Chicagoween.


I love that Chicago is the poster city for Halloween. It's apparent by the city-sponsored events like pumpkin carving contests, Fraken Plaza (next to City Hall) downtown and the decor that is on everyone's doorstep. Seriously, people decorate more for Halloween here than most city's do for Christmas! Just driving or walking through the streets you come across homes like this:

 I loved taking walks around the different neighborhoods, because you were bound to found hundreds of homes decorated just like this! It definitely made me jealous that we live in a mid-rise building and not a row house to be able to be festive like this!!

We did try to get into the Halloween spirit by watching Young Frankenstein (a Hunt family favorite!) and an Alfred Hitchcock movie, Rear Window.

Ryan also spotted a little pumpkin patch in the middle of the city, so he took me to buy our pumpkins :)

Halloween weekend we went to Franken Plaza (Daley Plaza, next to City Hall in the Loop) and watched a fire show. It was cool to see their decorations:

Our only photo from Halloween Weekend. Ryan hiding from the ghosts and goblins :)

We went our ward party on Friday night (sorry no photos, I left my camera in my mom's purse in NYC!) and then hosted a Halloween dessert party on Sunday night! It was so fun to bake and plan and have friends over at our place. I managed to take a few pictures of the dessert table, but failed to get any of Ryan and I on Halloween this year :( Don't worry, we didn't dress up or anything, so you're not really missing much.

Hope you had a happy Halloween!!

I changed my mind.

After trying to write on my new blog, I just didn't like it. For some reason the photo-upload was not up-to-date, and it was just so time-consuming to try and transfer things over and redesign the blog. And let's be honest, I just didn't have time to deal with all of that, let alone the patience that is involved in dealing with blogger. So, what I'm trying to say is, I am going to continue to write at this address. I paid my $5/year for additional photo storage and you can happily find the rants and raves of Miss Mrs. Tina Fabulous at www.misstinafabulousblogspot.com

Please visit us often at our virtual home and stay in touch with us.

Love,
Kiley and Ryan 

I have finally decided.

It's time for a new blog. Well, the blog is basically the same, but the URL is different. After a long internal debate, I decided to move the blog over to:


mrstinafabulous.blogspot.com

I wanted to stay true to my blogging alias, Miss Mrs. Tina Fabulous. So, ladies and gentleman, please update your bookmarks and continue to follow me us there.

Love,
Kiley and Ryan

Remember Remember the 5th of November.

We had an annual tradition growing up of celebrating Guy Fawkes Day. Mostly, because our best friends, The Jackson's, are Brits and would throw a big party. I remember as a kid how cool it was that we would all get together on 11/5, hear the story of Guy Fawkes (British man found guilty of treason for attempting to blow up Parliament and kill King James in 1605), and then have a fireworks show. There was always lots of good food, games, and great friendships that were brought together in this celebration. Of course, hearing Uncle Robert tell his version of the Guy Fawkes story, and then lighting off enough fireworks to bring the cops to the party was by far the best part of these celebrations.

As far as I know, the Jackson's continue this tradition to this day, however, with a lot of us being spread out across the country, its just not the same not being all together for this holiday. The tradition runs strong in me, though, and the least I can do is blog about my memories of this great tradition.

When I was in England a few years ago, I got to go to The Tower of London, the castle where Guy Fawkes was tried and killed for treason. It was really cool to see the story come to life-- a story I have known as long as I can remember.

So, in case you don't know the story of Guy Fawkes, here is the famous poem that tells it best:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
...Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

I'm getting back on track. 

The last few (6) months have been kind of crazy for me. The news of the move and then the stress of making the move happen, then actually living in Chicago. Its been a lot of change. My body hasn't taken it so well. I let myself give up my daily running time during the summer months when I was too stressed out to make it a priority (worst decision ever, right?) so once I got to Chicago I was determined to get myself back in gear. I started running in the city, and was doing pretty well at a daily routine. I was feeling good. Until my leg started aching.

I had this burning sensation that ran from my hip down to my leg. At first I thought it was from all the walking we do (at least 2 miles a day in the summer) so I kept running and would just stretch it a lot more. But the pain didn't go away, and it began interrupting my sleep, so after discussing it with my mom, she suggested I lay off running for a while and let it heal. She told me she thought it was my periformis muscle. Since then, I've gone for a run here and there -- and I miss running daily but I know I need to take it easy (and the temperatures are dropping to below my running level).

That being said, I still need to get myself back on track. I'm not loving the 5lbs I've gained this summer from the stress and lack of a daily workout routine, so I'm going to get back into my weight training program and try to build up this leg muscle that I've aggravated. I'm going to lay off sweets (except for Thanksgiving week of course) and adjust my eating habits so they are more conducive to a healthy lifestyle, and hopefully find a yoga class to do on a regular basis. I love yoga. Especially in the winter.

So, why am I telling you all of this? Because I need to be held accountable. I'm going to get my husband onboard, and depending on how motivated I am, I may even wake up at 5:30am to work out with him. Ok, that's a long shot, but I do miss working out with Ryan :)

Wish me luck!

Blogging is cool.

Just in the last week two of my dearest friends (we met my senior year in high school and have stayed close friends throughout college and now marriage & real life) have started blogs, stating me as their inspiration!! I love writing my blog and sharing things about my life with friends and family and I think its so sweet that they like to read my blog and now have decided to start their own. I find blogging to be therapeutic at times and is a good way for me to share our life with others, as we continue to move around the country and be far away from our family and friends. 

I love hearing that I have inspired others to do something similar and document the joys, challenges and simple pleasures of daily life that are worth writing down and sharing with others.

Senior Year:  (From Left) Michelle, Brooke, Marianne, Nicole, Megan, Me, Karah.

My good friend Kiley has the worlds cutest blog which I visit weekly. Even though her and I are too far away to meet for coffee once a week and too busy to talk on the phone regularly, it is so nice to visit her blog and get a glimpse of her fabulous life.

One of my closest friends inspired me to start this blog as a way for our family and friends to keep up with the crazy life we lead moving around the country. Thank you Kiley…aka Mrs. Tina Fabulous! 


Girls, I'm blushing. You are so sweet & I love you both! You inspire me every day and I am so blessed to have you as my friends. In a perfect world we would still be doing Pilates and Yoga in the morning and meeting for drinks or lunch. But instead, we catch up via gchat, text, phone calls and blogs. I'll take what I can get! You're the best! To Michelle and Nicole: Happy blogging!! I love you!

In NYC.


Meetings for Executive Networks in NYC this week. Such a great trip -- bringing HR execs together to network and discuss trends and hot issues. Super fun work, I love it, but its definitely the least amount of sleep I get ever since I've gotten married.

We went to an amazing Broadway show and then watch the end of the World Series Game and then closed out the bar with a couple of our members...and don't worry -- I was only drinking water :) Great conversation, great people.

I love my job!!

Confession: Sometimes I stalk people's blogs. (And I hope I have enough photo space for this  post!)

I mean, who doesn't, right? Ok, but this blog-stalking is for a good cause. It's not really that creepy. It all started because of my mother. She came across my brother's Mission President's Wife's blog. Did you follow all of that? And so my mom called to tell me that she had spent some time scrolling through all of this woman's blog posts to find a photo of my brother. So what did I do? I asked for the URL and went and did the same thing. But I didn't find anything.

Until today.

Apparently over the weekend the missionaries had to go and get flu shots. Direct orders from their Mission Presidents Wife. So she went, with her camera, and fully stocked first aid kit with Disney Band Aids and promised to hold the boys' hands if they got scared. What a great woman! She even linked her picassa album to the blog, so I could look through 200 photos to find the one of my brother.

And here he his, folks:

Taking it like a man! (Trust me, many of his fellow missionaries did not take this shot well).

Sweet Jasmin band-aid. Your nieces would be sooo jealous!! Ps. What is that watch you are wearing??

My incredible little brother, serving his heart out in the SLC mission for our church. 2 years of his life and he is loving it. I have another confession: Wednesdays have become my favorite day of the week. Why? Because that is the day I get a sweet email from Matthew. I have been blown away by how much he has matured and grown over the past 15 months! He has an incredible testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it such a great example to me.  I can't wait to see him next summer when he completes his mission and comes home!!

Here's an excerpt from a recent letter to my mom: 
We have had a great week. We now have 4 people on date for baptisim. On Sunday we only had 1 person on date and now its 4!! Aby who got baptized two weeks ago her little brother and sister now want to be baptized! Then we got a great referral from a bishop about a new family that just moved in. They are Navajo and have a little girl that is 9 that wants and needs to be baptized. The family is extremely nice and i am excited to get to teach them.

Last night we brought a Recent Convert with us to a lesson. His name is Travis and his story is incredible. He has faith and lots of it. He is a great example to me. We taught Niki who is a single mother and struggles with lots of problems. We invited her to come to church and to feel of the power that is manifest through the ordinance of the Sacrament. We promised her that peace will increase in her life and that her week will be much more bearable and she obeys the Lord in Keeping his commandments. Travis bore testimony of his conversions and it has blessed his life. Niki talked about how she knows she needs to go to church and become a member of the Lords Church. It was incredible the spirit prompted me and elder davis and was probably of the most perfect spirit filled lesson of my mission. I love teaching the gospel and seeing people commit themselves.

Well i love you and thank you for being so incredible ...

i miss tri tip a lot!! i miss you bread as well. Dont worry i am not homesick. lol

love

your son

Out of Space.

I was working on my latest post, and got this message (see above). Have any of you run into this problem? I've had my blog for a long time now ... I think I'm pushing 4-5 years now, so maybe I've just uploaded way to many photos in that period of time. There is no way I am purchasing space for more photos.

So, what will I do?

I think I'll finally switch over to my new gmail account- you know, the one with my married name instead of my maiden name... and then start a new blog.

Any other suggestions?

Virginia is for Lovers Post #5: Jefferson & Madison = BFFs.

Or at least that's what everyone told us as we went on these tours. Monday was our last day in Virginia, and we wanted to make the most of it. First we went up to Monticello, which is just beautiful. Set on top of a mountaintop, you could see why Jefferson loved his home. There was a lot that we learned, but I'll let the pictures do the story-telling.

Really cool old tree in front of Jefferson's home.

Monticello Home.

His front door is glass-- that center panel in this photo.

Side/back of Monticello. 

Jefferson had a really diverse and beautiful garden, as well as vineyards.

Isn't it gorgeous?

I liked this tree :)

Jefferon's Grave. He only has 3 things listed on this monument: The Constitution, The Virginia Act for Religious Freedom  and the University of Virginia. Isn't interesting that US President is not listed?

Ryan sizing himself up against Jefferson.

Who is taller? :)

After Jefferson's Monticello, we walked around a few really cute shops at the bottom of the mountain, we found this amazing Pewter store, where Ryan bought me a souvenir! :) And also the General Store (although no General Store will compare to my favorite General Store in Minnesota). Then we headed off to Madison's Montpilier, to see what his life was like.

Unfortunately, we had to cut this trip short since we had to get to the airport, so we only saw the first few rooms. The most interesting thing about Montpilier is that it is currently undergoing restoration. I have never seen a home so bare, and where the foundation is working currently to piece together what the home used to look like -- and that's exactly what is happening at Montpilier. I am excited to go back and see what progress they have made!!

Did you know the DuPonts owned this home for a long period of time?

More beautiful country-side.

We cut it close getting to the airport in time. We thought Montpilier was "on the way" to the airport; when we mapped it, we should have cut at least 30 minutes off our driving time. But as we drove (on 45 MPH country roads) we realized we had underestimated how long it would take us. I grew more and more nervous as I realized that our flight left at 5:35pm, and we would maybe get to the airport by 5:00pm. Yikes!! Mom did her best to drive quickly and at the speed limit, and my sweet husband did his best to not stress out (even though I knew he was totally stressing out in his mind). We got to the airport at 5:00pm, and raced inside. Finding the Southwest kiosk as a challenge (of course the one time we didn't print our boarding passes). We ran to the kiosk, and then ran to security.

The security line was of course long, so I asked "is there a diamond lane??" The TSA woman said yes, go up the elevator and go to Baggage Claim 8. "Upstairs?" I asked, "will it really be faster?". Her response? "YES!" So I grabbed Ryan, and we got in the elevator, gave each other a "I hope this works look" and then ran to Baggage Claim 8 (why is the security line in Baggage Claim? I don't know). We got there, and the line was empty!! Wahoo!!

We ran to the terminal train, got on, and then ran to our gate. Our plane was boarding, and somehow since we were "A" passengers, we got right through the line. We sat in our seats, and I looked at my watch. 5:20pm. How did we just do that? I don't know, but it was a little miracle and we arrived safely in Chicago at 6:35pm.

Virginia is for Lovers Post #4: TJ err Thomas Jefferson err Mr. Jefferson.

Charlottesvillians LOVE Mr. Jefferson. There is a deep respect rooted in the hearts and minds of those who live there. Which is cool, I guess. Just part of the culture, especially on campus The Grounds. Thomas Jefferson lived just outside of Charlottesville, and he designed The University of Virginia. It's a really cool concept, and the architecture is AMAZING. We walked around campus Sunday afternoon ...

The really cute super old church.

Ryan and Mr. Jefferson

The rotunda looks out to the great lawn, and has student residences & professor residences that line either side of the lawn.

Wouldn't it be cool to live there? I thought so too until I saw how tiny they were and realized that they are probably 10x more expensive as regular dorms.

Did you know Edgar Allen Poe went to UVa? It was only for a semester, but they saved his room.

Front of the Rotunda

Virginia is for Lovers Post #3: The Shennendoahs.

I've never really spent much time in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but I got my fair share while I was visiting mom and dad. Apparently these mountains are the oldest in the country, and that is why they are so round (or something like that).

I got to meet up with one of my dearest friends, April Graf, and meet her beautiful 1 year old daughter, Tasha. April picked out this "easy" hike (easy for her, since she is so in shape, being in the military!) while the rest of us struggled up the mountain. Haha. But it was really fun, really beautiful, and I even got to eat a freshly picked apple on my way.

The views of the valley were gorgeous, and although the colors of the leaves were not as vibrant as I would have liked, it was amazing to sit out on these rocks and look out over the world, I mean Virginia.

Our hike on the way down was quicker than the way up! I enjoyed walking through the leaves and the beauty of the trees, and just being out in nature. It's amazing how good it feels to get out of the concrete jungle every now and then!

After our hike we went straight to Sonic in Waynesborro for Limeaid slushes. Sooo good! There are a few sonic's in Illinois but they are too far away for me to get to .... so its a good thing we could go in VA! We had dinner on the Mall in downtown Charlottesville and then sad to say we were so tuckered out from Friday's adventures in Philladelphia, and a full day of exercise that we all went to bed early!!