Ten Favorite Things v.3

Today I'm joining up with Brianna at Endlessly Beloved for her Ten Favorite Things link up.  This months topic is travel.  I love going new places and seeing new things so I'm splitting my ten into five places I've been and loved and five places I really want to go!  If you've got any insight (must eat restaurants, exceptional hotels, or travel tips) on the five I've not been to I'd love it if you'd share them with me!

Ten Favorite Things About: Travel, the places I've loved...

one: Fort Collins, Colorado
Matt, Bella and I road tripped from our home in Illinois to Fort Collins to visit my friend Allis and her family.  I was won over by the scenery, hiking, the overall cleanliness of the town, bike paths and all. the. BREWERIES!  I'd give just about anything for an Odell Easy Street Wheat right about now!!  I'm headed back to visit again in July and can't wait!

two: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
I felt like such a kid exploring all things Disney when I went to California this winter to visit friends.  And if it's okay to be a big kid anywhere, I'd guess Disney would be that place! 

three: Europe.  Specifically Germany and France.
My friend Kira lived in German several years ago and I had the opportunity to visit her.  We had a lot of fun traipsing around Europe!  I fell head over heels for Polish pottery, spätzle and French champagne.

four: San Juan, Puerto Rico 
I still get warm fuzzies when I think about my recent trip to San Juan!  It was such a wonderful time filled with sun, sand, drinks and amazing food!  I'd head back in a heartbeat...

five: Savannah, Georgia
I've been to Savannah on two occasions (once for St. Patrick's Day and once just for giggles) and would be up for another trip.  Who wants to go?  Things I love to do: stroll the cobblestone streets down by the water, drive out to Tybee and hit up Jen's and Friends for Happy Hour!

And the places I know I'd love...
six: Santorini, Greece
I've been dropping not so subtle hints to Matt that I REALLY want to go here in the near future and he's been purposely ignoring me!  Santorini looks incredibly beautiful in every. single. photo I've ever seen and I really want to experience it in real life! 

seven: Texas
Austin.  Dallas/Fort Worth.  Houston.  Amen. 

eight: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
WWOHP or bust.  I can't tell you how many times I re-read this series of books or seen the movies.  I'm DESPERATE to experience everything that this attraction at Universal has to offer!  Too bad I can't apparate and just be there!

nine: Napa Valley, California
Wine country.  Need I say more?

ten: Scotland
My ancestors on my Dad's side are originally from Scotland and the family castle, Foulis Castle is still standing and available for touring.  It would be so neat to fly over and check out some of my family history!

Ten Favorite Things v.3

It's time for this month's Ten Favorite Things link up with Brianna over at Endlessly Beloved.  The topic for April is blogging.  As a new blogger, I was afraid I'd struggle to come up with enough items, but I'm pretty happy with my list!

Ten Favorite Things About: Blogging

one: connections
Getting to know people from all over that I have a genuine connection with is pretty freaking awesome!  So far I've connected with other agriculturists, Labrador lovers and one girl who went to the same college as me... Hi Megan!

two: memories
Blogging gives me the opportunity to put some great memories out there that one day I can look back on and smile at.

three: thoughts and opinions
I can get out my thoughts and ask for yours on all different sorts of things.  I also find it very valuable avenue to get restaurant suggestions and cities to visit! 

four: freedom of speech
So maybe it's not really speech, rather type but it's my place to post what I choose.  Certain posts will reflect that I'm a proud farmer's daughter and agriculturist, but the next day it could be about seeing the world differently than Matt or even a request for hair and beauty advice.

five: showcase talents
I love reading tutorials on blog posts!  The craftier the better.  Blogging gives us a place to show off hidden and not so hidden talents without coming across as a narcissist!

six: product reviews
Not living in town or close to one for that matter, I don't have the opportunity to buy all the latest and greatest trends that hit the beauty scene.  But from reading the reviews that y'all post I know which ones I'll definitely be picking up to try the next time around. 

seven: championing others
This goes along with making connections through blogging, but it provides you with your own  personal cheerleaders!  Everyone lifts you up when you're down and cheers you along as you succeed.

eight: reading other blogs
I was a blog reader long before I was a blog writer.  I still enjoy reading other people's stuff now that I'm blogging regularly.  It's sorta like a pen pal throwback, I dig it!

nine: the recipes
There are some AMAZING food bloggers out there that literally have me drooling over my keyboard with just their photos!

ten: learning something new
Whether I'm the one learning or I'm educating someone, blogging provides a platform to educate.


So what do you enjoy about this bloggy world?

Ten Favorite Things v.2

I'm kicking things off this month with a Ten Favorite Things post and linking up with Brianna over at Endlessly Beloved.  For the month of March she selected the topic of the place you call home.

I struggled a bit about which 'home' I wanted to write about.  Do I write about the house I share with Matt and B or the farm where I was raised that I still refer to as 'home' or something else entirely?? Brianna really left the topic open to interpretation, but I finally settled on the barn.  Because honestly, I'm the most at home wherever my horse is!

Ten Favorite Things About: The Place I Call Home.

one: The barn has always been my sanctuary.  It was a safe harbor throughout all of middle and high school.  Back then I never felt like I fit in with any of the 'clicks' at my tiny little school.  And it's a place I know I can be myself 100%!

No one judges when I have to do chores in a dress...

two: They say home is where you heart is and my heart feels pretty empty when I haven't been around the barn or my horse is a while.  There was a time not long ago when I found myself unemployed and borderline depressed, but after adding back in a barn and the horses I found my happy!

three: I love walking in the barn when the horses are all inside and I'm met with a chorus of whinnies, nickers and soft rumblings.  It typically means they just want fed, but I like to think it means more!

four: The barn where I spent every spare minute I had in high school, provided me with life long friends and mentors.  The women I met there as a teen have helped shape and mold me into who I am today and what kind of horsewoman I want to be! 

five: One of the best things about the barn is the horses that have lived there!  And thanks to my parents and my trainer, I've been blessed with many great horses over the years!  I've had rotten ponies who taught me how to stay on despite their antics.  I've rode some horses that weren't the best or fastest and I've also had horses that have won more than their share of money, trophies, ribbons, tack and belt buckles.  Each one of them have taught me something and will always hold a very special place in my heart!

This is Fred.  He was the BEST!  I learned so much from this guy and miss him terribly!

Louie, my 'fancy' show horse!

This is Six.  He's retired now and lives at my parents farm.

six: All my time at the barn as also taught me how to do practical things like back a tractor and manure spreader (it sounds easy, but it's not!), give an intravenous shot, recognize the signs of a sick horse, fix fence with baling twine and a prayer...  The list could go on and on!

seven: I've also been lucky to find wonderful barns that have lots of comradery amongst the other horse owners.  During the summer, when I'm hauling to shows I know that all I have to do is ask and someone is always willing to travel with me to lend a hand getting both the horse and I ready for the big day.  The friendships I've found have also stretched beyond just the barn!  I've vacationed, shopped and generally acted a fool with many of the friends I've made at the barn over the years!

A little fun on the wine trail in Carbondale!

eight: The barn is also a wonderful place to store, i.e. hide things like new tack, riding boots, etc., from your husband!  Obviously, this only works if said husband doesn't frequent the barn that often.  In case you're wondering, Matt doesn't go to the barn that often!

nine: I love the smells associated with the barn.  Okay, maybe not that smell!  The one's I'm referring to are fresh sawdust, molasses in a bag of feed, newly cut hay (think mowed grass, but better!) and even some of the horse products like fly spray and shampoo.

This is the barn at Victory Junction Gang Camp, where I was a counselor.  The coolest summer job I ever had! 

ten: The barn and the horses is MY thing.  I had always thought I'd marry a guy who was as involved with horses as I was, but that's not the case and now I wouldn't want it any other way.  Matt and I have other hobbies that we enjoy together, but I like having this one all to myself!