We're Home!

DS and I are back from Jamaica! It was the best, and really the only, real vacation we've taken together. The Grand Lido Negril is an amazing resort, and we'll gladly recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere warm to go.

On Saturday, we took the Metra (the commuter train!) to Chicago to visit Kimberlina while she was close. She's as cute and awesome in person as she is online!! She helped us check another zoo off of our list be suggested we spend the day at the Brookfield Zoo. We won't hold it against her that the trip out there took so long that we only had an hour in the zoo :) And really, the walk back was really nice, so I'm glad it all worked out the way it did. It was "Boo at the Zoo" while we were there too, so there were hundreds of tiny monsters running around.

Tonight, I have to carve a pumpkin. I say have to, because work gave them out for free, with the condition that we bring them back decorated for the Halloween party they're throwing us tomorrow. As long as I show it off at the party, the pumpkin is mine to keep. So, I'm off to do some carving! Hopefully tomorrow I can post Honeymoon and Chicago pictures.

Thanks to everyone who sent us well wishes and to those who sent us gifts. Everything was lovely, and we're especially excited to make new things in the kitchen. We were so happy that so many of our friends and family were able to make it.

If you're close to Madison, we're thinking of having a small party soon. So if anyone wasn't able to make the trek to Kentucky, or if you just like hanging out with us, you can celebrate with us in Wisconsin! We have lots of wedding cake too! Just send me an e-mail!!

Holy Crap!! I'm Married!

Well, I wish I could tell you everything that happened yesterday, but it's honestly all a blur. I can tell you that everyday leading up to the wedding, and most certainly today, the weather was AWFUL! Very cold, over cast, and usually raining. Though of course, we came home to snow on the ground in Wisconsin! However, the day of the wedding, the weather was fantastic! Perfectly sunny and in the 60's.

I don't really have much in the way of pictures yet, and we leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow for our honeymoon, but my mom was kind enough to e-mail me a few so you can all sate your appetite.

Dorian, the flower girl, and now my niece. We were afraid she'd be too shy, but she was great!

This is in front of the property owner's house.

There was a giant oak tree off to the side of the yard with a bench underneath. This is currently my mom's favorite picture, and I can't say I blame her.

We're both super happy, but super tired. We still have to unpack the car, finish packing for the honeymoon, and try to get some much needed sleep! If we can, we'll post from Jamaica, but if not, we'll see you all when we get home! Thanks so much to everyone who helped make the day the best ever!!!

Pumpkins

Look! A picture of DS!

Remember Nick? He's three now, and has spent the last year asking when I was going to take him back to the pumpkin patch. He still has a thing for green pumpkins.

He has also developed a fondness for white pumpkins. I was the wise one that let a three year old pick out my wedding decorations.

Here you see DS, Kel (MOH), Nick, and Chanda (Nick's Mom, one of my best friends). They are very excited to be feeding an assortment of koi, catfish, bluegill, ducks, and one mean white swan. (Okay, Kel is trying to kick the swan, but they're feeding everything else.)

"Whoa whoa whoa! ... a ghost!" - Nick

Sunny!!

DS and I have been fretting over the weather forecast for our wedding lately. For days, Saturday's weather prediction wavered back and forth between a 60% chance of rain all day, and partly cloudy. However, the closer we get, the better it looks. Today's forecast for Saturday?? Sunny, chance of rain only 10%. Woot!!

We're in Louisville now. I'm going my best to let the wrinkles fall out of my dress without letting DS see it.

This morning we're going to get our marriage license, and then we're off to get pumpkins for the tables!

The sad news? Internet is $10 a day, so I'm not sure how much I'll actually get to update everyone. Apparently it's the same in Jamaica, but here's hoping I can convince DS!

MMmmmm, Pears

Yes, you were all right (Monkey first!!), Spinning Girl sent us pears for our wedding! I don't know a whole lot about pears, but I can tell you this; those are THE juiciest pears I have EVER had. The company's motto is that you'll have to eat them with a spoon, and I tell you, I nearly did..

In other news, we're having snow flurries. The low tonight is 27. Are you all so jealous you don't live in Wisconsin right now?

11 Days.. ACK!

How well do you know your fellow bloggers?

That's right, another contest, because I love them! Your challenge: to be the first person to tell me who is responsible for this box of delicious pears that I found sitting on my doorstep today! (No cheating, you awesome gift giver!!) I have to admit that I hoped the golden one was chocolate, but alas, it is another pear. Is there some tradition there I don't know about??

Felix and Winston reminded us last night of why we can't play board games without having extreme patience anymore.

Also, Winston likes to lay like this sometimes, and it cracks me up. He always starts off in some normal position, and then after a moment he inches forward, dragging his belly. He does this belly crawl a lot, like when he's escaping my snuggling but doesn't really want to get up, and when he wants to chase something but is feeling lazy. Apparently, he also does it just cause.

Fall at Governor Dodge, 2006

You may recall that last year, DS and I took a fall hiking trip to Governor Dodge State Park. Well, this year was no different....

DS, the explorer!

Can you make out that rock outcropping on the far left side?

Yeah, we climbed it.

The first tree is from this year, the second is from last year.

DS is laughing at me beause I'm skipping across the parking lot.

Jen is the Coolest!!

I think blogging has made such a wonderful array of connections possible for me. Take, for example, today's wonderfulness.

Through many other people's blog, I even tually came to know and love Kimberlina of Gimchi. Because of her many talents, and her many talented friends (wistful sigh!), she is now part of a group called Girlfriend Sweatshop (GFSS). These girls get together and make things, which they then give as gifts, or sell.

Through Kimberlina, I discovered her friend Jen, whose GFSS affliate is known as Ligurian. These wonderful women all sell their wares on a little place called Etsy, the coolest online store I've found to date. This place allows for a thing they call Alchemy, which is really just custom work.

Being impressed with Jen's books, I requested that she create the guest book for our wedding. And boy did she! I am telling you, never have we seen such a beautiful handmade book. We wanted to do something different with our guest book. I knew that if we got one of those traditional white satin things, I'd hate it, and it'd just go in a box in storage as soon as we got home. And who ever looks at a list of names? So, we decided to find a beautiful book, and have people write us notes in it. We left the actual design up to Jen's creativity, and we are not disappointed!!

(Note: Names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent.)

So please, let me take this opportunity to remind you all to think about the people you know when buying things that are special. There are some wonderful artists out there. Everything I've bought from these GFSS peeps has been amazing.

Jen also makes albums and notecards. Her books come in all different sizes. If you're in the market for a new journal, get one from her!!

What is this?

5 bonus points to the first person who can correctly tell me what this picture is!

Dearest Fans (and anyone else as well!),

You'll be happy to note that I've been on quite the creative kick lately, and those ornaments I've been finishing are just a few coats of paint away from being done! The hardest part, actually making the penguins and getting them inside the glass, was finished last weekend.

For those of you who said you wanted some, but haven't paid, I've made yours too. If you still want them, please drop me a line. If not, that's cool too! I don't mind hanging on to them, so don't feel obligated.

If you want them, but didn't order them, then I'm sorry, but I'm not making anymore. However, you're all welcome to start making your suggestions for this year's ornament! This time, I'm only making a limited number of them in advance, and once they're gone, I won't make anymore. I lose interest after Christmas, and it feels like a chore to make the extras, and it's not fair to make you all wait this long to get them.

That's it!! Love you guys!

Fall Delights

Fall means caramel apples covered in nuts.

I love fall.

Growing up, it also meant Little Debbie Snack Cake's limited time only Pumpkin Delights. I've been looking for them for weeks now, because I've been bringing home caramel apples for weeks. I had decided Wisconsin doesn't like pumpkin, and so the grocery stores didn't carry them.

The behold!! Last night, DS and I found Pumpkin Delights at the grocery. I'm on Cloud 9 today!!

I tell you what, life doesn't get much better than this :)

3 weeks!

Two things:

1. I have the hiccups.
2. My weddings is exactly THREE WEEKS from today!! (If you want to come, you'd better let me know soon!!)
3. The Sangria Swirl from Abuelo's is totally awesome. As is their cake.
   
4. Shut up, I can count!
   

Change is in the Air

Last weekend, DS and I went north for Cranberry Fest, which apparently has the biggest arts and craft fair in all of Wisconsin. To be perfectly honest, it took us a long time to find anythign arts and crafty about it. A large majority of the thousands of booths we saw looked more like a sad flea market, full of other people's unwanteds.

The lack of art didn't douse our spirits though, for the trip gave us our first taste of real Fall. Yes, the season is definitely changing, and I am elated!

Man I love these colors. I hope Fall holds off in Kentucky just long enough for it to look like this when I get married.

DS, in a rare moment for him, actually smiled for the camera. Though to be honest, I was merely patient enough for him to laugh at all of his scowling.

Where I live, a little further south, the color is starting to creep in as well. The temperature has dropped enough just today that I had to close the windows from the chill.

These two balconies beat the socks off me during the apartment's "prettiest patio" contest. It still looks like Spring over there.

Look at those flowers! I still can't believe I took this picture.

Of course, Felix says it's Fall, and what she says goes!

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Note: I've rearranged some things on the sidebar. Being the copycat I am, I've added a section for the book I'm currently reading. Also, Willie will be happy to note the change in his brownie points, which is due to DS and I deciding to use his suggested reading in our ceremony. Thanks Willie!!

Busy MT

I love TV!

I can not tell you how excited I am that Grey's Anatomy is starting again.

A Week of Birthday and Fun

Well, my week of birthday is over. I'm sad to say that I'm old enough that people just don't give me presents anymore, at least no one outside of DS and Mom. But I'm very happy to say that people still come to birthday parties, and they'll even make me food.

MT made me a cake with "raspberry" icing, which we've decided is most definitely pink.

The glass class was a blast, though after getting my pendants back today, I've decided a second round will be needed to create anything that will look decent. It was really hard to imagine how the colors would melt together, and my failed attempts have taught me a few things. Still, definitely worth it!

This weekend was spent in Kentucky for my bridal shower and bachelorette party. The shower had to be rescheduled for Sunday, instead of Friday evening, because my flight was cancelled, rescheduled, rescheduled again, declared broken, and rescheduled, making me arrive in the wrong town 2 hours too late to be there. However, I had my trial hair appointment, got to see the place where we're getting married, went shopping, hung out with family and friends, and just had an overall great time.

A special thanks to Kelly, my MOH, and Chanda, who worked very hard under stressful circumstances, to give me a great weekend. And also to my mother, who is doing her best to help with the planning even though she's hours away.

Now for the pictures!

Kelly decided that there aren't enough pictures of me on my blog, so she stole my camera for the weekend.

The lighting in this picture makes me feel like a movie star.

We'll stand in front this pond during the ceremony.

This is where the bridal party will come from.

Kelly insisted we go to Victoria's Secret. It's apparently not a bachelorette party without lingerie.

Kel and Chanda took me out for LIT's for my bachelorette party.

Kelly read off the answers to one of the quizzes. Trying to remember which presents go with which anniversaries gets really hard after paper, silver and gold.

Kelly took some really nice pictures of the guests. I love this one of Chanda.

My mom (in pink) and her sister.

Look at all of those awesome gifts!

With a light up crown and a sash, I felt like a princess. Or perhaps a homecoming queen. Either way, it was fun.

Birthday Week!!

Here ye, here ye! I've decided to officially start my birthday week*. I'm turning 25 on Tuesday!

To celebrate, we're having a cookout tomorrow, complete with cake and ice cream. Yum!! On Tuesday, I'm getting a chiro adjustment (very exciting to me!), and then I'm taking a class on fused glass pendants along with a few good friends at a local glassworks. Then, on Friday, I'm flying to Kentucky for my Bridal Shower, where I'll have even more fun!

So come on, grab come cake and have fun with me this week!

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*Note: I insist on an entire week for my birthday. It's just too much fun not to, and I say, as long as there's cake, it's still your birthday.

Winston Plays Baseball

See him trying to stop this game mid-play?? We should have named him Jeter.

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Note: Kitties are taking meds right now for tummy problems. I wish I could say it's mellowing them out, but alas, not even tummy problems can keep them from turning into little monsters when the sun goes down.

I blame DS

So as you may know, I'm a faithful subscriber to Self magazine. I discovered it a couple of years ago in my old apartment's workout room, and was drawn to the tear out cards with workout moves on them. (I have every card from the last 2 years in a file, because I'm neurotic that way.) From time to time, they have these get fit challenges and goals. This month, they're having a "reach your goal" challenge, where they designed 4 different plans from "get off the couch" to "run your butt off". For reasons I'm still trying to deduce, I choose the latter.

You see, running is something I particularly hate. I like to blame it on my asthma, but to be honest, I hated it even before I had asthma. There are so many things you can do to feel miserable that are way more fun than running. However, like the plan says, you have to admit that running has some nice health benefits. Not to mention the thigh-slimming parts...

The nice thing about the plan is that it ramps you up. The magazine claims that you can "kick up your calorie burn painlessly and with virtually no extra effort." Let me repeat: PAINLESSLY and with NO EXTRA EFFORT???? Yeah right. I'll believe that when I see it.

Despite my pessimism, I tried it. Before I started this plan, running made me feel like this:

Yes, that's me there, passed out, laying in a puddle of sweat and drool. Miserable.

But then! I tried the plan. Week 1, workout 1: walk fast 1 minute, jog 1 minute; alternate for 15 minutes. Sounds easy, right? It wasn't so bad. Each workout is just a little harder than the last. Each time, I think, "there's no way I can run that many minutes in a row" and each time I turn out to be wrong.

Here we are, week 3, running 6 minutes, walking 1, for a whopping 24 minutes of total running time. It's true, sometimes I feel like this still:

Feet dragging, a trail of sweat and drool in my wake.

But the point is, I'm doing it. And not only that, most of the time I'm still smiling by the end of it. So who knows, perhaps in a week and a half, I'll be running 30 minutes straight (the end goal). If I am, I'm blaming DS for deciding to run with me and keeping me on track. I mean, what kind of anti-running reputation can a goblin have if it's out there actually doing it?

Interview!

I've been interviewed by The Blog Reader! Check it out!