His and Her April A-Z Blogging Challenge

Many months ago, I was reading through some of the blogs that I follow and I saw that one of my blogging friends had decided to participate in a blogging challenge. After learning more about it, Sean and I decided to join in the fun. Finally, after waiting all this time, it is time for the challenge to begin.

We will continue blogging as usual, but for the month of April our blog posts will have a recurring theme - the letters of the alphabet. Using the calendar below, we will post travel reviews, fun stories, and picture posts, connecting them with that day's assigned letter. Some will be easy - some will be hard - but we promise that they will all be fun. 

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Check back, starting tomorrow, for a look at "A" and then continue visiting to see all 26 letters as we work towards completing this fun blogging challenge!

If you have a blog and would like to participate, there is still time. Click on the button above and sign up today.

Happy Monday,

Super Saturday Snapshots - March 29, 2014

Today we are linking up with Melinda at West Metro Mommy for Super Saturday Snapshots.

During our travels together we have seen many things that are different to home. Some are pretty obvious and others are more subtle. One of the more subtle things I have noticed are the different styles of traffic signals that are used around the world. Below are some that I have seen.

 This one would win the weirdest and most unique title. There are a few of these in downtown Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island, Canada. They are unusual as they are horizontal rather than vertical like every other one I have seen. I was once told that traffic signals were always vertical so you could still tell what colour the light was even if you were colour blind. I guess that person didn't know about these lights in PEI.

 This is the style of traffic signal that is used around Australia. There is normally one set in the middle of the road and one on the left side. In some locations there is a 4 light set that has a green arrow at the bottom below the green light.

 In most locations in America the traffic signals are overhead and there is one set for each lane. This comes in very handy for the people in the turn lanes.

 In larger cities in America like NYC the lights are still hung overhead but there is not one for each lane.

I'm sure there are many more styles of traffic lights for me to discover in my future travels. Have you seen any unusual ones in your travels around the world?

His and Her Five for Friday while Fueling Your Faith, Week 8

Today, we are linking up with Jessica at Joy in the Journey, Lauren Elizabeth, and Hello! Happiness for the combo Five For Friday and Fuel Your Faith linkup parties.

One: Fuel Your Faith

Two:

On Monday, my 8th graders began the scheduling process for high school. The counselors came over and talked to them about classes, graduation, etc. I was happy to be there to see them so excited about what lies ahead. But a part of me was very sad because I know this means they are that much closer to leaving me. I really do love my classes this year. Such a bittersweet feeling.

Three:

I received orders for 3 more knitting project bags from Amanda's friends. It's a great feeling being able to turn a couple of pieces of fabric into a functional item. I will share photos in a future post once they are all done.

Four:

Tuesday night was a knitting meetup. I just love getting together with these amazing women who make life seem a little brighter and little less chaotic. We eat, we knit, we support, we laugh...it's a definite highlight of my week!

Five:

I finally was able to obtain a copy of the second Hunger Games movie on DVD. I enjoyed it, but I thought it was a little boring in the middle and not nearly as good as the first movie. I am glad I finally got to see it and am glad I didn't spend the extra money going to see it in the cinema.

What would make your top 5 moments of the week?

Happy Friday,

Her - What I Read in March

I had so much fun posting the books I read in February, that I decided to do it again in March. I am still behind in my goal for the year - 65 books in 2014. Right now, Goodreads says I am four books behind schedule. *sigh* I need to step up!

This month I read two books - by the same author - again. I did not set out to do that in February or this month. It just happened. The author for this month is Kristin Higgins. She is one of my favorites! I have read everything she has written, most of them more than once. Her characters, plot lines, and fun pet sidekicks are pretty close to perfection!

Too Good to Be True by Kristin Higgins

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Goodreads says:  
When Grace Emerson's ex-fiancé starts dating her younger sister, extreme measures are called for. To keep everyone from obsessing about her love life, Grace announces that she's seeing someone. Someone wonderful. Someone handsome. Someone completely made up. Who is this Mr. Right? Someone...exactly unlike her renegade neighbor, Callahan O'Shea. Well, someone with his looks, maybe. His hot body. His knife-sharp sense of humor. His smarts and big heart.

Whoa. No. Callahan O'Shea is not her perfect man! Not with his unsavory past. So why does Mr. Wrong feel so...right?

I say: 
I have read this book many times. It's probably four or five times over the years. It is my favorite book of hers. I love Grace, with all her insecurity and bright-eyed view of the world. I love Callahan and his roguish take on life. Margaret is a great sister and Natalie (Grace's other sister) goes through her own transformation in the book. The parents are hilarious and the dog, Angus, is super cute! The plot line is perfect - a great combination of heart-warming and page turning. I love, love, love this book!

Goodreads Rating (with 10,085 ratings): 3.92 stars
My Rating: 5 stars


The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins

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Goodreads says:
Honor Holland has just been unceremoniously rejected by her lifelong crush. And now—a mere three weeks later—Mr. Perfect is engaged to her best friend. But resilient, reliable Honor is going to pick herself up, dust herself off and get back out there… or she would if dating in Manningsport, New York, population 715, wasn't easier said than done.

Charming, handsome British professor Tom Barlow just wants to do right by his unofficial stepson, Charlie, but his visa is about to expire. Now Tom must either get a green card or leave the States—and leave Charlie behind.

In a moment of impulsiveness, Honor agrees to help Tom with a marriage of convenience—and make her ex jealous in the process. But juggling a fiancé, hiding out from her former best friend and managing her job at the family vineyard isn't easy. And as sparks start to fly between Honor and Tom, they might discover that their pretend relationship is far too perfect to be anything but true love….

I say:
Honor and Tom both have big hearts, especially for their families. They are willing to risk jail to marry so Tom can get a green card and stay in the U.S. Honor is nursing a broken heart from a failed relationship and a back-stabbing best friend. Tom is trying to heal a broken relationship that doesn't want to heal easily. They agree to marry and think it will be easy. It is anything but! As usual, the supporting characters, including Honor's sisters and grandparents, are fantastic. The dog, Spike - a female - is another great addition of the author to the story. The plot line twists and turns enough to be interesting but not so much that you can't keep up. Each turn seems like it could happen in real life - nothing is too far-fetched (a pet peeve of mine as a reader). I am a big fan of this novel. I checked it out from the library, but I think I will be buying it soon for my Nook collection.

Goodreads Rating (with 2,595 ratings): 4.06 stars
My Rating: 4 stars


What have you read recently that should be added to my Goodreads list?


Happy Reading,

His and Her What's for Dinner Wednesday

Thanks to Pinterest, Facebook, and our blogging friends, finding new and delicious recipes for dinner is as easy as click-click-click. There just seems to be a plethora of amazing and creative ideas for meals out there right now.

Here's what's for dinner this week...

Country Breakfast Casserole - Six Sisters Stuff

We have started having breakfast for dinner at least once a week. This casserole looks ahhhh-mazing!

Homemade Fish Sticks - Brown Eyed Baker

We love the idea of homemade fish sticks. We can't wait to try this one!

Teriyaki Chicken Casserole - Oh, Sweet Basil

Teriyaki Chicken is a favorite of both of ours. This one should be good!

White Chicken Chili - Brown Eyed Baker

We have been on the hunt for a great White Chicken Chili recipe. We have tried a few and hated each one. Our fingers are crossed for this one to be delish!

Dreamy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge - Hungry Girl

On Friday night we eat dinner with our community/small group from church - pot luck style. Since Amanda loves to bake, she decided to bring dessert to the group this week. (She will probably bring dessert most weeks.)

What recipes are you loving this week?

Happy Eating,

His and Her Travel Review: Camden Yards Park Tour

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We both love baseball, especially if we can travel to a park and tour the stadium. Both of us like the Chicago White Sox, so back in 2010 when we saw on the schedule that the Sox were playing the Baltimore Orioles on a weekend we decided to go to Baltimore and see the game. 

While we were in Baltimore we signed up to tour Camden Yards. Most baseball parks offer these tours and we love them. You learn about the history of the park (of which there was plenty in Baltimore) and learn about some of the special things in each stadium. You also get to see parts of the park that you normally wouldn't see, and go places where everyday citizens usually cannot go.

The view from the gates. There is something incredibly beautiful about a baseball stadium on the day of a game.

This photo reminds me of the intro on the TV broadcasts of the Orioles games on MASN (our local sports channel).

 The grounds crew was hard at work the entire time we were there (in their orange shirts) making sure the field was game day ready.

It looks empty now but later on that evening there would be thousands of fans cheering on their team.

 The first part of the tour took us to the VIP boxes at the top of the stadium. This is the view from one of those boxes.

Some of the more famous players that have played for the Orioles. The only one I recognized was Cal Ripken Jr.

 On the club level, they had some of the promotional posters from years past. I loved this one!

 This is one of the things I love about baseball. In football you can take a knee, in basketball you can dribble around slowly, but in baseball you have to give each batter their minimum of three pitches. Every batter has a chance to change the game.

This was one of the coolest things on the tour as it is one of the World Series trophies; this is from 1983. 

 Outside the locker rooms they had the stats from the previous night's game. 

This is the media center for the game. I think it would be crazy here during game time.

 On the field - we were standing on the field! The baseball nut in me was geeking out right about now.

View from the Orioles Dugout. You almost feel like part of the game action even though the only person on the field was the groundskeeper. We were allowed on the warning track but were not allowed to step on the grass or touch it.

 Huge scoreboard - that would show a White Sox win (GO SOX!!) later that night.

We got to sit on the dugout benches. Its amazing to think that many of the great players have sat on the same bench that we did.

We loved visiting Baltimore and getting to tour Camden Yards. The park is absolutely gorgeous and we had a blast. If you are near a baseball stadium and you haven't taken a tour yet, we absolutely think you should. It is such a great experience.

Happy Baseball Season,

His and Her Sunday Social, Week 94

Hello Sunday! We are once again joining in the - 

 

This week's Sunday Social is brought to you by the number 3! 

1. What are the top 3 things you can't go a day without doing?

Amanda - hugging Sean, reading, drinking coffee

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Sean - Netflix, Drinking water and spending time with Amanda.

  

2. What are 3 things that scare you the most?

Amanda - Heights, death, being alone 

Sean - Being in a crowded space, having to speak in front of a lot of new people, meeting a lot of new people at one time.

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3. What are 3 places you want to see before you kick the bucket?

Amanda - London, England --- Venice, Italy --- St. Petersburg, Russia

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Sean - Germany, Japan and Monte Carlo.

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4. What are 3 movies you will always love?

Amanda - Pride and Prejudice, Fool's Gold, The Wedding Date

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Sean - Back to the Future (all 3 of them), Spaceballs and Happy Gilmore.

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5. What are your 3 favorite current songs?

Amanda - "I'm Happy" by Pharrell, "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel, "With Every Act of Love" by Jason Gray

Sean - Brandon Heath - Jesus In Disguise
          Beautiful Day - Jamie Grace
          All This for a King - David Crowder Band

                                  

Those were fun - as usual! Our favorite is #4 because we are always looking for new movies to watch. Answer that one, or any one of your choice, below or on Facebook to join the fun.

Happy Sunday,