Movie Review: Love and Other Drugs

Going to the movies seems to be the "thing-to-do" on Thanksgiving weekend. Something about stuffing your face, being lazy and going to a movie sounds so appealing. Don't you agree?

This Years Pick: Love & Other Drugs.

(Don't worry, I won't ruin the movie!)



That's right, I drug CV to a chick flick last weekend! But in my defense it wasn't much of a "chick flick". I mean, I saw Anne Hathaway topless atleast five times (and saw a good portion of Jake G. in the buff too!).

Last time I checked, naked people were NOT in chick flicks. Ha. But anyways, I liked the movie, it was funny/sweet/sad/realistic. And props to me for not crying!! (Seeeee, if it were a chick flick, I totally would have cried!)

Did anyone else see a movie this weekend? Any must-sees???

Thanksgiving Eve

It's Thanksgiving Eve, turkeys!! Usually, I'm one of the crazy drivers on the road on Thanksgiving Eve (a.k.a. the busiest travel day of the year) but I decided to only go home for Christmas this year.

It was a pretty wise decision because:

One. I am feeling sick. Two. The weather is going to be rainy all day today and tomorrow so a 7 hour drive home wouldn't be very safe or fun. Three. It will save some money. Four. I can spend the holiday with CV. (and Paisley, ofcourse). Five. Last year it took me NINE hours to get home and TEN hours to get back to Cincinnati due to bumper-to-bumper traffic.

No. Thank.You.

So, tomorrow I will be spending Thanksgiving with CV and his extended family here in Cincinnati. (Which means tonight I will be baking pies so I have something delicious to bring to the table!) Mmmmm, I can't wait to feast on a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Bring on the turkey!! (uhm, sorry turkeys)

Haha. Sorry to my vegan friend, Bethany, who will probably not think this clipping is funny. But anyways....white meat for me please!! :)

Un-Prompt Recap

So much for a prompt recap of my weekend...but better late than never, right?

Friday, I headed to Ruthai's Thai restaurant in Mt. Lookout to join five special people for a wine-filled dinner. The place is BYOB and has NO corking fee, which makes for a pretty good deal! However, the tables are veryveryvery close together so be careful because you might be inches away from someone you don't want to be sitting next to. It happens. It's awkward. Just sayin.

Saturday Night, I treated CV to a lets-do-whatever-you-want-night. So, we got dressed up and headed to Embers for a tasty appetizer and glasses of wine. Then, we headed to Montgomery Inn and had ribs/bbq and more wine! (BTW: Memphis BBQ is much much better!)



We ended the night with a trip to the local coffee shop for some peppermint latte and then came home and watched movies! Pretty fun date night!

 Cincinnati Readers: What is your favorite place for dinner in Cincinnati? I need to add more variety in my night time meals!

Top 2 Tuesday: Christmas List

Top 2 Items on my Christmas List

Well, these aren't exactly my TOP two items, but they are the only two I can think of...

1. TV - Yeah, I'm the girl who still owns a big bulky box television. But not for long!! I plan on buying myself a new flat screen TV for Christmas. Looking for something 42" or bigger....and something at a helluva price! :) (I'm thinking Black Friday Discount is the way to go!) Wish me luck!

2. Work Out Clothes - Pants, shorts, jackets, shirts, shoes. I want it all. (But cute stuff, that matches!) I really want some new running shoes that are pink, but I can't seem to find the perfect pair yet. Hmmm...maybe Santa can find ones that I like.

What do you want for Christmas? Visit The Undomestic Momma to play along.

Pumpkin Pie

It's about that time to whip up a homemade pumpkin pie! Trust me, nobody is going to be impressed at Thanksgiving when you show up with a purchased pumpkin pie from the store. So, get off the couch and bake one yourself! (Don't worry, you can lounge on the couch when you are done!)

Ingredients for crust:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

1 stick butter

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Directions for crust: In a small saucepan or the microwave, melt butter. Measure 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs into a medium bowl. Add 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon (optional) to the graham crackers. Stir in the melted butter until well blended. Press into the pie pan. Refrigerate.

Ingredients for pie filing:

1 can (15 oz.) 100% Pure Pumpkin

1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 large eggs

Whipped cream (optional)

Directions for pie filing: Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.Pour into pie shell. Bake in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

Grab a fork and enjoy!

Wine Me!

CV and I spent our Saturday night sipping on vino at Jungle Jim's International Wine Festival. A whole night dedicated to drinking wine and eating cheese cubes? Uhm, sign me up!

I've been wanting to attend a wine tasting for a long time. Actually, number 31 and 32 on my 101 List is "attend a wine tasting" and "find a red wine that I love". But, here's the thing: I am a WHITE wine drinker. I like cold wines and I like sweet wines. (Which is why Moscato D'asti is my favorite wine ever!) Therefore, finding a red wine I enjoy is close to impossible. My tastebuds are just not built for warm, dry, smokey wine. Ew. They had over 400 wines there and it was still hard to find a red wine I enjoyed.

Luckily, little did I know, they make cold sparkly sweet red wines! Yessss! Okay, so it's not your traditional red wine but hey...it's red and I like it! Mission Accomplished! (Oh hello, Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Mosco! We will soon meet again!)


Here is the ONE picture we took from the event. We parked far away and took the monorail over the the event center....so here is a pic from our monorail ride.

And ofcourse I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get our picture on a wine bottle.
Cutest bunch, eh? :)

Does anyone have a very light red wine you think I would like? I'd love suggestions!

Top 2 Tuesday: Jobs

Top 2 Favorite Jobs:

1. Zales Jewelers - I worked at Zales for a little over two years when I was in college. It started off as a part time "holiday help" job, but due to my charming personality (ha), they ended up adding me on as a permanent employee.

It was definitely a fun job. I got to try on diamond rings all day and I got an amazing discount (which is why I have a lot of sparkly things in my jewelry box at home). AND the best part was that a few of my friends worked there too: Kelley, Natalie, Joanna! It was definitely the "place to work" in our group of friends!

(Inside joke to Nat: Do you remember when I picked up that really really heavy box? Haha!)

And it was definitely an added bonus that random customers felt the need to buy me things: a ruby ring, gold loop earrings, and a dimond ring! (Uhm, thank you complete strangers!) Usually we wouldn't be able to accept gifts but my boss always said "if they want to spend their money on you, let them!" Ha.

2. S N I - Yup, the job I'm in now. Sure I sit at a computer all day and crunch numbers, (but hey crunching numbers is what I'm good at!) I work in a very fun office and have amazing bosses. I only work 37.5 hours a week and I get 20+ vacation days a year (not including the 9 paid holidays a year)! I get alot of perks from Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, etc. So, I really have very little to complain about at my job (other than the fact it's in Cincinnati)
Now, if only I could convince them to let me work remotely from a beach somewhere. :)

Visit The Undomestic Momma to play along!

Dawg Blawg

Okay, raise your hand if your pet has his/her own personal blog. Anyone? Anyone? Well, I as much as I heart my little Paisley Grace, I am definitely not guity of making her own blog.
I am, however, very entertained by this dog blog (dawg blawg, if you will) that I found. It's updated weekly with a picture and a funny little caption, written in the dog's perspective, ofcourse.

It's Hamburger!



Hamburger is by far the most photogenic dog I've ever seen. Oh, how I wish he could come over and play with Paisley (and play dress-up together.)

Sooooo, on a scale of 1-10, how nerdy am I for stopping by Hamburger's House weekly to see his newest blog and photo?

Spending my free time reading dog blogs...looks like I need a new hobby. :)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 28 - 30

Day 28: Something That Stresses Me Out

My treasury certification exam (CTP) that I am studying for. Ugggghhh. The fail rate is really high and the study materials are oh-so-confusing. And I'm not exactly thrilled to spend the next two months being nose deep in a book. (On a less-stressful side, maybe I'll get a big raise when I pass?!?)

Day 29: Three Wishes

ONE:  I wish I had a money tree in my backyard.
TWO:  I wish I was an amazing cook. (Ya know, like the kind that doesn't have to follow a recipe step by step!)
THREE:  Peace on Earth, ofcourse. Make love not war, people! :) 

Day 30: A Picture

Any picture, you say??? Well, in that case:

Haha...well, I'm done with the 30 Day Blog Challenge! Shew! Thanks to all my readers who kept up with my posts & left all the sweet comments! And for all my fellow Cincinnati bloggers, a "bloggers meet and greet" is in the works. Let me know if you'd like to join!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 27

You are probably wondering where Day 25 and 26 are. Well, ponder no more because I skipped them. That's right, skipped. I have already failed at this little blogger challenge. Not only have I been dragging along and posting blogs days after they were due, but I also am skipping two of them that just seem "boring" to me. (No offense to the list maker!)
But let's be serious, does anyone really care what top 10 songs show up on my ipod when I hit shuffle? No. So, I'm fast fowarding to Day 27:  a post ALL ABOUT PAISLEY GRACE! (This is what people really want to read about, right?!?)

Day 27: Pets

Ahhh, the light of my life. Her little face and sweet innocent personality is just too perfect for words. She has a big heart and always wants to please everyone. Her biggest downfall is her cute little face, as it makes her get away with EVERYTHING!!

Park time with Paisley this summer.

I was just browsing on Petfinder in August of 2008 and after I saw her picture (below) I immediately wanted her! I contacted the rescue center where she was staying and then the process began: A personality test, phone interview, three reference checks, in-person interview and an inspection of my home!!! (Meanwhile, I was thinking: "Are you kidding me??? GIVE ME MY FREAKING DOG!" )  Finally six weeks later, I got to pick up my sweet doggie, who I renamed Paisley Grace.

This is the picture that was on her Petfinder profile.

Paisley is eight years old and turns nine in Febuary! (Can you believe it?!) She lived in an abusive home for six years (until I rescued her). She was fragile and very skiddish due to the abuse, but shes definitely a different dog than when I got her. She's also missing 4 front teeth due to a stage-4 gum disease she got since her previous owners fed her table food and never took her to the vet to get shots or checkup. (Grrrr....makes me so angry!)  I brush her teeth frequently, so minus the 4 missing teeth, her overall health is great!

Me & My Baby

Paisley is such a happy dog, even though this latest picture doesn't exhibit that.
Sooooooo...she didn't exactly like her spider halloween costume this year. I thought it was cute. Ha.

I love you Paisley Grace! Xoxoxoxoxox!!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 24

Day 24: Something I've Learned

I thought I'd share some quotes from Maya Angelou for today's topic.
I personally agree with  every. single. one.

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."
"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."
"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."
"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."
"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."
"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."
"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Isn't she amazing?!?

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 23

Day 22: Favorite Vacation

I must say I travel for pleasure more than most people do. Let's face it: I'm not married and I don't have children, so why not travel as much as I can (and do whatever I want)! In the past few years, I've taken trips to The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Puerto Vallarta, Chicago, Charleston, Louisville, Tampa, New Orleans (Mardi Gras...woohoo), Raleigh, Gatlinburg, Austin, St. Louis, Vegas, Columbus, Sea Island GA, Maryland, La Cruces NM, Lexington, VA...the list goes on and on.

But my favorite trip of them all was probably this year when I went to Los Angeles, Hollywood and San Diego, CA with my friends Erin, Stephanie and Heather. It started off with a taping of the Chelsea Lately Show...then a taping of the Ellen Degeneres Show...the Hollywood walk of Fame...then ended with a three day trip to San Diego where we enjoyed the California weather and met a lot of new friends! And ofcourse I was with a few of my closest friends, so ofcourse it was a great time!

About to head to the Ellen Show!

Walk of Fame Characters

San Diego beaches

Here are my posts from my trip, Californication. Post 1, Post 2, Post 3.
What was your favorite vacation? Visit Katie's 30 Day Blog Challenge to read or play along!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 20 - 22

I am sooooooo far behind on my 30 day Blog Challenge. I definitely think I am failing this challenge. Oops!

Day 20: Nicknames

I have tons of nicknames but the main ones are:  Jax, Jaxie, Jackstar, Jacko, Apple Jacks, and Smedium!

Day 21: A Picture of Myself

Here is the main picture for my blogger profile. It was taken at the LMFAO concert that I went to with my friends, Erin and Jessica back in March of this year. I feel like this picture needs a "thought bubble". Haha!

Day 22: Favorite City

I guess my favorite city is Vegas! It's the city that never sleeps! I've only been there one time but it's a destination that would never get old, as there is sooooo much to do. I would definitely go every year if I could afford it.

Stephanie and I before heading to dinner.

Helicopter Tour of the Grand Canyon and Vegas!

 What's your favorite city??? I need to know so I can plan my trip! :)

A Snapshot of November

November? Really?!? I am definitely NOT looking forward to the cold temperatures that start this month. It was already in the low 30's this morning and there are possibilities of snow showers this Friday. Burrrr!! This weather definitely reminds me that I am in the WRONG city!

On a happier note, its a new month with new adventures! Some things I'm looking forward to this month: Day Light Savings Time....we get an extra hour to sleep and/or party! AND there are more daylight hours which is definitely needed since it's been getting dark at 8pm lately! Jungle Jim's Wine Festival...I'm pretty excited about tasting some new wines and finding a red wine that I enjoy.  And Thanksgiving Weekend...I'm actually staying in Cincinnati this year for Thanksgiving. I'm not 100% sure on my plan yet but I'm sure it will involve some sort of turkey dinner, even if I have to make it myself!! Bring on the turkey (and naps!!)

This picture is for my friend Caroline! For some reason, I remembered your love for cranberry sauce! Haha! Happy November to all! :)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 17, 18 & 19

Day 17: Something I'm Looking Forward To

The Holidays, ofcourse! I'm looking forward to decorating, getting a christmas tree, putting up pretty lights, eating good meals, going home to Memphis for a few days, having a few days off work and then getting ready for the new year!! And ofcourse I'm looking forward to all the traveling I hope to do in 2011! (P.S. I am NOT looking forward to SNOW!) I am also looking forward to the fall wardrobe. Oh how I love wearing tall boots, ruffly cardigans, and pretty scarves!!

Day 18: Something I regret

Although a lot of things in my life didn't go as I had planned, I absolutely do not regret them. The only thing I can think of is taking college too seriously. While everyone was out partying every night of the week, I spent my nights at work (I worked full time the last 2 years of college and all through grad school). I was so busy all the time with school work and going to work to pay for school that I only had time to enjoy college life once or twice a week. In the long run, it's obviously a good thing I was on track and making money early and finished my MBA when I was 24 years old. But I definitely don't have as many fun college memories as most people do....maybe I should have just opted for street smarts instead of book smarts. :)

Day 19: Something I Miss

My energy! Not only was I always able to stay up until 4am every Friday and Saturday night and still function the next day but for two straight years I also used to wake up every morning before work at 5:30am to attend a spin class! How did I have energy to do that?? Right now the thought of waking up before 7am makes me soooo sleepy. I need sleep, people! When did I become so old and tired? I definitely miss my youth, my energy, and not ever needing a nap. Grrrrr....maybe I should take up coffee like the rest of the world.