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 :)

A House Divided

Yesterday, Chris and I set off for Met Life Stadium both having high hopes for our respective team's season.  We don't often get to experience our teams meeting up on the gridiron often so we took full advantage of the game being set in New York.  We've seen them during the regular season together on two other occasions - a chilly Thanksgiving night in NY and a gorgeous October day in Cincy.

The match-up yesterday kicked off the season for our beloved Bengals and Jets.  We had been waiting for this game since the schedule was released in the Spring so to say the anticipation was boiling over is an understatement.  We were both super excited!

We arrived in our lower bowl seats just in time for the kickoff!  There weren't any Bengals fans in our exact area, but there was a decent showing of orange and black throughout the stadium.  The game was close the entire time making it a bit tense, but also more fun.  The Bengals managed to pull out the win by one with a field goal in the final couple minutes followed by an interception to seal it.  The Jets missed an extra point earlier in the game or we could have witnessed an overtime.  That would have been a real treat!

Do you have a house divided when it comes to sports loyalties?

Andrea :)

Are You Ready for Some Football?

I absolutely can't believe it is football season already!!  It's not possible to for me to allow this season to kickoff without recounting my Hall of Fame experience.  Despite the actual game being cancelled, the weekend itself was truly a special one.  My brother, Jordan, made the trek up to Canton to join me for my final NFL work trip.  I was glad to have him there for all the festivities - the Tim McGraw concert, the longest parade I've ever witnessed, and the enshrinement.

I had high hopes for the Tim McGraw concert, but he turned out to be mediocre.  I guess I didn't realize he had new music.  He totally killed it on the older songs, but lost me pretty quickly when he switched gears into his current "hits".  We had an interesting array of folks surrounding us so we ended up having lots of laughs throughout the evening regardless of the song choices.

The next day, we were able to check out the parade through downtown Canton.  It was a bit of a mix of Macy's Day meets small town 4th of July.  There was an enormous show of patriotism and more school bands that I can recall with a number of large and small balloon characters throughout.  It lasted well over an hour.  They sold tickets so everyone had an assigned seat.  All the Hall of Fame Enshrinees and several current Hall of Famers rode in fancy cars between the floats and performers. It truly was a site to behold.  The only thing we were missing was donuts.  Apparently, it's an annual tradition there.  Don't worry...we tracked them down before we left town!

The Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony proved remarkable.  I didn't have high expectations going into the event, but I managed to leave with an unforgettable feeling in my heart. Hearing the speeches in person was a truly impactful experience.  Having previously worked with the Colts, I really enjoyed listening to both Marvin Harrison and Tony Dungy speak.  Eddie Debartlo, Jr. had a wonderful message as well.  I could feel the love in his voice as he spoke about his experience with the 49ers.  Kevin Greene, Orlando Pace, and Brett Favre all exhibited such passion and emotion.  It was truly a wonderful night.  If you have a favorite player that has the honor of being inducted, I highly recommend making the trip to Canton for their Enshrinement.  It is definitely a worthwhile experience.

Who is your favorite football team or player?

Have you ever been to a really fantastic parade?

Andrea :)

Our Military Bowl Adventure

Chris has always wanted to watch his alma mater play in a bowl game so when we discovered that Pitt was headed to Annapolis for the Military Bowl we jumped at the chance to make his dream a reality! Unfortunately, Pitt didn't get the memo and managed to play terribly despite scoring on the opening kickoff.  Even though the Panthers weren't able to get their act together, we still had a great experience.

We spent some time checking out the festivities outside the stadium a couple hours before the game.  The alumni tailgate party turned out to be a dud, but we did get some really cool lanyards out of it!  And we found the #ConnorStrong banner to sign as well.  It was really special for the team to include Connor (a Pitt running back diagnosed with cancer earlier this season) as an honorary captain, too!

Once inside the stadium, several unique elements were seen prior to kickoff.  A group of veterans parachuted onto the field with American flags and the game ball.  The National Anthem was sung by Miss America while a flag the size of the entire field was unfurled.  And the teams finally took the field after an awesome fly over.

As I mentioned, Pitt got off to a great start!  They didn't do much else in the first half though.  That put them in quite a hole, but they didn't give up.  Pitt fought hard, but just wasn't able to overcome the deficit in the end.  Even through the chilly weather and occasional drizzle, our group had a blast in the Pitt section of the stadium!

Before we began our drive back to NYC, we grabbed dinner with our friends at the Iron Rooster in Annapolis.  They make their own DELICIOUS pop tarts...and serve breakfast all day!  Definitely recommend checking out this tasty spot if you are ever in town for a Navy game!!

Have you ever been to a bowl game?

Andrea :)

WHO DEY!!

It's a big day in Bengals-land!!  Another showdown with the Steelers is on tap for today.  Always a great match-up.  Unfortunately, I'm stuck at work today...but I know one place in NYC that will be rocking when 1pm rolls around - Phebe's!!!

Chris had been promising to go with me to the only Bengals bar in NYC all season and we finally made the trip down to the Bowery last weekend!  I was amazing at the number of people there all decked out in their orange and black!!  Who knew there were SO many Bengals fans right here under my nose?!?!  Since there were a multitude of touchdown's scored (thank you, Browns!) I was able to experience the full-on insanity that breaks out each time six points is added to the scoreboard!  So fun with the whole TD song and Who Dey chant!!  And the food was super tasty, too!!  Definitely recommend checking out this gem...especially on a Sunday :)

Props to Chris for decking out in full Bengals gear - husband of the year for sure!! :)

How's your team doing this season?

There is plenty of room on the Bengals Bandwagon if you want to jump ship!!

Andrea :)

The Five Best NFL Stadiums

It's Tuesday Tailgate!! Hooray!!

It is a bucket list dream of mine to attend a home game at every NFL stadium...and I'm real close to completing this goal!!  As you peruse the list below, please keep in mind that I haven't been to any of the west coast stadiums (three in California and one in Seattle) and also have yet to see Kansas City and Denver.  It's possible a couple of these could bump up into the top five, but today I'm sticking with my picks below!

NUMBER FIVE - BUFFALO BILLS

Between the buffalo wings and the awesome tailgating atmosphere, the Ralph Wilson Stadium experience is a keeper!  I was there for a game before the temperature dropped below zero so that also helped.  Being in Buffalo for an early season game is clutch!

NUMBER FOUR - NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Since New Orleans (as a city) ranks in my top three all-time faves, you know the Saints are making this list!  It's hard to beat beignets before a game, right?  Seriously though, the Superdome is rocking!!  The volume level in that stadium is off the charts!  SOOO loud!!  And I loved every minute of it!!

NUMBER THREE - CAROLINA PANTHERS

Bank of America Stadium is located right in the heart of downtown Charlotte making the game day experience lots of fun!  We walked there from our hotel and stopped along the way for $1 hot dogs.  Once inside, the seats gleam that beautiful Panthers teal.  Aesthetically, this place is top of the list.  I really felt like I was a part of the game here.  And you can't beat the price of concessions either!

NUMBER TWO - GREEN BAY PACKERS

Iconic Lambeau Field had to make the list, right?  This place is the absolute epitome of football.  From the lower level bleachers to the tailgaters surrounding the stadium for miles, it is truly a one of a kind football experience.  My first game here was for Monday Night Football in December.  It truly doesn't get any better than that my friends!

NUMBER ONE - CINCINNATI BENGALS

WHO DEY!!  Of course, my Bengals are coming in number one on this list!  In all reality though, Paul Brown Stadium is pretty spectacular!  I love that it sits right on the Ohio river.  I've sat in the endzone with an open view and it really can't be beat!  I've also had my fair share of views in the upper level and enjoyed my experience just as much.  Whether my boys in black and orange are winning or losing, this stadium truly holds its own.

Have you ever been to an NFL game?

Did you have a favorite stadium?

Andrea :)

*If you would like to check out any of my previous stadium reviews, click here.

Toughest Division in NFL

It is hard to believe that it is already time for my favorite season of the year - football season, of course!  If you haven't already entered my Back to Football giveaway, click HERE!!  Now that you are back, I want to introduce you to the toughest division in the NFL...the AFC North!

Click here for my Cleveland Browns stadium review!

The Browns are usually the weak link in the group, but they sure do know how to keep things interesting for everyone!  Especially with their latest addition to the quarterback ranks.  They are the only team in the division that I was able to watch in the pre-season this year due my work schedule.  I was not very impressed. They have a lot of promise, but they are also really hurting at some critical positions.  Looks to be another LONG year for the Brownies!

Click here for my Pittsburgh Steelers stadium review!

The Steelers are tough.  Always.  They have gotten older over the past couple years, but they still manage to keep fighting to the end for those wins.  It is rare that this group is able to collectively keep the Steelers out of the playoffs.  Simply put, this is a tough team with some of THE most loyal fans in the league! 

Click here for my Baltimore Ravens stadium review!

The Ravens are recent Super Bowl champs and prove quite talented and fiesty year after year.  Their defense stays consistent and the offense somehow manages to find their grove at pivital moments throughout the game.  The Ravens are never a team you want to see lined up across the field from you.  They've had their fair share of off-season distractions this year, but I guarantee they'll be in the hunt for a playoff spot regardless!

Click here for my Cincinnati Bengals stadium review!

My professional football career began as an intern with the Bengals and for that reason alone they hold a special place in my heart!  I absolutely love Coach Lewis and even though I don't know the current players personally any longer, I wish them all the best!  I love a good underdog story and the Bengals, regardless of the anticipated strength of their talented roster, always seem to be the underdog.  I'm certain this team will make the playoffs this year, but I am hopeful they will finally come through in the clutch and push toward the ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.  That would be an absolute dream!!

Do you follow the NFL?  Which division do you find to be the toughest?

Andrea :)

Back to Football GIVEAWAY!!

Today is the day that football fans around the world have been waiting for since February!  We kickoff to the 2014 NFL Season tonight out in Seattle! 

 

 

To celebrate the start to the best season of the year, I am hosting a giveaway!  I am putting together some back to football goodies for one of you lucky winners! 

 

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL??

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Andrea :)

Frankfurt, Germany

When I made the trek across the pond to visit my friend in Salzburg, Austria one of the reasons was so that I would have a friend to join me at an NFL Europa game.  I had just completed an internship at NFL Europa training camp in Tampa so heading to see an actual game was quite exciting!

My friend and I made the journey via train.  We stopped off in Munich for a day before we eventually made it to Frankfurt for the weekend.  Frankfurt was surprisingly very modern.

We weren't there long and didn't take in too many sites, but the only non-modern building I did see was an Imperial Cathedral.  The Gothic St. Bartholomew's Cathedral is stunning.  You are able to climb to the top for great views of the city, but we didn't have time for that this trip.

Our main adventure was a Frankfurt Galazy-Amsterdam Admirals game.  My buddy, Michael, played for the Admirals so it was cool to see his team in action though we weren't able to meet up since they were the visiting team.  The game itself was just like any other football game, but the stadium and the crowd were much different!

It was a exciting experience.  The fans were cheering and having a great time!  My friend and I even managed to work our way down to the lower section and make an appearance on the big screen at one point.  It was a lot of fun.  We were even able to celebrate with the Galazy afterward which proved quite interesting.  The experience was most definitely worthwhile, but it was a LONG train ride back to Salzburg the next day.

Andrea :)

Linking up with Bonnie for Travel Tuesdays!

 

Super Bowl XLVIII

Super Bowl was weird this year (which is why you are just now reading about it here...in mid-March).  We were all spread out over various offices throughout New York and New Jersey. I was unfortunate lucky enough to be one of the few stuck over at the Hilton Meadowlands in Jersey.  Stuck was exactly the word.  We worked all day and ventured to one of the wide variety of chain restaurants or Wal-Mart in the evening.  Let's just say it was a step WAY back from New Orleans last year in terms of nightly entertainment and food selection.  I mean, WAY back!

Mom and Dad were on deck for the big game this year, but they didn't arrive until Thursday night.  Chris came out for a fun little date night on Wednesday, but otherwise I spent most of my time recovering from some sort of sickness the winter so gladly bestowed upon me...and counting down the days until it would all be over.

view of Manhattan from the top floor of our hotel

Surprisingly, the work portion of the event wasn't too bad at all this year.  We had a super early morning on Super Bowl Sunday which was a change from previous years, but I did have a chance to have a little fun on Saturday night.  I met Christopher along with Mom and Dad in the sea of people that was formerly known as Times Square in the early evening to get a few photos with the Super Bowl letters on Super Bowl Blvd.  Needless to say, that was a mistake.  By the time I found them, I was just totally over the whole thing.  Picture taking in that mind set is a real thrill...

 

Afterward, Chris and I made a mad dash back to my apartment to change for NFL Honors.  Quite possibly the quickest I have ever gotten ready.  We all headed over to Radio City for lots of laughs and a fair share of tears, too.  Those Man of the Year montages were tough to watch.  Lots of great men doing wonderful things in their communities though!  And if the montage didn't make you tear up, the acceptance speech Charles Tillman gave was sure to get those tear ducts flowing.  What an incredible story!  Of course, one of the highlights of the night for me was as far from NFL based as you get...I was stoked to see JESSE PINKMAN!!  Also known as Aaron Paul...for anyone that somehow missed the amazing Breaking Bad series.  (P.S. - Start watching Season One tonight.  You won't be sorry.)  Anyway, we had a fun night together and topped it off with dinner at one of our favorite Thai restaurants! 

Aaron Paul presenting an NFL Honor Award

Charles Tillman giving an emotional acceptance speech.

I stopped in Baked by Melissa for some Super Bowl treats before we headed back to dreaded Jersey.  We all liked the Denver cupcakes better than the Seattle ones, but both were pretty tasty.

A few hours later (seriously, I was up at 3:30am), Super Bowl Sunday began for me.  This year, the credentialing group had the honor of welcoming all the vendors to the scene to get proper credentials and uniforms for the event.  It was a LONG morning, but we were finally released around 1pm when we all headed back to the hotel for a quick rest before heading back over for the game. 

Fortunately, we didn't have too much of an assignment at the actual game. We stuck around for the first half to make sure we weren't needed in any official capacity before we checked out the halftime show and then disappeared into the crowd. 

I was able to find a seat nearby my parents so for the first time in five years, I was actually able to watch the Super Bowl.  At least the fourth quarter.  Too bad it wasn't a better game because there really wasn't too much to enjoy at that point...but I still finally sat in a seat and watched.  I was quite happy about that fact.

After the game, I drug mom and dad over to the Super Bowl letters for some photo ops.  We were all worn out at this point, but I'm glad we found them there! 

 

The weather waited to turn until the next morning which was nice on Super Bowl Sunday night, but not so great the next day.  We scurried back to midtown Manhattan where we bundled up and hunkered down for the following few days.  As I mentioned at the top, it was a weird Super Bowl, but at least it's in the books now!   

 

Andrea :)