Recent Reads

I have not been reading very much this year. I still read every night before I go to bed, but I am  finding myself too tired to spend hours past my bedtime lost in a novel. Or maybe I just need to find a better book? Anyways, here are some of the books I have read recently, and my thoughts on them:

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Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This book kept me interested. It was one I wanted to read really quickly, so I could see how it all worked out in the end. It was really entertaining, but definitely one of those books where the ending just bums you out. I just wanted more from the ending. I  do think it is worth reading, the story makes you think, and is really entertaining.

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The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

I think this has been my favorite book of the year. Sometimes, I think your interest in a book depends on what is going on in your life. I read this book right around the time Spence and I became engaged. Marriage was on my mind, and therefore I think this book really 'spoke' to me. I found it to be just beautifully written. I was completely captivated by the story. After the book ended I wanted more, I spent the majority of my lunch periods googling Ernest Hemmingway and Hadley Hemmingway. Obsessed. Highly suggest!

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The Shack by William P. Young

I have read this book before, but again I think books can be different based on when in life you read them. I first read this book after college, for our post-college roommate book club (miss that!). I didn't really love it, and it didn't really 'speak' to me as I had hoped. At this time, I was still dealing with Abby's death, and was not fully open to a relationship with  God (sorry, TMI). Anyways, the past couple years I have found myself rebuilding this relationship, and finally feel like it is strong again. I think reading this a second time, allowed me to see what I was missing. I really found the book comforting, and I find myself thinking about it all the time--sign of a good book :)

BTW--another re-read this month...the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe...LOVE.


My recent Jodi Picoult favorites include:

Salem Falls & Second Glance. Both were a little spooky at times--although I just watched the Disney movie Brave, and had to fast forward because I got SO nervous...

Both books were definitely page turners, and have all the twists and turns you would expect. I am a sucker for Jodi Picoult--they always keep me interested!

Very open to any book suggestions! Summer break starts SO soon, and my library card is ready :)

Mothers Day

Wishing all the Mommas a happy Mothers Day! 

I wish I could be back in Minnesota today to spend time with my Mom. This is the first Mothers Day we have spent apart. I love this woman so much, and words cannot express how thankful I am for all she does! I have never met someone so selfless; I marvel at how she has always put e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e else in our family first. Being away from my family, and especially being away from my Mom is the hardest thing about living in Kansas. I miss them all so much, all the time. I hope my Mom was able to have a wonderful, relaxing, Mothers Day--and was able to take time for herself :)

It's Been Too Long...

Well, Hello!

It's been just a few months. oops.

 I'm not sure if I'm back to 'blogging' (if I can even really call this a blog). I have considered starting up again this summer, but I am not sure...time will tell. My (random) decision to blog tonight mostly comes from feeling wonderfully relaxed after one of my most enjoyable Easter Sundays. I'm too relaxed to write up my lesson plans, or to work on an IEP, but my mind is still on so, here I am.

So much has happened in the past few months:

1. I started my 'new' job as a high school special education teacher

• Special Education is an incredibly challenging, but rewarding career. I have learned so much this year about student learning, and myself as a teacher. It has been so rewarding to be an advocate for my students, and to also help them become advocates for themselves. I can't believe the school year is winding down so soon. I am very ready for summer, but I feel like the school year just flew by!

2. I am now engaged

• Being engaged has been an absolutely wonderful experience. I am so excited, and feel so lucky to have found someone like Spence. I will spare you all the sappy details,but it really is an exciting time :)

3. We are planning a wedding

• Wow! So fun and so much more work than I thought it was going to be! I've really enjoyed planning the wedding, it is fun to think about how we will celebrate spending our lives together! It has also been really fun to work with friends and family throughout this process. I am continually shocked by how caring, and helpful they are! Every time I get a call from a friend, or one of our moms, throwing out an idea, or asking how they can help, I feel so humbled, and lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people. 

4. We have purchased our first home

• Oh my goodness we're real adults! What an exciting process. I seriously cannot believe it, I cannot wait until we have those keys in our hands! We might not have much to fill the house with, but I'm so excited to grow into our new home!  (oh, my goodness...need to start packing!)

5. I still do not have a basset hound (someday?)

• I realize a dog that is more 'athletic' is probably a better choice to run with...but BASSETS...they just want to be loved. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday! Ours was super low key, but sometimes that is okay. We missed spending the day with our families, but were happy we got to talk to them today! I think the sunshine and warm weather helped out today, or maybe it was the plethora of chocolate I consumed (omg Cadbury Mini Eggs). Regardless I felt relaxed, and content this Easter (which may have been due to my sleepiness....my early bird got me to go to a 6:00 AM mass...I don't even leave for work that early!) Anyways, I love the message of life, and renewal that comes with Easter. I really think spring is a time for renewal, and changes (just look at mamma nature). I'm excited to see what this Spring will bring!

Sorry to ramble on for ages, but it's been awhile :)

Pirates at 40

My favorite will always be Jack Johnson & Mason Jennings (which I got to see LIVE!!!)

But, this is pretty amazing :)

1 Year in Kansas

Whoa.

I have been SO busy, and I have been loving it!!

I have officially lived in Kansas for a year! I can hardly believe it.

It's fun thinking back to the day I moved. I can vividly remember Spence excitedly loading up the moving truck, our stop at an Iowa winery, and how nervous I was following that moving truck for 7 hours!

I remember moving into my tiny apartment, it took so long to empty my things into that place--we were starving by the time we finished. Every food place was closed. Our first dinner at my new place consisted of frozen pizza, which we ate sitting on the floor.

Fun memories.

It's funny how much has changed in the past year!

A year ago I was so nervous about how life would turn out in Kansas. I was so nervous about meeting new friends, missing my old ones, and being away from my amazing family.

It all turned out 'A-Okay'.

This weekend Spence was in Minnesota for a wedding. I was a little nervous to be alone in Kansas all weekend. Last time he went away for a weekend, I at 1/2 a box of brownie batter.
Not good.

This time it was fine. I obviously missed him, a lot....
BUT...

I was so busy, I barely had time to think about missing him.

My weekend consisted of cheer practice, lesson planning, data planning, running with a friend, meeting friends for dinner, and seeing a former co-worker.

So much has changed in a year. I am starting to feel 'at home' in Kansas (although, MN is ALWAYS my #1). I'm busy with a new job I love, and have made some great friends.

Life is good :)

Oh, Hey!

I have a blog?! What??

Sorry, I have been completely MIA this summer. It has been a very busy summer, anything but relaxing.

IT has been a wonderful summer. Full of new experiences, and wonderful family and friends! Remember that 3 item summer bucket-list?? Ummm....ya. I was pretty unsuccessful with completing the list. EXCEPT yesterday, I defended my Masters Thesis and PASSED!! I'm okay with only completing one item on the list as long as it is that one! What a relief!! I am SO happy I now have every class done for my Masters!!! I still need one more for my new license, but that will be completed on the job! VERY happy!

Speaking of on the job, I started my new job yesterday! It was super exciting! It was so cool to see my new classroom, and also so scary to see how completely bare it is. Time to start organizing and decorating!

The highlight of this summer, was definitely going back to Minnesota to visit family and friends. Recently I was able to have 10 days of pure, busy, vacation bliss in Minnesota. It was Ah-mazing.  My mom and I ventured up to Lake Superior and enjoyed the Superior State Hiking Trail. I have become a major Minnesota tourist. Minnesotans, look around you, you live in the most beautiful state! I didn't full appreciate the luxury and beauty of the lakes and woods until I moved! I wish I would have traveled around to more state parks and soaked up all the outdoor recreation the North Star State has to offer. I feel my former outdoorsy self coming back to life...

My Mom enjoying Lake Superior

Split Rock Lighthouse

At the start of Temperance River Hike...6 miles of DIFFICULT hiking! Good thing we refueled with pie!

 After our Lake Superior trip, I headed up North again to Hackensack, MN to watch Spence compete in a triathlon, and spend time with his family! It was really fun to be up on Birch Lake. Spence and I have so many wonderful memories at the lake! It was great to catch up with both his family and some friends! Great memories are always made at Birch Lake!

At the Cabin!

Birch Lake!

Moonlight Cruise

Walker Chase the Police Tri!

I didn't spend every minute of my Minnesota time in the 'Northwoods'. I began my trip home with a Twin Cities summer staple--the Pedal Pub! Had a blast celebrating my friend Tracy's birthday! The Pedal Pub always grantees a wonderful time!

My trip back to Minnesota ended with a bachelorette party! It was so fun to celebrate the beautiful bride to be!

Love getting dressed up and going Downtown! 

While in Minnesota I had some WONDERFUL food. I can't complain about the many dinner/lunch/happy hour dates. Yum. I definitely indulged and am attempting to get back to healthy this week (except last night after defending my Masters, a major celebration was completely necessary).

Anyways, I highly suggest these great Minnesota restaurants I was able to indulge at over my vacation:

1. 112 Eatery

2. Longfellow Grill

3. Rustic Inn

4. The Lighthouse at Emilys

5. Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior

6. Barrio

7. Butcher and the Boar

8. Zelo

9. Rojo

Yum....looking at this list...I start to understand why I feel so broke this week! Oh well, totally worth the great food, and great people!

Cover Love

Rarely I LOVE, love a song cover. Jerry Douglas and Mumford & Sons got it right, this is just awesome!!

Weekend at the Ozarks

Spence and I spent our weekend traveling to the Lake of the Ozarks for a wedding. We had a really, great time getting away for a (very) mini vacation!

 

 

Started the weekend off, with a fun fruity drink!

I was really looking forward to being at the lake. I think part of me is just searching for the Minnesota Lake experience here in Kansas. The Lake of the Ozarks is fun, and HUGE, but it was missing my favorite aspects of Minnesota lake-life.

I like to go to the lake to get away from city life. I love how camouflage, flannel, and sweatpants are Minnesota lake staples. I love that there isn't any showing off--there are a lot of nice boats and cabins, but they aren't paraded around. Everyone is just trying to enjoy nature, and each other. Lake of the Ozarks was beautiful, but it didn't feel like an escape from the city. The lake houses were gigantic, the boats even bigger, and if you forgot something for the weekend, Target was around the corner. I guess it was kind of similar to Lake Minnetonka? Even though I didn't get my 'Minnesota Lake' fix, we still had a great time enjoying some beautiful scenery and great people!

What's Been Going On?

 The last few weeks have been wonderfully relaxing.

This week I am back to being busy.

The transition into being busy started with running the Hospital Hill 10K. This was one of the best races I have ever done!! The course lived up to it's name, it was ALL hills. I can't wait to do it again next year! Spence captured some photos with his GOPRO (SO they are a bit fish eyed).

If I can be SUPER annoying for a second...

I finished in 56 minutes--and was ECSTATIC!

 

Monday, I got back into 'real life', and started contributing to society, instead of contributing to Bravo.  

This week I started my practicum teaching experience at a Juvenile Detention Center. So far it has been really great. I come home exhausted, not so much from teaching--but from being in such a new, and different environment. Thoughts, and questions are swimming through my head the whole time I am there. Mostly, I find myself thinking about what kind of assignments I should create for the students, and how our juvenile court system works (law friends...questions are coming).

I am absolutely in awe of how organized, and efficient everything is at the JDC. I am super impressed at how the teachers organize their classroom, and individualize student lessons. It isn't easy, everyday  new students either arrive, or students have left. The classroom, and kids are always changing.

I am excited to learn from this experience, it feels SO great to be back in the classroom teaching--I missed it so much!

This weekend Spence and I are off to the Lake of the Ozarks--for our first wedding, in "Tour de Weddings 2012." Neither of us has ever been to the Ozarks, I am very excited to be spending the weekend at a lake! I highly doubt it will compare to the lakes of Minnesota...but it's a lake all the same :)

Inspiration

This quote by Marianne Williamson was read during the yoga class I attended last Sunday. 

I absolutely love it.

source

Tunes Tuesday

I'm kinda obsessed with them...

Excellent Advice

25 Things I've Learned In My 20's

Any 20 something should be able to relate :)

New Tunes Tuesday

More from the Lumineers:

Hope you had a great Memorial Weekend!! We had SUCH a great time Up North...more on that later :)

Weekend at the Lake!!

I'm this excited to spend the weekend 'Up North Minnesota' at the lake:

Hope you have exciting Memorial Weekend plans! :)

PS. 

Ignore the shiny orb on my forehead...picture of a picture

Also, so weird to see me holding a can of Pepsi and not Diet Coke!

New Tunes Tuesday

Can't help but wish this was about a couple of Gusties....

BUT, love this song and the MIAC shout-out!

Weekend Update

This weekend was my FIRST weekend in our new apartment (if you don't count the weekend we moved...which I don't...because we were moving not weekending)

We had a much needed relaxing weekend:


Friday--We relaxed at a friends house, enjoyed the cool temperature of their patio and some great conversation.

Saturday: DATE NIGHT! It's been a while since we had a date night, we went to my new favorite restaurant Mestizo

View from our table at Mestizo

We also watched the best SNL in a while, right? I absolutely died laughing during the, "So You Think You Can Dance Music Festival" Skit--SO FUNNY. Brought back some 'point' dance memories :)

Sunday:

We had a lazy Sunday.

We did enjoy a run in the park and watched a sailboat race! Wish I brought my camera....

To top off our Sunday....

WE GOT A TABLE! How old am I that getting a table was an uber exciting event? Two of our friends came over to help us move and set up the table, and then we headed out to La Bodega for some great tapas, sangria, and live music.

Get EXCITED!!

My attempt to take a picture of the sunset...

Now that I have bored you to tears.... 

Hope you had a great weekend and have a wonderful week :)

New Coffee Obsession

I have a new coffee obsession. 

I may be behind on this...but let me introduce you to my new coffee splurge:

 

It's a Starbucks Mocha Coconut Frappuccino Light! It's fantastic--cool, creamy, coconut, and a hint of chocolate. If you are not a huge coffee fan, you can barely taste the coffee (which is usually how I like my coffee to taste--not like coffee). 

The drink isn't even that bad for you! Except, I'm totally one of those people who ask for a 'light' drink, but insist on still loading on the whip cream. oops.

Another bonus? I totally feel like this when ordering it:

 If you are loving the coconut trend these days--GO TRY ONE, promise you won't be disappointed!

New Tunes Tuesday

Love.

Weekend Update

Another great (busy) weekend in Minnesota! Spence and I traveled back to watch his sister graduate from law school! We had a great time celebrating her accomplishment, and enjoying Minneapolis.

Graduate!

Spence and I enjoying the sunny Minneapolis day

 

 

 

I was also able to see one of my closest friends graduate! (double win!)

Do you like my EXACT same pose in every picture?? Whoops.

In addition to the graduation we were able to attend Mother's Day family functions, and see some of our friends. It was a wonderful little trip, and worth every bit of exhaustion we are feeling today.
This weekend we will be staying in Kansas; I am actually super excited. May is a busy month of Minnesota trips for us, it's always great to go back...but I am excited for a weekend without the long drive :)

Hope you had a great weekend!

Summer Bucket List

On Monday morning, I enjoyed listening to the KDWB morning show on my way back to Kansas. I have yet to find a morning show I enjoy in Kansas, so it is always a treat to listen to KDWB in the morning when I am home, it reminds  me of my summer commute to St. Louis Park!


Monday, the cast members each made a 3 item summer bucket list. Only 3 items--because 3 items can be done easily in 3 months! Anyways, it encouraged me to make a 3 item summer bucket list! Mine is a little lame, maybe next year when I have the whole summer off (amazing) I'll get a little crazier with my bucket list!

3 Item Summer Bucket List:

1. Finish my Thesis Project (eek)

2. Attempt to water-ski

3. Learn how to knit

I realize these are pretty lame...BUT all things I really want to do! Well, I actually am not sure if I want to water-ski...but I felt like at least ONE item should be extreme.

What are you wanting to do this summer??