Our Zen Life

Twilight Saga....I Have Been "Bitten" By the Bug

2010-01-09T13:10:00.006-06:00

America and all around the world people have been engrossed with this story. I have to admit that I wanted nothing to do with it for a very long time. I didn't know what it was even about. But in about November I started giving plasma and I needed something to read while donating. So I went to Walmart and was looking for a magazine but saw that I could buy a book for the same price. I didn't have time to look at all the different books and I saw "Twilight" there and thought: "what the heck, a lot of people seem to like this book", so I bought it. I read it while I donated and then it just got too interesting so I started reading it in my spare time as well. Well I finished that book and decided to buy "New Moon". Needless to say, I read that in two days! I was officially hooked. I would rush out to buy the next one in the series and would even go to multiple locations to find it if they didn't have it at the first store I went to.

To say I got obsessed with the story would be an understatement. I even rushed out and rented "Twilight" the movie. To make things even worse, I gave my mom the books I had read and basically insisted that she read them so I had someone to talk to about them. Also, I wanted someone that would go to the movies with me because I knew that I would also want to go to "New Moon". I knew my mom would be a good person to have read them because I knew that she would get into them as well (which she did of course). I finished the other two books, "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn" in the same about of time. I think that I would read for hours and hours at a time.

So, in my opinion, if you want a good set of books to read that have a great story, then you should go out and read the Twilight Saga. I won't put what they are all about, but I will let you know that it is a great love story with adventure and action. You do not have to be a teenager to enjoy this story. Plus who doesn't love a story about a handsome vampire? These books are written by Stephanie Meyer who also has another book called "The Host" which I hope to read soon.

Goodbye 20's...Hello 30's

2010-01-07T18:37:00.008-06:00

I am sad to say, I am no longer in my twenties. Yesterday was my 30th birthday. Let the old lady jokes begin! But really I am not all that sad about it. I mean, yes, it is nice to say your in your twenties, but everyone around me is either in their 30's or going to be soon. So its not so bad.

So for my birthday, my mom and I went to eat at Bubba Gump's in the Mall of America. It was good and our server was really nice. Of course they did the embarrassing singing to me with all the wait staff. We had some really good drinks first and got to keep the glasses afterwards. We also had an appetizer and each had an entree. There were leftovers so I brought them home to Chris...aren't we nice?!?

Mom with her "Lieutenant Dan" drink

I had the same drink

Our yummy appetizer

My meal, it had four different kinds of shrimp on it.

After dinner we went to see the movie New Moon. I have been wanting to see it, but I have been waiting for my mom to read the books. (I will post more about this soon). I thought the movie was really good and much better than Twilight. If you haven't see it, you should (but read the books first) Here is the trailer.

I had a really great time with my mom and it was a nice way to celebrate my 30th. Now I am looking forward to celebrating again this Saturday with Chris and whoever else can join us. I don't know what we are doing (he is keeping that a secret) but I will blog about it afterwards.

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1.....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2010-01-07T17:58:00.009-06:00

Happy New Year everyone! Yes I know that this is already the 7th day into the new year, however, I didn't get a chance to write it earlier. For our new year's festivities, we went up to Milaca. Well actually first we were in Princeton at a bar. They were serving $1.00 beers (yes, only $1) and had karaoke. We stayed there until about 10:30 and then headed to Milaca to our friends Jill and Eric's house.

Once there, like usual, the guys went downstairs to the bar area and the girls gathered at the kitchen table. This is always good for "girl talk" and then the guys can do whatever it is they do down there. :) Once midnight was approaching the guys headed upstairs to do the countdown with the ball drop. It was kisses all around and "happy new year" to all. It was a great time.

I did not feel the greatest on the first day of the new year...probably those $1 beers. But it was still fun and a great way to bring in the new year!

Longsiding Bar

Here's to 2010!

Chris looking cool while staying warm

Jill and I

Kristi and I

Classic Dave.

Chris in Dave's Hat (which I want one for Chris now...love it)

Peety and Kristi shared their champagne with everyone

Christmas

2010-01-07T11:18:00.003-06:00

Okay so this is a little rewind moment. Christmas this year was difficult for me. We got to see Chris's side on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which was great. But due to the weather this year, we were not able to head to Iowa to be with my family. I think the cities ended up with around 15 inches of snow. Down in Iowa they got ice storms. So these two combinations kept us from making the trip. In fact, at my Grandparents farm, they ended up losing the phone service for a day and they lost electricity for multiple days which made it very cold there. Also, due to the electricity being out, they lost their water because the water comes from a well on a pump. So it was probably good we didn't go down there. Then on Sunday, my mom and Aunt Jill came back to the cities and came over to our house for some pizza and opening of the presents. I was happy I got to spend some time with them. During all of this, you realize how important family is. Is is truely the meaning of the holiday, spending the time with those you love.

The tree in our backyard

Cosmo trying to catch some snow flakes on her tongue.

Our deck gathering all the snow

Turkey for Thanksgiving....No We Will Have Deer

2009-12-19T17:32:00.004-06:00

I know this is way over due, but thought I would update the blog anyway.

Okay so over Thanksgiving weekend (well actually on Thanksgiving) we drove down to my Grandfathers in Iowa. On the way, we were in an accident. We were driving on a pretty dark street, but I was paying close attention because my mom had warned us to be careful because there was alot of deer out. I had been watching the entire way. All of a sudden there was a deer standing literally in the middle of our lane. It seemed to just appear. We never saw it jump out into the road or anything like that, it was just there. I had no time to react. I knew I was going to hit it, I just didn't know how much I could move out of the way of it and how fast it could move. Well we did hit it, enough for it to fly across to the other side of the road and die. Also, I had swirved and hit my brakes and ended up halfway in the ditch. I now know that you shouldn't swirve to avoid the deer, I should have just hit it head on, but it was my first reaction. Once the car stopped, I looked at Chris to see that he was okay and to ask him what we should do. My SUV was at such an angle in the ditch that we thought if we even moved, it would roll over. Well we knew we couldn't just sit there, so Chris got out and then got Cosmo out of the back seat. He came around and helped me get out of the car too. We had a couple of very nice people stop to see if they could help. But there really wasn't anything anyone could do. We didn't know if we should get back into the car and we didn't know how we would get it out of the ditch without rolling it. Some people offered to go to the nearest farm to see if they had a tractor they could use to pull us out. When they were gone a cop showed up and offered to help us. He told Chris to get in and try to put the car in four wheel drive and reverse the car out of the ditch. Chris did this, but it wasn't working. The only thing it was doing was lifting the back end up off the ground. The officer had to run and jump into the back to put some weight back there and then finally they got the car out.

Everyone that helped us was very kind and we really appreciated all the help. Yes, the deer died, but the police called a group that has a waiting list of people that want the deer meat so it did not get wasted. I feel terrible about the animal dying but they have a problem on that road...when we got into our accident we could see lights down the road and one of the people that stopped to help us said that another couple had just hit another deer down the road. Our lessen we learned is that we will not be driving down to Iowa at night anymore. But we are okay. My car only needs some work done to the outside so far. They will check in mechanics out once I bring it in.

The SUV sliding into the ditch.

The damage to the car, not a ton, mainly the bumpers

RIP little deer

Photohunt Challenge

2009-12-03T17:24:00.003-06:00

So I signed up for the next photohunt challenge. I am excited to do this one again, because I haven't done it recently due to the wedding and school. Here is the information about it. I will post the pictures at the end of the month.

Here is the list:
1. Holiday Lights
2. Holiday Spirit
3. A Holiday Treat
4. An Ornament
5. A Gift-Wrapped Package
6. A Window Display
7. A Winter/Holiday Icon
8. A Tree
9. A Tradition
10.Something that says Noel
11. Something Precious
12. Something Peaceful
13. Something Hot
14. Something Cold
15. Something Red
16. Something Green
17. Motion blur
18. Black & White Photo (with selective coloring)
19. Any photo using an Infrared Photography Technique (in-camera OR post-process)
20. A Macro Shot

Another Friend Puts His 20's In The Past...

2009-11-22T18:40:00.007-06:00

...well not officially. Eric's birthday is on Tuesday. But since he always seems to get the short end by having his birthday close to Thanksgiving, we all got together on Friday to celebrate. We met at a bar in Zimmerman. Chris and I had never been there and when the GPS told us how to get there, I thought it had to be wrong. When pulling up, it is very dark and looks almost like a residential area. But it was correct, so we headed in to see everyone. We had dinner and drinks. It was "Ladies Night" so ladies drank for FREE from 9pm to 11pm. I couldn't believe it! Although, it didn't matter much to me because I was the driver that evening.

This bar had some characters! It seemed like the women were from the early 90's. Every where you looked it was light blue jeans and either super dark makeup or no makeup at all. We also saw some nice looks on the guys too. Some of which included overalls with a white t-shirt and bright orange hunting baseball hat, the USA jacket circa 1989 worn by the guy with no front teeth, and many more. It was quite the people watching experience.

Also, they had karaoke in the corner, which is where everyone seemed to hang out and make into a dance floor. Which there was not room for and was right next to our table. So we got to meet alot of the locals and watch a couple of them stumble around and one actually fall over! Then, they signed Chris up to do karaoke without him knowing. The song they signed him up for was "Black Water" by Doobie Brothers. He was a good sport and actually did it, having never done karaoke in public! And to my surprise, really wasn't that bad. Dave said he would do it with Chris, but once he was up there, he turned his microphone off so it was just Chris doing it.

Here are a couple pictures from the evening and a little clip of Chris's performance.

Kristi, Me, and Jill

Jansen & Eric (the birthday boy)

Happy Birthday Eric!

Kristi & Jill

One of the locals decided to just sit at our table...this was my reaction :)

I don't remember why I did this, I am sure its because of something Chris said

It wasn't supposed to look like Chris licking Eric's finger, but that is how it turned out...and it was hilarious.

Jill & I with one of the locals. It was her birthday too.

The birthday boy meets the birthday girl

Eric, Chris and Dave

Patrick and Eric

One of the Locals = Nice Outfit and Dance Moves

Chris and Dave getting ready to sing.

Chris singing and Dave pretending to.

Chris rocking it out.

Liquid Courage

Little Clip of Chris's Performance

Eric, Chris and Dave taking a shot that is not girly, not Jag, doesn't have caffiene, all the requirements met.

Saving A Life + Easy Cash = Double Rewards

2009-11-20T12:47:00.003-06:00

So I have been trying to figure out a way that I can help with some added expenses due to the kitchen remodel and also to pay off some credit cards. This is difficult to do when I am in school and on unemployment. So after some research, I decided I would donate plasma. Not only does it help me by giving me a little extra money, but it also can help to save lives. In my book, that is a win - win situation.

After researching some places, I decided on Biolife in Moundsview. It was close to my home and school, so I could either go during my downtime or right after class. I decided on Biolife, because it you are able to set appointments, where other places, it is first come first serve. I don't want to spend all day in a clinic and then not be able to donate because it is too busy. I thought appointments were a great idea.

Yesterday I went for my first time. Well, actually, I have donated in the past, just not for a long time. They have you answer a bunch of questions and then do a physical. They also take a vile of blood for testing. This whole process took about 90 minutes. I wasn't able to donate yesterday, because they have to test your blood first. After all was done, I was able to make appointments for next Monday and Wednesday. You make more money if you donate twice in one week, rather than just once.

I did learn some interesting things while there. I have usable veins in both arms...however, they both seem to go crooked instead of straight...who knew?

Some ways they use your plasma:

* Treatment of serious disorders such as hemophilia and immune system deficiencies, and to make products used to help treat and prevent diseases like tetanus, rabies, measles, rubella and hepatitis B.

* Hospitals and emergency rooms all over the world use plasma-derived albumin in the treatment of traumatic injuries such as shock and severe burns.

So, if you want to help out, just call Biolife and make an appointment!

It's Grease Lightning.......

2009-11-20T12:00:00.004-06:00

Why this car is automatic
It's systematic
It's hydromatic
Why it's grease lightning (Grease lightning) ......

That's right, I went to the Broadway show "Grease" at the Orpheum on Wednesday evening. My mom was offered tickets (for free) and asked if I wanted to go. I had never been to a musical, and Grease was one of my favorites growing up, so I figured...what the heck.

We arrived downtown Minneapolis at the perfect time. We found a parking spot right by the Orpheum. We headed in to see the show and found out the Taylor Hicks would be starring as Teen Angel. So that was kind of a neat surprise. If you don't remember, Taylor Hicks was the winner of the 5th Season of American Idol. That was actually a season I didn't watch, but I was aware of who he was. We headed down to our seats and they were really good. We were in the 16th row, right in the middle on the main floor. I have only been to the Orpheum once before and that time I sat in the very last row. So this was a nice change. Great view! I wasn't able to take pictures during the show, that is why I don't have very many. I was able to take one but then was told there was no pictures during the show. So that is the only one I got. I tried to sneak in some without the flash but they did not turn out.

The show was great. It didn't follow the movie completely, but I liked what they did. The props and scenery was really good and the costumes were great too. If you want to check out some pictures of the show, they have some on their website here. The show had two parts with an intermission in between. I think it lasted around 2 hours. It was so worth going to and I would recommend it to anyone that loves the movie and likes musicals. After the show was over, Taylor Hicks performed a song from his new album. He also stayed after and signed copies of that album. My mom and I did not stay for that!

Here is a little of Taylor Hicks after the show. Performing a song from his new album. Sorry that it doesn't actually show him. I was trying to hide the camera. So its more for listening than viewing. :)

My First Soup!

2009-11-18T11:48:00.002-06:00

So Chris had found a recipe for a Cream of Chicken with Rice soup that could a) be made in the crockpot and b) was gluten free. So we thought we should try it. You can get the original recipe here. But, since Chris doesn't care for a lot (any) vegetables, I altered the recipe slightly. Although, as you can see there were carrots in it, and Chris ate them. I think I might of had a slight heart attack watching this last night.

Here is the recipe (how I made it)

Ingredients:

1 cup water (or more if you’d like, I made it with two cups) Depends on how thick you want it.

5 boneless skinless chicken breasts (diced)

1 quart chicken broth

3 cups of baby peeled carrots (sliced)

3 tablespoons of gluten-free flour mix (I used a All Purpose Mix found at Cub)

2 heaping tablespoons of dried parsley flakes

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

A couple teaspoons of garlic

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

salt to taste if you’d like

1/2 cup of uncooked white rice

Directions:

Prepare all ingredients and pour all but the rice into a 2 quart crockpot. Cook on high heat for 4 to 5 hours. Add rice and cook an additional 45 minutes. (You can add the rice earlier if you wish) Turn off heat and let it sit 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy! This dish serves 6-8.

I thought it turned out really good. I was surprised that I actually made it since I don't cook hardly ever. It was super easy to make and it a great fall soup. I hope you are able to try it out. I think you will be happy with the results. And if you go to the original recipe...you can see how close the pictures look :)

2nd Annual Cherrie Jones Tailgate Party

2009-11-15T12:58:00.013-06:00

We were invited by Dana and Michael to attend the 2nd annual Cherrie Jones Tailgate Party for the Vikings & Lions game today. Chris and I decided to just tailgate and not attend the game. Since we were not going to the game, we decided to bring Cosmo as well.

We woke up early and headed down to the lots in downtown Minneapolis. Chris and I parked at a meter for a steal at $3.50 instead of paying to park in the lot for $47.00. Since we were not staying for the full game, we tried to find a deal instead. It was great, it was only about two blocks away and it worked perfectly. We arrive at the lot at about 8:45 am. There were already a ton of people downtown tailgating for the Vikings game. There were a lot of people in our particular lot as well. The weather was perfect. Not too cold like the tailgating we did last January. They did a couple of raffles which the proceeds went to the Liver Cancer Foundation. So we were more than happy to participate in those. Everyone brought food to share and it was so good.

Michael asked the Skol Line to come over and perform for us, and they did. In fact, I think they played about four different songs! They are some very talented people. I wish that Chris was a part of it. I think he would really enjoy that. Cosmo had a great time. In fact, so many people wanted to pet her and give her treats. Her list of treats included some summer sausage, hamburger and even prime rib! Also, I can't believe how many people took her picture or wanted to have her in their pictures with their groups. It was hilarious. I told everyone that we are going to have to look for a fan site for her, or look on facebook. I just couldnt believe it!

Anyways, we had a great time and can't wait for the 3rd Annual party. Thank you Dana and Michael for inviting us and for all your hard work you put into this. It was a fantastic time.

Here are a ton of pictures from our morning fun.

The Crowd

Dana showing her purple pride.

Chris and I...it was really sunny.

The food everyone brought.

Cosmo's new friend. It was a great dane and made Cosmo look so tiny.

Cosmo's ready for the game!

More people here now.

Skol Line

Jamie, Tom, Chris and I

Even bigger crowd

Chris wearing the scary mask.

Concert Sold Out... So Go To The Bar Instead

2009-11-15T12:44:00.002-06:00

On Friday, Dana had invited Chris and I to go to a concert at First Avenue. We met downtown at the Applebees on Block E. We had a round of drinks because we didn't have an interest in seeing the opening act. It was such a pain driving downtown now that they changed the one ways to go both ways, and also because they now have a bike path (that the bikers were not even using). And also, the Timberwolves game had just gotten done so there was alot of people out and no one directing the traffic. So by the time we got there, it was already pretty late, but we for sure could use the drinks. Once we were done there, we headed to First Avenue. There was a lot of people outside, but I thought they were just out there smoking. Dana went and asked one of the guys at the door where to get tickets and he informed her that it was sold out. Which was crazy, because it was a local band, and Chris has been to concerts there before that were bigger names that had not sold out.

So we figured, since we were already downtown, we might as well go out down there. So we headed to the Imperial Room. We didn't want to go somewhere that was too "clubby" so this was a great place to go. I think it was meant to be because we got there and there was two couches in the back waiting for us. We had some great drinks. They have a huge martini list to choose from. Some of which were Key Lime Pie, Almond Joy, Coffee, etc. They were so good. I could have drank 10 of them. But I just had one since I was the driver. They had a good DJ that played some old school songs that we hadn't heard for ever. There was also some great people watching. I swear some of the out fits people wear out, I wonder if they have a mirror at home!

We had a great time, hopefully the band will come back and we can go. It was called Solid Gold I believe. I hadn't heard of them before, but I listened to them online before we left and it sounded like a band I would like. So next time, we will have to preorder tickets. But we still had a great time.

Chris and I's drinks....His is the delicious beer Red Stripe and I had a Almond Joy Martini

Dana and I at the Imperial Room

Chris and Dana at the Imperial Room

Chris and I at the Imperial Room

Fridays Are Funny

2009-11-13T14:13:00.007-06:00

Since it is Friday, the 13th. I thought I would post something I find scarry! (and funny). What is scarry about this, is that we actually elected this man to run our country. Nice Representation of the United States. Thank God his terms are up.

Cosmo Hates Sharpies

2009-11-11T18:22:00.004-06:00

So we were sitting on the couch last night and I had a sharpie open. I noticed that Cosmo didn't seem to like it too much. Here is her reaction to it. Pretty funny.

Also, here are a couple pictures from last night too. I don't know why, but everytime I tried to take a picture she had a weird face. Made me laugh so much!

Steely Dan Concert at Northrup

2009-11-09T19:47:00.008-06:00

Last night Chris and I went to the Northrup Theater on the U of M campus to see Steely Dan in concert. They were fantastic. Our seats were on the main floor about half way back right in the center. It was such a great view of the stage. It was crowded in there and really hot. I think they had the heat on, even though it was like 60 degrees out still.

We had purchased these tickets off of craigslist for about half what they should cost. I guess the guy won them off a radio station and could not attend. So his loss was our gain. We were very excited to see them. They played their album "Aja" in its entirety. And then it played a bunch of songs from over the years. I knew most of them, I am sure Chris knew them all. We were not "allowed" to bring cameras in, but I managed to sneak one in. I didn't want to get caught with it so I tried to take a couple with out the flash. Then towards the end, I was able take a couple with the flash when the crowd was a little more rowdy. I wish I could of taken more with the flash because those are the ones that turned out the best. It is still hard to get a good picture because I can't seem to figure out the correct setting.

A couple funny things that happened that night: Pot was free flowing outside, we obviously did not partake in that. Also, it seemed like every time Chris went to the bathroom, he was next to a local celebrity. First it was Tim Blotz from Channel 9 news. And then it was Gardy, the Twin's head coach. I was in the bathroom at this time too and Chris was upset because I didn't get to see him. But then as we were walking out of the theater we saw him again. It looked like he was waiting for someone. We wanted to go and say hi and get our picture taken with him, but we were both too shy and didn't know if it was appropriate or not. I didn't want to bug him on his night out.

So that was our fun experience. It was a great show, and I would suggest anyone go see them in concert if they come back. They sounded just like they do on their cd's. Amazing!

Here is an article from the Star Tribune

The tickets we got for a GREAT price.

Me having a glass of wine at home before leaving.

Sorry not the best quality

The crowd.

The band

Sorry, kind of blurry.

Northrup Theater, isn't it beautiful

Chris and I outside the theater, trying to get the courage to say hi to Gardy

Feels Like Fall

2009-11-08T16:35:00.004-06:00

There are many things that come to mind when thinking of fall. The leaves changing colors, halloween, warm dinners and the start of the hockey season. Here are two of those things...

We recieved a crock pot for one of our wedding gifts. So we have been talking about different things we could make. One of those things we thought of was a roast. So I made one. The first one I have ever made in my life. Makes me feel like a real wife. It turned out pretty good.

The Roast in the crock pot.

Looks pretty good, huh?

I got an email from my old coworker, Joan asking if I would like to go to the Wild game on Thursday. I, of course, said yes. I love hockey and I miss going to the games. Since I no longer work at the Xcel Energy Center, I do not get free tickets anymore. These tickets were great. They were lower level and a great view point. I am so happy we were able to go. We parked at Alary's ramp and walked to the Xcel. It was a great night out and the walk was really nice. It felt like a nice date with my new husband. We had a wonderful time and even got to see Joan and Devin at the game. I am so lucky to have people in my life that are so kind to us. And even though the WILD did not win, it was still a great time.

Face Off

Wild fighting for the puck

Chris and I at the game.

Chris with a weird look on his face.

New Ceiling Fan...Should Be Easy, Right?

2009-11-08T16:22:00.003-06:00

So here is our newest addition to the kitchen remodel. Our old ceiling fan was from the early 90's, so it for sure needed to be replaced. Our old one was brown, gold and UGLY. We took the old one down and it seemed like it would be easy enough to replace. Boy, were we wrong. First of all the directions came in three different papers. We would start putting together, and then realize that we missed a part because it was in the other directions. The way they put it together, was not the smartest way of doing it. So we finally get it all together, but then realize that the wires are not matching up the way the old one was. We finally figure that all out and then can't figure out how to get the remote box into the space it was supposed to be. Chris's dad tried to help us figure it out, but he too, could not see how it was supposed to go in there. We were feeling a little frustrated so we took a break from it. I went back later and tried to work on it on my own. And guess what! I got it to fit!!! So we put the rest of it together and were so excited to try it out. We put the lightbulb in, put the batteries in the remote and flipped the circuit back on....and nothing. The fan didn't work, the light wouldn't turn on, NOTHING. That is a really frustrating feeling. So now we had to figure out what was wrong! We tried lots of different things. And finally we got it. We turned it on and it worked! So now we have a lovely, up to date, ceiling fan! It is fun and frustrating doing this stuff ourselves, but I am proud that we got it to work.

All the pieces to the new fan.

The pieces of the old fan.

The wires where the fan was.

Me showing off our hard work.

The NEW fan!!!

Is It VFW or American Legion?

2009-11-08T15:59:00.004-06:00

A couple weekends ago, we went out with Dana and Michael. We were going to meet them in Hopkins to watch a friend of Michael's band. Chris looked up the address and we put it in the GPS. When we got to the VFW, we didn't see a band, we didn't see Dana and Michael, in fact, we didn't see any younger people. SO then Chris was thinking he might have gotten the wrong place. We asked if there was any other VFW's in the area. The guy said no but there was an American Legion. We asked for directions, but everyone there was so drunk, the directions were obviously not correct. We kept trying to call Dana because Michael doesn't have a cell phone, but she must not have heard it ringing. So we got in touch with Dana after about an hour of driving around Hopkins and found the American Legion. We had gotten the wrong place. It was alot of fun and the band was really good.

The lead singer of the band singing to someone dancing. I thought it was so funny.

Chris and I at the American Legion

Dana and Michael at the American Legion

Never seen Chris order this beer in my life. Had to get a picture.

Me pretending to drink the Blue

Then we wanted to go to another bar so Chris suggested that we got to Legends in Northeast Minneapolis. We had been there before and had a good time. So we thought it would be good to go there with Dana and Michael. We walked in and immediately were hit by a strong smell, smelled just like vomit. GROSS! We decided that we couldn't handle the smell of that so we went to the downstairs area. It wasn't as great there as I remembered it. It didn't smell good, it was dirty and gross. The bathroom was so nasty, it was probably one of the worst ones I have ever been in at a bar! But it was still a good time since we were with our good friends!

Chris and Michael at Legends

Dana and I at Legends

Michael wearing Chris's ring and watch. Dana and I said this look is sexy!

Catching Up on Some Past Events

2009-11-08T15:39:00.005-06:00

Okay so we have been so busy the last few days, so I haven't had a ton of time to blog lately. So this is going to be a couple of posts rolled all into one.

Friday 10/30:

We wanted a quite night since we had been so busy with the home remodel, work, school, etc. So we went out with Kelley and Carrie to the Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Minneapolis. They actually have a Gluten Free Menu now so that was great, because I had no idea what I would actually eat there. It was pretty good. The meal I ordered had some sort of browned butter sauce that got a little sickning after awhile. It was nice to get together for a nice meal and good conversation. I didn't get alot of pictures because we were waiting for Kelley and Carrie and then I forgot to take more. So here is a couple of Chris.

Doesn't it look like a crown around Chris's head?

Saturday 10/31 Halloween:

We had been invited to go to a friend's halloween party in Northfield, but unfortunetly, we had been so busy with trying to install our new ceiling fan (see next post) and wanting to go and visit Chris's Grandma Betty in the hospital, that we just didn't think we would be able to make it down there. So we worked on the ceiling fan all day and then we decided after the hospital visit we would meet Kelley and Carrie for a drink in Stillwater. So we quickly threw together quick costumes. I got a pair of devil horns from Walgreens, slapped on some red makeup and grabbed a cap out of storage. Chris put on some skying stuff and his fake hair hat and went as a douche bag skier. Quick, cheap costumes at last minute, since we didn't have intentions of going out. We went to St. Johns to visit Grandma Betty and she liked our outfits. In fact, I think she thought that Chris had grown his hair out, and didn't realize it was a hat. It was pretty cute. Then off to stillwater we went. We ran into a couple other friends while there. There were some pretty crazy outfits and alot of girls in the tiny outfits. It was a pretty good time. I didn't drink anything because I had to study the next day, so I could not have a hangover.(Side note, I got a B on that test)Here are a couple of pictures from that night.

Me posing for a picture at home. I had my arm up to hide the thermostat. We discovered when we got home that I had turned it up to 85 degrees when I posed like this. That is one hot house!

Me at the end of the bar, they have some great N/A drinks at Smalley's Caribbean Barbeque and Pirate Bar

The Bartender and the bouncer. Pretty funny costumes.

The owner on the right and someone imitating him on the left.

Chris and I at the bar

Fridays Are Funny

2009-11-06T11:44:00.002-06:00

Do You Work Here? - watch more funny videos

Thought this was pretty funny because I always see people at places that are dressed like the people working. Like, never wear Red and Khaki to Target. Or Blue and khaki to Walmart. Also, if you dress in all black, you could be mistaken for a worker at many places including hair salons, restaurants, and some mall stores like Victoria Secret. So, I guess, just be careful what you wear to where you are going.

What Is Your Style?

2009-11-03T14:24:00.003-06:00

So I was reading one of my new favorite blogs, Young House Love And they had this quiz from Ethan Allen, so I took it. Here is my results

My Style is METRO

The verdict is in—your style is Metro. Metro is a great modern space. Chic, comfortable, clean. Do the math. Strong horizontals plus graphic clarity plus a fearless blending of metal, woods, leathers, and wovens; minus the superfluous and the clichéd; equals urban architecture domesticated, a vision for living.

I thought this was pretty interesting. I did look at what they suggested and I liked it!

What is your style?

New Fridge = Happy Tanya

2009-10-28T23:30:00.004-05:00

So we got our new fridge today! They dropped it off around 1pm. Chris and I moved the old one out to the corner (see previous post) and then moved the new one in. It wasn't as hard as I thought, but Chris did most of the work. Thanks, hun! We rented a appliance mover from U-Haul, which I am so happy we did that, I don't think we would have gotten it in otherwise. We did not have to remove the front door like we originally thought we would have to. The hardest part was getting it up the front stairs and then having to turn it and be able to tip it so that we got get the wheels moving. But we got it in and couldn't be happier. Its nice, new and shiny. Plus its not 20 years old! WooHoo! It is one more step towards our kitchen remodel.

Here are our dorky pictures of us with the new refridgerator.

Plus its going to save energy and money....green for the earth and green for us!

Chris with the new fridge.

Chris admiring the shelves...and a light that actually lights up the fridge. We have been without that for awhile now.

Me with new fridge...sorry for the crappy picture of me we had just moved it in.

Free on Craiglist....yes please!

2009-10-28T20:47:00.003-05:00

Okay so since we are updating the house, we have had some things that we needed to get rid of. First we thought we would try to throw it away. However, then we thought, maybe craigslist. So we posted some items for free. One of them being the carpet from the living room. I didn't think anyone would come and get it, but with in a half hour of posting...it was gone. So then we thought, well maybe we should put our old fridge on there. Again, people were emailing me, anxious to come and get it. We had told them Thursday morning, but then updated it so they could come and get it today. And within an hour, I had someone coming and getting it. Now its gone. It is amazing to me the things people will come and get if it is free. I think it is a great thing. Two items we consider garbage are now off to someone else's home. So I guess the saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is true. Thank you craiglist people for coming and getting your treasure.

My Way of Getting Out of Cooking = Kichen Remodel

2009-10-27T14:54:00.006-05:00

Okay so this is something that we have wanted since the day we moved in. But certain things have held us back from accomplishing this in the past two years. One being money and two being the wedding. But now that the wedding is done, its time for a new project. Soooo, the kitchen is first on the list.

This kitchen wasn't so terrible when we moved in. It had a good layout and good bones. However, there are a couple of tihngs that needed to GO! First off, the carpet. Yes, you read correctly. There is carpet in the kitchen. I don't know about you, but I am not the neatest person in the world...especially on those VERY rare occasions that I cook. I am bond to drop or spill something on the floor. So why anyone would put carpet in the kitchen is beyond me. So that has been torn up. We are hoping to put down some sort of slate tile. We are still researching that and I will post when we pick one out.

Secondly, we wanted to get a new fridge. Ours is about 100 years old...not really, more like 20 but still it has had a good life and it is time to bring in a new one. One that matches the rest of the appliances. So Chris and I headed to Home Depot to find us a nice black side by side fridge. We found some really great ones. Here was the problem. Our house was built in the 50's. I think they did the kitchen in the 80's. So I am guessing (based on our experience) that appliances were smaller than they are now. Because we have a 64" refridgerator and they are now about 69" tall. No biggie, right? Wrong! When they built the cupboards, the one over the fridge only leaves room for a 64" fridge. That is NOT an easy thing to find. So we decided, that the fridge would have to move to a new location. This is not as easy as it sounds either because...we don't have the biggest kitchen. So it had to go on the side wall. Which had a very large upper cabinet and a lower cabinet and breakfast bar on it. So we decided to take down the upper cabinet and remove the lower cabinet to make room for the new, shiny fridge.

Okay, so in the beginning, we were just going to put in a new floor, get a new fridge, new countertops and paint. Should not have been difficult or expensive. Now we are going to paint, new fridge, removed a cabinet, having to relocate another cabinet, figure out what to do with empty space where said cabinets used to be and put new flooring down. So our little project has become a big headache. Here are a few pictures of what we have so far. I will post more as the remodel comes along. Any suggestions would be great!

Here is the kitchen before. The way it was when we first started

Here is the kitchen now. No carpet, old fridge moved to where new fridge will be.

Another picture of way it is now, possible location for cupboard is where the fridge used to be.

Fridays Are Funny

2009-10-23T15:44:00.001-05:00

Okay so to keep me posting on a more regular basis, I am going to try posting something funny every Friday. Here is something I found that made me smile and giggle a little. These commericals are pretty hilarious. Too bad you can't see them here in the US on tv.

Compilation Funny Commercials - Funny videos are here

Back From A VERY Long Break

2009-10-19T16:05:00.007-05:00

Okay, so I know I haven't posted in a VERY long time. But I do have a very good reason. Chris and I got married on the 10th of October. So we had alot of things going on, bridal showers, Chris had his bachelor party, rehearsal dinner and then finally the wedding. I have been trying to update alot of the pictures on to this photosharing site. Check them out if you want. Also, if you have any pictures from that day, feel free to add them. I still need to add more that I have saved on the computer. Hopefully I will do that soon.

http://tanyachristopher.shutterfly.com/

We had the rehearsal dinner at Chris's father and step mothers house. We did the rehearsal in the backyard, which was a bit chilly, but went well. I think Chris was a little nervous even during the rehearsal. After that, we all went inside for dinner. It was delicious. It was a great time to be able to spend with the wedding party and close family that were part of the ceremony. My mom dressed up like a judge and officially handed over the gavel to Chris. This was a joke because along time ago, Chris had said that my mom was the judge that always got the final verdict with me. I always had to call and get her opinion before proceeding with something. We also had a cake for my Grandfather who had a birthday on the 16th of October. We wanted to be able to celebrate with him as well. After the rehearsal I headed back to the hotel with the girls to stay the night.

The wedding was a great and wonderful time. We had everyone that we love and care about with us. It was the first snow fall the night before and was much colder than average that day. We woke up around 8 am and had some breakfast and coffee and girl time. We started hair and makeup around noon and had pictures starting at 2pm. CHris and I saw eachother for the first time on the 6th floor balcony with the skyline in the background. It was the perfect spot. We headed down to limo so the wedding party could go take pictures before the ceremony. We got about 3 blocks away from the hotel and were pulled over by the police. Aparently the limo driver was not licensed to be operating and so the cop was going to make us walk back. After Chris and I got out of the limo and he saw we were in our wedding gear, he said he would escort us back to the hotel. Who can say they had a police escort on their wedding day. After I got over being pissed. It was kind of funny. We were able to get a couple vehicles to take us around. Because of the timing of everything, we ended up getting invited to take pictures inside First Avenue. This was fantastic and totally not planned. We had two great photographers. Spencer Combs was the best decision we could have made. He made us feel like it didn't matter what obsticle we came across, he would make it work.

After the pictures were done, we went up to the ceremony. I thought it was beautiful, romantic and personal. We had a white backdrop with purple lighting. The girls walked down to "Your Song" by Elton John. I walked in with my grandpa to "Home" by Michael Buble (which was the first song Chris and I listened to on our first date). During the sand ceremony we had "Its Only Just Begun" and we walked out to "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve. Our officiant Tairie Starr made the ceremony very personal and perfect for us.

We then moved into the Minnesota room for dinner and speeches. At this time, I received a ring from my Aunt Mary that my grandmother (who had recently passed away) asked her to give me on my wedding day. It was a saphire and diamond ring, which is my grandmother and grandfather's birth stones. Needless to say, I broke down sobbing. I had been thinking about my grandmothers all day. I had a butterfly in my bouquet from my Grandma Dorothy, and then to have this ring from my Grandma Betty, just made me so happy.

The dance then started. It was back in the room the ceremony was in. We had a band playing and it was so much fun. The band's lead singer is a friend of Chris's. She is an amazing singer. They are the Big John Dickerson Band. I was so happy that we decided to go with a band instead of a DJ. It was something different that we really enjoyed. Our first song was "At Last" and Jamela can sing this song just like Etta James. She is amazing!

All in all, it was the best day of my life, and I couldn't be happier to Mrs. Zenner. I hope everyone had as good of a time as I did. I will post more pictures as I get them.

2nd Annual Canoe Trip

2009-08-23T17:21:00.005-05:00

So yesterday we went on our second canoe trip with Dana and Michael. It was the perfect day outside. There was not a cloud in the sky and I think it was 75 degrees out. We canoed 17 miles down the St. Croix. It has amazing views and is so relaxing. They year it took us about 7 hours I believe. We stopped and had some lunch at the 6 mile mark. I always get nervous that we are going to tip. I am not scared to go into the water, but I am scarred of getting the camera and our cell phones wet. So I kept nagging at Chris asking if he was leaning one way or rocking the boat. We did make it the whole way with out either group flipping the boat, so that was good. Also, last year, the radio fell into the water, this year no casualties that way. But once we went to Stillwater afterwards, Dana noticed her camera not working correctly. So I think we are bound to have one electronic not work properly by the end of the trip. We had a great time and can't wait to do it again. Afterwards, we went to Stillwater to have a N/A Bloody Mary from Brines. They have the best ones I think I have ever had. I love them and it is a MUST to stop and have one. Here are a few pictures from that day. To see all the pictures I took, you will have to go to my facebook account under 2009.

Flowers for the Bouqets

2009-08-23T17:10:00.004-05:00

So again, last weekend my mom and I went and picked out the flowers that will be used in the bouquets for the wedding. Here are some pictures of them. We are using a friend of my mom's. She will be putting the flowers together. We might also do some alter flowers with the same ones. I think they are going to be really pretty.

These are the ones that will be in the bridal boquet.

These two pictures are the ones that will be used in the bridesmaid bouquets

The Fire Mom's Residence

2009-08-23T17:02:00.002-05:00

So last weekend, there was a fire that started in the house where my mom lives. She lives in a bottom level apartment. The fire started in the upper level where her landlord Meegan lives. I didn't believe how bad the fire was until I was there to see it with my own eyes. Here are a few pictures of the damage. This is not in my mom's place, but the upper level. They will be demoing alot of it due to the fire, smoke and water damage, including most of my mom's place. Its amazing the amound of damage that can be done by fire. The good thing is they were both okay and able to get out of the house.

Bachelorette Party

2009-08-19T16:19:00.003-05:00

This last weekend, we had my bachelorette party. It was a great time! We all met at Culvers in Shakopee and had some lunch. Then off to Valleyfair. One of my favorite places in Minnesota. I LOVE rides. The scarier the better. I had a great group of girls with me. And we had a blast. After Valleyfair we headed to my Matron of Honors house for dinner, drinks and great conversation. I recieved some wonderful gifts from my friends and I can't thank them enough for everything they did for me. I had a wonderful time. Thank you girls for being a part of my life and helping me celebrate this day!

Engagement Pictures Are In!

2009-08-12T12:17:00.003-05:00

So we got our engagement pictures yesterday and I am so excited. I love them all. Well I could look better in some of them. Anyways, the file size is pretty big, so I put them on this site. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

http://my.slideroll.com/galleries/members/tatinni123/gallery/engagement-pictures/?g=0
hzzck1f

Wow it has been so long

2009-08-03T17:24:00.002-05:00

Okay so it has been forever since I posted last. I kept meaning to do it but every time I sat down, I had something else I needed to do. I finished my first semester back at school. I only took two classes but they were summer courses which move very fast and can be very difficult. I took Biology (ended up with a "C") and Sociology (got an "A") So there ya have it. I should have done better in Biology but there was a quiz every other day, and a test once a week. Doesn't give you much time for studying. Anyways, now I am registered for my fall semester where I will be taking three class. So hopefully I will do better. I am a little nervous about doing well since I will be in school and having our wedding!

Speaking of the wedding. Things are coming along. My mom and I finished the invitations last night and just need to address them all. Then they will be done! I will post a picture soon. I am very proud of how they turned out. Oh, Chris and I had our engagement pictures on Thursday. It was so much fun and Spencer our photographer is amazing. I can't wait to see the pictures. We should have them in two weeks. I will post pictures once they come in. We also had our tasting. YUMMY! I know I will be ordering the chicken. So good!

Okay, so off to finish something else. I will write more later. Just wanted to check back in so you knew I was still alive and still keeping this site up.

Photo Hunt #2

2009-06-30T15:23:00.008-05:00

I decided to participate in my first photohunt. I hope you all like the pictures. I was not able to get a couple because I ran out of time. Lots of things came up this month. But I hope to do it again. It was alot of fun. Enjoy!

1. A view from above

2.A Macro Shot

3.Laughter

4. Relaxation

5.A Celebration

6. A Sunset

7. A Lense Flare

8. A Bridge

9. A Shadow

10. A Garden

11. A Park

12.A Street Scene

13. Signage

14. A Summertime Activity

15. A Summer Treat

16. Earth

17. Air/Wind

18. Fire (Archieve from Memorial Weekend 09)

19. Water

20. Something Vintage (Pre 80's)

21. Glass

22. Someting Made of Wood

25. Something Round

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-06-20T14:43:00.003-05:00

So much has been going on it seems. Or maybe I just feel that way. So I have now been in school for about 3 weeks. I am enjoying it but I remember now, that I am not the best at studying. I tend to wait until the last minute and then hope and pray that I do good on the tests...which usually doesn't work out too well.

Also, we have been working on getting alot of the wedding stuff taken care of as well. We have got our marriage license. We went and finalized CZ's tux (which looks great) but he doesn't want me to show anyone the pictures. I guess you will have to wait till October. I picked up my dress, which i couldn't believe it, but it needs no alterations! None! I think that is a wedding first. Of course, there is one thing I am thinking of having altered. But that is a choice based on the dress, and not fit. We bought our wedding rings, set up our engagement pictures, made a mockup of the wedding invitations, finished the guest list....see how much I have gotten done. I am so proud of myself.

On a sad note, my Grandmother passed away on Thursday morning. Which was also CZ's birthday. So it was a happy day for him, and a sad day for me. I tried to be happy for him but it was difficult. I loved my Grandmother dearly, but she has not been feeling the best lately. I know she is in a better place and that her and my Grandpa Blaine are together again. That gives me peace to know that. We will be going to the funeral this weekend and I know that it is going to be difficult. I know its good for closure. But sometimes, it makes it so real. Right now, I keep having dreams that she is alive. I know that will probably stop after the funeral. Please keep my family in your thoughts. It will be very difficult and sad this weekend for us.

Getting Serious

2009-06-09T18:42:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I think I got a little bit of a spark up my a**. I got notice that my dress was in. That makes it very real that I need to get my butt in shape. I know my dress will fit, that is not a problem. However, I always told myself I would not be a heavy bride. I promised myself that. And the time has just slipped away from me. Yes I am down about 20 pounds. But I still have more to go. Since Chris and I started dating, I had put on about 40 pounds! I am not okay with that. I want to lose at least 20 more pounds by the wedding. That is about 4 months from now. I would like to lose about 5 pounds a month to make it to that goal. That would put me back at the weight I was when we met. In my ideal world, I would weigh less than when we met, however, I want to set realistic goals for myself so that I won't be terribly disappointed if I do not succeed. I think 20 pounds is realistic and healthy. So I have been doing some reseach and alot of people talk about this DVD you can do at home called the "30 Day Shred". It has Jillian from The Biggest Loser. I guess it really kicks your butt. So I am going to go out and get it and I am going to do it every day. If I can devote time to watch TV. I can devote time to do this video. I also signed up on a website called www.sparkpeople.com on there you can get support from others, blog about your progress and thoughts. Also, you can record what you eat and your exercise. If you want to join it as well I am under the username tatinni123. I will also update on here as well. Wish me luck because I feel the time slipping away and its time to get serious!

Photohunt #2

2009-06-01T12:11:00.003-05:00

I am so excited to join in this time around. I really enjoyed looking at everyone's entries for the first one. I think this will open up the possibility to improve my photography skills. Can't wait to see everyones this time around. Yeah!

Here is the list of items to photograph (all subject to photographer's interpretation).

1. A View from Above (looking down)
2. A Macro Shot
3. Laughter
4. Relaxation
5. A Celebration
6. A Sunset
7. Sun/Lens Flare
8. A Bridge
9. A Shadow
10. A Garden
11. A Park
12. A Street Scene
13. Signage
14. A Summer Activity
15. A Summer Treat
16. Earth
17. Air/ Wind
18. Fire
19. Water
20. Something Vintage (pre-1980)
21. Something Made of Glass
22. Something Made of Wood
23. Something that Floats
24. Something Railroad Related
25. Something Round

Memorial Weekend

2009-05-26T12:54:00.006-05:00

This Memorial weekend Chris, Cosmo and I had the pleasure of going up to the Sack family cabin. We arrived on Friday evening at about 9:30pm. It was kind of a rush to get up there because Chris had to work that evening and we didn't want to miss out on any of the fun activities. When we arrived everyone was so nice and welcoming. It never felt like we didn't belong or we were unwelcomed. Michael's family is so friendly and made you feel like you were a part of them. We had some drinks, sat around the fire and played some drinking games. The next morning we got up and headed to the bar for some breakfast. They have about 20 old bikes up there so Chris and I used one of those. It was so fun. It was really relaxing to just take the bikes into the bar. Also, this was good because we then got to see the way we would be taking later that evening when we went to the bars to party.

After we got back from breakfast, we played some lawn games and just hung out. We were going to head into town to the grocery store so I figured I would hit the porta potty before we left. Well...I ended up dropping my keys into the toilet. This was NOT a good thing. It is one of the things where you debate for a split second if you should reach in and grab them, and then its too late. We had to get the keys out because they had my house and car keys on them and we would be stranded and not able to get into the house even if we did make it home. So Michaels dad got a magnet on a long pole thing. We first tried this, it didn't work. We then tried a bigger magnet. Again, this did not work. At this point I started to get nervous. We decided the only thing we could do is reach in and try to grab them. Michael's dad was so nice and said he would do it. He put a garbage bag around his arm and was able to pull them out. If that is not the nicest thing someone can do for you...then I don't know what is. We got them out and hosed them off. We also poured hand sanitizer all over them. Well that would be fine, except I have electronic door openers. So we let the keys and opener dry out for a bit and gave it a try. It worked! So we headed into town. By the time we got out of the store, we tried to open the car again. Now it wasn't working. So I tried to open the doors with the keys and the alarm went off. So we are now sitting in the parking lot of this cute little store and my alarm is going off like I am breaking into my own car. Welll after several failed attempts. Chris opened up the opener and blew on it for awhile. Finally it worked. We then just left the car doors unlocked. Didn't want to take that chance again! But now I will forever have poop keys. I wish I could say I had been drinking when this all happened but alas, I had not been. Quite the experience...but makes for a great story.

After all this happened, we hung out in the area of the cabin. We walked around to a couple garage sales, we checked out the land and just had a really nice relaxing time. We were able to go on a boat ride with Michael's sister and her husband. I love going out on boats but I get pretty nervous when we start going fast. I always think it is going to flip or something. I don't know why that is. But I usually get used to it after awhile. That evening after a few (or alot) of drinks we all got on our bikes and headed for the bar. Thankfully Chris and I brought a headlight so we could see. I swear I think we would have crashed into something if we didn't have that with us. It was DARK up there. We had a great time. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Thank you Sack family for letting us come up there and treating us like family. There are not enough people in this world like your family!

For the rest of the pictures...visit my facebook page

Unemployeed but....

2009-05-21T23:35:00.003-05:00

So right now, as you know, I am unemployeed. But I feel like I am busier than ever. It feels like alot of little things take up so much time. I seriously do not know where my time in the day goes. I feel like I am getting less and less done everyday. I feel like that frustrates CZ and I don't know how to fix it. Well, okay, I do know. I need to become more focused. Especially since I start school in about a week. I just do not know how we would have done alot of these things if I would have still be working. I guess I really need to start taking advantage of this time and really cracking down and getting stuff done.

I had so many aspirations for what I would do with my day. I was going to organize the house, I was going to work out like crazy to loose weight, I was going to get all this stuff done for the wedding. But most of that has been put on the back burner. But it is time to get refocused. I need to be better about time management. If you have any suggestions let me know. I am the worse procrastinator there is out there!

Koller Wedding

2009-05-20T13:52:00.002-05:00

This last weekend we went to our friends wedding in Northfield, MN. It was really a nice wedding. Everything was within walking distance so that was nice. They got married in a catholic church and then the reception was in an old theater that is now used for event space. It was a really interesting place to have the reception and it had a ton of character. The only problem was I didn't have the best lighting for the pictures. But we all had a great time anyway. The food was good, the DJ was good and everyone had way too much fun, including me. I ended up twisting my ankle and it has now hurt for the past few days. Slowly getting better but no the best idea when you don't have health insurance. Here are a few pictures from the day. If you want to see them all, check out my facebook page. It is under the Koller Wedding in my photo albums.

Signs of Spring

2009-05-14T17:41:00.005-05:00

So today it was beautiful out. I ran a bunch of errands and got to enjoy this wonderful day. I mowed the lawn for the first time this season. And Cosmo is loving playing outside. Right now its almost 6 pm and its still 60 degrees outside which I consider to be pretty perfect! Here are a couple pictures from today. LOVING THIS WEATHER!

Our great lilac bushes in our backyard

Cosmo enjoying the backyard

Cosmo ready to play

Look at the great face. Gotta love her!

Kristi's Birthday!

2009-05-13T14:05:00.006-05:00

On Saturday we all got together for Kristi's birthday up in Albertville. It was really nice to have some girls time. We grilled food. Although I don't know how much of the meat was eaten. We were in love with the other food, which included this awesome fruit salad, a asian salad, Kristi's awesome salsa (JUST like Chipotle) and some other things. Everything was great. Including Kristi's birthday cake which she said was just mix and a can of diet soda. (I don't know if I beleive her because that cake was amazing). But we had a great time with all the girls. Who else could get together and talk for 10 hours! Thanks ladies for a wonderful time. I don't these are not the best pictures of all of us. But they were the only ones I took.

Missy and I...this took a couple times to get right.

Lily...this is Colleen and Doug's little girl

Kristi...how much wine did you have? Just kidding, you blinked, but you look drunk.

Two of the three Seeck sisters

Kati and Missy, again, I don't know how many it took to get a good one.

Colleen and her daughter Lily

Don't Forget Mother's Day this Sunday

2009-05-08T15:23:00.004-05:00

I love my mom more than anything and I can't wait to spend Sunday with her. Don't forget about those people in your life that would do anything for you and help you no matter what.

Without You

Mom, without you, there would be no me.
Your love, your attention, your guidance,
have made me who I am.
Without you, I would be lost,
wandering aimlessly,
without direction or purpose.
You showed me the way
to serve, to accomplish, to persevere.
Without you, there would be an empty space
I could never fill, no matter how I tried.
Instead, because of you,
I have joy, contentment, satisfaction and peace.
Thank you, mom.
I have always loved you
and I always will.

By Joanna Fuchs

Bowling for a Cure

2009-05-08T14:51:00.006-05:00

On Tuesday we went to another fundraising event. This time it was for Bowling for Cancer. We found out about this through Chris's work. We had a great time. Chris won the first game. And I did not do so good. I don't know what my problem was. Oh well, it was alot of fun and it was for a great cause. If you want more information on how you can join the efforts. Click on here.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=16036

The lanes where we bowled...A little Retro looking.

Chris and Dana

Chris and I

Chris getting his magic ball, that actually had him bowling good.

Scary nose flaring Chris

You won!...now take a congratulatory drink.

Dana bowling...your doing great!

Michael and I...he is giving me advise to bowl better. I think it actually helped.

Michael bowling...STRIKE!

Our beautiful balls.

Our scores...note, I am not doing well.

Looks like its going to be good. But it was probably a gutter ball.

MS Walk 2009

2009-05-08T14:47:00.004-05:00

So we participated in the MS Walk again this year as Team Walk Walk Revolution. We walked in St. Paul for 6.5 miles. I think our team raised about $1400! Largely due to our friend Dave. Thanks for doing a great job Dave! But it is always a nice cause to participate in. Our friend Jill's mom is living with MS so I always think about her when I get tired or my legs start to hurt and remember that she and many others like her are the reason we do this every year. We were supposed to meet up with Dana and Michael but never quite caught up. They would have been two new members of our team this year along with Dave and Tina's son Liam. Hopefully we are one step closer to a cure. Hope you can join us next year.

Smalley's Caribbean Barbeque and Pirate Bar

2009-05-08T14:33:00.005-05:00

So on May 2nd we headed to Stillwater to meet up with some of Chris's friends. We went to Smalley's Carribbean BBQ and Pirate Bar in Stillwater, MN. I loved this place. There is so much character and the drinks were fantastic. We ended up sitting in the back room which had this long table. There was all these carvings in the table so I added my own to it. I later found out that they had origianally let people do this but then had it refinished. I felt horrible. But what was done, was done, no turning back now. It was a great time at a great bar, in a wonderful bar. Thanks for the great time everyone.

Our wedding date forever carved in a bar table.

The Mermaid carving. Aren't her hands scary!

The group of guys together again.

Kelly and the owner

The table with everyone

Chris...doesn't he look sad

Chris and I

Chris and I...take 2

Wow...its been awhile.

2009-05-08T14:28:00.002-05:00

Okay so I am not good at this blogging thing. I try to keep up. But I just seem to get distrated and then end up not getting to it. By that time, I feel like I have new stuff to write about. So what to do...write about old stuff, write about the current stuff, or both? Well I will try my best to do better so that I don't run into this issue again.

So as I previously posted, I was recently laid off. Well I have been trying to keep myself busy. I have been working on my wedding website, our monogram, etc. Also, I have recently signed up for some summer classes. I will be going back to school for my nursing degree. Which will take a long time. But this time, I am not going to get frustrated with the timing of everything. I am going to realize that it will take time and that eventually I will be happy with my decision. I am looking forward to the future and what it holds for Chris and I. We are almost 5 months out from our wedding. And it feels like the time is going faster and faster.

Oh and I know that I have not updated my weight loss progress so far (thanks Michael for the reminder). I had gotten off track from what I was doing. I had tried to do a high protein, low carb diet with Chris but that did not work. I actually put on about 5 pounds doing that. It just made me want all the things that I should have....sugar, salt, fatty meat. So I am going back to what I was doing. So as of right now. I am down 19 lbs. I am hoping to be down another 20 by the wedding. Wish me luck!

I am one of the masses now

2009-04-09T11:08:00.002-05:00

Well it looks like I was the one of the three to get the axe this week. I was told on Monday that I would be laid off. It doesn't have anything to do with performance...but because of the budget. As nice as it is to know that it was nothing you have done. It is still a hard pill to swallow. I have not been laid off much in my life. So when I heard the news, I was obviously sad. I have a hard time with leaving jobs. I am very loyal to the companies I work for. Sometimes to a fault. I love the people I work with and they because a part of my life. I look forward to hearing the stories about their life, I consider them friends and I will miss them dearly. My last day will be on the 17th. Which was nice to get some notice. But it is also difficult to go into work, counting down the days till I am no longer welcome there. Everyone keeps telling me when life hands you lemons, make lemonade or when one door closes another one opens. Well I am trying my hardest to really believe this. I think this could be a good change for me. But only the future will tell. The only thing that makes this situation worse is that this is happening 6 months prior to our wedding. We were already thinking it would be difficult to find the funds to pull this off, but now, that seems nearly impossible. But I will keep my head up and go out with dignity. I am not the only one this is happening to, but I hope for the best in the horrible situation. Thank you all for your support. I may need it in the days to come.

Germans and Tiki's

2009-04-09T10:43:00.006-05:00

First up was the German bar. We went to Mario Kellers bar. Which, I could of swore was a college bar. But I think people just love the atmosphere and das boot! We didn't get a boot to drink out of this time. But I would like to go back and give it a whirl. It was Dana, Chris, Kelley and I that went out last Saturday. It was really nice to hang out with them all together. Both Dana and Kelley will be in our wedding and I couldn't be happier. They are both great people!

Dana, Kelley and Chris (just like old times)

Chris with his big german beer

Dana and I

Chris and Kelley.

Next up was Psycho Suzi's. Which I really love this bar. This is the place where Chris and I had our second date. We even sat in the same booth. It just has so much atmosphere and a great patio in the summer. I have to say, I enjoyed the cocktails they have there too. Maybe a little too much :). You get served them in these great glasses which you can buy afterwards. I bought the green one to add to our collection. It was great night with great people. I can't wait for the next time. Thanks guys for the wonderful time.

Monkey love

Dana and I enjoying our cocktails. Strong...but yummy!

The great glassware they serve them in.

Just me :)

The man I love and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with.

Williams...great beer, good peanuts, wonderful company

2009-03-29T11:44:00.005-05:00

Chris and I headed to Williams Pub in Uptown last night. We haven't been there forever it seems. We used to go on Monday nights when they had specials on pitchers of beer and wings. They have the best buffalo wings in the city...in my opinion. It is normally pretty quite in there but last night was very busy. We headed downstairs to the peanut bar where people just toss the shells on the floor. I would seriously hate the job of cleaning that place up at the end of the night. We had a really good time and actually got two seats at the bar. I couldn't believe it because it was so packed in there. We had a couple of tall Newcastles and then I had a small Summit Oatmeal Stout which was really good. I don't normally like Summit beers but that one was really good. We talked alot about when we first met and our relationship. A little trip down memory lane. I think being in Uptown always does that for us since that is where we met. It was a really good time and I am glad we went there.

Chris at the bar.

That is just me hanging out at the bar.

You know we gotta do a shot of us together. Thanks bartender for taking this for us.

The bar at the end of the night. It looks like the place was trashed. But I am sure it will get cleaned up and look good as new tomorrow.

Cosmo when we came home. Isn't she cute.

A Post....Finally

2009-03-25T11:33:00.007-05:00

Okay so it has been forever since I have posted last. And to be honest, I can't remember everything that has been going on. It seems like everyday there is something. But here are a few things we have been up to.

I ordered my dress! I think it will take about 5 months to come in. But at least that is a one more thing that is paid for and done. Also we have booked our band for the wedding. I am so excited. We debated back and forth between a band and a DJ. And we really wanted a band since Chris is a musician he obviously would rather have live music. The problem was, the cost is so much more than a DJ. But we found a band in our price range and it ended up being the one that his friend is the lead singer in. SO that is a triple bonus. Live music, in our price range, personal connection. Woo Hoo!!!

We went to what will probably be our last Wild game of the season last Sunday and they won. It was alot of fun. We went to Cosettas before hand to have a slice of pizza. (SO GOOD) and then off to the game. Our seats were obviously in the higher up seats but still a good view point.

So that is what is going on right now. I am trying to be better about posting. But it is sometimes hard to make myself sit down and just do it.

The Wild Game....we won 3-0

The view from our seats. Not too bad.

Chris and the Wild...two things I love.

Just me.

Updated Weightloss

2009-03-03T20:21:00.001-06:00

Okay, I haven't posted this for awhile. So here you go. So far down 16 pounds since January 5th. I think that is pretty good. I obviously would want it to come off faster, but slow and steady wins the race right.

Bockfest 2009 ~ New Ulm, MN

2009-03-03T19:06:00.007-06:00

Friday, February 22: Chris and I dropped Cosmo (our dog) off at my mom's and we headed out. It should have only taken us about a hour and a half from my moms but it ended up taking almost 3 hours! There was a very bad snow storm and the roads were horrible. I was driving so you know we were cautious. I get very nervous driving on icy and snowy roads. Well we ended up getting there at about 11pm on Friday night. We just hung out in the hotel room that night because we had an early morning the next day.

Saturday, February 23: We woke up and got ready for our day ahead of us. We put on layer after layer of clothes since it was very cold outside. We got in line by the Target across the road from us at about 10:30 am. The line was already very long and the "doors" didn't open until 11:00 am. So we slowly moved towards the front of the line. Once inside we walked up this beautiful path to the brewery. Once there, we saw alot of costumes, alot of people and alot of beer. We got in line right away for our tickets. Michael had gotten us these coolers to put our beer in because someone suggested you bring something to hold the 4 beers you are allowed to get at one time because the beer lines can be very long. Some of the other containers we saw people drinking out of included: a wine craffe, coffee pot, gas container, flowering pot, das boot, beer mugs, so many I can't even remember. But people were so creative with it. Ours worked out great. They had a mouth spout and a handle so they were great for carrying around. We heard a great German band and also had our beer carmalized. They stick a hot poker in it and it does the trick. A new experience for me, but it was good. We had a great time. It was cold but totally worth it. We ended up not going out that night because I wasn't feeling very good and I think we were all pretty tired from the day. I would love to go again next year but also go out on the town afterwards. I heard it can get pretty crazy.

All, in all, it was a wonderful time. It was difficult to get down there but ended up being totally worth it. Can't wait for Bockfest 2010.

I have all the pictures from this trip in my facebook if you want to see them.

Valentines Day

2009-02-16T19:39:00.007-06:00

Valentines Day was great this year. We met up with Dana and Michael and headed to Famous Dave's in Calhoun Square. We had some great food, wonderful drinks and listened to fantastic music.

When we got there the place was packed. There was a hour wait for a table, so we just headed towards the bar. We were able to find the end of a bar table that ended up working perfect. So we stayed there all night. We went to listen to a friend of Chris's band. It was Big John Dickerson band and his friend Jamela is in it. This was my first time meeting her and hearing her sing. She was amazing. That girl has got some pipes! We also wanted to listen to the band to see if it was something that we thought might work for our wedding. I really think we found what we were looking for. It is in our price range, they do songs that are dancable, and its nice to have that personal touch of a friend singing at your wedding. I am so excited and happy we went.

Dana and Michael...so cute.

Dana and I had the same drink. It was sooooo yummy. I think I could have had a ton of these, except for I was the driver.

Chris and Michael with their expensive New Castle. Oh well, its the best beer!

Chris and I

Dana and Michael dancing to "Wonderful World", which was amazing to listen to.

The four of us.

Chris and I again.

Update from the last week

2009-02-07T22:17:00.003-06:00

Okay so I missed updating my blog on Monday. So here is my current weight tracker

I feel like I have been slowing down. But I still feel like it has been good progress so far. I have had a few mishaps but I think that everyone does.

So here is my update from the last week.

Last weekend: Chris and I went out to a local bar. Which was pretty low key but still a good time. Here are a couple pictures of us from that night.

Work Week: I was supposed to have Monday off because I will be working this weekend. But we had some unexpected work come up and so I ended up working this day. Our week at work has been very busy with this unexpected project and also 4 events going on! But we made it through it alive.

Thursday: I found my wedding dress! It was done to two different dresses, but they were very similar. Kristi and my Mom came with me on Thursday to The Wedding Shoppe to check them out one more time. I had a hard time at first because I liked both dresses so much. But once I put the first dress on again for a second time, I knew that was the one I was going to wear. I have not ordered it yet because I am hoping to be a few pounds lighter before I have to purchase it. The girl that helped us was so nice and helpful. I am looking forward to going back and putting money down on it.

Saturday: Chris and I went to our cake tasting. Actually our Cupcake tasting. I had won a $100 gift card at a wedding fair to this place called Cupcake in Saint Paul. So we made a appointment to try their cupcakes for our wedding. We get to the restaurant and I was not paying much attention when I walked in and missed the big signs on the door that read "STEP DOWN". So I missed that and I missed the step down. I ended up completely falling on my butt. It hurt quite a bit and I ended up ruining my shoes. My ankle hurts now, but I was just too embarassed to sit there on the floor. I mean, if you could have seen it, I totally wiped out! But on the to desserts we went. We tried a normal white cake which they call "Carol Brady" which I thought was funny. And then a chocolate one and a red velvet. They were all delicious but the red velvet was our favorite. We ended up deciding that we are for sure going to go with them for our wedding dessert and I am super excited. Now we just have to figure out how many we need and which flavors. I guess we will have to go back and sample some more. DARN IT!

Chris and I also went out to lunch at The Claudagh in Maple Grove. The food was very good. After that, I went shopping for some wedding shoes. I found the perfect pair, but they didn't have my size. So now I am on the hunt for the perfect shoe in a size 9!

I guess that about raps up my week. I will try and update more often. This week we are going to take a look at the hotel and see how the remodeling is going. And then we have to finally decide if we are having a church ceremony or one at the hotel. Wish us luck in our decision. (p.s. sorry if there are a ton of typos!)

Monday's Weigh In....Beginning Week 4

2009-01-26T09:02:00.003-06:00

So as you can see this week was a little more difficult for me. I didn't go to the gym at all. I will be trying to get there at least 3 times this week if not more. I had some problems with cravings but I did not give in to them. I will strive to do better this week and hopefully I will see the results of my hard work.

Wedding Dress Shopping

2009-01-24T20:11:00.003-06:00

Okay so once again, my mom and I headed out in the search for the perfect dress. We went to The Wedding Shoppe in St. Paul. They were wonderful there. They were so helpful and nice. It was insanely busy and I now understand why. They have such a great selection and even have dresses in my size! Crazy...who would ever think to have dresses that fit actual people. Well anyways, I tried on about 6 dresses total I think and ended up finding 2 that I love. They are both so similar but have just a few things different about them. I now have to decide which way to go. I think that I will proabably go back and try them on again. But just those two dresses and no others that way I can make a concrete decision. Anyways, I am so happy that my search for this dress can be over with.

This is a picture from the last time we went shopping. Can you believe they still sell this stuff! I think I will wear this on my wedding day. LOL. I would love to post pictures of the dresses I like..But you never know who might read this. (i.e. Christopher)

Bride Wars and Girl Time

2009-01-19T09:24:00.003-06:00

So Kristi, Missy and I met for a movie on Sunday. It was great. I don't get to go to movie's as often as I would like. We met at the AMC in Southdale and went to Bride Wars. The movie was really cute. It is about two best friends that end up planning their weddings on the same day at the same location. You can imagine what happens. Then after the movie we went over to Ruby Tuesdays for some salad bar and great conversation. We had a great time. I love getting together with the girls and need to do it more often. We sat and talked for 4 hours and I think the waitstaff was anxious for us to leave. But we weren't going anywhere. I had a great time and can't wait to do it again soon!

Monday's Weigh In....Beginning Week 3

2009-01-19T09:16:00.003-06:00

Okay so today is Monday, and like I said, I will be updating my weightloss every Monday morning. I don't know that many people care about it, but it will keep me accountable for it. This last week went well. I overcame some obstacles that in the past would have tripped me up.

Examples:
At work, offered to eat at the cafe, but instead ate my own food that I brought in.
Went out to eat: ordered the soup and salad bar (and also looked at the nutrional value for the restaurant before I went to it...by the way, that can be terrifying to look at)
Went to a movie: Did not get any snacks or popcorn to eat.

So all in all I feel like I have stayed on track with the eating. Plus I worked out 3 times last week. So I feel like I am on track and have the correct mind frame.

Weightloss...It's a B*TCH

2009-01-16T13:03:00.003-06:00

So I have been going at this weightloss journey pretty hard lately. I started on January 5th. So every Monday I will weigh in and see where I am at in my progress. Lets hope for the best. This is my new Lifestyle Change (as Chris calls it).

Wish me luck...and patience.

Backtracking again....My Birthday

2009-01-16T12:51:00.003-06:00

My birthday was fantastic. Chris sent these beautiful roses to my work (surprised). Then I came home to the lights all off with just candles on the kitchen table with a birthday cake and my present. He bought me this perfume by Burberry that smells great.

On Thursday January 8th (our anniversary) we went to dinner with Dana and Michael since Michael and I's birthdays are one day apart. The food was good. The service...not so good. But fun. I thought that the surprises and birthday celebrations were done. But Chris had other plans.....

Saturday, January 10th is my Mom's birthday. Kristi, Mom and I had plans to go wedding dress shopping and then out to dinner afterwards. We went to all the appointments and then some. I found a couple dresses I liked. We then we in Maple Grove and my mom and Kristi wanted to keep going to places. We finally said we were going to dinner and my mom had suggested "Dave and Busters" earlier...which I thought was strange, but I was up for it because I love that place. We walked in and Kristi just walked right by the host stand...again, strange. But I went along with her because she was too far ahead of me to stop her. I then see a bunch of my friends sitting at table. Chris had put together this suprise party for me!!I was so surprised because I was planning on taking my mom out for her day. It was so nice and fun. I saw people I haven't see in awhile, along with my other friends. It was a wonderful birthday present....Chris is amazing and I love him so much. He really out did himself!

Yes I am wearing the same shirt on two different days.

Backtracking a little....New Year's Eve

2009-01-16T11:09:00.003-06:00

10....9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1.....HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This year we struggled with the decision of if we should do something or not. I was scheduled to work the next morning and I was worried about having to get up to go to work. We were invited to go our friends Jill and Eric's house. However, they live in Milaca and with my drive into work, I was afraid I would not get up in time. So kinda last minute we were invited to Dana and Michael's house and it worked out good.

The four of us with our wonderful hats on. There was good food, good drinks and great company.

I also made my very first crock pot appetizer. I thought it turned out quite well. It was a recipe I got from my friend Sadie. It was a buffalo chicken dip and I was in heaven. Buffalo wings are one of my favorite things and you make it into a dip and it is great. If I do say so myself.

You gotta love the awesome hats on New Year's Eve...plus the yummy champagne! I see Chris enjoyed it.

And cousin IT joined in the fun too.

All in all it was a wonderful way to start the new year! Thank you Dana and Michael for having us over.

Its Our Anniversary Today

2009-01-08T09:35:00.002-06:00

Today is Chris and I's 3rd anniversary. It was 3 years ago that we met in Figlio's in Uptown. It was the best first date I have ever had. We talked for 7 hours straight and I knew that we would be together for a long time. I am so happy to be spending my life with such a wonderful person and I can't wait to marry him in 9 months.

My Birthday

2009-01-06T09:43:00.003-06:00

Woo Hoo its my birthday. Today I turn the big 29! I can't even believe it. I still remember my 21st birthday like it was just last year. The time has gone so fast and yet, I have so many wonderful memories. I can't wait for this year. There will be so many great things happening. I can't wait to marry my best friend, see my friends kids grow up and celebrate their 1st birthdays, and more. Even though I am a little freaked out to think that this is my last year in my 20's, I know that age is just a number.

On a side note. I have wonderful pictures from Christmas and New Year's that I will post on here soon. I have been a little lazy about it, but I will get them done soon.

Happy Birthday to me. :)

New Banner

2008-12-26T21:24:00.003-06:00

Thanks to Dana for the new banner. I love it. Very "winter wonderlandish". Keep up the good work and see you soon.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T12:05:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas Everyone. I hope your holidays are great. Here is a cute poem for you all.

The Nicest Present

Under the tree the gifts enthrall,
But the nicest present of them all
Is filling our thoughts with those who care,
Wanting our Christmas joy to share.
To you, whom we're often thinking of,
We send our holiday joy and love.

By Joanna and Karl Fuchs

True Minnesotans

2008-12-21T22:51:00.010-06:00

How do you know you are a true Minnesotan? Well for starters you cheer on your Vikings team. No matter how the season is going. Second, you can handle the snow and cold. But put those two things together and you got quite the cold Sunday afternoon.

Dana and Michael gave us Vikings tickets for Christmas and so we all tailgated this afternoon. Crazy? Maybe. But a good time....Always. It was extremely cold. Last I heard it was around - 30 degrees windchill out. That's pretty cold. But we did have multiple layers and good people all around so you kind of forgot about the cold. Well for about 15 minutes and then your feet started to freeze.

It was a great time. And even though the Vikings didn't win. I still had a great time with our friends. I am happy to say, I am warm and at home, but I would do it again in a heart beat.

There goes the battery!

There is the master of the grill.

Dana and Michael...so cute.

Chris and I. So cold outside!

Chris outside the Metrodome. Do you see that he has no coat on!!!!

The Christmas Card Picture...Not As Easy As It Sounds

2008-12-13T09:57:00.011-06:00

So every year my mom takes our Christmas picture for sending out cards. I also take this picture and put it into a photo frame ornament. I have done this now for three years (since Chris and I have been together). We take it with our family (so Chris, me and Cosmo) The first year was on the Bridge over by apartment with the city in the background. Then last year we did it in our house by the fireplace and Christmas Tree. This year, we tried out Rice Park in St. Paul. It was lite up so pretty, I thought it would be perfect. This all sounds so simple. You look nice, find a nice spot, have a good camera and you should be ready to go right?!? Well it wasn't that simple for us....nor does it ever seem to be. First, this year we dealt with the bitter cold. Then its the wind, blowing my hair all around, then the dog won't sit still. I think we end up taking about 50 pictures in hopes of getting at least 1 good one. Either I am fixing my hair, we are making weird faces, or Cosmo is roaming around. Well here are a few that "might" be okay. We'll see which one I decide to send out.

Here is Cosmo on the way

This is across the river with St. Paul in the background. Brrrrr

Day With My Mom

2008-12-06T22:32:00.003-06:00

I went over to my mom's today to run some errands. We went and checked out a couple of bridal salons to see what they have for dresses. I was just trying to get an idea of what I would like. We went to one place that is going out of business so not much there but they were very nice. The next place which is really well known ( I won't put a name on here ) but they were, lets say, not the friendliest people. The last place we went to was in Uptown and they were great. I tried on a couple dresses and got a few ideas. I will go again soon but I would like my best friend to go too.

We then went to dinner at a horrible chinese restaurant....never going there again. But it was still fun. Then off to Target to buy a baby doll for a little girl in need. It was fun to find something for her. We ended up getting a baby blanket and a cabbage patch doll. The doll's name was actually Lizzie Tanya...so we thought it was perfect.

All in all, a very good day. It was nice to have some time with my mom. We don't get to do it enough.

Starting A Blog

2008-12-06T03:20:00.000-06:00

Okay so its 3:30 in the morning and I am posting my first blog. I had tried to start blogs in the past, however, I never quite kept up with them. Maybe it was a lack of things to talk about, or maybe it was just my incurrable procrastination. I just seemed to start it, but never kept going. I think it will be better this time around. I want to do this because we have a wonderful event coming up in our lifes.....our wedding. I had tried to start a "wedding webpage" but felt confined by what it offered. I feel like this is the way to go. That way, its not just all about the wedding. It is about our (Chris and I's) life together. I hope you will continue to check back. I promise to make every effort to continue this and finally end my terrible habit of starting something and not finishing it. I will try and post things about the wedding or also, just our daily life (it is going to be soooo exciting) I know you are all just peeing your pants waiting to see what we ate yesterday for breakfast, or how we went to work. Just kidding. I will try and have it be a little more interesting than that.

P.S. if there are typos, I appologize. Spelling is not my strong point.