The Head and the Heart Concert!

For my birthday Tom (being the amazing husband that he is) got us tickets to see the Head and the Heart at the Uptown Theater. I really love this band, and I love going to concerts with Tom. We saw them about a year ago - when they were first coming out at the Record Bar. They were awesome then, and even better this year. You could really tell how much they had grown and improved as performers.

They played 4-5 new songs...and I can say that their new album is going to be GREAT! (one song almost made me cry it was so good!) The lead singer even came out and did a singing/piano solo. The opening acts were so-so, but the venue made everything so cool.

Tom and I hit up happy hour at Bluestem before hand, and got drinks with a couple friends at the Foundry before the show. It was a top-notch night!




If you like alternative/folk music check these guys out! http://www.theheadandtheheart.com/

Fall Happenings With the Sanfords!

We kicked off fall with good food, visits from lots of out of town family, and gearing up for Oktoberfest! Can't wait to see what the rest of fall has to offer! Don't forget Oktoberfest is NEXT weekend. It's going to be great weather and so much fun - hope lots of people can make it out! http://kchopheaven.blogspot.com/

Getting ready to make a HUGE batch of pesto. 

I made pesto with basil from our garden!!!

You can put them in ice cube trays, freeze them and this winter you just throw them in a  pasta or with chicken.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Pesto-Freezing-Method/

Our new fall porch decor! Barb, if you are reading this... do you see the rooster???

New FALL wreath on the front door. I am loving fall, can you tell?

Potato and corn chowder.
Recipe:  http://www.mamalovesfood.com/2011/10/corn-and-potato-chowder-recipe-for.html 

Welcoming in My 26th Year!

Today I celebrated my 26th birthday! Actually, thanks to Tom I have been celebrating for several days now. On Saturday he took me to get a haircut, manicure, and pedicure. Talk about special treatment!! Then we went to eat at Michael Smith, the place where we went on our first date. We both enjoyed an amazing dinner, and eachother's company.

Today I spent the whole day with my good friends Abby and Erica. We ate sushi, went shopping, did some patio drinking, ate cupcakes, and did some serious girl talk! It was so relaxing and fun. If only we could do this everyday!!! haha I came home and Tom fixed me dinner, pasta carbonara, asparagus, and fresh bread. All homemade. All amazing. YUMMY!!!!!!

I had so many nice phone calls, and texts today. I have the best friends and family in the world. I feel so blessed, and really appreciate all the special people in my life. I thought what better way to remind myself of this even more then write out 26 blessings/things I am thankful for! (in no specific order!)

1. My health
2. Tom (he's the best!)
3. My parents 
4. My brother and sister (have went through SO much with these two)
5. My amazing family 
6. My education 
7. Tom's education 
8. My car 
9. All of our FUN friends 
10. My freedom 
11. Our home 
12. My grandma- I know I already said my family, but she's awesome and gets her own shout out.
13. My-inlaws 
14. Having the ability to travel to so many great places
15. Being able to laugh at myself 
16. The amazing fall weather 
17. My belief and relationship with God 
18. GOOD food
19. Wine... yeah, I said it. 
20. The kindness of strangers 
21. The hard/crappy times... because it makes me appreciate the good times that much more
22. Technology 
23. Puppies... I don't have one - but, I will one day and I will be thankful for it
24. Our wedding memories
25. Alpha Chi Omega
26. K-State

Surprise flowers at home from Thomas!

The most delicious birthday dinner Tom made me. 

He's so sneaky!

Aren't my friends cute?!

My manicure from Tom... well he didn't give me the manicure - just planned it!

Christopher Elbow chocolates

New hair! 

Birthday goodies in the mail from mi madre. 

One Year Ago Today...

Sunset Cliffs in San Diego

Green Flash - the moment the sun hits horizon. The angle the sun/water creates a "green flash" 

One year ago today, Tom and I were riding bikes along the pier in San Diego. Tom had surprised me with a trip out to San Diego. I had no idea where they were going and her only hints were; It's West of the Mississippi River, and it's within 1,000 miles of Tucson, Arizona. (that didn't lower it down).

After our bike ride we checked into the hotel and Tom told me to be ready to go by 6 p.m. I couldn't figure out why we were leaving 2 hours earlier than the dinner reservations at 8 p.m.. They got in the car and started driving outside of town. Twenty minutes later we pulled up next to, Sunset Cliffs, a beautiful area that overlooked the ocean. The cliffs are over 100 feet tall, and it's THE best spot to watch a sunset. (literally, it's a fact)
Tom and I got out of the car and walked along the cliffs waiting for, "The Green Flash." Tom was standing behind me and right as the sun was about to go down he handed me a box, and said, "I got you a little something for your birthday." The box Tom handed me was a big box, and could easily fit earrings or a bracelet in it. I opened the box and a piece of paper popped up that said, "This, is just a distraction...turn around." When I turned around Tom was on one knee with the ring.

Long story short: Tom's the most romantic guy I have ever known, Tom asked Libby to marry him, Libby cried and blubbered, "of course," and they lived happily ever after!

Through the past year Tom and I planned a FUN, romantic, wonderful wedding and celebrated becoming "The Sanfords" with the help of all of our family and friends. We moved in together and our making our house a home one room at a time. Not to mention we also... took a honeymoon, changed jobs, fostered puppies, traveled, cooked, ran another 5k, celebrated friends getting married, cried, laughed, and had a very amazing year!

I will never forget that day. I was so happy to have Tom ask me to be his wife, and I was so happy to say YES! It was a wonderful decision on both our parts that have led to many more wonderful times and decisions. Our wedding was the most wonderful day of my life, because... well the reasons are obvious! :) But, the day I got engaged is when it all began - it's a very, very, close second to the best day ever. It almost makes me cry thinking about how amazing it all was. I am going to stop typing now, because I am rambling and becoming emotional. HA! 

I will forever be in love with San Diego and those Sunset Cliffs (and Tom of course). What a romantic memory!! Can we go back tomorrow?? 

We rented bikes and rode them along the pier.

Right after I said "YES!" - best proposal ever.

1

At dinner celebrating!!!

Oktoberfest

The time has come for the annual beer festival. The boys (Tom, Chris, Ashley and Kyle) have worked hard the last few months to put on this fun, fall festival. This beer festival is taking the place of Maifest that took place for two years.

How talented is my husband?!? His ability to brew beer, help plan an event, and still keep everything else going amazes me. So proud of him!

There will be over 20 beers, good food, and great people!  The event is on September 29 at the City Pavilion in KCK. Check out more details below and we hope you can come out and enjoy it.

Key Takeaways: 

• It's a great time, but DON'T drink and drive. 
• Donations are appreciated. 
• Food will be provided. 
• The event is from 12-6. 
• T-shirts, steins, and glasses are for sale now. 

A link to the beer blog with all the details: http://kchopheaven.blogspot.com/

Bring on Fall!

Tom and I welcomed in fall the best way we knew how this weekend! Relaxing of course. :)

We picked out the tile for our upstairs bathroom, put new blinds in the kitchen, went to another fun cooking class, picked a TON of peppers from the garden, and laid in the hammock.

The cooking class was put on by Cupini's - which is an Italian restaurant here in town. We made pasta from scratch - which consisted of rolling it out, and cutting it into little strands. Very fun, but a  lot of work. haha! We even got to take some home to cook and try on our own.

I love this time of year, and the weather that comes along with it! We hope to squeeze lots of fun activities into this fall including, but of course not limited to:

• Chiefs game
• K-State game
• Plaza Art Fair
• One last Royals game
• Winterizing the garden and lawn 
• Celebrating my (26th - ugh getting old!) birthday
• Finishing the upstairs guest bathroom 
• Signing up for another 5k 
• Carving pumpkins 
• Hosting our very first Thanksgiving as "The Sanfords" 
• Enjoying Tom's Oktoberfest (a beer festival that he puts on with his friends!) 
• Plan our next big vacation to... Costa Rica
• Make a hot sauce with our delicious peppers
• American Royal BBQ 
• Florence and the Machine concert

Modeling the Oktoberfest stein!

New blinds in the kitchen

Peppers from our garden

Cupini's pasta sauce

Making our pasta at the cooking class

Hammock time... not to be confused with hammer time. 

Tile selections for the upstairs shower, floor, countertop. 

One Fish, Two Fish... We Got Salmon!

Tom's brother, Rob and his family head up to Alaska every summer to work at a fish cannery in Alaska. He was so thoughtful to send us; King Salmon, Silver Salmon, and Cod for our wedding!

We unfortunately don't get to eat a lot of fish being landlocked in good ol' Kansas, so we were thrilled to have some delicious fish to eat.

We would love to try lots of new recipes and ways to cook the salmon so please feel free to share!!

We hope to get down to Costa Rica to see them when they leave Alaska soon! !