Sugarland!

We saw Sugarland on Thursday at Verizon Amphitheater in Alpharetta!!!!

It was so worth the 75 minute drive from our house.  We missed both opening acts - but got there about 8:30PM with enough time to buy a Bud Light, popcorn, and find our seats.

We sat next to some folks who had driven from Fayetteville, down our way.  We thought we came a long ways, but then 2 fans were called up on stage from Chicago and Tampa!

Look how great seats our were!  You could definitely feel the energy all night - and see Jennifer's 6-month baby bump!!!

This tour was called "In Your Hands" so the fans got to pick the set list.  Luckily, all my favorites were included - Stuck Like Glue, Stay, Little Miss, It Happens, Already Gone, Baby Girl...

And my all-time favorite (super alto envy) - Tonight.  Enjoy!

The Great Cool-Down

At what point do you start to think - oh, YEA!  The weather is changing!  It's going to be fall soon!

For me, it used to be when school started.  So, after Labor Day.  But Georgia schools are already in session and it's still August.  I think it's too early.

But, the temperature today FEELS fall-like.  It is 83 degrees. 

Wait, did I just say that was fall-like?  Isn't fall supposed to threaten snow?  Isn't it supposed to be light-to-heavy jacket weather?  Shouldn't the pumpkins be ready?

Not anymore!  Now, the temp drops below 80...and I have turned on my little space heater in my office.  It gets chilly, peeps!  And the tree at the entrance to my development is dropping leaves.

IT MUST BE ALMOST FALL!

When is YOUR start date for fall?  And what triggers it?

Eating Styles

I am a bored eater. 

And a procrastinator eater.

Figuring these two things out are the first steps to managing it.

Will someone help me figure out how to manage it?

My Top 10 Olympic Moments

The Hartman Household is FRENZIED over the Olympics.  WE LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!!

We have stayed up well past midnight - ALMOST EVERY NIGHT - over the last 2 weeks.  Last night they showed the "highlights" reel prior to the Closing Ceremonies.

Jeff and I grinned at each other: "Yep, we'd seen those already."

I don't think we missed a single 'highlights' moment this Olympics during the coverage.  And we also caught lots and lots of 'not-highlights' moments by virtue of Tivo-ing through 16 hours of programming per day.

So - although NBC has already done this I'm sure - without further ado, here are MY Top 10 Olympic moments. 

1.  McKayla Maroney's impeccable vault to literally vault the US Team into a great position on their first rotation.

2.  Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian ever.

3.  Misty and Kerri win their 3rd beach volleyball gold medal.
4.  USA Women's Swimming ROCKED.  Missy Franklin, Dana Vollmer, Rebecca Soni, Andrea Schmitt, Elizabeth Biesel, Katie Ledecky, Natalie Coughlin...I could go on but that's all I remember off the top of my head.

5.  USA Women's 4x100m Relay sets a new World Record.

6.  Kiran James exchanging bibs with Oscar Pistorius.

7.  The almost-upset of the American girl over the Chinese girl at Table Tennis

8.  Every match of the Indoor Volleyball team except the last 2 sets.

9.  Equestrian events are beautiful.  Even though I don't understand how to win.

10.  Gabby Douglas' triumph, wonderful story, her wonderful family and adopted family, and wonderful coach.  If only every 16 year old had a support system like that!
What was your FAVORITE moment?

Summer Vacation

After we returned from summer vacation at the end of July, it's been a whirlwind!  It was sooo nice to get back to the prairie. 

I just need to see wide open spaces.

And family.

Family from both sides.

And to see everyone come together to visit the farm :)

A once-a-year summer trip is ALWAYS necessary...back to South Dakota roots.  Because you can't get the dusty, windy, beef-eating, beer-drinking, good old Midwest America out of your soul.

Happy August

Sorry for the lack of posting in July.  I apparently decided to take a summer break and forgot to tell you all! 

While I was gone, here are the things you missed:

Fourth of July celebrations
Preparing to go on vacation
A WEEK OF VACA IN SD!
Returning from vacation

Ok, I know it doesn't seem like a big list, but Jeff and I both had an INCREDIBLY hard time preparing to be away from our offices for a whole week. 

The week before we left we both worked like crazy people.  But it paid off - neither of us had much of any email follow-ups or emergencies arise while we were spending quality time with our families.  So grateful!

The week after vacation was also crazy...both of us working well into the evening to 'catch up'. 

So I apologize for not writing.  I have also not tracked as well as I wanted to, not grocery shopped on time, and definitely have not been cooking at home much.  Or exercising much.  Or petting my kitty much.  Time to get back on track!