No Such Thing as a Free Lunch?

Okay, so this isn't exactly free food, but I can promise you deliciously discounted eats. Perfect for a date night or a little lunch with the girlfriends.

Z Pizza - A health-conscious friend of mine introduced us to this place a few months ago and we weren't disappointed. Made with only fresh, organic ingredients, Z Pizza has a mouth-watering variety of traditional and gourmet pizzas, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, and pastas that will satisfy any palate for a reasonable price. Bonus: In addition to the option of whole-wheat crust, they also offer gluten-free crusts for those with food sensitivities. With locations across the U.S. (Texas, Arizona, NC, Montana, California, Colorado, Virginia, and more), there's probably one near you.

Go on their website for the coupon or click here for special coupons for Columbus locals.
http://public.gripserver4.com/expcol/locals/2009_06/zpizza.pdf

Einstein Brothers - Do you really need an excuse to go out and get a yummy bagel sandwich? I didn't think so. Take a friend with the BOGO coupon and split the cost, or take three friends and split it four ways since their offerings are huge!

http://email.metsource.com/Einstein/4151_EBB/default.htm

For Columbus locals - I couldn't resist sharing the love. Who doesn't need ice cream on the 88-degree days we've been having lately? I just printed this off my computer and brought it in.

Credit Crunch

We've had an American Express Gold Delta Skymiles credit card for the past two years and I'm thinking that it might be time to switch to a card that gives us cash rewards instead.

Here's the dilemma: The card had no fee for the first year and offered a free companion ticket when we renewed, but in the interim they changed to a $95 fee and a $99 companion ticket. So basically we're paying them $200 for a plane ticket that would have cost us about that much anyway, figuring the price of an average ticket. We don't charge enough each month to get free Skymiles tickets, but enough to get money knocked off the price of each ticket through their pay with Miles option where for every 10,000 miles you apply you can get $100 off your Delta ticket price. But then we feel obligated to take Delta flights which, now that there's not a nonstop to Salt Lake from Columbus, aren't always the least expensive or most covenient flights.

So the questions I'm throwing out to the void are these:
1. What credit card do you use (if you don't mind sharing)?
2. Have you been happy with it?
3. Do you receive any type of rewards for using it?
4. Would you recommend it to others?

Our card expires at the end of this month and I'm hoping to figure out a solution by then. I'm leaning toward the Amex Blue Cash Card, but am not particularly loyal to American Express. A funny memory just struck me - Our first credit card was a Visa from Zions Bank which we got when we were first married and it came with a $500 credit limit. No joke. Can't get too crazy with those kind of restraints. :)

Operation Summer Sandals

FINALLY found: Summer sandals for Ben. Granted I did have fairly strict criteria, which extended our search. He is very particular about his shoes, namely that he only ever wants to wear shoes and socks. With summer upon us, coupled with the facts that he doesn't fit his Crocs from last year and me not able (or willing) to bend over to help put on/adjust footwear, I knew we needed a new option.

We found these winners at Old Navy for a mere $5. My criteria were that they had to be fairly classic (no characters), neutral (he wears alot of blue), that they'd stay on Ben's feet (thus the back strap), that he could put them on himself, and that they could get wet. There were tons of cute leather sandals but I wanted just one pair that could work if we go to the pool or just run around. We went to five stores and most of the options lacked at least one of the five above non-negotiables or cost more than I was willing to pay for shoes that would last one season.

Ben is his father's child in that he LOVES new shoes/clothes. Can you tell?

Two pairs I really like but didn't make the cut.

Le Patio

After five weeks and lots of sweat and man hours on Andy's part, we've gone from this...
To this! Yes, we finally have a patio and somewhere sit so we'll actually use our backyard. We can't wait to start enjoying BBQs with friends and the beautiful summer weather.

In order to complete the project we had to answer the following questions:

1. Hire someone or do it ourselves? (It ended up being a hybrid of both)

2. Poured cement or paver stones? (You can see what triumphed)

3. How big should it be? (Fairly modest)

While I was in Arizona, Andy picked all the plants and did the landscaping himself. You can see the grass patches growing around the patio marking where he excavated. I've wanted to get Andy a grill for Father's Day for the past five years and finally did it. We just got patio furniture on Friday night. How we fit a huge table, six patio chairs, and a 9-foot umbrella into our Altima still befuddles us. It did involve driving home with Ben sitting on the floor of the front passenger seat.

After all the stones were laid.

In mid-May Andy decided he'd just do the project himself and started digging a huge hole in our backyard. When he started hitting pipes, one irrigation and one drainage, we thought it might be a good idea to enlist the help of a professional. So our friend who owns a remodeling business became our foreman and Andy his laborer. It turned out much higher quality and they finished quicker with two people on the job. Here they are, smoothing down the paving sand for the foundation.

You can see just a small portion of the sod Andy dug up with the assistance of our friend John C., who was surprisingly game to come over and do hard labor with only the promise of pizza as remuneration. The huge white bag is full of three tons of rocks and sand for the base.

I ended up getting my box garden after all because we had to have somewhere to put some of the extra dirt. I haven't yet planted everything, but Andy did a great job constructing the box. Ben and I bought some carrot seeds so those will be the first to go in.

I am so happy this project is over. I feel like our lives can go on, not that I really did anything besides offer moral support, check out DIY books from the library, act as a companion on Home Depot runs, and bring water out to the thirsty workers. Thank you Andy (and those who helped) for all your hard work!! It turned out better than I had hoped. I also now know that I have absolutely no real interest in or stomach for major home repair projects.

Arizona

As mentioned before, the trip to Arizona was short and sweet, but definitely worthwhile. I was there for just over 24 hours, but all the flying made up the rest of the days. The weather was beautiful, with temperatures in the 90s, compared to 105+ that it would normally be at this time of year. I don't have many pictures because of course my camera batteries were dead and I couldn't get new ones until after the actual wedding ceremony was over.

I attended the ceremony at the Mesa Temple and then got to go out for delicious greasy Mexican food with our best AZ friends, Carley and Jake Heller. We hit it off right away when we moved to Tempe in 2002 and have stayed in touch ever since. It was so nice to be able to sit down and pick up right where we left off, although it's been over a year since we've seen each other. Carley is what I call my "Mommy Mentor," a person whom I admire and would like to emulate in many spheres of my life, not just motherhood. Jake is always fun to talk to because he is a feisty Italian and I love playing devil's advocate with him. I relished the yummy tacos and fiery salsa - we haven't found any such outstanding food here in OH. Andy says he's tainted from living in AZ - why bother going to Mexican food anywhere else?

Katie and Ferenc at their wedding reception. Katie was one of my young women when I was a leader and holds a special spot in my heart. She has overcome alot in her life and I'm so proud of the person she's become. Is it tacky that I'm wearing white to a wedding? Didn't think of that until it was too late. It was also really nice to see members of our old church congregation at the reception. Andy and I loved the people in our ward.

Thanks to Bekka and Randy for letting me crash on their couch. They treated me out to a night on the town in Scottsdale and then out for delicious fro-yo afterward. On Saturday morning Bekka and I took a long walk around the ASU campus and had a nice chat. Bekka was an undergrad at ASU while we lived there and I miss having her so close! Plus, she has tons of fun magazines to read at her house so I could catch up on all the latest fashion and gossip.

A very bad picture of the restaurant we went to in Scottsdale - AZ 88. You can't beat gorgeous flower arrangements and great food. I felt so footloose and fancy free. Too bad I stuck out among all the gay hipsters and Scottsdale hardbodies and fashionistas with my big belly.

On the way home I hopped on an earlier flight from Detroit to Columbus and was bumped up to first class. Sadly, the flight was only 35 minutes long so the luxury was short-lived. But I got a taste of how the other half flies: Free candy bars and fresh fruit and legroom galore. Someday it would be nice to fly first class for real. I felt a bit like an impostor.

Next post: What Andy and Ben did while I was gone...

Flying Solo

You might not be able to tell from the miniscule picture, but tomorrow morning I'm headed to the Valley of the Sun for a wedding. Yep, I'm jetting by myself to Phoenix for a VERY quick trip, packed with good food, great company (I'm staying with my sister and bro-in-law), and old friends. We lived in the Phoenix area (a shout out to Tempe!) before we moved to Boston and love it there. I prefer hot weather over cold any day, and we would be happy to move back.

On the agenda: Leave OH early tomorrow morning, arrive in Phoenix by 10 a.m., wedding at 1 p.m., shopping/chicks and chat in the afternoon, wedding reception, a late dinner at Bekka and Randy's favorite little restaurant in Scottsdale, and then dessert at one of the hip new fro-yo joints like Pinkberry that are all the rage in L.A. and NYC. Saturday morning: A brisk walk in the unseasonably cool 90-degree weather and a driving tour of some of the new development in the Valley. I'm particularly excited to see the glimmering just-built facilities of my alma mater, ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, in Downtown Phoenix. Maybe I'll even take a little ride on Phoenix's most recent transportational wonder: the lightrail system. Then at 1:30 p.m. I fly out and am home again by 10:30. Whew!

To tell the truth, one of the things I'm looking forward to the most is flying sans child. Four blissful uninterrupted hours of reading and watching the in-flight movie, plus getting to peruse all the magazines in the airport bookstore while I wait for my flights. Maybe even a Cinnabon of my very own that I don't have to share! The only thing that could make the trip truly complete would be to get a killer AZ suntan in such a short amount of time.

Two Thumbs Up

Finally - a movie worth writing about. I feel like the past six months have yielded a dearth of good flicks, which is probably why we haven't seen many since the beginning of the year. The Soloist was depressing - not as heartwarming as the trailers portrayed. Angels and Demons, although true to the book and better than film version of The DaVinci Code, was a bit disjointed and gruesome. Confessions of a Shopaholic served as frivolous fashion fodder, but the plot was too skimpy. Up had an interesting premise and amazing graphics, but still a little too serious for the under-5 crowd. Granted, it was better than Wall-E or Ratatouille, yet still didn't measure up to the fabulous Pixar originals such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., etc.

Enter State of Play. A smart political thriller involving intrepid journalists (you knew that would hook me) digging deep to discover the conspiracy underneath a seemingly accidental death. Well-acted, a smart plot and dialogue, and endless layers of intrigue made for a movie that kept us on the edge of our seats for the entire two hours. The scene in the parking garage was one of the most intense cat and mouse sequences I've seen in a while.

Have you seen any good movies lately that perhaps we've overlooked? For example, Andy's family all loved Star Trek, but it just doesn't look all that appealing to me. Are there any summer movies you're looking forward to? Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince can't come soon enough!

Say Yes to the Dress, Part II

I know, I'm on a serious blogging rampage lately. I just had to post this link to Kira's dress, which I am in absolute love with. Where was it when I was getting married? Oh, all the things I'd change if I could say "I Do" all over again. The same guy of course, but a different photographer, a summer wedding, nix the bridesmaid dresses, and no reception in WA. But all things considered, it's been a good 8 1/2 years for us, despite the follies of youth.

Is there anything you'd change about your wedding preparations?

P.S. In case you're wondering about the lineage of this dress and wondering who in their right mind buys dresses from a place that has "under $2000" as the least expensive option, worry your pretty little head no more. The story of this dress is a classic tale of the beauty of social networking. Or, as some might call it, good old-fashioned blog stalking.

Somehow one of my sisters stumbled upon the blog of a cute girl at BYU who happened to be marrying a guy from our hometown. The blog was engaging and well-written and my sister followed it up through the wedding plans and nuptuals of said author. This gal grew up in Manhattan and is your classic well-bred East Coaster whose family is living very comfortably. She posted pictures of their New York wedding soiree, which included ice sculptures, a very fancy ballroom, an immaculately catered dinner, the couple entering the reception by rising up through the floor, and the happy couple leaving their reception in a Rolls Royce. Enough said. But none of us could get over her beautiful dress. It is very much Kira's style and she continued to follow the blog to see if, fingers crossed, the new bride needed money and closet space more than she needed her gorgeous custom-made dress. Miracle of miracles, the long-awaited post came and she quickly got in contact about buying the dress. After much anxious waiting, she heard back and scored the dress for a pittance compared to the original price. A true Wedding Story, I'd say.

Fess up. Any adventures of your own in the world of blogstalking? :)

Epcot

We spent our final day in Florida at Epcot Center, which was my favorite park, by far. Although I couldn't go on lots of the exciting rides like the GM Test Track (which Ben loooooved) and the Mission:Space adventure, I had a great time leisurely exploring the different country pavillions and sampling the food while the rest of the group waited in lines. In addition, the flowers and landscaping in general at Epcot were immaculate and the park was much less crowded than the others.

Just some of the beautiful flowers. They had a special horticulture competition going on where various companies sponsored flower exhibits and created special arrangements scattered throughout the park.

Another favorite part: The Living With the Land boat ride. You explore the earth's different ecosystems, capped off by a tour through Disney's working greenhouses where scientists are experimenting with unique ways to grow food using fewer resources. Pictured above are hanging herb gardens, watered through a drip irrigation system built into the scaffold holding them up.

Char, Jesse, and Andy taking a breather while Ben played on the amazing Epcot playground.

Charlie, the official paparazzi.

More pictures that Betsy took:

Giving our best pirate impression.

Ben got an eye patch along with his Pirates of the Caribbean figurines.

The racetrack ride at Magic Kingdom. Ben was thrilled to "drive" Lightning McQueen.

Everyone in full party attire.

Betsy and Ben are jubliant on their way to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

Flying high on Goofy's Barnburner

Meeting old Buzz himself.

Flexing those muscles.

Summer Movies for Kids

I just saw this on a blog I follow, Thrifty and Chic Mom, and it was so good I had to share. For only $1, you can take your child to a special weekly showing different kid movies. If you buy advance tickets for all 10 shows, it's only $5. Not a bad way to spend a hot summer day. Check here to see if your local theater is participating. In addition to Ohio, I saw listings for Texas, Utah, North Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, and Florida.

Say Yes to the Dress

As anyone who reads this blog knows, my little sister is getting married this summer. Her color palette is gray and black: i.e. sophisticated and simple. I didn't think it would be too hard to find a dress that fit the bill, but everything is complicated by the fact that I'll be 32 weeks along at the blessed event. Not so many options in that category.

I thought I had everything covered when I saw a cute gray dress in the bag of clothes my very generous friend brought over for me to borrow. Thus, I didn't bother to have a backup option. Well, yesterday I decided to give the dress a test run at church and it was, shall we say, very form-fitting. I knew right away that in a month there is no WAY it will accomodate The Belly.

So that sent me scrambling for Plan B. I'd seen a gray maternity dress at Target over the past month, and frantically headed there today to see if they had any left. The store I checked didn't have the right size and they were all on clearance and moving fast. They checked their system and there was only one in my size left in the entire Columbus area, thankfully at the store near our house. I quickly called them to double check if they, in fact, had it in stock, and they said it was iffy since it was on clearance. The girl checked and providentially, it was there, but she said they couldn't hold it for me. So I begged and explained that I was pregnant and it was for a wedding and she was my only hope. So she fudged the rules and stashed it back in the dressing room area away from all the other pregnant ladies in desperate need of a gray maternity dress. Who knows how many are lurking out there? I felt bad because we were just coming from Ben's doctor's appointment where he'd had two shots, his eyes were watering and nose running from seasonal allergies, and was in dire need of a snack. But I'd promised the Target girl I'd go straight over there to pick it up. So we did and I got it, but sadly it wasn't marked down like the other one. Beggars can't be choosers.

If my eggo weren't prego, I'd be wearing something like this...

Or this (with some fun colorful jewelry and a belt)...

Or this (with a cute cardi, of course).

What I will really be wearing is this, which will do the trick but definitely not my first pick.

I looked online for some other maternity options and they're all pretty much the same. Cute enough, but nothing to get excited about.

My fave of the three (below)

Note to self: Plan successive pregnancies around important family events where lots of pictures will be taken and you'll be captured forever in all your third trimester glory. Frivolous and vain, I know. :)

Magic Kingdom

Waiting to board the Monorail for our journey to The Happiest Place on Earth. When asked afterward about his favorite part of DisneyWorld, Ben replied, "the train." Of course.

The whole fam damily on Main Street Disney. Then we were off to ride Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - Charlotte's favorite ride.

Two gallant knights on their trusty steeds.

Getting ready for Goofy's Barnstormer. I ended up sitting out a few of the rides at Magic Kingdom because of my "delicate condition." It actually wasn't bad because I brought a good book and snuck some moments to read.

We went home in the afternoon and came back at night to see a little more of the Disney spectacle. Sadly, we got our times mixed up and missed the Electrical Parade.

Intently watching the fireworks with Grandma. We had a tiny trauma with his Mickey ice cream treat - he couldn't eat it fast enough to prevent it from dripping, but when someone licked it to help him he threw a fit and then the whole thing fell on the ground, accompanied by more crying. The result of a long day with no nap and lots of sugar-fueled excitement.

After the fireworks show we rode the ferry instead of the Monorail to get back to the parking lot.

Everyone's a little slap happy by that time of night.

Ben and Char and their bum attacks.

Betsy with a flying Ben.

The end of a magical day.