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!!!

If you really knew me...

I've seen this on a few blogs and I really want to join in on the fun!

If you really knew me...

...you'd know that I really love to eat! Even though I am a picky eater...the food I do love needs to be around me so I can eat every couple hours! Have to keep the metabolism up :)

...you'd know that I know more about football than the average girl! I love love love the sport so much. Wanted to play my whole life...and I still would love too!

...you'd know that my bestie is pregnant with TWINS...can't wait to meet them!

...you'd know that I am a super anxious person and am always excited about something!

...you'd know that I grew up in a town of less than 2,000 people with no stoplight...but has a few bars :)

...you'd know that crazy, weird, loud and different are words that my family and friends use to describe me...which I am totally OK with!

...you'd know that I have a slight obsession with saving money. I am big in to coupons (only for things that I need) and always go out of my way to find a deal! My family even comes to me to help them with big purchases and how they can save money on it!

...you'd know that I grew up wanting to be a marine biologist, but am not very good at science. Took one accounting class in high school and I have been hooked ever since!

Play along...what would I know if I knew you!!!



A little exterior face lift

We got a little work done on the exterior of our home! Our home had 'fallen apart' a bit during the winter months because of a little driveway shifting...so we took a little over year on deciding what to do,changing our mind and then FINALLY doing something!

What started it all! I came home from work one day and this is what I find in the driveway! I was like...GREAT, another thing to 'fix'. You can see to the right what it looked like before!

We decided to go the 'frugile' route and find stone that was similar and have a friend put it up.

What it looked like after our friend did it. Not a horrible job, but the top stone wouldn't go one because there wasn't enough room. I also didn't like how the stone we found didn't match the others perfect. I am super anal and it would have bothered me. Besides, it cracked during the winter and was bound to fall again at some point.

All brick before!

So on to plan B..replace all the brick with new stone! Didn't want to go this route because that involved digging in the pocket book...but I am glad we did! We hired Divine Stoneworks to do the work for us!

(I was not given any incentive or discount if I posted them on my blog...we used them at our own will and they did a great job and I would recommend their work to anyone)

What we call an...upgrade :)

The old spot where the brick originally had fallen.

We love it and are very happy with our decision to replace all of it. If we would have kept the brick, we would probably be putting it back up every year since our driveway shifts.

We have plans to paint the front door a color to match the brick. We are also thinking that in the next couple years we would like to replace our driveway so it won't be shifting every winter.

B&B Wedding

This weekend Tate and I got to celebrate another wedding!

Brittney and Brady got married...8-4-12

The handsome groom and his beautiful bride

St. Cloud State friends!



My super hot date!

Beautiful dress, beautiful hair...beautiful bride :)

Congrats to Brittney & Brady!

Your day was beautiful and loads of fun!

So happy you for you two...welcome to the married club :)

 

The ABCDEs of Melanoma

Last year, I blogged about my experience with being diagnosed with Melanoma. Since that post, I have learned so much information and I always feel like I need to share and inform people of this valuable information. This information is available for anybody on websites and handouts from your doctor. I'm reminded almost everyday of what to do to prevent or look for signs of Melanoma by emails, brochures and the scare on my back!

Today I thought I would share:

The ABCDEs of Melanoma

Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the skin. Ask someone for help when checking your skin, specially in hard to see places. If you notice a mole different from others, or that changes, enlarges, itches, or bleeds (even if it is small), you should see a dermatologist.

Source

How to check for spots:

Checking your skin means taking not of all the spots on your body, from moles to freckles to age spots. Remember, some moles are black, red, or even blue. If you see any kind of change on one of your spots, you should have a dermatologist check it out.

1. Examine body front and back in mirror, then right and left sides, arm raised.

2. Bend elbows, look carefully at forearms, back of upper arms, and palms.

3. Look at backs of legs and feet, spaces between toes, and soles.

4. Examine back of neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part hair and lift.

5. Finally, check back and buttocks with a hand mirror.

All information is from the American Academy of Dermatology

  

 

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