A little o' this and a little o' that!

So it seems that we have been super busy lately but not a whole lot of exciting stuff to blog about. But, here's a little update on Team Clancy!


1. Two weeks from tomorrow Brett and I will be landing in Mexico! Everything is arranged and all we have left now is one shopping trip for a few goodies (I am thinking Old Navy since they have some cute spring stuff out and great prices) and a long night of packing!


2. Brett has officially lost 15 pounds!!!! He has worked so hard - 30 Day Shred in the morning, gym in the evening and counting calories in EVERYTHING!!!! Way to go baby!


3. A few weeks ago, we went to my first Bulls game. It was so much fun AND Vince Vaughn was there. I zoomed way in with my camera but it still came out blurry :-)



4. We have been drinking lots of fruit smoothies for breakfast and I just thought I would share the recipe to our favorites flavor - Peanut Butter Banana
In a blender, put 1 container vanilla yogurt, 1 large banana, 2 T peanut butter, and a handful of ice. Blend until smooth. If you like it thicker or thinner, add more ice or milk. This makes enough for two good size smoothies so split it between two glasses. Brett's then gets a scoop of protein, I get a scoop of flax seed. Stir and enjoy!!!

In case you didn't know - yesterday was the Super Bowl. The Saints won. I called it.

Now that I have updated you all on the football news, here's the fun stuff - our DiGiorno sponsored pizza party!!!! I signed up several weeks ago to "host" a DiGiorno Game Day Believers Party (spokesman is none other than Pittsburgh's own Jerome "The Bus" Bettis) and was picked. I received this fabulous "party pack" complete with 6 coupons for free Digiorno pizzas, $4 off coupons for my guests, a DiGiorno hot pad, a DiGiorno pizza cutter, DiGiorno stickers, and DiGiorno party beads. The catch? Serve the pizza and upload photos. Basically - eat and blog - that I can do. By the way . . . the thin crispy flatbread Chicken Tuscano is OUT OF THIS WORLD and the garlic bread crust pizzas are way Delicious as well!!!

Brett and I and ALL our pizzas!

Lucy wearing her DiGiorno beads

"Tucker, what did you do for those beads?"

I made a Brownie Banana Split Pizza to keep up with the theme for dessert

The Billings Family LOVE DiGiorno pizza!

And last, the boys and their food...

Another Fab (but chilly) Day at Wrigley!

On Sunday Brett and I attended Cubs game #2 of the season, Natalie and Jason came along so it was an obviously fab time! We got the bar by 11 for some pre-game Bloody's (Jason actually asked for his to be "less bloody and more Mary"). We made it to the 7th inning when it was time to go! Although the sun was out, we were in the shade and the wind was blowing...BRRRR!!! The Cubs ended up losing so we did not miss the singing of Go! Cubs! Go! So back to the Red Ivy we went to spend the rest of the day! The pics tell the story....

"Missy and Nattie" Brett touching Jason's wife.Brett playing air guitar...Jason, Brett and a random guy...

The Billings' and The Clancy's and the same random guy...

Were you guys trying to figure out the train schedule?

Jason making some friends...

Warm and Wonderful Weekend!

Happy Monday! Finally, a weekend of warm weather to brag about!

Friday night Brett and I spent some time at the gym. I am running in the Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K on June 6, and Brett is "training" me, so yes, we spent Friday night at the gym. We are also thinking of a longer race in early fall, but those details have not been made public yet. HAHAHA!!! Anyway, Brett woke up early on Saturday to golf with his friend Taco. They golfed at Pheasant Run and had lunch at "their" place, The Brick House Tavern & Tap in Downers Grove. If you go to the web site, you will see why it is "their" place.

Natalie came over, and after a quick stop at Starbuck's, we headed to the French Market in Wheaton. We had a great time looking at all the local jewelers, fruits and veggies, flowers etc. We were both able to find something very unique for Mother's Day (my mamma is a reader so you will have to wait to hear what I bought) so it was a successful trip. I spent the rest of the day at Home Depot and Lowe's buying flowers and then planting. The yard is starting to look very nice and inviting for all those summer days of relaxing on the patio. Brett and I went to church on Saturday night and got a little laugh that there was no wine due to the swine flu.

Sunday morning we did a little yard work and then headed to Wrigley for our first Cubs game of the season. What a blast we had! We stopped at The Red Ivy for a Bloody Mary before the game - who knew they had a Sunday special and they were only $4!!! We made it into the park for the pre game ceremony to retire Fergie Jenkins' and Greg Maddux's numbers. Brett loved it! Had a few Old Styles and a hot dog and ended up with a Cubs Win!!! Cubs Win!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Brett's rendition of Go, Cubs, Go....

After leaving the park, we decided it was too early to go home so we went back to the Red Ivy for a few more $4 Bloody Marys. While there, we received free entertainment from the gentleman who had had a little too much to drink and made his own solo dance party in the middle of the bar....

We decided at about 7:30 that it was time to be responsible and go home.

What a fantastic weekend! If only I could figure out a way to make them last a little longer!

Proud to be a Steelers Fan!!!

We had a Super Bowl party yesterday with just a few friends. I wanted to keep it small so I could watch the game. It was a little disheartening that the only thing with Steelers on it that I could find were balloons, but the party was great anyway. We had lots of fun with great friends and the best part of it all...

The Steelers won the Super Bowl!!!!

It really was a GREAT game though and Tucker was so into it and nervous that the Steelers were going to lose, he could only watch with one eye...

Brett was awesome and went to the store that morning and got us all 3D glasses to watch the 3D commercials in. Too bad I don't have a picture of everyone in the room staring at the TV with paper glasses on...very funny!

The Billings Family... Tux at his first Super Bowl-he was way more interested in the toys. The "Chatty Cathy" table for those less interested in the game...

A battle of red and white and black and gold.... Lucy in her permanent spot-by the snack table!
Thanks everyone for a great day! Way to go Steelers!!!

Here we go Steelers, here we...don't go.

Hate. Ben. Roethlisberger.

OK, maybe I don’t completely hate him, but he is not and never has been my favorite Steeler. After last night, he is pretty far down on the list. In fact I may or may not have wished him another motorcycle accident on his way home from Heinz Field. Maybe I am being dramatic, but when you sit around in all your Steeler garb, you get your husband who is a Bears fan to put on a Steelers jersey and both of your dogs are wearing Steelers bandannas and using terrible towels for blankets…you sit and watch a whole game and are totally pumped that they might just win this game…and then, just like that, they lose. That hurts!

My first Cubs' playoff game!

Brett has always told me that being a Cub fan means getting your heart broken…I guess I am learning this the hard way. We went to Game 1 on Wednesday night and even being a baseball knowledge novice, I could tell they did not play very well. I went with so much excitement and enthusiasm and left feeling dejected. The Cubs lost to the Dodgers, 7-2. Don’t worry, we went to Bernie’s after the game and I quickly felt better…perhaps they’ll win tonight and then the next two on the road and it won’t even be an issue.

Let's Go Cubbies!!!

Hey Chicago, what do you say?

On Wednesday night, Brett and I went to the Cub game to preview our season ticket seats for next year. Yep, we are the proud owners of ¼ of 4 season tickets. The seats are actually quite good…. As you can see, there is a nice clear view of the field.

Wednesday night turned out to be one of the slower games as of late and ultimately they lost to the Brewers 6-2. In addition we arrived at Wrigley too late to get a Carlos Zambrano bobble head. As with every Cub game we go to though, we had a great time. We sat with a friend of Brett’s from the office (man next to Brett) and his Dad (not pictured).

Afterward, we went to Bernie’s with Greg and Adam (also friends from the office). I offered a man some money to purchase his bobble head but he declined. His friend however offered that he thought there might have another sort of bobble head for sale. Gotta love Cub fans!

Well, the Cubs may of lost while we were there, but they still have a chance to clinch the division in the games ahead against the Cardinals. This is the first time they have clinched two years in a row since 1907 and 1908. We will hopefully be celebrating a World Series win this year for the first time in 100 years…CUBS ARE GONNA WIN TODAY!

Are you ready for some football?

Well after our first weekend of football, I think I am finally ready for a change of season. I love summer, I really do. I am a teacher so of course it is the best time of year as I get to be on my own schedule and not get up for work every day. I hang out with the girls, take the dogs to the dog park, and read fantastic books while basking in the sun. Oh the life! Well, it is over and I am back to reality. I find it much easier to come to work when the weather is a bit dismal and I don’t have to sit inside staring at the beautiful sunshine. With the passing of summer comes fall and that means football. I cannot tell you what a great time Brett and I have every Sunday spending the whole day on the couch, eating phenomenal food, and checking scores to every game to see if we will be ahead in the pool for the week. This coming Sunday we will go back to our traditional cuisine of Sunday Soup/ Chili/ Stew, basically anything made in the crock pot that can cook all day and have the house smelling great.

Brett is doing fantasy football this year, in addition to the office pool that we both participate in. Apparently, I have better karma than a bunch of attorneys and I have made the playoffs the past two years and won the Super bowl last year. Anyway, this past Sunday Brett sat in “his” chair with the TV on and his computer in his lap so that he could monitor every play and every team. He truly looked like a king in his castle. It didn’t last long though because shortly into the first quarter, his first round draft pick was injured and will miss the entire season…yes his starting quarterback was Tom Brady. Poor Tom and poor Brett.

It seems that each year our football watching traditions get better and better. This year’s project is to attempt to build some sort of entertainment center in the garage and hook up our “old, big” TV. Cable right now is still in question. We got the idea from a party we went to last year where the family rented a big screen and had a Steelers watching party in their garage. The door was up, a squares pool was drawn on the driveway, and it was a blast. A bit chilly, but no worse than actually being at the game.




We are both looking forward to a successful season for both of our teams…so far the Steelers and the Bears are 1-0!