Happy 1 year!!

One Year ago today, My beautiful sister married her best friend. Everybody says they are the perfect match... and it's true. They both are quirky, nerdy, strange and, in Ben's words, a-dork-able. 

Remembering back on the day, it was the perfect wedding day!

Sunrise ceremony

on a lake house over-looking the lake

button bouquets and boutonnierres

breakfast feast

love quotes during the ceremony

Intimate setting

vintage lace and The Stewart tartan 

Here are more captured moments... 

Here's to another wonderful year you two!
I love you so much! 


If you are on the Minneapolis/St Paul area and need the perfect photographer, Carissa Christine Foetoegrafie! She is our family photographer! She's absolutely phenomenal!!


{L}

Easy As Pie

As summer ends and fall begins, we in Minnesota feel each and every change of season. I am happy to report I have one decided to properly embrace fall for the wonderful season it is. It took a lot of internal convincing, but I have made it. And boy, have I made some plans.

However, the weather has not yet changed. So before I bust out the pumpkin puree, pick the apples off my tree, and drink a hot cup of tea, I will finish up the ideas I had for summer. One of those being the world's easiest and most customizable pies- summer style.

Here we go: ingredients

1 pkg instant pudding
1 pkg cream cheese
1 container cool whip
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pre made Graham cracker crust

Directions:
Make pudding according to pie filling directions. Add softened cream cheese. Beat on medium speed. When combined, add cool whip and vanilla. Beat again until combined. Pour into Graham cracker pie crust. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until set. Want an even tastier treat? Freeze the pie. It's like fluffy ice cream goodness.

How to customize:
The other night I made it with chocolate pudding and chocolate Graham cracker crust. You can choose your favorite flavor and add extra ingredients.

Examples:
Banana cream pudding with slices of banana.
Chocolate pudding with chocolate chips.
Coconut cream with coconut flakes.

The possibilities are endless! Don't forget to garnish and make it pretty!

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One other thing I wanted to get in before summer ended was dinner on my patio with friends. It's peaceful and relaxing. Plus, it's the only season where we can eat at a real dining table (not enough space in our 1900's home for a dining space!)

Hope you are enjoying your last moments of summer.

{S}

Partying Here and here today.

Meet Alexandria (Part 3 & Final)

It's hard to believe it's almost over. Two more days and we're gone. The last 5 weeks have flown by and I will miss it up here.

We enjoyed our last weekend up here by going to Art in the Park. It's a yearly tradition that we have been introduced to.

People from around the area gather to enjoy concessions, music, and many fun vendors.

  

  

There is everything you can imagine here. Paintings, wood carvings, soaps, photography, metal sculptures, and my favorite, jewelry, all made by local artists. A fun little place with a serene background of a lake.

We walked around and scoped everything out. Kona had a blast watching people and eating any stray cheesecurds along the ground. We ran into another golden retreiver puppy. We ask how old, and were extremely suprised to hear that they were the same age. The other was twice the size of ours. I wonder how big she will be...

Then we found the food stands.

Camp is filled with traditions, food traditions mostly.

 

There is nothing like ice cold, fresh squeezed lemonade. It makes summer truely summer.

Homemade kettlecorn.

Cinnamon sugar candied German almonds. You can control yourself when it comes to these. They are warm and fresh as they are handed off to you.

Then Chicken Pitas. I had my first one two years ago and instantly became hooked. This stand travels from Minneapolis to be here every year. The best part? They are actually Greek! I am not sure I will be brave enough to try and an actual gyro though...

Standing line is always worth the wait- especially when you can watch and smell everything going on. It all makes the first bite even better.

After checking out all of the vendors, and after I ate, I made a decision on what treasure I wanted to bring home.

Thick metal made from a spoon! I am usually not a fan of spoon jewelry, but this little stand changed my mind. They do beautiful work, and for $12, how could you not indulge?

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As the summer up here comes to end, and it feel so bittersweet, I have thought about what I have learned while being up here. Here's my list:

1. I really can cut down on bread, my favorite food.

2. It's not a terrible thing to eat the same type of salad everyday

3. sunflower seeds are good on salads!

4. I CAN run! I had a goal to run regularly up here to become fairly good at it- I only did it twice, but I made it farther than I thought I could in those 2 times. That's victory right there. I'll stick to yoga until I have another opportunity to run again :)

5. Lakes aren't that scary when you're not touching weeds or fish.

6. Boats that sink from bad rainstorms- and still work! PTL for Kyle's boat being ok from Monday's storm.

7. Swimming is SO GOOD for my foot with Lymphedema

8. Not all nurses know what lymphedema is.  (Scary right?!)

9. I can miss doing household chores. weird.

10. I can survive living in a camper for a month. Not sure if I will try it again.

11. That I am gifted. This will be saved for another time...



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And adding to my extremly long post:

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Have a blessed Wednesday!

Meet Alexandria (Part 2)

This summer, we live on a lake. My husband is savoring every moment being out on his boat, fishing for hours. We don't have very many opportunities to spend time together alone while we are here, so being on the lake creates a perfect window. It also becomes a family event. We couldn't help but bring our pride-and-joy, Kona. She brings the entertainment for the night.

She is frustrating and wonderful all packed up in one bundle. We love her through her consistant chewing on our limbs.

We reached our spot and then, we fished. 

I do enjoy fishing. A lot. As long as I catch something. Last night was rough. I caught more of this

 than this



yep. I caught this one. I am the master fisherman.



and my attention span becomes less, and less.

Kona loves going fishing. She stares in to the water and waits for a fish rise out of the water on our line. She gets so excited as a fish lowers into the boat. She jumps, paws at it, and hops like a bunny.

I wish I was excited about anything as much as she is about these fish.

Then little miss ADHD gets bored and moves on to the next exciting thing.

Watching her chase her tail never gets old. Round and round she goes. Funny girl.

I enjoy the moment, the adrenaline rush, the excitement of getting a fish on your line. Even more than that- I love sharing something that is so special to my husband. 

I am so blessed to have this little family. You would think these two have always been the perfect duo.

My attention drew thin as I had only caught three fish. Thankfully, there was other entertainment. I have never seen a water plane take off. Pretty neat. We don't have a lot of these on the Minneapolis lakes.

Sun started to fall behind the horizon, and we headed back in. We ended our night with a quick game of fetch.

sit. stay..... no stay..... fetch!

She is still getting over this unknown fear of directly jumping in the water. She goes for the shorter dock. Step 1, Step 2, splash!

She has become great at this game. She aims to please, which makes life a little easier as pet owner.

She grabs the stick and swims on in. She learned how to swim a couple weeks ago- properly. Before was cute- paws up to her face, splashing and she slowly worked her way around the water. As she approaches the shore we applaud her with praise as if she has accomplished an amazing feat. Pride beams from us as we pat our 5 month old puppy on her head. It's amazing how these little furballs can have such a tight grip on our hearts.

Mosquitos are thick. The sun is going down. We feel full as we head back to the camper. A beautiful, peaceful night in a favored location.

And a Minnesota summer night captures my heart again.

{S}

Oh Hey Minnesota, Nice to Meet You.

Ears popping. Eyes glued to the window. You've landed somewhere exciting. You're exhausted from traveling, but you can't wait to take your first breath of fresh air in this new and different place. Man, I love airplane rides and vacations.

I was blessed to have a mom that was a flight attendant growing up. I have been all over. Traveling has sort  of made its way into my DNA. Growing up can definitely put a damper on exciting adventures domestically and internationally. School, then work, then money... it all takes away from the exciting idea of trip- or so I thought. Enter husband.

Kyle grew up in central Minnesota and would regularly go up north or to Canada for family vacations. He's the I-can-survive-just-because-I-have-a-bow-and-arrow kind of guy. Over the last few years of being with him, he has showed me a more "local" flare of vacationing. I am now beginning to explore Minnesota; I've never known how much it had to offer. I am beginning to think the north shore is one of my favorite places I have been to. It's a perfect get-a-way when you don't have a whole lot of resources on your side.

There is just something about natural beauty. You need to take the time to see what's out there, take time to smell the flowers. We live in such a microwave society, it's important to slow down. Refresh. Recharge. Take a deep breath.

Notice every detail. breathe.

I was in Grand Marais for the first time. Very easily one of my favorite places I have ever been.

Have you ever seen bumper stickers for this place?! (Sven and Ole's) On this trip I found out it was a pizza place. Yes, we ate there.

Breathe.

In and out. Capturing every moment.

Kona is overly social...

yes, so good. Then reality hits a little to hard. 2 weeks and counting until camp!

{S}