2015 Goals - 6 Month Check-Up

1 - Read through the Bible!

This one is in progress.  Full force!  I started in Genesis just after Memorial Day.  I am not quite through the law section that accounts for the first few books, but I am on an aggressive 90 day plan.  My hope is to have this one completed by Labor Day.  I am trying to read a little in the morning, during my lunch break at work, and then a bit more in the evening.  So far, so good!

2 - Focus on my health and nutrition.  

I have been doing remarkably well on this one.  I have certainly made this a major focus and it is starting to show.  I ran my fastest ever 10k last month.  I feel better generally.  And I'm not giving up!

 3 - Enjoy life as newlyweds.

We are certainly succeeding on this one!  A long weekend trip is just around the corner for us and we are staring to nail down plans for our anniversary trip to California this fall.  We've started watching some Netflix series that we had been wanting to see for quite some time.  And cooking at home together a lot!  I can't believe we are already over two-thirds of the way through our first married year...time is flying!  If you are interested in checking out more of our newlywed adventures, look no further - Month One, Month Two, Month Three, Month Four, Month Five, Month Six, Month Seven, and Month Eight.

4 - Do more things for me.

I am still reading like crazy...and loving it!  I even started a real life book club earlier this year! And I continue to narrow down the options for improv classes...but it's looking like that might not happen until the fall with all our travel plans this summer.  I am also working on mentally preparing for the NYC Marathon again.  It will certainly be a challenge, but I'm going to give it my best shot!  My goal this summer is to finish up some of the lingering scrapbooks on my "to make" list.

5 - Redesign this blog. 

I haven't made any progress here.  I am wrapping up my #MarriedMaitlands wedding posts though and have been considering making the change once those are done in the next couple of months.  Been having some thoughts about changing the name as well.

6 - Find my passion.    

Somehow, I feel like I am getting closer here.  Maybe it's all the reading.  And writing I've been doing here.  Both have really got me thinking.  I'm hopeful this will continue to become more and more apparent each day!

How are your 2015 goals coming along?

Andrea :)

*Find my 3 month check-up here.

#collaboreads: NYT Bestseller

Immediately when I saw information about the #collaboreads link up, I knew I wanted to be in.  Rachel and Amber choose a theme each month, but it is up to YOU to choose the book you'd like to read that fits that theme.  For the inaugural link up, they suggested we all select a New York Times Bestseller.  I quickly scanned the list and found a book that I'd been interested for some time - Look Me In The Eye by John Elder Robinson.  Here's my R.E.A.D.S. review....

Riveting.
What part of the book could you NOT get enough of? 
Elements.
How did you relate to/care for the characters?
What's your thought on the plot line and twists and turns? 
Associate.
What other books are like this one?
If none, did it remind you of a particular TV or movie with it's themes and characters? Does it serendipitous-ly line-up with things going on in your life or the news right now? 
Design.
You know you judged this book by the cover.
What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel? And the font and layout of the pages? 
Stars. How many out of five do you give this book?
Would you recommend this book to a friend?  - See more at: http://www.mrthomasandme.com/search/label/collaboreads#sthash.ATq0oHwc.dpuf

Riveting.
What part of the book could you NOT get enough of? 
Elements.
How did you relate to/care for the characters?
What's your thought on the plot line and twists and turns? 
Associate.
What other books are like this one?
If none, did it remind you of a particular TV or movie with it's themes and characters? Does it serendipitous-ly line-up with things going on in your life or the news right now? 
Design.
You know you judged this book by the cover.
What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel? And the font and layout of the pages? 
Stars. How many out of five do you give this book?
Would you recommend this book to a friend?  - See more at: http://www.mrthomasandme.com/search/label/collaboreads#sthash.ATq0oHwc.dpuf

Riveting.
What part of the book could you NOT get enough of? 
Elements.
How did you relate to/care for the characters?
What's your thought on the plot line and twists and turns? 
Associate.
What other books are like this one?
If none, did it remind you of a particular TV or movie with it's themes and characters? Does it serendipitous-ly line-up with things going on in your life or the news right now? 
Design.
You know you judged this book by the cover.
What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel? And the font and layout of the pages? 
Stars. How many out of five do you give this book?
Would you recommend this book to a friend?  - See more at: http://www.mrthomasandme.com/search/label/collaboreads#sthash.ATq0oHwc.d

Riveting.

What part of the book could you NOT get enough of?

As a lover of the autobiography genre, many aspects of this book had me hooked.  So often while reading, I found myself wanting to ask questions and delve even deeper into the life of John Elder.  The most interesting segments of the book revolved around his early childhood days, the subsequent time he spent as an engineer for KISS, and later in the corporate world.  It was incredible the detail John Elder used to describe much of that abusive and horrible childhood, the wild and crazy times with the band, and his corporate experiences.  Each story was written in such a simple and matter of fact manner though.  Having muted emotions is a common trait of those with Asperger's so it totally made sense, but it proved absolutely fascinating to see the world through his eyes.

Elements.

How did you relate to/care for the characters?
What's your thought on the plot line and twists and turns?

My goal in reading this book was to gain a better understanding of the Aspergian world.  John Elder provides a bird's eye view and really takes you on a journey through his lifetime.  The stories he tells played out in my mind vividly.  While I couldn't relate directly to many of the issues he faced (abusive parents, being ostracized at school to the point of eventually dropping out, not having the social and/or emotional ability to connect with others properly), the book made it possible to see the life of those affected by Asperger's and/or Autism in a much different light.  My sister-in-law as well as two cousins register at varying levels on the autistic spectrum so my main goal in reading this book was to simply learn more about the lifestyle and adaptations that might be possible for someone with Asperger's.

Associate.
What other books are like this one?
If none, did it remind you of a particular TV or movie with it's themes and characters?
Does it serendipitous-ly line-up with things going on in your life or the news right now? 

A friend gave me a copy of this book a few years ago, but I hadn't ever managed to delve into it fully.  However, recently, my book club decided to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon as well as attend the broadway show with the same title.  It was both a phenomenal read and show.  After the production, I was determined to pick this book back up.  And, as I mentioned, it seemed like a good time to further educate myself on the topic.  Additionally, my husband and I are watching Parenthood...and loving it so far!!  The character Max on that show is also challenged with Asperger's Syndrome.  We have been spending a lot of time discussing his behavior in the various scenes that address his issues and the dynamic it creates in that family.

Design.
You know you judged this book by the cover. What did you think of it? 
How did it relate to the contents of the novel? And the font and layout of the pages? 

The cover of the book is perfect.  I had more than one person comment or take a second look at the book in my hand as I was reading when I had a few minutes here and there - in the airport, at the doctor's office, before meeting up with friends.  The face with its eyes shut VERY tightly on the cover reminded me SO much of the main character in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.  I kept seeing images from the broadway show each time I looked at the cover.  In regard to the actual layout of the book inside, I was a big fan of the smaller chapters full of stories and commentary from each portion of John Elder's life.

Stars.
How many out of five do you give this book?
Would you recommend this book to a friend?  

I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.  It's not that I didn't thoroughly enjoy it, but it just wasn't the easiest read.  It is well-written, but quite dry and to the point in many places.  There are a few spots where I would have liked things to move along a little more quickly.  However, I would absolutely recommend it to someone that has an interest in Asperger's or Autism.  It was quite educational while also managing to be entertaining and captivating.  Not exactly a beach read, but worthwhile just the same.

Andrea :)

Our Honeymoon: Day at Sea

After a rocky night at sea, there wasn't much news in the morning about our status.  We knew there was a major Mediterranean storm brewing, but no official announcements were made.  Given the unsure status of the day, we just kind of lounged around after we grabbed breakfast.  Finally, we were given some news - due to the storm, we wouldn't be able to dock in Agostoli, Greece, as originally planned.  We were bummed.  Happy they were more concerned about our safety than our adventures, but bummed we'd miss out on the one excursion we had been looking forward to from the moment we booked the cruise.  And then, more news - instead, we will spend the day at sea today and stop in Dubrovnik, Croatia, tomorrow.   And the excitement for adventure returns!

The cruise staff quickly got to work putting together a list of activities for passengers.  We were happy to spend the day playing bingo and trying our hand at an ABBA trivia competition.  Let's just say we were much more successful the previous day.  Although, we did manage to win a t-shirt.

Overall, it was a pretty lazy day, but exactly what we needed to allow us some time to recover and prepare for the final leg of our honeymoon adventure!

Andrea :)

Saturday States: Arizona & New Mexico

Arizona

State Nickname: The Grand Canyon State

Year of Family Trip: 2000

City Visited: Flagstaff

Can't Miss Tourist Attractions: Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest

A Grand Adventure

Mom was the only one out of the bunch that had seen the majesty of the Grand Canyon before we visited there together as a family.  She made sure to get ahead of us as we approached so that she could see our expressions when we finally saw it for the first time in all its glory.  It's hard to imagine what the early settlers must have thought when they came upon it back in the day!  It was certainly two things - massive and beautiful!!

We also spent some time checking out the Petrified Forest.

New Mexico

State Nickname: The Land of Enchantment

Year of Family Trip: 2000

City Visited: Albuquerque

Our Stop: a restaurant for some grub

Photo via google images since we couldn't locate any from our trip!

Unfortunately, we were able to locate any photos from our brief time in New Mexico, but we did stop to eat at a restaurant in Albuquerque as we drove through.

Have you ever spent time at the Grand Canyon?

Andrea :)

Our Honeymoon: Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos was our quintessential Greek stop.  And we loved every moment of it!  Upon first glance of the city as our ship approached, I knew it was going to be a great day.  The sun was shining bright and the white-washed landscape was stunningly beautiful!

We signed up for an excursion of Ancient Delos and were whisked away on a much smaller boat immediately upon arrival.  This excursion was hands down our favorite of the entire trip.  It was SO cool to see all the ancient ruins and hear the stories about everyday life back then.  The temperature was the highest of our entire trip and with minimal cover throughout our tour we really felt it!

Delos, serving as a trade center, was one of the most sacred places in Ancient Greece...claiming to have been the birthplace of Apollos.  The island is quite small is size.  In fact, we covered most of it via foot during our roughly three hour tour.  I kept waiting and waiting to see the famous Terrace of the Lions and the Sacred Lake they watch over, but it turned out to be the last stop on our tour.  And, come to find out, those lions are replicas!  The horror!  Fortunately, they had the originals stowed away in the archeological museum that we briefly visited before departing.  Truly a fascinating adventure back to the early days of civilization!

Back in Mykonos, we chowed down on some Greek cuisine.  Delicious!!  And then, we explored the area.  We walked through their Little Italy section of town to get to my favorite site of the entire trip - the windmills!  I spotted these from the boat and adored them at first sight.

Eventually, we made our way back to the ship.  And just in time for Chris to win football trivia.  No big deal, right?  Nope.  Wrong.  It WAS a big deal since he was the only American in the competition.  The shock on the faces of the Englishmen and Irishmen when an American outwitted them at football (you know, the kind you actually play with your foot...aka soccer!) trivia was priceless.  I was SO proud of him for winning us shiny medals!!

The rest of the night we played some bingo, checked out the cruise's version of Dancing with the Stars, and even spent a little time in the casino.  Mostly, we were intrigued by all the rumors.  There were several stories being circulated about the weather and its effect on our plans for the next day.  We heard one thing from the wait staff at dinner, another from a couple whose grandson had been to see the doctor in the infirmary, and a totally different tale from our Captain over the intercom system.  I felt like I was in a real life scene from the Titanic.  Except, well, maybe that isn't the best analogy, but the point is rumors were running rampant about what the day ahead would hold...

Andrea :)

#MarriedMaitlands - EIGHT months!

With summer here, we were able to fit in SO many date nights this month!  It's been a lot of fun to explore different areas and experience an array of entertainment along the way!  Hard to believe it's already been two-thirds of a year since our wedding, but I guess time flies when you're having fun!

Date Nights

Art in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Carvel in Long Island

Donuts on #NationalDonutDay

Solid Rock Cafe

Big Apple BBQ Fest

Comedy Show in Williamsburg

Movies/Shows

Taken 3

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Chris' Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Get On Up
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Chris' Rating: 2 out of 5 stars (but 5 out of 5 stars for the lead actor!)

2 Guns
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Chris' Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

Traveled

-I traveled to Maryland for Reba's Bachelorette Weekend while Chris spent the weekend in Albany at the end of May, but we didn't have any trips together this month!

Notable Events

-Hosted a Survivor Finale Party

-Began sponsoring Lee in Haiti through Compassion International

-Met Victor!

-I set a 10k personal record in the NYRR Mini.

Andrea :)

Dear Dad...

If there is one thing that I've always been, it's a daddy's girl.  For whatever reason, God cut us from the exact same mold.  Well, *almost* the exact same mold.

We like to be the life of the party, but all too often just keep quiet and make the people around us laugh.  You might as well call us Murphy because if it can go wrong, it will.  Guaranteed.  We're passive-aggressive, when necessary.  We love quality movies...and theater.  We know that we can't be perfect, but it certainly doesn't stop us from trying.  If there's a cavity to be found, we have the golden ticket.  It's no wonder that we're so close, we're nearly identical.

All kidding aside, I've learned so many lessons being my dad's sidekick all these years.  He has taught me the power of humor.  Laughter truly is the best medicine in so many instances.  And we both love to laugh and make others laugh...even at our own expense.  I've learned the importance of having a plan.  Making a list.  Checking it twice!  Even if things don't go according to plan, it's good to have the ability to create one.  Structure is your friend, but there's always a way to work in an adventure along the way.  I don't try it out often enough, but I'm bound to have inherited the storytelling ability.  Mamaw told some pretty impressive ones.  Dad has followed suit.  I'm hopeful I carry that trait more than anything.  After all, if you can't tell your story well, who will?

Thanks for being such a wonderful dad!  I wouldn't trade you for the world!  I love you!

Andrea :)

Saturday States: Utah & Colorado

Utah

State Nickname: The Beehive State

Year of Family Trip: 2000

City Visited: Salt Lake City

Can't Miss Tourist Attractions:

The Great Salt Lake

Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square

A mecca for genealogist...so you know where mom hung out all day!!

Bonneville Salt Flats 

A Perfect Stranger

When driving across the country on vacation, the last thing you expect to see is someone you know, right?  Well, following suit we didn't see someone we knew...but we were shocked to discover that after miles and miles of driving alongside the Bonneville Salt Flats we finally decided to enter onto them and find out what all the hype was about when who should we find but a couple from Madisonville (a nearby town in Kentucky).  It truly is a small world out there!

 

Colorado

State Nickname: The Centennial State

Year of Family Trip: 2000

City Visited: Colorado Springs

Can't Miss Tourist Attractions:

Pike's Peak

Garden of the Gods

Colorado has some of the most beautifully scenic areas in our country.  We loved checking out the majestic Garden of the Gods as well as the awesome Rocky Mountains along our drive.  And taking the incline up to the top of Pike's Peak afforded us a bird's eye view of all the beauty!

Have you visited either Utah or Colorado? 

What did you experience there?

Andrea :)

Mini of the Month: June

I was surprised a summer mini would be so heavy on chocolate, but it seems that somebody knew what they were doing after all.

Peanut Butter Pieces was delicious goodness!  With chocolate cake accented by peanut butter icing and a fudge stuffing, the Reese's Pieces and Butterfinger brittle topping set it all off.  Creamy chocolate flavor second to none!  Both of us really enjoyed this month's mini.

How do you feel about peanut butter and chocolate?

Andrea :)

Race Review: Oakley New York Mini 10k

I absolutely love running the NYRR mini each year.  This is my fourth straight year running this women's only event....and it is SO much fun!  And this year, I set a personal record for the 10k distance by just under 30 seconds.  Ironically, my previous best was in this race last year.
 
I couldn't have been more proud of myself for running a strong race.  My goal was to run between 12 and 12:30 min miles...and I ran at a 12:20 min pace.  My first two miles were really strong, but I struggled a bit with a hilly third mile.  My 5K split was 36:57.

I felt encouraged at the 5k marker as I was tracking my time on my phone and knew I was holding steady, but I slowed a bit on mile 4 and 5 as the heat began to wear on me.  It was tough, but I thought of my inspiration for the race - Coach Mullins and his valiant battle with lung cancer - and picked it back up about halfway through mile 5 and continued through mile 6.  As encouraged by volunteers and others cheering along the way, I just kept running my race at my pace.

As I neared the end of mile 6, I checked my phone and knew it would be close for a PR.  At that point, I recalled Coach Mullins' anthem "Go reckless...Stay loose...Score" and I kicked it into high gear.  It has been a VERY long time since I managed to full out sprint for the finish line at the end of a race, but I was determined to make my goal of setting a PR while honoring Coach Mullins' memory.  Chris said he lost track of me on that final stretch because there were so many people and I sped through so quickly.

I simply could not have been happier to discover my final time - 1:16:32 - especially knowing I was mere seconds from missing out on a PR.  This race was definitely the way I wanted to honor the memory of my GC offensive coordinator...a man of true character that never gave up!

Andrea :)

#MarriedMaitlands: First Dances

 

After our wonderful ceremony and lots of photos, it was finally time for the reception!!  We were so excited about having all our family and friends at the Kentucky Derby Museum for a fun night of dancing with us.  The museum turned out to be the absolute most perfect venue for us.

Chris and I arrived just before all the guests began to find their seats and enjoy dinner.  We had a chance to get a sneak peek at how it was all set up before we retreated to a private area where we could enjoy a few more moments alone.  We ate a little bit of food before we ventured out to the winner's circle over at Churchill Downs for a few photos.  While we were on this little adventure, our guests were viewing a movie all about Derby Day on the 360 degree screen as they began their meal. Once we returned from the racetrack, it was time for introductions and our first dances!  Everyone was ready to hit the dance floor!

We knew what our first dance song would be before we were even engaged.  And, perhaps surprisingly to those that know Chris, he selected it.  I was certainly on board as the band is my absolute favorite!  We danced to Rascal Flatts' God Bless the Broken Road.  It was perfect!

My dad and I struggled for months to find a song that would be best for our dance.  Finally, we decided on Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle.  Pre-wedding, I never made it through listening to the song without crying, but that night we laughed and joked through it all.

Chris and his mom went with Ben E. King's upbeat Stand by Me.  They had a lot of fun dancing together!

And then it was time for everyone else to join in the fun!!  Let's get this party started...

Andrea :)