Celebrating...Jordan

Jordan wanted to celebrate his 26th birthday in Chicago.  The 35° weather wouldn't STOP him.  Since I wasn't thrilled about how cold it would be, I thought I would invite our friends, the Mason's, to join in on the fun.  Misery loves company, right.

We started off the weekend with Jordan's favorite...

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake

{I try not to take offense...I make delicious homemade cakes & Jordan just wants an ice cream cake.}

I invited the Mason's to come enjoy some cake & plan some last minute details to our trip that would take place the following morning, & they made Jordan's day with a gift card to his favorite lunch spot...Wendy's.

The four of us set off early Saturday morning for the airport. 

Destination:  The Windy City {Seriously an understatement!}

We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel located in the ♥ of downtown Chicago. 

Our first goal was to eat a Chicago style deep-dish pizza.  The Real Deal.

We happened upon this place...

where we ate this...

I have got to admit, I never thought I would like deep-dish since I am a HUGE fan of thin crust, but this was 100% tasty!

Foolishly thinking a scrumptious meal like that would warm our souls, we set out to find Navy Pier. 

Lesson Learned:  If one walks TOWARDS a large body of water, {like Lake Michigan, for example} one is more likely to come across wind.  ESPECIALLY if one is in a place named THE WINDY CITY!!!

In all seriousness folks, it felt like my face was going to split open & then shatter like glass.  My face got so cold that I started to talk like I had just been to the dentist & my whole face was numb.  I have never been so cold in my life.

PLUS + + + Navy Pier...

Pretty much CLOSED completely down when it's 35°.  Thankfully there was a large stained glass display we walked through.

 We decided walking was for the birds, & caught a TAXI to see the Sear's Tower.

At the tippy-top.

Cute & brave couple sitting on the glass bottom ledge 1,353 feet up in the air. 

Jordan didn't want anything to do with the glass ledge.  He stayed long enough to snap this picture, but after that he was outta there!

That evening we ate some great Irish cuisine at a pub down the street from our hotel.  The concierge recommended it & it did not disappoint.  We slept in the next morning, exhausted from the previous day, ate a late breakfast at another place recommended by the concierge {another meal that lived up to our expectations} & then went to the Chicago Science & Industry Museum.  Before leaving Chicago, we needed to taste a Chicago Dog, or something along those lines, & since the concierge had a great track record, we asked him where to go...he sent us to Portillo's Hot Dogs.

And do you know what I'm going to say?...Yep, it was satisfying. 

Jordan had a very Happy Birthday.

Thank You to everyone who called, texted, & sent cards!

As a thank you to the Mason's, I made them some Strawberry Cupcakes today...

I love going over there are playing with this adorable little guy, Ralphie.

Speaking of adorable...

Jordan, not me.

Happy Birthday, Babe!  I love You!

Pie Safe-Makeover Edition

I have been sanding.  I have been cleaning and polishing.  I have been sawing & hacking (which resulted in an 'Oops' moment involving my fingers).  I have been priming.  I have been picking out paint colors.  I have been picking out better paint colors.  I have been painting.  I have been antiquing.  I have been varnishing.  I have been picking out & installing new hardware.  And finally after carrying it up a flight of stairs...it is complete!

BEHOLD,

{pause}

the Majesty!

{Too much?}

It wasn't easy & believe it or not the worst part was picking out the paint color.

That is the WORST!

Why does it have to be so stinkin' hard?!?

Anyway, if picking out the paint color hadn't been the hardest part, then cleaning up the tin would have been.  Check it out...

on the left is dirty filth {minus small spot at the top where I had cleaned it up} and on the right is cleaned & cleaned some more. Then spit & shined.

Here it is all primed & ready for some paint {it was in this stage for quite some time while I wrestled with some paint colors}.

Painted before antiquing.

Antiqued & varnished.

And finally it is at its final resting place in the dining room.
I can't wait to fill up my new pantry!
{& I will, as soon as I scrub some leftover paint residue from the tin. I love scrubbing the tin.}

100

In celebration of my

I thought I would compose a list of 100 Things I've Learned Since the Birth of Forever In Blue Jeans:

{Click on colored words to visit link to the post I am referring to.}

1.  I can remember the last 20 months of my life.  Keeping a journal is very wise indeed {especially} for the forgetful.

2.  We enjoy going on vacation.  We have been on many in our four years of marriage.
3.  I find joy in baking & have found I have a knack for it.

4.  It is possible to love every day of your life.  Even 91 years worth of days. 
5.  Birthdays should include loved ones and cake.

6.  I am more creative than I thought and have a highly toxic amount of patience when it comes to PhotoShop.

7.  I love comments.  From others.  They make me happy.  {Thank YOU!}

8.  The ocean is therapeutic.

9.  I learned how to custom make the little emoticon up in the website bar (Do you see it?  It's the tiny pair of jeans next to rogersforeverinbluejeans.blogspot.com).

10.   ♬ Music soothes me. ☊ I love me a good song ♪.

11.  When most people complain on a long, trying hike...I am surprisingly peppy [much to my fellow hikers dislike].

12.  The Bellagio fountains are breathtakingly fabulous!

13.  You can forever change the lives of children {young and old} by opening your ♥ and your home.

14.  My Dad's favorite cake is Chocolate with Chocolate Frosting and Nuts.

15.  Dangerous waves are the best kind of waves...to watch.

16.  I am spoiled.  I already knew this, of course, but it was reaffirmed.

17.  Making pie is as 'easy as pie'.  You just have to have a few tricks up your sleeve to pull it off.

18.  Cotton Candy is edible fun.

19.  The Peterson Family has a crazy absurd amount of stuffed animals.

20.  My husband is an oober nerd.

21.  I am a kid at ♥.  I love visiting the Zoo and I love visiting Disneyland.  I also love Adult-Sized jungle gyms and jumpy castles.

22.  I am always up for watching a movie.

23.  I learned how to make my very own Hello Kitty cupcake wrappers.

24.  I have amazing sisters.

25.  I have amazing brothers. 

26.  I learned how to make a homemade piñata.

27.  Dogs are man's My Best Friends.

28.  Growing up has its upsides & downsides.
29.  I am obsessed with the movie Mulan.

30.  My father-in-law does not like heights.

31.  Beninem has got talent.  ♪ ♫ Serious talent.

32.  Austin, Texas has the most mouthwatering deliciously wonderful food on the planet Earth.

33.  I am a chicken.  Thunder storms scare me. ☂ What the heck am I going to do when there are tornado warnings!?!

34.  Jordan says funny things like "Ooff"

 and "Like a minx"

when he is excited about something.

35.  Texas is dreamy and if people were smart they would all live there.
36.  I learned how to pose like a model and make it on the Disneyland website.

37.  I am infinitely indebted to my parents & I love them deeply.

38.  If I had it my way, I would eat pancakes several times per week.

39.  Bad days are inevitable, but nothing nephews & nieces can't fix ㋡.

40.  Outer Space ☄leaves me with a feeling of Awe.

41.  If I had to pick somewhere to live, I think I would pick San Antonio, Texas.  San Antonio = Heavenly.

42.  I miss LOST.

43.  Silly string is a cheap way to find amusement.  However, it is short lived.

44.  Making human pyramids is piles of fun. 
45.  I love the feeling I get when I am reminded of the freedoms my loved ones and I enjoy every day.  We can all be a little more patriotic.  {Except you, Grandma, you were the perfect amount of patriotic.}

46.  I love tradition!  Be it Easter, Christmas, or Halloween.
47.  T-REX's have short arms and large heads.  So does my bro-in-law.

48.  Hot Tubs on the porch are the BOMB!

49.  The Coke at Disneyland must be lovingly made by all the Disney characters.

50.  I miss Krispy Kreme and free milk deliveries.

51.  I am capable of moving across the country...and survive.
52.  I don't necessarily have to have talent, just be determined.
53.  Flying First Class means you will be very well taken care of.

54.  The Simpson's will forever be my favorite television show.  It is extra special when I watch it with my easily amused/giggly husband.

55.  Sunday dinner is best when served in the backyard on a freshly laid green lawn.
56.  My husband worked his booty off to work through college & get outstanding grades & I learned that he really is a hard worker.
57.  It is next to impossible to 'herd cats', but I know a very special couple that do it every day.

58.  Tim & Holly make super adorable babies {a lot of them too, I might add} & I would appreciate it if they would hand one over.

59.  Meeting lots of family for a late night run for ice cream is really fun.
60.  R2D2 is afraid of haunted houses.

61.  We like sushi!!!

62.  Re-creating Grandma & Grandpa Perkins Fish Fry's is always a good idea.

63.  Sometimes you learn to love the thing you hate the most.

64.  I have worn many beautiful dresses & several not so beautiful dresses.

65.  German Chocolate Cake is my favorite kind of cake.  Especially when eaten with a tall glass of milk.
66.  Everything is BIGGER in Texas.

67.  Antique shopping in Oklahoma is way more fun than Arizona. ① Things are cheaper. ② I actually have a little extra spending $...Oklahoma is missing my mom though.

68.  I learned how to customize my font for post titles & the date on my blog.  Seriously, an accomplishment.
69.  I learned a lot about my family & friends who blog.  I appreciate them putting in the effort to keep us all connected.
70.  I can decorate a puppy dog cake.
71.  Hail storms are destructive, but fun to watch.
72.  Marriage means constantly learning.
73.  I look like Jim Carrey.  Well, Jim Carrey as Dick Harper.
74.  You are never too old to play in the sand.
75.  True loss.
76.  Some trees are as big as a house.

77.  Tortilla chips can be made thinner than anything I've ever had in Arizona.  Genius...and delish!

78.  Parks don't always have playground equipment & the kind of grass you can roll around in.

79.  Use caution when there are too many people on one dinky little dock.

80.  I like to drive golf carts.

81.  Spend an evening in the dark, on a bridge, with a hoard of people, & see absolutely nothing.  Not a single bat.
82.  Painting parties are overrated.
83.  Girls Nights Out are necessary if I ever want to see another chick flick.
84.  Wicked is as good as everyone says it is.
85.  Record amounts of ☃snow ❄can keep an entire state shut down for 48 hours.

86.  I am pretty much as blessed as someone can be.
87.  I have a very creative family when it comes to Halloween costumes. What happened to me?  I think every party needs a pooper?
88.  If you are ever within 100 miles of a Pinkberry, GO!

89.  It is possible for me to enjoy a basketball game.

90.  St. George sunsets are gorgeous.

91. In bad storms, it takes 16.5 hours to drive from Mesa to Denver.  

92.  A countless amount of hours can be spent on the computer.  Time just gets away from you.  5 p.m. rolls around & you realize you never ate breakfast or lunch.
93.  Turning 25 makes you feel old.
94.  Jordan makes a really cute cow.

95.  Lucy is very artistic.

96.  Halloween doughnuts are the tastiest treat.

97.  Old record players make an amazing sound.

98.  Flying ✈ for free really is as terrific as it sounds.

99.  Santa Claus ditched his sleigh & got a helicopter.
100.  Blogging is a healthy outlet & a way for me to express myself.
THE END
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
I celebrated my blogging accomplishments by making a
Coconut Cream Pie

& eating {most} of it. 
Thanks for joining me on this trip down Memory Lane & I sincerely hope you stay for the next
one hundred
posts.

A Work In Progress

Last weekend, I planned a date with my Aunt Kathy & Cousin Lindsay. 

A Saturday full of antique shopping.  It was a good day & I managed to find a truck load full of treasures.

We needed a desk & that was my first priority.  In the back of my mind I wanted to find a large cupboard to serve as a 'pantry.'  I had my heart set on what is called a 'pie safe' or 'jelly cupboard.'  They sell for $800 - $1,000 on eBay & I am not forking out that kind of dough so when I saw this

in one store for $175, I thought "Are you outta your mind? SOLD!!!"

Thank heavens I only thought this & didn't say it out loud because my luck got even better & the lady that managed the store said she'd give it to me for 90 Bucks!

"SOLD!!!" [Out loud this time.]

Now, before you think I'm outta my mind, I know it needs some tender loving care, & that is why this post is called "A Work In Progress."  I've been painstakingly restoring it, so it may be beautiful & when it is finally finished, I will for sure be blogging about it. 

I did find a desk.  This is the bottom

& this is the top [Jordan let a co-worker borrow his drill, so we are waiting to put them together.]

It will be fabulous!

Other great finds of the day included:

A small table - - eventually will go in a bathroom, serving as my nightstand for the time being.

A chair - - I love everything 'Rooster.'

& some wall art - - I loved the water color swan the moment I saw it & had to have it.

I decided I was going to start a collection of 'Ship' pictures & put them above my couch.  The memory I have [besides Vanilla Wafers] of my Grandma & Grandpa Shill is looking at their collection of 'ship' pictures.  I loved it then & I will love it now.

I ♥ antique shopping in Oklahoma.

Reasonable prices & always some great finds.

Now, I've got to go work on my Pie Safe / Pantry Cabinet so I can it to you all!