Side yard... At one time that was a sand box turned giant kitty litter box

Front of the house, lovely red color :)

Another view of the side yard

South side of the attached garage

Stay Tuned... Mother of All Make-Overs: A Multiple Part Series

Wanted to give all my blogies (my new word for Blog Groupies) a heads up that I will be starting a multiple part series this weekend on the before-s and after-s of Bryan's new house (which I kind-of-but-don't-technically-live).

Seriously, stay tuned, you DO NOT want to miss this!!!

Heritage Days 2009

For those of you unfamiliar with small-town life, every respectable small town throws a little party every year, normally ending with the word "days". There is Sauerkraut Days in Lisbon, Watermelon Days some where up north, Old Settlers Days in New Virgina, well, in Mount Vernon, we have Heritage Days.

Every year, everyone that grew up in Mount Vernon or has some kind of tie, tries their best to make it back... Why you ask? Because its always a blast! There is a street band, a mid-way, lots of carnie food and of course, beer!

This year was especially fun for Bryan and I. Heritage Days kicked off on Thursday night with a fireworks show right across the street from Bryan's new house, so we had people over for a bon-fire and watched the fireworks. The rest of the weekends events take place in uptown Mount Vernon, which is where my new apartment happens to be located. So I threw a little housewarming party on Saturday night before we all headed up town.

Its always fun to see people you haven't seen in awhile and especially fun to be outside on a summer night, listening to music and enjoying a few beers. :)

Already looking forward to next year...

Goals for Summer: One Month Down

So, I thought I'd give you all a little update on how I'm doing with my goals one month into summer. (FYI, I consider summer to be the months of June, July and August, so I have until the end of August to get these done.)
Goal #1: Create Art
I am happy to say I've actually done this one!!! Quite a bit of it too... In fact, my dad the other day said to me "When did you become so crafty??" I took it as a compliment. Ideally I would put pictures of the art I have created here, but it's not all done... One of the projects I did I am going to completely re-do, another is almost finished and the final one... Well, I just haven't gotten around to taking pictures. Soon though, I promise!
Goal #2: Start Scrapbooking Again
Well, my first scrapbook project is going to be a before and after book of Bryan's new house. The house isn't finished yet, so I don't feel like I can start yet. I want to have all the pictures I am going to use before I begin. His house-warming party is tentively set for August 8th, so it will need to be done by then!!!
Goal #3: Back-up Digital Pictures
Haven't even thought about it... I still have two months.
Goal #4: Plant some Plants
Haven't done this one either, however, my house warming party is in less than two weeks, so I might try to get it done before then. If I don't, I might scrap it for the year because then it's kind of late in the season. In my defense, we had a REALLY cool spring, then all of a sudden it jumped from like 60* to 100* within a week and now, three days before the Fourth of July, it's 63* at this very second. Not much time to get into the gardening mood.
Goal #5: Plan out Meals
I am very proud to say that I've been doing pretty good with this one!!! Bryan and I have cut WAAYY down on how much we eat out and I've been going grocery shopping once a week. It's helped my wallet too, however, that's just fueled my shopping addiction.
Be sure to check back, I will hopefully have pictures of my new place after this weekend!!!

Congrats Mr & Mrs Hansen!!

Over the weekend, Bryan and I's friends, Jamie and Troy, tied the knot! Bryan and I met Jamie while working at Highway and Jamie and I hang out a lot outside of work. :) The wedding was in Riverside and reception in Richmond. The day started off extremely hot and muggy, it down poured almost the second after everyone left the church and the evening ended cool with no humidity. Jamie looked beautiful - all her hard work on the wedding definitely paid off... Although, I am not sure what her and I are going to email back and forth about now at work...

On a side note, the following day was utter hell for me as I think I drank about ten too many beers... I have got to remember that I can not drink like I used to!!!

Whew!!

It's been awhile since I've posted!!! The past month has been slightly crazy. I moved back to Mount Vernon on June 1 and I've been busy working on my projects to make my apartment a home for myself. I plan on taking pictures as soon as I have everything in place and will be sure to post them. While this is not the nicest place I've ever lived in (I don't think anything will ever top my Chicago loft) it is the place I have put the most effort into and I have to say, I truly enjoy it the most out of any of the places I've lived.

I have also been busy helping Bryan with his house. In fact, last weekend I was roofing!!! Yes, me, on a roof with a nail gun. :) He is hoping to move in next weekend and of course, I will post pictures.

Goals for Summer 2009

Maybe if I write these down and publish them, I will actually achieve them... Probably not, but hey! It's worth a shot!
GOAL #1: Create Art
I am moving to a new apartment on June 1 and am determined to fully decorate this apartment (this will be my 8th apartment I've lived in since the begining of college) I always start to decorate, but after I've moved in and the excitement has worn off, I lose interest and move onto other projects. I have ideas for three art projects/wall hangings that I hope to have complete by mid June. I'll post pictures as I get them done.

GOAL #2: Start Scrapbooking again
I love pictures and I love the way scrapbooks look. When I was in high school, I made a scrapbook for every year, but once I went away to collage, I lost most of my storage space and therefore, lost interest in scrapbooking. My first scrapbooking project is going to be creating a scrapbook of Bryan's house renovation from start to finish, then I hope to create a book for each year again. I have research some new scrapbooking ideas/trends and have also researched cute/creative/functional ways to store/display scrapbook materials.

GOAL #3: Back-up all digitial photos
Yep, like I said, I love pictures, but my pictures are all stored on my computer, in a very unorganized fashion, with no back up. I plan to organize all of my photos into labeled digital folders and back them up on to CD's or jump drives and in the process create more space on my computer's hard drive.


GOAL #4: Plant some plants
I've never been a friend to plants, I tend to kill them rather quickly. I hope to change that this summer. I want to plant a couple of potted plants outside my new apartment and maybe ever plant some in Bryan's new yard. I love the way plants look and hopefully with a little practice I can turn my thumb green.

GOAL #5: Plan out meals I'm horrible with this, I never plan out what I am going to eat and therefore end up either eating crap or eating out. With moving back to Mount Vernon in the near future and the fact that the only grocery store in town is extremely over-priced, I am going to start planning out my meals and hopefully save some money in the process. If anyone knows of any good/healthy cookbooks, please let me know!

I'm Officially Old...

So, last Thursday night (April 23rd) Bryan and I went to Iowa City to the Iowa Memorial Union for a Dierks Bently concert. The IMU as most of you know is on the U of I campus, so, as expected there were lots of college kids at this concert, probably about 80% college aged kids.
So, walking up to the concert, I immediately felt old watching all the 19 year olds strutting around in their cute barely-there outfits since it was the first nice day in about a month and a half. However, I must say, I don't think I ever wore anything that skimpy.
So, there we are, standing in line with a bunch of kids, wearing basically what we wore to work because neither of really cared what we looked like. All of a sudden this cute little cupcake taps me on the shoulder and says "Ma'am, can you please take our picture?"
........
MA'AM!?!? Am I that old now that I am called Ma'am!? Until that point, I had always thought that I could still pass for someone in college. I think I look pretty young, I take pretty good care of myself, I don't fake bake in order to avoid wrinkles. Even though I was dressed in jeans, flip flops and a plain white tshirt, I thought I still looked half way cute, I mean, it was a nice white tshirt from Express. Not like Hanes or anything. Bryan at this point is just cracking up.
So, we get into the concert, which is a standing room only concert, and there are these two twenty-somthing year old boys in front of us, completely hammered. The one is trying to keep his friend from wandering off and in the process, they start wrestling around. I let them step on my feet a couple of times before I had had enough. I looked at the one who was trying to corral his friend and said "Look, I know you want your friend to stay here, but I don't appreciate my feet getting stomped on. So if you're going to wrestle, can you please take it outside?" He looked at his friend and said "Dude, you gotta calm down, this lady just yelled at me."
Fabulous. Now I am the lady that yells at the drunk kids. I used to be these kids!!!
In my defense, I think I would have said something to those boys had I been their age, no girl wants their toes stepped on.
By the time we left the concert, I have to say I was a little depressed. In recent months I have traded in my all weekend drinking binges for quiet weekends watching movies, working out and sleeping late. I no longer go out for a couple of drinks during the week because I don't like being tired at work the next day. I am now no longer concerned about having enough money to go out on the weekend, but more concerned about saving money to buy some new furniture. I could care less about looking cute on the weekends unless we have some where specific we're going. Make up and picking out clothes require far too much effort, I would rather stay in my comfy clothes all day and skip the make up. I am not quite sure when all of these changes took place, but after Thursday, I finally accepted that my early 20's have in fact been over for well over a year now and I am closer to being 30 than I am 20.

NKTOB Baby!

So, last night a childhood dream of mine came true when I saw New Kids on the Block in concert at the I-wireless center in Moline. :) Yes, I am a giant nerd who loves almost all boy bands, I don't know why I do, I just do. The concert was so much fun and was well worth the $35 we each paid for our tickets. The Kids definately catered to their audience which was compromised mainly of chicks my age re-living the 80-'s. They stuck mainly to their older songs (such as Hangin Tough, Step by Step, You've Got It (the Right Stuff)) but also played their hits off their new album. I must say, aging has agreed with them! I hope I can dance half as well as they can when I am in my 40's and look half as good! However, growing up, my favorite was always Jordan (even though he had a rat tail) but now I must say I definately favor Donnie... He was freakin sexy in his sparkly Boston hat. :)

Soapbox: Proud to be an Iowan Today

Well, actually, I am always proud to be an Iowan, but today is extra special... Just a little while ago, the Iowa Supreme court announced that banning same-sex marriages is unconstitutional and Iowa became the third state in the United States to allow same sex marriages! This is a huge step in equal rights for all, no matter who you love.
I know there are many out there that believe that homosexuality is a choice. (Personally, I do not believe it is a choice, they have proven that it is genetics, but that is a different debate.) However, regardless of if it is a choice or not, who is anyone to say how they should live their life? I am a straight, catholic girl and my church tells me that I should be against all homosexualtiy and condem all that practice it. But who is the church, the government or anyone else to tell anyone who they can and can't love and how they are suppose to live their lives? I think those "christains" who will be outside protesting this because of what they believe should step back and practice loving everyone for who they are, the way the bible is meant to be interpreted and stop forcing what they believe on others. If you believe it is wrong and that all of those who "are" gay will go to hell, good for you, that is your belief, just because you believe it, does not mean that everyone has to. Stop being so narrow minded and be open to other views and other beliefs. Being able to have differing views and beliefs is what makes this country great, it was what this country was founded on - FREEDOM!
I am so glad that gays in Iowa will now be able to visit their loved ones in the hospital and make tough decisions for them if they're not able to. I am glad that if they decide to give a child in a need a loving home, they will no longer be questioned and one of them will be able to stay at home with the child and still enjoy the insurance benefits of the spouse.
You know, it wasn't that long ago in this country when blacks were thought to be inferior to whites and now we have black president. Something I honestly did not think I would see in this lifetime. Now I hope that in my life time gay marriage and equal rights for gays will be common practice in all 50 states, not just in three.

Introducing Wrigley Fransico

I told you to be on the look out for a blog about the impact Tristan's cats had on me...

As many of you know, I am a huge dog person, I just love them! I want a puppy more than anything in the world, however, it would not be fair to subject a puppy to my lifestyle at the moment, living in an apartment and always being on the go. Bryan's mom is a huge cat person and as I have spent more time at his house, I have grown to love the little critters. (Even though Fuzzy has a tendancy to attack on occasion.)

So, I began toying with the idea of getting a cat. I was on the fence about it until I visited Tristan and Brody in Des Moines. Both of them have cats and while we were there I just absolutly loved playing with them! I decided that weekend to get my own. This past weekend I went to the Cedar Rapids Humane Society and found the little guy pictured above. He was the first one I saw when I walked in the room and it was love at first site! I started the adoption process and found out on Tuesday that I had been approved. I get to bring the little guy home next Friday.

While thinking about names, Bryan was adament that I name him Fransico. (He likes the way it sounds when he yells it.) I wasn't too crazy about it, but I definately liked the name Wrigley after my favorite teambaseball team, the Cubbies! However, Bryan informed me that he was going to call him Fransico regardless of what I named him and since I am relying on him for major support and guidance through this process (since I have no idea what I am doing with a cat!) I combine the two names and it actually sounds pretty cool!

After I get the little guy home next week, I will be sure to post more pictures and I am sure I will have many, many storied about him since I am clueless going in to this. He is going to pick up on this right away and take total advantage of it, I just know it. :) I am excited to have a pet to take care of though and have something other than myself to talk to when I am at my apartment.

Summerset Winery

While at the end of our trip to Des Moines, Bryan, Brody and I made a trip to Summerset Winery in Summerset, Iowa which is near Indianola. Now, I am not a huge wine person at all, I prefer beer straight from the bottle, but this wine is delicious!!! It's very easy to drink a bottle all by yourself and not even realize it. (Yes, I have made that mistake, on a week night and work was not very fun the next day...)

Ron Mark is the owner and he has pioneered the grape growing industry in Iowa. Grape production and wine making are two of the fastest growing industries in Iowa, which I did not know until this trip. There are actually numerous winery and vineyards in Iowa, but from what I hear, none of them stack up to Summerset. (Sorry if you disagree, I am going solely off of word of mouth here!)

Ron and his wife are always milling around the winery and love talking to patrons. Ron even took a group of us down stairs to see where the wine is made and talked a lot about the business. He even let us sample some wine that won't be available for awhile. :)

Between Bryan and I while we were there, we bought 18 bottles to bring back with us! Summerset wine is sold in some stores, as you get closer to Des Moines it is easier to find. As far as I know in the Cedar Rapids area I think you can find it at a few Hy-Vees and also at Basket Bowtique. But, there are only limited flavors, so we needed to stock up. :)

Here is a link to their web site Summerset Winery, if you get a chance to go, I would highly reccomend it! I know Bryan and I are planning a few more trips there this summer, so maybe we'll see you there!

Where did March Go?

What a busy month!! I traveled to Orlando, Florida the first weekend in March for a trade show for one of my company's lines... I dreaded the trip as I do all business trips, but it actually ended up being a great time! The show hours were not very grueling at all which allowed for plenty of relaxation time, including time by the pool. The recent time change also allowed more time at the pool after the shows since it was light longer at night. We also ate at some awesome restaurants, which, you know me, food can make or break a trip!!! :)

I got back from Orlando on Friday the 13th (sidenote: flying on Friday the 13th is a little scary...) I literally got off the plane, hopped in the shower and picked Bryan up at work and we headed to Des Moines for a weekend with some friends. We first met up with his friend and college roomate Brody at Micky's off Hickman. It was Brody and I's first time meeting and he is a great, fun, hilarious guy. We had so much fun with him the entire weekend and he really made me feel "welcome" in his and Bryan's little warped world. Later that night we met up with my college roomie and close friend Tristan. With in two minutes of seeing each other, Tristan asked me to be in her wedding which will take place on May 22, 2010. Needless to say, I said yes!

Sidenote: If you know me, you know how I like to bitch about being a bridesmaid. However, I should clarify that it is simply the cost that gets to be annoying. That and not having control over what I am going to wear as I am ver particular. However, the fact that I have had four friends who think so highly of me that they chose ME to stand up with them on their special day, means the world. Plus, it's always kind of fun being apart of the wedding party, it almost feels like you're a celebrity for the day, even if it is only in front of like 200 other people. :)

Anyway, back to our trip. Bryan and I stayed one night with Tristan at her and Billy's cute new house and got to play with their cats. (Stay tuned for my next blog about the impact of the cats.) Saturday night we went out to dinner with Tristan and her friend Jess, who was a blast and then Brody met up with us and we all ended up at the Piano bar.

Later on that evening, Bryan and I's friend Burge met up with us too... Burge is always a trip. :) It was a great trip and a lot of fun, very tired when we got back!!!

Birthday Trip to Phoenix

I am really horrible about keeping my page updated! Anyway, for my 26th birthday on February 18th Bryan and I took a long weekend to Phoenix. He used to live there and his brother (Mike) and sister-in-law (Jill) are down there now along with all his college roomates, so we had plenty to do and plenty of places to stay. I had never been to the south west before and I loved it, although, I think visiting is enough. There were actual real cactuses (sp?) everywhere and the weather was perfect while we were down there. During our trip, we hiked to the top of South Mountain, I was not sure if I would like it or not but I had a blast and it was such a sense of accomplishment when we reached the top. I will definately climb another, bigger mountain during my lifetime! I also got my first tattoo while down there! I was nervous and I'm not going to lie, it didn't feel like I was being tickeled with a feather, but I think it is really cool and I would like to get another one some day. We also spent time with Bryan's college roomates and their finacees, wives and girlfriends, they were all such nice, down to earth people! It was also a lot of fun hanging out with Mike and Jill - you can definately see the brotherly bond there. (Between Bryan and Mike, not between Mike and Jill.) It was a great, relaxing trip and I definately want to go back someday in the near future!

South Mountain

Hiking to the Top

My first tattoo!

Out on the town in Phoenix!

Louisville, Kentucky

As many of you know, this past May I started a new job with Highway Equipment Company where I am the marketing coordinator. Part of my job entails traveling across the country for trade shows. This past week I was in Louisville, Kentucky for the National Farm Machinery show. We were pretty busy so I didn't have much spare time to do any sight seeing, however, I did attend my first tractor pull!! Those of you who know me probably think it's pretty funny that I was at an actual tractor pull, but I had so much fun!! I would definately go to another one! The best is when the tractors get going really fast and the sound litterally shakes your whole insides. (We were definately wearing ear plugs!) Spectators got really into the "colors" of the tractors (for those of you who are not farm-oriented, people are very loyal to their "color" of tractor... John Deere green vs CaseIH red vs Ag-Chem gold, etc. etc.)

Next trip on the agenda will be this upcoming Wednesday (also my 26th birthday) when Bryan and I head to Phoenix for a fun trip to see his brother as well as some of his friends. Ah! Warmer weather!!!!