Art project!

On a whim, I went to Michaels the other day to find some wedding stuff. While I did find a whole lot of wedding stuff (and believe me, a WHOLE LOT...we're going back there to stock up on some essentials needed for the wedding) I also found some other things that interested me. Actually, if I was allowed, I could spend plenty of money in that store, but that's not the point here.



I (actually we...meaning R and I) have always wanted to get some canvases and just paint the day away. In our 'dream' we would have had wonderful pictures to paint and they would be SO good that we could hang them up in our apartment as nice decor.



Well when it came down to it, we had no idea what to draw. Not to mention, I bought water colors instead of oil paint (to go along with the canvases that I got). So we had some good 'ole fashion painting fun! With drawing paper and water colors.



And I still decided to hang a few up...for now at least.

Pop some popcorn and relax. There are quite a few pics!

Our array of brushes.

My Mister is such a sweetheart, he always goes along with my blog pictures. Blessed heart :-)

I know, they are great aren't they?! They should totally be in some art gallery somewhere, right?!

This is my polka dot collection. Some day we'll be rich and famous from this collection, making millions on my polka dot paintings.

I really can draw and paint most of the time. I just need direction in doing so. I need someone to tell me what to draw and, if I can toot my own horn, I can do it pretty well. Hope you enjoyed!

Rings, flats, clothes and games

Me and my Mister went last night to pick up our wedding bands! We had a glorious time and decided to walk the mall a bit just to give us something to do.

I went to TJ Maxx while he waited patiently for me in the arcade.

I got a couple of cute shirts and some new black pants for work. BUT I did spot some shoes that I really really liked!

I don't know about you, but I am a Jessica Simpson fan. Don't ask me why, I just have this unexplainable like for her. I knew she had a shoe line out and I have 'browsed' it on zappos.com occassionally, but never really took the time to look through them all.

Well, while at TJ Maxx last night, I found the cutest flats with an even cuter square toe (see the black shoes below). They were SO adorable and cute and they were even comfy! I didn't get them though. I know, I know. I should have. I always do that! We'll see, there were plenty, I might go back.

I just searched shoes.com and there are SO many cute little square toed flats from the Jessica Simpson Collection! I could go shoe crazy!!! I'm thinking that would break the bank though! :-)

These are the cute shoes that I almost, just almost bought!

Aren't these just too cute?! I LOVE the color and I just have to say...I love all the square toes shoes! They remind me of ballet shoes!

Some more fun!

I went back to meet my Mister in the arcade just as they were announcing that the mall was going to be closing shortly. We rushed (and I'm serious, I was jogging at one point and then power walking the rest of the way!) over to Jama Juice to get us some fruity goodness to end our night! We got home and tried on our weddings bands. I have to say, I don't like that they are at our house! I feel like I'll want to try it on. However, I was just told today by some friends at work that it is bad luck! So maybe I'll rethink every time that I go to try on my pretty wedding band...maybe I'll just 'look'! Oh and by the way, my Mister was so cute about the ring! I think he really likes it! :-)

I've been a bad blogger...

I've been absent from blogging...I haven't had much to say...but I'm baaaack!

I had a really good weekend this past weekend. On Saturday I went with my friend Jenny and her friend April to try on some bridesmaid dresses and wedding dresses for her upcoming wedding in May of 2009 (I'll be her matron of honor...since I'll be a married woman by then!). We went to House of Brides and then went out to lunch at Maggianos...mmm!

For some reason, I was just worn out after that! I had to get home before 4:00pm to go meet a police officer to get my goods back...back from when THAT incident happened...

After that, me and Ryan just lazed about the rest of the day....aside from our 8:00pm grocery shopping trip that we made. I like those, they are the fun ones!

Sunday was a day of rest and a day of doing absolutely NOTHING! Those are my favorite kind of days!

Monday was back to work...but not to worry, it is a short week...I'm off on Thursday and Friday! Woo hoo!

We'll be going to the Taste of Chicago on Friday the 4th...it's been kind of a tradition the past couple of years, hope we get nice weather!

Lots-O-Pics

I'm sure this may be a boring post for some since you don't really know these peeps. BUT we took over 100 pictures during our one day trip to Minneapolis, MN...and I'm going to post some!

Because this is my blog and I can! :-)

We left on Saturday around 11:00am from our place. Everyone met there. We didn't arrive at our destination until 9:00pm!

What was supposed to be a 5 1/2 hour ride in the car turned into a 10 hour drive in the car.

Good think John rented a minivan!

There was a detour through Wisconsin Dells because of the flooding and all.

It was a fun time though. I am so glad that I went!

The ride home was nice and relaxing considering we didn't get much sleep the night before.

Enjoy...

R and I...this was actually the way home...do I look bald?!

John and Sarah...if you're reading this, I hope I didn't spell your name wrong...I never know if there is an h or not?! In case you're wondering...they aren't mad...they're joking!

Katie and Sean...these are all the folks that drove up together. R went a little crazy with the camera in the car...I spared you some...

The infamous shot that we seem to always get of John lately...

Here they are... VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!

I wish he was smiling, I really like this picture!






Please excuse my hair...it started pouring that night and I was hot and well, when you have naturally curly hair and it rains after you've straightened it...it doesn't look too hot! I am so red too...wtf?! Oh and I love this girl!






One of my favorite bands...aside from VBS of course...SHOT BAKER! Click HERE for some tunes and more info about them! From the first time R took me to see them...I loved it! Plus, these guys are all SO nice, just a really great group of guys! We were so happy that they decided to stay in Minnepolis!

R and Nat...one of the Baker Boys

Isn't he so handsome?! haha! VBS playing...in the middle of a bowling alley...which I love...which R didn't love so much...he said the sound isn't as good...oh well...I loved it!

John on gee-tar

My guy...again...sorry, but I can't help it, of course I'm going to take more pics of my Mister than anyone else, I mean, right?!

R and John...another Baker Boy

The girls that rode up together...Katie, Bella and Sarah

On the way to the show...we tried to get both of us, that didn't work out so well!

Okay...you can probably tell from our faces, but we have NO CLUE who this sailor guy is. You can't see it here, but he had the hat on and a striped tank top on also...ooohhhkayyyy...

The gals again...excuse my hair (see comment somewhere above...the rain people!)

R and some others from home! There were actually quite a bit of people that drove up! This was a Chicago vs. Minnepolis show, so there were a handful of bands from both towns.

This is my absolute FAVORITE picture from the weekend! I just laugh every time I see it...too funny!

Some more locals (Chicago locals that is!)

We had a great weekend, we really did! Good times, good friends and good music!

TGI Fridays...on Monday!

We decided to have a 'night out' on Monday after I got off of work. So we went out to dinner to T.G.I. Fridays for dinner. It made the night feel longer, rather than getting home, eating dinner and then feeling like we had to go to bed soon. We didn't get anything fun and exciting...but took some pics! We had a great little table in the back corner and were really away from everyone, it was actually kind of nice!

Me and my TOO cheesy Broccoli Cheddar soup

We got dessert to go! It was dee-lish! I made the plate presentation by myself at home...doesn't it look like it would from a restaurant?! Mmm...

Girls night

Well, last night we went and saw Chelsea Handler at the Genesee Theater in Waukegan. It was SO much fun! Not only the show, but hanging out with the girls too! We laughed so much last night...it felt really good. And I really needed it...I was feeling a little blue.

We had some yummy mexican food (even though I had the biggest craving for chinese food, the darn place was closed for a week!). Then we went to the theater. We didn't know, but when we got there, we were shown to our seats...which just happened to be in the very last row!!! Oh well, it was hysterical!!!

The place was packed and it is SO beautiful there!!! Gorgeous! Chelsea was just SO freakin' hilarious!!! I was hoping the skit would never end!!!

Now, I'll just have to catch up on that Grey's Anatomy episode that I missed out on last night...

This is the view from our seats (mind you, I had to turn the flash off, so it's much brighter). She looks like a little tiny plastic doll!

Katie, Dawn (the cute little preg-o!) and me after the show...we had to get a pic :-)

Dips, brownies and babies

Whew! It's only Saturday night and it's already been an eventful weekend! Last night, we had our usual PIZZA FRIDAY! Then we went grocery shopping for some of the fun stuff we were going to make this weekend. I did some cleaning and then made a homemade spinach and artichoke dip for today. Two of the girlfriends came over to just hang out and have an appetizer day. This morning, Ava (the little niecey) came over at eight o'clock in the mornin'. We made some brownies and then the girls came over. One of my friends has a little girl who is a little over 1 year old (she is SO darn cute!). We just hung out and it was really a great day! Now...I'm just blogging :-) and watching a Lifetime movie. The Mister had a show tonight. I was just so exhausted after today that I had no energy to socialize (ha!). I am getting good at remembering to take pictures. I have always wanted to have more pictures but never remembered to take any...so I'm trying to be aware!

Hope your weekend is great so far!

These are my ingredients for the SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE DIP. I don't like when recipes have too many ingredients (I don't know why, it's weird, I know, but it just bothers/annoys me :-). This recipe is really very simple. For the recipe click here.

This is the finished product. I forgot to take a picture of it while it was heated in the crockpot...mmm...SO deliscious! Seriously, it was even better than getting it at a restaurant, so fresh! We also had bread with spinach dip and a veggie tray and some brownies (can't forget the chocolate!).

As I had mentioned before, we made some brownies this morning. I, being the good aunt that I am, had to let Ava lick the beaters...

...and lick the bowl! We were all kids once and remember that being the BEST part! I still like doing it today!

This is the finished product. Aren't they so cute! I found these little heart shaped tins, so we decided to make individual brownies.

This picture didn't really turn out too well, which brings me to another subject...we need a new camera!

I think Mason was kind of bored today. I caught him not caring much here, just laying there, probably wishing that a) someone would just give him some scraps or b) he wishes everyone would leave so he could have some peace and quiet. Although, he was all tuckered out after they all left!

Oh and p.s. I did gather up the energy to go out and do some shopping tonight. When I got there, I asked myself what the heck I was doing?! The mall was SO crowded and it was just very unpleasant and stinky in there. Oh well, I got some cute shirts :-)

Family Ho-down

Watch us and the kids really

woop it up!

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Happy Birthday To Me...

I had the most FABULOUS 25th birthday weekend EVER!!!

Yay! Now I am out of the 18-24 demographic!

For those of you wondering (ha! probably no one) here is how it went...

1. Friday was my actual birthday, so we get it off AND paid at my work! I woke up at 5:00am! This was not by choice, I can normally fall back asleep after Mister R wakes up for work, but not that day! I must have been too excited for my own birthday! My mom came over around 9:00am and we went shopping at the local outlet mall. Thankfully we went early enough to beat the crowd! Around lunchtime, me and my mother met Mister R's mom for lunch! It was a great time and I am just so happy that everyone gets along and can spend time just hanging out together. Mister R's mom is great, I love her! I couldn't ask to feel any more welcome into the family! After a long day of shopping I went home and wrapped some stocking stuffers that I bought for Mister R and tried to shove them into his stocking! He came home from work and I got to open my PRESENT...finally!!! I thought all long that it would be jewelry...BUT I GOT AUTOMATIC START ON MY NEW CAR!!! I was so shocked and amazed that he pulled it off! I just LOVE it!!! We went to WILDFIRE for dinner and that was awesome too. We were going to go see a movie, but decided to skip it and go home!

2. Saturday, the BAND that Mister R is in had a show downtown at The Beat Kitchen (one of my favorite places that they play). Along with my birthday it was Sean (the drummer) and a few others birthday weekends as well. Let's just say we had a great celebration! I may have had a few too many to drink...but HEY it's MY birthday and I think that's okay! An honorable mention goes out to myself for flushing my license down the toilet...NO PEOPLE not purposely...it came out of my back pocket...and I was NOT about to stick my hand in there and get it! A BIG THANKS to this girl for trying to plunge it out, but to no avail...it didn't work. I hear that the toilet was out of order the rest of the night...SORRY!!!

3. Sunday was the day of rest! I had a great weekend and didn't want it to end...BUT ALAS all good things must come to an end...till next year!

P.S. THANKS TO ALL FOR THE CALLS/EMAILS/TEXTS..I JUST LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!