Best of 2011

So we are well into 2012 and I finally decided to update my blog.  I was having a hard time coming back because I realized the last two posts were about two very important and special people in my life and I just didn't want to move on without them. I know that probably sounds a little silly (and it kind of is) because I know they are always in my heart and in my memories. I have finally come to terms with this and know I need to move forward and embrace all that is possible in 2012.  But first, I want to reflect on The Best of 2011!!

January - My Birthday Month where the hubby and I took a day trip up the North Shore to Grand Marais, stopping for some cross country skiing and ending the evening eating some amazing pizza at Sven and Ole's

February - I skied my first Prince Haakon in Hayward, WI!  It's part of the American Birkebeiner (more info here ) It's a cross country ski race.  I had so much fun and can't wait to do it again, unfortunately it won't be this year, but hopefully again next year!!

March - The hubby's b-day month!  We spent many hours driving to and from the cities from Duluth to find the perfect place to call home for the next couple years!

April - I started working in the cities a couple days every other week and we threw a surprise anniversary party for my parents in Lancaster! We finished April with the Med School Farewell Banquet-fun night!!!

May - I moved to the cities full time while the hubby was in Duluth - lots of travel back and forth again

June - Trip to Lancaster to celebrate Heritage Days!

July - 4th of July Wknd spent at the cabin!  Official 4th of July we had a BBQ with friends and walked on Summit Ave in St Paul to see the fireworks :)  Looking back, I saw lots of friends in July!! Celebrated weddings and babies!  Twins Game with the Uncle too, lucky girl! I also started my new (and current) job!

August - 12th Street Campout!  A time where my hubby's roomies and all our closest friends from undergrad get together and reminisce! My softball team also won the championship for summer league!

September - Got to see my godson over Labor Day :) Did a TON of canning with a close friend (yay for Xmas Presents completed!) My beautiful sister Sierra was crowned homecoming queen! We celebrated another wonderful couple's nuptials!

October - We celebrated my cousin Lea's wedding :)  Sierra turned 18! We had a great Halloween Party in Bemidji!!

November - My favorite time of the year - Deer Season!  (I'm sticking to highlights, so we won't discuss the sad stuff that happened as well)

December - Christmas, of course! Cookie bakings, presents, family, fun :)

Sayonara 2011 - Bring it on 2012!!

Whew!

This weekend was a whirlwind.  Let me give you a quick recap - I will try have a more interesting post tomorrow, right now I'm wiped!

Friday night I saw The Help - AMAZING!!  but the book is always better!

Saturday Morning I studied - yes! Mission Accomplished!

Saturday noon I got my hair did - always a treat!

Saturday night I went to a wedding - EPIC Night with med school friends! Congrats Kristen and Bryan!

Sunday Morning we all ate breakfast at Baker's Square - my new favorite 'Perkins'!

Sunday afternoon I went to the State Fair and got to see my godson - wonderful!

Sunday evening my hubby and I had date night - Chinese food and the last Harry Potter movie (finally!)

Monday morning - work, which was awesome. I'm serious, it was actually fun (and time and a half doesn't hurt!)

Monday noonish - grocery shopping. I finally have food in my house again!

Monday afternoon - Got to walk Lake Nakomis!  Another cross of my Summer to do list!!  Wooohoo! 

Monday evening - Another walk, this time with my hubby!! And some quality FB time as well as catching up with all my blogs! =)

I hope you had a wonderful weekend - and maybe got to relax a little more than I did....wait, who am I kidding, I love this stuff!!!

10 Things

As I've mentioned before, I love reading blogs.  I know I'm stealing this idea from a few blogs I currently follow, but it's such a fun and positive way to start out the day (especially with my rant and rave yesterday), so I am going to tell you about 10 things that make me happy right now (in no particular order).

1.)  Tailors! I'm short, I've always been super short and will continue to be short - I'm pretty sure I'm done growing.  So, I love tailors because I just bought 2 new pairs of dress pants and will need them to be hemmed.  I should learn to do this myself.  I can sew, but it's easier right now to let someone else do it for me - especially since I paid so much money for my dress pants - I'd hate to screw it up!

2.) Iced Raspberry Tea - I have told you about my love affair with Caribou Coffee before, yes?  Well, if not, I'm obsessed, but it's an expensive habit, so instead I have made my own form of my favorite tea.  I just brew lipton black tea, place it in the fridge overnight and add some sugar free raspberry flavoring to it in the morning with some ice cubes (also made from tea, see this gal's blog for the idea).  It's delicious and especially nice on these hot mornings of summer!

3.) Cucumbers - they are in season and they are my all time favorite veggie!

4.) Air Conditioning - seriously, I dont't know how people survived without it for so long.  Yes, it's still hot here.

5.) Blogs - really, they are one of my favorite things!  Can't you tell?

6.) Bonfires - I am about to enjoy one this evening - can't wait!

7.) Thunderstorms - but not on the night that I enjoy my bonfire, obviously ;)

8.) A good book, currently "Toxin" by Robin Cook - nothing beats a good novel.

9.)  Farmer's Market Flowers - can't wait to buy me a bunch of them...only $5 for a HUGE bouquet that would easily cost $20 in the store.

10.) My husband, without him my life would just not be as wonderful!

To Market, to Market - to by a bunch of cucumbers!

The Minneapolis Farmer's Market has been quoted to be the largest in the midwest. Now, I don't know if that's true, but it sure is big!  I think there are 5 (very long) permanent red tents that make way for a large selection of locally grown (and some imported) fruits and veggies. Then there are more tents that are set up by the vendors themselves.    This past Sunday was my first official trip when the market was going on.  I have been to the location before, but only to park for the Twins' game since Target Field was so close!  Oops!  Honestly, I didn't see this sign there that day! My trip was awesome. Although I could have done without the heat, I came home with a bunch of cucumbers, tomatoes and strawberries.  I could have bought a ton more, but I didn't know exactly what I was going to do with everything. My friend Jessica Malone joined me - well, actually SHE drove ME.  The farmer's market is on my list of places to go again (at least a few more times) before they close up in late September.  And, of course, Jess and I have major plans to tackle some canning with all our produce, too.  I am enjoying the TC, but apartment living doesn't leave much room for a garden and I do love to can.  At least I have a ton of options from the Farmer's Market this year and they are all pretty affordable.

Goal Update

I'm trying very hard to make sure I keep documenting my goals and stay on track with it.  It's how you get results :)  Last night, the hubby and I talked more about my MCAT test goals and decided on a reward for when I take the test. If I get the score I'm aiming for - a 35, we will go on a trip with money from a side job the hubby is going to take up this winter.  So - I have something to work towards - crazy!  I really want to travel, badly!!  Hopefully this will give me the kick in the butt I need.  Since I'm not taking the test until January now, I am making a less rigid study schedule.  I will study every Tuesday and Wednesday for 2 hours.  I will take one practice test a month until Dec. 1st and then I take one each week. Also when it gets closer I will start studying more frequently.  I feel this schedule will give me the flexibility I crave to do things that are fun that I currently feel guilty for - scrapbooking, sewing, crocheting and reading.

The hubby takes his SHELF exam in Pediatric Surgery today - which signifies the end of period two (rotation 1 for him)!!! Whoohoo!!  We are celebrating with a trip to the cabin to see his grandma and get in some good ole fashion Minnesota summer air, clear lake water and smokey campfire :) oh, and hopefully a pontoon ride or two and possibly some water skiing, maybe a visit with friends - Oh the possibilities =) Enjoy your weekend - I will!!

My Summer Reading List

Yes, I know...Summer is almost over.  Well, not for me...it's not over until I say it's over ;)  I don't participate in any activities (right now) that really signify to me the ending of summer.  I don't have a garden, I don't have kids that go back to school, I don't lay outside and tan..etc.  so I get to choose when my summer is over and I need to finish my summer reading list first ;)  So to make sure I get it done before snow hits the ground (which really will signify the end of summer) I am only choosing two. 

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett - I hear it's amazing and I'm only on page 5, but I'm hooked too.

"Toxin" by Robert Cook - it's about a deadly E. Coli outbreak and so it has drama, medicine...all the things I love in a good book.  Well, except a love story, I like that a lot too.....

I downloaded them both onto my Kindle last night and like I said, have already started The Help.  I can't wait to finish it because the movie will be released soon and I'm all about reading the book before seeing the movie.  Do you have any last minute books you want to finish before your 'end of summer'?

Weekend Re-Cap

I had the best weekend.  Friday evening the hubby and I went to Teresa's Mexican Restaurant in Mendota Heights.  I thought it was delicious.  I had tres Marias and the cheese sauce was awesome.  I also indulged in a daiquiri (which was so big I couldn't finish) and I thought it was delicious.  The hubby thought it was too syrupy though, so I guess it's really a hit or miss depending on your taste buds.  Then we went home and I slept  - and slept - and slept.  I think I fell asleep around 8pm and woke up around 4:30am Saturday morning.  It was much needed though and I wish I could go back to sleep right now.  There was a huge storm all Friday night/early Saturday morning and the skies did not look like they were going to clear up for my tubing adventure.  Instead, the girls and I headed to Rochester anyway, met up with my sister-in-law and went to a burger joint called Newts.  Again, delicious food!  I was quite spoiled this weekend because I got to indulge in a lot of delicious cuisine.  On our way back from Rochester we stopped at the Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls, MN.  It just so happened to be their wine and art fair this weekend too!! Lucky us!  We paid $5 and got to try 3 different types of wine.  My favorite was Winter Ice - and then I looked at the price of the bottle $45!  I think I'll stick to my barefoot wine for now ;)  It was tasty and light too - the perfect dessert wine.  We hustled back so some of the girls could go to the HP-72 movie. Who knew that movies were going to be getting abbreviations like that.  To me, it seems like a listing of some sort of gene that I'd study in school ;).  The other girls and myself went to Jen's apartment and swam and gussied ourselves up for a night on the town at Toby Keith's I Love this Bar and Grill.  It was a fun night filled with lots of laughter and old stories :)  Sunday brought on another heat wave and a much needed trip to another local ice cream shop.  My friend Jess LOVES ice cream and so I do, so I know exactly who to call when I want an ice cream fix.  This time we ventured Izzy's Ice Cream Shop  in St. Paul.  It was delicious!  They even have black licorice ice cream, which is my mother-in-law's favorite, so I can't wait to bring her there.  They make their own waffle cones and they have what they call the "Izzy Scoop" which is a watermelon ball size scoop of ice cream (of your choice of flavor) on top of your regular scoop of ice cream that you already chose. It's like a sample of a new flavor ;)  Sunday afternoon we had friends come over for swimming and pizza and then at 8pm I had a softball game in St. Louis Park.  Overall, awesome weekend - hoping this week flies by because Saturday is a wedding in Rochester and Sunday I'm going to attempt to tube..again!  Wishing you a great week!

My Personal Commandments

There are so many things that excite me about Oprah Winfrey's website, especially under the "Spirit" section.  I find it a little ironic that I am now obsessing over an Oprah website when I was definitely that girl who rolled her eyes when she came home from school and found her mom or grandma watching Oprah.  Everyday...4pm...now it's Dr. Phil.  Still not loving that guy.  Anyway, most of the spirit sections are all about finding yourself, your passion, what you want out of life..etc.  And somewhere among the posts today I found a link to The Happiness Project.  I was hooked. How to make yourself Happy.  Don't we all want that?  Now, I  count myself lucky because I feel pretty happy in life anyway, but I know there is always room for improvement.  So, I read about it and I have to say, that today, I'm starting my personal life commandments (read more!).  I think it's going to be quite a fun project.  I have already picked a few of my favorites:

Dig Deep - my interpretation is that you can do anything you set your mind to, but it may take hard work, dedication and time.  Be patient, work hard and know that it will pay off.  Dig Deep, we have big hearts and we are stronger than we realize :)

Avoid Debt - no one likes money problems.  Live within your means.  I think my hubby and I do this pretty well, but I need to kick a few of my luxury habits like Caribou Coffee and, well, Caribou Coffee.  Once in a while is fine, but whenever I feel a little blue, feel like I deserve a reward, want something refreshing, feel like I need a shot of caffeine....I go there, and quite frankly that's ALL too often!  And, I need to stop going to the vending machines at work.  I still get healthy stuff like pretzels, veggie chips, what have you, but it's costing me money I don't need to spend. 

Stay In Touch - I feel like I do this alright, but I need to continue to work on it.  I spoke with my 13 year old brother for a good 40 minutes last night and that hasn't happened in a LONG time.  It was so fun to catch up about what's new in his life and listen to all his stories (of course they were all sport related)  and I loved every minute of it. 


Stay tuned for more as I come up with them. 

I have to recount my evening last night for you because I got to do 4 of my favorite things. 
1) Hang out with some great friends.  We bummed around different sections of the cities in search of a new ice tea mug for me (success!)
2) We went out to eat - I love, love going out to eat, especially with great friends.
3) We ate pizza!  One of my favorite foods, ever.  If you have never been, you must try Punch Pizza. It's a Neapolitan pizza joint that is only found in and around the TC.  It's awesome pizza! 
4) We went out for ice cream afterwards!  Yummm!! The place is on Grand Avenue and it's called Grand Ole Creamery.  It's an old school, homemade ice cream shop that has very unique flavors and they make their own waffle cones (complete with a malt ball in the bottom to stop the ice cream from coming out).  Highly recommended!! 

Counting down the minutes until my weekend begins. For now, I'll send you off with a hilarious video of the cutest little girl and also a tune that always brightens my day (which we need since it's RAINING in the TC)

Jessica's Daily Affirmations

Jake Owen's Barefoot Blue Jean Night - perfect addition to summer!! 

Toes In the Water

I love summer - most of the time...most of the heat I could do without! What I love are evenings filled with friends, family, bbqs...you get the idea.  So that's why I am super excited about my upcoming weekend because college friends are coming to town and we are going tubing and out to the bar for some much needed girl time and catching up :)  Can't wait! 


Now, onto my ne-blog-ect.  Basically, I haven't been writing because I don't know what to write about.  I felt stuck, lost..what have you.  Don't get me wrong, I love my life but not so much my current job, which has led me on a chase of what my true passion is.  I read a lot of blogs and one of my favorites is cassieland.me.  It's written by an acquaintance from H.S. and I'm so inspired by all her ideas.  Today she had a link about how to write a dream board.  It led me to Oprah Winfrey's website which led to an hour or so of reading all about pursuing what you love to do..etc. I think it gave me the boost of motivation I need to rejuvenate myself for studying and working towards some goals I have. So, thank you, Cassie, for inspiring me. 


My hubby is smack dab in the middle of a pediatric surgery rotation.  He loves it. He said the work is so incredible because you meet these tiny babies and their families who feel as if their baby is "broken" and can't live a very good life and he gets to help "fix" them.  Then they get to go back to the family and tell them how their little angel will live a full and healthy life and the feeling is just incredible. Of course, not every story has a fairytale ending, but so far his team has been lucky.  He definitely stays busy, though.  He gets up at 3:30am to be to work at 4:30 and comes home around 6, but Monday night he didn't get home until 11!  So it really varies.  I try to be helpful and have dinner ready, clothes done, clean house..etc.  I actually really enjoy helping like that.  Thanks to his parents we have a coffee maker that I can preset to have coffee ready for when he leaves in the morning.  I LOVE it.  I know he can make his own coffee, but I feel involved and helpful when I can have it ready for him the night before (and I don't have to get out of bed in the morning!)


I can't wait to share with you the inspiring ideas that I got from Oprah.com/spirit, but I want something to write about tomorrow ;)