Camping : The Jacks Fork & The Current Rivers

This past weekend Matt and I went on a float trip with our friends Catie and Mike, our partners in Sower's Row. Last year Matt and I took a canoe down the Current River and floated nearly 30 miles if I remember correctly. This year we took a shorter trip of 22 miles. We put in at Alley Spring and ended up at Owls Bend.

This trip was a little more extravagant than our last. We ate foil packs filled with potatoes, red peppers, onions, and brats, s'mores, bacon, and eggs. Last year I think we brought a can of beans! These are the only two camping trips I have been on since I camped with my parents at K.O.A. camp sites. Much more rough! I woke with bruises all over my tush from sleeping on rocks.

We found the best swimming spot and brought along a diving mask. Man, was this the investment of a lifetime! It was the first time I could see under water since I could remember. As I'm nearly blind I prefer to wear contacts and of course I can't open my eyes under water so that diving mask was such a treat!

We are planning to go in September but with kayaks this time!

Wedding : The Honeymoon

Matt and I chose to go to Kansas City for our honeymoon. We debated back and forth between driving to North Carolina, the Gulf Shores in Texas, or to save money and go to Kansas City. We decided on the latter as Matt and I had never been there together and it was going to be the cheapest option for us. We don't do much traveling, so Kansas City was such a treat!

Upon arrival we went to the Country Club Plaza. We were starving and hastily ate at P.F. Changs as it was convenient and something Matt had never tried. It was delicious and all but we really couldn't wait to eat at the local restaurants Amanda Watters, from the blog its the little things, recommended we try. After eating we strolled through the shops and Matt purchased these coasters from Anthropologie for me for a wedding gift. I had been pining over them for way too long!

We checked into our hotel, Harrah's, which was really nice. Matt and I had only ever stayed in a hotel together once before, in our four years together! This is where our down time came in, where we hadn't planned enough to do so we went to some shopping mall and got gelato. So fancy, I know! It was fun just to people watch and eat delicious gelato. I had planned on going to dinner but we were so full from lunch that we decided to just go to a movie. Matt had been wanting to see the new Godzilla because Brian Cranston, from Breaking Bad, was in it. We went to the coolest movie theatre, Screenland Armour. When we got to the theatre we were so confused because it also housed a bar and mini arcade.  Such a great idea. I know we have the Moxie Cinema here in Springfield, but they so often play such pretentious movies that no one has ever heard of. Don't get me wrong, I've seen some great movies there but when you'd like to have a drink and see a big Hollywood production you can't go to the Moxie. And surprise, Brian Cranston, is only in Godzilla for a split second!

The next day we went to the Blue Bird Bistro, recommended by Amanda, for breakfast. I loved how they served water out of wine bottles! And the skylights were so beautiful. We had a delicious breakfast of the 17th Street Benedict and Strawberry Mint Pancakes. The coffee was also tasty! Matt was able to talk with the owner of the restaurant about their farm-to-table menu and what the farmers markets are like in Kansas City. I loved that we had our honeymoon during the middle of the week so that we could do things like talk to the owner of the restaurant about produce.

We drove around the neighborhood Blue Bird Bistro was located in for about an hour. The houses are so well taken care of and we loved how there were old houses mixed in with super modern houses. I wish Springfield would take a cue from KC!

To get that tropical feel of a honeymoon far far away we went to the aquarium. We didn't realize it was such a kid-friendly place but still had a lot of fun. We were able to touch some sea urchins and listen to the stories of some of the sea creatures. We will definitely take our future children there and maybe even to Lego Land.

Even though there wasn't much going on at the River Market on a Tuesday we decided to check it out. We went into the coolest farm store, Planters Seed & Spice Company. I bought Matt a broadfork for a wedding gift, which he has used religiously on the farm since.

After browsing we returned to the same neighborhood to eat at The Westside Local, another recommendation from Amanda. We sat out on the deck which was such a cool little spot. Matt ordered Windhaven Burger and I had the Kale Salad and the Chicken Salad Sandwich. I think I had the best bite of a burger I've ever tasted at this place and my chicken salad sandwich was to die for. I want to move to Kansas City for these two restaurants alone!

While in Kansas City I had to visit the art museums. I was sad to find out that the Nelson was closed while we were there but we did manage to visit the Kemper Museum. I love modern art and I especially love the kitschy art of Wayne Thiebaud. I remember Matt standing next to me in front of a piece by Helen Frankenthaler, I was just in awe of the thing and Matt just started laughing. I got so frustrated because he just doesn't get her work!

We gambled a little later that night. Let me tell you, I did not enjoy gambling one bit! And I don't know why anyone enjoys it. How can you throw your money away like that? I think we lost all our gambling money in a matter of five minutes! I was not happy.

Our honeymoon was a sweet little trip for us. So if your in need of a nice budget friendly getaway Kansas City is the way to go. Ask bloggers you like in cities you want to visit for recommendations too! Thanks to Amanda, we were able to try restaurants made for us.

Our next trip away from Springfield is a float trip at the end of the month with our dear friends. 

What did you do for your honeymoon?

st. louis

I spent nearly the entire week in St. Louis for work and forgot to take pictures because I was either too busy enjoying the company or simply too busy! However, I did manage to take one photograph in St. Louis and one photograph of what greeted me at my return home.

I stayed at the Renaissance Air Port Hotel and it was by far fancier than any hotel I have ever stayed in. Another teacher from my district and I were there to assist in professional development planning for our district for a program called the National Writing Project. Our goal is to help students become college or career ready writers by the time they graduate. Not being an English Language Arts teacher I was definitely out of my element. This working meeting was nothing like that I have experienced with an Art Education convention. I was so self-contious over the four days I was surrounded by English teachers. I was afraid they would think I was unintelligent, I simply felt silly being there. At one point I was unaware of the difference between the words consistent and regular and used the words interchangeably. Mortified I was when my fiancé explained the difference to me over the phone. I just did not understand why I was there writing a plan for professional development when I was the one needing the professional development on how to emphasize writing in my curriculum! What I did come away with were new ideas and methods of teaching certain things in my own classroom. I think I am going to overhaul my teaching strategies and provide more opportunities for students to dig into the information, rather they have to figure everything out themselves. I hope not to lecture at all over the 2013-2014 school year.

After getting significantly lost on my way back home, I waited for Matt to return from a short fishing trip. He caught two catfish and a blue gill that he brought home for dinner. You have to understand that this is a very strange occurrence in our home. We do not eat meat in our house and typically I am the only one to order meat at a restaurant and even that is becoming a rare thing. He fried up the fish for tacos and I bravely ate half of my taco. I started to feel nauseated from seeing the fish go from whole to food all in our tiny kitchen, I could not finish eating and neither could Matt. Lady sure enjoyed fish for dinner though. Needless to say we probably wont be eating fresh caught and home cooked fish any time soon.

float trip

Matt and I went on a float trip Wednesday and Thursday. This was my very first float trip and I can't wait for the next one which probably won't be for another year. The Current River is absolutely beautiful with dinosaur-like Great Blue Herons and even a beaver!

We pulled off on the first day and explored a cave with lush ferns, saw the most amazing sunset, and woke up to mass amounts of fog on the second day. Boy oh boy was it chilly that night.

The first and third photographs were edited with Megan Gilger's, from The Fresh Exchange Blog, pack on the iPhone app Over. The typography is beautiful and there are several different packs from collaborating artists to purchase.

we're getting hitched

Back from a long blog hiatus with big news! Over Labor Day weekend Matt and I traveled to the beautiful Crystal Bridges to celebrate our three year anniversary. The day after we packed a little picnic, drove to the Springfield Botanical Gardens, had lunch and Matt pulled out his Great Grandmother Cool's wedding band and told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Completely blew me away! Of course I said yes and we spent the rest of the afternoon feeding geese and koi in the Japanese Stroll Garden.

The original box from 1937 purchased in Centerville, Iowa.

We've set a date and booked a location for May 25th, 2014. I am so happy that we didn't have to deter much from our original meeting date and engagement date!

Boys in Trees

Matt went on a camping trip in the Mark Twain National Forest with his buddies K.T. and Mike and came back with lots of pictures and stories... I don't know how you enjoy freezing nights, but boys will be boys. They don't even sleep in tents!

St. Louis

Matt and I recently took a quick trip to St. Louis. We stayed with his brother Taylor and his cat Sammy while his girlfriend Hana was away on safari. The night we got there we went to Sasha's on Shaw where Taylor and Hana both work. The place was darling and filled with costumed people for the Halloween festivities. The walls are lined with wine bottles from their wine selection and they had the best patio with little pit fires and a garden filled with pumpkins. We had the Grilled Veggie Pizza, some Crispins, and Matt had some of the darkest beer I have ever tried.

That Saturday we went to the St. Louis Arch which I was ridiculously excited to see because it is such a great piece of art and architecture. We didn't go up into the arch because Matt is afraid of heights and we didn't want to spend the money. Just to see it was treat!

After that we went to the St. Louis Galleria. Anthropology, Urban Outfitters, and H&M were the stores I had to go to. And sadly, I ended up talking myself out of every purchase. I am good at that which makes me angry when I leave a store like Anthropology with nothing in hand including those $8 coasters that I've been lusting over for years now. Do any of you do that, talk yourself out of everything? I suppose it is a good trait to have if your trying to save your pennies!