Water Falls + Juicy Lucys

Last weekend I had several friends arrived from all over the United States + Japan for Shelby's wedding. For months we had been planning activities for their arrival.  One evening we went to dinner in St. Paul, the Renaissance Festival on a weekend and Monday morning we found ourselves heading to Minnehaha Falls. I always enjoy a chance to play tourist in this beloved state of mine and it doesn't matter that I have visited the falls numerous times I always treasure my trips. 

To end the perfect day at Minnehaha Falls we visited the 5-8 Club for Juicy Lucy burgers. Juicy Lucy's are the Minnesota 'burger' and are a cheese burger that is stuffed with cheese vs. having the cheese on the outside. They were delicious but I think I may still prefer a regular cheese burger. But now and then a juicy lucy is a great treat. 

Laughing Falls & Sebastian Joe's

Yesterday I meet a dear friend in St. Paul for her last wedding dress fitting. It was wonderful and amazing being with her as she tried on her dress for one of the last times before her wedding day in September. After the fitting we headed to Minnehaha falls to grab a snack and walk around the falls. 

At the top of the falls in Minnehaha park there is Sea Salt Eatery that serves among other things Sebastian Joe's ice cream. We each got a scoop of Spamoni Ice Cream. This spamoni ice cream was almost a 'Minnesota' version if you would, it was delectable and amazing. The spamoni was almond, lemon, orange ice cream with apricots & slivered almonds -- and delectable and tasted a little bit like what I imagine heaven tasting like. 

Also a Sebastian Joe's trip (or eating their ice cream -- if you want to be technical) was on my summer bucket list!

An evening spent with a dear friend walking around Minnehaha Falls while eating amazing ice cream makes that a pretty perfect Monday in this girls book. 

Minneapolis Bachelorette Party + Celebrity Sightings

What a weekend. Most of my weekend was pretty laid back & not blog worthy - dinner & shopping dates with friends, church and a lovely Sunday afternoon nap. So not blog worthy but still the makings of a great weekend.

Saturday I did attend my sweet friend Shelby's bachelorette party. We started the party at the Renaissance Depot Minneapolis hotel and played in the pool as we waited for the rest of the girls to join us. 

We enjoyed girl talk + wine spritzers. I know wine spritzers are so simple but delicious and add a few fresh berries & a cute paper straw & it's fancy right?

We hung around the hotel for a little while & then headed to The Union rooftop for a late dinner & drinks. We all wore cowboy hats around downtown.

Apparently The Union is the place to be. While there we saw two celebrities: Dave Dahl (local weather forecaster - fancy yes?) and Tommy Lee. The bride to be actually got a picture with Tommy. In the elevator before I knew who Tommy was we made awkward elevator small talk about about how we were at a bachelorette party and all had to wear cowboy hats, etc and Tommy laughed and joked that he was our stripper for the evening. 

The bachelorette party was so much fun, I loved getting to see friends and make new friends. I can't wait to see everyone again at the wedding and dance the night away. This also maybe the closest claim to fame for meeting a celebrity that I ever get.

Happy Independence Day!

Holidays always seem to revolve around food + family - am I right? While both of those are important I don't want to forget the real reason behind this holiday. I am so blessed to live in a nation that values & promotes freedom & independence and am thankful to the people who in the past & currently fight for the freedom daily.

I'm spending this fourth of July with family & preparing for my grandparents' 60th anniversary celebration. This morning I whipped up these tasty shortcake/patriotic 4th of July kabobs - who doesn't love food on a stick & a holiday inspired treat. 

So thankful & blessed to be an American & live in the land of the free. 

Dinner in St. Paul + Pink Roses

Last week I meet a friend for dinner and a walk in the como area of St. Paul. It ended up being a gorgeous and relaxing evening at the Finnish Bistro with wine, good food and sunny skies. We spent the entire evening sitting on the patio {which so happens to be on summer bucket list}. 

Beautiful sunny patio

Ivy covered lamp and pizza + wine

We even found a cute painted piano that we played on. 

---

This sweet vase of wild pink roses has been sitting on my kitchen table all week. I love that these came right from the yard.

Story of a weekend.

Happy Monday all!

I'm not sure about you but every Monday rolls around and I come down with a case of weekend amnesia. I absolutely forget EVERYTHING that happened over the weekend - hence weekend amnesia.

...good food + girls night...

Friday evening I had a few friends over for girls night and we ate some yummy food and watched a movie and chatted. I made a few tasty treats to share with the girls. I tried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough dip - which was surprisingly good, I'm not sure it tastes like cookie dough though. As requested I also made Buffalo Chicken Dip. 

I also served some of my Valentine's cupcakes that I decorated with a friend on Thursday.

... you make my heart smile...

I love me some snail mail, who doesn't love sweet mail in your mailbox? I picked up these beauties at Michaels and am ready to send sweet cards out to friends. 

...on why technology is fabulous...

Saturday evening I chatted with four girls of my close friends from college via google hangout.  Love these girls and the way we can connect, we went from connecting on Facebook sometimes once a year or an email to a continuous email thread and a monthly google hangout date. Technology is wonderful. Thank you Google for connecting 5 girls from all over the states & country.  2 Minnesotan (holla!), 1 Japanese friend, 1 Coloradoian and 1 Callie girl. 

...Sunday Brunch...

Sunday brunch at a cute cafe in St. Paul with a friend and an afternoon showing of Safe Havens. 

I hope your weekend was fabulous and your Monday is just as grand! Today I am at a new work location - part of my new job that I started a month or so ago. Hoping my Monday starts with a steamy hot beverage from a coffee shop - cheers friends!  

Thanksgiving Weekend 2012

It's Sunday evening the house is calm, quiet and cozy. Christmas lights are lite and shinning outside, wreaths are hung and the house smells like sugar cookies and I sit reflecting on Thanksgiving and the last few days - which have been beautiful and full of blessings.  

{Thanksgiving} 

Thanksgiving was full of many firsts. My first lefse and Pumpkin Cheesecake making (I love trying new things!). We also had three turkeys - 1 deep fried turkey, 1 baked turkey and 1 vegetable platter turkey. The deep fried turkey was beyond amazing and perfect. 

For many people black friday is a mixed bag of feelings - I absolutely love shopping on black friday but due to having to work Friday I did not shop. I did go to target

{Friendsgiving Moments}

Friday was spent back in the office for a slow day of work full of playing catch up and getting those little projects done that you never seem to have time for. Friday evening I went to Ikea and dinner with a friend and then Saturday bright and early friends and I conquered Mall of America. 

Amanda & I // Breakfast at Starbucks - breakfast of champions

Mrs. Bars, me & Amanda // Twinkle Lights at the Mall of America 

Coffee with two beautiful ladies // Movie popcorn (Breaking Dawn II & The Bourne Legacy)

Very thankful for a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and a wonderful weekend spent with family and friends. 

One Weekend, Two Showers

Last weekend I had the honor of co-throwing two showers; a baby shower and a wedding shower for two very dear friends of mine.

{A Rainbow Baby Shower}

Christina and I were friends from high school who lost touch during college. Shortly after we both graduated and I moved back to Minnesota I found myself attending the same church as Christina. Over the years Christina and I have thrown many parties together, were roommates, co-lead a Bible study together and had many other fun adventures. Last weekend my friend Kayla and I threw a fun and colorful baby shower for the happy mommy-to-be at Kayla's cute home in St. Paul.

We had all of the girls decorate onesies and they turned out so cute, everyone had such a fun time being creative. 

Our theme was a rainbow theme. Kayla made a beautiful and tasty colorful cake, we also served colorful fruit kabobs, meat, cheese & crackers and skittles. 

{A Wedding Shower for Kristi}

On Sunday we threw a wedding shower for my dear friend Kristi. Kristi and I first meet years ago when we were both in our friend Amanda's wedding. It was so fun planning a shower for Kristi since 5 years ago Kristi and I were helping to throw a shower for Amanda, and this time around Amanda and I were throwing a shower for Kristi.

We actually held the shower in the meeting space of the hotel that I work at. The space worked out perfectly for the shower!

We offered quite the spread of appetizers and snacks. 

Buffalo Chicken dip with celery and pretzel crisps for dipping, corn & black bean salsa, make your own fruit pizza bar, veggies and dip and chicken salad in wanton cups. 

One of the games we played was 'He Said, She Said'. We used mustaches and lips for the game to denote who said what. The 'staches and lips were quite a hit with the entire group snapping pictures and playing with them. 

(me, Kristi, Amanda and Tanaya)

You can't have a bridal shower without a picture of Kristi and her maids, and who can resist the lips and 'staches! 

December will be a very fun month for both of these ladies! Christina is due with her little one the first week of December and Kristi is getting married December 29th! 

Weekend Recap + Rewind

I can't believe it's already Sunday evening and I am preparing for another work week. I think we need to rethink a 5 day work week and only a 2 day weekend. 

{FRIDAY} 

After work on Friday I attended the pre-opening of a new restaurant located in the South metro. I was given the chance to bring 3 guests with me and decided to take my family. We had a blast and were able to try a few of the menu options. Unfortunately the restaurant in question is quite a drive for this north metro girl, but I would definitely head back if I was in the area again.

{SATURDAY}

I headed to Ikea with a friend. Ikea is always like a playground for me - always beautiful things. I was completely taken aback when I found all of the Christmas items by the checkout. I am pretty anti-Christmas before Thanksgiving but I was a complete goner this time - I soaked it all in, snapped pictures of it and drooled all over the gorgeous ideas, home-scapes and products. I even found that two wreathes seemed to leap into my arms - that's right. LEAP. 

I seriously wanted this home-scape to magically appear in my own living room. I am not usually a red+green Christmas fan, I like the non-traditional colors together but I loved this look. So homey. 

After Ikea my friend and I ventured over to the Mall of America, had lunch and visited Cupcake. 

(Don't worry - I shared the cupcakes with a few friends later on in the evening - heaven knows this girl does not need cupcakes!). 

{SUNDAY}

Most of Sunday was spent working a wedding fair for work. Busy busy day with set up, chatting people up, selling the hotel I work at, clean up and basically crashing when I finally arrived home. But it was a great event - so happy that it went well! 

Weekend. 

Fun. 

Busy. 

Exhausting. 

Over. 

How did you spend your weekend? 

{InstaFriday} 9.24.12 Edition

HAPPY FRIDAY!

I'm linking up with Jeannette again for InstaFriday at LifeRearranged!

Caribou introduced all of their pumpkin drinks a week ago - needless to say I have had three pumpkin drinks so far!

Bible Study + a Pumpkin Latte// Pumpkin Iced Chia + One Thousand Gifts

Have you ready One Thousand Gifts? I really like it so far! 

I went to a fun wedding this weekend! 

Myself + Nae at Chandelle's Wedding// The cake = yum! 

beautiful Minnesota skies

balloons balloons balloons

We had a work event and I fit 39 balloons in my little SUV {HOLA!}

Our soft serve ice cream bar {after the mad rush!} // my sundae {yum!}

pretty flowers for the work event // I tried a pinterest hair style this weekend - looks same old same old

{my hair is a bit longer than the pinterest tutorial though}

Panera suppa! // Minnesota clouds + trees + grasslands

Minnesota State Fair

this is happening twice this weekend! 

Recent Days

In recent days I have.... 

- sat on several patios

- been hissed at by a goose

- sat on a dock on the St. Croix 

- jumped on several trampolines

- had deep conversations with friends

- enjoyed Minnesota sunshine

- burned from Minnesota sunshine

- laughed with loved ones

- sipped wine

Needless to say - I am enjoying my days. 

Each day brings memories, new adventures and joy.

{and photo opportunities - I love those}

Life is good. God is good. 

{Dear Monday} 5.14.12

How & Why do Mondays come so quickly?! 

 I'm linking up again with Megan at Happy Day for Dear Monday letters! 

Dear Monday, I'm not sure what you have in store for me but bringer on! 

Dear Minnesota,  thanks for the stellar weather as of late.

Dear Carm, it was beautiful to see your face, laugh & talk with you in person, even if it was only for an hour during your layover. I am so ecstatic that you are moving back to the Midwest! 


Dear week of TV show finales, family dinner, friend birthday celebrations x2, graduation celebration & movie night with the girls, you already hold such wonderful potential. I cannot wait to see what else is in store! 


Dear plants, please grow grow grow!   

Happy Monday!