Our hotel was running a special on the all-inclusive option that we couldn’t justify passing up. The last time Joel and I went to an all-inclusive resort was on our honeymoon in Jamaica and we weren’t too excited about doing it again. But we were so wrong! The food at Pueblo Bonito Rose was much better and the drinks were much stronger. And with a few nice tips from Dad, our waiter was refilling our bucket of beer faster than we could empty it.

We spent most of our days at the beach trying to tune out Joel haggling with the vendors. Oh my goodness, does that boy love to haggle. We went home with Mexican ponchos, a blanket and a few pairs of sunglasses all for the low, low price of “just give him the money already!”

Austen, Chelsey, Joel and I took a water taxi over to Lover’s Beach and spent some time wandering around over there. That beach is seriously beautiful! Our water taxi driver also took us for a spin around the arch and past the smelly sea lions to the other side of Lover’s Beach, which he called Divorce Beach because the waves were much more intense.

It’s pretty much standard for us to rent ATVs on our trips these days, so we booked an excursion with Amigos ATVs, the same company we used on our last trip to Cabo. It was just like we remembered it: cruising along the beach, climbing up the rocky hills and doing donuts over the dunes. Although nobody flipped their ATV this time, my mom ended up bailing off her’s when she took a corner a little too fast. These babies were no joke!  

We also broke up our beach time by renting paddle boards. Chelsey and I had no problem getting up and staying up, but Austen and Joel took quite a few spills before they were really paddling around. And I’m not so sure my dad ever even really stood up. Once we realized how difficult it actually was, we really enjoyed laughing at all of the other people attempting to stand up… and failing.

Like I’ve mentioned, this was a completely different experience than my last time in Cabo. I only made it out to the bars a couple of nights this time around. And I was totally okay with that. It was kind of entertaining watching the waiters pour shots down my parents’ throats at El Squid Roe.

But most of our nights were spent laughing over silly stories at dinner or sipping mojitos around the hotel fire pit.

And, you know, it might just be the best family trip we’ve taken yet.

20. Foster the People, “Pumped Up Kicks”

Easily the most misunderstood pop song since Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life”. Apparently this songs is about a deranged teenager going on a killing spree at a suburban shopping mall. Who knew? I blame the happy melody for the all the confusion.

19.  Beastie Boys, “Make Some Noise”

Funky beats, lyrical rhymes and the best music video of 2011. Welcome back, Boys!

18. Childish Gambino, “Heartbeat”

There are very few songs on my list that the Average Joe can’t appreciate. But I can understand if it’s hard to come around on this one. It took me a while, too. A half-club-half-rap song about… post break-up sex?

17.  The Strokes, “Under the Cover of Darkness”

I’ve always been kind of indifferent towards The Strokes. But after watching them open up for Pearl Jam at PJ20, I walked away with a new appreciation. It wasn’t long after the show that I downloaded this song, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

16.  M83, “Midnight City”

I love this song, yet I’m not sure how to accurately explain it. It’s like a meshing of 80s electronic, disco, and saxophone? You’ll have to listen for yourself.

15. The Naked and Famous, “Punching In a Dream”

The Naked and Famous make some really good electronically infused pop music that sounds rather Passion Pit-y. I’m a fan.

14. Y.C. feat. Future, “Racks”

“I got racks on racks on racks, racks on racks on racks.” The first time I heard this song I was in a friend’s car headed to pool party in Omaha, and I had no idea what the hell racks meant. I’m not going to lie, I felt pretty old and… white. But apparently this song is about stacking money. By the way, how much money constitutes a rack? Is there a standard for this sort of thing? Rap scholars feel free to chime in.

13. Eli Young Band, ” Crazy Girl” 

Every time I hear this song I think of my wife Ashley belting it out at the top of her lungs. Crazy girl, don’t you know that I love you?

12. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, “Talk That Talk”

When Rihanna sang “‘Till the game ends, ’till the clock stops. We gon’ post up on the top spot.” She wasn’t messing around. The bonafide hit maker is at again. This time she re-unites with Jay -Z to create one of my favorite pop tracks of 2011.

11. Red Hot Chili Peppers, “The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie”

The masters of funk rock return with swagger and just enough cowbell to make Christopher Walken happy. And no, I’m not kidding.

10. Nicki Minaj, “Super Bass”

An edgy pop song that inspired one of the best YouTube covers of the year.

9. Kurt Vile, “Runner Ups”

A beautifully written song that captures the hurt and anger of losing somebody you love. “My best friend’s long gone, but I got runner ups, I don’t know if it’s real, but it’s how I feel.”

8. Cold War Kids, “Royal Blue”

A pop song with a killer bass line that will undoubtedly lead CWK into the main stream.

7.  Jay-Z & Kanye West, “Ni**as in Paris”

The song that spawned the 2011 catch phrase, “that shit cray”. By the way, why is it whenever I listen to a Jay or Kanye song I somehow feel I’m being duped?

6. Young the Giant, “My Body”

In 2011, I don’t think there was another song that I enjoyed singing along to more. “My body tells me no, but I won’t quit ’cause I want more, ’cause I want more. Come on, give it a try, I know you want to.”

5. The Alabama Shakes, ” Hold On”

A blues-based southern rock song with an Aretha Franklin clone (Britney Howard) on vocals. Impressive, to say the least.

4.  Foster the People, “Helena Beat”

A  dance/electro/rock song with dark lyrics that picks up where “Pumped Up Kicks” left off. Two thumbs up!

3. The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”

A gritty rock song about falling for a girl with daddy issues. Plus, a music video that features some serious dance moves. What’s not to like?

2.  Joy Formidable, “Whirling”

This song was actually released on a 2009 EP, which should probably disqualify it’s inclusion on my list. I mean, come on, what is this, the Grammys? But since the song was re-released in 2011 on the bands full length album “The Big Roar” I decided to count it anyways. It’s my list, dammit!

1. The Naked and Famous, “Young Blood”

It’s been almost a year since I first heard this song on iTunes and the opening beat still gives me chills. It wasn’t long after hearing the single “Young Blood” that I purchased their full length album “Passive me, Aggressive You”. And let’s just say I’ve yet to get a case of buyer’s remorse.

1. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

The views of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge are impressive. And while you can get a great view from Old Fulton Landing in Brooklyn as well, walking over the mile long bridge created a little bit of suspense for us. We kept looking back at Manhattan and snapping pretty much the same shot because it looked even cooler from that angle! Once we were in Brooklyn, we walked around Old Fulton Landing and through the DUMBO area. I can imagine that there would have been a lot more to see in the summertime though, so this is definitely on my to-do list for next time I make it to New York.

We ended up walking back across the Manhattan Bridge because it would spit us out right where we wanted to go next…

2. Chinatown

We could see the streets of Chinatown from the Manhattan Bridge, and our stomachs started to rumble immediately. As we walked through alleys covered with signs we couldn’t read, we debated where to grab some noodles. We passed Joe’s Shanghai and decided it was as good as any.

We could have used a rest at one of the many stores offering foot rubs, but the dumplings and noodles gave us the fuel we needed to continue onto our next stop…

3. McSorley’s Old Ale House

McSorley’s was established in 1854 and not much has changed since then. Sawdust covers the warped hardwood floors and dust-covered wishbones hang on the light fixture over the bar (ask the bartender about those!). The bar only serves light or dark ale, so Joel and I ordered a couple of each and scooted into the last table in the place.

The Jets game was on TV, so locals were crammed into the back room to get a view. Joel and I slurped down our drinks and promptly ordered more, all while reading the weathered newspaper clippings containing the bar’s long and controversial history framed on the walls.

4. Top of the Rock

You have to go to the top of a building to get a view of the city, whether it’s the Empire State Building or the Rockefeller Center. We chose the Top of the Rock so that we could get a picture of the Empire State Building. It was $50 well spent. The view was incredible. We even watched a proposal on the observation deck below us.

5. 9/11 Memorial

Since our hotel was across the street from the memorial, we could view the pools from the restaurant/bar on the top floor. But I’m so glad we reserved the passes to see it up close. After walking around both pools and staring at all of the names, we stopped into the museum. I can’t even put into words how hard it is to read some of the stories and look at the items that survived the event. I had tears in my eyes more than once.  

6. Times Square

What’s a trip to New York without stopping in Times Square? You just have to see it. We went twice, although neither of those times were on New Year’s Eve for good reason. The first time I walked out of the subway station and into Times Square I was in awe of the crowd, the lights and the colors.

And although it was more impressive at night, if you visit during the day you may just get a hug from the Naked Cowboy! Joel had to force me to go near him, but it’s all part of the experience.

7. Central Park

For being the end of December, we certainly got lucky with the weather on our trip. Partly cloudy and 55 degrees was perfect for a brisk walk through Central Park. We watched some ice skaters, walked past Strawberry Fields, and I even managed to get Joel to ride the carousel with me.

But next time I’m in New York City (in the summer, of course), I have aspirations of lounging on the Great Lawn and people-watching for hours.

8. Yankee Stadium

The main reason we traveled to New York was to watch Iowa State play at Yankee Stadium. Even though the outcome wasn’t exactly what we were hoping for, we had a great time tailgating (inside bars) around the stadium and cheering for our team. A Yankees game is absolutely on my list for next time around!

9. Bleecker Street

Bleecker Street is near the NYU campus and full of college bars that are a little more our speed than the clubs in the Meatpacking District. We spent New Year’s Eve bouncing around from bar to bar, playing flippy cup and counting down to the new year with a bunch of strangers. And then we went back on our last night just to experience it one more time. It was definitely our type of area.

10. Financial District

We stayed in the Financial District, so we made sure to stop by all of the touristy spots, like the Wall Street Bull and the New York Stock Exchange. The area is really crowded during the day, just like every other place in New York City, but it really slowed down at night. It was a little bit of an escape from the hustle and bustle for us, which I really enjoyed.

Besides spending more time in Central Park and going to a Yankees game next time I’m in New York, I also want to spend more time in Brooklyn. I’d like to check out Coney Island, if only because they have a roller coaster called the Cyclone! Joel and I both would like to go to Ellis Island, but it was a little too chilly for a ferry ride in January, so that also goes on our list for next time. I think I’ll take it a whole lot slower when I go back again. We crammed so much sight-seeing into our trip that my feet were still sore almost a week later from all the walking. But we had a blast in our four days in NYC!

Anything else we should put on our list for next time?

Bring on 2012!

We went straight from the airport to Beth’s pool. Even though the temperature didn’t hit 65, we weren’t in Iowa, so we conquered our goosebumps and soaked up the sun anyway. Of course we had to have some fruity drinks in hand as well. Beth whipped up a pretty random concotion of watermelon vodka, Sprite and strawberries blended in the Magic Bullet. It might not have been the beach, but it was pretty close.

That night the four of us had dinner at Sushi Eye. And since we were also celebrating Bre’s birthday, we had a few sake bombs as well. The waitresses sang to Bre and put down a huge plate of fried bananas, strawberries and ice cream with a candle in the middle.

We were absolutely stuffed when we left. Our next stop was an Irish bar down the street from Sushi Eye where we spent the rest of the night drinking and chatting.

We woke up surprisingly early on Saturday after a long night of drinking. Beth’s fiance Matt made us eggs, sausage and toast and we sat around and recapped the night as we waited for Matt’s brother Jeff to get to town. Once Jeff arrived, we piled in the car and headed to the base of Camelback Mountain to get our hike on.

We took the Cholla Trail up to the top. The views were incredible and the hike was no joke. My legs were twitching for at least half an hour after getting back to the car.

We stopped at Wendy’s to refuel and headed back to Beth’s place for a quick nap and a little HGTV. That night we went to Sandbar for some quesadillas and guacamole. It was packed when we arrived at 10 and it stayed busy until we left around 1 am. Luckily we scored some chairs at the bar and perched there for the remainder of the evening.

We were all a little slower getting up on Sunday. But after a few bowls of Lucky Charms, we were ready to go. (Beth asked Matt to pick up “chick food” at the store and he came back with a box of Lucky Charms! We all teased him at first, but those marshmallow pieces sure did the trick on Sunday.) After breakfast, we drove into Mesa for the Chicago Cubs spring training game against the Oakland A’s.

The Cubs let us down, but at least I got a hot dog! And the sun was shining, so we really couldn’t complain. We had lawn seating for the game which, in my opinion, is the way to go. We unfolded a large blanket and sprawled out to watch the game.

It was our last night in Phoenix and we had to leave early the next morning to catch our flights. But the Oscars were on, so we put some pizzas in the oven, found some spots on the couch and predicted the winners. I think I ended up fourth out of the six of us (yes, we kept score) so I wasn’t really all that accurate. Joel would have rocked that game! Matt won and I’m not sure if Beth will ever hear the end of it.

Sadly we had to head to the airport on Monday morning and Beth had to get back to work. I wish we could have stayed longer. Especially since the forecast was predicting 80s for the remainder of the week! But we settled for a $10 Bloody Mary in the airport bar before hopping on our flights and officially ending long weekend in Phoenix.

If you’ve been reading our blog with any frequency you know that I love movies. I love good movies, I love bad movies, and I even sometimes love average movies. I love them all. That is to say, I’m pretty much a movie nerd. And for the record, I refuse to call them films because I don’t want to sound like that guy in those Grey Poupon commercials. That, and I’ve always referred to them as movies and I don’t like change. Anyway, I guess the point I’m trying to make here is that I see a lot of movies.  

And this year was no different. I saw a bunch of movies this year. I saw every movie that is nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards. As well as a handful of others. Yes, I’m one of those dorks who actually watches the Academy Awards. Overall, though, I thought the academy did a good job in in narrowing down the best movies of 2010. Obviously, there were some snubs this year, but as a whole I felt the academy did a good job recognizing quality movie making. So, with the Academy Awards airing on Sunday night on ABC, I thought it would be fun to offer up a few opinions and a couple predictions for this year’s Oscars.

2010 Oscar predictions:

Best Picture – The King’s Speech
Best Director – David Fincher, The Social Network
Best Actor – Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Best Actress – Annette Benning, The Kids are Alright
Best Supporting Actor – Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress – Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Adapted Screenplay – The Social Network
Original Song – “We Belong Together”, Toy Story 3

Who I would pick if I had a vote:

Best Picture – The Social Network
Best Director – Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Best Actor – Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Best Actress – Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor –  Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress – Halie Steinfield, True Grit
Adapted Screenplay – Winter’s Bone
Original Song –  ”If I Rise”, 127  Hours

My original prediction after episode four was Emily, Chantal O., Ashley S. and Michelle. Obviously, I was a little off as Shawntel N., Emily, Chantal O., and Ashley H. are the ones who will be moving onto the hometown dates. But I got two out of four right which is pretty good for a guy who doesn’t read the spoliers. Anyway, first things first, here are my thoughts on who got eliminated.

Britt- I liked her from the beginning. I loved how she would play coy with the other girls and put on this shy good girl persona yet she would totally throw herself at Brad whenever she was given the opportunity. I thought that was a smart play because the quiet ones don’t catch the attention of the other girls in the house. That way you can fly under the radar. I also love how the producers of the show identified her as a “food writer” yet she looked like she hasn’t taken a bite of food in months. Oh, the irony. But you could tell by her and Brad’s one-on-one date in the last episode that there wasn’t  much of a connection. So I felt like he made a good decision in sending her home.

Michelle- FINALLY! It only took Brad seven episodes to realize that Michelle was a certifiable lunatic which was about four episodes too many. But what can you do? Michelle is gone, which is good thing because at some point the producers were proably going to have to step in before she actually killed Chantal O. or Brad or both. However, I was mildly surprised that she didn’t go into fits of rage when he let her go. I was expecting more drama out of an aspiring actress who by all accounts is insane. It was a disappointing exit to say the least. So those are my thoughts on the girls who got the boot. Here are my thoughts on who we have left.

Emily- I’m fully on board the team Emily bus. She’s hot. She carries herself with class. And I’m pretty sure one of the other female contestants (her competition) compared her to Mother Teresa at one point. I’m a big fan of Emily and I’m glad to see that she made it through the last round of eliminations. I think Brad would be an idiot if he doesn’t choose her for the finals. But, with that said, lately I’ve been getting the vibe that she isn’t totally ready to hop into a relationship yet which could be cause for concern. I guess we’ll just have to see how it all plays out.

Chantal O.- I’m not a fan of Chantal O. First, there was the whole slapping incident in the first episode. Then she was deathly afraid to go swimming with a helmet on in 10 ft. of water. And then she had about four emotional outbursts over the course of five episodes. Don’t get me wrong, I like the fact that she’s good looking and top heavy. But she’s definitely got some emotional baggage. Call me crazy but I don’t think that’s necessarily a good pairing for a guy who already has commitment issues. However, I can’t help but think she will be in the finals.

Shawntel N.- I really like Shawntel N. or as I like to call her “The Undertaker.” She’s probably my second girl favorite behind Emily. I like her because she’s cute and she acts pretty uninhibited in front of the cameras. She’s also got this quirky yet genuine personality. And she has a large tattoo on her back which could be a good thing. This is a family blog, so you can read into that however you want. Obviously, the only drawback is that she embalms bodies for a living which could be a deal breaker for Brad. But I think she has an outside chance as long as she doesn’t do any weird Silence of the Lambs type of stuff on the hometown date.

Ashley H.– I have to admit I wasn’t a big fan of Ashley H. in the beginning. I felt like she was one of those girls who likes to get drunk on red wine and talk crap about people. But lately she has been growing on me. Plus she and Brad seem to have a stronger connection than the producers are leading on. In the end, she might actually be the wild card.

As for my prediction for the final two I’m going with Chantal O. and Emily. I just think those two girls have the biggest connection with him. As for the girl who wins, I mean gets proposed to, I think I’m going to have to go with Emily for no other reason than they would look good together. Not exactly a scientific approach but that’s who I’m going with. So what do you think? Who’s going home and who’s staying?  

contestant photos from celebglitz.com