Material Girl

Madonna made her way to the Xcel Center last night. It was nothing short of incredible. I really wish they would have allowed my good camera in there because my cell phone pictures are terrible as you will soon see.

MDNA was a complete diva. From the way she talked to the crowd, to showing up 2.5 hours late, and even telling the crowd how to vote on the ballot for the Minnesota amendments. It cracks me up how one person can be so far removed from reality of the real world, but yet me adored by millions.

None the less, she was amazing. The whole show was like a theatrical performance. She purposefully denied us of some of the greatest hits, but there is something to say about 18,000 people standing on their feet belting out the words to "Like a Prayer."

Best concert I've ever been to.

Until we meet again.

A Long Time Coming

I looked back to my last post and realized how much has happened since that day. The move took place. It went about as well as moving could go I suppose. The next day I felt as though I needed a wheel chair because muscles I never thought I had were used in lifting, pushing, stretching, bending, pulling, etc.  But, we're getting settled in. As temporary as it's going to be, it feels good to be home again. Sadie seems to be having a harder time adjusting for some reason. She is not listening to Ferny and I for anything, hitting, talking back, yelling. To sum it up she is just marching to the beat of her own drum. She'll adjust, hopefully. I don't know if I can take 4 months of that behavior. 

Halloween was a lot of fun. We went out to the Mall of America and took Sadie trick or treating. It was extremely busy there, but it beat going around to creepy houses and risking nightmares for the next few weeks.

Kiera from Princess and the Pop Star

Complete with the purple hair

Our awesome pumpkin we painted together. 

Work of art.

I am going to disclose something that I am actually quite ashamed of. This morning we went to church for the first time since last Christmas. I was raised Catholic and went to church every single Saturday evening/Sunday morning since I can remember up until about 6 years ago. I can't quite explain what happened. I never once lost the faith. I am a firm believer that you do not need to be in the house of the Lord to praise and love Him. However, as Sadie is becoming older, I feel it much more important to be apart of a community in which she can learn about God and share in the faith. After discussing these thoughts with a few other people, my sister thought that the church she attends with her husband might be something for us to try. It is a Lutheran church but I wasn't really opposed to at least giving it a try. We walked in this morning to be greeted and welcomed with open arms (almost literally if I were a "hugging" type of person). It instantaneously gave me the sense of community I felt like I was looking for in a church. We got there early enough because I wanted to check out their Sunday School program. They invited Sadie to partake in their activities as Ferny and I stood in the back of the classroom. After the class, we went downstairs to the service. The music was upbeat and the sermon was interesting and relatable. Although I have received all of the sacraments within the Catholic church, I didn't feel it to be right to go up for communion. I did however bring Sadie up for a blessing. The pastor (which was a woman- again not something that I was used to) reached over and gave Sadie the sign of the cross on her forehead and told her that "God loves her very much." The pastor then asked Sadie to reach in the holy water and give me a blessing and tell me that God loves me. Sadie dips her little finger into the bowl of holy water, reaches up to my forehead, and makes a little x on my skin and says, "God loves you momma." My heart melted. The pastor was wearing a microphone so when everyone was going up, everyone could hear what she was saying to each person. When Sadie and I went back to our seats, Ferny had tears in his eyes because he too heard the blessing Sadie gave to me. Needless to say, I think we may have found our "home."

Until we meet again.

Moving Day Detox

We're moving. It's kind of a pain. I really hate moving with a passion. The house is pretty empty as we're getting everything set to move into storage. We sold our old furniture on Craigslist and all our shelves and photos frames etc. packed away... I'm going to kind of miss this place.

                                         Yes, we really have a lawn chair in our living room!

Outside of the whole moving extravaganza, life has been pretty good. We had a great weekend last weekend. We spent the day on Sunday at the corn maze. We went last fall too, but this year was much more enjoyable as Sadie is older, and able to do a lot more. 

She luvz her daddy.

Corn Maze in Brooklyn Park.

We were a little lost so they had to reference our handy-dandy map.

                                       So many to chose from!

                                                                  My little diva.

Moving right along...for the past full year I have been working pretty hard at getting my health back on track. I started in July of 2011 just getting the ball rolling by working out as much as possible. I signed up for a gym membership of which I utilize at least three times a week. I never thought I would get to the point where I enjoy going to the gym, but now, enjoy might be an understatement. I've completely cut pop, but picked up coffee. I read some where that the caffeine in coffee is supposed to jump start your metabolism. So I expresso it up every morning.

I was having a fair amount of success at first. Changed my diet a bit, and combined with exercise, I was able to drop around 35lbs. I felt great. Then I hit a bit of a plateau, and even gained a few pounds back despite continuing my work out regimen. Now, I am ready to get back at it, full force. I found this really interesting article for a 3 day detox. The meal plans that they lay out I could see actually carrying out over the course of a few weeks, but 3 days seems like a good start. Perhaps this weekend?

http://life.gaiam.com/article/3-day-clean-food-detox-plan

Until we meet again.

Emily Dickinson

I read this poem roughly 15 years ago and never forgot the way it made me feel. She was a wonderful poet.

If you were coming in the fall, I'd brush the summer by With half a smile and half a spurn, As housewives do a fly. If I could see you in a year, I'd wind the months in balls, And put them each in separate drawers, Until their time befalls. If only centuries delayed, I'd count them on my hand, Subtracting till my fingers dropped Into Van Diemens land. If certain, when this life was out, That yours and mine should be, I'd toss it yonder like a rind, And taste eternity. But now, all ignorant of the length Of time's uncertain wing, It goads me, like the goblin bee, That will not state its sting. Until we meet again.

Tough Week

Last week was a tough week. Started out great, but then just kind of took a left turn in to Suckyville. One of the major low-lights was the fact that Ferny's (husband) car got broken into. Now, I don't really know 100% sure if it can be classified as a break in when someone LEAVES THE CAR DOORS OPEN, but for the sake of argument, we'll call it a break in. 

The conclusion that I drew based off of what was taken out of the car is that it was a little punk of a teenager looking to see what he could grab in a hurry. When Ferny called to tell me that it happened, I asked him where his golf clubs were? Keep in mind, he just recently added a $400 driver to his set... that's one club alone! He just started getting into golf this summer, and my family got him a bunch of clubs and a nice bag for his birthday this year. He informed me that the last time he checked they were in the trunk of his car. He was driving at the time when he informed me of this situation, so I very sternly asked him to pull over to see if the clubs were also taken out of the trunk. He came back on the phone a few seconds later and said that they were still there. Even though nothing huge was taken and the car wasn't wrecked in any way (thanks be to God) it still really irked me that it happened. 

                                           This could have been one of the last times he swung these bad boys!

By the time the weekend rolled around, I was drained; emotionally and physically. Which ended up being OK because Sadie was under the weather, AGAIN. Ugh.

So we made our own fun. Doing a little dress up, watching endless episodes of Good Luck Charlie, and playing with some good ole fashion Play Doh. We barely left the house all weekend and it was kind of nice for a change.

                                        Daddy needed a little help to get the Play Doh down.

                                                                   Her green "snake."

 

                                              The big kid got in on the Play Doh fun too.

Until we meet again.

I Just Don't Understand

I have heard talk for several months now about this poor little girl they call "Honey Boo Boo." I have a pretty good understanding of what the show is, and what the family is about, however I have not seen the show myself. I truthfully have a hard time watching more than an hour or two of TV per week especially if you do not count the news or broadcasted sporting events...

I decided to do a little investigating. After literally 7 minutes on Youtube watching these ridiculous clips, I found one that just really made me shake my head.

This is the garbage that is giving TLC some of the highest ratings in the country? I seriously don't understand. This poor little girl. To make matters worse, Rosie O'Donnell decides to throw her two cents in by saying “she (Honey Boo Boo Child) has a presence and an intellect that goes way beyond her years.” WHAT?!?!?! That must be why the network has to use subtitles when this BRILLIANT 7 year old girl speaks.

Honestly, what is this world coming to?

Until we meet again.

Fall foliage and frustrations.

Last weekend, Sadie and I ventured north for the day. The colors were absolutely amazing. Not as many bright reds as we're used to seeing, but still quite the sight. We had a great afternoon, and even got some end of the season four wheeling in.

                               Little peak of color through the Birch trees.

                                         One of the last rides on the four wheelers for the season.

                            In the evening by the camp fire, someone OD'ed on the marshmallows!

I have had some time to seriously sit back and think lately. Last month I turned thirty years old. For some reason, the mark of thirty in a person's life really means something. For many, it makes them reflect on the things that they have (or don't), the things that they have done (or have not done). For me, it has been a mix of both. I am very pleased with my life thus far. I have a loving husband who has been in my life for the past nine years. He adds a richness to my life that I never really thought could be. I have the greatest blessing a woman could ever ask for in my daughter; she is my world. I have completed a bachelor's degree in a subject that at one time I felt pretty passionate about. I also have a job that I truly enjoy, with a boss that is one of the most generous, kind-hearted people I have ever met in my life. With that being said, you wouldn't think I have much to contemplate when approaching a milestone birthday. For the don't haves and have-not-dones, my list is rather short. I suppose it is more reflective on the relationships I do not have that I once did. Relationships that I thought would last a lifetime. It's a shame. You think that you have these relationships that are built sacred and treasured, but in the blink of an eye, it can all be gone. It's just a bit frustrating to think about. Everyone knows that people grow, people change, life takes a tole but in the end, you look around and the people who were there all along are the ones who really mean the most. I'm starting to see this now more than ever in my "old age."

Ending on a humorous note....check out this car that I was behind while doing the bank run at work today...

                                 "Here's my number, so call me maybe?"

Until we meet again...