Countdown to Europe

I've been waiting for a good day to post about our up coming trip to Europe. Shawn and I have traveled a lot through the U.S. & Caribbean, but we've never crossed the "big pond." A few months ago I decided that I was going to stop talking about going to Europe and finally plan a trip. Shawn's big 3-0 is February 22nd, so I figured there is no better time then now. I know that the weather won't be ideal in the middle of February, but the price is right!! We leave two weeks from today.

And the destinations are:

AMSTERDAM, there is a direct flight from Memphis to Amsterdam, so we don't have to worry about a layover in Detroit or NYC.

Stop number 2 is: BRUSSELS

I picked Brussels for the architecture, chocolate and beer! I think it will be a great complement city to Amsterdam.

We'll be spending two and a half days in each city. It's a short trip, but we'll make the most of it!

Anyone who has been to either of these cities, I'd love to hear your "must see" destinations!

Cute Politics

So I'm really not into politics, and I have not decided who I'm voting for, but Hillary sure has cute shirts at her online store

How could you not love these:

Monte Carlo In Vegas is on FIRE

This is so sad, the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino in Vegas is ON FIRE. Shawn and I got married there in 2004, and to think that we might not get to go back is too sad.

Hopefully they got everyone out safe & sound.

The endless river pool at the MC!

Chili & Corn Bread

Want my Chili & Jalapeno corn bread recipes?
Check out my food and wine blog: http://foodmusicandwine.blogspot.com/

Happy Foodie Friday!

My New Blog

Hello everyone-
I wanted to let you know that I will be posting about food, wine & music on my new blog. I thought it would be a good idea to have all of that kind of stuff on one blog, and Memphis updates on this blog. You can get to that blog by clicking on the link to the right. I'm planning on updating that blog a couple of times a week!

It will have a lot of great stuff, including a recipe of the week, my favorite wines under $15, music updates and concert reviews!

I hope you all enjoy. I'll start posting later in the week!

http://foodmusicandwine.blogspot.com

Hill's Music Now

Ok, so I haven't posted in a while. Really, not much has been going on here in Memphis. Shawn and I are both in our busy seasons at work. All work no play isn't very interesting. Opera Memphis has its production of Verdi's MACBETH this coming up weekend, so if you're in Memphis be sure to make it down for what's sure to be a great production. Ok, enough about work.

I decided that I wanted to share some of the music that I can't stop listing to right now.


Rebelution

This Santa Barbara based "California Reggae" band is lights out. Their killer beats and catchy lyrics put them in the top spot on I-Tunes. They were the number 1 downloaded reggae band on that site. My brother has been a huge promoter of this band, and if you live in Cali, be sure to make it out to one of their shows. You can check out their website for tour dates.
www.myspace.com/rebelutionmusic

John Butler Trio


We have a great music festival in May here in Memphis, and we are so lucky to get some big names in. (past bands I've seen include: Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Wolfmother, John Legend and many more.) JBT was a great surprise that I happened to catch last May. They're an Australian band, but the lead singer was born in the U.S. and tours here regularly. Be sure to check out their music: http://www.johnbultertrio.com/



Ray LaMontagne


My sister introduced me to him when I was home for Christmas. This sultry blues/soul singer has an unforgettable voice. This guy from upper New England sounds more like he was raised in the Blues clubs on Memphis and Mississippi. His 2004 debut album Trouble is a must have for your collection. You can hear samples of his music at: www.myspace.com/raylamontagne



James Morrison


This young up and coming British pop/soul singer/songwriter has a voice beyond his years. I think my mom was listing to him first, and my sister passed his name along to me! His debut album Undiscovered features must hear songs "You give me Something," "Better Man" & "Wonderful World." Check out his music at: www.myspace.com/jamesmorrisonmusic





On a hot single note: I just can't get enough of Ms. Mary J. Blidge's "Just Fine." Work it girl!

Tag, I'm it

Heather Tagged me, so I guess that means that I need to answer the same questions she did. Here it goes:












A different, but cool view of CSU, Chico







5 Things I Was Doing 10 Years Ago:

1. Finally moved out of the house and started the next chapter of my life at Chico State

2. Lived in Mechoopda Hall with Marlene

3. If we are talking about 10 years ago today, I was probably getting read to go to CLUB X in SF (with the LL/NHS crew)

4. Finally taking classes that I really enjoyed and had now learned that 8 a.m. classes are not for me!

5. Making tons of new friends and enjoying my new freedom!

5 Things On My To Do List:

1. Go to the gym

2. Go to the grocery store

3. Put my clean clothes away

4. Get my car oil changed

5. Cook dinner

sorry this is all basic boring stuff!

5 Snacks I Enjoy:
1. Almonds

2. TCBY

3. Wheat Thins & Cheese

4. Chips & Salsa or queso

5. Hummus

Things I’d Do If I Was A Billionaire:

1. Pay off all of my debt

2. Buy homes in SF, Italy(or some European destination), Tahoe & Mexico

3. BMW's for everyone

4. Give back! Donate to a number of non-profit organizations, or heck even start my own

5. Hire a live-in maid

3 Habits: (I now realize that these are supposed to be bad habits, I will re-do 2 & 3)

1. I have a short temper on the Memphis roads......lots of slow bad drivers, not good for a Cali girl

2. I often think I can do every thing on my own & don't ask for help when I need it

3. I'm a little bit of a control freak, especially in the kitchen (I've been working on this one!)

to the left, sunset on the Mississippi River from downtown Memphis, my currant home

5 Places I’ve Lived:

1. Spokane, WA

2. Walnut Creek, CA

3. Chico, CA

4. Memphis, TN

5. Orlando/Casselberry, FL

5 Jobs that I’ve Had:

1. I used to ride my bike to Valle Verde Elementary everyday during the summer and pick up a girl from daycare. We would ride our bikes together to the Woodlands, so she could go to swim practice. After practice, I would ride with her back down to the school (round trip might have been 3/4 of a mile!) I saved all of my money in a Dixie cup in my room!

2. Set up outdoor Volleyball courts for tournaments around NorCal

3. Hostess at Faultline Brewing Company, better know now as Pyramid

4. Realtor and office manager for RE/MAX

5. Ticketing, marketing, special events for Opera Memphis

**bonus job, 2 seasons at the Memphis Redbirds, doing just about everything under the sun, including selling beer.....one of my favorite jobs!

I think at this point you're supposed to tag other people, but I think I'll stop the tagging here!

A few more December Pics

After going through my 200 pictures from the last couple of weeks, I thought there were a few more that were blog worthy!

Finn with the Flying Fish guy & "A dead smelly crab"

Shawn & Me at Pike Place Market

Me, Shawn, Kyle, Dad & Katie at the Wedding

O'Neill Cousins: Patrick, Tessa, Me, Genna & Katie NYE

The NYE gang with hats that Finn and his friend Riley made for us! Too cute :)

Thanks Tessa for hosting a great NYE party!

Bennett Winter Rewind...two blogs for the price of one

Christmas in Cali:

After a ridiculous 15+ hour travel day on the 23rd, I finally made it to SFO. Starving, tired and down right annoyed, I head to baggage claim where only one of my bags shows up. Lucky for the fam, the Christmas gifts were safe and sound, as for my clothes and other items, well, they were somewhere in MN! Fortunately my bags arrived Christmas eve morning by 8:30

Once that little snafu was over, the rest of Christmas went great. We celebrated Christmas Eve with dinner at my dads. I cooked an Italian fest, and then we had the best dessert ever, chocolate molten cake, YUM!

It was great to have almost the whole family in Cali for Christmas. Shawn was in Indiana with his family. The NBA can be unforgiving during the holiday season! My sister was in from NYC, my mom was in from Spokane, and me from Memphis. It was a very chill holiday!

The day after Christmas, Dad and I spent almost 6 hours at Nordstrom. Crazy how time just disappears when your shopping the after Christmas sales!

I met up with the girls later at Maria Maria in WC for dinner. The former Cantina got quite a face lift! The food was great and so was the atmosphere, I would definitely go back! It was a great way to celebrate post-Christmas and pre-Alix's Birthday!

Me, Tracy, Alix (Birthday Girl) Amy & Heather

Part 2: Seattle

Next I ventured up to Seattle, where I met Shawn at the airport and we headed to West Seattle with my cousin Tessa and her son Finn. We had a great couple of days in W. Seattle and Pike Place Market. Seattle is a gorgeous city with tons of fun things to do. I heart Seattle!

We had a great dinner at my other cousin, Genna's house, with my grandma. It was so great to get her in a small group. It is normally a challenge to get almost one on one time with a grandma that has 22 grand kids! She is an amazing woman and a true inspiration! I love you Gma!Next venture was downtown Seattle and a my cousin Matt's wedding at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The hotel is so beautiful, and the wedding was first class. It was great to see him so happy with his now wife Amy. I had a great time catching up with the Yeend cousins. All but one of my first cousins were there (we missed you Bobby!)

Yeend's in front of the Fairmont Tree

The whole Yeend cousin clan:

Just when you think the trip is over, it's NYE! We celebrated early with my cousin Malea, where we sadly watched the Indiana Hoosiers get beat in their bowl game :(

From there it was back to W. Seattle to ring in the new year with the rest of the Seattle O'Neill cousins! We had a great night and celebrated 3 different new years (NYC, Memphis & Seattle!)

Happy New Year to all of you. May 2008 bring you health and happiness.

Love, Shawn and Hillary

Happy New Year

I hope that everyone had a happy and safe new year! Once I get all of my pictures off of my camera, I'll be sure to share my Cali/Seattle winter adventure with everyone!

Here's to a great 08!