Not cool to disappoint a 3 year old, and her momma

12 hours of sleep never felt so good! In fact, I can't even remember the last time that I was able to get that much sleep in one night. We ended up going to bed around 11pm (on a Friday night) but I was absolutely zapped.

AVON CALLING! That's right...I signed up to be an Avon rep. I am actually super excited about it. Should be pretty fun. They have so many new and fun things now that there is a little something for everyone. So, with that being said, feel free to check it out!  http://crystalarellano.avonrepresentative.com/

I took Sadie to Twins Fest after work yesterday. While we had a great time, there were some minor downfalls. One, we had to park about a half a mile away. It was SO cold. Two, I had gotten Sadie super amped up to meet "Kemp" Hrbek and 10 minutes before he was supposed to show up to take pictures with the fans, they tell us that he is sick....my thought is that he was probably out ice fishing ;)  It just bummed us out because we even made a shirt and everything.

All star.

Kent Hrbek shirt we made for the event.

Sign this chica up for some t-ball!!

Super sad face because Kent Hrbek was not there :(

Until we meet again.

Who turned on the AC???

**I wrote this yesterday, but forgot to hit publish...Oops!**

This week has been quite the chilly one. As it sits this moment, it reads a whopping 4 degrees. Have I ever mentioned in this blog that I hate living in Minnesota? It's some-what depressing. "Researchers" have now come up with this term called "seasonal affective disorder" or SAD. Seriously, it's the same thing as having "cabin fever" or the "winter blues," but the wonderful people in the mental health industry have been able to scare enough folks into believing that they have something mentally wrong with them because they feel tired of dealing with snowy, dreary, cold weather.

Although I am fairly certain I do not need to consult my physician for a prescription of Prozac, I am so sick and tired of being cold. My husband is beginning to think I am a little nutty though...(well, he's probably thought that for quite some time now) but I still have to sleep with the fan on despite the wind chill being -20 below, and I still have to drink cold coffee. So, yes, Ms. Barista you heard me right when I said a Northern Lite COOLER!

But, something did catch me pretty off guard today. When I was out getting the mail at work this afternoon, I saw this big red thing in the air. I didn't have my glasses on so I had to get a little closer to figure out what in the world it was. There was an SUV in the parking lot behind ours who was flying a kite from his vehicle! Seriously, that's a true Minnesotan right there! My hat is off to you...well, maybe not. I might need it with it being so cold and all. So, anyway, I ran back inside to grab my phone to snap a quick photo. Too bad the trees were in the way, but you still get the idea. Crazy!

Until we meet again.

Checkin' out da booty!

Waiting. Waiting on other people is one of the worst things ever. I found a camera that I wanted to buy from a guy on Craigslist (just a cheap little Canon point and shoot) and I am waiting at a coffee shop in the middle of no where....

So, why not a quick little blog...

I saw this picture today and absolutely had to share. Two of some of my favorite people in the public eye.

It appears as though Bill is "photo bombing" the photo of Kelly Clarkson, but I think he's sneaking a peak at Kelly's booty if you ask me. Come on, Bill! She's off the market now! Well, almost anyway.

Until we meet again.

2013 sucks...so far.

My first post of the new year, and I can honestly say it's been a horrible two weeks. A brief summary of the past 12 days of my life....

My daughter was sick (I know, just like the rest of the state) but she had to be put on a nebulizer and was just miserable, I got in to a car accident, I am fairly certain (but not completely certain) that someone has compromised my husbands identity-meaning opened up a credit card in his name without his knowing, my email account was hacked, we have mice in the office at work, and my husband's grandmother just passed away the other night...

All of which are mostly normal life events that just happen sometimes, but I am not really a go-with-the-flow type of gal when it comes to this kind of stuff all happening at once. But, as they say, when it rains it pours. I would like to think that things could always be worse. Let's hope they don't get worse.

On a positive note, I got a juicer/blender type of thing for Christmas, and starting Monday, I going to start using it for my breakfast in the morning. I think that a lot of my headaches stem from not having nourishment in the morning, so I am going to start looking for some 'pinteresting' recipes to throw together. Here are a couple that I have found so far:

Peanut butter banana smoothie-

• Half of one banana
• 1/2 cup smooth or crunchy low-fat peanut butter
• 1/2 cup of non-fat milk
• 6 ice cubes
• 1 tablespoon of chocolate whey protein powder
• Place all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.

Lemon-orange citrus smoothie:

• 1 cup of skim milk or soy milk
• 6 ounces of lemon yogurt
• 1 medium-sized orange in sections
• 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil
• 6 ice cubes
• Place milk, orange, yogurt, and the ice into the blender and mix for about a minute, then add the flaxseed oil.

Sweet green juice monster:

• 1-2 cups greens (spinach, kale, chard..)
• 1/2 cup grapes OR 1 small pear
• 1 cup coconut water (or water) – (add more to thin out texture)
• 1 orange or large satsuma, peeled
• 1-2 Tbsp lemon juice (optional)
• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• dash cayenne or grate of fresh ginger root (optional)
• add in a 1/4 avocado or 1/2 banana for a creamier texture!

Until we meet again...

New year, new opportunities.

Christmas is over. A little sad and a little relieved. I anticipate it every year, but as much as I feel as though I want to get a jump start on the holiday it never fails, I am shopping (or sending the husband out shopping) on Christmas Eve, and franticly wrapping gifts.

My little Chica Bear by the tree.

Now, on to the new year...2013.

I seriously spend the whole week between Christmas and new year's every single year reflecting. I spend time thinking of the things I wish I would have done the past year and telling myself that I have so many things that I want to accomplish in this new year.

Last night I was browsing Craigslist. I know, I know, but sometimes there are some good leads for different things. I have been really thinking hard lately how I want to pursue my journalistic tendencies. I started searching for photography positions, and then moved on to the writing/editing section. A number of the posts you could tell were pretty far fetched and more than likely a scam, but there was one I found that seemed fairly legit. They made it perfectly clear that it is a position that is UNPAID (for now) and that it's an online magazine that is launching in February of 2013. It's more or less to get experience and or exposure. I got the feeling that it might be a cross between something like the City Pages and the entertainment section in the Pioneer Press. I sent them a quick email asking a few questions, and I got an email back this morning. The Editor-in-cheif would like to set up a time to meet and discuss his project in more detail.

I am not going to get my hopes up, but I'm not going to lie, it seems kind of fun and exciting. I knew at such a young age what I wanted to do in life. I told everyone that when I grew up I wanted be a photo-journalist. I really don't know what ever stopped me from pursuing it. I think it was lack of confidence more than anything. But, somehow, I ended up with a Bachelors degree in psychology...that's comparable, right?

Well, I am now officially going to miss the kick-off of the Vikings/Packers game... so

...until we meet again.

Writer's block

I came to the coffee shop this afternoon really wanting some "me" time and of course with full intent to write another blog. Sure enough, I open up my laptop and found myself suffering from writers block.

When I was in school, and had moments when I couldn't figure out what to write, my teachers always told me to brainstorm for some ideas and make a list (I think this is why I make a list for EVERYTHING still to this day). So here goes:

• I could write about how last minute Christmas shoppers are driving me batty. Apparently, if you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off in the middle of a department store because you are in a hurry looking for a gift, it's grounds for acting like an idiot. Eh, scratch that idea...
• I could write about how screwed up this world is becoming and how much my heart aches for each and every one of those parents in Connecticut, but the media is already over-doing it.
• I could write about how I go to Caribou Coffee just about every day of the week, order almost the same exact thing each time, but the "barista" or whatever they call themselves, manage to make it completely wrong 6 out of the 7 days....I'll save that one for another day too I suppose.

So, I guess that's that. No grand ideas even after the brainstorming. Just so this post isn't a complete wash, here are some of the photos from our gingerbread house making event this afternoon.

Until we meet again...

She's very diligent. 

Have to get it just right! 

The finished product.

A little taste of the finished product.  ;)

Sadie wanted to take a photo of us too. We were supposed to be "in love" in this picture. Too bad her hand moved and made it blurry because this would have been a good one!

Snowpocalypse

Last week was the worst snow storm that we have seen here in the past two years. I absolutely hate winter. I ask myself every single year why I continue to live in this state. One day I swear, I will move to South Carolina. It is so beautiful there and the temperature stays pretty mild all winter long. 

So it all started last weekend. It literally snowed all day long on Sunday and the final totals ended up being over a foot of snow. When it's falling down, sure, I will admit that it is a pretty site. However, the days following made for quite the nightmare. The traffic was awful and some of the cities here I swear do not even bother plowing the side streets. 

So, here is my time line of events for the past week:

Sunday: enjoyed the day at home with Ferny and Sadie. By the end of the day, shoveled 12 inches or more of snow and attempted a snowman.

Monday: Ferny unburied the vehicles and I attempted to make it to work on time (did not happen). I drove maybe 100 yards and got myself stuck in the snow. I tried for almost 5 minutes trying to maneuver myself out, but couldn't. I called Ferny to help me, and after about 20 minutes, there was no progress.  Finally, one of the neighbors down the way came up to help push. Finally, we got it out of there and I was on my way.

Tuesday: again tried to make it to work on time (did not happen). This time, I decided it would be a fun start to my morning to spin out in the middle of one of the busiest streets in Saint Paul. Not only did I do a complete 180 into oncoming traffic, I got myself stuck AGAIN. I had at least 50 cars flying at me going 35 miles an hour on what seemed like an ice skating rink. It was was TERRIFYING. After about 5 minutes of sitting in my car in a sheer panic, this couple stopped for me and asked if I would like some help. The man (who I now consider to be my angel!) hoped in my car and between the three of us, we managed to get it out of the snow and turned back around without dying.

Tuesday afternoon: I come to the conclusion that I need new tires. 

Tuesday evening: the commute home was horrific. I had no control over the vehicle and almost slid into 100 different cars. I got off the freeway and was maybe 3 blocks away from our house and got stuck, again, for the THIRD TIME! We made it home on a wing and a prayer...and once we did, the car sat for 3 days...

Friday: ...until this morning when Ferny had the opportunity to take the car into the dealership and install the new tires himself. 

We're expecting more measurable snow tomorrow, so hopefully next week will not be as eventful with my car's new shoes. It's not even officially winter yet and I already can't wait until spring. 

So the moral of this story, when your husband tells you in August that you are going to need new tires before the snow flies, maybe listen to him for once! ;)

Until we meet again.

It was really coming down.

She looks a little shocked in this one.

She enjoyed throwing it.

Snow angels :)

It was a wet heavy snow...well maybe we were exaggerating a bit with our facial expressions. 

What a good helper.

Winter wonderland.