Weekend Wrap-Up - Cause I Can't Think of a More Creative Title

It's been a while eh? For some reason I just didn't have the blogging bug last week. It's not like I was super busy or anything like that...I just didn't have anything to write about.

Actually, I take that back - I had a lot to write about, I was just too lazy to actually put pen to paper (er, fingers to keyboard?) and write. But thanks to this lovely Sunday night and this glass (or two-ish) of Gerwurztraminer (it's a real word...and a real wine) I suddenly have things to say.

Things like: what I did this weekend. AND the good news is that my weekend isn't even really over yet. Thank you President's Day! It's holidays like this where I luuuuuurve working for the government.

Last week I was feeling like a terrible dog mom cause the dogs hadn't had anything fun to do, so I suggested we go up north and take the dogs, and walk around and hang out. Cause that's what you do when the weather is perfect and you're a terrible dog mom. It's an interesting combination isn't it?

So we drove a couple hours northward (northbound?) and stopped first at Canyon Creek. 

 As soon as we made it past the two families at the very tip of the creek, the leashes were off and so were the labs!

Maycee was in the zone all day...

My favorite part of wanting to go up north for the day, is that it's kind of like ordering off a menu. I tell my husband, "Nate, I wanna take the dogs up north for the day; do you know where we could go?" And he replies with, "Yeah, it just depends on what roads are open." Once we find out what roads are open, then there's a plethora of options, 

"Well do you want a lake, or a stream? 

A hike or just an easy walk? 

Do you want to see the Fish Hatchery?"

I could show you where the rope swing is, do you want to see the rope swing?"

That Nathan, he's full of options.

After Canyon Creek we cruised on over to the next spot where we ate lunch (i.e. a couple of Lunchables; I don't care how old you are, those things are delicous) and yes, he showed me the rope swing. Also, I picked up this wine on our way out of town...I mean, I couldn't not buy it right?

Lower Canyon Creek was up after lunch, and since there were fisherman around we couldn't let the dogs off the leash...cause we're responsible dog owners like that.

On our way home we (and when I say we, I really mean just Nate) spotted a doe not far from the road...see if you can find her:

That natural camouflage is something else isn't it?? 

Maycee was so freakin' pooped on the way home she didn't even care that Gunther straight up laid right on top of her. She didn't even try to move.

Sunday was nothing worth taking pictures of; no one wants to see pictures of laundry, errands, or me sitting at a computer blogging my little heart out. Although we did try out a new brunch place this morning and I had some delicious eggs benedict. People would definitely want to see pictures of eggs benedict. I don't have any though, so you'll have to go elsewhere for that. I don't mess around when there's a plate of eggs benedict in front of me. 

And on that note, I'm gonna go finish this long weekend with who knows what. Definitely not any more Gerwurztraminer, that stuff is long gone. All the more reason to end this blog post.

Happy Monday, and happy (happy?) President's Day!

Weekend Wrap-up: This is Not a Super Bowl Post

Is it safe to come out? As in, come back out onto social media and the interwebs in general? Cause I was avoiding it for basically all of Sunday cause I just couldn't take all the Super Bowl trash talking in all of my news feeds. Originally I was rooting for Denver because my first impression of Seahawks fans (and Richard Sherman) wasn't a good one, but it turns out Denver fans aren't much better because they're still trying to talk shiz even though they just got whooped. Whooped bad.

But either way I don't really care cause I did some other fun things this weekend.

Things like, my very first blate with Jessa from Life of a Sports Wife, and Leanne from Being Jane!

  Ignore all the red-eye that's in this photo, by the way.

We coordinated a meet-up for this round of Cara Box swaps, which were paired by state and I was so happy to finally meet these ladies in person!

After the meet-up Jessa and her husband actually had tickets to the Suns game they weren't able to use, so she was kind enough to offer them to Nate and I, so off we went to the Suns game!

Thanks Jessa for the awesome tickets!

The Suns are my jam right now and I just can't get enough of them. All of them. I can't even really pick a favorite player. They're the biggest surprise in the NBA this season and fortunately we were able to watch them win their 5th game in a row. It was also fan appreciation night. I felt pretty appreciated, for the record. They were doing some cool promotions and give-aways for the occasion, including the lady sitting in the row directly in front of us who randomly was handed a back pack full of Suns goodies including a Jeff Hornaceck (Suns Head Coach) bobble-head. 

I didn't feel so appreciated then.

Where's my bobble-head?? I want a back pack full of Suns SWAG - which, for all you Office fans out there, is Stuff We All Get. But alas, I didn't. Maybe it should be called SOSOUG instead - Stuff Only Some Of Us Get, cause I'm pretty sure I walked away from the game sans bobble-head.

But as a consolation prize I did get this grainy, blurry, iPhone pic:

It's OK though because I love how orange my shirt is.

Go Suns!!

So, who's ready for Monday?! ...Normally I would answer, "not me," to this question, but since Monday means it's just another day closer to me being in Vegas next weekend, watching Shania Twain live in concert, I think I'm OK with this Monday rolling around.

T-6 days!

Facts: All Sorts of Updated Goodness

Fact: today was National Hug Day, or something like that.

Fact: that has nothing to do with what I'm going to blog about.

Fact: I'm about to give you all kinds of updates on le blog.

I have both good news and bad news to catch you all up on. Let's start with the good news, because if we were going alphabetically we should start with bad news since B comes before G, but I'm feeling rebellious right now and I feel like starting off in the middle of the alphabet with G, the good news.

Good news:

I put my Valentine's Day decorations up:

In case anyone's keeping track, it's not yet February, which means I'm ahead of schedule, which also means pigs must be flying somewhere.

-I finally met...er virtually, that is, my blog bff Mosby from Simplicity is Key!

It was the first time I've video chatted with anyone from blogland. 

It's true, Mosby stole my blog-friend-turned-video-chatting-friend V Card. 

She's a frisky lady, what can I say? ;)

I can also now confidently say that I'm not being catfished, and Mosby's not a creepy, wrinkled old man whose real name is Arthur and has a pet ferret. 

So that was good news.

I hate talking on the phone because I'm always terrified of awkward silences, so the idea of video chatting had me a little nervous, I can't lie. Cause if you run into an awkward silence while you're video chatting, you're just sitting there looking at each other which just makes for even more awkwardness, and ain't nobody got time for that. Fortunately we didn't have such an encounter and she is just as fabulous via talking to each other as she is texting each other! I got to meet her little kitty Brutus and she got to meet Maycee and Gunther and the whole thing just went smashingly! 

Can't wait to do it again! 

-I got my learn on last weekend, and was able to tour the new Mormon Temple being built here in AZ with a couple of our best friends

I don't know much about Temple building in the LDS faith so it was a really neat learning experience, and the inside of it is was so grand, and elaborate. It was pretty cool. 

-Nate and I went bird hunting, and while we didn't kill any quail, I did think of this awesome hashtag: #allfailnoquail. Cause nobody killed any quails, so everyone failed, no quail...it's probably not a good sign if you have to explain your hashtags right??

Also, if you're on the east coast right now, buried under two feet of snow, you can't be mad at me for what you're about to see ok?

And don't worry, you can rub it in my face this summer when you're outdoors gallivanting around enjoying yourself and I'm laying inside on my tile floor with no clothes on trying to cool down from the 120 heat. So it's fair. 

And now for the Bad news:

This happened:

You guessed it, another car accident. For those of you keeping track, that's two car accidents in four months, and I've only had my car back since October, the last time it was repaired from my accident. Nate and I were driving home from work and the guy behind us wasn't paying attention when traffic slowed down, and plowed into us at 50-60mph. 

Remember when I told you about the last accident I was in, and how it wasn't my fault, but rather my alter ego?? I've changed my mind. It's this car.

It's bad ju ju.

I go my whole life, 26 years with no accidents, no tickets, nothing, then all of a sudden I buy this car and bam - two accidents in four months. I'm not happy.

But I am happy about the fact that both you, the reader, and this blog are now up to date. It's like that feeling you get when you clear all your notifications off your phone, and get rid of all those red bubbles that drive you crazy telling you how many emails you have to read...just me??

And on that note, I will bid you all adieu....

Fan Friday: 2013 AZ Sports in Review

With all these 'Year in Review' posts, and talk of resolutions for 2014, and reflections of 2013, I figured the sports world shouldn't be exempt. And I also figured, what better time to link up with Sarah and her  Fan Friday to do so?

Here's the thing, I reallllllly reallllly like sports.

Arizona sports, to be exact.

I'm a hometown kinda girl.

I don't blog about it often because I just figure I might lose most of your guys' interest...which this post will probably do. So I won't be mad if you quit reading right now.

Anywho, last year I wrote this post about how much it was sucking to be an Arizona sports fan at the time.

The Cardinals (NFL) went 5-11 and fired their head coach.

The Suns (NBA) finished with the second worst record in franchise history, and didn't even wait until the end of the season to fire their head coach. And then they hired some schmuck as interim head coach and fired him at the end of the season too. 

The Diamondbacks (MLB) failed to meet expectations yet again and finished the season with a .500 record. So basically, they did nothing. They lost as many as they won. 

Arizona State University Football, while finishing 2012 with a decent 8-5 record in coach Todd Graham's first year, had just come off a 2011 season finishing 6-7.  

The Coyotes (NHL) were without an owner for the 4th year straight after multiple ownership deals fell through.

So basically, there was a lot of losing going on.

And it was miserable.

But, if there's one thing I can't stand, it's fair-weather fans, and I just refuse to be one.

...And sometimes that pays off, because what a difference a year makes.

This was the cover of the sports section in the Sunday paper last week:

(Read full article here)

In 2013 the Cardinals finished 10-6, including a win in Seattle against the Seahawks, under a new head coach.

The Suns, who are supposed to be in full rebuilding mode and were projected to win no more than 10 games all season are sitting at a 19-12 record under a new head coach, (who just won Western Conference Coach of the month for December), a new GM, and a roster full of "no names."

ASU Football finished the season 10-4, won the PAC-12 South title, beat rival UofA for the 2nd year in a row, and hosted the PAC-12 Championship game.

The Diamondbacks, while finishing with a mediocre season, still had an MVP candidacy in Paul Goldschmidt (who's also suuuper hot by the way. Google him, you won't be sorry). 

The Coyotes finally have an ownership group in place.

All that to say, let's look back at the 10 Commandments of Arizona Sports and see how we've done:

1.) Thou shalt not be a fair-weather fan.

Done, and done. Always.

2.) Thou shalt not take Steve Nash's name in vain

...even if he does betray you and go play for the Lakers. 

I'm over it. He has a ridiculous Hollywood haircut, and we have Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe now.
It was fun while it lasted, Steve. I won't forget you.

3.) Thou shalt not covet other professional sports teams' players, management, winning records, or championship rings. ...none of which, are in your near future.
The future is looking brighter, Arizona!!

4.) Honor thy teams that have won in the past, for it may be a while before it happens again.

2001 Arizona Diamondbacks

Still true. But the definition of "a while" is shortening.

5.) Thou shalt not question bad trades, bad hirings or firings, or any other questionable decisions from the front office...cause the more you think about it, the more mad you'll get.
Lots of good moves last year in the front offices. Ryan McDonough, the new Suns GM has acquired the nickname 'Ryan Mc-do-work.'

6.) Thou shalt always remember the pool. 

Cause hey, if the team's losing, at least you still have a cool pool in your baseball stadium.

And air conditioning.

We have air conditioning too.

We'll always have the pool, even though it was soiled by the Dodgers last season. 
If I thought I hated the Dodgers before, I reallllly hate them now.

7.) Thou shalt obey thy Baxter, Gorilla, and Big Red

Yuuuup.

8.) Thou shalt fork 'em

#forksup

9.) Thou shalt understand: there's nowhere to go but up...when you're last

Literally.

10.) Thou shalt always remember: you're not a real fan, unless you're still a fan when they're losing.

...thanks for that nugget of wisdom, dad.

And there you have it. An entire post about stuff you all probably don't care about. But since I care about it, and since Sarah cares about it enough to host a link-up, dang it, I wrote about it.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what's in store for Arizona sports in 2014!