept me guessing and I couldn't put it down. There were some graphic descriptions but that helped paint a very real picture. It wasn't all sweet and easy, which I appreciated because life isn't either. I can't say I related to a lot of the story but the issues it covered are ones that women face everyday. It was a powerful book.

Read more about it here.

# 22 - Make a new recipe - June

I made these mushroom pizzas on a night when I was on my own. I wanted to try it out on myself before serving it to my family.  I found the recipe here but omitted the sliced tomatoes on top.  I wish I would have added them though because it turned out to be very mushroom-y, maybe the tomatoes would have toned that down.  The recipe is super simple and I liked that there weren't a lot of ingredients.  I had everything on hand except for the mushrooms so I made a quick stop at the store to grab those.  I made them for hubby when he got back and he loved them.  Like I said, the mushroom taste was a little strong for me but I wouldn't mind making them again, with some adjustments.



# 1 - Read 30 books - Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg (book 12)

This was a beautiful book.  It's the story of friendship and unconditional love.  A woman develops cancer and the story is told from the perspective of her best friend who takes care of her.  It's about sacrifice and putting another person's well-being above your own.

This was my 3rd Elizabeth Berg book and she's becoming a favorite.  The 3 stories I've read have all been very different from each other and each character is uniquely developed.  I appreciate that they aren't all alike in plot but have the same level of close attention to details.

Read about it more or buy it here.

# 1 Read 30 books - Girls Night In by various authors (Book 11)

I picked this book off of the library shelves because it had stories by some of my favorite authors (Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Weiner...).  It's a collection of short stories by women authors and the book was put together so that the proceeds would benefit the organization War Child.

I guess maybe I'm not a short story kind of person.  I love it when characters and plots are developed and twisty and turny.  I didn't get that from these stories.  Many were entertaining...some were disappointing...and overall I thought the book was just okay.  Some of the writers did spin offs of their popular characters.  But I wasn't familiar with their full stories so those stories kind of had me confused.  As a whole, I didn't think the collection was that impressive.  There were a few stories that were humorous but I had to wade through more so-so ones than get to enjoy really good ones.

Read about it here.

# 22 - Make a new recipe - May

This is the easiest, most delicious thing I've ever had!  Justin requests it all of the time and the best part is that it can be ready in 15 minutes so it's an easy dessert after a long day.  I found the recipe while following Molly Mesnick (from The Bachelor) on Facebook.  She has it posted on her blog, Reality Through My Eyes. 

I'm not a fancy cook. I don't make anything from scratch or count calories.  I want recipes that are easy, yummy, and fast.  If it has more than 7 ingredients, I'm intimidated and looking for a new recipe.  If it has stuff I've never heard of, I'm probably not going to bother.  I'm sure it's a shame and I'm missing out on a lot of great recipes, but my days are so long and busy that I need recipes I understand and can make quickly.  I don't have the time (or patience) to be traipsing to every specialty store looking for an obscure ingredient, to be used in only one recipe. I love eating food but I don't revel in the cooking process.  That's just not me. Sorry, I just felt like I needed that disclaimer before people gawk that I use frozen biscuits and a strawberry shortcake recipe that only uses 5 ingredients :)

Get the recipe here.  Trust me, you should.

# 1 - Read 30 books - Once Upon a Time There Was You by Elizabeth Berg (book 10)

I read Elizabeth Berg's The Last Time I Saw You and really enjoyed it.  So I saw this book written by her and picked it up.  There were some surprises and I appreciate the way it ended but I didn't like it as much as I liked her other book.  There was a lot going on in the book and it seemed rushed sometimes.  I found several parts anticlimactic.  Still, the characters were well-developed and I started to identify with some of them, especially John. 

To summarize the plot, John and Irene are divorced and live in different states.  They have a daughter, Sadie, who primarily lives with Irene.  Something traumatic happens to Sadie and John flies out to the West Coast to be with Irene.  There are a lot of emotions and the dynamic between John and Irene is well constructed.  I guess it's usually true that even if you don't love someone anymore, you can come together and put differences aside when you have to.


I'll continue to read Elizabeth Berg's work.  This wasn't my favorite book but still an interesting concept.  Read more about it or buy it here.

# 1 - Read 30 books - Paris in Love by Eloisa James (book 9)

This book was mentioned at the end of "The Last Time I Saw You" so I decided to read.  It's a memoir about the author's year in Paris with her family.  Her and her husband are both university professors and were able to take sabbatical for a year.  They packed what they could and sold everything else.  They shipped themselves and their school aged children to Paris where she hoped they could slow down and get back to what mattered.

The book is mostly written in short paragraphs regarding her day and random thoughts.  A lot of it had to do with food and her children's adjustment to French schools.  I loved it.  I've never been to Paris and it had never really crossed my mind to visit.  But after reading this book, I think it would be fun and romantic and lovely to - I'll put it on my bucket list.

It's a quick and entertaining read.  I highly suggest you read it too.  Learn more or buy it here.

# 1 - Read 30 books - Pledged by Alexandra Robbins (book 8)

I "rushed" Gamma Phi Beta in the fall of 2000 at Eastern Washington University.  I was 5 hours from home and only knew a handful of people at Eastern.  I hadn't given joining a sorority much thought before I got to Eastern but decided it would be fun once I heard that Fall Rush was coming up a few days after I got there.  When I went there, Eastern was a fairly small campus, nothing compared to UW or WSU.  At the time, there were 4 sororities on campus.  I loved going through rush (now called recruitment) and thought very carefully about which house I wanted to be a part of.

On the last night of rush, I knew that Gamma Phi was the one for me.  The girls were sincere, close and welcoming and that was the kind of sisterhood I wanted.  There was a lot in the book I couldn't relate to because we didn't have a house that first year, and I left Eastern the year we did get one. 

The book tries to be unbiased but I don't think the author hid her skepticism for positive sorority life very well.  The author goes undercover at a school and works closely with women from various sororities on a campus in the south.  She records their stories and follows their lives in and out of the sorority house.  It was an interesting read, and there were a lot of parts that appalled me.  I'm not naive, I know that there houses that still haze and binge drink, despite national attention and scorn.  As someone goes through recruitment, listen to what others are saying about each house.  Each house gains a reputation on campus for a reason.  Align yourself with the girls you want to be associated with.  If a house makes you uncomfortable, say something to someone.  Gaining acceptance isn't worth it if it goes against your morals and values.

I'm glad I read the book, I've been meaning to for a while.  I had such an overwhelmingly positive sorority experience (and I still do, as I'm active in my alumnae chapter) that I can see the merit and lifelong benefits of joining a sorority.  When I moved to St. Louis and didn't know anyone, I reached out to my local alumnae chapter despite being away from Gamma Phi for 8 years.  They welcomed me and involved me and I love those women.  And I love that we all went to different schools in different parts of the country and yet are united in something we all believe in and cherish.  It's special to me.  I hate to hear that other women have traumatic, negative experiences with their sororities.  I don't regret going through the recruitment process because I found a house where I belong, and continue to belong and that will always be special to me.

Read more about the book or order it here.

# 23 - Go on the Anheuser-Busch tour

Anheuser-Busch is huge in St. Louis.  With its lines of Budweiser, Michelob, and Bacardi (plus more) it's easy to see why.  The original brewery is located in St. Louis and it offers a variety of tours.  There's a free tour, a beer school, and Brewmaster's Tour.  Beer school is $10 per person and the Brewmaster's Tour is $25 per person so we decided to stick with the free tour this time.

We decided to double date with friends from my old town and made an afternoon of the tour, dinner, and Ted Drewes.

Two downsides to how we planned this tour - The first is that it was Memorial Day weekend and the Cards were in town.  I don't know if it's always as crowded as it was but I assume it was extra crowded because of these 2 factors.  We arrived at the brewery at 2:30.  We stood in line to receive our tour tickets and were told that we would be on the 4 o'clock tour.  There's a gift shop and some history and memorabilia displayed in the main room but we were done browsing by 3.  So we took a seat on the ground and talked with each other while waiting for our tour to start.  I thought the time passed fairly quickly but it was excruciating if you ask my husband.

We finally started the tour and were part of a group of maybe 30 people.  The tour took us around the brewery grounds, including outside in the 90+ degree heat (downside number 2).  We were able to see the finishing tanks, Clydesdale stable, and packaging plant.  However, the line to the packaging plant had been shut down so we weren't able to see the hundreds of bottles and cans packaged every minute.  That would have been fun.

Overall, I found it just okay.  The brewery grounds are beautiful and it was interesting to learn about the steps involved in brewing but it was more walking and waiting than learning.  If I were to go back to the brewery I would spring for the $25 Brewmaster's tour which is more in depth and gives you access to more places.  Plus, you pay and schedule your time beforehand so you don't have to find something to pass the time for an hour and a half before it starts.

# 1 - Read 30 books - For One More Day by Mitch Albom (book 7)

I love all of Mitch Albom's books.  They're sweet and interesting and full of important life lessons.  This one was no exception.  It's a story about change and regret and disappointment and baseball.  But at the heart of it, it's the story of a boy and his mom. 

I am lucky that my mom is still here and that we have a great relationship.  She lives 2 hours away and I get to see her fairly often.  I call her every morning on my way to work.  I shudder at the time in my life when I went weeks without talking to her.  I don't think I've ever heard her raise her voice to me or my sister, or even my dad.  She's calm, supportive and loving.  She's the best grandmother and a perfect listener.  She avoids conflicts and confrontation which partly explains why her and my dad have been married for 30+ years, and she encourages me to back down in my disagreements with my husband sometimes.  In the bigger picture, it can be easier and more important to just let some things go. 

I imagine that if she were to head to Heaven before I do, I will miss her everyday like the character in the book misses his mother.  Our lives are difficult and can be lonely but when you have your mom on your side, overcoming the hard times seem possible because someone believes in you.  I have two girls and I pray that we'll always have a strong relationship.  I know that the teenage years will be tough and they'll hate me or be embarassed by me but I hope that they always know I love them wholeheartedly.  I hope they know that I will always be proud of them and that I will stand by them even when things don't turn out the way they hoped.  If in the end of my life my children think of me the way I think of my mom, I will know that I was a good one.

(Me, my mom, and my girls at the Missouri Botanical Garden)

Read more about the book or buy it here.

# 1 - Read 30 books - The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg (book 6)

The plot of this book is more complicated and entertaining than it seems, especially if you ever went to high school.  It follows the lives of 5 characters who are getting ready to attend their 40 year high school reunion.  Everyone goes for a different reason but also the same ones - to reconnect, to show others how they've turned out, to satisfy the curiosity of how everyone else turned out.  The author does an amazing job of building each character so that you feel like you know them on a personal level.  It was an easy read but also full of lessons to learn.

I graduated in 2000 and went to my high school reunion 2 years ago.  In the age of Facebook, Skype, and email it's hard to convince people to get together in person.  Maybe my class wasn't as close as other classes or the timing was bad or everyone was so spread out, I don't know, but it wasn't very well attended.  However, I still had a great time and am glad I went.  I now live in St. Louis but went to high school in Lacey, WA.  So in addition to the reunion I got to sneak in a mini vacation to a place I hadn't been back to in 8 years.  Everything was different and I found myself glad to only be visiting.  It was still beautiful and held a lot of great memories, but it wasn't home anymore.

High school was good for me; I don't have any traumatic stories to share other than the usual coming of age ones.  I don't know what clique I fell into; I participated in a lot of things.  I was a cheerleader, involved in student government and the National Honor Society and a Freshman Mentor.  I like to think I got along with mostly everyone and pray that I was never a "mean girl".  I had my close group of friends and we still talk to this day.  I don't see them as often as I'd like but I hope that if we have a 20 year reunion we'll be able to get together and laugh about old times and still see the good and fun in each other.  We can never go back, and I wouldn't want to, but it's fun to reminisce about when you were young and carefree.  It's especially fun for me to reminisce with the people back in WA since the people I am around here in St. Louis aren't the people I grew up with.  They don't "remember when..." or burst into cheers with me or sing the fight song.  I've changed a lot since high school and most days my life turned out nothing like I expected (does anyone's?!).  But I'm happy and I'm surrounded by good people so I consider myself incredibly lucky.

I'm glad I read this book, maybe I'll remember to re-read it when it's time for my 40 year reunion!

Read about it or buy it here.

# 22 - Make a new recipe - April

April is an unusual month for us because of turkey season.  Justin spends much of the month at his parents' farm and I'm left to fend for myself.  I spend a lot of that time going out with friends for dinner or eating simple things so I didn't make a new entree this month.  But I still made something I'd never made before when I was visiting the farm.  I wanted something easy and declicious for dessert and this recipe is exactly that.

I used an already made graham cracker crust to make it even easier and it only consisted of a few ingredients.  It was perfect!  Here's the recipe.  Enjoy!

# 1 - Read 30 books - The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (book 5)

Read this book...now.  It is absolutely amazing.  It's undeniably sad but also inspiring.  There are so many things we can learn from children when it comes to how we should treat people.  I don't want to give much away but please put this book on your must-read list.  You'll be glad you did.  I couldn't put it down and finished it in 4 hours.  I hope it inspires you too.

There's also a movie but I'm a little hesitant to see it.  The book was written from the perspective of naive 9 year old Bruno.  There are some scenes where the author could have easily described the horror of the scene but told it from Bruno's sheltered perspective.  I appreciated that and I'm a little afraid the movie will be more graphic.  I still may watch it though, but not right now.  I don't want the beauty of the book to be entangled with the movie just yet.

Read more about the book and/or buy it here.

# 3 - Take a guided tour of St. Louis

I've lived in St. Louis for almost 5 years and I've done St. Louis things like Forest Park, eaten toasted ravioli, visited the Botanical Garden, and drank Budweiser.  But there is so much more to St. Louis.  I didn't grow up here so I didn't get the Missouri history in school like other locals did.  I find St. Louis' roots very fascinating, how it was so crucial in the westward expansion.  And there's so much more to this city than recent articles claiming it to be "The Most Dangerous City".  It's beautiful, it's friendly, and safe for a city of its size.  The sports fans here are hard core and there are so many things to do for free.  It's a great place to raise kids as we have some of the best attractions and hospitals around. 

I love being a tourist and going on guided tours.  When we went to Seattle a couple of years ago I made sure to book a harbor cruise and a food tour.  Last year we took another harbor cruise around New York as well as a 9/11 Memorial guided tour.  I think they're great ways to get to know about a place in a short amount of time.  I realized that I hadn't taken the time to tour my own city yet!  So I put it on my list.  And luckily, I got a Groupon for a trolley tour of St. Louis for 2 people.

My husband and I really enjoyed this tour.  My husband has lived in St. Louis his entire 40 years and learned a lot on this tour.  Our tour guide was Charlie, and it's obvious that he is knowledgeable and loves St. Louis.  The tour lasted an hour and a half and took through downtown, Forest Park, and the Loop.  We covered a lot of ground but it flew by because we were having so much fun and learning a lot.  I absolutely, without reservation, recommend this tour.  It leaves from Lumiere Place so it's really convenient to find and park. There was a great mixture on our tour, with people from all over the world.  It was fun to see the city through a tourist's eyes and to better appreicate all we have within our reach. 

Read more about St. Louis Fun Tours here.

# 1 - Read 30 books - The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes (book 4)

I have read just about all of Marian Keyes' books.  They are fun, easy to read, chick-lit books that take me away from life for a little while.  There are usually silly misunderstandings, love triangles, and strong lead female characters.  This book was a little different.  It was still funny and lives interesected, but there was also a serious subject matter to the book (but I won't give it away because you don't really find out about it until near the end).  It was told through the eyes of a "spirit" (or at least that's who you think it is for much of the book, again, I won't tell) and it was a new concept to me.  I couldn't put it down and absolutely had to finish the last 200 pages even though it took me until 2 in the morning. 

There are a lot of flashbacks, which I loved because you got the whole history of each character/couple, but it was easy to follow.  Each character was really developed and you came to dislike or cheer on each one.  I liked that this book was different from her others.  It was a great read.

Read the synopsis or buy it here.

# 1 - Read 30 books - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safron Foer (book 3)



I loved this book!  It was a little slow in the beginning but once I got started, I couldn't put it down.  (Read the synposis and/or buy it here) There were some parts that were hard to follow; I had to flip back to see who was speaking (there are a lot of "Dear..." letters and sometimes it was hard to keep track).  The subject matter was unique and the main character, Oskar, is extremely well created and interesting.  It was a touching and inspiring story.  It made me remember that there are children of 9/11 who must feel the same way as Oskar - trying to hold on to the parent they lost, however they can, for as long as they can. 

After I finished it, I went to Red Box to rent it.  It was fairly different from the book (some parts were totally different) but I liked it on its own.  I love Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, so that probably helped, but it was still a good movie.  I sort of wish I hadn't watched it so close to reading the book because I spent a lot of time noticing what parts were different and thinking I knew what was going to happen next.  I was still very glad that I watched it and would recommend it as well.

# 5 - Paddleboat in Forest Park

One of my favorite things about St. Louis is Forest Park.  (Read about it here)  It houses main St. Louis attractions like the zoo, history and art museums, science center, and skating rink.  Not to mention the acres and acres of paths, hills, and water features; it's beautiful.  Forest Park is also home to the Boathouse, a restaurant and boat rental facility.  It sits on a lake and you can rent paddleboats or kayaks for $15 an hour.

I took the day off of work so that my husband and I could have a date day since we weren't able to spend Easter together.  We were originally going to take a trolley tour of St. Louis but I didn't plan it well enough to know that they don't do tours on Mondays. Anyway, it was going to be a gorgeous day in St. Louis so I really wanted to do something outside, also preferably doing something I could cross off my list.  So paddleboating it was.  We got there within half an hour of them opening.  It wasn't too warm yet and there wasn't a line.  We paddled out to the Grand Basin and then headed back.  It took us the full hour to get back, including a couple of breaks-paddling is tough!  It was a good, unexpected workout.  Afterwards, we had lunch outside at their restaurant.  The food was so good!

I am so glad we did this today.  The weather was gorgeous and the views while paddleboating were breathtaking.  It really made me even more thankful to live in a place that offers us these activities.  I would encourage everyone to do this at least once!

#22 - Make a new recipe a month - March

Amy made delicious enchiladas while I was visiting her in Chicago.  She gave me the recipe and I knew I wanted to make them for my family right away because they are amazing.  The recipe was super easy and made plenty of enchiladas for leftovers.  I used cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, black beans, corn, green onions, salsa, and some spices to give it a little kick.  My family loved them!  I know I'll be making these again since they were really simple and very yummy. I added a side of dirty rice to go along with them.

# 1 Read 30 books - If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster (book 2)

I LOVE Jen Lancaster's books.  I was introduced to her books by my friend Amy and it was love at first read.  She began by writing memoirs - hilarious, laugh-out-loud to yourself memoirs.  Her memoirs have covered topics ranging from losing weight to losing her job and trying to live frugally to trying to introduce more culture into her life and they have all been hilarious.  This book was her first attempt at fiction and it was no disappointment.  I read it in 2 days because I couldn't put it down.  Her next book, Jeneration X, comes out on May 1st and there are no doubts that I will pick it up as soon as it hits the shelves.  Read her books, you'll love them, and her.  Her blog is just as hilarious, you should follow it too: http:/www.jennsylvania.com

#1 Read 30 books - The Great Gatsby (book 1)

I love to read but I didn't have a lot of time to read leisurely while I was in school.  While I don't think this will be a particularly challenging goal on my list, I know that if I don't set, I will spend my time watching tv or reading magazines all of the time.  Originally, I set the goal to read 12 books from The Board's Best Novels list but I realized that I wanted to be able to read some fun, current books too.  So I modified my list to challenge myself to read 30 books of all genres, etc.

I read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald in high school but that was over 12 years ago so it felt like I was reading it for the first time.  This book is a classic, listed on almost every Must Read list I saw.  I'm sure I had to write a paper or do a project on the symbolism of certain things in the book (i.e. the green light) so it was nice to read the book just for fun, without having to continuously stop and take notes for use later on.  I loved the glimpse into America in the 20s.  There were lots of references to the big, jazz parties and frivolous spending before The Great Depression.  I loved the imagery of the costumes, cars, and East coast, where most of the story takes place.  I can appreciate the book more now than I did in high school (that rings true for just about everything though!) and really did enjoy reading it.

I'm sure I'll pick it up a couple more times throughout the years and it will still surprise and captivate me.  To me, that's what makes a book classic.