Wordless Wednesday

Currently...

Currently...



Loving.... That Christmas is only a few days away (because I want it over not because I am excited for it) Looking at houses after meeting with a realator (finally) morning snacks at work, jeans week next week.


Excited for... Christmas to be over (Yeah I'm a scrooge! I don't care.) OT to be voluntary and not mandatory!  Days off (last week I worked 11 days in a row with a total of 60 hrs just last week!) The bed all to myself again for another 12 weeks.

Worried... If we decide to build a house, will it be done in time, getting sick with no time to chill out and get better.

Creating.... Nothing...I have had no time...I have blogs to catch up on, photos to print and upload, laundry to do, shopping, dvr'd shows to watch, sleep to get, etc....

Hating... Mandatory OT (8, 10 and up to 20 hrs in the last few weeks!) IRIS training, que's running out of work, saying goodbye to a great supervisor when she moves to another department, fighting and bickering like high schoolers, stress, tension headaches, lunches and dinners coming from the freezer, Pat going back to midnight shift

Wondering... All sorts of things....my brain just won't shut off lately (and it's exhausting!!)

Craving... Cold weather comfort food (pastas, soup, any home cooked meals) Donuts (we have been spoiled with them lately at work on the weekends!)

Hoping... for a great 2011 filled with all kinds of fun, new, exciting things!! Trips to MN this summer to see some awesome new babies coming into this world. More consecutive days off.

Watching....  City Island, Shrek 3, Californication: Season 3, (all from Netflix) Christmas Vacation...a requirement this time of year! All sorts of dvr'd shows from the last 2 weeks while I haven't had time to watch shows after traveling!


Listening... Typing away at keyboards, folding and unfolding of mail, the scanner running, bickering, shouting, all in a days work :)

Looking forward to... Consecutive days off, a sense of normalcy again, checking out more houses.

I'm going to be...

.....Someone's Auntie!!
  
David and Mandy (my Brother and Sister in Law) are expecting their second child  June 12th, 2011 to join Madeline Grace 10 months (pictured above)  Pat and I are SUPER excited for them!!  I can't wait to welcome our new little niece or nephew into the family!!

On another note...2011 is going to be the year of the babies.  2009 was the year of the weddings (mine was number 9 of 10 that year we attended!)  I have 4 real close friends/family pregnant right now... the first one is due in March, 2 babies are due in May and 1 in early June. I also have a friend who has gotten the go ahead to start trying again and I am feeling positive that it will only be a matter of time till she is pregnant also :)   I am also aware through FB "stalking" or announcements of another probably 1/2 dozen friends from high school or close aquaintances all due in 2011!  (And these are just the ones that have announced it.)

 I'm sure that as the months go on,  more friends will be announcing new baby news.  After all,  many of my friends are at that age/next stage in life where babies are the next step in creating a new family and life together.  Hopefully sometime late next year I will have some exciting news of my own to share!

1 Year Wedding Anniversary

I can't believe that my husband and I have officially reached our 1 year Wedding Anniversary! 



1 Year ago 11.07.09  I got to wear this




 




 

1 year ago I met him for the first time.









1 year ago 2 became 1 ...a couple instead of a pair!



 

 







We ate some of this! (And it was delicious!)



And we lived Happily Ever After...

                                                                              

And so 1 year later 11.07.10 We celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary.  My husband surprised me with a dozen multi color roses and the fresh top layer of our cake that was ordered and ready for us to enjoy on our first wedding anniversary! (the bakery believes in fresh and not frozen!)



Roses and Cherry Almond Wedding Cake



Us at midnight 11.7.10 ready to share our first piece together! (Excuse the dress/look I just woke from a night nap and my husband had just gotten home from work and went comfy!)  :)



Digging in!



Celebrating at Revolving Restaurant Skies Downtown KC, MO

SKIES FUN FACTS

-It takes approximately an hour and

a half for one revolution

-There are 72 windows in the

restaurant providing

a complete view of the city

-Skies is approximately 500 feet off

the ground

-Look to the North to see The Power

& Light District, Sprint Center,

Bartle Hall, H&R Block.

-Liberty Memorial and Crown Center

can be located to the West.

-The Country Club Plaza can be

located to the South

-To the East you will catch a glimpse

of Arrowhead and Kaufmann stadiums, home to our Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.

A little self portrait :)

Skies is the round restaurant above the building!

A view of the inside of the restaurant

My camera's view of downtown :(

Kansas City's Power and Light District



My Filet Mignon... Cabernet Sauce, Smoked Mashed Potatoes, Glazed Pearl Onions



Pat's Prime Rib with Yukon Gold potatoes

Extra Lobster tail we ordered



And to top it off Anniversary dessert was on the house! :)





A fabulous day to top off a wonderful first year!  Here's to a lifetime of happiness... Forever and Ever!







Currently...

Currently...




Loving... Staying busy on Monday's at work with my new schedule change...(with Tuesday's and Wednesday's off), Quiet me time, fall weather with the ocassional warm day.


Excited for... Thanksgiving time in MN with family, scrapping and chatting with friends, Sunday 11/7 for our 1 year wedding anniversary, our fresh top layer of cake to be picked up Saturday, a car that runs by Friday maybe Saturday.



Worried... Starting to find a house to meet my expectations at a lower price point after realizing we shouldn't blow all our money on a monthly mortgage.


Creating.... More of an organizing.  Paperwork that has been accumulatng and trying to get everything into a place/organized so I know where to find it if I need something.


Hating... Spending money on a car that I am starting to highly dislike after problems arise every 4 months or so! Ughhh...Frusturating!!! But I guess a need to go more the 30mph without removing your foot from the gas to switch gears or going in reverse are kinda necessary!


Wondering... Why everything happens all at once and my limits are being challenged!


Craving... Home cooked meals after a long day.  I have been living on many quick foods as the weather gets cold and I get lazy.


Hoping... Things will get a little easier, I have been seriously tested this week...and have cried many tears of frusturation.


Watching.... Jackass 3D in the theatre, The Joneses, Solitary Man, Date Night, McGruber all from Netflix, with Toy Story 3 to arrive tomorrow :)  My Big Friggin Wedding on Vh1, Kendra to start on Sunday on E!, The Nate Berkus Show, House Hunters, Teen Mom, Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It, What's Eating You, Police Women of Dallas.


Listening... Absolute Silence!


Looking forward to... 1st Anniversary, Cherry Almond wedding cake on Sunday, Thanksgiving in MN!!

Homemade Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp (an Amish recipe)

4 cups apples, peeled and sliced

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/3 cup butter, room temperature

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

Grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan.

Spread apples in the pan. Stir together the remainder of

ingredients until; you make coarse crumbles. Sprinkle over

the apples.



Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until apples are

completely cooked and tender.

ENJOY!! ( I Did!!)

10.10.10

Today is October 10, 2010, 283rd day of the current year in the Gregorian Calendar

October 10, 2010 reminds us that there are 82 days remaining before the year 2011. There are only 46 days to go before Thanksgiving Day and 76 days before Christmas Day.

Other Geeky past days include...

Geek dates

Wordless Wednesday

Currently...

Loving... Cool tempretures at night and warm days... family time this past weekend... friends that visited and stayed with us over the weekend.. fall... making a safe return at night...helpful information...house hunting

Excited for... Getting/building a house..(it has consumed my life lately)

Worried... Financially what we will be approved for, and having a mortgage!

Creating.... Nothing lately..I haven't had the time/energy/creativity for anything.

Hating... All the time away from Pat over the next few weeks while he works crazy shifts and heads to Iowa for training ALL next week.

Wondering... Why my husband has been such a S**T magnet at work lately!

Craving... Healthy food...with visitors in town all weekend we ate out a lot.  I am ready for some soup and sandwiches and yogurt, fruit and cottage cheese.

Hoping... To meet with a financial home loaner/bank to see what we will be able to afford crazy schedules and long hours have made this very difficult lately.

Watching.... Raising Hope one of my all time favorite new shows on FOX...I love the crude humor! 
Season 4 of Dexter and Season 5 watching online. Atlanta Housewives started last night, Beverly Hills Housewives starts 10/14 on Bravo, The Little Couple starts again 10/12 on TLC, Guliana and Bill 10/11 on Style,  16 and Pregnant starts a new group of girls 10/26 on MTV...I think I watch to much tv?! :)

Listening... The Plainsmen...A group of college buddies that have a band and they played at the Kansas City Speedway this past race weekend!

Looking forward to... Possibly road tripping home over Thanksgiving, only having to worry about myself next week for meals, a house, babies, our future!

National Drug Take-Back Day

Being in the Pharmaceutical/Health care industry I wanted to post that today is National Drug Take-Back Day .  We all have them...unused drugs left over from surgery's or pain meds that we want to keep around "just in case" Well...these drugs are potentially harmful if left in the wrong hands.  For several years "properly disposing" of these medications included flushing them down the toilet or tossing the meds into the garbage.

Well several decades later we have seen several reports on the presence of pharmaceuticals in water and the potential risks to human health and aquatic life. EPA and its federal partners are taking steps to address the issue regarding public education and proper disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water. However, have you stopped to think what you can do at home?

Well, for starters, there is going to be a National Drug Take-Back Day at a location near you on September 25th. The main objective is to allow individuals to drop off their excess prescription and over-the-counter medications at select collection centers for proper disposal. The benefits will be threefold. First, by removing these unused medications in your home, you’ll prevent unintentional poisonings of children, the elderly and pets. Secondly, by participating in this “take-back” event, you’ll avoid having these drugs from contaminating our environment. Thirdly, you’ll also prevent prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands. In essence, it’s a win-win throughout: protecting public health and safety, taking care of the environment and cleaning out your medicine cabinet all for a good cause. After the event, the medications will be disposed of properly with minimum impact on the environment. Please visit this website and plug in your zip code to find a collection site near you. It’s that simple.

A-Z

I saw this on my girlfriend Leah's blog and had to steal it. Feel free to do the same...



A. AREA CODE: Grew up in the 612 before it became 952 (MN), and currently am in the 913 (KC).


B. BED SIZE: Queen...but we are going to upgrade to a King when we buy a home!


C. CHORE YOU HATE: Toilets.


D. DOG'S NAME(S): No pets!


E. ESSENTIAL "START THE DAY!" ITEM: Diet Dr. Pepper


F. FAVORITE COLOR: Pink or Red...but I like them all.


G. GOLD OR SILVER: Silver


H. HEIGHT: 5' 7"


I. INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: I played the clarinet in intermediate and middle school...haven't picked it up since.


J. Job: Associate Pharmacy Clerk, Wife, Daughter, Maid, Chef...Ha Ha!!


K. KIDS: None now.  We will eventually... after we move into a home.. I'm thinking maybe late next year?!) As my husband says "Pulling the goalie from the net" :)


L. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: Apartment living until June (Or if we break our contract sooner!)  We are actively looking at homes hoping to be in something before our lease is up in June 2011.


M. MOM'S NAME: Tammy


N. NICKNAME:  Dear, Princess, Wen


O. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: Never...thank goodness I'm healthy!


P. PET PEEVE: Lately...Leaving things open (doors, cabinets, pantry) Having to finish others work.


Q. QUOTE FROM A MOVIE: I have 2...both from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

1) Clark: "Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?"


2)  "Merry Christmas. Shitter was full." 


R. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?: Righty


S. SIBLINGS: 1 Brother


T. TIME YOU WAKE UP: 5:20 Got to be at work by 7AM


U. UNDERWEAR: All different kinds, depends on my mood ;)


V. VEGGIE YOU DISLIKE: All. Except...Potatoes and Corn (I am the only girl I know who doesn't eat salad!)


W. WAYS/REASONS YOU ARE LATE: I just couldn't get up and get moving in the morning, and it took me a little longer then I predicted.


X. XRAYS YOU'VE HAD: Broken right wrist, and an abdominal x-ray for my Kidney Stones


Y. YUMMY FOOD YOU MAKE: I do really good with dips on food day...Dried Beef Dip, Fruit Dip, Buffalo Wing Dip... I also make a mean Chicken Enchilada, and Chicken Noodle Casserole


Z. ZOO ANIMALS YOU LIKE: Monkeys are my favorite!! (and anything exotic that we don't get to usually see like elephants!)

Currently...

Currently....

Loving... The cool weather that has temorarily arrived on the midwest...Hello Fall! (open windows...air turned off...great sleeping weather!) That yesterday Sept 2nd, 2010 was international "90210" day.

Excited for... MN trip next week, Adam's Wedding, My coworker (that I absolutely depise) who put in her 2 week notice today!! :) Lori's baby boy to be born, Monday's Labor Day holiday/Date night, New house for my brother and sister in law, my husbands new job duty at work.

Worried... No Worries...things are really good right now! I am very lucky!!

Creating.... Scrapping weddings from last year and our Vegas/San Diego trip

Hating... That Pat is going to be gone for a whole week while training for his new work position

Wondering... If the new girl starting Tuesday will be a good fit with our group?

Craving... Nothing but good days ahead...I have had to many downers lately, and it needs to change!

Hoping... We have a great trip home next week, enjoy our friends and family and make it home safely.

Watching.... Keeping up with the Kardashians, Quints by Surprise, LA Ink, Teen Mom, Hard Knocks: Training camp with the NY Jets (my husband went to college with #46!) getting ready for the fall lineup that starts as early as next week!  (ANTM, Desperate Housewives, Amazing Race....)

Listening... Anything and everything on my ipod! Work has been difficult lately, and I am fortunate enough to be able to listen to my earbuds...and tune out everything around me!

Looking forward to... Going home next weekend for Adam's wedding! Seeing friends and family, fall tv lineup.

The More You Know, The More You Kohl's

I made a trip to Kohls yesterday, not really for anything in particular...just looking to see if there was anything I couldn't live without! :)  Kohls has been in the process of redoing there stores and I was pleasantly surprised with what upgrades I found...

-Ripped up carpet in the Junior's department to reveal bare concrete floors (Very urban!)

-A total re-do of departments and their layouts (Easy flow layout which leads you from one department to the other)

-A convenient Customer Service/Return counter right as you enter the store (instead of all the way in the back corner)

-Nicely organized racks (Nothing over crammed)

-And the biggest change was there dressing rooms!  Nice big open dressing rooms, that are accessible from both sides not just by department)  A new modern color scheme, full length mirror, and return racks in the dressing room instead of on the outside. 

As you can see from my camera phone picture... I was so fascinated with the new hooks and how shopper friendly they were I just had to take a picture

Love It, Like It, Back on the rack!

I Love It!!

1 year ago..a Bachelorette!

Can this really have been 1 year ago already??!! WOW!! Time has just flown by. Pat and I made the trip from KC,  back home to MN the last weekend in August for my Bridal Shower and a joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Party on August 29th, 2009

We all had such a blast this day!!  My Bridal Shower was held in the afternoon, followed by my Bachelorette party that night.  I felt so much love from these two girls, my best girlfriends Kristin (on the left) and Leah (who also was my Maid of Honor on the right) who went out of their way to throw me a Bridal Shower for my closest friends and family.

It was finally "My day" leading up to the "Big day"  Leah made sure that I was going out in style, by dressing me up in appropriate Bachelorette attire for my "Last Night Out"

Each one of these friends played an important role in our wedding day. For that I am very thankful to have gotten to know each of you, and my heart holds a special place, filled with memories of fun times and the best of friends..with many more memories to be made! 

Gray...The New Neutral??

A color mix described between Black and White. Gray is gaining popularity as the new neutral.  It looks good with almost any color and ranges from cool to warm tones, and looks great with everything from home accents to walls.  A Better Homes and Gardens article that I had once referenced here showing my love of home decor also caused me to bookmark a few pictures for future reference.

I love how this classic gray coats the walls and the black bed frame really pops against the cream rug...although I wouldn't use orange as my accent color... I love the pop of color on a neutral background and the touch of glamour with the mirror.

This gray-blue hue is also very soothing and would be ideal for a bedroom or also a "spa" like bathroom I love the contrast between white moldings and dark woods in this setting.

 

Neutral colors and natural materials make up this calming room.  It just looks so inviting from  the linen headboard to the velvet coverlet and the leather bench and dark wood night stands "Soft gray walls almost shimmer with creams and whites"

And a few more that I pulled from HGTV's website

Hillbilly Wedding Cake

While searching Facebook today... I came across a friend who made a comment on a local bakers website. The bakery is called Buttercream Dreams and this Hillbilly wedding cake came up!  I thought this was the most clever, redneck and awesome thing... I can honestly admit, I have never seen anything like it!  I may have to remember this for a certain someones birthday next year!!

August (so far) in Pictures

7.29.10 (While not in August...I was AMAZED to see Canadian Geese around now! Just hanging out in the rain at the parking lot at work!)

8.1.10 While reading Glamour.  I admit I am guilty of #4.. Watching Pretty Woman on a gorgeous summer day

8.2.10 Pat's Birthday I look out the window, to see this crazy squirrel climbing the stucco wall of another building!

I am amazed he didn't fall!

"Spider Squirrel"

He finally made it down, and hopped onto the peak of the roof!

8.2.10 Heading out for Birthday dinner at Bonefish Grill and a movie!

8.3.10 A little scrapbooking on a hot day..3 wedding we attended (of 9!) in '09, and a family reunion vacation in Colorado. 

8.5.10 Go Vikes!

8.6.10 While watching the local weather...Ick!

8.9.10 Our air conditioner goes into "Savings" mode during the day, so this is what I get to come home to after work. :(

8.10.10 Shopping Joann's 5 for $1 Cardstock sale and stickers were also 40% off!!

8.11.10

8.13.10