2nd Annual St. Croix Canoe Trip

Some friends of ours started an annual canoe trip last year down the St. Croix River. We couldn't go last year because it was the same weekend that Tate's family was throwing us a 'couples' wedding shower. We were very excited to learn we had no plans that weekend and could attend.

We met @ our friends parent's home bright and early on Saturday morning in Osceola, WI. They live right on the St. Croix River.

We then drove to the place where we were renting the canoes and were on the water by 10:30. It was such a beautiful day!

After canoeing for a bit, we stopped @ a sand bar for games, lunch, drinks and good times!

We had some intense volleyball games with people we met on the sand bar. It was super fun...especially because we won :)

St. Cloud State Football Alum

Wing bags were slapped, dancing was done and Cammi was reunited with the bouquet she caught @ the Sedin wedding a few weeks prior :)

After a day in the sun, we walked to a local bar to eat and drink for the evening! We were all pretty spent from the day that we headed home not too long after dinner and were in bed by midnight!

It was a very fun day and we can not wait until next year!

Great weekend with great friends enjoying life and God's beauty...#blessed!

Fitness Friday

Being married to a Health Enhancement/Fitness Director...it definitely has its perks :)

I love that I get free advice, free training sessions...even if it is unwanted!

He is currently sending out emails on a weekly basis to people that have signed up in the community for the 'Be Active' campaign and I thought I would share some of those with you!

HERE ARE GREAT WAYS TO GET STARTED WORKING OUT:

Set a realistic, measurable goal for yourself

Getting to the gym _x_ amount of times per week

Drink _x_ amount of water each day

Exercise for _x_ amount of minutes each day

Start with exercises you enjoy

Walking, swimming, biking, rowing, tennis, etc.

Finding something you enjoy at the beginning is going to help you build momentum

Put it on your calendar

Don't let yourself have that "not enough time excuse"

By putting it on paper or on your computer/smart phone, it will be a schedule part of your day

Find a workout partner or group

Talk to a co-worker or neighbor about starting a routine with you

Join a gym and begin taking classes or hire a trainer

Join a league, walking or cycling group

Having a person(s) to do it with will greatly increase your chances of success

Track your progress

By logging you will see improvement

Too many people obsess over the scale, if you track your progress, you see progress and will feel better about what you have accomplished so far

My Fitness Pal and Spark People are very popular programs to track

 

First MN Bloggers HH [recap]

I did something that many would find 'strange' and not expect me to do AT ALL! I went and met up with a bunch of fellow MN bloggers that I didn't know and actually talked to them :) haha

I've been known to be pretty shy when I first meet people..but once you get to know me and I feel you won't think I am strange...then I go crazy (but everyone does still think I am 'strange'! :)

I had so much fun hanging out with all the fellow MN bloggers @ Psycho Suzi's! I am so glad I went and didn't chicken out!

Syndal, Becky, Jess and Andrea

Britni and Andrea

Andrea and I had lots of fun talking about Cabo! She got married at the same place that Tate and I honeymooned at!

A super FUN and GREAT group of girls!

[stole this photo from Kelly's blog]

It was fun to see Andrea again! She was one fellow MN blogger that I actually knew and had met before! She is also doing the triathlon with me in September!!!

Dawn, Carolyn, myself and Kelly

[stole this photo from Kelly's blog]

Chalkboard wall in the bathroom...of course we had to take that over :)

[stole this photo from Kelly's blog]

I can't wait for the next get together! I know it will be as fun as this one was!

3 years of pure happiness

Today marks the 3 year anniversary that we adopted our baby girl...Mya!

The day we adopted her

I remember the like it was yesterday. We knew we were purchasing our house on a Monday and I set up a visit with Mya @ our new home on Friday of that same week.

Tate wasn't sure if we should adopt a dog so fast since we hadn't even moved in yet. She came to the house and Tate immediately fell in love with her. Tate threw the tennis ball and and Mya brought it back to her...he was sold on adopting her!

We've had many ups and downs with her! She had surgery in the first year of having her because of major hip problems! I felt so bad for her and she looked sooo sad! I am happy to say that since that surgery, she has lost 13lbs (according to the vet, she was overweight) and is better than ever. The vet thought Mya would maybe have to have surgery on her other hip...but knock on wood, things have been good!

She has brought so much joy in our life! I seriously can't get enough of her! She makes us smile so much! I love how cute she is and the fun we have together!

My favorite thing to do with her...is playing hide and go seek with her! It's hilarious when she can't find me and freaks out!

Mya,

We can't imagine life without you. The way you get so excited every time you see us makes our day! We feel very lucky to have such a beautiful girl and hope that we have many many many more happy years with you! We have great memories to make!

Love you mucho,

Mommy & Daddy

A bachelorette party weekend

Not only did I celebrate a friend as a bachelorette for only a few more weeks..I watched the finale of the bachelorette last night!

First up...my real life bachelorette party I had this weekend!

We started the day out @ the St. Croix Vineyards

Super yummy wine

Cute shower gift from one of her Matron of Honor! So cute...she said it was a pinterest find, def going to look for that one!

After a nice afternoon at the winery, we changed and freshened up for night of fun!

The bachelorette opened gifts, ate some snacks and enjoyed some beverages!

She got 'iced' by her soon to be sister-in-law

St. Cloud State girls

The bachelorette and I

All the ladies

After having fun @ the hotel, we had dinner @ Luna Rosa.

Some nice music

After dinner, we hit up the night life!

The bride was a dancing machine!

It was fun night! I had only limited myself to a few drinks since I was going to be driving home afterwards...but I still had a good time. Lots of people watching involved :)

Now I look forward to celebrating Brittney and Brady's love in 2 weeks @ their wedding!

And last nights Bachelorette finale...SUPER EXCITED that she choose Jef (with one f)!

Source

I always give these couples the benefit of the doubt...and I hope I hope I hope that they work out! I love seeing Trista & Ryan together...and Ashely & JP. I look forward to what comes of them!

Happy Friday

Can we say OVERWHELMING week! I can't breathe when it's like this!

I'm looking forward to a FABULOUS girls weekends! Bachelorette party fun on Saturday!

We have picked our counters for the kitchen and both bathrooms...so EXCITED!

Today is the 3 year ANNIVERSARY that Tate & I bought our home!

And because I am so BUSY...I didn't have time to post much this week! I hate when that happens!

But I have a GUEST POST over @ Harvest My Design today! Go check it out!

Happy FRIDAY everyone...have a SUPER FUN weekend :)

Sedin Wedding Weekend

What a weekend! It was full of crazy fun, love and laughter!

We headed over to the middle of WI on Friday afternoon since Tate was an usher in the wedding!

Rehearsal dinner was in the brides parents back yard and what a back yard it was. Awesome patio, big bar, TV, bean bags, etc. This is the type of backyard everyone wants.

The groom's parents wanted to do a 'Santa Maria' type of dinner since that is where they are from. They flew in some tri tip and served it up California style. Even though I didn't eat it, I heard it was super good.

Bride & Groom

After a very nice and peaceful dinner, we decided to hit up the local bar across from our hotel called Nutz Deep II. The bride and her girls were going to stay in, so I figured it was just going to be a bunch of guys and not be fun so I was planning on just going to bed. I am so glad I didn't...I have never laughed so hard in my life!

A few things I learned that night...

If I never hear the song, "Call Me Maybe" again...I will be content!

Don't let your husband/boyfriend where a nice shirt...because it won't come home in one piece!

$10 shirt that lasted 10 minutes before being ripped in half

"Call Me Maybe" just started playing! Oh yeah...and they had to pay the DJ $10 each time they wanted that song played!

Serious craziness!

And then came the great day of Sierra & Derek becoming husband and wife!

So happy for them!

Switched shoes...real fast :)

 

And then 'Call Me Maybe' was played and everyone they guys went CRAZY!!!

So happy for the new Mr & Mrs Sedin!

Thank you for letting us share in your special day!