Happy Birthday, Christopher!

We had a great time celebrating Christopher yesterday! I took the day off work, and we had a relaxing day filled with a few presents and a lot of fun. Our first stop was Duck Donuts to design some breakfast treats. This place is really neat. I loved that we could watch them put together our creations. And they taste yummy, too!!

Chris had been wanting to see Black Panther since its release so we went to an afternoon show. It was a neat movie even for those of us (me) that aren't too crazy about the Marvel movies. There is a great overarching message to the movie and the scenery and costumes are amazing. Definitely check it out if you have a chance!

We went to a hibachi restaurant we recently found here in Columbus for dinner. It was SO good, but we left completely stuffed. Next time, I need to ask for a to go box at the beginning and put about half of it in there! :) I took some photos of Chris with his cake, but we decided to just take it to our small group meeting tonight since neither of us could bring ourselves to eat any after our massive dinner.

I am so thankful to have such a wonderful husband. It was fun celebrating him all day. He was happy to have a relaxing, low key day topped off with watching a Knicks game on TV last night. Cheers to the rest of his 37th year being just as wonderful. I love you, Christopher!

Andrea :)

Highlights of 2017

Lots of life has happened this year! I spent a bulk of the beginning of 2017 back in Kentucky helping my parents as my dad recovered from sepsis. During my time there, it was also discovered that he would need surgery to correct a triple retina tear in his right eye. Despite the hurdles, we had fun spending time together, ate at nearly every restaurant in Owensboro, and managed to see all the Best Picture nominees.

When I returned to New York on Valentine's Day, Chris and I began putting our relocation plans into high gear. I was making networking calls, applying to jobs, and taking phone interviews in a number of cities across the mid-west. Eventually, we narrowed our prospects to Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY, or Columbus, OH. All three cities had advantages and disadvantages. I had a couple of interviews in Nashville, but things just weren't seeming to pan out there. In late April/early May, I spent three weeks at my brother's house in Lexington with meetings in both Nashville and Columbus sandwiched between being auntie extraordinaire, my niece's 5th birthday party, and my other brother's medical school graduation.

There still hadn't been quite as much movement on the job front for me as we had hoped, but we knew moving away from the expense of New York City when our lease expired in August was the right move for us. In mid-July, Chris and I made a trip to Columbus for a week where we both had some really encouraging networking meetings. After spending some time in Columbus, we felt like it was the right place to pursue. We squeezed in some birthday fun with our nephew in Lexington before heading back to New York to pack up our apartment.

After 10 years of living in crazy busy NYC, it was much more difficult that I expected to say goodbye. Once we officially made our decision to move to Columbus in mid-July, I began the overwhelming task of packing up our apartment. It was a small space to begin with so adding boxes everywhere made it especially daunting. In the end, we got it done.

In mid-August, we loaded up our packed to the brim U-Haul and made the journey to Columbus. We decided to rent a townhouse (more than triple the amount of space we had in NY for roughly a third of the cost!!) in Dublin, which is roughly 20 minutes from downtown Columbus. Upon arrival, we promptly bought a car (our 1st major purchase as a married couple) and began our life here.

We drove back to New York for one final week. I was able to complete my Level 3 Improv Intenstive with Magnet Theater, and we hosted a final shindig in our nearly empty LIC apartment. It was a bittersweet week, but we left with no regrets (and one final completely full SUV load of stuff).

We spent a couple weeks getting adjusted to our new life in Columbus - checking out all the local grocery stores, securing our CAPA season tickets, and organizing our new place. We managed an extended weekend trip to Lexington to visit the Ale8 Factory, watch Brinley and Landon play soccer, and tour Old Kentucky Chocolates. On the heels of that trip, God provided an employment opportunity for me at a local YMCA as a youth development director.

I started that position the last week of September and hit the ground running. It has certainly kept me busy while allowing Chris to search for a great opportunity. We also found a wonderful church home thanks to a sorority sister of mine that lives here now as well. We spent most of the last part of the year exploring our new city, visiting (and hosting) family and friends, and simply taking a breath.

Andrea :)

DIY Valentine's Day Project

This year, I decided to get creative with my Valentine's Day gift for Chris. I was still at my parent's house back in Kentucky so I had a bit of extra time on my hands. I decided to make him a 52 Reasons Why I Love You card deck.

I got the supplies - a deck of cards, hole punch, glue stick, and ribbon. Then, I typed out my 52 reason and cut out those squares. The project was pretty simple, but did take a bit of time to patch together. My dad had a day long bridge tournament so I loaded up all my supplies and used that time to create the finished card deck. I was surprised how easy it was to make. It was fun to think of the reasons and also to decide how to order them on the cards.

I presented the deck to Chris along with a copy of Loving and some Reese's Cup treats in a soccer tin. We saw Loving in the theater together the previous fall and really liked the movie. I know Chris liked the gift, but I think he was happiest to just have me back home.

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!

Andrea :)

Christmas in the Big Apple

Since we had some out of town visitors around the holidays this year, Chris and I took some time to experience some of the NYC Christmas decor. Here's our top five fun holiday activities...

{ONE}

Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center

{TWO} 

The Nativity at St. Patrick's Cathedral

{THREE}

The Window Displays at Macy's

{FOUR}

Pickle Me Pete's Fried Pickles at Bryant Park's Winter Village

{FIVE}

The Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium

And, of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't share our own little Christmas Tree. We had fun decorating it with our growing collection of ornaments. We have a tradition in which I leave an ornament that commemorates the year in Chris' stocking. I found the perfect one to reflect all the fun we had in Austin for our anniversary this year.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas this year!!

Andrea :)

Our ICU Christmas to Remember

Life is full of surprises and mysteries. My family had our fill of both this Christmas season, but let me back track to the week of December 11. My dad had just returned with my youngest brother, McKinley, from a road trip to Louisiana. Dad played piano at two church services that Sunday and did a little Christmas shopping with my mom. Nothing to see here, folks.

On Monday, Dad began complaining of some back pain and headed off to the chiropractor to see if an adjustment would do the trick. On day two of no back pain relief, Mom was convinced a trip to the doctor was in order. That visit on Wednesday, December 14 resulted in an immediate admission to the hospital due to elevated kidney levels. Certainly concerning, but kidney stones seemed to be the logical diagnosis and fit for the symptoms. As it turns out, kidney stones would have been ideal. Instead, an aggressive blood infection was discovered. Mysteriously, no entry point for the infection was found, but it took hold in a real scary way regardless.

On Saturday, breathing became difficult as other levels peaked and dipped which led to a move to the Critical Care (ICU) area. It was at this point, I could no longer be convinced to stay in NY and wait for my previously arranged Tuesday flight. Of course, in true NY fashion we had a snow storm that day which significantly delayed flights. I was able to get on an 11pm flight that landed me in Louisville (still two hours away) around 1am. My best friend from high school graciously volunteered to pick me up and drive me to the hospital once I arrived.

When I finally made it to the ICU at 3:30am on Sunday, December 18, Dad was wide awake. He hadn't slept for quite some time (over 24 hours) and was clearly in distress based on the screens displaying his stats, but he knew me and we were able to talk a bit though most of the conversation revolved around helping him escape.

The next day, Dad was intubated to assist with getting his breathing under control and allow his body to rest while the antibiotics for the infection began to work. It was easily the most difficult and scary period of time I've experience in my life. God revealed to me a totally new meaning to the verse in 1 Thessalonians instructing us to pray without ceasing. During this trying time, I felt the Holy Spirit wash over me and provide a peace that gave me strength to continue to petition God on behalf of my dad. My brother, Jordan, provided frequent Facebook updates to family and friends requesting prayer and a number of churches were also lifting up Dad. God heard our cry. I have absolutely no doubt.

After three days of intubation, the tube was removed. Dad could talk again, but he was incredibly weak and tired. Other issues surfaced over the next few days and a number of blood transfusions were necessary, but by Christmas Day stats were normalized, his feeding tube was removed, and he was even able to sit in a chair.

We experienced our own Christmas miracle this year. Dad will continue to receive the antibiotic for several weeks and will need extensive rehabilitation services to regain his strength and full independence, but God has performed a remarkable work in healing my Dad. As 2016 closes and 2017 begins, our family is incredibly grateful for all of the support, prayers, and concern shown for our family. Most of all, we are thankful for the miracle God performed for us.

Andrea :)

Our December Date Nights

December is always a busy month with holiday parties and last minute shopping. It was certainly chaotic for us, but we managed to fit in some fun with just the two of us between all the holiday shuffle and general end of the year craziness.

We attempted to see Jarrod Carmicheal earlier this year, but he cancelled the show we planned to see. When Chris discovered he was going to be at the Comedy Cellar, it was an easy date night pick. We were actually seated on the front row for the evening so we interacted with a couple of the comedians throughout the night. Jarrod was good, but we would still like to see him do his own show. He has an interesting style, but he made us laugh for sure. It was a fun night. All the comics in the line up were decent. Usually there is at least one disappointment, but we enjoyed them all that night.

Since Chris loved the holiday train so much last year, I decided it would be fun to give it a whirl again this year. It only runs on Saturdays in December for a limited number of hours so it is quite the novelty. It took us a couple of attempts to finally get the timing right and catch it in action. Ultimately, we went to the start of the line - 2nd Ave on the Lower East Side - and rode it the length of the line into Queens. The train is a neat way to step back into history. It was packed, but we truly enjoyed the experience.

What was your favorite date night this year?

Andrea :)

Our November Date Nights

November was packed full of fun date nights for us. We saw a couple of movies at independent theaters, attended a one night only concert event, and a fundraiser benefit. Lots of fun and excitement for us just before the holiday season!

Chris surprised me with tickets to a special one night only Rascal Flatts concert at the theater in Madison Square Garden. The venue is a nice intimate setting so we were pretty close to the stage which was awesome! Rascal Flatts was promoting their new Christmas album (which they gave to us as a thank you for attending the concert) so they included a couple of those songs into their set. I really love "Strange Way to Save the World" - check it out here! Even though the concert itself wasn't nearly as long as we had hoped, we still had a GREAT time listening to my all-time favorite band perform!

My date night was full of yummy food and drinks at the Let's Get Ready Annual Benefit. I was part of the fundraising committee for the event, but I am relatively new to the organization. Chris and I had a blast. We enjoyed determining the best strategy for the raffle - even though we weren't successful. And there was a fun photo booth with a snapchat filter, too! The goodie bags were a hit as well. We had a great night!

What kind of winter dates are you planning?

Andrea :)

Hail to Pitt!!

Our annual trip to Pittsburgh was a snowy one this year, but we love getting the chance to spend time with some of our most treasured friends each fall. And, if it includes a Pitt victory that is even better!

The main event of the weekend was the Pitt-Duke football game. Say it with me everyone, "Boo Duke!" :)  We had fun at the game despite the freezing weather and snow shower to end the game. Thank goodness for hot chocolate!

It was even more special this year because the husband of one of my college roomies is a Pitt special team assistant coach and we got a chance to visit with both of them after the game. It was nice and cozy in the friends and family waiting area, too!

Nothing beats a weekend with friends, especially when it doubles as a chance to play with one of our favorite little guys! Chris' godson is growing up SO fast. We brought him a couple of books and enjoyed the time we were able to spend hanging out with him.

Do you have any annual traditions with your friends?

Andrea :)

Wedding + Friend Time = Winning!

Our last wedding of the year took place in the DC area. Fall weddings are the best...and this one was fabulous! We also took an extra couple of days in that area to meet up with some friends we hadn't seen in awhile. Double win!

We enjoyed spending some time with our friends Larri and Ro as well as meeting their lovely little ladies. Twins have always fascinated me and these two were no different. It was a lot of fun playing with them and learning their personalities.

The wedding took place at a church with a bit of a gap between the ceremony and the reception so we spent some time with our friend, Rachel, between the festivities. The bride and groom had a Jenga guest book and some fun mad libs to complete during the cocktail hour. Definitely kept us busy before entering the reception hall.

The meal was served family style at the tables while the bride and groom made their way around the room visiting with guests. I really liked this idea. They also served a number of delicious small desserts along with wedding cake at the end of the meal.

The day after the wedding, we were able to spend some time with one of my college friends, Danielle. She has been in England for the past few years so it had been a long time since we had the chance to see one another. It was fun hanging out with her five year old and meeting her new little guy, too.

What is your favorite part of a wedding?

Andrea :)

Austin Sweets!

It's no secret around these parts that I have a sweet tooth. Austin proved the perfect place to indulge in some tasty treats! There was an unbelievable array of option from ice cream to cupcakes to donuts. We visited as many as we could manage over the course of the week.

Amy's Ice Cream

Ice cream was high on my list of sweet treats to try because it was hot while we were in Austin. Amy's was similar to Cold Stone Creamery in that you were able to add various mix-ins. The selection was unique, but we stuck with basic vanilla and strawberry (with banana topping). Definitely recommend stopping here for a scoop or cone. And there is also an airport location!

Gourdough's

Hands down this was the best eating experience of the trip. We had Gourdough's on our list, but weren't anticipating that we would have time to make it there. As luck would have it, we passed by its food truck location on our way to lunch one day. It was simply meant to be. Please, please, please put this on your list of MUST visit places. The doughnut creations were heavenly!! I had Miss Shortcake (cream cheese icing with fresh cut strawberries). Chris had Funky Monkey (grilled bananas and cream cheese icing with brown sugar). Don't miss this deliciousness!!

Sugar Mama's

Cupcakes are my jam. Sugar Mama's met all my expectations. The options were ample, but not overwhelming and everything we tried tasty fabulous. We tried Champion Carrot Cake, Southern Belle (red velvet), Jack's Lemon, and Strawberry Shortkick. They kept well in our hotel for a couple of days as we worked our way through them bite by bite. Certainly worth a visit!

Voo Doo Doughnuts

We wandered upon Voo Doo Doughnuts' Sixth Street location after our Esther's Follies show. The wait was insanely long, but there was an interesting live band that helped us pass the time. We tried four different types - The Arnold Palmer (plain cake doughnut with vanilla frosting and lemonade/iced tea dust), The Neopolitan (chocolate cake doughnut with vanilla frosting, strawberry dust, and three marshmallows), a regular glazed raised yeast doughnut, and The Grape Ape (raised yeast doughnut with vanilla frosting and grape dust and lavender sprinkles). None of them blew me away. I'd actually suggest skipping this place unless you just really want to try some crazy doughnut combinations.

Cheesecake Bites

On our search for food trucks, we found Peace, Love, & Cheesecake Bites. We both tried one of the tasty little bites. Mine was caramel apple - delicious! We pretty quickly headed off to find some trucks with more of a lunch menu, but this neat truck was worth a mention.

Hey Cupcake!

Hey Cupcake! was another random food truck find. Honestly, I wasn't super impressed with the limited menu, but I had heard of the company so I wanted to give them a shot. I got a pumpkin cupcake with cream cheese icing. It was pretty good, but I definitely preferred Sugar Mama's.

What is your favorite dessert option?

Andrea :)

Austin Eats!

Delicious food was the name of the game for us in Austin. Fortunately, there was an endless supply. I was lucky to have a friend that lives in Austin and provided us with a detailed (and categorized!) list of options. As we made our way through the list, Chris and I came to the conclusion that we could spend a full month in Austin and never hit all the top spots. SO. MUCH. GOOD. FOOD.

BBQ

We were tempted by the famous Franklin's BBQ, but ultimately decided we'd rather sleep in than stand in line all morning. Mike from Austin Wine & Cider mentioned Black's BBQ was nearby so we decided to give it a shot. The restaurant was cafeteria style with a number of meat options and sides. I was smitten with the mac and cheese. Chris enjoyed the BBQ more than I did, but that's normal for us. The banana pudding was on point though.

Tex Mex

There were endless options of Tex Mex restaurants at every turn in Austin. We opted for an off the beaten track restaurant - Juan in a Million. It was fun to check out a local spot. I stuck with standard tacos which were delicious, but the portions were massive! We would definitely return to this spot.

Food Trucks

Food trucks are popular in Austin. We went to three different food truck parks searching for a good lunch destination. I wish we had made time for them on the weekend because I think we would have gotten more of the full experience. That being said, we were able to try the popular Torchy's Tacos at South Austin's Trailer Park & Eatery. Chris got The Democrat and Chicken Fajita tacos. He enjoyed the variety of options while I picked my way through a chicken taco. We opted for sweets at the other food truck locations so check back tomorrow for more info on those!

Steak

For our anniversary dinner, we wanted to experience a local steakhouse. After some research online, Chris found ALC Steaks. The restaurant was lovely, and the food was delicious. We had wonderful service throughout dinner, and they even provided us with complimentary dessert for our anniversary. Definitely recommend this local restaurant if you are looking for a high end dinner in Austin.

Brunch

We met my friend, Marissa, and her family for brunch at Kerbey Lane Cafe. We hadn't seen one another in nearly a decade so I was too busy catching up and enjoying conversation to snag any photos of the phenomenal pancakes. I had the short stack - one seasonal pumpkin and one banana. Both were perfect. There are a number of locations for this restaurant around the city so we highly recommend finding one and checking it out. Just be prepared for a bit of a wait to get in - especially on Sunday!

Pizza

We hadn't planned to eat any pizza during our time in Austin, but one afternoon we somehow ended up at Southside Flying Pizza complete with entertaining graffiti art decor. As New Yorkers, we don't often try pizza when we travel, but this was surprisingly good. We stuck with standard pepperoni, but they had a lot of different (and unique) topping combos.

What is your favorite thing about trying new restaurants when you travel?

Andrea :)