Today was a good day! I knew it was going to be a good day when I got to work and I had one Via packet left :) (If you're not using Via, you're crazy! Makes my mornings much, much easier.)

I got some new tennis shoes this weekend. They're Asics (I had to look at the bottom to make sure it wasn't Asic, ha!), the 2160's. I bought them in black, and while I do like them, part of me feels like an old man in them. But I digress. Anyway, I tied them on at the gym tonight and holy smokes, it was like having new feet and new legs! I felt so good.

I've been watching The Tudors lately. I have a big interest in all things Henry VIII - loved reading Phillippa Gregory's novels - and I'm just now hitting the part of the story where he's falling in love with Anne Boleyn. So, still in Season One :) Jonathan Rhys Meyers is an amazing actor in it.

What else....we're maybe, maybe taking a cruise in March! Not for sure yet, just a possibility. Believe me when I say, I am PRAYING that will be a reality! I'm sick of this cold!

yoga

I've decided I just need to update my blog during my lunch hour, cause I swear that by the time I get home in the evening I have lost all the wind in my sails to do ANYTHING. So here I am.

I've started going to yoga! I hear that Leann Rimes does yoga and she is most definitely my "I-want-HER-body" celebrity. See what I mean?? [I realize I will never look like her...but it motivates me when I workout, ha!]

So, yoga. The first time I went I was a little skeptical cause when I think of yoga, I think of...weird stuff. Like, meditation, sitting cross-legged and trying to reach a "higher plane" or something goofy like that.

Well, hells bells, this yoga was TOUGH. Kid you not, I was so sweaty and just cashed at the end of the session. Turns out the class is called "Power Yoga/Pilates". That would explain it. At any rate, I loved it and really felt like I got a great workout. I had sore muscles in places that never get sore when I workout!

Excited for the weekend! I have a hair appointment tonight - thank GOD - and we're probably going out tomorrow to our favorite bar in town. Brad and I are going to do some cross country skiing tomorrow, which should be fun as long as I don't die. If you ever want a workout where you feel like you're going to literally fall over and die in the first 10 minutes, try XC skiing! Promise, it will kill you until you finally get a little more comfortable. I haven't skiied since last year so I'm really looking forward to it. Sarcasm. No, really, I am...just have to resign myself to skiing alone at a turtle's pace for 2 hours cause God knows my incredibly skilled husband won't wait around for me!

Ironic

ETA - This should've posted earlier today - my time zone was screwed up

That right after I write about how un-stylish I am, I not only go and buy $100 worth of sweaters (five of them! That's good value right there, folks) at AE Outfitters. I guess we'll see how they fit/work out...perhaps I'll post them on here for opinions.

But what's so ironic is that Miss Aly over at It Ain't Always Pretty But It's Real gave me The Stylish Blogger Award. Ha! I will accept it humbly, knowing that I'm far from it these days...(as I wear my husband's gray tube socks and a pill-y sweater).

1. Link to the blogger(s) who gave you the award
2. Share 7 facts about yourself
3. Pass the award onto 15 ladies

FACTS:

1 - I'm an iTunes addict...once I get started I have a hard time stopping. I love to buy songs!

2 - I work in the racing industry, and my company works with some very well-known names in the racing & entertainment industry. You'd be amazed at the celebs in racing!

3 - I was a huge Hanson (MMMBop?) fan in high school, and through my obsession, I met an Internet friend back in 1995 who I would later be college roommates with in 2004. She was a great girl, and our parents were present THE ENTIRE TIME. So it wasn't so nutty.

4 - Nashville is my favorite city in the USA.

5 - I would do crazy things just to be able to go back to Paris. Most.Amazing.City on Earth.

6 - I have a stripes obsession that is beginning to creep its way into my home decor. I'm dying to black and white vertical stripe curtains in my office.

7 - I'm a blog-reader addict.

Thanks for the award, Aly!

sweaters, sweaters

Here's what I purchased yesterday, all for $101. I got 15% off by Googling 'American Eagle Outfitters coupons" (you should NEVER buy anything online without at least trying this, I got $200 off our honeymoon by Googling Orbitz coupons!), plus I got Free Shipping cause my purchase was over $100.

These sweaters are all from AE.com, the store my husband hates. I will admit, I feel slightly juvenile buying clothes there, but it's not like I'm buying denim cutoff skirts and graphic tees.

AE Cable Knit Long Sweater
Dark Ink
$21.21

AE V-Neck Sweater
Argent Grey
$16.96

AE Inlay Striped Sweater
Chalk
$12.71

AE Boyfriend Cardigan
Oatmeal Heather
$16.96

AE Dolman Sweater
True Black
$21.21

So - we'll see how they work out. They're all pretty basic, which I prefer. I also read the reviews for every item (love that about AE) and they each got really good reviews. I'm sure it was 16 year old's reviewing them, though, haha!

I don't get it

As I've mentioned before, I'm at a complete loss as to what to wear these days. Honestly, I go shopping and I aimlessly wander, just trying to find something I like. Then I get home and am DETERMINED to find something online that I'll like. Except, I never do. I just get annoyed that either, A) it's out of my price range (funny how living in the country will change your idea of expensive really quick), B) inappropriate to wear to my casual office (don't wear heels, fancy-ish shoes/clothes, but yet don't wear sweatpants or even sweatshirts), or C) REALLY UGLY.

Since I consider myself "out of the loop" when it comes to fashion, it could be me. However, I do think I have a fairly decent eye for classic style, and believe me, this stuff does not fit into that category.

1 - I'm really SICK of those curvy cardigans...and I'm over the layered look. Short sleeve sweaters are incredibly impractical when you live in the Tundra.
2 - Color block? Really? I swear I had that sweater in the 6th grade, no lie.
3 - Now, I'm not completely opposed to this sweater, I think it's called a "dolman" sweater? However, those "bat wing" style arms just annoy me.

4 - Does this sweater look good on anyone? Talk about making you feel fat and shapeless.
5 - I HATE FUNKY LENGTH SWEATERS. HATE, HATE THEM. They look sloppy to me and I swear they're only flattering on little, tiny people. And even then it's debatable.


So! If you wear these types of clothes, don't worry - you're obviously much more in fashion than me cause you're wearing something that's current. I am sorely not in style these days. And it chaps me, badly. Not like I have tons of money, but I feel like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" when she comes back from shopping on Rodeo Drive and all the snooty women won't help her and she pulls out big wads of cash, saying that she HAS money but NOBODY WILL HELP HER.

I feel like I'm ready to shop, want to shop, and can't find anything to save my life! I need a personal shopper. Taking applications.........now :)

sicky sick

Yesterday Brad and I took a day trip to Minneapolis so he could go to a Log and Timber Show (he's a construction worker, specializing in log & timber homes). Since we live in the absolute middle of nowhere, a day trip to the Cities is always something I look forward to - duh, shopping. So when I woke up yesterday morning with a tummy ache and feeling slightly nauseated, I pushed it aside, thinking it was the crappy junk food I had ate the night before while watching the Packers vs. Falcons game. We got to Minneapolis and I dropped Brad off at the show and went to Target for a little bit of shopping. Still wasn't feeling too hot so I bought some Pepto Bismol, thinking that would clear it up.

Fast forward an hour and I'm starting to feel downright awful. Brad got done with his show, and we were trying to decide what to do the rest of the day - my vote leaning towards going back home - when we find out that Brad's parents, who were also there for the trade show, had car problems and needed us to come get them. We went and picked them up while they waited for their car to get repaired and decided to go to the Mall of America.

HOLY COW, THAT WAS THE WORST THREE HOURS OF MY LIFE. I swear, if there's anywhere on the face of the Earth that you do not want to be when you are sick, it is the Mall of America. Millions of people combined with endless, endless walking is the perfect combination for complete misery. I could have cared less if every store was offering 75% off sales, I just wanted to GO HOME. And the unfortunate thing was that we had to wait for Brad's parents car to be fixed. We ate some lunch (they ate lunch, anyway), and then we decided to walk around for a bit. Finally at Macy's I collapsed in the Men's Shoe Department while Brad shopped.

Finally we came home with me sleeping in the back seat the whole way, and today I'm camped out on the couch. I do feel better - at least, not like I'm dying, which was how I felt yesterday - but my stomach is gurgling up a storm today.

The only good part about yesterday? Scoring a pair of super, super sweater-soft pants at Target for $10. I'm lounging in them now :)

Dream Big, Save Bigger

I'm starting a money/budgeting group over at The Beloved Wife called "Dream Big, Save Bigger" - not sure what all we'll get into but after the car episode I'm really excited to start getting our finances nailed down!

This week has gone by really fast. Love those! [although I say that cause I'm excited to get to the weekend, and then I think, "But WHY? Life is so fast anyway..." thoughtful moment for the day, haha] Work has been really good this week. I'm working in an assistant type role (the kind of job where I do everything from organizing financial reports to ordering ink & buying stamps, marketing, etc) and I'm finally starting to feel like I'm getting a rhythm and working well with my boss. Don't get me wrong, we get along just fine, but I'm starting to feel more ownership in the role. I like it.

On a side note, I have really gotten into using Twitter the last couple weeks. What did it for me was signing up for TweetDeck - I did it at work so I could monitor racing news and our company Twitter, and now I'm just really into it!

Tomorrow's Friday...!

Menu Monday

Monday - Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms (B=baked potato, S=cauliflower)

Tuesday - Fajitas (B=refried beans, S=salad)

Wednesday - White Chicken Chili (B=french bread, S=veggies or salad)

Thursday - Swiss Chicken Casserole (B=umm...I don't know, S=salad)

And for the recipes...if anyone is interested in the White Chicken Chili I'll put it up - it's my best friend's, and so incredibly good.

Swiss Chicken Casserole via 
www.RecipeGirl.com

6 chicken breasts, boneless/skinless


salt and pepper to taste


1 cup chicken broth


6 slices Swiss cheese, divided


1 can cream of mushroom soup


1 can cream of chicken soup


¼ cup milk


12 oz cornbread stuffing mix


½ lb cooked sausage


½ cup butter, melted

1. Lightly spray crock pot insert with nonstick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour chicken broth over chicken. Top with 3 slices of cheese.

2. Combine soups and milk; stir well. Spoon over cheese. Place remaining 3 slices of cheese on top of soup mixture.

3. Combine stuffing mix and sausage; spoon over cheese. Drizzle melted butter over stuffing mixture.

4. Cook on low 8-10 hours (or on high 4-6 hours).

Servings: 6

Stuffed Mushrooms

1 pound large fresh white mushrooms - (abt 24) - cleaned

2 tablespoons vegetable oil - divided

4 ounces bulk Italian sausage

1/2 cup sliced green onions

2 garlic cloves - pressed

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese - plus

2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese - divided

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Remove stems from mushrooms;

2

finely chop enough stems to equal 1/2 cup and reserve (save remaining stems for another use). Place mushroom caps in a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon oil.

3

Arrange caps cavity side up on a shallow baking pan; set aside.

4

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, green onion, garlic, Italian seasoning and reserved chopped mushroom stems.

5

Cook, stirring, breaking sausage into smaller pieces with a fork, for about 5 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from heat; add 1/2 cup mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese and stir just until cheese melts.

6

Stuff mushroom caps with sausage mixture; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons mozzarella.

7

Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until mushrooms are tender.

How it all worked out

This would be my new car (okay, not THE car. But it looks exactly identical to this). Met all my requirements:

1) Black

2) Sunroof

On top of those two things, it's coming with heated leather seats and a DVD system (which doesn't mean much to me now, but is nice to have!)

Best thing about it? We're not making any payments on it. And that feels really, really good. Sure, it's not the Volvo XC90 that I was angling for that would've put us in debt. But now that we've bought this car with cash, I could care less about the brand of my car. I have no car payment!

TGIF

Yesterday was The Day From Hell. I prefer to not discuss it. Let's just say that I am in the process of learning a hard lesson in submission to my husband (to me, submission is sometimes giving into what he wants for us when I know it's the right thing despite the fact that my bratty self wants to fight him tooth and nail over what I want, no matter the fact that it's completely un-realistic and selfish). The nice car I thought I might get - that would not be a killer to our finances but would not help us at all - is not what I am getting. And that's all I have to say about that....for now.

Anyway, I have ELEVEN followers, all of which bless my little heart. Haha! However, I have a new follower whose blog I randomly checked out, and I'm in love! Go check her out @ bun&burough.

I also downloaded the soundtrack to this movie:

It's surprisingly very good - lots of authentic country music (even though Gwyneth & Leighton Meester are on it, whom I don't consider country at all. Their songs are actually very listen-able). That new guy in the movie, Garrett Hedlund, is amazing. There's a great song on there by Ronnie Dunn (of Brooks&Dunn) and it sounds like something B&D would've come out with years ago. So, needless to say, I'm loving it!

Tonight's agenda is Friday Happy Hour (a tradition with my best girl and sometimes husband, mother-in-law & father-in-law) and maybe good 'ol fish fry at our favorite lake lodge. [don't knock it til you've tried it - it's a Northwoods thing!]

Frustrations - Love - Resolutions

That blog title sounds like this will be a meaningful post...but unfortunately it won't. At least not the ranting part.

This last week has really taken a toll on my "I love a small town!" attitude. When my car got hit by the plow - the town's plow - trying to find things out from the town was like pulling teeth out of a 95 year old. The police report? Not done, and the cop went on vacation without finishing it. Town hall? Can't do anything without a police report or an estimate. So I go get the estimate and try to drop it off at the town hall...at 1pm on a Wednesday. Nope, it's closed. CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY. Their hours were absolutely ridiculous. And then today I drove to the nail salon for the second day at 5pm in a row as I desperately need a filling (got gel overlays - not tips, just the gel - and they are amazing for people with paper thin nails, like myself) and the place was closed even though their regular hours should've been until 6pm. I'm totally fine with businesses being closed for vacation, holiday, etc....but put a sign up, for crying out loud! It's not normal to be closed on a regular business day. And the frustrating thing is that, unlike in a city, you can't drive anywhere and just get it done cause there is no where else. So my nails still look like crap.

But anyway....on to the good!

Lately I have been overwhelmed at how much I love my husband. I absolutely love being married to him and all the time have thoughts about what a good man I think he is and how thankful I am to have him as my husband. I definitely feel like we're good about expressing our love for one another, but I decided that my one resolution for 2011 is going to be to kiss my husband at the door when he gets home. Seems like too often he'll get home and I'm doing laundry, or cleaning the kitchen up, or making dinner, and I just yell at him when he comes in. Usually he's worked a long, hard day out in the bitter cold and I always feel a little guilty that I'm not more welcoming once he gets in.

So that's my resolution - to make a conscious effort to show my husband one more way that I love and appreciate him. He's worth it and I know it will be meaningful to him, too.

Not a resolution so much...but I'm also going to make an effort to blog more!!