Joseph

Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat was playing at the Ordway and I went on Sunday. The tickets were AMAZING and Joseph was played by Anthony Federov who was a finalist on American Idol when Carrie Underwood actually won. He was amazing. And Hot.

A bit behind....

I haven't posted in a full month! That's insanity!



This last month has been really stressful and I've learned a lot of things about myself. I'm glad the big things are done with and I'm done with teaching until January 4th and I hired a new employee and will have a FULL team starting the beginning of the year. Training people is tiring - but I can't wait to have a complete squad.





Today, I had to call the employees that DIDN'T get the job with me. It's hard and I wanted to put it off until next year....after Xmas - but I realized that was only easier for me and wasn't doing justice to the people whom took the time to interview. I felt sick afterwards, but every person appreciated the time I took with them and for letting them know sooner versus later.

More posts to come. Specifically......NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS!

3 Year Anniversary Photos

Josh and I have never had really good engagement pictures - so in mentioning this to Kate - our lovely neighbor - she decided to take our pictures for our 3 year anniversary free of charge. The weekend of our anniversary - we spent an hour with Kate and this is what she produced! I LOVE them!

Above is my FAVORITE!

I really love this one too - the best piece is that there was a crazy lady telling us that we were in her area and she was putting on a performance - and NOBODY was around!

This is one of my top 3 as well - and it's funny because Sara's engagement pictures have that door in their pictures as well! We didn't even KNOW!

Blackhawk on Friday

One of Josh's FAVORITE bands played at Medina on Friday! This is the second time we've seen Blackhawk - and they always put on a great show! Plus, this guy in the red, he is 61 years old and is still up their rocking the songs!

What I find HILARIOUS is that he was actually even wearing these patchwork jeans while playing!

With songs like "Goodbye Says it All", "Postmarked Birmingham", "Almost a Memory Now", and "That's Just About Right"...you really can't go wrong. Josh has already decided that's what he wants to do next year when he turns the big 3-0!

Shopping today...

Shopping today for household things got me thinking....what could I put on a list? We didn't find a chair for our newly arranged household - since we both have different ideas of what the chair size should be. Next weekend, hopefully we'll have some help.

In the meantime, I've decided this Xmas I'd like to work on decorating our house. Here are some things I like. However, open to comments if good/bad/ugly:
1. Just the bookcase piece....but I like this.... http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=252314&CategoryID=35370#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D57

2. At HOM furniture....
http://www.homfurniture.com/Online/Home/Store/Product_694995_Authentic-Dimension-Panels-Art?selectTab=shipping#tabs

Man...I'm done shopping. I forgot how much I dislike shopping....

First Snow of 2010

Man...I woke up this morning to SNOW....

and the worst thing is, last night there was none. It seems a bit surreal honestly. Bummed that we aren't going to brave this snow and drive to see mom and dad....and bummed that I can't run any of the errands I really want to. I feel a bit in disarray since I 1) left the coupons for Sports Authority at work and 2) can't find my library book....and it's probably in the gym at work. I really hope I find it...it is NOT a book worth paying for.

However, all this snow does get me in the christmas mood! What do I WANT!??! I'd put the vest I mentioned earlier in this blog....but I kinda....sorta...bought myself a different one this week. I'm in LOVE.

I just ordered 15 bottles of wine....

I promise it was a good deal....I mean, $90 plus free shipping for 15 bottles of wine....that amounts to $6 a bottle! AND, I'm trying to increase our collection.

https://www.zagatwine.com/special_offer2_spt.aspx?promo=3261004&utm_source=rc_online&utm_medium=rc_novTicketmaster&utm_campaign=3261004

It really makes sense. I'd be DUMB not to, right?

Wierdo

The other weekend (I can't even remember when this was now....), I convinced Josh to play me in scrabble. First, Lila watched intently - check out how she is sitting!

She was being so nice, that we decided to give her some DOTS. I mean, it was around Halloween.

Now, Josh HATES playing SCRABBLE, even though he has a better vocabulary than I do. Thanks Billy Krogs for that one. However, he was feeling particularly good this night....and beat me! The only game I ever have a chance at......is no longer such.

Happy Halloween!

So votes came in...and Lila was a GHETTO SKELETON for Halloween. She obviously didn't enjoy this very much.....but the treat was worth it.

Softball Awards Banquet

This fall, I played on a softball team with a bunch of co-workers. It was actually really fun. I was most known for, and recognized for, Josh's ability...but what can I say. I'll take it.

On Thursday, we had an "awards" banquet (i.e. Happy Hour). And this was what I won.

I guess if being recognized as "happy" is what I am, I'll take it.

Band Hero....a success!

This past weekend we had a few people over to try out this....

and it was a very big hit! The songs are awesome, recognizable, and all very different! I even sang a Taylor Swift song. Overall, a worthy $30 purchase. Here are some action pics:

Notice how small that guitar is for Josh! Plus, his Badger shirt. The Badgers were playing the OHIO State...and Josh decided to show his Badger spirit. I promise I didn't even recommend he wear that shirt....he just did. Obviously, he received some crap from his friends.....

This made me cheer in my cube today!

http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2010/10/tim_mckee_consu.php

Finally - a good sushi place in Nordeast! Super excited.

Pumpkin Seeds

After all of that pumpkin carving....a TON of pumpkin seeds were left at my disposal. So, I spent half an hour digging through the guts and ickiness....and had a HUGE bag of seeds! Josh definitely thought I was crazy and I knew he thought it was a waste of time (witnessed by him helping me for 3 minutes, getting frustrated, and going back in the house).

Obviously, I had to prove him wrong. I took the seeds out, washed them, put them in a bowl with 1 tbsp of butter per each cup of seeds (I had 4 cups!), some garlic salt, and sea salt. Then, spread them on to a pan, turned the oven to 300 degrees and put them in for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes or so.

And they were amazing! This whole bowl was GONE by the time everyone left our house on Saturday. Leah even said they were the best pumpkin seeds she had ever had.

I'm pretty much the best cook ever.

Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

For the last two years, Josh and I have joined in the Krogman's Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest. Last year, I earned second place, while Josh earned two votes. It's started to get very competitive, but I really look forward to it. Here are some pictures from this year's extravaganza!

And of course....my FAVORITE picture...the one that makes me laugh....obviously Bill went for the "self-portrait". Thanks Sheila for this WONDERFUL picture:)

Eeka. It was Monday!

Towards the end of the day at work yesterday, I had the perfect opportunity to talk to my boss about some of my employees....but to also discuss my future. It was a great discussion - but went a bit long! By 5:45, we decided to discuss more in the next few days. Being so late, I grabbed my keys and my phone and headed out the door.

Not until I returned home....did I realize, I FORGOT MY PURSE! I felt sick to my stomach. With a ton of grading to do, I didn't have time for this....but I turned around, drove back to work, found my purse in the top drawer of my desk. Eeka.



On the other hand...Josh and I LOVE BINGO at Sarna's! Since Josh left this morning for Des Moines again, we spent some quality time together. Third game - horizontal line - $66 dollars richer! The best part - Josh won't call bingo. Apparently, he's too embarrased. So, each time he wins, I get to yell BIIIIINNNGOOOO!

One of the things I love

Josh travels a lot for work. I've gotten a bit used to it, but I really love the days when he works from home. Why? Because during the day, I get updates on what is going on at home. This morning, I received this picture and just started laughing.....

What a weekend!

Sunday's are my day to grade papers....while Josh refs basketball or watches television. This week, he did some basketball games....so Lila and I had a nice night together. And by nice night, I mean I spent four hours grading...and Lila didn't leave the couch. She spent her WHOLE night in this position (well...until Josh came home, gave her part of a meatball, and then she threw up...arg...what disgustingness).....but she wasn't just sleeping. She was DEFINITELY dreaming.....all the grunting, snorting, and snoring means she was having a good time. Oh, do I envy her sometimes.....

Pajamas and Josh's St. Cloud BDAY

This weekend we headed to St. Cloud, MN to visit with Josh's parents, celebrate his birthday (a bit belated), and carve some pumpkins! When we got there Friday night - the first thing on the agenda was to eat some yummy tacos (Josh's request)....then move on to drinking a few beers, relaxing by the fire, and cards! Lila, of course, also got dressed in some pretty good clothing items. I think she's gained a few pounds...I swear this outfit fit better in the past...

Josh is celebrating the big 2-9. That's a pretty big feat....and of course he need to make some wishes and blow out some candles!

Lila's Costume Hunting

Lila isn't sure what she's going to be this year for Halloween. I've been throwing out ideas to her...but she's really not excited about any of them. Her first year, she was a witch....and didn't love it.

Two years ago she agreed to match me in the ladybug outfit.....and she looked SO cute - but again, hated it. Though, with the option of a treat in the future, she's always up for a quick 5 minutes of humiliation.

Last year....she failed. She didn't wear an outfit. She feels like she missed out. So.....we are still in search of the PERFECT costume. Any ideas? Lila's really open to anything. For the right treat.

The Eighth.....

The eighth person has told me that my jacket looks like I'm ready to go deer hunting. I'm not happy....since it's a vest I asked for FOREVER and waited so long for. And it's not cheap. Though, admittedly - it was ordered without seeing...and the color is a bit orange. When it was ordered, I thought it was red!

In response, I've decided THIS is the new one I'd like....

PLUS, JCrew is offering 20% off if you spend $150 or more. You know how much I love a good deal!

Can this wait until Christmas?

This guy.....

..... is Josh's favorite thing to drive...and is completely PAID OFF.

Josh and I set this goal as our 2010 New Year's Resolution - and we did it.

WHOOP WHOOP!

THREE YEARS?!?!

I've been married for THREE years! It's fairly amazing to me actually.....I love this man SO much!

First Year: I can't even remember what we did! Pretty sure it involved a few beers and missing our dinner reservation.
Second Year: Took the day off...had reservations to go to Capital Grille....decided to watch the Twins game.....and hung out with Sara and Anders:)
Third Year: Had lunch in Uptown, went for a long walk around Lake of the Isles, took an hour nap, and watched game one of the Twins vs. Yankee at Sarnas.

These days are special - and I've been sure to capture them...even if I am HORRIBLE at keeping up with pictures and posts. I'll try to do this more often.

Wisconsin Badger Game vs. MN

This past weekend - Josh and I drove to Wisconsin to see mom and pops....but more importantly to watch the Badgers play the Gophers. The MN Gophers have been horrible this year....and on the way I asked Josh at what point...would he give up and become a Wisconsin fan? The 22 point (Vegas spread) point was decided......

Thus....Josh started the game wearing this.....

..

and finished the game wearing this......

How embarassing....but it was well deserved. All in all, we had just a wonderful weekend! So thankful to have a great family.