Vida

LouFest 2016.  Once again did not disappoint.   Karen & I found and started attending LouFest 4 years ago.  Really, only because Walk the Moon was playing and I was looking at their tour schedule.  Then the next year as we debated going, Grouplove AND Matt & Kim were playing, needless to say we went.  At that point the festival had completely sold itself and the lineup was a bonus.   So much good music and great vibes around there.  One of my favorite things about LouFest is finding new bands.  It's just such a great opportunity to see bands I already know close to the stage, like NAWAS, I would never be that close at one of their concerts. And just stopping by and discovering a fun, new band.  P.S. I would say half the upcoming bands live in Nashville.  Whew! I knew the most songs from St. Lucia and Wild Belle . Diarrhea Planet had a great set!  They were a bit harder than what I'd usually listen t...

Happy Mother's Day! We were able to celebrate a bit early with my mom last weekend in Missouri!  We had a lovely time enjoying the warmth and soaking up mom's ways. yep, mom met Fred Bird Sunday morning, Mom decided she'd send me back with some spinach balls (my favorite).  She also had mentioned she wanted to go on a bike ride, and my sister, Karen, was ready to hop on some bikes.  Mom ended up saying she had too much to do and making my spinach balls, rather than going for a bike ride.  Even though...we were there to celebrate Mother's Day! My mom is always welcoming and willing to put others before herself.  I'm lucky to call her my mom.

M to N to P to gravel* That is my route to my friend's home where I grew up.  (And I went over the weekend to meet her new baby and visit with the new parents!) I used to be really good at driving these two lane, twisty, hilly highways.  The only thing that would annoy me is when someone was in front of me who didn't know how to drive said highways.  Saturday as I drove along and saw a car quickly gaining on me from behind, I realized I've become the one who used to annoy me.  I am disappointed in myself. At the very start of the trip (M road), my favorite part are the three hills right in a row (and straight), I've lost my stomach many times on those hills.   After probably thoroughly annoying the car behind me, I switched to N road.   Then P.   Then the gravel road that I only know where it is from sight and driving out there.  It's not really labeled. *I turned on what has always been a gravel road and it was pave...

It's good to be home Where there's more stocking than one (and the number seems to keep growing) The tree is real We need to put out cookies for Santa and a certain 3 year old puts his felt clock at midnight and says "Santa comes" and even though it's scary outside when it's dark at night, he makes sure to put out the reindeer food and sometimes ringing the Polar Express bell can make things better ;)  How can you ever say no to that face? :) Powering through the scary, dark outside to feed the reindeer: Reindeer Food Sprinkle on the lawn at night The moon will make it sparkle bright Santa's reindeer fly and roam This will guide them to your home. Santa brought a Lightening McQueen BIKE! killin' it on the bike Now it's time to go back to reality...

I always look forward to Thanksgiving.  I think it honestly might be my favorite holiday.  It's just hanging out.  My family doesn't go crazy with shopping for Christmas.  We will decorate the house during Thanksgiving weekend, but that's about it. This year I have been especially looking forward to it because I need a little break.  Things have been super busy...bordering on overwhelming.  And I've been looking forward to the inevitable relaxation that is supposed to come from my parents' little town.  Then...I looked at the weather and it is supposed to be 60 degrees  Saturday!  Now I can't wait! What are you doing for Thanksgiving?  I have a Turkey Trot, time with family, Schlafly brewery tour, hopefully the Cardinals hall of fame on my agenda.  Super excited over here! Happy Thanksgiving!

LouFest 2014 = amazing Seriously. this poster is amazing ( via ) I had a really rough week last week and a super chill music festival was exactly what I needed. Here's a look, if you're interested... First up  Music because, I mean, that's why I was there... As we walked back to the car Sunday night Karen said, "Top three:  go." San Fermin, Grouplove, Matt & Kim Favorite new find: AJR More details? K Day One! After we got our Schlafly beer and filled our water bottles at the filling station we headed over to the new stage this year:  Shade Stage and checked out Big Brother Thunder And The Master Blasters They are a STL local band and they were so fun (and clearly had some friend support in the audience).  The performance is a little different when you feel like you are performing to your friends (with some randos mixed in...me). San Fermin Maybe I was a little sentimental because I saw them on my birthday this year in Chicago or mayb...

It's time for a little weekend recap!  I hope you had a lovely long weekend!!! I went back to Missouri for the weekend for some family time and a very special lady's baptism (my niece). Here's a little glimpse, if you'd like to see: *The playground is fun when you're with a 2 year old ;) *Family photos, on the other hand, can be a bit challenging yep, that's charlie on the trampoline *I completely peaced out from technology.  My phone sat in my room all weekend. It was lovely. *My sister-in-law's family and my grandma came over for a BBQ Saturday night.  At said BBQ, Charlie had some homemade ice cream and a bit of cupcake and he started running around our table (we were in the patio area outside).  He ran around that table taking brief stops to be tickled for approximately a half hour. I am not exaggerating.  It was amazing.  I laughed so hard. He stopped when he had to go potty.  And this story is pretty awesome too. Jef...