Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Picture Recap of Chicago and Texas, I'm Back!

23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.


5 Hobbies:

  1. Amateur crafting, it's so exciting to see something you've made yourself.
  2. Cooking/baking, it's not only fun to create yummy things, but then you get to enjoy them.  Who doesn't love food?
  3. Attending festivals, I can't get enough festivals.  Whether it's a beer/wine tasting festival or just a street fair, I always find new things that I love and you get to be social.
  4. Traveling, even if it's just a weekend trip to a new area, I love everything about traveling (well except long plane rides.)  I love the idea of seeing new things and exploring new places.
  5. Blogging, well no explanation needed:)
Family Time:

My family has always been really close, holidays including monthly birthdays were something to look forward to.  Lately it feels like the family has acted more obligated to get together, and the frequency of parties has been reduced.  Sure, back then I looked at things through my fun loving, childhood eyes, but I don't think I'm imagining things.  Perhaps it's because my grandparents are gone (with the exception of my grandpa on my mother's side.)  My immediate family is still fairly close, we all fight and have our issues, but we did when I was a kid too.  I value my family probably more now than I did when I was younger, I'm sure I took them for granted.  Now I understand how important and amazing they are.

Picture recap of my trip - I was in Texas for a wedding reception then onto Chicago for a Packaging Expo.  It was so great to catch up with friends and then hang a bit with my bestie in Chicago, since we were going to the same show.




My nephew, Lino, enjoying the toys at the pumpkin patch.


Renee and Lino, she's got my niece or nephew in her belly! It's a surprise.


Best babysitter ever!!  IPad

The way the beers are served at Red, Hot and Blue! I always enjoy that presentation.

Guts and brains and things at the Halloween themed reception.  



This just made me laugh.  What do people try to use the dispenser for?

Grossest costume ever!!!  But, I couldn't stop staring. The front was worse.  

Me and Mama!

Oh Michael, how I've missed licking your face.

I was right down the street from my old house that I owned in Texas. I had to take a pic. I was pretty excited that it didn't look any better than when I had it.  Grass wouldn't grow in that yard.

I love that everywhere you go in Texas, you can get Dos Equis on tap.

Margarita from the taco stand, so dangerously tasty.

Tequila lime chicken bowl.

Mike and I enjoying a pre-flight brewski.

Mmm, delicious sausage pasta with vodka sauce.

A metal detector that is so patriotic, kind of cracked me up a bit.

View from my hotel room.


Went to a swanky party (a bit snooty) at the Museum of Sciencea and Industry.

A ginormous U-Boat.


My second party of the night was at Dave and Buster's way more up my alley. Beer and video games, yes please.

Like gambling but for kids, the prize being tickets.

I kinda sucked it up at trivia, but I always have to give it a go.

I traded in all my tickets for this amazingly cute owl corkscrew.

View from the McCormick Conference center.  The water was so choppy and intense, effects from that bitch, Sandy.

Only person I saw that dressed up for the Pack Expo, and it wasn't even Halloween. I was cornfused but loved it all the same.


Fannie May is selling chocolates now, what's Freddie doing?



Amazing burger from Bandera!

I didn't have a party invite for night #2, so Mike got me a bracelet to get me into the party they were going to. Yay for free Micro brews, Goose Island Brewery.  I just had to act like I might want to purchase a rotary filler at some point, okay.

I had an amazing time in Texas and Chicago.  I love you Amy, and congrats on your marriage to Russell.  I miss all my Texas peeps greatly.  The Pack Expo was a bit underwhelming, and somewhat boring by myself.  But, I got some ideas for projects for 2013 and I got a ginormous number of steps in.  That center is huge!!

Missed all my blogger buddies, I forgot to bring my charger, whoops.