WSU CC @ Kenosha

This weekend mom, dad and I headed to Kenosha, WI to watch Travis and WSU's men's cross country team run at the NCAA Regional Championships. It was quite a long drive and since we were staying a night in Kenosha, we dropped the dogs off at grandma and grandpa's farm.

The dogs were restless, constantly hopping from the backseat to the front and back again. Here, Mac is sitting on the two center arm rests in between mom and dad watching the road.
Passing by Chicago!

Once we finally arrived in Kenosha, we treated ourselves to an incredibly delicious meal at a German/American restaurant called House of Gerhard's. We shared a Bavarian Roast, an Oscar Schnitzel and the house appetizers among the three of us. After my first bite, I was in heaven. The food was delicious and we cleaned all of the plates!

The men ran at 11am at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. The course was intense. After a short start, the men were up a hill and hiding behind the first hill was a second hill! They had to circle around and climb the hills one more time during the 10k race.

Mom sneaked a shot of the team stretching just before the start of the race.

About a half a mile after the start, the team ran by us and I couldn't believe the shot I got of all of them! We were able to see the team 4 more times after the start including the incredible finish.

WSU butts.

Travis finished second on his team and 29th overall with a time of 34.16.1

Getting some love!

More love!

We are so proud of him!!! I have been so blessed to be able to go to so many meets this year!!! Great job bud!!!

Big Surprises and Big Fun

Tuesday night, mom and I headed out to see "Amelia," the movie about Amelia Earhart. It was excellent and I wouldn't be surprised it recieves several Academy Awards/nomination. On our way home, I was so scrunched up into a ball in the car, I didn't even notice AJ's car in the driveway and was excitedly overjoyed to see him sitting at the table having a beer with dad. We spent the evening looking through photos of our trip so we can put together a book of our three months in Europe.

At the new Howell High School, Showcase Entertainement is filming a new tween show called "The Wannabes." A Radio Disney teen group from Texas, Savvy, is starring as the lead roles in the show. Through some good luck and a few emails, I made my way onto the Extras List and on Wednesday I had my first day of work. I was a background extra for their new music video, "Let's Go."

The premise of the show is that 6 strangers meet at a Performing Arts Boarding School. They all have dreams of becoming popstars and think that they are going to learn everything they need to know to become popstars at the school. Well, they are wrong. Instead, they are taught the traditional performing arts, including ballet. The six unite in their quest and form a pop group called The Wannabes and perform in secret around town.

Since we weren't allowed to take any photographes of the set, here is just a little proof that I was there. Cindy was another extra who I got to dance next to for almost 5 hours! We don't know when the video will be released, but I am excited to see it and hopefully see myself in the background.

All around the school, sets are set up for the show. The cafeteria has banners and lunch menu signs, different classrooms are already arranged and There were about 50 extras from all over the state of Michigan. Click here for a sneak peak of Savvy as The Wannabes.

WSU vs. Oakland University

For the first time in 5 years, I sat on the sidelines of a Wayne State Swimming and Diving meet. It was strange to sit and watch and not be more involved. This Saturday, Wayne State's Swimming and Diving teams headed out to Oakland University for a dual meet. The swim teams helped to raise money and awareness for breast cancer and fashioned pink shirts and caps at the meet.

Here, the women's 200 medley relay just finished with an NCAA qualifying time.
Getting ready to swim.

Some diving photos.

Here's the team cheering on the divers.

Divers :)

Although neither team won, they sure did give the Golden Grizzlies a run for their money.

Breakfast for Dinner

Wednesday nights are my nights to cook at home. In this months issue of Southern Living, there was a mouth-watering recipe that I just had to try. It was for One-Dish Blackberry French Toast and it couldn't wait for a breakfast. Click on the name for the link for the recipe on SouthernLiving.com or follow me through the steps!

1. Begin by cutting a 12 or 16 oz. French bread loaf into 1-1/2-inch cubes. Place half of those cubes into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

2. Cube an 8 oz. block of cream cheese into 1/2-inch cubes and scatter on top of bread cubes.

3. Cook 1 cup of jam (any flavor will do, this time we used blackberry) in a small sauce pan for a few minutes until it is melted and smooth.

4. Drizzle the melted jam over the bread crumbs and cream cheese cubes. Then top with the remaining French bread cubes.

5. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups of half-and-half, 4 large eggs, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

6. Pour the egg mixture over the bread crumbs.

7. Tightly cover the entire dish and chill in the refrigerator for 8-24 hours.

8. Bake at 325 degrees covered for 20 minutes. Uncover the dish and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and the mixture has set.

9. Serve with butter, syrup, or whipped cream and....

ENJOY!

Craft Show Disappointment

On Sunday, I had my first craft show of the season, the Kaleidoscope show at the Life Christian Church Fellowship Hall in Troy. I was so excited getting all of my things together. I worked so hard to make new and beautiful items over the past few weeks and struggled loading everything into my car. I arrived at the hall almost 2 hours before the start of the show to begin setting up my table among the 40 or so other crafters and vendors.

Scattered over my table I had decorated canvas frames, knit hats, journals, mini scrapbooks, and much more. When the show finally opened, it was noticeably slow and the only people walking around were fellow vendors sipping coffee and snacking on donuts and bagels. We were sure there would be large crowds once the church services were over but we weren't so lucky. People trickled in and out throughout the day but never large crowds.

By 1pm I had only sold two things, a knit hat for a woman's cat and a card to a Chinese foreign exchange student. Things weren't looking well and the vendors were starting to get really frustrated, many vowing not to return, including myself. It became clear that the organizers had failed to do effective marketing and advertising. Someone even informed me that they had even failed to make announcements at the end of their church services about the show held a few rooms away.

Luckily, the show was close to both my family and AJ's family and I was so happy to see AJ, his little sister Kira, his mom and my grandparents. My grandma even brought be a delicious packed lunch and my grandpa wandered around his first craft show ever!

Fortunately, I was able to talk with fellow creators and get a sense of how to set up nice displays as well as which shows are worth doing and those that aren't. Additionally, I received many nice compliments about my things which made me feel really good about what I am doing. So I tell myself, it was worth the experience.

WSU Cross Country at GLIAC Championships

While AJ was in Indianapolis with the WSU swim teams today, my parents, grandparents and I ventured near Saginaw to watch my little brother run in the GLIAC Championships for cross country.

Here is Wayne State's team in a huddle just before the race began. It was not warm today and lightly drizzled throughout the entire race. While we were all bundled in several layers, the runners stripped down to their uniforms just before the race began and made us colder just watching them.
Go Travis! GO!!

Travis finished the 8k race in a personal best time dropping 20 seconds and we are so proud of him! Here he is getting some sugar from bundled up Grandma B.

Here's Travis and me! Trav moved up 82 spots from last years finish!!! He was fourth on the team and 32nd overall. It might have been the rain, or maybe I had something in both of my eyes, but I was so happy for him!

After the race we headed to Frankenmuth to enjoy a chicken lunch. We sampled the stuffed chicken, fried chicken, Michigan salad, spatzel, squash, and much more. It was scrumptious and all of us cleaned our plates. We were lucky enough to have the Zendor's chicken come out and say 'hi' to us all. I couldn't miss the photo op with dad!

Counting Inventory

While I am preparing for a craft show, AJ is heading to University of Indianapolis with WSU's swimming and diving teams for the first meet of the season. The swimmers and divers will be competing against Ashland, Truman, and UIndy and I wish them the best of luck.

On Sunday, October 24, I am participating in a craft show hosted by the Clawson-Troy L'Kettes. Because of the number of crafters selling jewelry, I was asked to sell other items and I have been working day and night to create journals books, frames, mobiles, and much more.

Creating an inventory. Filling up my room with stuff. His and Hers Keyhooks. Pencil cans.

Now that my room is all clean and I can finally see my floor again...it is time to start making jewelry for several jewelry parties I am planning for this fall and winter. I got so many great ideas while AJ and I were traveling that I am so excited to start making things.