Flowers, Registries and Snow

Can I just say that I am REEEEAAAALLY sick of winter?  I swear it is either so cold that you can't breathe when you go outside or it is snowing so it takes you twice, if not three times, as long to get to work in the morning!  So today, I took a snow day....end of rant.

We are 226 days from our wedding!  I am excited to say that we do have most of the big stuff done, although the to do list is still REALLY long.

We met with Lisa Boerner from Forget Me Not Floral in Burnsville.  Decorations/flowers had been somewhat of a stressor, due to our lack of knowledge of flowers and the endless decoration ideas out there.  But we left our meeting with Lisa feeling a lot more at ease.  She has a great approach and personality for her job.  She listened to our opinions and then just went with it showing us options, ideas etc.  She was also really laid back which was great!  She has a huge inventory of vases, jars, candles, votives, etc. etc. that we can use at no extra cost.  We have decided to go with her which eases a lot of worries about how we are going to get everything done the day of the wedding.  She will bring everything out that day and set up, arrange, and organize.   NOTE: if you are a wine drinker, please save your green and blue wine bottles for us.  If you are looking for recommendations, Relax is a delicious white wine that comes in a blue bottle :)

We have also started our registry.  This task is teaching us a lot about compromise :)  Ben and I have slightly differing opinions when it comes to "stuff".  He is more practical and a minimalist and I am more of a "Oh what is this?  Oh this is so cool, we may not need it but maybe we will? Let's just add it!"  We also had a few technical difficulties when we went to Target to start our registry, I think it took us over half an hour to get logged into the system and actually start registering for things....We have decided to register at Target and Amazon.  If there are any suggestions of registry do's, dont's, or must haves feel free to share!

Yoga

I enjoy doing yoga and I have been trying to go to at least one yoga class a week, especially now that I have more of a "desk job".  Unfortunately there are only a couple classes per week that work in my schedule and they are on the weekends.  Now that both Ben and I have weekends off I try not to plan a lot since it is really nice to just hang out and do whatever we feel like on that particular day.  As a result, I have not been all that successful at going to yoga once a week.  BUT today I came across this website.  There are a ton of free yoga videos that you can watch (you don't even have to "sign up" or anything)!

Now if I only I could do it with this in the background....

250 Days To Go...Wedding Update!

Today marks 250 days until our wedding! 

Here is an update on what we have accomplished:

• Click here to see our website!  It isn't completely done but the basics are there.  We still need to add wedding party bios and  the guest list so people can RSVP.
• We took engagement pictures in October, here are a few!

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• I bought a dress!  Sorry no pics, Ben reads this blog sometimes ;)
• Hair and makeup appointments are made, we will be going to Michelle Kenric Salon in St. Cloud.  
• Hotel block is reserved...AmericInn in Sauk Centre.
• We are meeting with a florist on Sunday, thanks Brienne Jans for the referral!
• I have also spent countless hours on Pinterest looking at ideas! :)

The time is flying!  I keep reminding myself to enjoy the process and am trying not to get too stressed!  

2013 Reflections

Well, my blogging attempt in 2013 was not very successful.  This is kind of what happened: I had things to blog about but I kept putting it off and then once I finally got around to writing my post it became overwhelming because I had so much to write about so then I quit and decided to do it "later".  Then "later" became much later and then I thought I haven't blogged in months I cannot do it now!  But this year my plan is to blog if I feel like it, don't blog if I don't feel like it.  If 5 months lapses without a post, that is okay... we will see how this new approach goes over for me. :)

On to what this post was meant to be about in the first place (before I got caught up in justifying my lack of posting): Reflections of 2013:

2013 was overall a pretty awesome year!  Here are some of the high points:

• On January 22nd I started a part-time Social Work position at Anoka County in the Child Foster Care Unit.  
• On February 18th Ben and I got engaged!!!  WOOHOO - highlight of the year! :)
• I turned 25 in July (and am now saving $7 per month on my car insurance-big disappointment).
• Completed the Tough Mudder on my 25th birthday!
• Traveled with Ben and his family to Alaska for his cousin's wedding.  It was a great vacation and I was able to meet many of Ben's extended family.
• Ben started a new job at the end of July.  He now has a normal Monday through Friday schedule!
• In September Ben and I went hiking and camping on the Superior Hiking Trail.  My first backpacking experience, I would say it was a success!
• My best friend Alison Thompson got married on September 28th!  Shower, her bachelorette party and the rehearsal dinner were also big highlights!
• Ben and I attended a few other weddings throughout the year.  We went to Duluth to celebrate with Bekah and Taylor Foster, to Alexandria for Anna and Nick Petro's wedding at the Carlos Creek Winery, and to a gorgeous wedding in St. Paul for Anna and Kyle Wirth.  
• In November, I started a full time position at Anoka County

The year was packed with many other fun filled times spent with our friends and family!  I definitely have a lot to be thankful for!

We Have a Photographer!!!

We have exciting wedding news: we have chosen and booked a photographer! YAY!  We have chosen Ashley Christine Photography, you can check out her Facebook page here.

Photography is something that we think is very important; once the day is over it is what is left to remember the event by.  But with that being said we still did not want to spend a ton of money but still want good quality photos (I have been referred to and looked at some photographers whose packages started at $2000-3000, which is not in our budget).  Luckily, Brienne Jans recommended Ashley Christine Photography.  She is very affordable and her pictures look good.  Thanks Bri!

There is also a funny, small world story that goes along with this.  I sent Ashley a Facebook message requesting pricing information and answers to a few other questions.  When she responded she answered my questions and also told me that we have met each other before.  The name of her business is her first and middle name so I did not recognize it but when she told me her last name I realized that she was right.  We had a mutual friend when we were freshman in college so we had spent some time together on at least one occasion.  Crazy!

Now on to the next item on the to do list.....food!

"Spaghetti"

I am always trying to find good healthy recipes and healthier alternatives to food that we really like.  This is at times unfortunate for Ben because he is then stuck eating a "not so great" experiment....luckily spaghetti night was not of those "not so great" experiments.

Have you ever looked at the serving size for noodles?  It is ridiculous, I think most people probably eat 3+ servings when they eat pasta without even knowing it.  If we have spaghetti or alfredo or something of the sort I will measure out a serving size of the noodles for myself and it is always really depressing, hardly covers the bottom of the bowl.  SOOOOO, I was excited when I came across the recipe below on Pinterest (to see the original post click here.)  Instead of noodles you use Broccoli slaw!  If you do not know what Broccoli slaw is, you should. You can find it at the grocery in the produce section near the cut/bagged broccoli, baby carrots, and cole slaw.  It is great alternative to cabbage coleslaw as it has a lot more nutrients.  It is also really good with any kind of dressing and sunflower seeds on it for a snack or side dish.

"Spaghetti" - according the original recipe this is 2 servings but both Ben and I had a bowl and I still had enough left to eat with my lunch the next day


      

The above ingredients are the only three things I used (along with cooking spray)
1.  Brown the ground turkey.
2. Spray a skillet with cooking spray.  Add the whole bag of broccoli slaw and 1/4 cup water and cook on medium heat.  Cook until the broccoli has softened.  5-10minutes.
3.  Combine broccoli slaw, browned turkey, and spaghetti sauce and cook until heated through.
4.  Enjoy!  Isn't that about the easiest recipe ever?!

Here are pictures of the final product.  I promise, it tastes better than it looks!

See Ben did like it :)

Excitement!

No new progress on the wedding planning front but it has been a very exciting week for both Ben and I career wise!

Ben interviewed for and was offered a "Youth Support Specialist" position at the YMCA (that just so happens to be less than a mile from our apartment, I am SO jealous)!  Essentially he will be providing case management, partnered with Hennepin County probation, to teenagers on probation.  Not only is this exciting because he is taking a step in the direction of where he would like to be in his career BUT HE WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO WORK WEEKENDS!  Yay!  He will start at the end of July when we return from Alaska.

I was offered 8 extra hours at my current job at Anoka County.  I was worried that my other employer, Holland Center, would not be willing to work with me and rework my schedule/reduce my hours.  But I was pleasantly surprised!  Now my schedule is 8-4:30 on Mondays and Tuesdays at Holland Center and 7:30-5 Wednesdays and Thursdays and 7:30-4:30 Fridays at Anoka County.  Hopefully this means that I am slowly working my way to full time at the county!