Thank God I'm A Country Girl

Last year was a whirlwind of concerts. This year I decided to cut back and only see a few select shows. When I heard that Luke Bryan was opening for Jason Aldean there was NO doubt in my mind that I'd be there!

Amy, Kathie, her friend Sherri and a few other friends of friends met up to go together. The show was a total sell out - including all of the lawn seats. That means traffic is going to be crazy! We decided to head in to park around 4:00. The place was an absolute zoo. We parked in one of the free lots just off the highway. It got us parked and settled sooner but it meant hours of traffic afterwards. Oh well. Deal with that when we have to.

We did some tailgating then headed in to the venue. The place was totally packed. Wall to wall humans, most of whom were completely plastered and surprisingly still walking.

Luke Bryan was the star of the night. He put on such a fun show. Shaking his hips, taunting us poor girls in the crowd. His wife was watching him from the side of the stage right next to us. He was making eyes at her. I must say it was rather cute. He's soon to be headlining and I can NOT wait.

Next up was Jason Aldean. Oh how I love this man. He perfected his stage show since last year and did a great job. His wife and kids were also watching the show and Luke came out to watch after his set.

Leaving the show was absolute anarchy. It took us 90 mins to get out of the lot. It was rather ridiculous but all part of the experience right??

All in all it was a great night. The dream team of hot country stars did not disappoint!!

Hitting The Wine Trail - Part I

In much need of some relaxed girl time, I took a day off and Sheila, Jill and I went off on a quest to fill our Connecticut Wine Trail Passport. (Obviously we couldn't possibly make it to all of them in one day hence the Part I in the title)

It was a perfect summer day. Sunny, warm, slight breeze and low humidity. Our mission was to visit the vineyards on the southeastern corner of the state.

First stop was Heritage Trail Vineyard in Lisbon. This was a quaint little place nestled on a road I've passed for years but never have stopped. We chose a table outside and had a very pleasant waitress. She was helpful in explaining the wines we were sampling. They had a little menu so we ordered a cheese plate along with a Mediterranean plate of hummus, taziki and tapenade. The wines were all very delishious as were the snacks. Not knowing what lay ahead I refrained from making any purchases here but could have easily bought several bottles here.

From there we stopped at Dalice Elizabeth Vineyard in Preston. It was a small little building with an odd server who was wearing a grungy tshirt and cargo shorts. We learned mid way through that they had no running water. Ick. All set with here, we got our stamp and moved along.

Next stop was Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington. I loved the feel of this winery. There were beautiful views of the saltwater marshes beyond the grape vines. The building itself was a converted airplane hanger. It was so warm and cozy feeling. It almost felt like being on the inside of a wine barrel. The tastings closed at 3:00 for a wedding which was being set up for as we had our tasting. I bought a bottle of Chardonnay from here. I really enjoyed the whole experience of this vineyard. The staff were incredibly friendly. The views spectacular and wines delishious What else do you need??

Next up was Jonathan Edwards Vineyard in North Stonington. This was a beautiful building, gorgeous patios and gardens all about. The wine was fantastic, by far my favorite of all the places we visited. Unfortunately the service was poor and we had no explanation of what we were being served. I didn't need much explanation any way. I knew what I liked and purchased a few bottles to enjoy at home. A nice crisp white wine perfect for a summer night.

Our last stop was at Stonington Vineyards. They were closing soon after we arrived. We opted to have a single glass on the patio rather then a tasting. It was good, nothing spectacular and nothing bad. Just good.

At this point all of the vineyards in the area were closed. They all seem to close at 5:00, unless they serve food then they seem to be open later.

After all the fun it was time to eat! Mohegan Sun was near by so we went there and continued with our samplings. We went to Michael Jordan's and had the most delicious garlic bread that I've ever had. The bread was light and flaky, almost layered like a puff pastry. It came with a decedent blue cheese fondue. Oh so good!! We contemplated tiring Bar American for salads but opted to go try the new Italian restaurant Ballo. It felt like an Italian castle inside. Huge vaulted ceilings with pillars. Dark rich colors. Plush seating. Dramatic arches. Here we had salads, bread, roasted Brussels sprouts and arancini. Everything was very good and I would definitely come back for a whole meal.

After a stop for coffee and donuts at Krispy Kreme it was time to call it a day. We had such a great time and I can't wait to fill up our passports over the summer!

Changes...

First up, I need to be better about posting but I don't feel I have much of interest going on to comment about. So prepare for boredom! LOL

The other, more significant change, is my girl. She's becoming so grown up. Every day I see it more and more. Gone is the 6 year old mind and here is the teenager point of view.

Part of me dreads her growing up. The other part of me is really enjoying the person she's become. Well, molding into is perhaps a better way to say it.

It started with moving from the back seat to the front. This one seemingly small change is monumental to her. She seems different. Older. I don't know how to describe it.

We've begun to find a better balance of parent and friend. It's difficult to be the friend while enforcing the rules as parent. She's a sly one - if she senses an opportunity she'll snatch it and take advantage! LOL.

We went to pick up some groceries last night. She wanted a piece of pizza then chose to sit at the tables on her own and play on her iPod. The hardest part is letting her find independence and giving her some (controlled) freedom. She proved quite helpful retrieving all of the things I missed on my list. She found a few things she wanted to buy with her money (another grown up thing - she went to the bank and made a withdrawal from her account). She wanted to pay for her pizza and One Direction loot on her own. Such a big, grown up wonderful girl.

Parenting is so interesting. It's hard to close the chapter on her life as a little girl but it's so intriguing to see what this next chapter brings.

All Stars Baby

On a whim, Chip and I decided to go down to Charlotte NC for the NASCAR All Star Race this weekend. Madi and Lucky were having sleep overs at Grandma's and off we went!

We had a nice lunch at Panera after a quick car wash. Traffic in New York was horrendous. It felt like it took forever to get over the GW Bridge. Ugh.

We only laster until somewhere in PA tonight. Tomorrow morning we will get up and do the final leg. I'm SO excited for the race - which happens to include a Blake Shelton performance. Can't beat that!

Now for some sleep and a shower tomorrow morning.

Mothers Day....a perfect day!

Since the day my beautiful baby girl arrived every day has been a day spent being a mom. I've enjoyed the ride over the years (most of the time) and can't imagine life any other way.

Today was a particularly special day spent as a mother. It couldn't have been much more perfect!

When I asked my mom what she has in mind for today. Her answer: how about if we go hang out at the beach, take pictures and get something to eat down by the shore. Ummmmm...... hell yes I do!

So off we went headed to do whatever we felt like in Charleston RI. The sky was still a little overcast when we got there so we poked around at a little flea market we found.

That worked up an appetite so next stop was my new favorite restaurant - Matunuck Oyster Bar. What a wonderful place! It was a beautiful day so we waited for a table on the water. It was so beautiful between the sub shining bright, the boats and wild life around us and an incredible meal. The shrimp were as big as Madi's palm! So delicious and refreshing! The whole meal was spectacular right down to the creme brûlée!

Finally we were ready to go to our original destination - the beach! It was a little chilly by the water but still nice. It felt great to have my feet in the sand again. Madi splashed happily. It was a great ending to the day! We sat for a while and then headed back home. Happy and with the feel of salty air in your hair.

Happy Mothers Day to all!