What I've been up to while I was away....

Celebrating my Grandma's birthday in Florida:




Loving on a few of my favorite people....



Eating at the Big Ice Cream Cone....



Hanging with the extended family....



Visiting my sister-in-law in New York City:

Blasting out my eardrums at the Eminem/Jay Z Home and Home concert...



Enjoying every single second with my sister-in-law.....



Singing all the words in every Jay Z song, even the bad ones (sorry, Mom!)....



Trying not to geek out when I saw Brad Goreski from The Rachel Zoe Project at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week....



Meeting celebrity dogs.....


Tasting every single Baked by Melissa flavor and not feeling a single bit guilty about it....



Taking a weekend road trip to Knoxville to cheer on the Vols:

Inviting my sister on a last minute road trip....


Making flip cup a family affair.....


Eating gator stew for dessert....


To see the rest of our month-of-vacations pictures, check out my Flickr.

Countdown

Because I really, really need something to look forward to right now....

14 days until my Premier Designs jewelry party

22 days until I see (most) of my family!

23 days until COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON

30 days until NYC and Fashion Week, baby!

32 days until Jay Z and Eminem

49 days until a cabin in the woods with our best friends

80 days until we debut the world's most awesome Halloween costumes

94 days until the Colts open a can of whoop-ass on the Bengals

105 days until Black Friday

Crack is whack

I am being held hostage by the World Cup.

Okay, well maybe not me, but at the very least, our TV is on constant black-and-white ball surveillance duty. All day Saturday, all day Sunday, and for at least two hours every evening, for the last two weeks - with weeks more to go.

So of course it's on in the background the other night as I'm getting dinner ready. The vuvuzelas are out in full force. Like a swarm of annoying flies. That never, ever stops. For ninety minutes. Seriously, I am all for rooting on your team. I'll scream my lungs out at a Vol football game. You know, at the exciting parts - a first down, a touchdown, a really spectacular stop. But not for an entire game without ever stopping. These South Africans must have a ridiculous lung capacity.

But then again, if they waited around to only blow when something interesting happened in a game of soccer, I guess they'd be a sad, sorry, quiet bunch....HA!

So I'm doing my best to make dinner while resisting the urge to swat at imaginary gnats that seem to be swarming literally in my ears, when:

Nate: You know you can buy vuvuzelas on the internet.

Sara: And your point would be?

Nate: You should get me one.

Sara: I'm thinking, no.

Nate: Why not?

Sara: Are you smoking crack? Have you met yourself? You're like a 12-year-old trapped in a 29-year-old body. If you had one of those things, you'd never stop blowing it, probably right in my face.

Nate: I know. Wouldn't that be awesome?

Sara: Yeah. Awesome. That's exactly the word that comes to mind.

May the smartest man win

Well there is certainly no doubt about what a big day it is in this town. The entire city, myself included, is painted a lovely shade of COLT BLUE. Horseshoe flags abound, crowds are nothing but a sea of blue and white, and business marquee's all trumpet luck to the Boys in Blue.

Now normally, I couldn't give two figs about the Super Bowl game itself. This girl is all about the commercials. In fact, a few years ago, I actually brought some required course reading to a Super Bowl party so I could read during the unimportant parts....you know, those pesky football parts between the commercial breaks?

Being older and wiser, I'm actually more than a little bit into football parts now. Put my man Peyton on the field and I'm glued to the screen. But the marketing major in me still can't wait to see what commercial silliness will ensue between those all-important football parts.

I was less than impressed with the offerings last year. In fact, Super Bowl commercials as a whole have gone completely downhill in the last five years. What happened to the days of old, when beer commercials rained supreme? Budweiser frogs? I Love You, Man?

As disappointing as the last few commercial years have been, there are a few shining rays of creative commercialism that make every Super Bowl viewing worth it. Thus I give you, my favorite Super Bowl ad of all time, Budweiser 2007.



Will you be watching the Colts whoop up on those Saints tonight? Do you actually watch the game or are you a commercial crasher, too? What's your favorite Super Bowl commercial?

What I wouldn't give to be that mouth guard

One good thing about living in Indianapolis? Plenty of commercials from good old #18. I love me some Peyton Manning.

Does anyone else laugh hysterically when this commercial comes on?

Just me? Oh, well. More Manning for me then, I guess.

IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!...too bad I'm in Indiana

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Ah! Do you hear it? Taste it? Smell it? Feel it? It's football time, baby!!

I am proudly sporting my orange and wishing the Tennessee game was on TV. I can't wait to see what this season holds with new head coach, Lane Kiffin.

In honor of the official kick-off of college football season, here's a little football funny:

Football FINALLY makes sense.......... A guy took his blonde girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team's bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience.

"Oh, I really liked it," she replied, "especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents."

Dumbfounded, her date asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: 'Get the quarter back! Get the quarter back!' I'm like...Helloooooo? It's only 25 cents!!!!"

O-range P-olish I-ndeed!

I have gotten an unprecedented number of pedicures already this summer. The next door neighbor wants an impromptu pedi? Sure, I'll join you! Friend from church wants a girls afternoon pedi? I'm in! Bonding time pedi with my baby sis on her visit? Nothing better!

I always choose an OPI polish and I manage to get weeks out of my pedicures. Each week I paint a single clear topcoat on my toes and keeps my posies perfectly polished for days on end!

So when I saw that ULTA had OPI polish 'Buy 2, Get 1 Free', I took full advantage! The middle one is 'I'm Not Really a Waitress' red. It's what I have gotten the last two pedicures and I absolutely love it. The pink one is 'Party in my Cabana'. Now I have never in my life used such a bright pink polish - I'm more of a dark red berry kind of girl - but one of my girlfriends always has bubblegum pink polish on her toes and I admire it every time. And who can resist a name like 'Party in my Cabana'?

And finally, the piece de resistance.....'Clubbing til Sunrise' orange. For someone who rarely ventures outside of 'I'm Not Really a Waitress' territory, this one is quite a leap. But I am already counting down the days until Volunteer football and this polish fits right in with my extensive orange wardrobe. I can hardly wait until September to wear it!


What brand of nail polish do you swear by? Are you a one-color-wonder or do you like to wear the rainbow?

Confessions of a Blog-aholic

Leah over at Thinking Out Loud tagged me with this meme awhile ago but with all the work insanity lately I haven't had a chance to do it. Since today is all about doing anything to avoid housework taking it easy, I am catching up on fun internet stuff and watching all the trash TV I've Tivo'd in the last two weeks.

Step 1: Respond and Rework.
Answer the questions on your own blog. Replace one question that you don't like with a question of your own invention. Then add one more question of your own invention.

Step 2: Tag six other un-tagged people!

1. Make a list of things you can see without getting up.
Two desks, two computers, my camera, receipts to be put in the check register, and a venti caramel machiatto from Starbucks.

2. Favorite Football Team.
University of Tennessee Vols and Indianapolis Colts




3. What are you wearing now?
My work ‘uniform’ – purple track pants, a striped tank top and a purple track jacket (I am a little obsessed with purple this season!)

4. What's the last thing you read/are currently reading?
I just finished Nicholas Sparks’ latest book, The Lucky One. I liked it well enough but not as much as some others, like Dear John and The Notebook. Next up is James Patterson's Cross Country.



5. Who was the last person you hugged?
Nate, earlier today when he came home from work. Yes, he was at work on a Saturday. Boo. We like to hug longer than necessary because it drives the furbabies bonkers for us to hug each other!

6. What's your current obsession/addiction?
Job hunting. I have also developed an unhealthy addiction to gummy worms lately. The red and white ones are my favorite.



7. What was the last thing you said aloud?
Oliver, you’re so silly – to Oliver, the dog. Yes, I talk to my dogs as if they are (very small and furry) humans.



8. What was the last thing you bought?
Technically it would be Starbucks and groceries, but that's a pretty boring answer. The last non-essential stuff I bought was a lightweight gray sweater and a bright pink scarf, both from The Limited.

9. What are you listening to right now?
The sound of my heater warming my feet and Lola snoring.



10. What is your favorite weather and why?
Sunny Autumn days, when the leaves are just turning and there’s a little crispness to the air. I have no idea why I love it, I just do. I missed the beautiful Tennessee colors this year. Indy doesn’t even come close!

11. What is your most challenging goal right now?
Waiting patiently to become a mother.

12. Say something to the person who tagged you.
Leah, I miss you making it fabulous every day! Bring back the clothes! We want to see how you dress your cute little bump as it gets bigger.

13. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Charleston, SC – It’s close to home and I have always loved the city. There is a mile long list of places I’d like to visit all over the world, but very few that I’d want to settle down in.

14. Favorite vacation spot?
A tropical island with all expenses paid. We’ve done it twice and it’s the best type of vacation. Not a care in the world and all the mimosas your little heart desires.



15. Favorite children's book ?
Anything by Robert Munsch

16. Name one thing you just can't resist no matter how bad it is for you.
Just one? Who made up that rule? I would say Starbucks, but since that’s the only way I ever drink milk, I can make a valid argument that Starbucks is actually good for me. So I guess I will go with cupcakes. Show me a fluffy vanilla cupcake with a mountain of icing and I lose all semblance of self-control.



17. What would you do if you won the Lottery?
The Dance of Joy, of course! Then I would tithe 10%, buy Nate an Aston Martin, and then invest the rest and live off the interest.

18. What was the first tape or CD that you bought for yourself?
I don't have the slightest idea what the answer to this question is, so I will replace it with this one:

18. Do you sleep with the covers on or off?
I always sleep with the covers pulled up to my chin. When I was a kid, I used to think that if every single part of my body wasn’t covered by the sheet, someone would chop off the protruding parts while I slept. Yes, I was a strange little kid. It must be a subconscious thing now because I am never comfortable without a sheet or blanket pulled over me.

19. Describe your perfect day.
A spa day with my mom and sisters, a little shopping in the afternoon with my Daddy-o and dinner at the Melting Pot with Nate.

20. What is your favorite accessory and why?
I have to agree with Leah on this one, I am currently rocking the scarf on an almost daily basis. It adds a little pop to any outfit and keeps me toasty warm too.

21. What is the accomplishment you are most proud of and why?
I am probably most proud of my career accomplishments. I went from being a lowly fleet coordinator to managing $40 million dollars in under four years. I am still trying to figure out how to convey the magnitude of this in a resume format. ‘Hire me, I kick ass’ just doesn’t seem like it will work.

And my added question:
22. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I tag these eight people:
Joy in the Journey
The Bleeding Heart
Honesty is the Best Policy
Count to 10
Consider the Lilies
Pink Polka-Dotted Dreams

I (heart) Peyton Manning

....oh, and the rest of the Colts football team, of course!

So Sunday I got to go to my first NFL football game. We did the tour of the new Lucas Oil Stadium a few months ago and Nate got to go to a preseason game, but this was my first live Colts game. We had nosebleed seats and could barely see the ball moving around the field, but it was fun and exciting nonetheless.

Pre-game warm ups.


That tiny person on the 30 yard line in the middle of the picture is Peyton Manning!


This is the face Nate usually makes when I ask him to take a picture with me.


And to be fair, here is a bad one of me, too.


Eight pictures later, one we can both live with.


Here we go! Get excited!!


This as close as we got to the action.


I have to start plotting now to get to more games next season and hopefully, maybe better seats. But I can't complain, I got to go and I had a fantastic time (and cotton candy, which makes anything more fun!).

End of an Era

Sad day. Coach Fulmer just coached his last UT football game after 17 years as head coach. I don't care what anyone else says, I liked him and am sad to see him go.

Countdown

4 days until I get to see my family in Florida!!

6 days until we watch the Red Sox spank the Devil Rays.

21 days until we are officially home owners.

55 days until the election! (Don't forget to Rock the Vote)

76 days until Kerry and Cheryl come to visit.

78 days until the most fabulous shopping day of the year.

95 days until my first live COLTS game at The Luke.

106 days until Christmas.

...just in case you wanted to know.

Odds and Ends

How bout them Vols? So the game on Monday night was more than a little disappointing. UT lost on a missed field goal in overtime - to an unranked team. It was supposed to be an easy game against a third string quarterback! Needless to say, it was a tense four hours in our living room!

Oliver was oblivious to the Vol's poor performance and wore his orange jersey proudly. Isn't he the cutest?


In other weekend tidbits, we had our third celebrity sighting in Indy. On Friday night we were enjoying a nice dinner at this prime rib and sushi buffet called The Journey. When I got back from a trip to the buffet, Nate tells me he saw Rupert from Survivor.


I knew that Rupert was from Indy and people talk about seeing him around lots of places, but Nathan LOVES to make up stupid stories like this and trick me into believing him. He makes things up at the drop of a hat, tells it to me with a completely straight face and usually convinces me he's telling the truth. Ask him about the graduation streaking incident and his Mandi-on-TV sighting and he'll be happy to tell you how gullible I am. So of course, I am immediately suspicious. He says, no seriously, I'm not kidding, ask the people at the next table. Which is exactly the type of thing he would say to make me fall for it! As it turns out, Rupert really was there in a private party room with his family. It was kind of cool to finally see him since we are big fans of the show.

And big thanks to the fabulous Kimberly of Fab Finds under $50 for introducing me to the world of thrifting this weekend. I've been reading a lot about the great deals you can find by thrifting but found the prospect of pawing through all those racks daunting. Thanks, Kimberly, for showing me how easy thrifting can be!

IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!!

Well, the game isn't technically IN Tennessee (and neither are we!) but the Vols season opener is tonight at UCLA. We have been counting down the days and proudly wearing Tennessee orange all weekend.

In honor of the day, here's a little football funny that my mother-in-law Cheryl sent me several years seasons ago:

Football FINALLY makes sense.......... A guy took his blonde girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team's bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience.

"Oh, I really liked it," she replied, "especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents."

Dumbfounded, her date asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: 'Get the quarter back! Get the quarter back!' I'm like...Helloooooo? It's only 25 cents!!!!"

With.Much.Love for the Colts

On Saturday we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to tour the Indianapolis Colts' new football stadium, courtesy of our friends Buster and Weez. The stadium officially opened yesterday morning and there were free tours all day for the 80,000 people who were lucky enough to score the free tickets.

The stadium is ridiculously huge, but the architecture makes it pretty impressive to look at.


All of the street level concourses were open to the public. Each of the main entrances is sponsored by a different company (Sprint, HH Gregg, Chevy, etc) and is themed out accordingly with stuff like race cars suspended from the ceiling or a huge football helmet made out of television screens.


The seats are well-padded and comfortable and I don't think there will be a bad seat in the house.


Weez, Buster and Nate enjoy the view.


Buster body checks Nate on the sideline.


We were allowed to go all the way down onto the field in the end zones.




Hopefully the Colts will spend a lot of time in these end zones!!


The Colts locker room was closed to the public but we got to walk through the visitors locker room which is similar, but not as nice.


I guess they didn't want stalkers hiding in Peyton Manning's locker. (What? Who me? Never!)



If we weren't pumped for football season before, we certainly are now! Nate, lucky dog, got invited to the first game in the new stadium, against the Bills next Sunday. I am green (or maybe blue) with envy!