Birthday Non-Bash

When I was younger, I never thought it would be true. I didn't believe there would be a time in my life when my birthday wasn't a super-exciting day that I looked forward to all year long. But the time has come. Everyone was right. 

Now don't get me wrong -- I still really love celebrating birthdays. Especially my birthday. But now that I've had a wedding in the last four weeks, a move in the last three weeks, and started a new job in the last week.. a birthday just isn't such a big look-forward-to-it kind of day. 

I suppose I should also say that Mike isn't a big birthday celebrator. But I'll change that... :)

Despite the anti-climactic nature of this year's celebration of my birth, it was still enjoyable. Mike surprised me with a watch that I had been wanting for months. I snuggled up in the warm blanket my mom had let me pick out before the move. I opened cards from my dad and my grandparents. And after work, Mike took me to the local Mexican restaurant... where you get free birthday dinner! He even splurged and bought me a margarita!

The low-key celebration was quite enjoyable. I turned another year older. [and another year wiser, I suppose?] And my knees didn't even creek the next morning. Twenty-seven sounds so much older than twenty-six, but I guess there isn't so much difference after all.

Me with my birthday dessert

 [Free] Fried iced cream Mike and I both thoroughly enjoyed.

Fall Football Fun

I'm still waiting for our wedding photographer to get photos to us, so while we wait I'll let you see what I've been up to lately....

This weekend, I was able to hang out with the few friends I have in town. Mike and I went to the University of Minnesota football game they played against Mike's all-time favorite team, the University of Michigan.  Of course, our friends from Minnesota are Gopher fans and Mike is a Wolverine fan, so it was a fun, friendly rivalry. There was taunting and trash-talking both ways, but in the end Mike's Wolverines were victorious.

Here are a few pictures documenting our fun!  (sorry they're a little pixelated... welcome to Android technology :) )

Mike and I with the Golden Gopher before the game

Mike and I after the victory

Chaos and Change

I recently came by this on Pinterest [yes, i am obsessed], and it's just oh-so-true. It seems to  describe the past couple months in my life perfectly. The great changes. And the chaos.

Three weeks ago was the day that every little girl dreams of. It was my wedding day. My day to be a princess. The day I got to marry my prince. It was a beautiful day. A blessed day. 

But it was certainly preceded by chaos. And due to my moving states and starting a new job, followed by chaos. Hence my absence. My apologies, if you're even still around. I do plan to update you on all the exciting happenings in my life. The many projects, the many changes. And per my aunt's request, all the details of our wedding.

I'll meet you back here shortly. Until then, here's a little taste of wedding goodness. My prince and I after the nuptials. Our first day of wedded bliss. Happy hearts.

Wedding Card Box

I have been just a little busy lately. What on earth have I been doing?? Wedding planning, packing to move, and finding a new job. And all the little things that go along with those fun activities. 
The good news? I have plenty of posts stocked up for you!

Today I want to share with you our wedding card box that my friend made for us. I didn't want to use just a plain ol' basket for our cards, but I really didn't feel like making up something fancy. But much to my surprise, someone made me an even more fabulous card box than I could have imagined! It's just perfect!  

Left: the front

Right: the back




I think it will be the perfect addition to our wedding day. A million Thanks to Pixie for putting this together for us!!

Special Addition

When one of my girlfriends found out she was expecting Baby #2, she asked if I would take a few photos for a fun pregnancy announcement. I was honored that she would ask me to do that; of course I took her up on the offer!

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to go visit Mom, Dad, and Big Brother-to-be. They're such an adorable family, and I'm so excited for them to add another member to their family in February!

And Kelly fed me a [delicious] s'mores bar she had made. YUM!! I'll come back and take pictures anytime if that's what it means :) 
*perhaps Kelly will write a guest post about said s'mores bar one day???*

Here's how Big Brother William really feels about the situation.

Thanks to the Hennens for letting me come play for the day.

And a huge Congratulations to you!!

The Great Outdoors 2012

You may remember my camping trip from last summer... or then again you may not. Why would you, after all?


Let me refresh your memory:  
Rachael and I.
Tent.
Campfire.
S'mores.


Rachael and I had such a fun time last year, we decided we should take another camping trip this year. We looked at our calendars in April, and there was one [literally, one] weekend that worked. So we booked that weekend and reserved it in our planners. And three months later, we made it happen.


This year we picked another Iowa lake, but it again was one we had never been to. We went to Lake Aquabi, on the south side of Indianola, Iowa. It was somewhere in the middle and it has a cool name. Why wouldn't we choose it?!


When we both arrived, we had a quick bologna sandwich [the one time of year we're allowed to eat bologna sandwiches with potato chips inside... haha] and then set up camp. We picked the perfect campsite and put up our tent. [Sidenote: they call it pitching a tent. It's way more work than simply 'pitching' it. Just for the record.] Once the hard work was done, it was time to relax. And oh my-- what a great way to relax! The hardest decision we had to make?  Where we would like to sit to read our books. It was glorious!

The rest of the weekend was spent soaking up the sun, reading books, debating the background of our weird neighbors, floating on our neon-colored floaties in the lake, and catching up on life. Even giggling like the third-graders we used to be. It was perfect.  


A few friends came to visit us again this year. The first night our friend Jayne, her hubby Dio, and their little guy Jameson came to visit us-- just like last year! And a friend of Rachael's from Iowa State joined us for dinner the second night. It was great to have some company. Poor Rachael would have gotten tired of me if we hadn't!


A couple months before our trip we had gotten a great online deal for kayak rental, so of course we cashed that in. Rachael was really hesitant, as she had never kayaked before and was a little intimidated. But in being true to her New Year's resolution of trying things she is afraid of, she hopped right in.  It was such a fun and relaxing hour!  

Rachael in her kayak

Me kayaking

There was a hot air balloon that was floating by on two different occasions. So fun!

However, our trip wasn't without trials and tribulations. The first night after our campfire, we sealed up all our food and other goods and headed for bed. About 3am, I heard some rustling from our picnic table. I didn't know if it was our crazy neighbors or animals at first [and of course i'm terrified of the dark], so I just listened. But after a while I looked out and saw a couple raccoons! Ahh! So I woke Rachael up and we assessed the situation with my Dad's trusty lantern (yep, the same one from last year!). By the time we got to the picnic table the raccoons were all gone, but they had done some damage! They stole [literally stole -- not even wrappers left!] a bunch of our food. Little jerks! 

The following  night we learned that we should put all of our food in the car (even if it was sealed), so we did... and then in the morning there were little paw prints all over my car. The stupid little raccoons had smelled the food and climbed all over my car in an attempt to get the food. Ugh! Next year we're doing something different. As my Uncle Larry said-- it's a good thing we weren't in bear country!

What a fantastic second annual camping trip we had. Stay tuned for the third annual installment next summer!

The Dress

With exactly THREE MONTHS until the big day, it was definitely time to get my wedding dress altered.  [Ok, so I had a good month before it needed to be done, but I'm aiming to have everything possible done an entire month early. I don't like stress.]


So with birthday-girl-slash-bridesmaid Kayla by my side, to the alterations department I went. I was really nervous that when I saw my dress again maybe I wouldn't like it, maybe I would feel like a fat cow, maybe it would look yellow or dirty, or maybe it just wasn't the style I liked anymore. I was getting a little anxious about it, but I bucked up and went for it. And with it being 104 degrees outside today, as I was tediously putting on my undergarments, I was sweating like an animal. It was actually kinda gross. [The alterations lady later informed me that that area of the building has no ventilation because it used to be the tire bay of an old Firestone car shop.] After the nice lady snapped up the gazillion hooks, I was ready to go. We got the huge gown out of the nice white fabric bag and voila' -- I LOVED the gown all over again. It was just perfect. 


So we continued with the pinning, turning; pinning and turning. When it came time to take it off, I just didn't want to! I guess that's a good sign :)


Oh, you want a sneak peak? Ok, here you are!

You didn't actually think I was going to show you the real deal, did you??

Mike wanted to know if his "white" tie would match my "ivory" dress. The lighting isn't great in the picture, but I'd say it worked out quite perfectly!

I can't WAIT for October 6th!!