love tuesday

I know, I know I'm late but this week has flown by, which has been a love. And the next thing I knew it was Thursday! However I have been brainstorming some good LOVES for this week's post so enjoy. I really need to get back on the blogging more than once a week thing but I am just settling back into a routine again after vacation and then staying with my niece and nephew last week so my sister and bro-in-law could get a much needed vacation.

• love hanging out with my niece Hilary and nephew Eric last week. We had so much fun and laughed a lot. I loved getting to spoil them like my siblings did when my parents went away.
• love that my sister and her hubby (think that's the funniest word ever) got a MUCH deserved and needed vacation and time to relax. love that they came back refreshed!
• love that this week has flown by and has been really nice weather wise, until today but we won't focus on that one:)
• love dogs on treadmills. this is totally random but popped into my head while emailing with Marlys the other day. found this website selling doggie treadmills and laughed for a while watching the clips of dogs on treadmills
• love planning trips. heading to chicago for st patty's day and NYC in June both with awesome friends...just thinking about it gets me excited and happy.
• love brainstorming for the travel book/website my friend Erin and I want to start. long ago we tried to figure out a way to get paid to travel, we haven't figured it all out yet but I think we might be on to something with travel insights for people in their 30's. you don't want to stay in hostels anymore but do you really want to stay at a luxury resort? think about it people...
• love when people use stereotypes...ok just kidding that was a sarcastic love. I am quite irritated with people generalizing that people who use welfare services and single mothers with 8 kids from different daddies. As someone having worked with people using welfare services, this is not what the average "face" of welfare looks like. If you knew about welfare you would know that there are time limits and really you don't get that much assistance so people wouldn't continue to have more kids by choice. This is the exception, not the rule. I know there has been more in the media about welfare since the "octomom" but I think people should get a little more educated before they start speaking. OK I am stepping off my soapbox now...
• love the oscars, ok not really...but i do love dvring them and fastforwarding through all the parts that suck. love seeing what people are wearing and hearing who people thank or what they do with their 45 seconds of time, loved the gay mormon who wrote Milk and his speech, brought a tear to my eye.
• love podcasts! I have been sucked into the world of free podcasts on iTunes...they are so great for work though!! lovethem!!

have a great rest of the week!

Vacation

This is the view from my parents' condo in Ft Myers Beach, FL. I love it there. It is so relaxing and peaceful. I enjoyed 6 days full of sunshine, reading, games, puzzles, and my parents. It was so hard to come back to "real life" and am still adjusting to having to go to work every day. When you are there you can just sit back and listen to the waves and clear your head. I had a great time catching up on some reading while I was there as well.
Here are the books I read while I was there:

Subterranean by James Rollins -This is kind of a Michael Crichton/Dan Brown suspense book that was recommended to me by my friend Natalie. I really liked it and couldn't put it down. The subject matter, underground caving in Antartica, wasn't something I would pick but it was definitely a page turner! I finished it before the first night.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah- I would compare this book to a style similar to Jodi Piccoult. It was amazing. The story of two friends who are complete opposites and how they grow up from middle school-?? and how their friendship grows. The writing was really good and after I was finished with it I left it for my sister to read and she too really liked it.

Factory Girls-This is a nonfiction book about female migrant workers in China who come from small towns into the factory cities to earn money. A total change from the other two books I read and I am not done with it yet but the stories are really interesting. Not as much of a downer as you would expect. I am still reading this one.

We also took some walks and found some natural wild life like a little turtle and some pelicans.

We walked down to the pier and took some photos as well. My parents building is the farthest on the left with the green roof.

30th Birthday

So here are the long overdue photos from my 30th Birthday party on January 17th. I didn't take that many since I was busy socializing with everyone. I was so lucky to have so many people come and celebrate with me. I rented out the backroom at the Bulldog bar in Northeast Minneapolis. The food and drinks were great. I would HIGHLY recommend it for parties. Their cupcakes are YUMMY, too:)

Natalie, Kristin, and Me

Some of my friends from grad school who travelled from Chicago, Green Bay, and Milwaukee to celebrate with me!! Beth, Coral, Julia, me, Marlys, and Bobbi

Me and Joy

Even my parents had a great time

Erin and me

Some of my "guests of honor":) erin, julia, me, tim, and natalie.

love tuesday

Hello everyone! It has been a long hiatus from the blog due to a much needed and appreciated vacation in Florida. The weather was gorgeous and sunshine, a-ma-zing. Alas I am now back to the daily grind, which has had me not so happy lately but oh well...gotta find something to love.

• love that its Tuesday and Monday is over, usually mondays do not bother me but yesterday was particularly unbearable. I was happy to say goodbye to that day.
• love my tap class. we had it again on sat and I can't get enough of it. I want to wear my tap shoes around and practice everywhere. too bad i only have non-carpeted floors in my mini-laundry area and small kitchen, not really enough space to to practice those shim-shams and buffalos...don't ask.
• love that I got new contacts today. What a difference just a little tweak can make!
• love that I slept in a bit due to this contact lens appt. Again, what a difference a little extra sleep can make.
• love that I get to hang out with my niece and nephew starting tomorrow. I am house/teen/dogsitting so my sister and bro in law can have a much needed vacation. It will be a nice change of pace and chance to hang out with them.
• love the new banana bread oatmeal I am having for breakfast, and love putting some sort of chocolate in it to make it like banana choc chip bread. My friend Megan from work told me this was the best flavor of oatmeal and I COMPLETELY agree.
• love bulldog puppies...seriously check them out, they are so cute.
• love my crockpot. what a great invention, you put a bunch of things in it in the morning and ta-da, you come home from work and you have a meal.
• love seeing old coworkers and friends and reminiscing. love picking up where you left off with some and of course amazing food and drinks at buca, love buca.

OK well I hope everyone's work weeks go fast and that it doesn't get as cold and snowy as they are saying it might.
have a lovely Tuesday!

love, tuesday

• love finding money in your pocket, this morning I found a dollar in my pocket and I was so happy you would have thought it was $100.
• love pandas!!! My cousin Emily sent me an email this morning with all these cute pandas in it. (I was trying to figure out how to but them in this post but I am not that talented yet) They totally brightened my day.
• love that i have less than 72 hours until I go to FL!!
• love getting my haircut, I get to go today after work.
• love my new tap class, it is so great!!! It has only been one class and I already feel like I have learned so much.
• love gossip girl, i know totally cheesey but the show was so awesome last night. what is going to happen with Dan and the teacher?? Are we going to have a Dawson's Creek/Pacey scandal on our hands??
• love crossword puzzles and my day by day crossword calendar
• love new tennis shoes
• love sunny weekends when you can have the windows open even in winter to just get some fresh air.
• love talking/emailing with my sisters

Alright that was a short one but better than nothing.

Have a lovely Tuesday!

96 Hours

I am now down to a mere 4 days until I head to FL, so bear with me....
The hour countdown has started...woo hoo!!!!
Weather report for the duration of my trip:

Feb 6 Friday
Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 50s.
Feb 7 Saturday
Mainly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the low 50s.
Feb 8 Sunday
Abundant sunshine. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 50s.
Feb 9 Monday
More sun than clouds. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 50s.
Feb 10 Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 50s.
Feb 11 Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 50s.

Although the weather here in MN this weekend was GORGEOUS and made me quite happy to be exactly where I was. Plus Erin, Tina, and I started our new tap class and it was so much fun. The teacher is so great. She teaches at a local college and also is the movement instructor for the Gutherie theater. I feel so lucky have such a talented instructor for a community ed. dance class. The other ladies in the class were great fun too. I think the class probably ranges in age from 20-75. I will miss next week's class but there are still many more to come!!!