Summer of Music

This morning, Derrick sadly reminded me that this time last year, we were heading down to Gulf Shores, Alabama for the Hangout Music Fest. It was our first long road trip together and I always thought if we could survive 16 hours in a car together, then our marriage could withstand anything. We're solid.

Well, we survived and had a great time. Our condo was just a two-minute walk to the beach. The weather was gorgeous and the company was amazing. Each day we got to see acts like Foo Fighters, Paul Simon, The Black Keys, The Avett Brothers, Cee-Lo Green, My Morning Jacket, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Amos Lee, Trombone Shorty, Michael Franti & Spearhead and many more. It was four days of non-stop music right on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

Last year we had grand plans to make this year’s trip even more awesome. We were going to fly instead of drive, get a beach house, get a bunch of people to tag along and enjoy another great weekend in one of my new favorite vacation spots. Alas, life got in the way. As we get older, it’s tough to realize that we can’t just grab our friends and pick up and go whenever and wherever we want. There are now work and family obligations we have to contend with and, unfortunately, we couldn’t make it happen this year.

However, leave it to Derrick to make the most of the situation, especially when it comes to music. He has devised a way to get his music fix this summer by reinstating the D&A Music Tour. The D&A Music Tour is something Derrick and I started before we got married. We would just go to random concerts and shows around the Kansas City area. They weren't even big acts. If a bar was having live music, we were there. Since we didn't make it to the Hangout this year, Derrick put together a schedule of all the shows we are going to see or want to see this summer. He literally said he wants this summer to be "the Summer of Music."

Well all right! The tour kicks off May 31 with The Devil Makes Three, May 31 at the Crossroads. See below for clips and other tour dates. 

The Devil Makes Three

Patrick Sweany, Czar Bar, June 9


Trampled Under Foot, Frontier Park, June 15


Wolf Creek, The Boobie Trap (Topeka), June 16




Fitz and the Tantrums, Crossroads, July 5


Sam Bush, Frontier Park, July 6


The Avett Brothers, Crossroads, July 26


My Morning Jacket, Starlight Theater, August 6


Buzz Under the Stars, Riverfront Berkley Park, August 8

Bucket List

After watching the Derby and hanging out with friends at the lake Saturday, Derrick and I did the most unusual thing—we sat on our patio with nothing but candles, the super moon, some music and a pad of paper. Derrick got the wonderful idea to start our bucket list. I had a great time just sitting and chatting and dreaming.

There are a lot of things we’ve done and places we’ve been, but not together. So we brainstormed a list of things we thought we could eventual attain at different points in our lives. Below is just a taste of what’s on our growing list (in no particular order).

Two-Man Band – Derrick and I would perform together, he on the drums and me on the mic. This almost became a reality when were in Jamaica for our honeymoon, but someone chickened out. 

Visit All 50 States – We’ve been to a lot of states between the both of us. Not sure when we will ever get up to Vermont or Idaho, but we’ll figure something out.

Napa Valley and French Laundry – Napa Valley is the easy part. Eating at French Laundry will be a bit more of a challenge. Considering reservations can be hard to get and a prix fixe meal currently is $270, we may have to save this one for retirement.

Euro Trip – I’ve been to London and jetted around France, but that was when I was 13. It’s hard to really appreciate Buckingham Palace or the Louvre when you’re a tween. Derrick would like to go to the UK and I’d love to visit Italy and Spain.

Sky Diving – I’ve done this and my dad told me never to do it again (after I landed safely and five years later ON OUR WEDDING VIDEO). We’ll see how this goes.

Move to our Forever Home – We love our house. It’s the first house we bought together and over the past two and a half years, we’ve worked to make it our home. But we never intended for it to be the house we stay at forever and now that we are talking about starting a family, we’re thinking we may need something a tad bit bigger, with some land … and a basement. Leave it to us to buy a house in Kansas a.k.a. Tornado Alley, and not have a basement.

Go to the Top the St. Louis Arch – As many times as I’ve been to St. Louis, I’ve never been in or up the arch. I’m doin’ it next time I'm there.

Train Trip – I’ve only traveled by train once and guess where it was to? St. Louis … where I did not go up the arch. We’re interested in something a little more scenic. 

Shark Dive – Derrick wants to be in a cage and let man-eating sharks swim around him. Not too fond of that idea, but I guess as long as we’re together …

Swim with Dolphins – I think he snuck this one in, but I’m cool with that.

 

Culinary Class – I cook fairly regularly, but I think it would be fun for the two of us to take a cooking class together. It'll be like a culinary adventure.

Bahamas Fishing Trip – Derrick and a few of his friends have done this. However, he wants a couples trip. Can you imagine me in the middle of the ocean trying to gaff a marlin? I can’t. Me in the boat with the girls and a rum punch sounds more like it.

See Pearl Jam – We better get on this one. They're not getting any younger.

What's on your bucket list?

Wine Wendesday

I had the pleasure of enjoying a few sips of vino this afternoon (the perks of working at an ad agency, I guess). This week's theme was boxed wine. Wine connoisseurs, don't fret or wrinkle your nose at the notion of wine in a box. Boxed wine is becoming very popular and it's a very practical and economical way to enjoy one of nature's greatest creations. But not all boxed wine is created equal. Some have undesirable outcomes (one day, I may share the my Franzia wine story with the masses, but I'll keep it to myself for now). But there are some boxed wines that deserve a few more sips, or gulps, however you choose to consume.

Today, I tried Wine Cube from Target. Target calls it "the perfect, low cost answer for everyday wine lovers ..." Believe me, I love wine, and I love it everyday. Pictured below is a Sauvignon Blanc, but I today, tried a Malbec. At first, I wasn't sure I could really get with the taste, but after a few swishes, I was impressed. Target also has Pinot Noir, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Unfortunately, I live in Kansas and Kansas Targets, or Kansas grocery stores for that matter, can not sell wine or liquor. So if I want to try any of these varieties, I will have to venture over to a Target across State Line. But I think it would be perfect for float trips, camping, picnics or just any occasion where a glass bottle just won't do.

Next time you're in the mood for an inexpensive wine, without all the fuss, check out the Wine Cube.

 

Source: Target.com

Two Years and Still Counting

Last year, I said I was going to snap a photo on each anniversary. So far I've stuck to my word. I know, I know, not that hard when you only have two years under your belt. But I'm really going to try and hold up this tradition. Fifty years from now, it'll be fun looking back at these. So here you go.

 Here we are getting ready to celebrate year two!

Year one at Harpo's!

I still love going back and looking at all the pictures people took of the best party we've ever thrown. Here are a few pics of the best day of my life. Many thanks again to Rebecca Peters for capturing our big day!

Year three, here we come!!!

Renewing My Vows (with this blog)

Ok, wow! So it’s been forever. I made it all the way to 2012 and beyond before any new blog posts. I’m ashamed. But I will not look back in regret. I will not dwell on the past. I vow to blog on more than an annual basis. This is my promise to you.

Speaking of vows, while I was browsing my daily gossip sites, I saw headlines about various celebrities and their vow renewals.  I asked myself, what’s the point of renewing wedding vows especially when you've only been married a couple of years? Country singer (can you still call her that?) Leann Rimes and D-list actor Eddie Cibrian reportedly celebrated their one-year anniversary by renewing their vows. In Paris, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon just renewed their vows for a fourth time.

What changes in a year to where you feel you need to repeat pretty much what you said a year ago? Does it make the marriage stronger? Is it setting the tone for the next year of marriage? Maybe, but Seal and Heidi Klum renewed their vows six times, the last one being in May 2011. Look where it got them? 

Question: Do you register for vow renewals? That Gucci china sauce boat was so last year. Time for an upgrade so let’s throw a vow renewal.

Maybe celebrities look at vow renewals as a milestone that their marriage simply outlasted their expectations. I guess in the celebrity world, any marriage that lasts more than 72 days is a good reason to celebrate. I didn’t hear about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (that’s Will and Kate for you commoners) renewing their vows or throwing a royal star-studded bash to celebrate their first anniversary. Instead, it is reported that they went to a wedding and then had a low-key night in their cottage. How quaint.

As I look back at two years of marriage, I think about the vows I said in front of our close friends and family. Derrick and I said we would stick together through sickness and health, prosperity and financial struggles, good times and bad. I will love and be with him until death separates us. All of that still holds true today, tomorrow and forever as far as I’m concerned.

I’m not bashing vowel renewals. Couples, you do what you need to do keep the romance alive and I’m all for celebrating. I just always thought renewal ceremonies were reserved for marriages that have lasted five years or more or if you’re trying to rebuild your relationship by reaffirming your commitment to each other.

Regardless, couples are free to do whatever they want. If they want to renew their vows, more power to them. I just hope each time they do it, it actually means something and two months later we aren’t hearing about their nasty divorce and who will get the Versace china in the settlement.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to celebrating my two-year anniversary in the lowest key we know how: a nice dinner, some good conversation and maybe a little Call of Duty on the Xbox … and I vow to enjoy every minute of it!

What do you think of vow renewals after a couple of years of marriage?

It's Our Anniversary

Cue the music!


Tony! Toni! Tone! is so appropriate for this post. I always like to add a little throw-back jam to spice the blog up a bit.

Derrick and I celebrated our first anniversary on May 1. I couldn't really call it a celebration. My immune system decided to let down its defenses and allow some kind of bacteria or virus to attack. The Saturday before our anniversary, all I did was lay on the couch wrapped in a blanket and watch Swamp People (fascinating show) while Derrick worked on the yard. I managed to muster up enough energy to go to my parents' house that Sunday to get our cake topper so it could thaw after being in the deep freezer for 365 days. To our surprise, it was delicious! My mom did a fabulous job wrapping it up. I didn't remember how big our cake was until we opened the topper. That thing was huge!

Wedding cake.

Our anniversary cake.

After getting the cake from my parents, I had to get my bottom in gear and play kick ball even though I felt terrible. I did make Derrick take a corny First Anniversary picture. I think I'll make it a tradition.

Not one of my cuter moments.

We ended up losing our game, but I was just glad I didn't keel over and die afterwards. I did manage to get hit in the face with a kick ball. Regardless of my ill-timed illness (pun intended), Derrick and I felt very blessed to celebrate a year of wedded bliss and we certainly are looking forward to many more. Yes, life is Lunderful.

I Know, I Know

It's been a while. Spring is has sprung, so it's time to dust off the cobwebs on this 'ole blog and start posting again. What better way to ramp things up again than to talk about my upcoming wedding anniversary. That's right, folks! It has been a year since yours truly tied the knot with her beloved husband. In honor of remembering when I married the love of my life, I plan to catch some of the hoopla that is the wedding of Prince William and the future Princess Kate. All of this fanfare has really gotten me intrigued. What will she wear? What will here hair look like? What does the cake look like? What's on the menu? You know, all the cheesy, boring stuff Derrick's been so glad to be done with over the past year.

Of course, I won't spend the entire weekend with Wills and Kate. Derrick and I will kick off our first anniversary weekend tomorrow night when we head to dinner at the Hereford House. This restaurant has a special place in our hearts because it is where we had our first date. However, the location we are going to isn't the same location we went to three years ago. Some angry person decided to burn and destroy the original location where our love began to blossom. That's okay, angry person. Fortunately for you, there is another location in the 'burbs, but it won't have the same magic as the one downtown. Oh well. The other location will have to do.

Our Saturday likely will be filled with yard work (a must-do activities for couples in the deepest of love--no arguments will come out of this, I'm sure) and on our actual anniversary, we'll be playing kick ball. Yes, Derrick and I have gotten our lazy butts out of the house each Sunday afternoon for a couple of games of kick ball with some good friends. Our team has been doing pretty well and we're hoping to make it to the playoffs.

Sunday night, we'll probably look back on our day while eating a cake that's been in my parents' freezer for the past 365 days. Thank goodness we have the video because it was such a blur. I don't remember much. It's true what they say, the day goes by so fast. The year seems to have gone by even faster.

I'll be sure to dish on what I thought about the Royal Wedding (if you care about my opinion on such matters) as well as update you on the inaugural anniversary weekend. I promise it won't be three months from now before I write again. Stay tuned ... really, I mean it.