He asked, I said yes!

February 13, 2013 1 Comment

He asked, I said yes!

I don’t even know where to begin. I sit, fingers poised over my keyboard, ready to share with you the story of one of the best days of my life.

The love of my life asked me to marry him last week, with all (ok not all, but a lot of) Indianapolis watching.  Ben orchestrated this big ruse to propose to me during our DoItIndy Family segment.

Honestly, words are not enough.  You’ll have to watch it for yourself below.

Ben Risinger proposes to SlickLaRoo on Fox59

Considering we already had a wedding date set before this happened, and considering Ben has been telling me fore MONTHS he’s had a “plan,” I am shocked at how SURPRISED I was.  The tears were real, folks.  That’s been the most asked question, since so many knew of his plan and were able to see it play out; “Did you know it was coming?”  Sure, I had my suspicions, but day of, there we so many small things that happened that made me think it WASN’T happening.  For example, an important family member couldn’t be there.  Also, I thought perhaps he would have worn something different…?  I don’t say this to sound like a snarky girlfr—er, I mean fiancé, as I love his t-shirts and cardigan sweaters.  I just thought he’d give it away with perhaps a button down?

So, yes.  I was completely shocked.  I couldn’t imagine a better way for my best friend to ask me to marry him.  I’m so lucky, blessed, grateful, et cetera, et cetera to have found the one who my soul loves.  Thank you for all the congrats all over social media.  Let the wedding planning BEGIN (rather, continue)!!!!

Photo courtesy of Jenny Anchondo, Fox 59.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Anchondo, Fox 59.

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Disclaimer: Mushy gushy love stuff ahead.

January 31, 2013 Leave a comment

You guys!  Valentine’s Day is upon us!

love

I get it, Hallmark holiday, blah blah blah.  But I am deliriously IN LOVE this year, so I am going to enjoy myself AND the love of my life this year on Valentine’s Day.

Ben and I are going to White Castle for new experience.  We’ve had some fancy dinners (Ruth’s Chris for his birthday, Skyline Club for my birthday) in the last month, so there’s no reason why we have to break the bank for this holiday.

I have something fun planned for Ben, small and affordable, but special nonetheless.  I would share here, but I don’t want to give away any secrets, so you’ll have to check in later.

Oh!  And don’t forget to check out my blog on DoItIndy.com on some ideas for Vday in this great city.

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Bands of America Grand Nationals!

November 17, 2012 Leave a comment

Anyone who knows me, even the tiniest bit, knows I’m not musical.  My talents go as far as karaoke and singing in the car.  And not well.  But I love music.  I’m not picky.  I’ll rock some Top 40 then turn on An Horse.  Whatever the mood I’m in.

And anyone who knows me, knows I love the arts.  Dancing, theater, concerts, what have you.  But there’s one area of music that I ignore.  The marching band.

Well, my darling friend @erinlorraine is the marketing coordinator at @musicforall and they run the @bandsofamerica Grand Nationals event every year.  So @DoItIndy made a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium last weekend to experience this whole new level of culture.

Band moms.  Band dads.  Drum majors.  Elaborate costumes.  Wild set designs.  Amazing music.  We experienced it all.  After getting over my initial giddiness that I was indeed standing on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium, I just stood there, in awe of this talent that I’ve never seen before.  Sure, I saw the Lawrence North marching band perform during halftime at high school football games, but there weren’t giant stages set up to mimic a dark circus or color guard dressed as safari animals galloping around the field.  This was a whole other level of marching band.  The music and visual display was like nothing I had ever seen before.  (See, I’m gushing!)  It was truly something everyone needs to experience once in their life.

Oh and let us toot our local horn just a bit…Carmel HS-2012 Grand National champs!

I know it’s too late for you to check out the amazingness that was #boa2012, but keep your eyes peeled next fall.  Even if you only take in an hour or two of prelims, you will see something amazing and beautiful and under appreciated.  In the meantime, check out some great MFA and BOA stuff here.

Love arts of all kind?  Check out my post about Seussical at Footlite here.

 

 

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9th Annual Indy Wine Opener

July 22, 2012 Leave a comment

I’m a sucker for events where you pay a flat rate and then get to eat and drink until your heart is content.  That’s EXACTLY what the Wine Opener was this past Friday…and it was even for a good cause!  This event was a fundraiser for the Indiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  It was held in the concourse of Victory Field, which was a neat and unusual location, for sure.  We enjoyed walking around sampling wine and food from restaurants like Palomino, Dunaways, even Hot Box Pizza!  While I loved the fancy stuff, I did enjoy King David’s hot dogs being there and a brief wine respite with some Sun King tasting. 

Honestly, eating and drinking locally could be listed as one of my favorite hobbies, and this event definitely catered to it!  I still cannot stress how great it was to know that proceeds from ticket sales are going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.   I love getting out in my city and finding fun things to do, but when there’s a greater cause, it’s like icing on that proverbial cake!

You can also check out my experience at the Indiana Microbrewers Fest from last week here.

What are some of your favorite local places to eat and drink?  Tell me on Twitter @SlickLaRoo!  And don’t forget…be urban and follow @DoItIndy, too!  We’ll keep you connected to all things urban and local!

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QUASH!

June 18, 2012 2 Comments

QUASH 2012

What is QUASH, you may ask?! Well, hopefully you follow me on Twitter (@slicklaroo) or Facebook (facebook.com/slicklaroo) and you’ve seen me asking for donations. And hopefully you’ve donated…

But I digress…in case you do not know…

QUASH is the Quest to Unravel Alzheimer’s Scavenger Hunt. The Alzheimer’s Association puts this on as a yearly fundraiser to raise money for Alzheimer’s research and treatment. The DoItIndy Crew (www.doitindy.com) decided to participate because it’s a great cause AND the scavenger hunt sends us around the great city of Indianapolis looking for clues and QUASH challenges.

Getting ready to emcee!

At the last minute, Big Ben (@BenRisinger) and I were asked to emcee the opening and closing ceremonies. After hyping up the crowd for scavenging fun, we set off about the city. Let me just tell you this…any competition that utilizes both body and mind…I was NOT prepared for it! We trekked from the Rathskellar, to Ohio and West Streets to 11th and West, to 11th and Illinois to Illinois and Washington, to City Market to the American Legion Mall to the IPS headquarters, BACK to the Rathskellar. WHEW! Along the way we had to answer trivia questions and participate in challenges. All in the name of QUASH!

Our QUASH challenge photos!

The Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana (@alzindiana) did a great job with this event. I had a wonderful time rallying together with other Hoosiers looking to make a difference…and getting to enjoy our awesome city at the same time!

You can learn more information about QUASH and donate to the efforts of the DoItIndy QUASH Crew here: www.doitindy.com/quash. Give back, Indianapolis!

 

It was a big scavenger hunt day for me…you can check out the Historic Indianapolis scavenger hunt DoItIndy participated in later that night…here!

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It’s time for summer music!

June 3, 2012 1 Comment

Today, while driving along Michigan Street on the east side of Indianapolis, one of my all time favorite summer songs came on the radio.  I surely hope you love Don Henley’s The Boys of Summer as much as I do, because here you go…

Even though summer officially starts in a few weeks, thanks to the gorgeous weather in Indy, I think we are all getting ready for it.  I know as I prepare for the summer concert season and other fun outdoor activities, I can’t help but think of my own summer soundtrack.

What do you like to listen to when enjoying such beautiful weather?!

For more of my summer music picks, check out my DoItIndy blog here.

I got my Wayfarers on…

And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @slicklaroo!

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Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!

May 27, 2012 Leave a comment

My whole 30×30 endeavor would definitely have included a zip line if I hadn’t already done this.  All during Super Bowl week I watched my fellow Village dwellers take the plunge over Capitol Street in Indy.  Alas, I never made it.

But, but, but!!!  Now, Indy has a great zip line attraction…Go Ape Treetop Adventure!  Now folks, this is more of an ADVENTURE than just a lil ol’ zip line excursion.  Two to three hours of treetop fun at one of Indy’s best parks…Eagle Creek.

I did it!

You need to go.  And you need to go read more about it here, complete with more photos and video from my experience.

See you on Twitter!  Make sure to say hi @slicklaroo!

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30×30 update

May 5, 2012 1 Comment

30×30 check-in

In case you are wondering what “30×30” means, a brief catch up to you: On my 29th birthday in January, I wrote a list of 30 things I wanted to do before I turn 30 in January 2013.  Call it a less-depressing bucket list, if you may.  But really, if you look at the things on the list, you’ll be like, “Really Slick?! You’ve never tailgaited?!  Get to it.”

Hence, the list.

 

So here’s the list again…with some annotations.

  1.  Cook 7 days worth of new dinner recipes in a row straight.  (This will be happening 7 WEEK nights in a row, scheduled for May 14-18, 21-22.  Stay tuned. : ))
  2. Save $1000…and don’t blow it. (Uh.  Further than where I was in January but back on track.)
  3. Drop 50lbs.  (Haven’t weighed myself in a bit, but I think I am on track…)
  4. Tour a brewery.
  5. Attempt to waterski.
  6. Order a steak rare in a restaurant.  (Maybe during Devour Downtown?)
  7. Watch the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
  8. Learn all the words to Shake That by Eminem and Nate Dogg…and then dazzle the people at karaoke with it.  (Or, I will take suggestions for a new song to sing and perform…)
  9. Finally learn to Soulja Boy, er I mean, Dougie.  Or maybe the Thriller dance.  (Planned. : ))
  10. Learn how to butcher a whole chicken.
  11. Watch the entire series of M*A*S*H.
  12. Read a “classic” novel.  (By an author I haven’t already read…)
  13. Visit a haunted house.  With Jenny…that’s the rule.  (Also planned. :) )
  14. Try yoga.
  15. Write a children’s book about Evan.
  16. Ask a guy out.   (I’m gonna go ahead and say I kind of sort of did this.  Long story.  Details needn’t be hashed out online.)
  17. Do 10 “regular” push ups.  (Oh lord I haven’t even tried this yet…)
  18. Play with fireworks.
  19. Tailgate.
  20. Play blackjack in a casino.    DONE!  When I visited my aunt in Detroit in March, we went to Greektown and I WON $85!!!!
  21. Participate in a flash mob.  (Scheduled : ))
  22. Run a 5k.  (Currently training.)
  23. Eat at Fogo de Chao.  (Perhaps for another Devour Downtown thing…)
  24. Grow and eat my own vegetables.  (Shoot…I better get on this…)
  25. Stay up all night to see the sun rise.
  26. Be on TV.  DONE!  Thanks to my partnership with www.doitindy.com, I was able to fill in last Saturday and be on Fox59.
  27. Go to a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening.
  28. Take a road trip by myself.  DONE!  Michigan was the longest I’ve ever travelled by myself…good times.
  29. Perfect scrambled eggs.
  30. Play flag football.

 

Well, 4 out of 30 isn’t bad, right?  I best be gettin’ to it!  7 and a half months!

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Short and sweet.

March 15, 2012 Leave a comment

There is nothing short and sweet about me, I’m afraid.  I’m quite the average height and currently feeling unsweet.

 

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut in order to ensure I don’t go super emo on you and wane on about my silly nothings, I give you…a bullet-point-blog.  Shall we call these BPB from now on?  Makes it even more concise.  :)

 

-St. Patrick’s Day is almost here!  While the most Irish thing about me is my name, I’m still up for a good time.  You can read more about it at www.doitindy.com/slicklaroo.  Or, just check out DoItIndy for something to do for the holiday.  (And ps did you know the origins of St. Patrick’s Day is celebrating the arrival of Christianity?  Awesome.  Jesus is cool.)

 

 

-I’m still dog sitting.  A lot.  (You should really follow me on Twitter if you don’t already: @TheSavvySitter)

Enjoying Ellenberger Park with Marty McFly!

 

-Peyton is leaving Indy.  I know, I know, I’m no football expert or sports blogger, but it’s still sad news for the city.  Alas, it’s the nature of the job.  Kind of excited to see what this means for the Colts.  Mr. Irsay, we hope you know what you’re doing. :)

 

 

-I’m planting my own garden and decorating my own soul.  It’s hard, it hurts, but I trust God knows what He’s doing.  Abide, prune, abide, prune.  The fruit will get here eventually.

 

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DoItIndy!

March 6, 2012 Leave a comment

You’ve probably heard me mention DoItIndy at some point if you follow me on social media at all.  If you’re unfamiliar, the guys at DoItIndy present theTop 5 things to do around urban Indianapolis.  What’s great, these aren’t the typical events you see on just any Indianapolis events site.  To use their words, these are the “eclectic” events of the city. What’s also different is Big Ben and Tolin present these picks to you in a video…that’s far more exciting than just any old list! (Have you checked them out at YouTube or Fox on Saturday mornings at 9:15?)

When I first came across DoItIndy, thanks to their roaming reporter IndyVal, I was immediately drawn to what they do.  As a former urban educator, my heart really lies in urban re-development.  I may not be teaching children in an urban setting anymore, but I really want to see my hometown flourishing…including all the urban neighborhoods that get a bad rap.  And let’s be honest, another reason I love DoItIndy is because I love doing the unexpected around my city!  So mingling social and charitable events with the urban neighborhoods of Indianapolis is right up my alley!

Well, exciting things are ahead for SlickLaRoo and DoItIndy!  I’ve joined the crew as another roaming reporter!  I am so excited to be apart of something that fits into my overall brand (remember that blog? :) ) and will surely be a LOT of fun!  Be on the look out for DoItIndy blogs here and of course, check out http://www.DoItIndy.com for the Top 5 videos and blogs from Big Ben, Tolin, IndyVal, KC the photog and Ms. LaRoo.

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