A Red Barn Wedding

This past weekend I was able to stand up next to one of my best friends as she married her best friend. The wedding took place in Minnetrista, MN at Gale Woods Farm. The ceremony took place over looking Whaletail Lake a mere two hundred feet away from the barn were the reception was taking place.  The day ended up being a bit cooler than everyone anticipated but made for gorgeous pictures with cloud cover but as the ceremony began the sun came out right in time. 

The cakes were delicious the grooms cake was a spice cake with honey & cream cheese frosting topped with marzipan apples. The other cake was a vanilla buttercream with raspberries I have it on good authority that the spice cake was the best. 

The details were amazing and put together so well. Cute paper straws for hibiscus tea before the ceremony, fresh farmers market flower in mason jars, and escort cards were written on leaves pinned to apples. 

Since the day was on the chilly side there were flannel shirts available by the fire for guests who were chilly. A cute 'I do' and 'We Did' sign helped point guests in the right direction.

As good as the food was and as perfect as the details were the best part of the day was spending it with those I love and dancing the night away. 

Looking Back + Embracing the New

I'm TWENTY-NINE!
I celebrated my birthday over the weekend and have been reflecting the last week about 28 & what the new year will hold.  As I look back on the previous year I think about the highlights that keep playing back in my mind, the adventures that I had, the memories I've made, the milestones and sometimes the struggles too. 

{At 28}

{traveled & explored} Ohio, Colorado, New York City, Niagara Falls

{exploring Minnesota} Goosebury Falls, Split Rock, Castle Danger, New Ulm, Duluth, Banning State Park, Brainerd, Cross country Skiing and Snow Shoeing

{Experienced}

::: Bought a new vehicle ::: Walk/Ran a 7k ::: was a bridesmaid for the 4th time ::: cheered my alma mater on to a 2nd division 1 victory ::: took a new job position ::: began running ::: meet a goat ::: attended a Bison game ::: visited a brewery ::: gambled for the 2nd time in my life ::: fell in love with washi tape ::: 

{Twenty Nine}
The last year of my 20's, bittersweet but yet very exciting. Each year I wonder what the next will bring but somehow someway I know it will be wonderful and amazing experience - good or bad.

Choosing Joy

I started off this post as a little weekend recap but it has morphed as I wrote it. It is now Monday and I've had a long tired day and I am mentally exhausted and ready to just go to bed and I realize as I finalize this post it's more of a 'recognizing happy moments' than anything else. It's about choosing joy when it's so easy to succumb to the 'little bumps' that were thrown haphazardly around today. The bumps were really insignificant (slow snowy commute turning a 20 minute drive into 45 minutes, vehicles not working properly and foul moods) but yet they tend to stand out at the moment. 

So right now I am choosing joy, focusing on the good (because there is honestly so much to be thankful for) and not letting the little 'bumps' steal the joy away from me. 

--------------------

Saturday I visited Nadia's Cakes with a few friends and am still dreaming of the decadence and the smell of the frosting as I walked in the door. I think frosting maybe one of the best scents in the world - I'm sure someone has bottled it, maybe I can find it?

{The award winning Vanilla Vanilla Cupcake // Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcake, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Vanilla and Chocolate Chocolate // Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcake}

{friends + boardgames}

Sunday afternoon I also made a big batch of chili. I like to keep a few frozen servings of soup or chili around in the freezer for last minute dinner options but especially grab & go lunch options during the work week. 

I made my own version of Lindsey's Everything But the Kitchen Sink Chili. I honestly have to say this is my favorite chili I have made so far. I love a good hearty meaty chili with a nice kick of spice! I also loved Lindsey's idea of freezing left over veggies that her family will not get to and adding them to the chili.

{Sunday mocha with a friend + homemade chili}

Monday's happy moments. 

Caribou's new Cafe Milan + red polished nails // a blood orange

..A story of a blood orange..

One of my besties gave me this blood orange. As I was peeling it this evening and realized what it really was (besides an orange). This friend loves apples, coffee and blood oranges (silly combination yes?). After seeing each other on a spur of the moment date this weekend she gave me a blood orange, it's like giving me a piece of her heart - it's such a 'her' thing to do. Maybe it's the tired or exhaustion talking but it warms my heart to see this blood orange because it's such a reflection of my friend, her personality and love. 

I'm off to bed and hope to start Tuesday nice & happy - despite the mountains of snow 

Minnesota is being *blessed* with. 

(I say *blessed* because I'm choosing joy here right?!?)

From One Year to the Next

It's my birthday! 

I absolutely hands down love my birthday. I'm 28 {gasp that's new!} and I still {and hopefully always will} love my birthday. New Years and looking back at the calendar year is fun but there is something even more special to reflect on the past year of your own personal 'New Years'.

{27} You have been so fun and yet so unexpected. It amazes me how far I have come and what I have learned in the past year. There have been many new experiences and adventures, there have been heart aches, and milestones, mountaintops and valleys and I would not trade any of it.

The many adventures and life moments at 27:

; joined weight watchers ; Visited Voyaguers National Park  ; celebrated a year at the new job  ; saw Canada for the 1st time  ; discovered a new way of eating  ; gave my 3rd MOH speech  ; lost 25 lbs  ; went to my first double feature  ; became a 'words with friends' board for halloween ; took a boat cruise on the Mississippi ; became slightly obsessed with nail polish  

; fell in love with pintrest ; hopped on the twitter bandwagon ; started teaching preschool twice a month at church ; worked on adding more margin to my life ; received pedicure #1 & #2 

; first manicure ever ; started coordinating weddings at church ; 

God has amazed me and taught me so much and yet there is still so much to learn and experience and live. As I look at 28 I too wonder what that will hold, whatever it holds I know that I am ready for it with God, my family & friends by my side.


Let the adventure begin. 

Why Hello Monday

                                                                    Source: sittinginatreeblog.com via Junia on Pinterest

A few days ago I cracked open a book that I received at Christmas... it's a five year plan book. I was interested in the book since it was highly recommended and came from a great friend. As I was paging through the book I came across a page about TGIM, Thank God It's Monday.

I'm not sure about you but I rarely think that way on Monday.
Rarely.

Intrigued I read on.  The book pointed out that millions of people dread Mondays and how that is a ridiculous way to spend one-seventh of your life - dreading a Monday. In the next five years you will receive 260 different Mondays, each one a new fresh day full of promises, possibilities and excitement. Why shouldn't we anticipate Mondays as so many of us anticipate Fridays?

This is a new thought for me, as I'm sure it is a bit foreign for the rest of the general public. But from this day forward I am going to try and enjoy Mondays, look at them with anticipation, excitement and joy.

What will Monday bring?

Due North

Hello ya'll!
Welcome to Friday!
My own personal Friday actually started yesterday. I'm heading into a four day weekend and plan on taking a little Minnesota v-kay to one of my favorite places. I have been looking forward to this particular weekend for weeks now!

Unfortunately life got a little up in my grill along the way and my frenimies  hectic & busy came to visit. Why is it that before vacation it is always, always, always stressful? Work was crazy busy, gone every evening, errands never seem to stop and then there are always surprises - mostly the unexpected & unwelcome ones!

I'm trying to roll with the punches though and tell myself I'm ok without my 'out of office reply' set up for work, my boss is capable and can handle what I left her, people will feel better, and I'll survive with out a pair of cuddle duds in the chilly temps of Minnesota.

At least that's what I tell myself.

But I'm headin' north and am leaving it all behind!

Happy weekend to all of you!

on mismatched & jumbled thoughts

 I keep thinking about the beach

---

I want to go hiking and play outside 

I want to play with my camera & take pictures

---

I was blessed to have lunch with a friend - over my lunch hour while at work.

It was amazing. Many people have friends that they work near & eat with them over lunch 

or co-workers to share that with. 

I don't - which is fine because I typically spend my lunch hours catching up

on personal correspondence, losing myself in my google reader or 

catching up on facebook. 

But Monday I had lunch with a friend - it was wonderful.

Makes me feel like a real live grown up {grin}

---

I really like JP

{from the bachelorette}

---

Work threw a huge BBQ for clients

so tired & drained afterwards which is ironic

I use to throw events & run around crazy {but calm} for 5 years

---

Buying coffee in the morning before work.

Also makes me feel like a real live grown up.

---

recently I have been reading books 

{gasp}

it feels nice to read books vs. something {blogs} on a computer screen constantly

---

it always amazes me how good I can feel in the morning if I go to bed on time

---

I do not like the "F" word

{fall}

I will like fall when fall comes 

but until then - enjoy summer

live in the moment instead of wishing it away

That time I celebrated all week long

{27 all week long}

I started off celebrating with my grandparents. 

They are so generous and share their wedding anniversary with my birthday - and I love it. 

We went to a German restaurant for supper, it was so much fun.

My grandparents

Aren't they cute?

I typically celebrate with lots of different friends - this year? I mixed all the friends groups. 

Let me tell ya it was amazing! 

Part of my small group girls. I love this group so much - words can not tell. 

This picture also happens to include 1 of my future roomies {excitement}

Bestie

We go back all the way to high school, I also was honored to stand up with her on 

the most important day of her life. 

Curly Locks & sister Gracie

I love these two people. Curly Locks get's me so well - I love her

Gracie - we have the same style, taste & love for pretty much everything. 

Gracie also puts some youth back in these ol'bones.

27 candles... let me tell you.. I wasn't able to blow out ALL of the candles - 27 is a whole lot of candle

I truly made my birthday a week long celebration

Let me tell you it was wonderful

I am so thankful for all of my friends & family that I was able to spend time with. 

I was also so blessed by my friends & family far away who took the time to text, call, facebook {<3 social media},  and shower me with cards & prezzies. 

If my week long birthday celebration was any indication 27 will be an amazing year.