Farewell to 2014!

As the hours wind down, it's time to say goodbye to 2014 and hello to 2015.

Chris and I continued our tradition of seeing a NYE movie: Unbroken. I highly recommend both the book and the movie. And now we are back on the couch, ready to watch the ball drop. Our favorite relaxed holiday.

This year. Wow. So many things. So many AMAZING things:

• We got married. Drop the Mic.

I mean, right?! Nothing will top that.

But I suppose I'd also like to celebrate:  

• We had the opportunity to see new parts of the world. London, Paris, Dublin, Belfast, Galway - every stop was more to experience. And now I'm hungry to see more of the world.
• Plus I wracked up a whole lot of US travel miles, both for work and for fun, including stops in Champaign, IL, New Orleans for a FREE trip with Rachel, getting to see my amazing friends Shiloh and Lucy tie the knot in Texas, and a holiday trip to Connecticut to close out the year.
• A few great concerts, including DMB at Summerfest. 
• I submitted my dissertation proposal draft to my professor. Finally. I still need to do my oral exams and then I can start my research, but for me, actually putting my work forward for review is a big step. 

There is a quote from Nora Zeale Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God that says "There are years that ask questions and years that answer." I used to have a theory about odd years and even years. That even years brought greater challenge, and odd brought greater celebration. That has proven less true for me lately. Now I am leaning more towards believing that every year has the potential to be great. And those with less celebratory moments just may be filled with more opportunities to learn and grow.

We will just have to see what 2015 brings.

Happy New Year y'all. 

All Good Things...

Vacation is officially over. It's back to work for this girl tomorrow, after 16 days away from the office. Womp womp.

I am very proud to say that I did not check or respond to any work e-mails during the break. Okay, I opened it once or twice to see how many there were, but I really didn't worry about doing work. Before leaving, I did my best to check off all my major to dos, and went into break stress-free and ready to relax and enjoy my time away. And what a vacation it's been. I could write you a really long higlights post, but I think a bulleted list will do.

• Five delicious holiday meals and wonderful time spent with family. 
• Movies and books galore.
• UNO Attack and a vacation puzzle.
• Gifts given and received. Very excited to use the City Tin from my sister.  
• Time spent in five different state: Wisconsin, Illinois, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York.
• Slippers that looked like dinosaur/monster feet. For a little one. Although I was totally jealous.
• A visit to the September 11th memorial. Moving.
• A visit to the PEZ factory. Fun.
• Snuggles with Finn. The only dog I kinda like.
• Snuggles with Fenway, Bucky and Stella's half-sister who is "away at college."
• A relaxing New Year's Eve with This is 40, Chinese Food and waking up to watch the ball drop then immediately going back to sleep. Party animal, I know.
• A third Rose Bowl loss for the Badgers. Always within a touchdown. 
• Seeing Barry Alvarez on the sidelines again. He was the inspiration for the GF Berry Alvarez pie that my mom made. Yum!
• Bonus vacation after everyone else went back to work! Meaning getting the laundry done, grocery shopping, making homemade meals, and baking.
• And most importantly, working on my dissertation proposal. I have mapped out a plan for progress for January, with the hope of getting quite a bit done.
• Finally seeing Les Miz! The most amazing musical movie ever.         
• And a final holiday celebration on January 5th. Who say's that Christmas can't go on for weeks?  loved getting to see more relatives, and my grandma stocked me up with 10 new pairs of socks!

This is it folks. Off to a full inbox and a whole new year of excitement. Lunch is packed. Outfit set out. Let's do this!

Can't wait until the students come back!

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Consider this my belated Christmas post. I actually could have written this a month ago. Old news now. 

Christmas came early for our house this year, and it keeps on going.

We actually got the best gift of all back on Black Friday. A brand new washer and dryer!

Some of you may think that appliances sound like a totally boring gift, but I am all about those practical things that I need. We have been trekking back and forth from the laundromat since April, and while it's nice to get all your loads done at once, there is nothing worse than having to lug laundry around during the cold, snowy, yucky months. It is inevitable that one of your clean pairs of undies will fall right out of the dryer and into the brown slop on the floor in the laundromat. Truly tragic.

So as Christmas approached and we learned that our parents were interested in helping us buy a washer/dryer for Christmas, I could not have been giddier. We scouted out the Home Depot sales, read all of the reviews and consumer reports, and settled on a set of Whirlpool Cabrios. It is a top loading washer, but still high efficiency.

At the beginning of December, our beauties came home.

As I watched the delivery men unload and install them, I definitely did a little happy dance. My only sadness is that they didn't come with a big red bow.

It truly was an even for the whole family. Our little snoops both took turns watching the delivery out the window.

Bucky stayed in the doorway long enough that some neighbor kids came to visit him. 

So naturally Stella needed to know what was going on too. 

As if we lived in a sitcom, a second truck pulled up right behind ours. The man jumped out and said "Did you order a washer/dryer?" as ours were clearly sitting in the middle of the driveway. Were we getting punked? Nope. Apparently the next door neighbor also took advantage of the holiday sales and bought a washer/dryer too. Some much higher tech model. Which then made sense why had been standing in the doorway watching our set be unloaded. I think she thought we were stealing her appliances. Instead, a happy day for us both.

Are you here for us too?

Everyone gets a washer/dryer!

I, of course, immediately started a few loads. Chris seems to think that my enthusiasm for doing laundry will eventually wear off. Doubtful. It is actually one household chore that I don't mind at all. There is nothing better than starting a work week without having to worry about clean clothes.

I have a load in as we speak.

To our family, thank you for contributing to the best gift of all. We would have been saving for quite awhile longer without your help. And likely would have had a few tragedies at the laundromat this winter.

Anything exciting show up under your tree? (Or laundry room?)

That's a Wrap, 2012!

In just a few hours, those of us that live in the Central Time Zone will be ringing in 2013. No crazy parties for me this year. Just an evening movie, some Chinese food, and watching the ball drop on tv. Scandalous, I know.

It has been quite the year. Looking back, a whole lot has happened. Consider these the highlights that would be included in my holiday letter, which I did not write or send. But here's what you might have received.

• Chris got a job here in Milwaukee. (I can tell you now that it was the wish I made on a piece of confetti that dropped with the ball in Times Square last year. No lie. We'll see if my wish from this year comes true!). 
• We moved into our awesome duplex, and began to make it home.
• I wracked up a whole lotta travel miles, both for work and for fun, including stops in Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, Chicago Indianapolis, Columbus, Duluth, and rounding out the year in New England with a bonus trip to NYC. Oh, and I even crossed the border into Canada!
• A few great concerts, including my 21st and 22nd DMB shows, Florence and the Machine, Gavin DeGraw and David Grey.
• I recommitted to my dissertation and found a new advisor. And I continue to make good progress on my proposal, with plans to do my oral exams in the upcoming semester. Yeah school. 
• I saw the president. Live and in person. And it was magical.  
• I crossed a number of items off my bucket list, including #3, #7, #8, #9, #10, #12, #20,  #23, #25, and #27 (See the list on the right for details). Oh, and #1: Read 30 books for fun. You'll just have to hear about Book 30 in the new year. 
• I became a real adult and investing in our first appliances thanks to some very generous support from our parents. More on that later. 
• I saw some of my closest friends get married and have babies. Woah!
• A major hair cut, from long locks to a pixie!
• I became a runner. Although I haven't run in a few months, it's one thing I hope to pick back up in 2013. 
• Oh, and I found Grumpy Cat. Life changer.  

While I can't know for sure, I anticipate that even greater things will come from 2013. I mean, I turn 30 in just six weeks!

Happy New Year y'all. I hope that your expectations are exceeded. Go do something big in 2013!

Dead Air.

It's time to put an end to the silence!

I'm here!

Sorry for the long absence. Between a crazy work/personal/dissertation schedule, traveling, and fighting a nasty cold for the last ten days, I haven't had much time to personally reflect, let alone throw some thoughts down for others to read.

Plus, I ran into this crazy blogging issue that other bloggers may be able to relate to. Apparently you eventually hit a limit on your free photo storage when using Blogger. And then all of a sudden, you need to decide if you are willing to commit to paying monthly for additional photo storage. Or you have to have all-text posts. Boo. Who would want that? I had to come up with a plan to work that out, and now, here I am again.

I may not have been writing, but I have been reading others blogs, and wow, they are filled with holiday cheer! Things they are baking and making, gifts they are giving, the whole shebang.

I'll be honest. I've been kind of a grinch this year. I am usually all about the Christmas season, but this year I just either haven't been home or haven't been feeling well enough to do it. I can't even fake it. Totally lackluster. I decorated the house back in November, and then have done nothing for all of December, other than watching a handful of Christmas movies. No baking. No holiday parties for this party pooper. I've kept my snot and germs home with me on the couch. My gifts are not nearly as thoughtful or well-planned as I'd like them to be. And I finished writing out my Christmas cards last night but haven't gotten them in the mail yet. Stay tuned for those after the holidays.

While I love Christmas, I am totally okay with my limited participation. The season can be so overwhelming. And I've needed to focus on getting well again, rather than feeling bad about not finishing all my grand plans. The Neti Pot is my new best friend.

Is anyone else having a "meh" holiday?    

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July!

I started off my day with a little Fourth of July run near the lake. After taking three days off, I had to make it happen, although I fought myself on it for about two hours before I actually got out there. Which of course meant that temps kept rising while I procrastinated. Bad idea. Let me tell you, that heat was sort of oppressive. Today may be too hot for running....

Other things it MAY be too hot for this Fourth:

• BBQs. Really? You are going to make some poor friend or family member stand in front of a hot grill on a day that it's in the 90s? That just seems mean. I hope you are giving them an iv of gatorade, because they are going to be sweating their butts off. I would rather stick to your basic cold foods today - popsicles, watermelon slices, cold drinks, and ice cream - what else do you need?
• Sparklers and fireworks. It's not only too hot for that, but also way too dry. 
• Mayonnaise. Just a little food safety thought - potato salad, cole slaw and other mayo-based foods don't get along real well with heat. And the last thing that anyone needs on the Fourth is food poisoning. Check yourself.
• Parades. Don't get me wrong, I love a good parade. But standing in direct sun in my own sweat for a few hours, waving at marching bands, scary clowns, and local politicians. On a cooler day, definitely. Today, I will pass. (Ironically my mother sent me a text from a parade while I was writing this). 

But it is not too hot for:

• American Flag apparel. Wear it proudly! I sadly do not have anything with a flag on it, but I could probably track down a bedazzler and make it happen. 
• Reflecting on the privileges that we have living in a free country, and thanking those that protect that freedom. It is a very big deal. We should probably spend at least a little bit of the day thinking about it. 
• Movies. Especially ones with that good old patriotic spirit. You know - Independence Day, Miracle, Apollo 13, Field of Dreams. Or really any movie about baseball. We will be heading to the theaters in a bit to check out Spiderman. Nothing says USA pride like a good summer blockbuster based on a comic book.
• Pools, water parks, lakes/oceans, sprinklers, or your classic bathtub filled with cold water. All good options.
• Standing in front of a fan or air conditioner in your underwear. Make it red, white and/or blue underwear, and that is a party.

Call me a party pooper, if you will. My mission in life is to stay cool. Although we will be heading out to Summerfest tonight to see David Gray. Maybe not until after it gets dark though. That just seems smarter.

How will you be celebrating America's independence today?

Don't forget about my second blog giveaway, the Cupcake Decorating Kit. Check out this post for more details, and get your entries in today! Just think, you could be decorating red, white and blue cupcakes!

I've Got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

My sister, mom and I at brunch

I miss my dad every day, but some days are harder than others. May 13 is the worst day each year because it is the day that we said goodbye. One of the days each year that I let myself ugly cry, with big old sobs and crocodile tears. I do not know that there will ever be a time that it does not hurt.

And yet, yesterday was also Mother's Day, which made it a day of joy and happiness. A day to celebrate my wonderful mom, who has done so much for my sister and I. Plus I got to see my grandma, aunt, uncle, and cousins for a fantastic Mother's Day brunch. And that made me a whole lot less sad. Especially since Mother Nature gave us such a lovely day to be outside.

Here are just a few of the many things that I love and admire about my mom:

She comes from a family of nine kids. Between her siblings and step-siblings, there are seven girls and two boys. I had a hard enough time sharing with one sister, let alone that many. But there are definitely times when I am envious of having that many siblings, especially when they share stories from growing up.

She has a Master's Degree in Adult Education. After my mom received her undergraduate degree in Dietetics and completed her internship, she later went back to school for her master's degree at UWM. She and my dad both placed high value on education, which I greatly appreciate. My sister and I have master's degrees in Student Affairs/Higher Education (Rachel will officially get her degree next Sunday at graduation, wahoo!). This is a degree that most people have never heard of, and many of my colleagues would tell you that their parents have no clue what they do. But our mom does! In fact, back when I was studying in graduate school, she even knew of some of the same theories.

She volunteers. A lot. When I think about my desire to get involved and volunteer, I look to the amazing example set by my mom. She has been involved in a number of different church groups and service organizations since I was a little kid. She currently is a member of the Waukesha Service Club, and has taken on significant leadership roles, first with their Thrift Shop, and now the gift shop at the hospital. She has been retired for some time, but I think her schedule is crazier than mine.

She loves to knit and managed to teach me. She makes beautiful baby sweaters that they have sold at the hospital gift shop, in addition to these cute little vegetable baby hats that I swipe and give as shower gifts. She has also knit a number of gorgeous sweaters, scarves, and other items. She was patient enough to teach me to knit, and now it is one of my favorite hobbies too.

She is both my mom, and my sister. One of the most special moments was when she put on my badge at my Alpha Phi initiation. I had no idea that she was going to be there, so it was a wonderful surprise. She has taught me a lot about what it means to be a sorority woman and live your ritual through her daily example.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Don't forget to enter my very first giveaway! Today is the last day to enter. I'm picking a winner tomorrow morning. Good luck!

Homemade Halloweenie!

So this post is just a few months and two holidays too late....

But I thought it would be fun to share how I made my Halloween costume. Baaaaa, I was a sheep!

WARNING: This costume is a major fire hazard. Between the glue and the cotton, this could be bad news bears. So wear with care.


Supplies:
Extra large white hooded sweatshirt (full zip)
Craft glue - I got the kind specific for fabrics. I ended up needing two and a half bottles!
Cotton balls - LOTS! I used over five bags
Black and white felt (for the ears)
Pipe cleaners (to shape the ears)
Scissors

I first cut off the arms of the sweatshirt right along the seam.

Then I glued cotton balls on. For a long time. I believe it took me a few hours, while watching the Badger football game. Plus I had to run out for more glue.

Then I cut some triangles out of felt for the ears. I stapled them around some pipe cleaners, to give them some shape. The staples made it look really homemade, but at that point I just wanted to be done.

Finally, it was time to hang it up to dry. If you try this, give it PLENTY of time to dry. I didn't make this until the same day that I wanted to wear it. That is probably how I ended up with glue in my hair. Oh well. still fun.

I just threw it on with a long sleeved black tee, with some leggings. And shorts. Because I don't believe that leggings count as pants.

The best part of the costume was how many laughs that I got. I think my sister laughed for about twenty minutes straight when I first walked in. And a dancing sheep, even more fun! I did shed quite a few cotton balls, which was also pretty funny.

It also was a lot of fun to wear while handing out candy. The kids were so cute!

Homemade holidays are the best.

Dunzo!

I have returned from St. Louis and my test is done. It was probably the most challenging test that I have ever taken. And boy, did it wipe me out. I'm still recovering and slowly become less of a zombie. Just given me one moment while I turn my brain back on. Now I just have to patiently wait for my results for the next month or so... I would really love to check passed my comps (#13) off the list!

Speaking of zombies - now that all my studying is done, it is time to start planning for a Halloween costume! Halloween is probably my favorite holiday of the year. I firmly believe in homemade, creative, and non-slutty costumes. In fact, my inspiration most often comes from costumes intended for small children. In the past, I have been the statue of liberty, a pig, the tooth fairy, and most recently Princess Peach in a group of Mario and friends. For this year, I have found a number of great ideas on Pinterest including:

This mermaid costume. Check out the amazing tail, made with cupcake liners! (Picture originally from here)

This adorable sheep! This may be a winner - black shirt, leggings, and a hoodie covered in hundreds of cotton balls - sold! (Photo originally from here)

I love the washing machine. So cute.  Although I'm feeling like a box could be a little bulky. (Photo originally from here).

I had to pin this photo, because my sister is an alumna of Chi Omega. Such a cute owl costume! (Photo originally found here).

Gotta love the gingerbread man costume. Totally makes me think of Shrek. (Photo originally found here).

I hope it doesn't seem creepy that these are all kids costumes. I promise I'm not a weirdo, just a big kid at heart who really hates most all adult costumes are typically pretty trashy. Looks like it's time to do some crafting...

On another note, I can check #21 off the list. More details to come soon!

Bring on the Holiday Cheer!

Between work, homework assignments, and friends visiting in town, I have been missing in action for some time now. With  weekend at home with just a few things to do, I decided to get a jump start on my holiday decorating. While I had out some cute fall decorations, I LOVE Christmas. 

Decorating my tree makes me so happy. I love looking through each of my ornaments and remembering where they came from. This year, I was also hoping to put the tree up early so that I could test out how the new kitty would do. I put up the tree, and then waited a night before putting any lights or ornaments on. Here is the finished product.

It is a little blurry, but the best shot I could get with my phone's camera. I am the most proud of my tree topper - my first handmade bow!

I was also really excited about my cupcake ornaments, which are my absolute favorite, along with the kissing fish that Chris got me last year.

If you are wondering how the cats did - it only took about fifteen minutes before Snoopy was freed from his branch.

The following morning, he actually appeared in that tupperware. Stella has done pretty well though. She and Bucky both enjoy their time under the tree.

She is getting so big! 

Bucky hasn't taken any ornaments off the tree...he prefers to wrestle with the mini tree instead.

After I was able to snag the tree away, I did get to finish decorating it too.

I did several new projects this year, including my advent calendar, which I created from a kit that I found at Archiver's. I put a different fun Christmas to do in each day.

 I made use of another closet door to create a fun holder for all of the Christmas cards that I get. The 2009 cards are serving as stand ins until the 2010 cards arrive. 

 If you look closely, I covered the clothespins with scrapbook paper to make them more festive. 

I also used the paper to create a flag banner to cover some accidental holes in the wall from a failed attempt to put up shelves. 

I previously had up some fall print flags, and am thinking I'll make it a regular thing, rotating each season. They are pretty cheap decoration, since it's just scrapbooking paper. 

Another cheap decoration item was a glass tumbler filled with present bows. I figure, if I need a bow while wrapping, they will be easy to access. I'm interested to see how many disappear...

Without a fireplace, the bookshelf was another great place to hold the stockings. 

So that is how I have spent my weekend. Bring on the holidays...I am ready!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all of the dad's out there. I hope everyone takes some time to spend with family today.

Here's a little tribute to my dad, who passed away four years ago. This is one of my all time favorite photos, despite the fact that I have a giant band-aid on my chin covering a nice crop of stitches. My younger sister is less excited than I am, yet still super cute. Something must have been funny. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact we were sitting on a blue velvet couch. (Yep, that happened).

Miss you dad!