{Road Trippin' Part 7 or Hotel Review}

When I first started searching for hotels, I had no idea what I was doing lol. I had never reserved a hotel before...and I'm 30. So I was scared that something would get screwed up. Luckily, it didn't!

We stayed at the Marriott by the airport. When I booked the hotel I requested 2 queen beds but when D checked us in early they had a room with double beds so we took that instead cause it was done.

The room was clean and because I worked in a hotel as housekeeping for a short time, I know to check it over like crazy lol. I honestly didn't see any problems at all with it as far as cleanliness.

However, I'm pretty sure the expedia.com description of the room/hotel said that every room comes with a microwave and a fridge. It didn't have either. The microwave I could have done without and been fine, but I really could have used that fridge. *sigh* Nothing worth a bad review over though.

The pool was cool :) It was indoor/outdoor which means there was a glass divider in the middle and you could swim under it to get to either side. The kids loved that :). There was a fitness room that I saw no point in using lol. And the hot tub felt kind of amazing.

The beds were comfortable but too soft for D and myself.

The downsides (besides the no microwave/fridge) were that the carpet felt disgusting under my feet. For real. And of course the renovations that were going on all over the place were not ideal. But it was nothing that really caused a problem.

For dinner we decided to head down to the hotel restaurant and see what they had to offer. After a long day of driving and then walking around at Magic House and the Caverns, we had no desire to deal with more driving to find somewhere to eat. I have to say it was so good! Little Boy's meal was free (yay for having a 5yr old! lol), which helped because he doesn't really eat in public (weirdo kid). The food that was eaten though, was just amazing!

 

D got the steak (rare), mashed potatoes, and veggies. Of course I got a bite and it was so good. I don't even like rare steak. But he loved it too. I had the cheese tortellini with chicken. It was so good too! I'm pretty picky about my tortellini too. Everything was so delicious! G & Little Boy both had chicken strips/fries and Drama Queen had a cheese cquesadilla. They all 3 enjoyed their food (well, Little Boy enjoyed the 3 fries he ate *eye roll*).

I am so glad I chose this hotel. And if I were to go back to St Louis I'd stay at the same place.

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{Road Trippin Series Part 6 or Day 2}

Oh man I did not sleep worth a crap last night. Not that the room was uncomfortable or anything but because the bed was way too soft. Not only that but I knew that we needed to up kind of early to get to the City Museum before it got too hot. I also knew that we all could have easily slept the entire day cause we were so tired. Oh and lets not forget that I don't sleep well without noise and the room being totally dark. The kids were watching a movie when I passed out so it was naturally on all night. All those things together make for a very restless sleep for mommy.

D woke us all up at about 730 and we got moving to check out of the hotel. Everyone was pretty good about getting up and getting dressed. We were out the door by 830. Most of that time was me getting ready lol. Sorry guys! Mommy has to be presentable lol. We checked out of the hotel and then headed to the McDonalds up the street for breakfast.

And then we were off to City Museum. Now I'm gonna make a post with a bunch of pics soon but I just have to say this place is amazing! I wasn't sure about it when we were driving through some pretty crappy streets to get there but when I saw the building I was in awe!

We were there from 9am to 230. And let me just say I was so glad we got there that early cause we were able to see and do everything before it got crowded.

After that we started home :). Stopping in Springfield at the mall to do some shopping. I didn't find anything I couldn't live without though and the only thing we left with was 2 bones for the dogs lol. I think I would have had a better time had it been me and a friend or something.

We got home in no time. Why exactly is it that it takes longer to get somewhere than it does to get home?

I was happy to see the puppies. And even happier that they hadn't pooped and peed all over the place lol.

Alrighty...so there you have it. I'll do a couple others posts about the hotel and posting pics of our adventures. I did not get pics of the room like I wanted :( but I can still write a little review just in case someone wants to stay there should they venture that way. So stay tuned!

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{Road Trippin Series Part 5 or Day 1}

Today (June 21) started for us at 3:30am instead of 5:30 like we originally planned. G decided to set his alarm for 3 and it woke up all 3 of them (D, Drama Queen, & G). I got up when I heard people making noise in the living room. We decided to go ahead and leave as soon as everyone was ready instead of waiting. So at it was we got on the road 45min ahead of schedule. We drove about an hour and a half and stopped to feed hungry tummies at Love's truck stop. The McDonald's there was kind of amazing. I usuallu hate McDonald's breakfast. And then we were off again.

Making it to St Louis is record time by 7:30am. We decided to check out the hotel even though the website said check in wasn't until 3pm. Its a good thing we did cause there was a room open and we checked in right away :). After putting all our things in the room and checking out the pool we headed to Magic House.

I have tk say that I was mildly disappointed that we got through it in only 2hrs. Although thr kids had a blast and everyone thought it was awesome. We were lucky that we got there early because at the end of our 2hrs the place was getting crowded and there were too many kids for us.

After since it was only about 11:30am D convinced us to go to Maremac Caverns. He had G convinved the second he said it was a hide out for Jesse James lol. So we did that and I gotta say it was pretty awesome! Walking back in the cave and seeing all that natural awesomeness was just too cool. I don't even know any other words to describe it lol. We had lunch there also and visited the gift shop.  Drama Queen ended up with a little turtle figure and Little Boy got a wooden gun (joy *eye roll*). G couldn't find anything he couldn't live without. The boat ride on the river was pretty cool too and we saw some turtles and a snake lol.

After all that we headed back to the hotel..at which time out GPS decided to take us in complete circles avoiding our hotel completely and that caused a cranky husband. Back at the hotel however a nice log swim in the indoor/outdoor pool made it all better. Everyone relaxed..a little too much actually lol. The kids were complaining about being hungry and us adults were complaining that it was time for bed lol. But we ended up eating at the hotel restaurant.  Although expensive it was so worth it!

And that brings me to right now. We are currently all far too full to move and sitting here watching movies :). There are more pics to come and a review of the hotel but I'll leave you with these few pics that I can upload from my phone.

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{Road Trippin Series Part 4 or All Packed Up}

We leave tomorrow! Oh em gee! I'm so excited!

I wanted to film a snacks video but no one would leave me alone lol, so I just took some pics and that'll do ;)

That is the "trunk" of my car. In the front (closest to the door) we have a blanket for everyone. Mine is the green one on the bottom, then G's camo one, Drama Queens peace one, and Little Boys red one. I also managed to remember G's blanket that he sleeps with every night.  Next to the blankets is mine and D's suitcase. It has all our clothes in it plus my make up, hair stuff, body wash, all that fun stuff.

I was so bummed that I couldn't get all the clothes into 1 suitcase. I thought for sure I could do it. But no. So the boys are sharing a small camo duffel and Drama Queen has her Care Bear bag. Next to that is the treat bag and the cooler. I think we're doing pretty good :)

The kids also have their body pillows or "car pillows" that I made. Little Boy tried his out today while running some last minute errands and he loves it :)

I was going to make a separate post for snacks but since this one was short, I'll just get into it on this one too.

In the cooler there are pepsi's, juice boxes, and capri suns. I stuffed some of those ice pops in there too. I think that's plenty to drink for a 6hr car ride (there and back).

In the snack bag I have small boxes of cereal (apple jacks, corn pops, and fruit loops), mini marshmallows (that are actually for ice cream but Little Boy likes to eat them out of the jar), chocolate chip cookies that I made the other day, and about 6 bags of chips. Nothing overly exciting really. I'm also going to be adding strawberries to the mix but there was no room in the cooler and I know they'll eat those first anyway. Oh! I almost forgot. At the bottom of the snack bag, hidden so they don't eat them 10min after we leave, are 2 boxes of fruit roll ups (found at Deals for $1 each) and 3 bags of Scooby fruit snacks (also for $1 at Deals). I think they'll be a welcome surprise :)

I think that's about wraps it up :). Stay tuned to see what we're taking for entertainment!

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{Road Trippin Part 3 or our hotel pt 1}

Is it weird that I'm 30 years old and I have never had to book a hotel before? D and I didn't go on a honeymoon (yet.) and before that I always went with my grandparents either in the motorhome or my grandmother made the hotel arrangements. So this was a totally new experience for me.

What made it harder was D's insisting on a pool; both indoor and outdoor and an arcade. Although I found a couple that filled the pool requirements I couldn't find an actual arcade in any of the hotels. A lot of them had a few games but none of them had one that was worth the extra money to stay there.

I finally found the St Louis Airport Marriott. I loved the rooms and the pool isn't indoor outdoor but there seems to be a lot of windows up above it. And its about 20-30min from all the attractions that we want to hit while there.

Now if you look at that price on that website..$324/night. Yeah..I was shocked at that too when I looked at it. But because we booked through expedia we got it for way cheaper!! Wait for it... $145 and that's with tax!! I can't believe that deal!! No way would I have booked a $300 a night hotel normally. I had no idea that's what they went for until looking at the website I linked. I am soooo excited!! I've never stayed in a nice hotel before.

Anyway- so I would say if you're going to book a hotel, check out the booking sites and see what kind of amazing deals you can get :). It might save you a ton.

Oh and I will post pics of thr hotel in person too :)

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{I'm bored}

And this is what I do when I'm bored.

1. What do you plan on doing with your life a decade from now?

Well, G and Drama Queen will both be 20 (or close to it) and Little Boy will be 15. So I'm guessing I'll be pulling my hair out with 1 last teenager.

2. Do you support abortion? Yes or No? Give your reasons. 
It depends on the circumstances. I'm neither pro choice nor pro life but I certainly not pro "use abortions as birth control"

3. Do you support euthanasia? Yes or No? Give your reasons.
Do you mean for animals? If they are suffering then yes, put them to sleep. Heaven is a far better place for them.

4. Would you rather go back in time or remain where you are in terms of the time of your life?
Remain where I am. My past sucks.

5. Do you like the school you’re going to? Yes or No? Give your reasons.
I'm not in school. But when I was I didn't really have a problem with it.

6. Who was your favourite Disney princess as a child?
I liked them all but I'd have to say Sleeping Beauty.

7. How do you manage your finances? What do you normally spend it on? And what would you do with your savings for the future?
My husband takes care of the cash flow in this house. I spend it on my kids and make-up lol.

8. Do you still live with your folks?
God no!!

9.  What do you crave for for desserts?
Strawberry cheese cake :)

10. Who are your style icons?
I don't believe I have any. I've always been a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. It's the way I was raised and I like it.

11. Would you rather die by fire or by ice?
In my sleep please. So neither.

12. Do you believe in an afterlife?
Absolutely!

13. What do you fear most about death?
Going too soon. I don't want to leave my kids until they're completely grown with lives of their own. I don't want them to need me anymore.

14. Favourite countries and cities in the world.
I don't really have a favorite.

15. Extrovert or Introvert?
Introvert.

16. Do you own any pets?
Yup. 1 chihuahua, 1 chihuahua/pug, 1 cat, 1 snake *shudders*

17. Last movie you watched? Did you enjoy it?
This is the End. LOVED it!! But I would have loved it anyway cause of the end ;-)

18. Where do you normally shop for clothes?
TJ Max, Vanity, Target, Rue 21, Deb, ect.

19.  Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My grandmother.
 
20.  Favourite TV shows?
True Blood, Mistresses, Hart of Dixie, Parenthood, SVU, Master Chef, Hells Kitchen, Survivor, and lots of others.

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{Happy Fathers Day!}

Dear Dad-

Although it was quite a rough start somehow we built a relationship. After all the bs and drama...you're still my only dad. I wouldn't be who I am without you. I love you Dad, I know I can always count on you when I need you the most.

Your daughter

Dear Husband-

I know I tell you all the time how much I appreciate everything you do so I won't be all long winded about it now. But I love you sooo much and you're such a great dad. :)

Your wife.

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{Road Trippin Series Part 2 or My travel make up case}

I am not one of those people that can pack light lol. Even though we are only going to be gone on this trip over night I have to have everything I'm going to need. There is nothing worse than getting somewhere and realizing that you forgot an important item. I don't know how many times I've gone somewhere and went to reach for my razor or my straightener and its not friggin there.  Annoying much?

Since we are only going for one night I am going to attempt to get everything in one bag. This one..

Its an ecotools by Drew Barrymore. I got it at Big Lots for $5 y'all! I was so excited! I ♡ ecotools!

In it I have my:
(make up)
1.Benefit Porfessionals Primer (sample)
2.Foundation (Revlon color stay 24hr in 150 Buff)
3.Pop Beauty eye liner
4.Physicians Formula Organic mascara (the green tube)
5.Naked Basics pallet
6.Stila pallet (the natural)
7.Cover Girl loose powder (in 105)
8.Sonia Kashuk brushes (crease & blush)
9.Elf eye shadow brush

10.Nutrogena make-up wipes
11.Erase Paste & Boing concealers

(not make up)
1.Dove deodorant
2.Toothpaste/brush
3.Hair brush
4.Razor
5.Olay shaving foam
6.Kids tooth brushes and D's

7.Contact case/solution

Obviously my shampoo/conditioner aren't going to fit in there so I have to take those and my shower gel in plastic bags.

So there we have it. What do you take in your make up case?

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{Road Trippin' Series - Part 1 or Sleepy Heads}

D and I have decided that we're not going to Disney this year. I know. I'm bummed about it. But I think it'd be a better idea to wait. That way I have longer to talk him into buying a camper ;-). We are still going to take a vacation though and I could not be more excited about it! This will be our first actual vacation in about, oh, I'd say 10yrs. Sure we went to Georgia when we first started dating for my brothers Army Grad. and we went to Iowa 2010. But that has been it.

We I have decided on St. Louis. We can go to Six Flags which is something he insisted on (but I'm still not sure about) and I found Magic House also that we're going to go to :). I'm really excited about Magic House I think the kids are gonna freak out! :) We will also do some exploring and see what we can find to do. Not to mention the hotel pool. Naturally we'll be spending some time in that lol.

But because I'm the over planner that I am, I have already started thinking about putting together lists of what we're going to need to take. It's gonna be about a 2 1/2hr car ride. I want to make it as enjoyable as possible. Of course, when I was younger road trips were my favorite part of summer. My grandparents were always loading us into their extra large (very outdated) motor home to take us to TN usually. We also went to FL a couple times I'm told but I don't remember that, and of course Ark to visit family. But in a large motor home you can fit a lot more stuff than you can in my Hyundai Tuscon. So extra planning and over preparing is kind of necessary. We were free to move around and do as we pleased, our kids won't have the luxury (see why we need a camper babe?) so I have to figure out how to keep them all 3 comfortable for 2 1/2hrs.

Naturally to do this, I took to pinterest. I do love that site. And I came across the seat belt pillow. What a great idea! I know my kids aren't the only ones that fall asleep in the car. Little Boy does it pretty much every time we are in there for more than 15min. So I'm seeing some sleeping small people in our road trippin' future. And of course because he's still in a 5 point harness, his head tends to fall forward when he does sleep. Which in turn gives him a headache and a neck ache when he wakes up. Not to mention it makes me uncomfortable to just see him sleeping that way. So I thought, why not make each of the kids one of these??

If I make them each one, there's no need to have bulky pillows in the seat with them. We can easily put their pillows in the back with the luggage. That will give them a lot more room to store their "carry on" bags (which I will explain in a later post since we're obviously not flying to St. Louis). And, I can fold it and just leave it in the car for Little Boy for when we're in the car on a regular day. I'm sure he will love it.

And this brings me to the exciting part! The pictures of the finished products! (I have no idea why it's upside down blogger isn't letting me flip it and the laptop doesn't show it like that.)

They each got their own design and I filled them with full so that they would feel like a real pillow. :) I think they're going to love them. Of course, I'm not going to give them to them until we're on our trip. Just a little surprise for their enjoyment on the day of :).

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{I'd go Anywhere For Youuu}

When I was 7 I had an obsession with New Kids on the Block. For my birthday that year my grandma (my dads mom) bought me 2 tickets to their concert at the Civic Center. I went with my other grandmother (my moms mom). It was my first experience with that large of a crowd. I still remember the excitement of getting ready, standing in line waiting for our chance to walk through the doors. I remember the energy surrounding me as we took our seats and waited for the show to start. I even remember thinking, "those are not the 5 hardest working guys in showbiz" as the announcer introduced some obscure boy group as an opening act. I could feel the bass under my feet and all through my body. It was an amazingly unforgettable night. And so began my love affair with a live show and more importantly...Boy Bands.

Standing outside about to leave for the concert.

I was heartbroken when in '94 (that would have made me 11 by the way) NKOTB broke up. I just could not handle it. I ripped up my concert tickets. Why? I have no friggin' idea lol. I guess I was just an emotional kid. 

It was a few years later before I found another band to obsess over. 98*. Which never really felt right to me. I didn't get the butterflies like I did with NKOTB (even at that age). So when I was sitting up late one night in '97 watching MTV (and no doubt writing something as I usually was), I heard Quit Playing Games (with my heart) for the first time. I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and as I entered the living room again, I heard the most amazing voice. I sat there cross legged on the floor in front of the TV, hanging on every word. I had to know who these 5 guys were. I was then on a mission to track down the name of the group that had so captured my attention. Since there was no internet then I had to just wait and see if I could catch another video at some other time. I finally did. BACKSTREET BOYS. And it began there.

I was immediately in love. I couldn't help myself. I loved everything about them. As the years went on I developed quite a collection of memorabilia. Posters (that covered the walls of my room), pictures I printed out or cut from magazines, CD's, a couple tapes, and anything else that had their name on it. I wanted it all. I began asking for only BSB merchandise for Christmas/Birthdays and I got it. I was covered in Backstreet Boys and that's the way I liked it ;). My mother swore up and down that once I saw them in concert I would stop liking them so much. That the thrill of them would die and I'd move on to someone else.

I went to my first backstreet boys concert in the summer of '98 (August 1st to be exact and that made me 15). I had nose bleed seats but I loved every single second of it. I still remember everything about it, to this day. It was so much fun!! I screamed and cried and jumped up and down. By the time my mother, my cousins girlfriend, my best friend, and myself left the venue I was hoarse, all but losing my voice to the excited squeals.

Much to my mother surprise, my love/obsession not only grew but they were my world. I could not help myself. I loved everything about them. They are what got me through some of the more trying times in my life. Them and their music. I could listen to them and escape whatever was going on at the time. They were my calm, my constant, something to focus on when other things just were not right in my life.

I continued to love them. In '00 they were going on tour again, this time for Millennium. I had to go. And when the radio station announced they were doing a bus tour to get there, I saved my pennies and bought 2 tickets. Along with this came food and a movie. The experience of the bus ride was none too exciting but I didn't let the crappy experience of that over shadow the excitement of the show. I took my other cousins girl friend with me that time. 

Standing outside the bus waiting to get on (Millennium).

My tickets for both Millennium and Black & Blue Tours. Plus my boarding pass to get on the bus.

 

Post concert...excuse the horrible hair and awful angle lol.

 

For the Black & Blue tour in '01 my grandparents took me all the way to Pontiac Michigan. Yeah. Spoiled. I know lol. That's 12 hours round trip. I took my friend with me that time.

Of course I didn't just stop there. In '02 (shortly after I had G) I went to Chicago with my cousin and grandparents to see Nick Carter at the Hard Rock. I went to the HOI Fair to see Nick too. I took my sister to see Aaron Carter on Valentines Day in '01 at the Civic Center. I am a devoted fan :).

And on August 2nd, 2013 I will once again be making a journey to Chicago to watch my boys. Thanks to my awesome husband!! :)

I think it's kind of crazy how when I first started going to concerts you had to call and order your tickets and wait for them to be mailed to you. I printed these out 2min. after I bought them. Decent seats and I'm sooooo excited!!

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