Hodge Podge Tag!!

QBS tagged me in this Hodge Podge Tag.  It's a random and fun one!  Hopefully, you'll find out something new about me here!

One of our flower boxes on our deck

Favorite color: Navy blue- it matches everything and allows for great accent accessories whether on your body or in a room.

Favorite Brands/Designers:  Can I say that my current obsession is Petit Ami, Baby Gap, Ralph Lauren, and anyone who does smocking for little boys?  Okay, for me, my favorites are Ralph Lauren for classic, timeless clothing, Ann Taylor for cute, everyday clothes that fit me well, JCrew for dresses and my ruffle obsession and Lilly P for fun summer prints (has anyone NOT said Lilly??).

Favorite Restaurant:  Oh, so many!  Cinc Sentis in Barcelona is beyond fabulous.  I've never eaten like that in my life and would go back JUST to eat there.  Closer to home, I love Rose Angelis, Semi Ramis, and Carnivale in Chicago.  Here in GR our new favorite is Rose's. 

Hobbies: Baking, reading, gardening, working out, playing with my husband and son (awwww...I love saying that word................son)

Favorite thing about yourself:  My smile and the dimples that go with it.  They'll never be as amazing as my brother's dimples, but I do get plenty of compliments on them just the same.  Oh, and I love that I'm left handed!

What does your room look like (color scheme, theme, etc.):  Currently, a mess!!  But we have light blue and white bed linens that I adore, and the room will be built around those colors eventually.  I'd like to have a few shades of blue, ranging from pale to china, tan, and white as the color scheme.  We have a gorgeous corner fireplace, and I'm not sure yet how to incorporate it into the other decor I would normally gravitate towards.  It's got one room ahead of it in the redecorating process, and then we'll start working up there. 

If you could have dinner with 2 people (dead or alive) who would they be: Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Garner for girl's night or Robert Ludlum, Daniel Silva, and my dad for CIA author night.  (Have to put Dad in there as he was the one who got me hooked!!)

What is your next “big splurge”:  A family vacation in 2011 and, in 5-7 years, a kitchen remodel.

What is your favorite joke, quote, or saying: "What did zero say to eight?"  "Nice belt!"  (This works very well in the pediatric world!)

Anything else you would like us to know about you (random fact)!?  I have always wanted to learn to play the stand up bass so that I can play in a jazz trio or quartet and play in a swanky restaurant on Sunday nights.  I get REALLY excited whenever I see a stand up bass on tv or in person and have to point it out to B at least 6 times!

I'd love to see everyone participate in this, but since I'm supposed to tag others, here goes!!
A H.I.T.
Post Smith
Elle
The Preppy Baby
Le Petite Blog
MMM

Sweetheart TAG

I was tagged by Miss Queen Bee for this lovely Valentine's Day tag.  She wanted to know how a few of her married blog friends met and fell in love with their husbands. 

WARNING::::::::LONG

B and I both moved to Chicago in 2001 after we graduated from college (we did not know each other).  That Christmas I met a few of his friends at a party, one of whom asked around, got my number, and then called to ask me on a date.  We went on one date and then his birthday was coming up so my roommate and I went to a group dinner to celebrate J's birthday.  B ended up being there with a few other friends and throughout the night all of us discovered how many mutual friends we had and how much all of us had in common.  Turns out B's aunt and uncle have a condo 1.5 miles from my grandmother's house (up north) and we B, his cousin, my roomie and I all spent 3 summers up north in college at the same time and never met.  This is highly weird as the town is SOOOO small and we all go to the same bars, plus one of my good friends knew and was friends with B's girl cousin.  It also turned out that we were all going up north in a few weeks to go skiing for President's weekend.  So J and I date casually for a few months but it slowly fizzles out and he moves back home.  B and I became great friends and our two groups of friends all settled into a wonderful group.  We all hung out ALL the time.  On NYE 2002 (into 2003) some of the group came over for dinner at our apt prior to heading out to one of the bars.  We all had a wonderful time.  That night both sets of our friends got mad at us individually (and unbeknownst to us) about the fact that we weren't dating and we really should be.

Two weeks later he called to ask me out on a date.  Can I tell you ladies that he called at 7:30 p.m. and wanted to know if I wanted to "grab dinner"?  I was walking home from work, in scrubs, no make-up, hair in a pony.  I said no (as kindly as possible) and told him I was tired.  I didn't even realize that he was actually asking me on a date.  I thought he truly just wanted to eat.  My friend, Katie, spent the next 20 minutes yelling at me telling me that of course he was asking me out and he'd never call again.  So, the next week when he called, I accepted and we went to a little neighborhood pub.  It was such an easy date b/c we had known each other for so long and were already such good friends.  We do state that our "official" anniversary was the weekend of Valentines/Presdient's day weekend when a bunch of our group again went up north to go skiing.  We were inseperable that weekend and pretty much from there on out. 

I did leave Chicago that August for one year as I traveled as a RN.  I lived in Atlanta for 4 months, Denver (LOVE) for 4 months, and LA (can you even imagine me there??) for three.  We maintained a very healthy, happy long distance relationship and truly treasured every moment we spent together when he would come visit or I would go back to Chicago.  We had a few of our "best dates" while we were apart as we would plan such fun things when he came to visit.  B also moved to OK for work for a year (wayyyy long story), so we spent a lot of time apart then too (including a two month break up which was HORRID).  After he moved back to Chicago we moved in together and the rest is history! 

He proposed in April of 07 with the ring around the base of a champagne glass, and we were married in August of 08.  I can not imagine my life without him and I am convinced that God knew exactly what I needed and created him.  Seriously, we just fit together.  I am the luckiest woman to be married to him.  I really don't have any doubts that our marriage will last until we are old and grey.  He is the one thing in my life that I am more sure of than anything.

Okay, long and sappy, but oh so true is over!!!

I'd love to hear a few other bloggers love stories so get going ladies!!

Mrs. Preppy

Shaina

Vineyard Vogue

The Preppy Baby

Thanks, QBS for the tag!!!