Back to blogging

2010 had a lot of ups and downs. Highlights include our amazing wedding, Maui, New York City, getting my port taken out, our fantastic cats that make me laugh all the time, and getting through our first full year in our wonderful house. I think I'll just focus on the positives for now.

Even though 2010 was great, I hope 2011 will be awesome. I want to focus on being healthy, being more active, making sure to prioritize time with Andy, and keeping up with the house more. So many times this year I have let this house get the best of me. When it is cluttered and messy it really messes with my mind. It overwhelms me. I want to simplify things. Donate things we don't use or need. I want to come up with an organizational system to help keep things neat so that I can focus on more important things.

Tomorrow I am going to start taking more pictures (Project 365), reading more books (with my new Kindle!), and being more active. Being more active can be interpreted a lot of different ways and that is how I want to leave it. I don't want to say I will go to the gym 5 days a week. That's not going to happen every week. The gym will be part of my being active, but I also want to look at it as participating in more things. Maybe it means volunteering, maybe it means being more active and present at work, maybe it means attending different events with Andy. We need to get off our butts and go do more things. It's so easy to fall into a routine and we need to mix some things up!

I am still working through my MBA. I hope that by this time next year I will be finished or very close to being done. I have a plan to try taking two courses at a time just for one six-week session. I am not sure if this is a smart plan...I am not sure I can do it. I will try though. I planned it during a time of the year that is pretty slow. I also chose two elective courses to take that should not be as intense as some of the other courses. I just want to be done!

Anyways, I am looking forward to 2011. Now I have to finish my final paper so that I can put this course and year behind me! Cheers!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! I know I have neglected this blog, but it happens. I am thankful for so many things! My hubby! My cats! My home! Being fairly healthy. My job. My friends!! I have awesome friends.

Anyways just wanted to post. Maybe I'll get back into this blog thing soon!

Nook vs. Kindle

I can't decide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can't take my eyes off of you

*sigh* so many things have happened, so many things that are going to happen. I am overwhelmed with everything right now. I am trying to just take one thing at a time. It will feel so great when this statistics class is over so that I can devote more time to wedding details and to Andy. We have not had much time for each other in the past month or so. It is hard, but we are both super busy with work, I have this class, not to mention that we have his brother and mom living with us right now. It is a lot, but we are dealing.

I had a great vacation to New York City with two great friends. We had a fabulous girls trip. It was a blast. I am excited to start traveling more. Maui is just around the corner and I am so excited for it! I want to plan another trip soon too! I am inspired by other people's adventures and I want Andy and I to experience our own. The wedding is in less then a month! I am so excited to marry the man that I love and to officially be a family. I am excited for our future but it is scary too.

I am listening to the wedding playlist that I have made (hence the title of this post). We are not having a DJ so the music is all up to us and our iPod! I have realized that I am a bit of a control freak...is that so bad? I don't think so. Hopefully all of our friends and family will like our music selections. I have to say that most of the music will be mine...Andy has a few songs that he wants to play though. I am doing my best incorporate his wants and needs into the wedding.

Anyways, we had some crazy storms tonight. I hope the morning will be clear so that we can have a nice weekend. We hope to head up to a friend's cabin in the morning so that we can get away from the cities and the houseguests and just relax. I just finished my homework so I won't have to worry about that much until Monday. Just a few discussion responses to post by Sunday night...shouldn't be a problem.

Well, this is getting long. I better get some sleep!

something original

Once again my life is crazy and busy. Here is the rundown.

Health - I had another blood test and it was good. So good that I was able to have my port removed! This was a huge relief. I was so anxious before the test and waiting for the results. I don't have to go back to the doctor for six months so that is pretty awesome. The incision is healing well and I think that the scar will be better then it was before. My doctor was able to cut out the original scar so that I wouldn't have multiple scars or one huge scar.

Exercise - I have also been trying to get back into my exercise routine. I had a good week this week so hopefully I can keep it up!

School - I have completed three MBA courses now and am starting my fourth on Monday. I am taking yucky statistics but it will be good to get it over with. I am taking six weeks off of school after this course so that will be extra nice!

Wedding - Things are coming together with the wedding. We are figuring out the ceremony details and finalizing reception things. I have also had two bridal showers and they were both awesome! I have great family and friends!

Well, that is all for now. I will post some pictures soon! Oh yeah, I am not wearing my wig anymore! It is weird but good.

Hi, my name is Milo

Meowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I have a whiny meow, but I can't help it.

Meow, meow, meow. Hiss, snarl, rawr. Better run away now, my owners look angry. That darn Finola just gets in my way sometimes and I need to protect my mom! Lick, lick, lick, sleep, sleep, sleep. Stretch! Purr. Run, play, jump. Ooh, is that water running? Better go check it out. Drat, Finola is already here! Hiss. Ooh I think I see my BFF in the backyard. His name is "fat squirrel buddy". He was around a lot in the fall but then he abandoned me when all that white stuff was outside. He has lost some weight but so have I. I run up and down the stairs a lot in our new house. It's great to have so much space. Time to go hide under the bed. I like to watch for unsuspecting feet and then BAM! I also like to try and climb the curtains. That usually gets me sprayed with water. Don't tell anyone, but I like being sprayed. It's a free drink! Oh look, here is a comfy spot to sleep. I can sleep anywhere, even on the hard floor. My favorite spot is on my mom though.

Time to go chase Finny! Hopefully I'll get a cat treat later. I love those!

Hi, my name is Finny.

Sleep, sleep, sleep. Play, play, play. Snuggle, cuddle, snuggle. Knead, knead, knead.

Eat, sleep, play, cuddle, and look cute. That is on my agenda for today. Ooh, I hear water running. Must find faucet. Ooh, a bug is on the window. Must play with bug. Ooh, my owner is trying to work. Must sit on her chest and lick her. Purr, purr, purr. Hmmm, this looks like a comfy spot. Lick, lick, lick. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Ooh, my owner is heading towards the bathroom. Must get there before she does and look cute so she will let me drink water from the bathtub faucet. Slurp, slurp, slurp. Uh oh, here comes Milo. He likes to hiss at me sometimes, but I don't mind. I am cute! Time to chase Milo! We'll cuddle later. Must follow owners everywhere they go. Purr, purr, purr. Knead, knead, knead. I love squishy stomachs! Zzzzz......

Getting organized

I am not in a class this week so I am taking advantage of it and getting caught up on some things that I have let slide. I have been furiously going through paperwork, mail, and magazines so that I can recycle things and get them out of the house. It feels great. Sometimes I feel like I am being buried in paper. I thought we were heading towards a paperless society?! Oh well.

Other then that a big highlight of the past week was seeing an exhibition Twins game at Target Field! OMG, the field is just gorgeous! I was positively giddy when I walked in and saw the field. The weather ended up being okay and even though the Twins lost it was still amazing! I am looking forward to this season!


I had another good appointment and I get to have my port removed in early May! I am so excited but also anxious. I need to pass one more blood test before I can have it removed so cross your fingers that it is clear!

I think that is all for now!

Sunday morning

I love Sunday mornings! Today is especially good (even though I forgot about daylight savings time and slept until noon). I've got the newspaper, coffee, a yogurt parfait, the sun is shining, it feels warm out, and we are going to grill tonight! Andy and I also got engaged one year ago today. I kind of forgot about it...but my mom reminded me!

Of course the day will go downhill later after dinner when I will be doing homework and stupid Monday morning will be too close for comfort...but for now, I will just enjoy the sunny day!

Oh and...

got this months blood test results today and they are good! Woot. Hopefully when I see the doctor next month he will let us schedule my port removal surgery.

Also, I am super proud to be the mayor of the cancer center on 4square. haha!

I've got the fever...

Olympic fever that is! I should be sleeping or doing homework, but instead I am watching the Olympics! Love it! I hope to be a live spectator at an Olympics before I die. Put that one on "the Buried List".

Love it! Go USA!

30!

I turned 30 over the weekend. Crazy. It was a good birthday and a fun weekend. I have today off from work which is nice. Definitely a good plan on my part. Unfortunately it is snowing and that has thrown a wrench in my plans. Not the end of the world though. I have plenty of good food to eat and some good movies to watch. Not to mention the fact that both cats seem to be extra cuddly today. They are probably in shock from all the excitement around here lately.

I did go out and shovel for an hour this morning. Gross! I'll have to go out again soon since it won't stop snowing! Here is a crazy icicle on the back of our house!

Friday night I went to The Local with some co-workers for happy hour. I had many, many, drinks and they were all so good! The Big Ginger was a highlight (Jameson and ginger ale). I highly recommend it. My mom picked me up from happy hour and when I got home I promptly fell asleep on the couch. Andy said that I was talking in my sleep while he and Brant were playing video games. At one point I sat up and said, "bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!" They were playing a shooting game so I guess that makes sense. It sounds so funny to me!

Saturday was my actual birthday. Andy and I went out to lunch and I got my free Caribou drink! Once we got home, Michelle stopped by to bring me some presents and to take pictures of the cats with her new camera. The cats loved it! They think they are supermodels now. (that picture is just from my phone)

After the photoshoot, my college friends came over for dinner and games. It was a lot of fun!

Sunday was a lot of lounging, homework, cooking, and watching the Super Bowl. I think we had 18 people over. It was fun. We had so much food!!!!!!

Well time for a movie and then more shoveling. Fun, fun, fun!

Bowling tonight!

We have started a new bowling league and it is made up entirely of our friends! Woot! My team is called "The Rick Astley All-Stars". We are totally going to make an awesome shirt...we might not hae them until near the end of the league, but that is okay.

My class is going well. Yay.

My hair is growing...I might be within a month or two (or less) of not having to wear a wig...we'll see though. It just depends on when I feel comfortable enough I guess. I never wear it when I am at home or if we have friends over, but it's different in public...

Anyways, I think I am going to get a grilled cheese sandwich at the alley! Yum!

2010

Wow, it has been crazy busy lately and I have been having so much fun! I think I am starting to wake up from my hazy year and I am really trying not to stress and worry about stupid little things as much. Right now I am pretty caught up in the Vikings, friends, trying to exercise more, wedding plans, and I am also taking a class right now to begin my MBA.

Vikings - we had friends over last weekend for the game and it was so exciting! I am hoping tonight's game goes just as well. I am super nervous for the team. Ahhh! It would be so cool if they make it to the Superbowl!!!

Friends - I have awesome friends. I love hanging out with them! Lately we have had some game parties and bowling has started up again. I saw some good movies (Up in the Air, It's Complicated, and Avatar), saw Dreamgirls (the musical), and had some good meals (like 3 Squares the other night!).

Exercise - as with most brides-to-be, I would like to look a bit better then I do now by the time the wedding rolls around in July. I have actually decided to cancel my gym membership though! haha. It's just too cold out to trek over to the gym and it's not convenient. I used to live just down the road from the gym, but now it is at least a 15 minute drive each way to go. We have an elliptical machine in the basement which is my favorite machine and it just seemed silly to pay to use the machine at the gym when I basically have the same stuff at home. I am excited to not have that money taken out each month and I have been having great workouts at home! There are always deals so if I feel like joining again in the future I am sure I can find a similar package that I have right now.

Wedding - things are getting done! I got my dress and the bridesmaid dresses ordered last week! That is a huge weight off of my shoulders and I am very excited that I found something I like and I also think the bridesmaid dresses will be super cute! Next up will be invitation designs, food tastings, and tons of other things...I feel like I am on top of it though and am not stressing about it. I think the things that are coming up will be really fun to work on!

MBA - I work for a school and have always thought about taking classes and working towards a new degree. I tried a class a couple of years ago and that particular specialization was not for me. I decided last spring to try again but this time work towards an MBA. I can't say that business is a passion of mine, but it is very practical and so far I am really enjoying it. I think that I do have a business mind and hopefully it will all pay off when I graduate sometime in 2012! Woot.

Well, I've got some homework to work on! I need to finish it before the game starts! Go Vikings!!

p.s. I am over the "all in lowercaps" typing. : )