November. Where have you gone?

I can't believe its November 22 and I am just beginning my blogging on this month! I am so so behind-- we have had an awesome November and I am excited to share. Let's get back to the beginning and talk about one of our favorite nights out--  Da Bulls.

We live about 2 miles from the United Center. We have driven by before, and were excited to make it to our first game. Lucky for us Ryan's Boss's, Boss's Boss has season tickets and somehow we landed ourselves with a pair of great seats.

Can I get more court in this picture?

From our seats.

The game turned out to be a really close one. The Nuggets and Bulls kept going back and forth, and back and forth and the fans started getting loud and into it. It was really fun--and the Bulls won! I can't wait to go to another game!

The one thing I could NOT understand was what the Bulls Girls were thinking when they wore this for a routine:

I had no idea bright-colored UNITARDS were back in. Seriously, no one looks good in these things.

After the game we took a few minutes to admire and respect the Michael Jordan statue. His list of accomplishments are impressive.

Seriously, amazing.

Hopefully next time we can see the Blackhawks play and then the Bulls vs. the Jazz!!

Playing Catch-Up: NYC

Last month I got to go to NYC for work. We were hosting a conference, and it happened to be a conference that my dad was attending (Note: I found out about the company I work for, Executive Networks, through my dad, who has been a member of these networks for 5 years or so.)

On our way to Times Square/Theater District

It was so great to spend a little time with Mom and Dad while I was working. We took off and got dessert one night at Magnolia's, and also got to take a walk to Central Park & grab dinner and cheesecake at Carnegie Deli. We got to see Scottsboro Boys together as part of the conference and in the middle of all of that I was working like crazy. Like way more than usual but it was so much fun. I love attending our conferences. Other highlights of the trip were seeing Miss Emily King & AnnMarie Dunn. I love great friendships that surpass distance!

Such a great show!!

Mother Daughter.

Here are some photos from the trip. We had the best weather ever while in NYC. It was borderline too warm! Love the fall colors and the great fall weather. Love NYC.

Aren't they the cutest ever?

Colors in Central Park.

Me admiring the beautiful tree-- and dad trying to capture it :)

Love fall.

Everyday Moments.

Ryan texted me last night letting me know his train was 10 minutes late. Little did I know that his train being late was a decoy so he could have time to stop and buy me flowers on his way home from work. Imagine my surprise (and grin on my face) when I saw him walk in the house with these.

Isn't he the sweetest??

Growing up it would warm my heart to see men with a bouquet of flowers in their hand after work, knowing they were taking flowers home to their love. I just think its so sweet and so romantic. I would usually catch these men in action in big cities like San Francisco or NYC - probably because these men were walking home or to the train, bus, etc and its more obvious to see in places like that. Now I can just imagine my sweet hubby being one of those men walking home from the train station, flowers in hand for his love-- me! I am the luckiest.  

The Innovator's take on Thanksgiving Dinner.

This is so not the Thanksgiving Dinner for me, but I thought it was so clever and beautiful that I had to post it. What are your thoughts? Will make the Turkey Cake for Thanksgiving Dinner??

I've included the recipe below:

For the turkey layers:

• Unsalted butter, for coating the pans
• 2 pounds ground turkey breast
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated on the small holes of a box grater
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 
  

For the sweet potato layer:

• 1 pound sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick)
• 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
• Pinch ground mace or nutmeg
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 
  

To assemble:

• About 5 cups or 1 recipe Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, warm
• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce, such as our Cranberry and Citrus Sauce, chilled, excess liquid drained
• 2 1/2 cups Sausage Stuffing, warm
• 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
• Gravy, for serving (optional)

To assemble:

1. Arrange a rack in the lower third of the oven.
2. Run a knife around the edge of the turkey cakes. Unmold one of the turkey layers and place it bottom-side up on an overturned 8-inch cake pan or in an ovenproof serving dish. With a long knife or offset spatula, evenly spread 1 1/4 cups of the mashed potatoes over the top of the cake, leaving a 1/2 -inch border (keep the remaining potatoes warm).
3. Using the back of a clean spoon, spread the cranberry sauce evenly over the mashed potatoes.
4. Using your hands, gently pack the stuffing in an even layer over the cranberry sauce, using one hand to keep any stuffing from falling off the side. Press gently on the stuffing to make sure it adheres to the mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.
5. Evenly spread another 1 1/4 cups of the mashed potatoes over the stuffing (keep the remaining potatoes warm).
6. Unmold the second turkey layer and place it bottom-side up on top of the mashed potatoes.
7. Transfer the cake pan or serving dish with the partially assembled cake to a baking sheet and bake until heated through, about 30 to 40 minutes (an instant-read thermometer should register 165°F).
8. Remove from the oven and set aside. Heat the oven to broil.
9. With a long knife or offset spatula, evenly coat the outside (but not top) of the entire cake with the remaining mashed potatoes (you may have a little left over).
10. With a clean long knife or offset spatula, evenly spread all of the sweet potatoes on top of the cake. Arrange the marshmallows across the top and gently press them into the sweet potatoes.
11. Return the baking sheet with the assembled cake to the oven and broil until the marshmallows are golden, about 1 to 2 minutes (watch closely so the marshmallows don’t burn). Using two flat spatulas, carefully transfer the cake to a serving dish. Serve immediately with gravy, if desired.

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!