Matt Nathenson Concert!

*Experience 25 new things, places, or events in Pittsburgh.*

Last night Tim and I not only went to a concert- we got the VIP treatment! Believe it or not, on my last day of work I called into a radio station on a whim to try to win tickets to a Matt Natheson show. They were giving away tickets to teachers and I thought, hey, why not?! Long story short, I won the tickets and then, later in the day, I got a phone call that I was their grand prize winner and also won overnight accommodations! I was shocked- I never win anything!

So we showed up at the Fairmont Hotel downtown (the newest, fanciest, hotel in the burgh) and checked into our room before the concert. It was a really nice room with an awesome view. We were on the 16th floor and had a great view of Market Square and PPG Place.

 Then, we headed down to the private show and a VIP reception. The reception was cool. They had a ton of fun appetizer foods and and open bar. We even got to meet Matt, who was super cool and down to earth!

After the party they gave us gift bags full of goodies, including signed CD's, and we headed into the ballroom for the show. Matt was great! His music is awesome and he is really funny. He even did a cover of " I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney and  "Little Red Corvette" by Prince- both were awesome. We had a great time and will be seeing Matt next time he is in Pittsburgh!

Some of the videos I took at the show- check out his music!

If you don't have this CD, go get it... now!

Then, since we were right outside of Market Square, we went to Primanti's for dinner. Always so yummy. Plus, with the furry convention in town, it was also super amusing. Did you know that furries have to bring their own super long straws with them when they go drinking so the straw can reach into their animal head? Yea, we learned that last night! After dinner we walked around the square, played in the dancing water at PPG place, then headed back to the hotel to get some rest in a very comfy bed- and maybe raided the minibar ;)

Me enjoying the comfy Fairmont Bed!

Tim checking out the view before we left

Moral of the story: take chances and try something new- you never know when good luck is in your corner! Also, check out Matt Nathenson, he's awesome!!

Shall We Dance?

* Experience 25 new things, places, or events in Pittsburgh*

Tonight Tim and I took a new class together- ballroom dancing! I had bought him a groupon for Valentine's Day this year that was good for six classes at Arthur Murray. I know he likes to dance and we are always at weddings, so I thought it might be fun to try- and it was! We really didn't know what to expect when we got there, but everyone was super helpful. Out teacher was really nice and showed us how to do the basic foxtrot and jitterbug. He kept saying how good we were, but it was only three basic movements so I don't know how he could tell.  During the lesson, Tim was super focused and had an intense look on his face which in turn made me laugh the whole lesson, but overall we pulled it together and learned some stuff. Now we just have to practice and do our homework assignment before the next lesson- watch a dance movie together! Before you know it, we will be winning a mirrorball trophy! 

My dancin' shoes!

Color Me Rad 5K Here I Come!

Okay! It is official- I registered for my first 5K- Color Me Rad. I am SOOO Excited!!

I started running this week so I can make it all 3+ miles on August 25th. Thankfully, Tim is helping me to train and keeping me motivated. We have done two runs so far, and already I am running better. My legs hurt, but it is nice to feel results! Yay for working on losing 25 pounds while training for the 5k- killing two birds with one stone :)

Anyhow, I would LOVE to have more people on my team to help cheer one another on and have an awesome time! Just be sure to register by the 22nd for early bird prices- not to mention the race is filling up fast. When you register be sure to join my team "Running like the Winded"! We will be in the 9:10 time slot. Here is more information:

This race just seems so awesome! The confirmation note even has a sense of humor! To learn more about the race check out the Color Me Rad site and check out this video and you will see why I am SO EXCITED! Hope you can join me!!

Memorial Day Fun!

*  Experience 25 new things, places, or events in Pittsburgh.*

On Memorial Day we spent the day with Katie, Daniel, Becca, and Kevin at Wildwood Highlands in North Park. We played laser tag, go-carted, and competed in the arcade!  Timmy rocked the basketball game, Kevin was a wiz at skee ball, and Becca and I were the laser tag queens. It was so much fun- like we were all kids again! I would highly recommend an afternoon here to anyone! I have been wanting to start to making videos, so I spent a little bit of time making one of our day. Enjoy it and let me know what you think! 

Great New Restaurant's

*1. Experience 25 new things, places, or events in Pittsburgh.*

Recently I have tried a few new restaurant's in town that were pretty darn good, thus kicking off my first goal!

Frogurt: I love frozen yogurt. Like LOVE. My friend Mallory introduced me to these new froyo stores last summer and I have been bummed ever since that there wasn't a froyo place around me. Until now!!!! Three cheers for the guys who finally built one in Monroville. Anyway...  One night, I had a hankering for some froyo, googled it on a whim, and low and behold, to my extreme excitement, there was a new froyo place in Monroville. I called up Mallory and we met there 20 minutes later to enjoy froyo happiness. The thing I love about these new froyo places that are popping up is that you make your own dessert. Since I am trying to lose weight this really helps! I get just a bit of low fat froyo and then load up with fruit and granola (and a few chocolate chips for good measure!). If you haven't been to a froyo place yet, stop reading this blog, put down the computer and go. I will be waiting here when you get back. Now go!

My favorite combo: chocolate froyo with strawberries, bananas, peanut butter sauce, granola, & a few chocolate chips!

Dakota's Bar and Restaurant: Timmy and I went here one night for dinner and much to our surprise it was really good. It is a hole in the wall bar not far from our house and we only decided to try it since we had a coupon. When we first got there the place was completely empty so we were a little worried, but it was a great choice. It looks like a sports bar and has a pretty basic menu: subs, salads, burgers, etc. We ended up ordering two subs and they were great!! We split the turkey bacon swiss and chicken bacon ranch. They were both awesome but I liked the turkey one just a teenie bit more. They were big so we even had leftover for the next day. The prices were good, the service was friendly, and the food was great! If you are ever in the Monroville area check them out! Oh! And the server told us they will be opening a new pittsburgh themed sports bar even closer to us- score!

I had to steal this photo from the internet since I forgot to take one myself!

Gil's Cafe: After Brita's grad party this weekend we decided to stop for some cocktails with my cousin Jill. She suggested this bar/restaurant and it was pretty darn cool. The place was really nice and the service was great. We all split some fried zucchini and Jill and Tim had some mozzarella sticks. I decided to get some clam chowder- my favorite. All of the food was pretty good, but Jill assured us the main meals were great too! I would suggest this place to anyone. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was awesome. I will be back next time we are in the South Park area!

Home Decor Shopping Spree

*15. Decorate my house with 25 new items. Bonus points if I made them myself!*

This weekend we had a nice long three days off to enjoy Memorial day weekend, and boy oh boy did Tim and I stay busy. On Friday we celebrated our second anniversary by going to the drive in. Then, Saturday and Sunday we busted our butts around the house. It  was really nice to get some things checked off the to do list while beating the scorching heat by staying inside. 

On Saturday we painted the kitchen yellow. I like the color but it definitely needs some accent color- cobalt blue! Then on Sunday we did some major cleaning and organizing. In the afternoon I ran out to get some food and thought I would look for some decorations for the fireplace room while I was at it. Looking for some decorations soon turned into decoration the whole room! 

I was shopping at WalMart, which I openly admit to hating, but it is right up the street from my house and often has what I need in one convenient location so I end up there often. Anyway... I was surprised what I found there! I hit up the floral department to find most of the glass containers and fillings that now sit on the mantle. Then, found a lot of stuff I liked from their Better Homes and Gardens collection- including my curtain rods and throw pillows. So, all in all I got a lot of stuff for a decent price, and with a touch of a crafty hand I ended up with this... 

Anniversary Date Night!

*Go on at least one date every month- with Tim, my friends, or even myself!*

This weekend has been busy- and thankfully it's a long one so I still have one more day to enjoy! On Friday, Tim and I celebrated our two year anniversary. We talked about going away for the weekend but decided we would rather use the weekend to work around our house (we are crazy, apparently). So Friday we had a date night! Since the weather was so nice we went to the drive in- one of my favorite summer activities! Even though I fell asleep a few times we had a great night together and a wonderful anniversary! 

Instead of getting each other gifts this year, we decided to buy some new furniture for our front porch. We like to spend a lot of time here in the evenings just enjoying the weather, so we figured it was a perfect gift for our anniversary- it would allow us to spend even more time together! We also decided to write a list of 50 things we love about each other. They were a lot of fun to read together and I look forward to having them to read on future anniversaries. :)

Starting the List... with a Wrap?

Well today I started chipping away at my list and I didn't even realize I was doing it until half way through! Tonight I made a new recipe, which would be one out of twenty five for goal number nineteen, but I caught myself off guard with this recipe because there actually wasn't a recipe at all...

A while back some friends and I went out to dinner at William Penn Tavern in Shadyside. I ordered a veggie wrap. The description of the wrap listed it as being veggies sautéed with balsamic vinaigrette, but I asked to have a chopped turkey burger added to the wrap as well. It was delicious! I had never thought to order a veggie wrap but I loved it- and it was healthy! I figured it was something I could easily replicate at home. So tonight, with the boyfriend away on a fishing trip, I thought I would give it a shot.

First, I cut up a bunch of veggies and sautéed them in olive oil. I used leeks, red and green bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms. I also added in some garlic, salt, and pepper. Then, since I didn't have turkey burgers handy, I added in one can of chicken breast, drained. I let the whole thing simmer and heat up, then I topped it with about 2 tablespoons of Newman's Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette. I stuffed it into a tortilla, added a little bit of shredded mozzarella, and had myself a wrap! It was so good! I even had enough for three more servings so I will be taking it for lunch tomorrow.

The great thing about this dish is it's versitility. You could literally use any veggies you have in your fridge- I would have loved some broccoli or snap peas in mine. Then, you can serve it multiple ways. I really enjoyed it in a wrap but I think it would be great over pasta or rice as well. I am really glad I tried this. It got me cooking with something new, the vinagrette, and is a healthy meal for me (only 2 WW points per serving!) I will definitely be cooking this for the boy some day soon!

One Last Change..

Well it has been a great weekend celebrating my birthday! We celebrated at our birthday party, spent time with our Mom's for Mother's Day, and I even went blonde for a day! Best of all, tomorrow is Timmy's birthday and I get to enjoy the day with him just relaxing (yay for playing hookie!). Hopefully, if it doesn't rain we can go test out my new bike!

Me as a blonde... I wanted to attempt the Ombre look, but with just the bleach 

on it, it got BLONDE! I have never been blonde before, so it was a shock, but I 

kinda liked it. I had them tone it down a bit,  so it looks more natural now, but I 

might want to add a bit more blonde at the tips, so no pictures just yet!

But the real point of this post is to note that, before the project got in full swing, I made one last change to the list. I added Run a 5K to the list (and got ride of make my own piece of clothing). Now, I know I ranted about how I didn't want to put this on my list because I am not a runner, but I also mentioned that I would like to become one. I whined that I didn't want to dedicate one of my goals to something I really didn't want to do, but this 5K changed my mind...

My friend Jess invited me and it seem SO AWESOME. Making yourself a piece of art while running makes it so much more interesting! This 5K seems like it was made for me, so I couldn't just ignore it when it was dropped in my lap. It almost seemed like the universe was screaming "Hey dummie- you should have put this on your list!" So, universe, I am taking your advice. I am running a 5k. It isn't until August so I have time to train, aka learn how to run, but I know I can do it!

And It Begins!

Happy 25th birthday to me! 

Today, at 6:06 in the morning I officially turned twenty five, thus kicking of my 25 in twenty five project. I put the final touches on my list, and I am ready to get to it!  However, I didn't worry about crossing anything off my list today, but instead just enjoyed the company of those around me, and it was a wonderful day!

We were showing a movie at school so it was a pretty easy day- and the kids were awesome. Once they found out it was my birthday there was a lot of singing, in two languages no less, and jokes about me finally turning 18. One of my colleagues even brought in cake to celebrate! Then, to top it all off Mom sent me flowers. They were beautiful and I was so excited- no one had ever sent me flowers before! 

The beautiful gladiolas from my mom! Gladiolas are the 

flowers my grandpa always gave me, so they gave the whole

bouquet a special meaning. 

Then, I came home and got to celebrate with my family! Timmy surprised me with a bike! I have wanted one for  a while so we could go biking together at Duff Park. Plus, now I have my own bike for the Mother's Day bike ride. It is a beautiful blue color and I love it! Then we spent the rest of the night at my brothers house eating an awesome dinner and having a great time.  This was honestly one of the best birthdays ever! I was surrounded by love and happiness all day. I hope this is a sign of what is to come in the next year. 

Testing out my bike for the first time!

Now, without further adieu, the final 25 in Twenty Five list:

1.  Experience 25 new things, places, or events in Pittsburgh.
2. Host a themed cocktail party.
3.  Take a photo everyday using my cell that captures something important or unique about the day. Then, when I turn twenty six make a movie out of all of the pictures from the last year!
4.  Sleep under the stars- with no tent!
5. Read 10 new books.
6. Commit 25 random acts of kindness.
7. Get a massage.
8. Travel internationally.
9. Make a website for my photo company, Dandilynn Photography.
10. Volunteer at least 25 hours.
11. Get my cards read by a fortuneteller.
12. Lose 25 pounds.
13. Get all A's in my graduate classes.
14. Donate blood.
15. Decorate my house with 25 new items. Bonus points if I made them myself!
16. Send 25 cards or letters in the mail- Birthday, Anniversary, or just because, anyway you slice it getting something in the mail that isn't junk is exciting!
17. Try an extreme sport- zip lining, white water rafting, anything!
18. Take one good photo a week using my camera.
19. Cook 25 new recipes focusing on trying new foods.
20. Enter a piece of my artwork into a show or competition.
21. Make a new good friend.
22. Run a 5K.
23. Call or email 25 different parents just to let them know something positive about their child.
24. Write letters to myself that I will read in five, ten, and twenty five years from now.
25. Go on at least one date every month- with Tim, my friends, or even myself!

The list will always be available at the top of this blog. Be sure to check back often for what I am crossing off my list and info on how I did it! 

Finalizing the List

Well, I have been pouring over ideas for the past few weeks since I first posted about my idea for the 25 in twenty five project. I sought out a lot of advice and I got some great ideas along the way (Thanks everyone!). I also got some crazy ones (Adopt 25 puppies? Good one mom!). At one point I had close to forty ideas, and I had to narrow it down, which ended up being harder than I thought it would be, but I did it, and here's how I did it:

First, I decided to throw out some goals that I just didn't have a huge desire to do, like run a 5K. Let me make this clear, I am not a runner. I never have been. I would like to be a runner, most people look so free when they are running, but I'm just not good at it. Could I learn and run and complete a 5K? Sure, but I don't have a huge desire to do it. Therefore it would end up becoming a chore and probably bring on more aggravation than happiness, even given the huge feeling of accomplishment I would have if I finished. I want to do this project to enhance my life, and I want to focus on doing it in ways that push me, but push me in enjoyable ways. So sorry "Run a 5K", you're history, and take "Face A Fear" with you!

Then, I combined items that were similar. "Cook 25 New Recipes" absorbed "Try 25 New Foods"- chances are I will be using new foods when cooking the recipes anyway. "Travel internationally" overtook "Visit 25 States"- they would both be big trips and I probably wouldn't have the money for both- so I went for the bigger of the two trips. "Visit 25 States" is on deck for next year, and I hope to make up for this by taking a few weekend trips- even if it isn't listed as a goal.

Finally, I tried to come up with five words or phrases that I would want to describe the next year of my life. Then, I picked goals that fall into those categories to add to the final list. Anything that didn't quite fit got the boot. So what were the final five categories you ask? Well, I want the next year to be....

• Full of Love- The items in this category should allow me to strengthen my current bonds and make new ones. I can use these items to show people how much I love them, support others, or do anything I can to send love out to the world, because when you send it out you always get it back!
• Adventurous- I don't want to live a boring life, plain and simple. I want to do things that will push me out of my comfort zone, create amazing memories, and become more spontaneous. These moments will become main staples in the highlight reel of my life.
• Healthy- I want to improve my overall health- physical and mental! I am overweight and I want to make a life change for me and any future bambinos that I will need to teach to be healthy. I also want to focus on maintaining good mental health because we all need balance in life, people!
• Successful- Success can refer to any aspect of your life, but I want to focus on success in my work and hobbies. I want to expand and improve my current endeavors- teaching, photography, grad school. Doing so will make me a stronger, more fulfilled person.
• Enchanting- Happy just didn't see like a strong enough word for this category; enchanting just seemed so much more... Magical. Powerful. Important. This is that special category where anything goes! This can include anything that is fun, silly, or outrageous- as long as it adds to overall happiness and makes my life more meaningful!

So there we go folks, the above process is how I came up with THE LIST (insert dramatic music here)! Be sure to check in tomorrow for the debut of the list, and the beginning of my 25 in twenty five project- oh yeah, and my birthday!!!

How It All Started.... or... Is Starting!

My birthday is just around the corner and I'll be twenty five before I know it. Twenty Five. It just sounds.... old. I know it's not, but it sure feels like it. Twenty Five. A quarter of a century. This just seems like it should be a big year. Twenty Five. Something I will remember forever. Stories I will tell my grandkids about. Twenty Five. So somewhere along the line I got this idea... what not challenge myself in my twenty fifth year? Push myself to try new things? Make myself a better person? Set the standard for the next twenty five years?


That ladies and gentlemen is how the 25 in twenty five project was born. I decided to set 25 goals for myself to complete in my twenty fifth year of life. These goals will challenge me to become a better person, cross somethings off of my bucket list, and make some awesome memories along the way. 


As of now, I have a few ideas that I am tossing around:

• Try/experience 25 new things in my hometown of Pittsburgh
• Travel somewhere that involves using my passport (and get on a plane- sorry Canada- you don't count)
• Lose 25 pounds
• Read 10 new books.
• Send 25 cards... in the mail. Everyone loves getting a card in the mail.
• Commit 25 random acts of kindness
• Save $250 to donate to a good cause
• Volunteer at least 25 hours
• Cook 25 new recipes
• Take a class- just for fun
• Visit 25 states- even if only for a few minutes
• Get all A's in my graduate classes
• Make a new good friend
• Enter a piece of my artwork into a show/ competition
• Take a photo a day using my cell phone and make a movie of the previous year when I turn 26
• Take one good photo a week using my camera
• Plant a tree, recycle, or do something else that is "green"
• Do something spontaneous
• Throw a dart at a map and go where it lands

As you can see, these ideas are all over the place, with no real rhyme or reason. The only connection they have is that they will all make my life richer in some way: make me happier, make someone else happier, make this earth a better place to live in general. Some are small ideas, some are big- we all need balance in this life you know! What is important is they will all challenge me to love a fuller life. A happier life. At times, a more exciting life. 

 As you can also see, I don't have 25 ideas yet. Heck, I don't know if I am even keeping the ones I have listed there! So now is where you come in... I want your ideas! If you could go back, or look ahead, and complete this project what would be on your list? What would you want to accomplish? What do you think I should do? I am open to any and all suggestions- big or small! So please, help me out! Inspire me! Help to make this year awesome! And definitely follow the blog to see where this year takes me :)