MN Bloggers Favorite Things Party

Dawn & Lo hosted the most recent MN Bloggers get together. (Thank you girls for putting this together...so much FUN)! They decided on a 'my favorite things' party. I had never heard of it before...but apparently it's all over pinterest.

We each had to bring 3 of our favorite thing and we would go home with 3 different things that other ladies brought. Since I had no time to really go shopping, I brought Caribou gift cards and put in my fav drink from there. Whoever got them, I hope you enjoy it :)

The table with all the goodies!!!!

Having a great time!!!

My 'Chan Fan' - Carolyn and I (MN preggo bloggers)

I ended up with a 'Chan Fan'  (pictured above) that came with mascara...which I love!, cuties and spicy chocolate! Love all the favorite things I got :)

The group!!! So much fun hanging with these girls. I can not wait for the next get together!!!

Thank you Carolyn for posting the pictures on FB!!!!

Fellow Blogger Holiday Swap x2

I decided to 2 different blogger holiday swaps this year and I am so glad I did.

 

Dawn and Andrea (fellow MN bloggers) put together one for the first time this year and I of course had to join in.

 

I got to buy for Dawn from Mom-A-Logues, which was so fun since I knew her from our MN blogger get together! She was so fun and easy to shop for!!!

 

I received a gift from fellow MN blogger, Britni @ Britni's Beginnings! I met Britni at our first ever MN Blogger HH. She was 9 months pregnant and would be soon moving to California! Super sweet girl and life in Cali seems to be going good for her and her adorable family!!

 

Britni was SOOO kind!!! She got me 'dark chocolate' cocoa mix, sour patch kids, travel size shower gels and hats + mittens for Baby W!!! I LOVE IT ALL!!!

 

Thank you so much Britni. It was super sweet of you!!!

 

I also did another holiday gift swap with Syndal from Synfully Delicious who happens to be another fellow MN blogger and my blogging cousin :)

 

I got to buy a gift for Sam @ Life as Mrs. B. I loved picking out a gift for her and sending it off to Virginia! Glad she liked the nail polish and scarf I got for her!!!

 

I received my gift from Bri @ My Life As...

 

She got me not one...but TWO scarves!!! I love scarves and they are perfect to add to my collection :)

 

They are so cute!!!! I love them and can't wait to wear during these cold winter months!!!

 

Thank you Bri...so very much!!!!

 

Look forward to next year and getting to know other bloggers and buying them gifts!

 

Happy Holidays!!!

  

 

MN Bloggers HH: Holiday Style

First and foremost...THANK YOU for all the congrats on the exciting news that we are expecting! We feel so blessed and appreciate all the kind words!!!

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Another MN Blogger get together...but this time, it was all about ugly sweaters, Santa and get insulted at dinner!

 

Everyone met at the Mall of America to get a photo with Santa and eat @ Dick's Last Resort.

 

 

Santa loved us...and especially baby Bailey!!!

 

After Santa, we headed over to Dick's Last Resort to get yelled at and insulted while enjoyine dinner! I've heard many things of this place, but had never been. Well, it lived up to everything that I was told and more because I got to experience it with all these great girls!!

 

 

We got hats made for us...that made us all laugh!!!

 

 

Andrea and I were once again 'alike' and wore super cute socks under our boots...this girl and I are so alike it's scary :)

 

 

We also did a secret Santa exchange. Carolyn had my name and gave me the BEST present...

 

Super cute scarf and a HUGE bag of Sour Patch Kids...hello preggo cravings :)

 

I had so much fun last night. I am so happy I met these girls through this crazy thing called the Internet! I am already looking forward to the next get together!!!

 

 

 

 PS...Sorry I haven't posted what I said I would about how the last few months have been with the pregnancy...but it's been a crazy after getting back from CA, catching up with work and having 4 holiday party's from Tuesday to Saturday. I will catch you all up as soon as I catch myself up :)

 

 

 

 

Painting + wine + MN Bloggers = great times

Another MN Blogger HH..get together...meet up, whatever you want to call it happened this week!

 

This time we met up at The Paint Pub in Maple Grove. I love how this place works. You go to the place, get paint brushes, get a blank canvas, get your drink and paint away. Well...they do have an instructor that gives you a step by step guide on how to paint that painting that was chosen.

 



 

Unlike last time...I was not nervous this time. I had met most of the fellow bloggers and was very excited to see them again!

 

These girls are great...I am so happy to have met them all and can't wait to see them all again!

 

Our instructor...who put up with our chit chat, excessive picture taking and non painting skills!

 

Fellow bloggers Andrea & Jess

 

Everyone is hard @ work...oh and we had to for sure leave our mark!

 

Here is my masterpiece! Tate actually says its 'hang in my office worthy'! haha...I don't think I did a GREAT job...but I think it's ok! Hope everyone @ work and my client thinks it's 'hang in my office worthy' also...:)

 

We were all worried about this...and all of our paintings turned our great!

 

I look forward to the next get together!!!

 

If you are a fellow MN blogger and want to join in on the fun...CLICK HERE!

 

It's a small world...

I found out this weekend...that Syndal from Synfully Delicious and I have the same relatives!

So that makes us related...right?!?! This is soooo crazy!

This is Syndal. A fellow MN Blogger that I met @ the MN Blogger HH in July. I found out then that she was getting married on August 4th and that she was a big DIY bride.

My cousin and myself @ my Great Grandma's 100th birthday party!

My Uncle (who also happens to be my Godfather) and Aunt, Curt & Sharon!

My cousins...Alyssa & Tyler!

They are also Syndal's Aunt, Uncle & cousins! HOW CRAZY??!?!?!

Dancing with my Aunt & Uncle @ my wedding...hahaha!

So yes...we share the same relatives and here is the story on how it was discovered!

Turns out, they were in town for Syndal's wedding the weekend of the 4th. I only knew they were going to be @ my Grandparents in southern MN for my Uncle's class reunion the weekend of the 11th, I didn't know they came a week before for a wedding.

While visiting with them @ my Grandparents, pinterest was brought up. I was telling everyone how I have found sooo many cool Halloween DIY decorations I could do!

My aunt then says, "I think that is what Syndal did for her wedding...she used pinterest a lot." I stopped her right there (because let's me honest...not too many people are named Syndal) and said..."who did she marry?" My aunt says, "Pete." I then said..."were her colors green and purple?" My aunt told me that yes they were and asked how I knew her! I told them all then how we met @ a MN Blogger get together...and of course they thought it was strange, but I didn't care. I couldn't get over the fact that Syndal and I...who we just happened to meet because we were both MN bloggers...have the same relatives!

So not only do we have blogging and DIY in common...but we share family! I still am awe of this...it really is a small world. The person next to you could be your cousin's cousin :)

I was always a person that didn't like to meet new people...not because I thought I was too cool or didn't need to meet any more people, but because I was shy and afraid! Lately I have been branching out and joining networking groups and attending happy hours with strangers that I never thought in a million years I would do. I am so glad I am and I have meet some really great people. One question I always ask when I meet someone new is where they are from...because you just never know who may know mutually with them! This world is a lot of 'who you know'...and knowing more people is not a bad thing!

Syndal, glad to know you come from a great family! I still can't belive my aunt is your mom's sister! I look forward to chatting with you @ the next HH!!!

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!