An Urban Quest: A Girls Night in K-Town

2 weekends ago we had a girls night here in Kingston. We pretty much do the same thing when we go out, have some drinks at home and then head out to the pubs. This time we decided to make the trip down to the pub a bit more of an adventure, and try our hands (minds) at an Urban Quest. 

So we downloaded our handy dandy clues book from the site and set out. It was great fun running around the city like crazy people and learning about about the places we walk by everyday. Doing it at night was a bit of a challenge as you can't see all the landmarks, but we had home court advantage and could figure it out. I would love to try it again in a city I didn't know so well, as a way to discover places that are maybe off the beaten path :) Ottawa/Toronto I am looking at you!

When you reach the end - and figure out the final answer, you go online and find out where your restaurant reservation is - How fun is that? It was a nice twist on a night out and a good time was had by all - and maybe too much fun for those who stayed out way past bed time and danced it up at the griz...full circle from where the quest started.

(side note you can win a free quest on Friday's on Urban Quest's fb page - I am trying to win our next one!) 

Getting ready to head out!

First Page

Looks like we found it!

There's the Next spot!

We think we have the right window - but Michelle and Megan thinks it's the other side - see ya later ladies!

Playing tourist in your own city is always fun!

Emily! there is no anarchy allowed on this adventure!!!

figuring out our final answer! (FIY there is math involved )

We did it!!  Now let's keep drinking ....and maybe we should go dancing...I bet some of our new found Kingston facts would make for some good pick up lines... "did you know LaCross was invented in 1608?" That would totally impress :) 

> Jessi 

ERMAHGERD HALERWEEN

I laugh out loud any time I see an ER MAH GERD meme.... Actually I laughing now just thinking about them 
Anyway! Seriously - it's coming up really fast - we have a our annual party next weekend and I haven't really done much to prepare yet..unless pinning counts. I also have not started the kids costumes, so I guess that's what this weekend will be about. Are you dressing up? Or dressing your kids up?

This years we are having a story book/fairy tale theme. It's always exciting to see the costumes people come up with! Here is some of our inspiration.

source/source/source/source

> Jessi 

The Case of the Missing Bloggers

Long time no see. What was going to be a short break - turned into a long one, you know when it stops being fun and becomes work? Yeah that's what happened. And Instagram makes me feel connected to the blog world - so that didn't help.

What's been happening 

- We went to Fan Expo in Toronto and had a fab time

- Reading alot 

- Made a family cookbook for my grandma's 75th

- Put in a new sink (are you old when this is exciting and news worthy???)

- Getting ready for Halloween (what are you being??)

- Sleeping better now that R-Patz and K-Stew are back on (ok I'm joking about the loosing sleep part - not joking about how weirdly obsessed I got about this story)

- Got crafty and made a jewellery display thingy 

- Turned 31 - and am going through some weird hair/wardrobe midlife crisis, I'm branching out of my normal comfort zone - buying jewellery , leather pants - animal prints... 

- Games nights, games nights, games nights - we need to start tweeting about them so Will Wheaton will invite us to play against him!

Overall really I have just been simplifying life and spending time with family and friends. 

- Jessi 

Easiest Eggs Benedict

I have heard that egg benedict is hard to make. But since I have been feeling kinda ballsy in the kitchen I figured I could handle it. 


Uber confident and ready to start, Clifford comes in and says - you know those are really hard right? (He went to cooking school he knows the complicated way to make everything). He then starts asking how I am doing the sauce - where is my double broiler set up...ummm...confidence is wavering but determined to remain a kitchen goddess in training I proceed - ok so maybe it was after I showed him the recipe and he deemed it to be a good way to make it. But details, details , I  made them and they were perfection. Kitchen goddess title still in tack.




I have heard lots about the Pioneer Woman, but have never really gone to her blog until pinterest lead me there - I think I found another love :)


Check out the recipe here!

> Jessi

What's up Tom Hanks?

Do you remember when there was no such thing as the internet, and if you wanted to know who was born on your birthday you had to make sure you were near a TV on the day so Entertainment Tonight would tell you? You didn't do that? Apparently my celeb stalking started young. I was stressed that no one cool would have my b-day, how shameful would that be? Luckily Tom Hanks saved the day (what 9 year old wouldn't be excited to share her b-day with the guy from Big, The Burbs and Joe vs the Volcano - that was my vast repertoire of Hanks films then) 

So now every year on my b-day I always wonder... What is Tom Hanks doing today? This year with my new mad twitter skills maybe I will actually know. 

Anyway it's not the 9th yet so who cares what Tom is up to ( I can call him Tom cause we share a birthday) What are my plans. Normally I would be in the midst of planning a ridiculous theme party - which was going to happen (and it was going to be vintage circus and would have been awesome) but I was not feeling up to it and decided I just wanted to get away, sit on a beach and then hit the town. So that's what I am doing. We booked a schmancy hotel in Toronto and are having a ladies weekend - cause we are definitely ladies (Little Britain anyone?) and I plan to just enjoy a little break in the big city with some friends who are also all about some kid free shenanigans  

Wow that was rambley...  Coles note version:  I'm spending my b-day in Toronto, probably with Tom Hanks.

Toronto Skyline

Distillery District 

> Jessi 

A Long Weekend

Canada Day has come and gone.. As we walked home from the fireworks, sleepy kids in tow, we could hear the youngins' partying it up. When did we get all old?? Not to be outdone by the college kids,  I went home cracked a beer - and  fell asleep... 


That's not to say we didn't have some celebratory drinks - there were lots, just not all night every night  - so we aren't old...just responsible right? and by responsible I mean I didn't have to cancel movie plans because I was in no condition to drive...that didn't happen at all, and by didn't happen I mean did. but hey it was the long weekend and when trying not to feel old theses things happen

> Jessi 

A Little Change of Plans = A Big Adventure

So remember that country wedding I was in...well the bride to be Aminah  made a slight adjustment - and now we are heading to Ireland! I am pretty excited I have travelled a bunch within Canada and the USA I have never left the continent.  


The wedding isn't until October 2013, but that doesn't mean I can't research the crap out of it  now : ) 


Fun facts I am learning - did you know the Titanic was build in Belfast? and that Liam Neeson used to be a boxer? and that most of Braveheart was filmed there? (Obviously I know the important things to research) 


We are saving out pennies now and am hoping to convince Clifford that you can't actually fly from Canada to Ireland - that you have to fly to Paris first :P

Giant's Causeway Northern Ireland 

Blarney Castle 

somewhere in Ireland

> Jessi