10 Day YOU Challenge {Picture}

Well, this is it.  The last day of the 10 day challenge.  Now, I'll just have to figure out what I'll blog about. 

{Picture of myself}

Yesterday was spent working out, road tripping to a benefit for a co-workers husband, watching baseball and football and eating buffalo chicken dip (yum!).  Today I'm catching up my DVR, mostly Glee and Castle, watching football and trying to read the rest of Valley of the Dolls.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

10 Day YOU Challenge {Songs}

Two songs:

{one}

Carried Away by George Strait

Hubby and my wedding song.

{two}

Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People

Feel good song of now.

I also like Helena Beat by this group.

What are you favorites?

10 Day YOU Challenge {Films}

{one}

Favorite.

Mary Poppins

This is my all time favorite movie (close tie with the Sound of Music).  I watched this almost daily as a little girl, between this, The Wizard of Oz and My Little Pony.  I used to pretend my luggage was bottomless and I could pull anything out of it.  How awesome would that be?  And to be able to use your umbrella to fly?!  Bomb!

You better believe Quinn will be watching it!  If she's anything like her mama, she'll love it.  Even my 2 1/2 year old niece watches it!

{two}

Newer release.

Just Go With It

I love Jennifer Aniston and of course Adam Sandler is always hilarious.  I watched this when it came out on DVD this summer and found it super funny.  The next day, I sat with my husband and watched it again.  One of the funnier films I've seen this year. 

I watched Bridesmaids with my sister this past weekend, while it was funny (and very naughty), I think it will be even funnier the second go around.  Sort of like Stepbrothers was for me - maybe because everyone talks it up so much that its a little bit of a let down if you're not laughing the entire time. 

Hello govner!

{three}

Netflix Queue.

This movie is the one I'm most excited about seeing out of all the movies in my queue.  I read the book, enjoyed it and am excited to see the movie. 

Hello Colin Egglesfield!

What are your favorite movies?

10 Day YOU Challenge {Books}

Four books:

{one}

 The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

This is hands down, probably my favorite book.  Such a good, interesting, keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat, read.  It's a must read for all.  I don't even get into the whole religion aspect of it that a bunch of people had a problem with when the movie came out.  Either way, it was an engaging book.  Angels & Demons is also a very good read by the same author.

{two}

My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

Hilarious!  She's had some very interesting rendezvous'.

{three}

The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks

I'm a huge fan of all Nicholas Sparks' work.  You know him as the author of many books that have been turned into movies (A Walk To Remember, Dear John, Message In A Bottle, The Notebook...).  The Guardian is my favorite of all his work.  It's thrilling with a side of romance.  Good read if you're looking for something that is easy and intriguing.

{four}

Anything Harry Potter.

Such a good series that is not just for kids.  I have only read the first three but the last four are on my 'to read' list which these days is about 4865465455.6 miles long.  I want to know how it ends!

What are your favorite books?  Any must-reads?

10 Day YOU Challenge {Food}

Five foods via Pinterest (click on pic):

{one}

Baked Potato Soup

This looks super yummy and my husband would love it.  I'm going to try it out sometime as the weather get's colder.

{two}
Marlboro Man Sandwich

I made this for dinner last week and added mozzerella as suggested.  I also used sirloin tips and did not add Tabasco sauce.  This is sure to be a favorite around our house.

{three}

Chicken Mole Pizza.

Featured in this month's Pampered Chef's newsletter.  It looks delicious and PC are always easy to make.  I will try this at least once.

{four}

Crescent breakfast ring.

Because I love breakfast but more specifially anything with eggs, cheese and bacon...lots of bacon.

{five}

Glazed donut muffins.

Say what?!  I particularly love anything glazed that revolves around a donut.  I'm worried that these will become a fast favorite if I make them but I should try them at least once...right?

Any new recipes you would like to share?

10 Day YOU Challenge {Places}

Six places:

{one}

New York, New York.

This is the number one place that I want to take a trip to.   I haven't decided when exactly I'm going to go but it's either going to be in the summer or around Christmas.  Summer means baseball and the beauty of Central Park while it's nice out and Christmas means seeing the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.  I also must visit the Today Show, the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero.

{two}

The beach.

I haven't vacationed out of the United States and the next vacation I go on will be by the beach, with lots o' cocktails, in Mexico or some other place where it's warm.  All I need is my passport and someone to pay and I'm ready to go!

{three}
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
The water park capital of the world or something like that.  We honeymooned and celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary here so it will always have a special little place in my heart.  We can't wait to go back and to bring Quinn with!

{four}
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio.
The roller coaster park of the world...enough said.
Looks like so much fun!

{five}
Peppers Grill & Sports Pub, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
I went to college at UNI and fell in love with Pepper's.  I have never in my life ordered anything from there that tasted bad.  My favorite is the Chicken Finger Salad.  I wish there was a restaurant of this caliber closer to where we live or Pepper's delivered to my house (ya know a few hours away).

{six}

God's country.

Where do you want take a trip to?

10 Day YOU Challenge {Wants}

Seven wants:

{one}

Seeing a Yankees/Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium.  This year I will settle for a Yankees World Series Championship.

{two}

A pair of Christian Louboutin shoes.  Doesn't every girl?  Since the price of these are equivalent to my mortgage payment times five , I will probably never own a pair.  A girl can only dream.

{three}

A fancy pants camera.

{four}

A new pair of running shoes.

 {five}
New TV storage for my living room with a lot of shelves for DVD's and books.



{six}

A family car with a big rear end to put all Quinn's goodies.  Plus, I would look really good in this car.

{seven}
The Pioneer Woman cookbook.

What do you want?

10 Day YOU Challenge {Fears}

{one}

Snakes & spiders.

{two}

Being kidnapped or raped.

{three}

Fire

{four}

Not being the best mom possible, disappointing my child, or having my child hate me.

{five}

Dying young or losing a child/husband (or any close family member for that matter).

{six}
Small spaces.

{seven}
Getting pregnant again.  The thought of this makes me want to cry and vomit everywhere.  Not because I have a bad child just because pregnancy doesn't look good on me and my body detests it.

{eight}
The dark.
I got this one from my dad, I swear.  Either way, I don't ever walk around my house without at least one light on.  My husband has shut the basement lights off on me numerous times and I've literally had tears run down my face on at least one of those occasions.  This is also why I don't go to haunted houses and if I do, I'm attached to someones arm with a grip the Hulk couldn't even break.


What do you fear?

10 Day YOU Challenge {Loves}

{one}

Family.

My husband, daughter and my family are my number one loves (extended and all).  Duh, how can it not be?!  These are the people who are stuck with me for life.  You can choose your friends but you can't choose your family...

{two}

Friends. 

These are the people who have the choice on being in my life or not.  I've kept a few strong friendships from high school, a few from college and now all the friendships I've developed through my husband.  Even though I may not talk to my besties every day or even once a week/month or whenever, it's nice to know we can pick right back up where we left off.

{three} 

Shoes.

{four}

Staying up late and sleeping in the next morning.  I only get to do this on occasion but I still love it!

{five}

Television.

New fall shows and premieres.

Modern Family, Tosh, Castle, Glee & anything Real Housewives.

{six}
Iced coffee and cranberry vodka's.  I don't get to indulge in the latter very often but it still holds a place in my heart and a black spot in my mind.

{seven}
Christmas!

{eight}
Anything that will keep my baby contained, entertained and happy.

{nine}

Working out and playing slow-pitch softball.

What are your loves?

10 Day YOU Challenge {Secrets}

I'm going to attempt to blog for 10 days in a row.  This of course means I'll have to dedicate part of my weekend to writing because we know I can't plan ahead.  Do you think I can do it?  Are you laughing?

I've seen this on a couple different blogs.  Seems simple and fun.

Today is ten secrets.

{one}

My baby is going to be 3 months old next week and I still have anxiety over who gets to hold her and who gets to watch her.

{two}

I'm constantly analyzing who's in my life, how they got there and if I think they should remain.  I don't kick people out of my life for good very often but I definitely adjust and minimize those people who bring negativity or drama.

{three}

I was a cheerleader for 1 year in high school.  It's crazy because it doesn't match my personality at all. 

I wish I was more outgoing and less shy like my husband.  I won't say I'm socially awkward but some might.  Maybe it's a good thing that I'm not so I balance the relationship out.  Yes, these go together.

{four}

When I was younger I hated my name.  What was I thinking?!  Rachel - such an awesome name.

{five}

I ate an entire pan of funfetti cake in college all by myself.  I'm okay with this and I still love this cake and myself all the same.

{six}

In the past, I've been envious of others.  Since graduating college and more so the last year, I've gained a lot of confidence in myself and am practicing more self-love (not to be confused with self-absorption).  I love my friends, family and everything I've been given or worked for in my life.  No need to be jealous of anyone here.  I realize that jealousy gets you no where and you should love and be yourself always. 

After all, God gives you what he thinks you can handle. 

{seven}

I love to pinch other people's pimples.  Yep, I said it.  You know it's fun, don't judge.

{eight}

I want time to freeze.  Quinn is already growing up so fast and I just want her to stay this cute and fun forever.  Next thing I know, she'll be getting on the bus for her first day of kindergarten.

Is this what everyone mom thinks?

{nine}

We have a video monitor in our bedroom that obviously is on the baby.  Every night, I think I hear people in her room.  I have a strong fear that she will be taken in the  middle of the night through her window.  Freaks me out.

{ten}

I went to Vegas a year and a half ago and hated it.  I will never go again, unless I'm forced.

What are your secrets?