Lady friends, Moonshine, and Power Tools

Don't tell Rosie, but Bosley had a new lady friend, Nala, come visit last night!

Cuddling after chasing each other around the apartment

Nala kindly brought her humans, Orhan and Sarah, along to keep Erik and I company for dinner and the NFL playoff games.She wasn't sure if she liked him at first, but Bosley eventually won her over and they had lots of fun playing.

Erik went to the grocery store to get what he needed for dinner, and came home with Moonshine.

He has been watching a lot of that show on the Discovery Channel. I mean all of it.

Luckily what he bought contained fruit. It literally has pieces of blueberries floating in there! They recommended saving the fruit and making a pie with it. Sounds intriguing. 

This stuff smells like pure jet fuel, but tastes amazing!

Exhausted after lots of play

Erik and I had a fun little day today. We did a bit of shopping where he got new shoes and a drill that will actually drill a hole. His old one can't even be called a power tool any more. Once we got home we put it to work hanging my new shelving.

Ta Da! What do you think?

My antique wine glasses from Kalona look awesome, I think. The eighth one currently has super glue curing. Of course I broke its base. Erik kept laughing at my pout-y face, but luckily it was fixable. 

Tonight's healthy dinner. I'm down almost two pounds last time I checked! I did splurge huge at last nights dinner, but I still feel really good about my week.

Vegas in My Future

In just 19 weeks I'm going to Vegas with the girls!!!! 

That gives me 19 weeks to loose 19 lbs! One pound equals 3500 calories. So in order to loose 1 pound per week, I need to burn 500 more calories than I take in each day. I think that's a reasonable goal, don't you? I'm going to track my progress on the left hand side of my blog via My Daily Plate. 

Wish me luck!

Wordless Wednesday: Burt Reynolds Impression

Little Switzerland

I am blessed with many unique friends. They are all so diverse and challenge me to do different things. My very good friend Kenny, who I've known since early in my college career, is one of my biggest 'challengers'. He once got me to walk through a cemetery at midnight to see the mysterious Iowa City Black Angel. Not something I would have planned on my own at that time. This trip was no different.

He now lives way up in Wisconsin so he decided for us to meet halfway and spend the day together. We met in a little town called Mt. Horeb, which had a reoccurring theme of trolls, then drove together to New Glarus. This place is known as Little Switzerland and I was really excited to explore their historical village museum, brewery, and all the little shops. That was until we found out everything was closed. Some places for nearly the whole month of January! Those that were open weren't so until almost noon. It was a huge let down but we just rolled with it and went on to the next town, Monroe. 

 

This town's theme was pirates. It even had a pirate ship in the town square. We stopped for coffee and midmorning tiramisu, then wondered around the square. We stumbled upon another brewery and as we entered, we were just in time for a tour. Only in Wisconsin can you accidentally join a brewery tour before noon. 

Local cheese house

The Minhaus Brewery had a cool story and since this was my first ever brewery tour, I was thoroughly entertained. We got unlimited free samples, but didn't partake too much since Kenny was driving and I don't like beer and it was barely noon. They did have a coffee beer called the Chocolate Bunny that I kind of enjoyed. For lunch we wanted to head back to New Glarus which was a fantastic decision. We popped into the Glarner Stube for Swiss meatballs and Wiener schnitzel. So amazing! 

 

Once thoroughly stuffed we went next door to the Bramble Patch. The owner came and showed us around his store filled with Polish pottery, his family's handmade candles, soaps, jam, and nationally award winning Maple syrup. I couldn't resist an expensive little bottle, but after this morning's pancakes, I honestly would have spent a lot more! So delicious!

I never would have explored these little towns without Kenny. The people were some of the nicest I've ever encountered, but here was almost no yodeling in little Switzerland. Semi disappointing.

It's awesome to have people to show you different things.

Liquid gold!

Thank you 2012, and Farewell!

I finally decided what my main resolution for 2013 is going to be. 

I resolve to be more present in my day to day life. 

As I look back at what happened in the last year, I find that I’m struggling to remember most of it. Of course there are big things that stick out, but over all its just kind of a blur. I feel that I have wasted time just going through the motions or not fully appreciating what is going on around me in the moment. If I just take a short time to really be present in the moment, I think I will have a greater appreciation for what is going on and I will have stronger, more positive memories.  

My most memorable memories of 2012 would be:

Cocktails and Tapas cooking class I took with Abby at the local Cedar Ridge Winery. One of the recipies was for a red wine fig compote – I need to make that again really soon!

Celebrating Dalyz’s birthday at the Spa/Casino. Just getting to spend time with my girls was so much fun. 

Introducing Abby to the wonders of Kalona. 

Kathie and Ali’s baby showers, and getting to meet Adrian and Norah for the first time. These two are already such great mothers. It helps that Adrian and Norah are two of the most precious little nuggets on the planet! I’m excited to see the amazing people they are going to grow into.

 

 

Spending Easter at the emergency vet. I still cry thinking about that day, and the subsequent day when Bosley was in surgery. Bringing him home after so many nights away was such a good feeling. I hope to never go through that again.

Seeing Erik get his white coat. That man continues to astound me. I'm a very proud and lucky girl!

Camping with Erik, Kelly, and her whole Brady Bunch. Good gosh it was hot! 

Abby and Brent’s Wedding.

Shooting handguns for the first time.

The trip to Denver. This will go down as one of the best trips I’ve taken! Everything we did was so quintessential Colorado – I loved it! Looking back at climbing a 14,00ft mountain just astounds me. The struggle and wanting to give up was all erased once I was standing on top of the world!!! The gorgeous scenery and feeling of complete elation was just amazing and scary at the same time. There were several points in the last scramble to the top where one wrong step would send you over.  I am amazed that my fear of heights subsided enough to allow me to do something like this. Then I had to climb down. That fear quickly returned. By the end of our 7 hour hike, our muscles were on fire and our feet ached terribly. We just sat by the car for a moment, looking up at the summit, and it was almost hard for me to believe that I had just been up that far.  The altitude sickness that kicked in several hours later, however, was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had.  I puked in a tent, passed out in the car, cried, was shaking violently from a high fever, then slept for almost 20 hours. Trying to camp at 10,000ft right after ascending to 14,000ft was not a good idea. I can’t wait to go back!



At 14,000 ft!!



What we found shopping in Littleton

 

Hearing my little brother was getting married!

My first trip to Milwaukee to visit Emily and Brian - favorite quote: “Laugh at me!”

Shannon’s Bachelorette party

Kenny coming to visit and going to a haunted house! Then throwing my Halloween party the next day! Just setting up for this one was so much fun! This year's theme: Vampires!

My ‘photo shoot’. I got boudoir photos taken for Erik’s birthday/Christmas present. It was one of the scariest and empowering experiences of my life. I encourage everyone to try it, no matter shape, age, what have you. With the right photographer, you will not regret it! Erik loves it by the way.

 New Year’s Eve – I felt like a high roller! Loved it!

I had such an amazing year. I truly am blessed and I can’t wait to see what the New Year brings. I hope that with my resolution, this list will be even longer next year!

 

PS ~ I also resolve to take more pictures!!!

New, Nieuw, Neu, Nuovo, Nuevo!

We spent New Years Eve '12 in Milwaukee with some amazing friends, Emily and Brian. He knows how to treat people, and set up the coolest party for us. VIP bottle service in a private room complete with food and a DJ. It was a pretty hot party! 

I can't wait to do it again next year.

 

Pre party dinner at the famous Sobelman's. This is their Bloody Masterpiece complete with a slider on top!

 

Emily!!!

Bottle service table - we emptied quite a few bottles

Waiting for our cab

Me, Erik, Olga, Mike, Brian, and the beautiful Emily

The breathe taking view from Emily and Brian's apartment!

Its a New year! A re-birth, if you will, of ideas, goals, feelings, plans. Its a chance to say, "I can change, I want to change, I will change for the better!" Its a time to get motivated and re-light the fires under your goals and aspirations! Plant the seeds of who you want to be NOW so they have time to grow and become beautiful!

This year we made a "Bucket List". Its experiences we want to have before the year is over. 

                    #1. On our annual trip to Chicago, do four things that we've never done there before

                    #2. Explore caves

                    #3. Cheer on the Cowboys against the Chiefs in Kansas City

I also want to have my own resolutions. I've been giving it a lot of thought today, but I'm still undecided. I know what one should be, but I'm not sure if I have the emotional stamina to accomplish it without developing a drinking problem. One should definitely be get organized. I could win awards for my disorganization at home. I'll have to keep thinking.

What are your resolutions?

Hilarious!

Ok, I don't have kids, but three sets of my friends became new parents this year. I came across this blog yesterday and I'm obsessed! It's so funny and real.

messagewithabottle.tumblr.com

Cousin-puppy Love

Spent Christmas with my brother and his wife up North. They live in  a 'sleepy little town' where I grew up. It was really nice to have the small moments of reminiscing. It was nice to just stop and sit and just be. The few days leading up to it was crazy-emotional-stress-filled crap, but once we were there that started to melt away. Being there, and it being Christmas forced me to breathe and let it be. For I few hours I did have to slip into robot mode - for the best, but that was counteracted with an amazing moment of vulnerability and understanding from my sister-in-law. It was nice. 

All of the emotions were also softened by the wonderful joy of watching our babies running around. The first time Bosley and Laila met it was not promising. Laila hid behind Saddie the entire time growling. Over Thanksgiving, it got a bit better. There was still growling and hiding, but there was also chasing and playing. This time, there was almost no growling and even some light cuddling!

Begging for a treat

Not pleased with being a reindeer

The moment Bosley received his gift, he became obsessed! Its a brain toy comprised of three squeaky owls that he has to figure out how to remove from a plushy tree trunk. He is extremely protective of his baby owls.

Protecting his baby owls

Excessively tired after getting home

Bosley is still trying to recover from his couple of days of partying with his cousin.

Wordless Wednesday: Cuddling with Teddy

Ooo, Sparkly!

I'm hiding behind my teddy because I was naughty. I was so inspired by mommy's Christmas spirit last night, that I was overcome. It caused me to feel compelled to eat a salt dough ornament right off the tree! I am now ashamed of my sparkly glitter poops.

Holidays

I have much to catch up on. The holidays have a duality about them for me. I initially wanted to actively not participate, but its unavoidable. It's not a perfect holiday greeting card I hoped for, but I really have so much to be thankful for.

Erik, Bosley, and I packed up the car and headed north to my brother's and new sister-in-law's for Thanksgiving.

Couldn't wait to get to the turkey and cousin-puppy Laila

Laila is upset with her mommy for letting another puppy so close to her

This is as close as they came for a very long time

belly rubs from Uncle DJ

Me and my dad - smiling is painful for him :)

Finally home and exhausted!

"No, I will not get out of bed this morning!"

Much to Bosley's dismay, mommy tried to make cute Christmas photos

Is it bad that I don't want to give anyone their gifts solely for the fact that I love how they are wrapped?

I am definitely in the Christmas spirit now and crafting like crazy! I can't share too many crafts just yet because they are gifts. Today I made salt dough ornaments.

Glittery salt dough ornaments

2.5 cups flour

1.25 cups salt

1 cup water

* I added 1.5oz Champagne colored glitter

(if dough is sticky, add more flour)

mix well and roll out

use any cookie cutter you desire and use a straw to punch out a hole at the top

I used rubber stamps to create patterns in the dough

bake at 250o for 10-15 mins

dough started to lighten as it was getting close to finished

a snapshot of some of my other ornaments

Enjoying the blanket from grandma

Right after Christmas I get to go up to Milwaukee and ring in the new year with Emily! I got a new dress and could not be more excited to show it off!

I hope everyone has a fantastic remainder to their Holiday season!