Dancing With the Stars Week 2 RECAP: So Long Mr. Bolton

As I predicted last week, this week was Balladeer Mr. Michael Bolton's last night on the Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) dancefloor. On Monday evening, he performed the Jive to "Hound Dog," by Elvis Presley and during the performance his partner Chelsie Hightower had him crawl out of a doghouse. That's not a cheesy gimmick at all ... OMG! I mean c'mon Chelsie did you really think that would WOW the judges. But that wasn't the end of it - Bolton successfully pulled off an entire terrible routine - he was stiff, awkward and slow; and I was just waiting for the madness to END! One of the judges - Bruno took out his disgust on Bolton by giving him the lowest scoring paddle I've ever seen pulled ... a 3. Needless to say it wasn't looking good for Bolton during the Tuesday elimination.

Also in the "bottom two" were The Situation and Karina. I have to say I had some hope for The Situation and he let me down big time with his military-inspired Quick Step. He made it through this week, but my prediction is that next week will be his last on DWTS.

My favorite this week is going to HAVE to be Jennifer Grey and her partner Derek Hough. Grey pulled out an absolutely stellar Jive performance in a super sexy gold fringy dress to die for. She is the one to beat in my opinion. Check out her fun performance ... kinda makes you wanna dance (well me at least!)!

Mad for Mad Men!

Sunday evenings aren't so terrible after all thanks to AMC's Mad Men! At first I resisted because I figured the show was too mature for me. Afterall my favorite TV show for sometime has been the CW's Gossip Girl.

It's amazing that I can enjoy both a smutty show about spoiled rich kids in New York City (Gossip Girl) and .... well let's be honest Mad Men is a bit smutty too. Set in the 1960s New York, the sexy and provocative AMC drama Mad Men follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising, an ego-driven world where key players make an art of the sell.

Being in the communications profession, I can appreciate the references to early advertising and marketing of brands such as Vick's, Samsonite, Ponds and Lucky Strike. Although I didn't grow up in the 60s, I really enjoy the advertising and brand marketing history of some of America's favorite companies and brands.

If you're not currently watching (or DVRing) Mad Men ... here's the general premise of the Emmy award-winning drama ...

The series revolves around the conflicted world of Don Draper ( Jon Hamm), the biggest ad man (and ladies man) in the business, and his colleagues at the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Advertising Agency. As Don makes the plays in the boardroom and the bedroom, he struggles to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing times and the young executives nipping at his heels. The series also depicts authentically the roles of men and women in this era while exploring the true human nature beneath the guise of 1960s traditional family values.

One of my favorite characters is up and coming actress Christina Hendricks who plays the brash, sassy and conflicted Joan Harris - the office manager of the firm.

Why is she my favorite ... well because I believe she serves as a good role model for full-figured and curvy women ... ie ME! She's is not a size 2 ... finally, a image on my TV that shows a beautiful, sexy woman with curves! Joan's character - her dresses, her shoes - her shape ... makes you reminise about the women of the 50s and 60s like Marilyn Monroe and Jane Mansfield! Gorgeous women, who aren't a size 2!

Also, I seriously heart her red hair, which inspired me to color my hair very similarily. I tend to think red heads have more fun! Stay fabulous Joan!! Can't wait to see what happens this season ... I won't spoil it for any of you who want to tune in ... it will be worth your time I promise!!

Real Farmwives of America: How did I get here?

How about a little family farming history and some storytelling of how I got "here" to this life of mine on a piggie farm in beautiful Indiana ... as part of a new series entitled the "Real Farmwives of America" from Heather@3 Kids and Lots of Pigs blog feature! Thanks to Heather for including me!

Mules, Sweat and Tears 

My great-great granddaddy on my daddy's side farmed over 500 acres with mules in central Ohio in the 1800s; and my granddaddy on my momma's side owned and operated a 10,000 acre ranch in western Nebraska following WWII.

So you can definitely say my farming roots run deep and I'm happy to carry on the family tradition as the 6th generation farmer. My daughter makes the 7th generation on both sides.

The dairy barn on Lone Spring Farms. Built in 1933 after the original barn burned down. My family purchased the roller coaster from a local amusement park and used the timbers to build the barn.

The milkhouse

More of the milkhouse. Currently, it's just being used as a station to feed baby calves as my father quit milking cows a couple years ago. I kept my cattle at a dairy near Newark, Ohio.

In 1923, my daddy's family started milking registered Jersey cattle. My family bottled and sold rich Jersey milk and delivered it right to our customer's doorsteps ... sometimes I think it would be fun if the days of "The Milkman" returned to America's front step. While my grandfather worked for the Milk Marketing division of the Federal Government during the mid-1900s ... the farming at Lone Spring Farms Inc. continued as always. In fact, my granddaddy was one of the first in the county to adopt no-till conservation efforts on the farm. As a result of that early adoption, my daddy is now a big advocate of no-till conservation, as well as promoting enrollment in such programs as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, where part of the farm is now set aside and left unfarmed.

A Little Girl and a Jersey Calf 

Growing up I showed and fell in love with the Jersey cow. When I was seven years old, my parents purchased my first baby calf and registered her in my name. Today, I own 11 cows and 11 heifers. Although my daddy retired from the dairy biz a few years ago - I can't seem to get it outta my blood. Dairy people know exactly what I'm talking about. The hard working America's who raise dairy cattle do it because they love and can't imagine doing anything else!

World Dairy Expo 2009 - 4th place Summer Yearling

So I think it's obvious I'm a dairy girl ... so how on Earth did I meet and fall in love with a hog farmer?!?

Well I guess he sorta sweep me off my feet when we were in college together at Purdue. He was good-looking and sweet as can be ... he could've been a plumber and I still would've fallen madly in love with the man. So once we tied the knot in 2005 - I added the title of farmwife and hog farmer to my farming resume.

In the past five years, I have learned more than I could've ever imagined about raising hogs and grain farming. Big D is one of the most ambitious and intelligent farmers I've ever met and I've met a few in my day. Soon after college, Big D started working as a manager for 3 Kids and Lots of Pigs uncle's hog farm in central Indiana. We worked out a deal where we would begin raising some of his pigs on our own. What started out as 200 sows with nearly half of their offspring leaving our farm (Big D's daddy sold all of his pigs and now our farm is headquartered at the original Foster Farms site) has now become 500 sows farrow to finish. Meaning we raise all of the pigs from birth to market - that has become alot of piggies. So we've picked up three other sites in which we rent to raise our all of our piggies. We are what you call an independent hog producer and there aren't many of those left anymore unfortunately. My hubby has renovated many of the barns - so we've been able to keep our imput costs low enough to stay kickin in this business. See ... told ya I've learned alot!

Gestation and finishing barns for Foster Family Pork Farms

Piggies headed to market, literally

Additionally, we farm Big D's family's ground in Indiana as well as my momma and daddy's land in Ohio. Yes ... I know ... people say we're crazy to truck our equipment back and forth to Ohio. But it all goes back to that family heritage ... it's important to me and it's important to Big D.

I love that I've married a farmer and that he treats the farm - Foster Family Pork Farms LLC, as a business and not a hobby. He wants to make it so that our children one day can return to the farm (if they want to) someday and support their families. Being a farmwife isn't always easy, but when you love someone you learn to adjust to the fact that he may not help as much around the house or that in the spring and fall he will be in the fields for long hours at a time. I'm proud to be a Real Farmwife of America.

Big D and me

Again, thanks so much to Heather at 3 Kids and Lots of Pigs for allowing me to participate in your Farmer Friday feature and the Real Farmwives of America series. See below for more Farmwives participating in this series and their stories of "How I got here?"

Heather at 3 Kids and Lots of Pigs

o Amy and Liz at 2 Maids A Milking
o Amy at A Latte with Ott, A.
o Marybeth at Alarm Clock Wars
o Leah at Beyer Beware
o Jeanette at Fence Row to Fence Row
o Lauren at Four Ransoms and a Farm
o Cris at GOODEness Gracious
o Jent at My Front Porch
o Katie at On the Banks of Squaw Creek
o Whitney at Life is a Highway and Mine’s Surrounded By Corn
o Lana at Walking the Off-Beaten Path
o Denise at Who is the Grown Up


 

Dancing With the Stars Season 11, Episode 1 RECAP!!!

I seriously heart Dancing With the Stars (DWTS)!! I've been watching it since Season 1 and always find a "star" or two to cheer on and vote for. One of my all-time favorites is Mario Lopez (although he was robbed from the mirrorball trophy (by NFLer Emmitt Smith!)

Anyways, I thought it would be fun to start a weekly blog every Wednesday about the results from the Tuesday show. Who was cut, if I agree and my favorite dance and couple of the week! Let's start out with some quick introductions, shall we?

A disclaimer .... this post is a bit lengthy! They won't be this long in future DWTS posts!

Brandy, singer and actress
Partnered with Maksim Chmerkovskiy
First dance Viennese Waltz
Score: 23
Elimination: SAFE
Brandy was def a standout on Monday. She has grace, great lines and alot of potential to go far in the competition. She didn't really do much to make me a fan, it will be fun to watch her do some of the more upbeat dances.

Bristol Palin, daughter of former Vice-President candidate Sarah Palin and public advocate for teen pregnancy
Partnered with Mark Ballas
First dance: Cha-cha
Score: 18
Elimination: SAFE
I loved Bristol and Mark's cha-cha and the whole hommage to her mother and then stripping off the suit to that sexy red dress. One can only imagine what her mother REALLY thought of that dance. Mark is an amazing choreographer, always one of my favorites. Bristol is extremely shy, you can tell - but she's not terrible. One to watch. She will likely excel in the slower, more romantic dances.

Florence Henderson, TV mom on The Brady Bunch
Partnered with Corky Ballas
First dance: Cha-cha
Score: 18
Elimination: SAFE
Florence is 76 years old, the oldest competitor by a long shot. But her attitude and enthusiasm is that of a much younger woman. She is super-fun and sassy and you can tell she is having a great time. I LOVE HER and I hope she goes far in this competiton.

David Hasselhof, actor (Baywatch and Knight Rider) and singer
Partnered with Kym Johnson
First dance: Cha-cha
Score: 15
Elimination: ELIMINATED
ABC has been super-publizing "The Hof" on Dancing with the Stars and he did NOT deliver. His performance was over-confident and painful to watch (as evidenced in the photo below!). Apparently the producers of the show were surprised he was voted off first, not me .... he was terrible - it was the right time for him to GO!

Kurt Warner, former NFL quarterback for the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals
Partnered with Anna Trebunskaya
First dance: Vienna Waltz
Score: 19
Elimination: SAFE
Many NFL greats have graced the DWTS dancefloor, including Jerry Rice, Warren Sap, Emmitt Smith and Jason Taylor. But Kurt is the very first quarterback. And right out of the gate, he is one of my favorites. He is a class-act all the way. And P.S. he has seven children .... holy smoke! I loved his Waltz and I can't wait to see his booty shake in the sexy Latin dances!

Rick Fox, former NBA LA Lakers player
Partnered with Cheryl Burke
First dance: Viennese Waltz
Score: 22
Elimination: SAFE
Rick Fox is 6'7 and most likely the tallest man to compete in DWTS. His height is an obstacle for him and his partner Cheryl in the Waltz. But he is one good-looking dude, so you know the ladies will be voting for him! I prefer Kurt in this competition, but Rick will likely go far. We shall see as the two superstar athletes duke it out!

Michael Bolton, singer
Partnered with Chelsie Hightower
First dance: Viennese Waltz
Score: 16
Elimination: SAFE
I think most people assumed that Bolton would be natural talented on the dancefloor. We were sooo wrong. Mr. Bolton is a little bit awkward and I can imagine it will be worse when he gets to the Latin dances. My predication is that next week will be his last in the competition.

Audrina Padridge, The Hills hottie
Partnered with Tony Dovolani
First dance: Cha-cha
Score: 19
Elimination: SAFE
Audrina was the first one to compete on Monday and her cha-cha was not bad, but her twisting and shaking seemed disconnected. She is a beautiful girl and she is built to be a dancer, but I wonder if she can pull it all together. I also wonder if she has enough of a fan base to help pull her along. My prediction is that she makes it a couple more rounds and then goes home.

Mike "The Situation" - The Jersey Shore reality show
Partnered with Karina Smirnoff
First dance: Cha-cha
Score: 15
Elimination: SAFE
The Situation only had five days to compete (because he was finishing up filming for The Jersey Shore) while the other celebrities had two weeks, so already The Situation is behind. His cha-cha was sub-par and the judges scored him quite low as a result. I do however, think that with a bit more training, he could be really fun to watch. I hope he sticks around, honestly.

Jennifer Grey, actress (Baby from Dirty Dancing)
Partnered with Derek Hough
First dance: Viennese Waltz
Score: 23
Elimination: SAFE
While it's been well over 20 years, Baby has still got it! She was at the top of the leaderboard on Monday and it was well-deserved! She is amazing and definitely one of my favorites! I can't wait to watch her in the coming weeks!

Margaret Cho - comedian
Partnered with Louis Van Amstel
First dance: Viennese Waltz
Score: 15
Elimination: SAFE
Margaret tried to add some humor to her Viennese Waltz and it didn't come off quite as well as I'm sure she hoped. The funny thing about it is that she can actually dance, she doesn't need to cover it up with silly stunts like she did with the silly butterfly wings. I'm not sure of her fan base, so I fear she may leave the competition in the next couple weeks.

Kyle Massey - Disney's Cory in the House star
Partnered with Lacey Schwimmer
First dance: Cha-cha
Score: 23
Elimination: SAFE
Wow! This young pup came out with guns blazing! I never would've picked Kyle to be such an enthusiastic dancer. He was so fun to watch and the crowd at DWTS was definitely into it! I have a feeling he will make it into the final four!

A sentimental sap ... oh definitely!

My hubby Big D would call me the most sentimental person he's ever met ... apparently he hasn't spent enough time around my family! I cherish the memories of my childhood, showing horses and dairy cattle and all the special moments I've been blessed enough to experience in my lifetime thus far. While I live in Indiana currently, I grew up in a small rural town in central Ohio. We lived in a pre-civil home on the Scioto River. I may be biased, but to me - it's always been one of the most beautiful homes/farms in town. I'm definitely sentimental when it comes to my childhood home, and yes - I've been told a million times - it's not the house that makes the memories it's the people - but I certainly do associate the two!

About the time that Big D and I got married - my Mom decided it was time to move on from the big ol' house that was becoming too much to take care of for a single lady in her 60s. I convinced myself for a long time that the house wouldn't sell or that Mom would change her mind - because selfishly I couldn't imagine going "home" to visit her if it wasn't in my "home."

Well nearly five years later - someone took the plunge - made the bid - Mom accepted - and I was devastated ... she was really moving!

She wanted me to come pack up my things - pick up some furniture she wouldn't need in her new place - it was a difficult time for me to deal with - I'm not going to lie! (This all happened in my 7th, 8th and 9th month of pregnancy to make matters more stressful!)

Luckily - Big D was there to help me get through the ordeal and I've made peace with the situation. With the new baby - it's time to make new memories in our quaint little Hoosier home. I will always have a special place in my heart for my childhood home and the memories made there.

A couple years ago I took some photos of the house and around the farm. Enjoy!

Flower boxes on what we called the "Little House" a summer house on the property we used for storage.

The Little House

Barn doors to the horse barn

Solid oak horse stalls my dad built

Trim on the front porch (The house had four porches)

More trim on the front porch

The horse barn and front pasture

The south porch

Flower pot on doorstep of the Little House

Entry door and sign on north porch

Water hydrant off old milk house

Something men just don't understand

I LOVE to shop!! I love finding good deals and occasionally splurging on an impulse buy I just can't live without. Every now and then I've had one of those days though when nothing fits or I just can't seem to find what I'm looking for ... and recently I experienced one of those days with my new post-pregnancy body. You can probably tell where this is going ...

Recently, I met up with my friend Liz @TwoMaidsAMilking and her girlfriends to shop for a bridesmaid dress for her upcoming nuptials this winter. I love weddings and it's quite an honor to be a part of someone's special day. And even better ... Liz let us pick out whatever dress we wanted, what a great bride!

So as I begin to try on some dresses that normally would fit just fine, I noticed I wasn't able to get the zipper up on one after another after another after another blasted dress. And nothing was looking like anything I would EVER want to wear in or at a wedding.

Thoughout my life I've basically been the same size, my weight has never fluctuated much at all, until now. I wanted to walk out of the dressing room and strut my stuff and look fabulous ... but I just wasn't feeling that confidence I once had. It was a difficult pill to swallow. The girls noticed my frustration and said "Meggie, you just had a baby a month ago!"

Yes, yes I know but it still didn't sit right with me. In the back of my mind, I was totally that girl thinking I'll just work out like crazy and lose the extra weight by the wedding ... I wanted to order that size I've always been my whole life, not the scary number the consultant wrote down for me!

I did finally end up finding a dress that was flattering. (I think anyways ... I still couldn't get the zipper up the stupid thing!)

So even though I had a great time with Liz and the other bridesmaids, I left with an uneasy feeling of a body that had changed and a confidence level that had dropped. Don't get me wrong, I'd do it all over again and be even 20 pounds heavier just to have my little girl in my life. She is worth it totally!

As I drove home from the big day ... I called Big D and told him about the experience. And although he was "understanding" on the phone, he really doesn't understand, because men don't have to deal with this issue. Men aren't judged for their "figure" or a number on the scale or how good they look in a pair of dress pants. They are lucky in that way.

I'm working on making peace with my new body and I'm anxious to start a workout routine once the doctor gives me the go ahead.

But ladies ... being fabulous and sexy isn't defined by the size dress you wear, it's about being confident in your own skin and loving yourself just the way you are! Words I've lived by and am working on reminding myself of thesedays.

~Meggie

Learning as I go!

Wow!! It has been a little while since I've blogged (hopefully it won't be this long til you hear from me next!) ... it seems everytime I get on my computer to do a few things someone in my home starts crying, demanding immediate attention, which she gets just about as quick as we can get to her. Reagan our little angel, is now one month old, although it seems as though she's been in our lives for a lifetime!

It was my intention for some time during my pre-baby, pregnancy period that one of our very first outings would be to the Great Indiana State Fair. I can not remember a year when I've missed the State Fair, EVER (either Ohio State or Indiana's). Even when I was just a few weeks old, my mom packed me up and we showed cattle at the Fair in August ... we wouldn't miss it.

So after Reagan, my daughter was born, my anticipation and anxiety grew about our trip to the State Fair during one of the hottest, most humid summers in my most recent memory. At just two weeks old, I had several family and friends caution me about taking her to the fair. Some of it old wives tales - I suppose ... And as a new momma who'd barely been out of the house since she was born, never changed a diaper in public or nursed in public - I was scared to death as it is. And the thought of Reagan getting sick or sunburnt during our outing weighed heavy on my mind.

I quickly realized that my desire to go to the State Fair was about ME, NOT about Reagan. With that, I began to understand what sacrifice is all about. Not going to the State Fair (Jersey show) believe it or not is a pretty big deal in my book, so that the fact that I didn't go for my daughter's sake - for her health - is a big sacrifice on my part. Better safe than sorry and plus I figured we should at least try to go to Walmart before we hit the major events like the State Fair!

But honestly once the day passed over - I was fine with it - and already made reservations for one of my favorite shows in the world - the North American International Livestock Expo in Louisville, Ky., in November. By that time, we'll have had numerous adventures outside of the house and my angel will be 3 months old with her immunity built up substantially at that point.

Being a mother is certainly still new and uncharted territory for me - but I'm learning quickly that I'll do anything, sacrifice anything for this sweet baby girl!

~Meggie