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.

Candlelight Snowshoeing, Split Rock + Goosebury

As I am heading out this weekend for another fun weekend getaway and it's finally turning into spring in Minnesota I thought I should share my past adventures in February (finally).

L and I headed way up north in February for a fun weekend getaway in the snow. We visited Two Harbors along the way, then spent some time in Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock. 

{Gooseberry Falls}

Saturday Afternoon L and I visited Gooseberry falls - the falls were not much to see as the fresh snow fall for Fridays storm covered the frozen falls. We did wander down by the lake shore and marveled at the crashing waves.

Lovely snow covered trees

{Snowshoeing by Candlelight}

Saturday evening L and I went snowshoeing at Split Rock - it was a lot of fun. It was also a lot of work - we hiked 3 miles

{Split Rock Lighthouse}

Sunday morning we headed back to Split Rock State Park to take in the grounds.

We hiked over to a beautiful island - an island that usually is inaccessible in the summer months. The island was beautiful and full of little rock pools, crashing waves and a stunning view of Split Rock lighthouse.

I loved the ice crusted rocks and round ice 'pebbles' littering the shore everywhere.

A Look at 2012

2012 was filled with many blessings, celebrations, trips, and life lessons and each and every one has made me more of who I am and has shaped me into the person I am today. 

The last few days I have been reflecting on everything that 2012 has ment to me and everything I have been blessed to experience. 

{A Few 2012 Memories} 

- My Alma-mater winning the NCCA FCS Championships in January

- Wedding dress shopping with Amanda Sue, Nae and bridesmaids.

- Joining weight watchers in February - I have since lost 28 Ibs. Summer and most of fall were unproductive weight loss times but I guess that is why it is called a journey. 

- Visiting Duluth in March 

- A trip to Voyager National Park with friends. It was such a thrill for me to travel to Voyager and visit the only National park that is in Minnesota. 

- Falling in love with frozen yogurt + topping bars this summer

- Standing up as maid of honor in Nae's wedding in June. 

- Roadtrip with L to New Ulm, MN

- Attending the Minnesota State Fair twice

- In three weeks I took 2 plane rides, visited three states, slept in 5 different cities. 

- Flying out to visit Amanda in Ohio. The adventures we had were epic. 

- Celebrating two 2013 engagements, attending 5 weddings, participating in 2 of them. Attending two bachelorette parties, 1 baby shower and 1 wedding shower. 

- Colorado trip to see Olivia for the first time in 2 years. 

- Cheering on the Bison live

- Becoming a self-proclaimed holiday coffee expert

- Shelby asking me to be one of her bridesmaids. Wedding #5 coming September 15th, 2014.

 - Hiking in Banning State Park

- Standing up with Krisit as she got married

- Time with family & friends

- Turning 28 years young

This past year has been fully of many adventures, surprises and opportunities and I am beyond blessed to be here today able to reflect on it all. I cannot wait to see what 2013 will hold for me but whatever it is I know it will be a wild ride and I am willing to walk out and meet it. 

Happy New Years Friends!

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. 

2011.

2011 Recap

{monthly highlights}

January brought much snow and the continuation of a very long winter for Minnesotans. It also brought no real goals for myself, in years past I had made resolutions but this year nothing happened, no resolutions or goals were set, made or delivered. January also brought around the 125th year of the Minnesota Winter Carnival, I happily attended & enjoyed the winter wonderland and events that are entrenched in Minnesota history. My fabulous friend Carm visited Curly Locks & I for a action packed weekend of tea, flowers, and Minnesota walks in March. I continuted to job search and I finally received a call back, two interviews and several weeks later I turned in my resignation at the catering job I had been with since I graduated college. The Monday after Easter, April 25th I started a new job in the industry of my degree, goodbyes & starting new are bittersweet. With the new job came professional clothing, different hours, being able to wear painted nails and knowing I had to say no to my tentative Colorado summer vacation. April also brought my first Swarm LaCross game (I am attracted to the little known sports) & throwing a wedding shower for my engaged roommate. Most of my May was spent packing up the apartment I spent a year at living with two amazing women. I moved back home to mom & dads for 2 months before moving in August to a house with two friends. July brought my 27th birthday & a new DSLR camera for myself (Happy Birthday) and a fun day with family at the cabin. I watched the Bison defeat the Gophers and happily cheered on my alma mater to victory while tablegating in October. Another roommate became engaged in December and I was honored to attend the engagement party and accept her request to stand as her maid of honor. 

  

{new loves}

New found loves were devoloped in 2011. I feel in love with all things Trader Joe's, Vaseline became my favorite chapstick and beauty product all around. I discovered after 26 years of not liking cold sandwiches Jimmy (Johns) makes tasty sandwiches plus they are super fast *wink*. I fell more and more in love with social media - yes I jumped on the blog wagon (hello xanga) and facebook long ago but I feel in love with Twitter, Instagram & pinterest this year in particular. Not sure how I could be anymore social media-ish in 2012 that I already am. 

{personal lessons learned} 

Sometimes paint chips lie and they don't look anything like the sample. I still need to work on personal organization and anti-procrastination, it's a work in progress. After yearning for 3 years to wear something besides an ugly catering uniform to work and then having to pick out clothes each morning I realized sometimes uniforms are easier.

{new 2011 experiences} 

Jumped on twitter, pinterest & the instagram bandwagon. Attended my first ugly sweater party in December. I became more involved at church going from 2 Sundays serving in children's ministry & small group leader to 3 Sundays in children's ministry, small group leader and church wedding coordinator. Attending the Minnesota Swarm lacrosse game and the Minnesota Roller Girls bout. Blog ornament exchange, I had so much fun with this. 

 2011 was everything & nothing I imagined it to be. I'm not sure what 2012 will hold but I am looking forward to finding out. I *may* even make 2012 resolutions/goals. 

 Will you be making any 2012 resolutions or goals this coming year?

{Inspiration Workshop} Thanksgiving

Source: centsationalgirl.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I can't believe Thanksgiving is just a mere week away! Each year the thought of Thanksgiving fills my mind with apple pie, turkey stuffing, full stomaches, pumpkin goodness, family lined tables, green bean casserole {my fav - BTW}, black friday, and the thought of Christmas around the corner. 

My past Thanksgivings are always full of wonderful beautiful memories and I can not wait for Thanksgiving 2011 to make more memories. Thanksgiving is just a week away and yet it can not come soon enough in my mind. 

What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving?

I'm linking up to Gussy Sews' Inspiration workshop, you can too! 

The Classics

Every year I do the same thing.

{September - May} I religiously read the tv guide, check online and ask everyone I know "Did you see the new Grey's Anatomy? Can you believe Meredith did that?!?" or text a friend "Is Bones new this week?". Every year I look forward to the season premiers, anticipate sweeps week and then by March & April I am ready for finales. I'm ready to stop logging into hulu to watch my shows, to stop wondering when I will see the end of my que of shows and just ready for it to be done for the season.

During that time when I can see the end in sight, when I know I will be done watching the new and start anticipating the ability to watch my collection. My collection of movies, favorite series {hello Lorelia & Rory} and movies that have been on my must-see-list. Finally that time has come. This year it's even sweeter that usual. This year I have my usual anticipation but instead of running back to my usual loves of Friends, and every chic flick imaginable I have been fantasizing about the classics.

{the classics} The last few weeks of packing I kept longing to watch 'Finding Nemo' and other {Disney} Classics. So this summer when everyone else is enjoying their classics I too will be enjoying mine. Finding Nemo, Cars, Mulan, the movies that childhoods are made of.

Now that's what I'm talking about.

What summer ritual do you have that aren't all about the sun, water & outdoors?

The Worth of a Picture

I love looking back through pictures. Pictures that I forgot existed, pictures that I didn't know where even being taken, pictures that tell a story, a story of my friendship, my love for that person, my total enjoyment and wonder at that time. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I'm sot sure I could even begin to explain my love of these photos and the reasons why I love them.

These are pictures that I am loving right now for more reasons that I can explain in a thousand words.

Bestie & I making goofy faces.

Liv's wonderful sign welcoming me as I walk through Colorado's terminal.

What a beautiful surprise. 

Two Harbors

Little Bro & I celebrating his graduation

First picture in Spokane, WA

So breath taking

Old School

Kaar & I representing at a college football game... those were the days

the days of no money, not being a "adult" yet, fewer responsibilities

Still one of my favorite weekends

Two of my favorite girls

College Friendships are everylasting

L - one of my favorite girls to take crazy pictures with 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Goodbye Minnesota, Hello Wisconsin

This past weekend I spent time with a friend at my family cabin. It was a much needed mini-vacation from the world, especially after a week of teaching VBS to preschoolers! It was glorious, so many wonderful memories of my youth were made at that cabin. As a kid I always loved heading to the cabin with my grandparents, knowing I would be able to run around and play, have my grandparents to myself and the possibility of ice cream every evening.

After grabbing groceries in Stillwater and toting our Caribous we headed for the road and said goodbye to Minnesota, and hello Wisconsin.

We spent the time to the cabin driving through gorgeous countryside dotted with small towns, rolling hills, green pastures and high cornfields. Finally destination was found nestled in it's own puffy blue clouds, amid the cornfields lay the cabin. The cabin had not changed much over the years, still the same loved cabin of my childhood.

The cabin was relaxing and inviting. We spent the quiet moments taking walks in the country, curling up with books & magazines, canoeing & paddle boating, movies in the evening, even star gazing and seeing two shooting stars & the big dipper.

We ventured into a nearby town twice for some good old mom & pop restaurants. 

We at at Nezzy's Sports Bar & Grill. 

I had the Jalapeno Raspberry Chicken Wings

The Tower House

Silly countryside roads.

Every good thing must end, even weekend at the cabin. But thankfully I have the pictures and memories... and unfortunately the sunburn to remember the quiet & relaxing weekend.

{365}.

{365 Days}.

The distance between a year is 365 days, that's not anything new and ground breaking. But what you do with those 365 days, the way you live, how you fill your moments is what makes those 365 days worthwhile and memorable. 

As a 25 year old I:

; Roadtriped to Duluth (5 times) ; weekend getaway in Bayfield, WI ; moved into an apartment ; moved out of my parents ; spent wonderful moments with fantastic friends ; joined the blogging community {again} ; feel in love with TWILIGHT ; made a wonderful MN resolution ; visited Washington & drove across the state ; grew with a wonderful group of ladies known as my small group gang ; dyed my hair ; lost 20 Ibs ; saw my brother graduated high school ; grew in my faith ; spent each day seeing & recognizing the beauty around me ;

Just as I blew out candles for my 25th birthday I am saying goodbye to 25

But HELLO 26 

Here is to making the year of 26 a wonderful blessed year. Stay tuned for the next 365 days to see what 26 brings... whatever it brings I know it will be a great adventure!

… all pictures for better or for worse taken by me …

How we got LOST

During college I started watching Lost. It all started because Curly Locks watched it (we were roommates for 2 years, lived in the same building for 4) and she loved it, we have the same taste in shows so I thought maybe I should start watching it. I honestly thought it was a little weird (until I started watching that is). So during finals week and the first week of Christmas break I was working on a big Christmas present to my grandparents and thought what better way to work than grab the first 2 or  3 season and watch while I'm working. So I rented the seasons and FLEW through them, I just loved them! I was hooked since then. I've love all the layers and connections that are involved in Lost. 

Curly Locks and I would gather in our living room each week and watch Lost, discussing and sitting in breath taking silence as we digested each new turn of events. Some how we found out that two of our friends L & Mrs. Banderson (not a Mrs. back then) loved the show too. We started having Lost parties together.

The four Lost girls at a friends wedding. I was the Maid of Honor

Curly Locks, Me, L, Mrs. Banderson

Curly Locks, Mrs. Banderson, L, Me 

We all coordination quite well I must say

we're just cool like that

Unfortunately over the years we are now scattered every which way. Only two of us are within seeing distance, the other two are in the state but several hours away. So tonight I will venture to the Banderson household and have a Lost party with Mr. & Mrs. Banderson. We've made Mr. Banderson an honorary member of our Lost group. 

My hosts for the evening

The Bandersons 

I'm making some yummy (hopefully) snacks for the party. Tune in later this week to see what I cooked up in the kitchen!

Are you addicted to Lost like I am? Or have a similar fun story about gathering together with friends sitting back and enjoy the show?