Here's to 2016!

Well, we're 11 days into 2016 and I'm finally getting around to a New Year blog post. Yes, it's been that kind of year already! 

Ok, actually it was just a rough end to 2015. It was a blur of birthday celebrations, a quick trip to Oregon, holiday celebrations, then a powerful ice storm that left us without power for several days, and then the new year was upon us! It feels like I'm finally getting caught up now. 

So let's catch up. As I said, December was a busy one. After the birthday celebrations, James and I headed up to Oregon with my parents to visit my little sister and her husband. I'd never been to the Pacific Northwest (and neither had James), and I have to say, it was pretty beautiful! James wasn't a fan of the tiny plane we took from Seattle to Medford, but it wasn't too bad. (Though the bathroom was miniscule - if I'd been much further along, I don't know if I could've used it!) 

We were only there a few days, and I can't wait to go back. Maybe in the summer when it is a bit warmer! Though we'll have a little one to take with us then :) 

The holidays are a blur. We didn't even get a Christmas tree this year! I decorated the mantle and hung a wreath on the door, but that's all the holiday cheer we had around here. We came back from visiting family just in time for that ice storm I mentioned, and I got to experience three days in the dark. Thankfully we have a woodburning fireplace and James was able to procure us a generator on the second day, or it would've been truly miserable. I used to love building a fire when it was cold enough for one, but that little experience might have cured me of that. It was during this crazy week that I had the opportunity to drive a brand new Toyota Camry, which I'll tell you about later this week! 

And then there was the new year, which James and I celebrated with a mediocre dinner at Red Lobster, a tiny bottle of champagne, and Red Box. (No, I don't want to talk about that play off game.)

I did stay awake to ring in 2016, but we actually missed the countdown because we were watching my belly move. It is super weird to see your stomach move because there is a little human inside kicking!

Which pretty much brings us to today. I'm growing bigger by the second, it seems. And I'm staying busy with work. And when I'm not working, I'm trying to get our house cleaned back up. We're in the process of turning my office into a nursery (and our guest room into an office/guest room), so everything is topsy turvy. We have a dresser in the living room, baby clothes all over the place, and a general mess going on. 

So that's where I'm at. Trying to stay afloat in a sea of chaos. I'm going to just use this as practice for when the baby actually gets here - which will be in about 14 weeks! 

I promise to be back with at least one more post this week! Until then, Happy Monday!

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

Ghost Tours and Bluegrass in Eureka Springs

A few weeks ago I spent a weekend with my husband's family in Eureka Springs. I'd never really been to Arkansas (unless you count a quick stop at a gas station somewhere along the border), and I was pleasantly surprised by Eureka Springs!

It was such a neat little place. All kinds of cute shops, restaurants, and live music. And lots and lots of hills! I think I walked like 5 miles that first day.

But here's the thing: we staying in the most haunted hotel in America! It's called the Crescent Hotel. It was beautiful, but also a bit creepy. 

The first night there we did a ghost tour of the Crescent's sister hotel, the Basin Park hotel. That tour was less ghosts and more history. But we did get to go on the roof and see the amazing view.

After seeing the roof we visited the Barefoot Ballroom. Of all the places in this hotel, I think this was the creepiest area. The history of the place was pretty cool. I'd tell it to you, but it took our tour guide about two hours to tell us all about it and I don't want to write a novel here. 

On Saturday we drove around the area, stopping by a couple of lakes and the river. We also took a ride on an old train.

Later that night we did the ghost tour at the Crescent Hotel. It was way scarier than the other one, especially since a little girl fell to her death right outside our room! Allegedly she haunts that area, tugging on the sleeve of women and kids. There are supposed to be a variety of ghosts in the hotel, most with sad and tragic stories. 

Let's just say I didn't really sleep that night! Our room was a little creepy to begin with. Mostly dark with a weird little closet. If I didn't have to sleep in the room I probably would've like it more.

We left Sunday morning, and I'm not sure I've been happier to check out of a hotel. I really loved Eureka Springs and I can't wait to go back, but I never want to stay at the Crescent again!

​Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

Breakfast at Tiffanys (Okie Style)

What a week, right? I was at the Mazda dealership at 7 am this morning to drop my CX-5 off for a Mazda engineer to check out. I was at the dealership earlier this week because my CX-5 has been having issues shutting down, and they couldn't figure out what was wrong. So I guess they've called in the big guns and I'm stuck with a loaner for awhile. Which wouldn't be that big a deal, but I drive on a toll road daily, so not having my Pike Pass will be a pain. But at least my CX-5 is still under warranty!

But on to the topic at hand: New York City. I'm finally getting around to looking at some of the photos we took that weekend with my DSLR. I'm still a rather poor photographer - I try to shoot in manual, then get frustrated when it isn't looking right. I really need to take a formal class. The online classes I've tried haven't helped much...but here's what I got!

We visited the NYC Firefighter's Museum, because of course we had to. We actually went to the Key West Firefighter Museum on our honeymoon, so I knew I couldn't get out of this one! James enjoyed himself thoroughly.
 

We didn't have time for me to spend the hours I wanted in the New York Public Library, but I did at least get a picture with the lions!
 

Obviously I couldn't go to New York and not have breakfast at Tiffany's! (Another check on the 30 before Thirty list) I cheated a bit and had a bagel and Dr. Pepper instead of a Danish and coffee, but it totally counts, right? Also, I definitely had to wait for another girl to finish taking her picture in front of the store too. It's a popular place.

We also stopped by Rockefeller Center. We didn't skate, we just did the tourist thing. 

We didn't stop in the zoo, but I couldn't not take a picture of this sign. I have decidedly mixed feelings about the park. I think if it had been warmer I would've enjoyed it more, but it was windy and cold and green. There's all kinds of green in Oklahoma, I wanted New York!
 

We did take a few pictures in Central Park, though!

And James insisted I take his picture in front of the Home Alone Hotel, aka the Plaza. He looks so happy about it, doesn't he? Also, love the couple in the corner of the photo!

Of course we also spent quite a bit of time at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, but it deserves a post its own. It was so powerful. 

The stair climb also deserves its own post. Maybe I can get James to guest post? ;) 

Not the best lighting at 4 World Trade Center - it was still under construction but still impressive. 

It was such a whirlwind trip, and I can't wait to go back someday! James isn't so keen on the idea, but I'll convince him somehow. It would be worth it for the Shake Shack, though rumor has it I can get that in DC.