Wordless Wednesday, Valentine Edition

Retreat! Retreat!

Sometimes it feels as though life is a bit like a battle. It seems that there is a constant struggle whether it is over how to manage time, keeping peace among the natives, work vs. play, feeling good more than bad, even what to cook for dinner. The struggle isn't always apparent, and at time isn't even recognized as a struggle...but it is tiring just the same. There are occasions in a battle when even the most seasoned soldiers would cry "Retreat! Retreat!" Over the course of our relationship, I have found that periodically, my man and I need to take a moment to retreat.

Hubby had a big birthday in May, and it has seemed that since spring break, we have been going in opposing directions. It is not intentional or by choice; it's just how the schedules have worked out with various functions that the kiddos are involved in. I decided that for the big 4-0 birthday, we needed to just get away, regardless of schedules. So, I arranged a guided trout fishing trip for us. Our destination was here...

Bull Shoals Dam

I've never arranged a trip like that on my own before, so I was a little bit nervous about the entire thing. Thank goodness all I had to do was book the guide and reserve our room. 

The primary concern I had about the entire weekend was our lodging. It was Memorial Day weekend, so EVERYWHERE was booked. All of the resorts were full, I didn't want to stay at the 'Sleep Inn,' and I did want a view of the water. Oh, and not to mention, I was booking something sight unseen. Ulcer, anyone? Needless to say, I was so relieved when we arrived at our destination, The Mountain Memories Bed and Breakfast, and saw this beautiful place!

Our host was a lovely lady who was soo sweet and accomodating, even though she was swamped with three weddings that weekend! Our room was very private, and nicer than anything we have stayed in before. There was a beautiful view of Norfork Lake from our balcony (ours was the top floor balcony shown above), and the inside of our 'suite' was pure luxury!

Gorgeous antique furniture and replicas scattered around the room.

Spa tub and shower with multiple jets, heated floors throughout.

There was even a luxury toilet...

with a bidet!!! This cracked us up! No pun intended!!!

For our day of fishing, I chose to go with a trout fishing guide named Papa Bill, recommended by a friend of mine. He was AwEsOmE!!! Papa Bill had convinced the guys in the bait shop to sing Happy Birthday to Chris before we got on the water. I wish I had known ahead of time so that I could have recorded it! So we got on the water a little before 8, and here is a little bit of what we saw and did...

A Bald Eagle!!!

Three crane nests with babies!

Doesn't this look amazingly peaceful?

We fished until a little after 4 o'clock, only stopping for an hour to use the 'privy' and eat the fantabulous shore lunch that Papa Bill prepared for us. He filleted the fish right there on the shore, fried it up on a little gas cookstove, and brought homemade cole slaw, hush puppies, and baked beans that his wife had prepared the night before. It was YUMM-O! The elegant picnic lunch started out looking...

Like this.

It cooked up a little...

Like this.

The weekend 'retreat' was a good call on this lady's part! I learned new things: fishing with a spinning reel, trout fishing, drift fishing, and that you CAN fry trout! Most importantly, the two of us truly just enjoyed each other's company and had a weekend full of no-pressure, no rush fun. On the water. Together. Catching fish. 

Can't. Get. Much. Better.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Date Night!

How long has Breaking Dawn been in theaters? FOREVER!!! Hubs finally broke down and took me to see it. He has been so awesome to take me to see each movie in the saga. (I think he actually likes them, to tell the truth.) I was so stoked about date night that I tried a smokey eye with new colors. I tend to be fearful of new colors on my eyes because I am afraid that I will get too much...or too dark. This one worked out great!

Before our movie, my sweet guy took me to dinner at my favorite place to eat steak, Savannah's. I don't typically like steak, and very rarely will order it. On a stroke of extreme randomness one night, I ordered the special (filet mignon, topped with grilled shrimp, smothered in a garlic creme' sauce)...and now I only order steak when we go there. Delish. Truly, it melts in your mouth. This time, the special was crab stuffed filet mignon drizzled with a bleu cheese creme' sauce. Oh. My. Merciful. Heaven. Or possibly hell, because it was so decadent that it had to be sinful. After gorging on amazing steak dinners (that we got for less than half price, thanks to a coupon and an error on the ticket), we headed to the theater. The movie that I have been waiting a year to see...was eh. Just ok. However, I am very excited for Breaking Dawn, Part 2. It will be fantastical! AND I saw the preview for Snow White and the Huntsman. Can't wait! It has the guy from Thor in it...yep, there went my blood pressure. Smokin' hot. Anywho...terrific dinner, decent (but long-awaited) movie, and perfect company...it was a great date night. Love my guy...

,

Let Me Hear You Call Those HOGS!!!

Hello Lovelies!

The hubby decided to take me away for the weekend to a whirlwind affair of Arkansas Razorback Athletic events, shopping, and best of all...exclusive time with him! It was much needed, that's for sure!

We left town as soon as I got home from school and drove the 2 hours to NWA (northwest Arkansas). We hustled to Bud Walton Arena to catch the season opener of the Hogs basketball team with the new head coach, Mike Anderson. While we used to have season tickets, we hadn't been to a basketball game since before we got married. It felt great to be back! It was even more great that the season opener ended with a WIN! Go HOGS go!

Saturday blew in with what felt like gale force winds...there were leaves and trash and hair flying everywhere! That did not stop us from heading out to do some retail therapy! I was very much looking forward to a crafting trip to Joann (fabric and craft store), since we don't have a decent craft store anywhere close to home. I took extra spending money just for that! I also bought enough there that it will be a blog post all its own! Since it was going to be a cold booger at the football game later in the evening, we headed to the mall to buy me a cutesy-tootsey-type coat. Since I ended up leaving with two of them, I'd say it was a success! Next stop, Red Robin for a Bleu Ribbon Burger...YUMMMMM! After that, we headed to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Old Navy before making our way to Razorback Stadium. From then on, it was...

Notice the truck, hauling in Tusk and the cheer/pom/mascot teams!

Parking Tusk's truck...

Pre-game huddle!

The band marching in, LOVE those flags!

A cold, windy night...perfect for snuggling hubs in the stadium! (note the mega-cute red and black jacket!)

The band

More band...I love to watch them...super impressive every time!

Lining up for just another spectacular play! The Hogs moved up to #6 in the SEC, and had the top 2 plays of the night on ESPN Sportscenter Saturday night...and we saw it all live!!! 

I get goose-bumps every time the cheerleaders do this...it's my fave!

We were in.....

Wooooooo Pig Sooieee! Razorbacks!

The only negative to the entire weekend was when I woke up at 5:30 this morning with a migraine. It had me in tears it was so bad. I went ahead and got ready for a day of shopping, but when we got in the car and started moving...my stomach revolted. We made it to the mall just in time to pull into the parking lot, open the door, and retch. Nothing came up. I got back in the car and we headed to Target for Excedrin migraine. Thank God Target was only three minutes away...but lemme just say, puking in the parking lot at Target on Sunday morning while the cart boy looks on...no fun at all, and if I hadn't been in so much pain, it might have even been embarrassing! I was crying and telling Chris I couldn't even handle shopping (if you can fathom such a thing), we had to get home. I hated to end our mini-getaway like that. It just plain sucked. I was probably crying more over ending the trip early than I was over feeling bad!

My husband is such a great man! I love him so much, and was so glad to have spent the last two days with him, and him alone! It would be nice if we could manage more times like that, but I'll take what I can get!

Challenge Day 26/30...Opposites Attract!

Chris attracts me. His type attracts me. Strong. Responsible. Thoughtful. Patient. Resourceful. Artistic. Talented. Reliable. Stable. Peaceful. Hard-working. Loving. Generous. Kind. Soft-spoken.

Everything that I am not!

This guy and everything that makes him my Knight attracts me...I could never love another the way my heart and soul love him.