Miniette

Christmas Decorations 2011

2011-12-29T09:14:00.000-08:00

Well, now that I haven't blogged for a whole year and have lost all of my readers, it must be time to start again right? I'm really excited to show my Christmas decorations from this year. There is so much color in our living room that I try to not add too much more. Last year was just silver, this year was silver AND gold. Big step. Also, spray-painted & natural pine cones were kind of my obsession.

My lovely aunt gave me some red branches and suddenly everything came together. Anthony made me gold & silver swizzel sticks ala these.

Balls of white Christmas lights! They looks so awesome lit-up. I was inspired from another blogger to make words out of gold pipe cleaners and put them on the tree. Merry & bright:) (Actually, all of her decor inspired me, so chic!)

The far corner on top of the bookshelf got the blue tree. I really love this color scheme and might do the whole room this way next year - bright & traditional. I love that the "Life is Good" embroidery I did this year pulls it all together with my salvation army silver wreath, silver & gold pipe cleaners and lots of white books. And of course more silver & gold pine cones.

I could say I'm all set for New Years Eve, but I'm hoping to finish some tissue tassel garland like this.

It's 2011!

2011-01-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

We had a little party to welcome the New Year

I insisted that we keep our tree up. And you can see some of the bunting from our wedding that we strung crisscross in the living room. In the middle of the ceiling I got a silver snowflake ball on clearance at Target as a makeshift disco ball.

Anthony was our bartender, he mixed up cosmos and mojitos for everyone. At midnight we had a champagne toast in our champagne saucers.

I also found on clearance some festive turquoise swirls that we hung from the curtain rods. I wanted tinsel, but couldn't find it anywhere - do they still sell it?

Jess brought her new beau. Blue swirls in the background!

I prepped the food the night before and so just had to bake a few things. I staggered them to best use the oven and to keep food coming out all night. My favorite was brown-sugar bacon-wrapped pinapple. Those are definitely coming back next year.

I made my favorite spicy corn dip and Naomi brought a great artichoke dip - it was gone in no time. Jess brought bars and chocolate-covered strawberries and oranges - Yum! Melissa provided the veggies and dip, which was a fresh break from the rich dips, chips and cookies. I tortilla roll-ups would disappear just as fast as I could replenish them. We were well fed!

We set up a photoshoot in our dining room with clearance Anna Maria Horner fabric and props and folks had lots of fun with that!

And there are even more photos here.

A little about Christmas.

We got a real tree this year! I was very proud of my present wrapping. We were little Santas and delivered many things in Princeton and Bemidji.

Anthony was overjoyed with his new 250 piece mechanic tool set from Sears.

Our TV watching has been exposed

2010-12-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

A New York Times reporter called one day before the election to talk to me about my over-the-air TV reception. She found me because I tweeted "This wind is really messing with my over-the-air TV. #digitalnotalwaysbetter". We had 2 or 3 telephone interviews and email correspondence. They even sent a photographer over twice. Through most of it, Anthony was convinced it was a scam and they were using the ruse to case our house and steal our TV. Luckily, it was legit.

It's pretty exciting - they finally posted the article today. Read it here. I'm going to Starbucks to pick-up a hard copy (not sure if it actually made it into the paper version).

Packing-up and Moving

2010-11-29T20:31:00.000-08:00

Strib photo by Jerry Holt. Click here to see more of who was moving into my office suite.

Shauna asked what today was like. I said "sucky". I've been trying to think of a way to help Anthony understand why we're all so shocked and sad.

Imagine your biggest business competitor was located next door to yours. You sell a high quality product at a reasonable price. They sell a shoddy product at cut-rate prices. After a hard 4th quarter that everyone is glad is over, they have sold more than you. As a reward they take over your office and make you move into their old space. And then they tell you what to do.

Maybe when the shoddy product breaks, consumers will see their error and buy better quality. Time to work on our sales pitch.

Worst. Drive. Ever

2010-11-23T07:11:00.000-08:00

Anthony and I started last Saturday night out as a fun little trip to St. Paul for Roller Girls and then a quick stop in Minneapolis for a drink with a friend, then home to bed. We did not realize what was in store.

After Roller Girls we made the drive over to Minneapolis in about 30 minutes. We noticed it was misting. Which was weird, because it was only 25° out. We had our one drink with a friend that was moving away to California and we were back on the road at 11:30 PM (PS we would have stayed out longer but, we had to be up to teach Sunday School by 9:00 AM). We should be home by midnight.

However, it was difficult to even walk to our car because (if you live in MN you know) the mist had frozen solid, covering every surface in ice. I fell on the sidewalk. We figured it would be slow going on the highway home, but those things are always hot and plow trucks should be out with sand & salt, so they wouldn't be that bad, right? Wrong.

Once on I94 we were very sad that we were there. Almost immediately we were at a stand still. We considered exiting on to Hwy 55, but figured the stand still wouldn't be for long and that it'd be safer than a lot of stop lights and intersections. Wrong again.

Every time 94 came to a curve or a hill there were spinouts, cars unable to make it up the incline and cars that just couldn't help from sliding onto the shoulder. Not to mention HORRIBLE drivers that would floor it and just make a spot shinier with their spinning tires.

At the Cedar/Riverside exit we counted over 20 cars that had either crashed into another car, crashed into the highway wall or who just couldn't keep from sliding into the shoulder.

Two hours in traffic and we had made it to about Hwy 280 (about 1/4 of the way home). We considered exiting on to Cretin, but decided the hill down to the intersection of Marshall would be too steep. We watched a FIRE TRUCK fishtail and slide into the shoulder/highway wall. How are we going to make it out if the firetruck can't?

In between the curves and hills would be moderately light traffic at a decent pace (20 mph instead of 0 mph). Then we encountered where 35E intersects I94. This was hell. Most of the time we just turned the car off. We did not move for an hour and a half. (We think this is because there were some of the 430+ crashes right in front of us and just too many to take care of and move.)

Some people got out of their cars and walked to see if they could see what was ahead. At times, it felt like REM's "Everybody Hurts" video (and not in a good way - more like this is a nightmare get me out of here). I kept thinking "Why are there so many cars on the road at 2:00 AM?" I couldn't help from falling asleep. I was so glad that Anthony was driving.

We spent a lot of time parked on the highway in front of the Kelly Inn, and we considered just getting a room there. But we were so close to home, I thought it seemed silly.

We had passed the 10th & 5th street exits in St. Paul (just barely) but we could see other cars driving over the low curbs to get on to the downtown side streets. It was 3:00 AM and we couldn't take it anymore, so we tried our luck and did our own curb jumping.

Downtown was deserted and we took Cedar down to Kellogg. We ignored the speed limit to get enough momentum to make it up the Kellogg Boulevard hill and kept on going up to Mounds Boulevard but we were foiled once again. We couldn't make it up and around Mounds. So Anthony did some stunt car maneuvering with the aid of the curb to turn us around and back down the hill to the I94 entrance.

I94 was deserted there, except for a few cars here and there. And one STUPID Buick who decided to cut in front of us as we weaved through other stalled cars (at the fast pace of 20 mph).

Almost home - almost home! We opted to go one exit past our house because the McNight exit ramp is a decline instead of an incline. We made it down but couldn't slow down enough for our right turn. So Anthony again did a stunt car move and pulled a 360° in the middle of the intersection to finally make our turn. Then it was easy going from there. Only 3:30 AM. Anthony used a whole bag of salt on our sidewalk and steps. I brushed my teeth and took out my contacts. We were in bed by 4:00 AM. Hey, only 4 hours until we have to be up!

I was just so happy to be in my bed. And that we didn't get hurt. And that our car didn't get smashed. We were so lucky that Anthony had a full tank of gas.

Are you still reading?

We went to church even though there weren't very many kids, but it was nice. We were over joyed that the after-church activity that we were supposed to help with was canceled! We went home, ordered pizza and took a nap in front of the Vikings game.

Nora Ephron "Talking Volumes" at the Fitzgerald Theater

2010-11-18T19:59:00.000-08:00

I was the lucky, last-minute date of Nicole to "Talking Volumes" with Nora Ephron and her new book "I Remember Nothing". I felt so lucky - who wouldn't want to go listen to the writer/director of some of my favorite movies?!

Kerri Miller hosted (the night was recorded for future broadcast on MPR) and she was a great foil to Ephron's wit. We were regaled with stories from her past and her outlook on life.

She also read excerpts from her book.

I had previously read an excerpt of her book in Vogue and loved it. Or at least I think it was her. I may have it totally wrong. Just like when I got up to ask her a question about a movie that I thought she was writing based on the Pioneer Woman's Blog. But she's not. I was mortified.

I'm not sure if I just dreamed that or what because I tried to go back and find where I read that, but of course there is no evidence of that being true. I was laying in bed and it came to me that the screenwriter from Steel Magnolias is doing it. Not Ephron. Good timing.

Of course I bought the book.

Rock Show Helps to Forget Your Election Sorrows

2010-11-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

Needtobreathe came to town for the third time in a year. They said this would be the last tour for their current album AND that they're working on new music - yay!

The Daylights were the first openers and they were great.

Also Green River Ordinance gave up a headlining show to open for Needtobreathe. So, we were very lucky - they also rocked.

We waited in line in the snow for half an our and got second row spots. AND the lady in front of me left after GRO and never came back. Not sure if she just couldn't make it back to the front of the crowd. But, it made for a great view for me.

Sorry lens flare haters. But I like these.

It was their best show yet! They never play the same set list, so their shows are always different. Their new backdrop and lights were fantastic for photographing and the overall experience.

I was especially glad that they played my favorite song from their current album, "Vally of Tomorrow" for the acoustic encore. (But I filled up my media card before the end of the show, so no pics:(

Guilt

2010-10-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

Some people have Catholic guilt. I have good hair guilt. I grew my hair out long because I can and I like it. But then I feel guilty like I should really donate it to wigs for little girls with cancer. I can always grew it out again. How can you say no?

I also have good blood guilt. I have O-negative blood which is good for new born babies because it is a universal donor. So, when the Red Cross calls, I feel obligated to schedule an appointment. It's not hard to give blood, a little uncomfortable, but not hard. However, sometimes my iron is too low and they won't let me. So, I started taking a multi-vitamin with iron, in part so that my iron level would be high enough to donate (also to have a nice healthy body if I ever want to make babies).

Jessica last night phonebanking

And I have Democratic majority guilt. If I don't help out I'm a hypocrite and wouldn't I feel bad if we lost our majority. And I don't want to be one of those people who I didn't like in 2006 (when my job was to recruit volunteers to doorknock and phonebank) for not volunteering. I have the time, I like the candidates, I want Minnesota to be a better place for all you grumps who hang-up on me. I have no excuse.

Super Democrats back in 2006
Keeping my current job is always a plus too.

Dancing Shoes

2010-10-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

Proof that I really can dance in those amazing shoes:

I mean, how could you not wear these awesome shoes all night.

Anton & Ashli's Wedding

2010-10-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

My little brother is all married. It was a sweet little ceremony in the Father of the Bride's picturesque backyard. The weather was fantastic: 78° in October! In Minnesota!

Anton's friend David, was his best man. Here they are waiting for the bride to get ready so they could start. David is holding his daughter, Kylee who is just a few months older than Lily and just as sweet.

Anthony provided sweet acoustic stylings for the prelude, procession and recession. It was perfect for the little ceremony and everyone loved it.

Mom wore a pretty, green, ruffled-neck wrap dress. It fit her perfectly.

The bride wore a fantastically-chic, slim, beaded cocktail wedding dress. It was perfect for the setting and the temperature.

The maid of honor, Heather, wore a great strapless black satin dress - with pockets!

Ashli's brother-in-law officiated, which made for a very personal ceremony.

Vows

Kiss!

My dress and shoes in action.

My mom and I (with the help of Anthony and Dad) decorated the after-party room. I picked up $30 worth of flowers from the St. Paul Farmer's Market on Saturday. Lots of Dahlias and fun stuff like ornamental kale. Mom brought gold-glittered spiral sticks from Grandma Hutch and they upped the arrangement's party factor. We used vases from my wedding last year and told people to bring home a bouquet if they would like.

Mom had leaf-shaped cookies made with 10/10/10 iced on them that we set at each place. Anthony designed cards with the "10 Reasons Why Being Married is Just Better" for each place. They included space for the guest to write their reasons.

He also designed sweet "Bride" and "Groom" tags for Anton & Ashli's seats.

I asked Anthony to print out the date 6" tall in the font from our embroidery project. I traced it on some black glitter scrapbooking paper that I had and cut out the numbers. I punched holes in the top of each number and strung it with some thin black satin ribbon. We hung it above the Bride & Groom's seat.

Mom brought pretty little jelly jars that she inherited from Grandma Hutchinson. We put little tea lights in them for the tables. She also brought a couple short, square glass candle holders that we wrapped in sheer orange ribbon and filled with a short pillar candle.

The Speakeasy in Detroit Lakes was a great venue for the after-party. We drank cocktails and ate delicious food.

This little guy was flirting with me from across the room.

Andrea made us a delicious devils-food cake with raspberry filling and a cream cheese butter cream frosting. We put a few blossoms on it and it looked so sweet. Everyone raved about how good it was.

For their gift, I made them the most Epic Embroidery Project that I've ever done. I went back to the store twice to get more embroidery floss. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Anthony designed it and it served as the inspiration for the rest of our little crafty projects.

It was a joyful day. More pictures here.

Embrace

2010-09-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Return to the scene of the crime with the photographer. Love this.

Happy First Anniversary to Us!

2010-09-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a great year.

Sometimes Doorknocking Pays Off in Ways You Don't Expect

2010-09-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

Like when they give you free tickets to go drink wine and shake hands with Bill Clinton. What?!

Go Dayton! Go DFL!

Saturday To Do List

2010-09-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

Anthony and his dad are going to cut down the trees that are too close to our house and reeking havoc on our concrete and roof. I don't want to be outside for those events, but Anthony says I need to be home for possible emergencies, so I'm going to busy myself as much as possible. (Photo from last Spring when we cut down the tree in our backyard - previous owners planted in stupid spots.)

Make salsa. I might be brave and can it, but otherwise I'll just freeze it.
Make tomato sauce. Ditto above.
Clean out and Reorganize cupboards. Neither one of us can handle plastic boxes tumbling down on us anymore.
Organize dining closet. Seems like I should be able to get more stuff in there.
And I've been dreaming about Ree's Pasta Alla Vodka all week, yum.
Like every weekend, loads and loads of laundry.

Playing and Singing

2010-08-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Anthony with Josiah and Doug at the MN State Fair Talent Show. They were robbed by a cute girl in an awesome dress which shouldn't have made up for her lacking voice and uninspired lyrics. So goes talent shows.

Lunch Time

2010-08-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

My new favorite thing to do for lunch is visiting the various food trucks that have started inhabiting downtown St. Paul. If you follow me on twitter you already know this. But you should try them too, they have yet to disappoint. So far I've tried:

@128cafe

@chefshack1

And @forknroadtruck

I'm looking forward to trying Barrio's Truck or maybe Meritage's crepe stand soon. There are lots more in Mpls too! Find them all through @tcstreetfood

What to wear to your brother's wedding

2010-08-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Things were on sale last week and I may have bought impulsively, but how awesome are these shoes and this dress?

I got the shoes used (but I can't even tell, I think I "used" them more trying them on in my bedroom) on Amazon Warehouse (didn't know this existed before now) for less than half the price that Piperlime was asking. Plus, Piperlime had sold out of my size.

And the dress was on final sale with an additional 20% off with a coupon code. I couldn't even buy it on ebay cheaper. I even tried making an offer to an ebay seller for the same price as J. Crew's sale website and they turned me down.

So excited to wear this. Now, I just need to decide which shrug from my collection to add (it will be October) and will probably also add some opaque black tights and big earrings too.

Minnesota State Fair Time

2010-08-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

The fair starts on Thursday this week and I'm really excited. We are planning to go at least 3 times.

Recently, our church (Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist) merged with Hamline United Methodist Church with a simplified name of Hamline Church. It just so happens that Hamline has a dining hall at the fair that my parents and I have been going to forever and this year Anthony and I are going to staff it for a day.

Here are mom and I in front of the Hamline Dining Hall in 2007.

Anthony is playing in the State Fair Talent Show twice this year. The first will be him solo on Thursday night at 6:00 pm. So if you are at the fair on the first night come on over to the Leinie Lodge to hear him sing "Julie Mae". *Swoon* The second will be Sunday night also at 6:00 pm backing his friend Josiah Erickson.

Here they are at tryouts. Sorry the color is so bad, it was a sunny day and I was far away.

Plus we scored Carried Underwood tickets for Tuesday night!

I'm also loving these old photos of the state fair from the Minnesota Historical Society. I want to frame them all and put them on my walls (of course). Who doesn't love the fair?!

Re: Getting something on the walls

2010-08-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

via design*sponge
For you folks that need some inspiration to hang pictures, Design Sponge posted her favorite "gallery walls" from homes she's featured on her blog. http://tinyurl.com/2uaxdul This is my preferred way to display art, but it's too much for some. Maybe just one wall in the bathroom?

I was shocked to hear that my friends and family don't know what or where to put on their walls!

Don't think of it as permanent. I switch out photos from frames all the time. Who cares if there are a couple holes in the wall, where you moved something. No one will notice.
Don't worry if the frames don't line up perfectly. Again, no one will notice. I'm more of an eye-ball-it kind of gal. However, I'm blessed with a semi-perfectionist nail pounder who relies on his tape measure and level. So, I kind of lucked out.
Don't pay full price for frames. Prior to being married I was a Target end-cap clearance maven. Thus, I have more frames than I need (and more than my husband wanted to move). Unless it is awesome art that you purchased, don't get a custom frame. Something from Ikea will probably do just as well. (I cheated a bit on this recently.)
Just put up stuff you like. Love your pet? Put their face on the wall. Love your cocktails? Take a picture at your next happy hour. Miss the view from your parent's backyard? Put it in a frame. I also like the idea of scanning old photos and having them reprinted. You've got to have some picture that you took that you like.
Put a few together. I generally don't print photographs bigger than 8x10 because the prints and frames are expensive. However, one doesn't really fill up a wall, so do a block of 4 or a line of 3.
Online photo resources are your friend. Personally, I prefer Flickr because they keep the original size of my photo, I can share it online, I can edit online (if needed) and order online through snapfish. P.S. Snapfish is your friend too, $.09 per 4x6 print. Yes, please.
Etsy is your friend. I want, like, everything on there. Take a look through my favorites for examples.

Want more help? Call me and I will come to your house.

Photo wall expanded

2010-08-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

I love to be surrounded by pictures and prints of beautiful things and people I love. It never looks like too much too me, so on Friday we added a few more to our growing photo wall. (Sorry about all the glare, our bay window is just too good:)

The "before" shot. I had moved a large print to the other side of the room and these 3 together just didn't fill out the space. It felt out of proportion. I had these two prints framed and didn't quite know where they would end up.

I love this print by my childhood friend Terese Elhard. It's taken up on her family's farm in Northome (near the Albrecht's family farm too). The words in barbed wire are just so cool. And the 'E' is in her handwriting, which is just like her mom's. They were our neighbors growing up in Bemidji and they used to have an 'E' painted above their garage door just like that. You can see her other art and contact her about prints here: //mysterese.com

Here is how it turned out. I have been begging Anthony to hang a guitar on the wall forever and he picked up a mount at Guitar Center a while ago. I just love that it looks cool and he can just pick up his guitar and play anytime he feels. He doesn't think the guitar is good enough to display. But it just makes it all the more OK if something bad happens to it. To the right of the guitar are a picture of my apartment building in New York City and a favorite shot from our wedding with my bridesmaids. (Obama is on the adjacent wall, I love that print too. Stars and Stripes By Phil Fung)

To the left are the same Elizabeth Taylor Warhol print (clearance from SFMOMA) and a shot of Julie G. with a red neon light shining on her at Bridgid's in Bemidji. Unfortunately, we are going to have to cover our old holes. You'd have thought all of those pictures would have covered them up, but alas, no.

The Minnesota print ended up next to the entertainment center. It replaced a print of the Chrysler building. Not sure where I should put that either. For now, it's in the closet.

We also added two more pics to the other end of the room. Angi's Lotus 2 and one of Anthony singing in his old kitchen. Makes it more dimond-y shaped than the previous arrangement.

The whole wall. I didn't get a shot of it but we also put up the hoop I embroidered for our wedding by the TV. Maybe some day I'll convince Anthony to let me rearrange the furniture, but I'm happy with it for now.

We Love The Swell Season

2010-07-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

They played at First Avenue Sunday night. We got in line an hour and a half early for good spots near the stage, because this girl is short. The show was great, as always. theswellseason.com

Clothesline

2010-07-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

The new clothesline got it's first real use on Friday. It was hot and a little breezy and I was home to do housework.

Lily Anne Turns 1

2010-07-12T08:21:00.001-07:00

Cake!

She likes the tissue paper best.

Uncle Anthony got her a xylophone, but Lily preferred to use the mallets as chew toys.

Guthrie Gator Farm

2010-07-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend we visited the Farmer's Market in Bemidji, mostly to see Angi, Jimmy and Amber's stand (Guthrie Gator Farm & Gardens). The tomatoes aren't ripe yet, but they had a wonderful assortment of breads and pastries. We brought home some delicious whole wheat bread and a couple sweet treats too.

Afterwards, we stopped over to Bad Cat Creations to see Angi's watercolors, which were up and for sale. I snapped up an awesome print of Lotus 2. And a print of Minnesota Counties by Cody Bartz, it's 9/10 and signed! Can you find the misspelling?

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2010-07-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Mine is doing pretty good. Anthony weeded part of it out last night and the light was so pretty this morning, I snapped a few photos. I got a clothes line!

Dill, parsley, basil, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, spinach and dahlias (I hope they bloom this year). I need to make something with that basil! And the tomatoes have buds.

Peas and LOTS of squash (buttercup, summer and spaghetti). It's just starting to blossom. And the peas are getting pods.

Outside the Ox

2010-06-14T10:55:00.001-07:00

Dancing in the kitchen

2010-06-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

My sweet husband put on his favorite song and we danced in the kitchen last night. I love him.

Turtles All The Way Down

2010-06-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

I've just finished reading Turtles All The Way Down by Gordon Atkinson. I just loved it. I know the cover looks lame and the title doesn't seem to make any sense, but reading it makes you feel good inside. Not in a fleeting, isn't-that-nice sort of way. But, in an I-can't-comprehend-the-size-of-our-solar-system-isn't-the-universe-awesome kind of way. And in a way that I can't fully explain. He sees and describes the world and God in such a wonderful way.

The book is a collection of essays from a favorite blog of mine, Real Live Preacher. Atkinson is a baptist minister (who just recently decided to change occupations) from San Antonio writes the blog, which consists of theological essays, an ongoing fiction series, life stories and dramatized bible stories. It is such an honest and realistic view of spirituality, that it has been really inspiring to me.

I had read many of the essays in the book previously because I was part of the pre-order group who acted as an editorial board. Atkinson decided to self-publish this book so, he requested pre-orders and once he reached his goal, he had enough capital to go to the printers. My name is even printed at the beginning of the book and the author signed my copy. I thought it was a pretty good deal.

I received it in December, but it got put on the shelf and I had forgotten about it until last month.

This is his second book, I also own a copy of his first, Reallivepreacher.com that I enjoyed too. And his A Christmas Story That You've Never Heard audio book is on my iTunes and I listen to it every year.

While reading, I wished that I was in a book club on this book because I wanted to talk to others about it. Maybe, I'll get some people at my church to do that next year. And I kept thinking, so and so would love this book. There are at least 5 people that I want to give this book to.

"I will never know exactly what Jesus said, how he said whatever he did say, or what he meant when he said whatever he said in whatever way he said it.

You see my problem.

What I have are the tattered words, songs, and gospel remnants from twenty centuries of people jumping two-footed into hope. That's all I have, and I am keenly interested in these things.

I'm like a rag picker, rummaging through a mountain of moldy prayer books, old hymnals, triptych art, candle stubs, ancient texts, and other things. I crawl all over the pile, poking here and there with a stick. When I find something that interests me, I sit down and take a closer look. I flip through the pages. I look at the pictures from every angle. Sometimes my head will tilt to the right, like a dog that has just heard something very interesting."

Exerpt from All That Has Ever Been Hoped on RLP and featured in Turtles All the Way Down.

My peonies are blooming

2010-06-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again and I'm so excited that the bush that Anthony transplanted last year bloomed this year!

My neice Lily is the cutest thing ever

2010-06-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

I got to hog her this weekend over at my brother's house in Fargo. It was intensely hot and sunny but, she was still as sweet and happy as ever. Here are a few of the best clips and pics.

Lalalala

Bbbblbbbbl

Post-session to do:

2010-05-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

Bring in dry cleaning: winter coats, suits.
Plant flower gardens.
~~Plant vegetable garden.~~ Mostly done.
Get a manicure.
~~Get a haircut.~~ Just barely a trim.
~~Lay in the sun.~~
~~Run.~~ Now, need to keep running.
Sew new pillow covers.
Have people over for a fire.
Have people over for cocktails.
Take a trip to Bemidji.

Pretty

2010-04-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hoping to grow some pretty ornamental grasses like these in our yard this year. Photo from our wedding in September.

A litle work in the backyard

2010-04-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here is the work we finished this weekend. Tilled and raked the garden. Stacked wood, piled rock. Anthony made a fire ring last weekend. Since it rained we feel a little safer having a fire now.

We cut down a tree that was too close to the fence and growing into the neighbors nice Maple.

Back of the house and piles of branches. Anyone want to make a wreath?

You can see the second, smaller tree that was more intertwined in the Maple. We ended up cutting the top off and falling the bottom 2/3rds of the trunk. The top stayed stuck in the Maple until a strong wind came up and blew it down (on top of the fence into the neighbors yard. Ack!)

Our wood pile from the tree and the pile of landscaping rocks we found in our garden.

Living Room update

2010-03-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

The living room is sort of in the shape that I like it. I still would like to rearrange the furniture so that it is more inviting for visitors and conducive to conversation.

Anthony put together our cabinets from Ikea. We have DVDs in the cupboard on top. Inside the bottom is our new PS3 and extra cables. You can also see our hideous drumkit from Band Hero. It's super fun, I just wish I didn't have to see it all the time.

The rest of the room is pretty much the same. I still need to make new covers for the pillows so they aren't brown and swap out the brown art on the wall, but it is getting closer.

You should come over and play the drums with us:)

So maybe I went to the Black Eyed Peas Concert last night

2010-03-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jessica and a little petitioning we got to be on the floor for FREE! I definitely have the best friends this month.

They put on a great show, lots of costume changes, high-flying and video effects. Fergie looks way better in person than in the tabloids.

Ludacris opened and came out to help on G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S (All I can think of when I hear that song is Gossip Girl)

Will.I.Am did a little DJing to give the band a break.

On a rising, rotating stage. He was a robot or something.

Put your hearts up.

Needtobreathe had a little Rock Show at First Avenue

2010-03-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

And here's how it went:

Can you find Erica and me?

They played a final acoustic song on the balcony.

P.S. We got to meet the band before the show. (!)
needtobreathe.net

Life, lately

2010-03-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

I finally finished an embroidery project and remembered to photograph it. I started embroidering a tea towel with Roller Derby Girls on it in January of 2009. And I finally finished it in time to give to Erica for her birthday in 2010.

Another embroidery project that I'm proud of is this hoop that I gave to Anthony's parents for Christmas. They are building a cordwood house and have given it the clever name of "Cordial Wood". You can watch their progress here.

Jessica has decided it's spring and put away all her winter clothes. I'm thisclose to doing that too. But I'm not quite as optimistic as her. So, I'm wearing lighter or brighter colors and less wool.

I made a faux risotto last night that I'm very proud of. I've been reading about cooking pasta with the "absorption" method and I cooked with this recipe in mind. But really, I just winged it.

I started by heating some olive oil and cooking 1/2 a chopped an onion until translucent. Then I added a cup of chicken broth and brought it to a boil. Then I added a cup of orzo (all I had left) and cooked it until the broth was absorbed. I added another cup (all I had left) of the broth and again cooked it until it was absorbed.

Then, I added, bit by bit, a batch of my Aunt Lisa's "Mild Salsa" that she gave us last summer and I had in the freezer. It's more just a tomato sauce. The tomatoes were very smooth and there was a lot of good liquid for cooking the pasta. Stirring constantly to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pot. I also added red pepper flakes, dried basil, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Once the pasta was al dente, I added a big spoonful (all I had left) of sour cream to make a little smoother and creamier. And it was so yummmy.

We froze our credit cards in a block of ice a la Confessions of a Shopaholic. We're going to live on cash and not be tempted to use our credit cards. Cause it's freaking annoying to pay interest. And we have plenty of debt with our mortgage and everything.

I started working out again this week. I'm very inspired by Natalie Hill (I read her blog & twitter) who is currently training to teach at Physique 57 in NYC. Which means she is doing 2 or 3 workouts per day.

Also, inspired cause my clothes aren't fitting right. Anthony and I did a couples workout on Monday. Tuesday every muscle in my body hurt. Wednesday, I ran only 2 miles on the treadmill. And Thursday my back hurt so much. I'm really surprised how much my back muscles are worked when I run. It's been a fun 3 months off, but I really want to get back to a place where I can run 4 miles and feel good. Especially, because it is getting nice out and I want to run outside and with friends!

P.S. You should follow me on twitter, I'm tweeting more than blogging. Which isn't really a lot, just more.

So, um I got to go the John Mayer concert last night. And watch from a suite. FOR FREE

2010-03-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

We owe everything to Anthony's cousin Nicole. She was our hook-up for free tickets in the Koivu/Backstrom suite. She knows a guy, who knows a guy. She's cool like that.

The background LED made for interesting repeater images.

We may have been far away, but the large screen helped and the music was awesome.

He was cool and didn't say too many weird things.

Dear TurboTax

2010-02-26T09:29:00.000-08:00

Thank you TurboTax, for turning a minor fight into a pleasurable night of data entry. Also, for telling me that we both qualify for "Making Work Pay" and for making sure that our mortgage interest deduction was included on the right line. Also, for proving me right that we should check the box for yourself and your spouse under Exemptions. You got us $1000 more refund than I did doing it myself. Huzzah!

But you do suck for charging an extra $30 just to direct deposit our refund (in addition to the preparation fee and the state e-file fee). You are lucky it's still worth it.

Now we're thismuch closer to checking off some of our to-do list.

The Man

2010-02-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

Sitting on the beach in Cancun last month.

He made dinner last night and it was so good. Then, he checked the air pressure in my car tires and filled up my washer fluid. And he got me diamonds for V-day. I am a very lucky girl.

Want to move-in across the street?

2010-02-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

Pretty sure the neighbors got foreclosed on. Their cars are usually parked in front of their house 24-7 and they haven't been for a week. And then there is the huge dumpster of furniture. Can't wait until it is moved, it seems like such a vandalism target. P.S. Promise to give you an update on the living room furniture after a thorough cleaning and a decorating tweak this weekend.

The Big To-Do

2010-02-18T08:28:00.000-08:00

Like my Grandma Christine and my mother before me, I like to make lists. I don't always do all or any of what is on my list. But, I like getting all my thoughts in order in one place. Hence, the baby name list snafu. That wasn't really for all your consumption, really just for me to keep them in one place. Tangent: I was reading Freakonomics last night and there was a whole theory about success and the baby name you choose. Gah.

Anyway, I had a latte after work last night and I should not have. I just never learn to not drink caffeine after noon. So, I couldn't fall asleep and I couldn't get my head to stop planning all the things I want to do to our house. Here's a list of what I can remember:

Paint trim white throughout house.

Living Room
Organize the front closet. Add shoe rack.
Get a big nice rug for the front door.
Change all the brown accessories and art to not brown (this includes recovering pillows and switching out some pictures).
~~Try a new furniture arrangement in LR with MORE furniture.~~
~~Move DVDs to new shelf, move book shelf downstairs?~~
~~Put out/organize CDs in shelves~~
Put piano somewhere? Under the West window?
~~Hang guitars on the wall.~~
Paint mirror frame.

Kitchen
Paint kitchen cabinets white or grey.
Get/make new countertops.
Get/make hanging spice rack.
~~Put in second hand cabinets.~~
~~Reorganize upper cabinets.~~
Put in trim.

Master Bedroom
Change light fixture
Paint furniture? Move furniture to BR?
Get night stands
~~Deal with extra shelves~~
New bedspread, new pillows

Guest Bedroom
Clean out closet
~~File everything away~~ for now
Paint walls

Dinning Room
Install cook book shelves
Remove wall between LR & DR?

Bathroom
Remove plastic tile
Reglaze tub
New tub faucet
Replace some sheetrock
Prime & repaint
Install white subway tile
Replace/make vanity, new sink, new faucet
Remove white shelf
Install towel racks.
New TP holder

Basement
Paint laundry room floor
Install laundry room shelving
Install laminate flooring in BR and Living area
Paint walls
New screen door
Rearrange furniture

Invisible man

2010-02-16T11:16:00.001-08:00

IMG_0676, originally uploaded by juliemaealbrecht.

Taken on the way out for work. Bye honey:)

New TV!

2010-02-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

Anthony won a contest at work for being awesome and his prize is a brand new TV! We get the cash to spend towards it and it looks like we will have enough for a 50' Plasma AND a PS3. Like, wow. The PS3 will play DVDs, Blue Ray discs, will be Netflix Watch Instantly and Pandora ready and I think I can plug my iTouch into it too.

So, it means we can do some re-configuring of our media set-up in the living room. We will need a new TV stand (!! I hate the old one and I'm going to use my danceteam judging money to purchase the console) and we'll have to move the leaning bookshelf and stereo somewhere else in the house. I'm hoping that we end up with some kind of speakers in the mix too, but we might have to troll craigslist for those later.

Here are a couple of options that we are considering.

Red glossy wide console & upper wall shelf unit from Ikea, formally named: BESTÅ BURS for $349.

Can also be purchased minus the wall shelf for $249, but I think it would look more cohesive and purposeful with. If we went with this one, we would paint the wall behind it white and change some of our accessories for a red, aqua/Tiffany blue, tan, white scheme. Ala this, this and this feel.

I also like this option from Target for $179.99.

Less money and no painting required. But we'd miss out on the chance to update the room.

Just a regular night at the Bayerls

2010-01-22T10:59:00.001-08:00

MVI_0018
Originally uploaded by juliemaealbrecht

Baby Names that I like

2010-01-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

Girls
Adele
Adeline
Augustina
Amelia
Amelie
Aubrey
Beatrice, Beatrix
Bella
Betty
Blanche
Briony
Cecelle
Cecilia
Charlotte, Charlie
Claire
~~Delia~~
Daisy
Dixie
Dolly
Eve, Evie, Evelyn
Elsa
Elsie
Eloise
Eleanor
Ella
Eliza
Estelle
Esther
Fancy
Frances
Greta
Hazel
Imogen
Ivy
Jane
Josephine, Josie
June
~~Lake~~
Lita
Lola
Louisa
Lucy
Lucia
Lucinda
Luella
Lullah, Lulla
Madeline
Madonna
Mae
Maisie
Magda (Czech and German)
Magdalen
Magdalene
Magdalena
Magnolia
Margot
Maude
Olivia
Ophelia
Poppy
Posy
Rosalie
Rosalind
Rosalyn
Ruby
Ruth
Stella
Sylvie
Talulah
Tulip
Violet
Willa
Wilhelmina, Mina
Winnie, Winifred
Zuzu
Zora

Boys
Anders
Andreas
August, Augustus, Gus
Barak (Biblical and presidential)
Blake
Brooks
Brennan
Bass
Basil
Bishop
Beau
Boaz
Carter
Cesar
Chester
Colton
Deacon
Ezra
Foster
Fritz
Felix
Gus
Hank, Henry
Harper
Hart
Hunter
Holden
Hugo
Isaac
Jax, Jack
Jackson
Jasper
Judah, Jude
Kennedy
Luc
Luiz
Logan
Mac
Mace
Maize
Maxwell
Moses
Porter
Pax
Redmond
Rex
Reeve
Reese
Roman
Romy
Ralph
Raleigh
Reuben
Rory
Tate
Tuck, Tucker
Thor
Xavier
Zander, Xander

For next year:

2010-01-04T13:11:00.001-08:00

Make a champagne saucer pyramid! Photo via Coco & Kelly

Christmas tree

2009-12-21T12:05:00.000-08:00

We're slowly making it festive at our house. Last Sunday we put up the tree. We reused ribbon from the wedding and silver balls from Good Will. Pretty cute. The tree is ok too.

Needtobreathe is coming back in March!

2009-12-15T08:46:00.000-08:00

And they are playing First Ave!

Saturday, March 20, 2010
Minneapolis, MN
First Avenue
With Special Guests: Stephen Kellogg & Graham Colton
Pre-sale tickets for fan club go on sale Friday, December 18, 2009

And this time they are offering a VIP Event Ticket Package with Fan Club Pre-Order that includes:

- A General Admission Ticket to the show of your choice
- Access to a VIP Meet and Greet with Needtobreathe
- A 1 year membership in the Needtobreathe Fanclub (when it launches)
- A Needtobreathe T-shirt
- A Commemorative Laminate

Perfect for mildly obsessed fans like me:) I'm so excited. And I totally called that they would play First Avenue the next time they came to town.

Mom came to town

2009-11-25T13:38:00.000-08:00

My mom came to town last weekend and we had buckets of fun. On Friday night we went out with Anthony's cousin and her friends to Karaoke. We pretty much dominated the microphone all night. "Who's Bad?"

Then the next night Anthony DJed my Aunt's 50th Birthday Party in Red Wing. At the last minute he had to make a cable adapter from miscellaneous parts McGyver style.

We all had a pretty great time dancing singing and drinking cocktails. Mom even had a car bomb with Anthony and my Uncle. Ha!

Mom and I accidentally wore matching outfits. Like mother, like daughter.

Auntie Lisa requested no gifts, but did receive a lovely sequined butterfly top, symbolizing this new life cycle. Her she is modeling it over her t-shirt with my Mom. I gave her my rooster lamp for her new French country decorated kitchen. She had seen it at my house before and exclaimed how great it would be in her kitchen. So, I bid it a fond farewell.

Paul Bunyan and Babe

2009-11-20T11:12:00.000-08:00

Love this print. From Aesthetic Apparatus.

Book signing with Jenny Hart!

2009-11-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

Photo via Pimp Stitch

My favorite embroidery pattern designer had a book signing in Minneapolis last night. I picked up her new book Embroidered Effects, got it signed and had a lovely chat with her. I thanked her for making cool embroidery patterns and we discussed the benefits of using water soluble fabric stabilizer. Craft geek-out!

I now have all three of her books and lots of Sublime Stitching patterns. Must be time to actually do that girls craft night!

I love her Dolly Parton embroidery portrait. I've been thinking about doing an embroidery of a Warhol picture (Jackie O) or a CD cover (The Outsiders).

For more embroidery awesomeness, check out her blog, Embroidery As Art or follow her on twitter for extra sales, @sublimestitching.

I wanted a picture but, I forgot my camera, I could just kick myself. I think it's the first time it has been left at home in a million years.

Baby clothes that aren't lame.

2009-11-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Loving these cute baby clothes from American Apparel. Thinking they would make good Christmas presents for my new niece.

Grey Bedroom

2009-11-14T13:58:00.000-08:00

Our master bedroom is finally starting to get to a place where I want to show it to you. I broke down and bought a bedskirt and I'm really happy to have the boxspring hidden.

I hung pictures on the wall! SO happy to have things up on display.

I framed some Anna Maria Horner fabric in hoops and even embroidered one. They hang out around St. Theresa, a gift from my Grandma Albrecht. She hangs above a collage frame of photos that I love.

I bought the Keep Calm poster especially to add yellow to my grey, white and yellow scheme. Which is evolving to include pale blue, lavender, and beige. I'm happy to have the lovely Jen Oaks "Pink Tights" print back up. Which conveniently includes some yellow orange heels. It looks sweet with a favorite shot of Jess from our trip to San Francisco.

The closet is organized!

I still have dreams about painting the trim white, replacing the ceiling fan with a chandelier or updated fan and painting the furniture (black, white, yellow, pale blue?).

But, for now, I'm pretty happy with it.

Night out on the town

2009-11-09T13:48:00.000-08:00

The cute husband took me out on a little date night on Friday. We recreated our first date which was roughly two years ago! Dinner at Everest on Grand where we feasted on momos and curry. I had a yummy Japanese beer and Anthony sampled the latest Flat Earth Beer, Angry Planet.

Then we met up with a couple of Anthony's buddies at Billy's where the Jameson girls were giving out free Jameson and Ginger Ale, mmm. We moved to Axel's for dueling pianos, but it was two acoustic guitars. They were OK, but not what we were hoping for.

A very nice night.

Around the house

2009-11-02T09:40:00.000-08:00

Anthony decided to install our closet organizer in the master bedroom closet this weekend. Of course, every project is going to take 10 times longer than you thought it would and this was no exception.

When he removed the old shelf, he found that it was put in before they skim coated and painted. So, there was a large divet all the way around the closet that he need to to Spackle and repaint. And Spackle takes a million years to dry.

Here it is all spackled up and drying.

On Sunday he sanded and repainted the entire closet with some Antique White paint we had purchased at the Habitat Restore for $11. (I think we are planning to use it in the guest room? I can't remember) But it looks great with a fresh coat of shiny paint. Next up time to install the actual organizer.

Also, he put up my curtains on the other window which look really great behind our headboard. And I can't wait to get my Keep Calm and Carry On poster up, so we have some more yellow in here.

And I put some great pale blue and gray Anna Maria Horner fabric in 3 different sized hoops that will be cute on the wall. I only embroidered one of them, but now wish I had done something on all of them. Oh, well.

I have dreams of painting the dresser pale blue and painting our trim bright, clean white. Another day.

I pulled out a duvet cover that my mom had given me a while back and stuffed our bedspread in it. Unfortunately, it is narrower than the bed spread, so there are even less covers to share. I still prefer the white to the faded, yellowed print of the bed spread. It was a wedding gift that my parent's received from my mom's friend when they got married. She made it from two sheets with batting in the middle and binding around the edge. I have many found memories of it covering my parents bed for years. So, I don't want to give it away.

I need a bed skirt! Gah.

More pictures when we are finished.

Fall sprucing up

2009-10-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

I think it is time for a new template on this blog. I'm hoping I can get inspired and make something pretty this weekend. I may even upgrade to the fancy features that blogger offers. We'll see. Also, my link lists need some cleaning up. And Civil Style definitely needs something more awesome than it's current bland layout.

Needtobreathe SOLD OUT the Varsity!

2009-10-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

And they did not disappoint. I took less pictures this time and tried to just enjoy the moment. We were front and center, which was awesome, but made for a bit of a strained neck at the end of the night. Also, I mostly photographed the lead singer, since I was pretty much directly beneath him, so please excuse the redundancy. But here is what I captured:

The Set List for Minneapolis 10/29/09: Outsiders, Girl, More Time, Streets, Sweet, Stones, Prisoner, Wreck Me, Lay 'Em Down, Let Us Love, Won't Turn Back, Washed, Something Beautiful

New set with images and flashy lights. New name-emblazoned piano, new piano player.

Tim from the Alternate Routes came out to sing on Wreck Me. Which is such an awesome song and I am so annoyed that you can only get it if you buy the album on iTunes. What about the pre-salers!

Tim from The Alternate Routes opened with an impressive one-man-band set.

Serena Ryder also did a lovely opening set.

Erica, Nicole and I waiting for the show to start. Needtobreathe and beer, mmm.

Matt and Anthony with his "Halloween" face.
See the whole thing on my flickr.

Slowly getting everything switched over to Bayerl (which is still weird)

2009-10-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

Here we are at the Wild preseason game in September at the Xcel.

You have to do everything in such a strategic order. I couldn't change my name at work until they had a new Social Security card. I couldn't change my name at the bank until I had my new driver's license. And everyone requires you to show them a CERTIFIED copy of the marriage license. If I had known that, I would have requested more than one so I could mail one away to the passport office and still have one at home.

I set up a new personal email address with my new last name. It just forwards everything to my old account. But my default From address is the new one when I send emails.

I applied for a new driver's license, but haven't yet received it. The bank let me squeak by and change the name on my account without my new driver's license as long as I agree to bring it in when I get it. Even so, when I ordered my checks, my name was incorrect. They were cool about it and offered me new ones free of charge.

I've notified all my credit card companies that I've got a new name, but am still waiting for new cards. Target was being way too difficult about changing my name on their credit card. Probably because I have an expired card and never requested a new one. Since I have a zero balance, I decided just to close my account. The 10% off every once in a while wasn't worth it.

Work finally changed my name over yesterday when I brought in my new SS card. Now I need to send out an email letting people know that they'll have to re-add me to their email lists and IM.

Still need to get my car title and the deed on the house changed. I notified the Minnesota State High School League and Dance Team Judges Association that I've changed my name so hopefully, ladies that I'm scheduled to judge with won't be too confused.

And it's still unclear to me if Social Security notifies the IRS of my name change or if I need to notify them as well. I can't tell from their website.

Luckily, I was smart when I set up our garbage and cable service and just used my new name. Gah, such limbo.

We had a pretty awesome time

2009-10-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

More photos on my flickr
Photos by Andrew Von Bank at Woodland Park Studio

More wedding:)

2009-10-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

Photo by Jessica Schaum

Photo by Jessica Schaum

Photo by Jessica Schaum

Photo by Melissa Bayerl via Jessica Schaum

Photo by Jessica Schaum

Photo by Jadie Hunt

Photo by Rita Albrecht

Photo by Rita Albrecht

Photo by Rita Albrecht

Photo by Rita Albrecht

Photo by Rita Albrecht

Fall

2009-10-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

To do:

Go to a craft fair.
~~Make squash soup.~~
Make pumpkin pie.
Plan craft projects for Christmas gifts.
Decorate the Master 'Sweet'.
~~Organize embroidery transfers.~~
Organize magazine clippings.
Visit the Minnesota Arboretum and buy apples, squash, gourds and white pumpkins.

Happily Married

2009-10-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

Photo by Angela Shogren

We are in wedded bliss. Everything is easier when you don't have major deadlines looming over your head. Our house is awesome and we had the best weekend with family and friends.

Monday we had a fun little date day. We exchanged duplicate gifts, drank Kopplin's, saw a matinee and splurged on lunch out. And said "I love you." A LOT. Perfect.

I can't wait to see the pictures from the photographer, but for now it's fun to see pics from the bridesmaids and guests.

Photo by Angela Shogren

Photo by Taylor Grage

Photo by Jade Hunt

Photo by Erica Johnson

Photo by Angela Shogren

Photo by Angela Shogren

Photo by Angela Shogren

Photo by Angela Shogren

Photo by Noah Hunt, via Amber Neumann

Coming Along

2009-09-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Dining room all painted. Grandpa Earl gave us his corner china cabinet that he didn't want anymore for a wedding gift. I am so thankful to have somewhere to put all of our (thanks Erica!) drink glasses. I seem to have about 5 million champagne saucers, they are just too pretty to give away.

Bedroom again. I tried my best to crop out the clutter. We really need a bed skirt and a different comforter. The curtains are sitting on the bench waiting to be hung - long creamy flocked velvet.

The guest bedroom has seen a couple different incarnations. We got a bed in there so mom could have a place to sleep last week. It's been evolving, but now the bookshelf is up and the desk is put together, I think I can finally start unloading all the paper, crafts and cards that are in boxes on the bed and in the closet.

We still don't have cable or internet, but I found my digital cable box, so at least we have public TV and the news (and Gossip Girl). I was talked into putting Anthony's couch up stairs and I do think it looks good with the tables my dad made and my awesome table lamp from Grandma Hutchinson. We picked up a pretty blue rug from Ikea and I think we desperately need some pillows. If only to put behind my back when I sit down. I'd also like to put up Anthony's large, white and bright art that he had from Ikea to lighten the room a bit.

We put a corner bookshelf that my Dad made in the awkward end of the living room and set up two of my off-white Ikea chairs to make a reading area.

As you can see we really need to put some pictures on the wall, but I'm a little apprehensive about putting holes in our fresh paint. I'll have to bite the bullet soon.

The Swell Season

2009-09-09T13:13:00.001-07:00

The Swell Season is coming to the State Theater December 5th! But tickets are $30. Hmm. Christmas present? Early birthday? Might be worth it. Should decide by next Friday for Cities 97 presale. P.S. This is the only time I've been happy to recieve an iLike email.

P.S. It was Dahlia Day at the Fair on Monday!

2009-09-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

A lot has been happening at the house

2009-09-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

We painted our bedroom walls a pretty deep blue gray (and two coats of white on the ceiling). I wasn't sure about it at first, but with the furniture and our soon to be installed curtains, I'm really starting to love it.

I primed the kitchen walls twice (really not happy with Sherwin Williams quality, we switched to Pratt & Lampert later with much better results and it was way cheaper) and put two coats of white ceiling paint up before we the final pale powder blue went on. So much more pleasing and calm than what was there before. And our cabinets look far better too.

I was pretty proud of myself for doing the kitchen paint almost entirely on my own. Anthony helped with some of the second coat primer trim. He was busy with other things like, you know, cutting a hole in the cabinets for the dishwasher. Little things like that.

Our new appliances from Sears arrived the Friday before we moved in. We were both so excited to finally have a fridge.

The room was suddenly a lot smaller and the hole was just barely big enough.

We moved in on August 29th with the help of Dads, Moms, Sisters, pick-ups, SUVs, cars and trailers.

Gah! Move in mess. I couldn't wait to unpack all my boxes and put things away. I couldn't do it fast enough. I loved when the recylcing came and took all my broken down boxes away - cleansing!

With everything in the house we began to clean and organize. But that was difficult because some of the rooms still needed to be painted.

About the only place that was sort-of done was our bedroom, mostly because we didn't put extra boxes in there.

Anthony re-caulked the tub after he took the old stuff off and I scrubbed it twice more. It's so much nicer now (ignore the foot prints in the bottom of the tub).

On Monday night I cooked our first meal with the new stove and Anthony mowed the lawn with his parent's old manual mower. So Happy.

Mom stayed the whole week and I took work off. We got up every morning and started painting or prepping to paint or cleaning and organizing. I could never have got so much done with out her. In fact, she rolled all the walls while I cut in and did trim. The first room we worked on was the living room. I wanted the same color that I painted at my house on James. Not everyone was in love with this color, but I'm enamored with it. It looks just like a latte, mmm.

The extended ceiling line made for easy cutting.

Then we moved on to washing and taping the dining room so we could prime and paint the ceiling the next day. I was glad Mom wanted to roll that too cause that primer was really smelly. She also did the difficult ceilings in here too.

I realize I haven't taken house photos for a while, because it looks even better now. More to come!

The Outsiders

2009-08-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Needtobreathe's new CD, The Outsiders, came out yesterday (the following is my geek-out fanfest)! I pre-ordered and it came in the mail on Monday. It was fun to listen to while we did our manual labor at the house.

I burned an extra copy so Anthony and I could share and I've already begun the obsessive repeat listening in my car, which is where I think it sounds best (when I'm alone and can turn it up really loud and sing along). I could gush about the entire album, but here are the highlights:

I'm loving "Prisoner", which is a bluesy, rock love song. I hope they release it as a single, because it is really fun and catchy. And my favorite song from their live shows "Girl Named Tennessee" is finally on an album. It's better live, but I still rock out to it. "She's got the prettiest shoes/And I love the way she moves/I'll never dance like this again"

"Valley of Tomorrow" has got that epic, rock'n'dance-a-billy style that was so good on their previous albums (and is good for running and commutes) "I pulled a 38 out of my bleeding heart/I killed my selfishness for bringing me this far/This far away from you". "What You've Done to Me" makes me smile because it's about a "midwest sweetheart". And isn't that something you'd like to be thought of as?

"Stones Under Rushing Water" is a hauntingly heartfelt duet with Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins, who reminds me of Patty Griffin. "Why don't we dance anymore? I'm not OK with that." This is something different for them, I wonder if they plan to release it.

"These Hard Times" reminds me of Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" with a good Needtobreathe spin. "Give me something vicious/Give me something I can be"

"Something Beautiful" stands out to me as a traditionally produced Christian song. Synth strings, less soulful (isn't it ironic) and commercial. Even the vocals at times sound like it could be Steven Curtis Chapman. I'm guessing they plan it for a Christian release. But honestly, it's still a great song too.

"Lay 'em Down" is currently 13 on the Christian charts Which is the kind of Christian music I like better than what they usually feature on Contemporary Christian Radio (video below). I can imagine youth groups using "Garden" during an altar call, with it's references to the night before crucifixion. Personally, if I was a youth leader, I'd use it during Holy week to illustrate the human-ness of Jesus and let kids make the decision about faith without the public scrutiny.

It's interesting how they straddle the Christian and secular music genres, some songs are more blatantly religious than others (but really only if you are looking for it) and some are straight up love songs. In past CDs I think they have blurred their messaging a bit more.

They'll be at the Varsity on October 29th!

Lily Anne

2009-08-21T09:32:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I forgot to mention my new baby niece that I got to meet last weekend. She was born premature on July 1st and she is so teeny tiny.

My dad has turned into a big sentimental grandpa. He held her forever on Saturday afternoon.

Then he played cats cradle with Sarah, the girl that is staying with my cousin.

It was a full Albrecht house for her baby shower. I embroidered her some onesies and forgot to photograph them before I wrapped them up.

Here with her pretty momma, Ashli.

Making a mess

2009-08-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Last week, Anthony's family came out and refinished (sanded three times, and put down three coats of polyurethane) the floors on Thursday and Friday. Once it dried we noticed a bit of fuzz from the final poly coat. So, we hand sanded the fuzzy spots on Monday night and Tuesday we put on the final fourth coat of polyurethane. Don't they look gorgeous and shiny (we decided to keep the trim wood)?

Soon we'll be able to put down drop cloths to do some painting.

Right now, we're stuck in the kitchen for any other work we want to do, while the basement is neglected and used for storage. So far we took the shelves off the walls, removed the stove hood and moved the stove away from the wall. Anthony also removed the industrial black plastic trim and all of its ridiculous glue and caulk.

Here he is scrapping glue from where the new trim will go.

We brought the extra cabinet with the blue counter top downstairs. I'm thinking it will stay in the laundry room permanently. The previous owners glued as well as screwed the shelf to the wall, so it took off quite a bit of paint when it was removed.

We sanded the holes down and filled them with spackle. This paint also had fuzz in it, so we sanded the walls to knock that down and to remove some of the paint finish so our primer sticks better. Then I got started washing the walls and ceiling (we're going to paint the ceilings).

Our electrical is scheduled to be upgraded on Monday and hopefully he'll get the washer and dryer outlet working so we can test them out. We ordered our new appliances from Sears on Sunday and they will be delivered next week! Also, we plan to move in on Saturday and my dad wants to help us paint that day. Gah, so much to do to prep.

Making it livable

2009-08-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

Everything went through and we closed on the house on Monday (Yay). We wasted no time and started pulling-up the carpet Monday night. Or rather Anthony, Betty and Melissa did. I mostly worked on cleaning the disgusting bathroom, but I did get to pull-up the dining room carpet. That is the easy part. The hard part is prying off the tack strips with a crow bar and hammer and not marring the floor.

The kitchen after a good once over by Melissa:

Anthony re-keyed all the locks in the house and replaced the door closer and handle on the front screen door, so it is a little easier to shut. It still isn't perfect, because the wind pulled the hinges out of whack, but it's a great improvement.

Anthony's parents are coming down today and sanding the floors to prep them for a new glossy finish.

Dining room before & with the carpet removed:

Master bedroom before & with the carpet removed:

Anthony is removing the tack strips.

Second bedroom before & with the carpet removed:

Melissa is washing the windows (Thanks!)

So now the question is to paint the trim or not? Anthony doesn't like the fact that the trim is darker than the floors and really wants to paint the trim white. I like the idea too, but am overwhelmed by the amount of work it would be to paint every last bit of baseboard, quarter-round, window & door frames AND all the doors in addition to the walls.

If we did decide to do it, would we need to sand and strip trip them first? Is there any awesome house that left their darkish trim and it still looks good?

On the brightside there are no popcorn ceilings (the ugly texture they spray on ceilings to hide imperfections)! But, should we paint the ceilings too? If we do should it be white or a different coordinating color?

There are only about 2 things that Anthony and I agree on in home decor: refinishing the floors and white subway tile. He likes a clean modern, industrial aesthetic and I lean more towards a mid-century, luxe style with some homemade bohemian thrown-in. We've got a lot of negotiating and compromising ahead of us.

My camera takes video in one minute increments, so I did a little tour for you folks at home.

House Tour Part 1:

House Tour Part 2:

House Tour Part 3:

House Tour Part 4:

House Tour Part 5:

Tonight, maybe a little landscaping thanks to the wheelbarrow full of flowers from Betty!

Update on the house

2009-08-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

Looks like everythings a go to close on August 10th! The seller signed our addendum, finally and we had our inspection last Friday. There are plenty of updates to do to this house that was built in the 1950s. But a few that are of higher priority.

Specifically, they found a small gas leak that needs to be fixed ASAP. Our realtor is working to have the seller fix it, cause it'd really suck for them if the house blew-up before we close. Also, we have to update the fuse box to a breaker box that can handle higher amps. Right now it's totally over loaded. Also, a few outlets in the basement are installed backwards and the outlet for the dryer doesn't work.

The good news was our furnace is only 7 years old and the water heater is 5. So, we shouldn't have to replace them. The house is really sturdy and level, so it shouldn't fall over anytime soon.

After we rip up the carpet in the bedrooms and the dining room the floors will need to be refinished. And it just makes sense to do it before we move in, so that is our second priority. And that takes $$$.

Our roof is good, but there is a spot around the chimney that needs replacing. We should finish that before fall. And there is a window that needs replacing in the basement bedroom. And another that needs a new screen.

I'm not sure what we'll do about the basement carpet right now. I'd almost prefer to rip it up and paint the floor instead. Especially, because the entry from the garage leads into the basement.

Then, of course is painting all the walls, replacing hardware in the kitchen, maybe painting the cabinets, re-doing the counters, getting a new fridge (and eventually a dishwasher) and completely re-doing the bathroom. The tub surround that is in there now doesn't even fit the faucet handles correctly, which could lead to water dripping down the wall. We'll have to wait to do that until after we've moved in. But it does worry me to be remodeling the only bathroom. We have talked about putting another in the basement, but that is a scary proposition too.

Goodbye $8,000.

House Hunting

2009-07-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

So we're getting closer to buying this house.

I know the paint leaves a bit to be desired, but the red is actually lovely brick. And paint is easily changed (I already have multiple options in my head).

I love the area. There are parks all over the place (I've already mapped out multiple running routes), easy access to I94, Target is just down the road and a HUGE thrift store is across I94.

However, it is a bit far from Burnsville, where Anthony works. But it was such a nice house for $100,000 we decided after 10 minutes of looking at it that we wanted to make an offer.

If everything goes through, we will get an amazing deal. The house sold for $205,000 in 2006, was originally listed at $119,000. It dropped to $109,900; we offered $103,000 with $5,000 seller paid closing costs. They countered with $105,000 and $5,250 seller paid closing costs. We signed their paper work with those terms and they sent it back to us with the closing cost amount crossed out and only $3,100 written in. We were peeved to say the least. Our realtors negotiated and we sent them an additional amendment with $5,000 seller paid closing costs. If they don't take this, we are walking away from this freaking bank.

But if we do get it, here's what we'd have to work with.

A living room with hardwood floors and a gorgeous bay window.

A pretty red dining room with hardwood beneath the carpet.

Two bedrooms upstairs with hardwood beneath the carpet.

The master even has a laundry shoot to the basement in the closet!

A teeny-tiny bathroom with purple walls and a nice linen closet.

It needs a new vanity and tub surround. This would probably be the biggest expense in the house, but Anthony and I are dreaming about subway tile and a pretty ikea vanity.

A royal blue and lime green eat-in kitchen.

After pulling up the carpet in the other rooms painting this room is on the top of my priority list. We'll also need a refrigerator. Here we come Sears.

A finished, dry basement with an additional bedroom.

It has a door that conveniently walks out to the backyard.

A utility room with a washer and dryer (this is where the laundry shoot goes).

An attached garage with access from the basement.

And a lovely blank slate of a backyard.

I have visions of vegetable and flower gardens, bushes and trees and maybe, down the road, a deck off the kitchen.

Hopefully, we'll close August 10th and I can get started and all my projects!

Julie Albright

2009-07-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hey did you know there is a Julie Albright American Girl doll? Me either. Last weekend, up at church in Bemidji one of the little girls ran up to tell me all about her "Julie Albright" doll. Crazy.

DIY Art

2009-07-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Kelly who writes a "scraplog" about her crafting (she also happens to have an etsy store for scrapbooking items, every jot and title) with her great idea to stretch tea towels over wooden frames for do-it-yourself art. This would be a great way to display embroidery projects. I have all kinds of ideas buzzing in my head for this!

Don't these look great (and easy)?

Running, running as fast as we can

2009-07-08T13:50:00.000-07:00

I upped my running to 4+ miles 4x/week and my knees are really taking it hard. I'm amazed at the difference adding a mile per day makes. I really want some new shoes that have more cushion and help my over-pronating problem, so my hips and knees don't ache all the time. I'd also like to find a trail route that I like to alleviate some of the stress on my knees from running on the sidewalk. (Is it worse for your joints to run on concrete compared to blacktop?)

Also, I can't find my Nike+ sensor for my iPod. I read the Wired article about how awesome they are and since the move I can't locate mine. I looked through boxes and bags last night where I thought it might be, but I had no luck. Could get a replacement for $16. It seems like a waste to buy it when I could just find mine.

Finally!

2009-07-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

Needtobreathe has a new album out August 25, you can pre-order it here. AND they are coming to the Varsity October 2nd. Pre-order tickets here.

Small Town 4th of July

2009-07-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

Highlights from the weekend:

The Lady Slippers were gorgeous on the Bog Walk at Bemidji State Park

The fly-eating Pitcher Plants were pretty bad-ass too.

From the "Down and Back Again" Parade in Big Falls

Big Falls Fire Department

Kanable's Homemade Float of Grandkids

Hot Rods

And the skid marks they left.

To do

2009-06-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

~~MSHSL registration & background check~~

~~Danceteam Judge Association registration~~

Find First time home buyer certificate

Burn Summer CD

Buy computer

Work on campaign

~~Talk to Andrea about amounts of dessert~~

~~Shop for dresses with Amber & Angi & Jessica~~

Set up pre-marriage classes w/ Anthony & Pastor

~~Design invitations~~

~~Buy paper~~

~~Get addresses~~

~~Address envelopes~~

~~Finish registry~~

~~Get pre-approved for a home loan~~

Look at houses

...

Pay off Worldperks card

Get Bakk endorsed

Buy a house

Get married

You know, just a couple things to do.

Overwhelmed.

Looking for a new computer

2009-06-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I got a new computer. My current one was a birthday gift in ~~2005~~ OMG it was 2003 and has crashed twice, had two hard drives replaced, the touch pad has died, my music collection requires an external drive, and it's so frustratingly slow I can't take it any longer.

I worked really hard at scrubbing, patching, mopping, and dusting to ensure that I received my deposit back in full plus interest from my old apartment. And I had a pretty great landlord who obliged (no nightmares this time). So, I am going to use some of that money for my purchase.

On top of basic needs like wireless internet, I'd like something that is light and thin. A processor that can handle photoshop and dreamweaver, iTunes, and my firefox browser with never ending tabs all at once. It needs to have a DVD player and a CD writer. It also needs to be large enough to hold my music and photo library. And lots of USB ports are a plus. I don't want to spend more than $699 (almost $1000 less than my old one for so much more).

This one from TigerDirect is a possibility. It's smaller, but not tiny so the screen is a decent size. It's got a good processor and a very large hard drive for the size. Also, it comes with both Windows XP and Windows Vista. So, I can choose which one I'd rather use. It meets my needs for even less money.

Quick specs: HP Compaq 6735s FM841UT Notebook PC
AMD Turion X2 RM-72 2.1GHz Processor
3GB DDR2 Memory
320GB Hard Drive
DVD player and Rewrite drive
15.4" WXGA screen
Windows XP Pro and Vista Business Operating Systems
$599.99

Summer resurgance

2009-05-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

It's the last day of session and I'm so ready for the Summer to begin. I'm going to start with a thorough cleaning and purging and moving of all my stuff to Anthony's. I'm so glad to be moving and have my life in one place. I have visions of cooking dinner and keeping a clean house. Anthony and I plan to move our gym memberships to the same place and start working out together so we can look our best for the wedding.

I feel like this Winter I've just been going through the motions of working and watching TV. And I feel like I need to spend the Summer doing the things that I love, but haven't had the ambition to do.

I'm totally out of the fashion loop and have really curtailed my shopping (see post below). So, I might make some trips to the Goodwill and see if I like anything.

I need to get running again and rid my body of all the sins I ate during conference committee. Maybe I'll boost my regular runs with some old aerobics videos. Anthony's basement is a good place to do them. I can't wait to get my bangs cut or at least unpack my scissors and trim them myself. And I'll be glad to get a little sun on my legs.

I want to embroider like crazy again, like I did two summers ago. Finish all the projects that I haven't started or are half done.

I want to make plans to have parties with friends, make dinner with Anthony. And do things that foster our relationship (i.e. things he wants to do). Ride bikes, rollerblade, coffeeshop concerts, encourage him to record a new CD.

Oh, and finish planning the wedding :)

I paid off a credit card!

2009-05-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

To put myself in a better position to get a home loan, I took Suze Orman's advice and started aggressively paying down my credit card with the highest interest rate. So, all my tax refund and Christmas money went towards my debt on that card.

Now, I just have one more card to deal with and I've also been making multiple smaller payments per month on that card. It's nice now to be able to put all my credit payments in one place instead of splitting it between two.

Last Fall, I started tracking and graphing my balances to encourage me to pay my cards off. When I was doing it in my head I thought I was paying down my debt, when in reality it was more moving it around between cards. It was really helpful for me to see it in black and white.

It also helped to stop using the cards all together (duh).

Ugh, to think of all the interest I paid on stuff I bought two years ago.

This is where I spend my late nights

2009-05-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

Can you name the senate staffers?
Courtesy of Anthony

Happy Mother's Day Mom

2009-05-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

I didn't have time to pick-up a card so I made you one from office supplies. I just put it in the mail on Friday, but I hope it gets to you in time.

You inspire me to be a better woman and continue to amaze me with your brilliance and charm. I hope some day I'm as awesome as you.

It's Session

2009-04-03T09:26:00.001-07:00

Wedding Planning

2009-03-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend up in Bemidji.

I took the opportunity to go wedding dress shopping with my mom and Amber and Angi. It was so nice to reconnect with those girls and we had a lovely girls-day out. I tried on quite a few dresses and found two or three that are in the running (but Anthony reads this so no pictures). I also had the girls try on some bridesmaids dresses. This may become the most difficult decision in the whole wedding. I would really just like to say: Go find a dark purple dress that you like. Honestly, I like the way it looks better when they are mismatched. When in real life do people dress alike and we don't think they are weird?

Anthony thinks we should write our vows - gah! That's a scary proposition, how am I supposed to feel confident about it when my fiance is a song writer?!

I was sneaky and started another blog about the wedding stuff. You can hear all about the gritty details here: Miniette Bride. There is also a link up top on the right.

Laura is doing Yoga

2009-03-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

My friend Laura (who set-up Anthony and I) has recently been certified to teach Yoga and has been doing so in St. Joseph, MN for a while. She sent me a link to her website that lists the classes she teaches. I'd love to attend her runner's yoga workshop this weekend, but we'll be at first-time home buyer's classes in Eagan.

I'm going to have to plan to go up for a few sessions.

I left my iPod at Anthony's house and now it's being babysat at EAC

2009-02-27T07:06:00.000-08:00

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 8:48 AM, Anthony Bayerl wrote:
I'm listening to your iPod on shuffle. You have some messed up stuff on here :-)

On 2/27/09 8:54 AM, "Julie Albrecht" wrote:
Like what?

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 8:55 AM, Anthony Bayerl wrote:
Love songs Vol. 20 orchestra music :-P

On 2/27/09 8:59 AM, "Julie Albrecht" wrote:
That's what I listen to when I want to feel like I'm in a Audrey Hepburn movie. :)

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 9:04 AM, Anthony Bayerl wrote:
You're Perfect! :-)

Jumped out of my seat

2009-02-20T11:14:00.000-08:00

NEEDTOBREATHE's Twitter says "Working on Girl Named Tennessee"! Yay - I can't wait until I can take it home and listen to it. Instead of just remembering how great it was in concert.

My poor Dad is laid-up

2009-02-20T10:45:00.000-08:00

My Dad had to get his knee replaced this week. He is doing well and should be able to go home soon. If you know my Dad, you know that taking it easy is not his strong suit. So, being in the hospital or cooped up in the house is pretty much torture. I just hope it doesn't snow, so he won't feel bad about not shoveling.

I fear I've inherited his bad knee and will have to go through the same surgery in 30 years. Feel better Dad!

Here's the Ring

2009-02-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

This is from last Friday a few minutes after he popped the question.

We're Engaged!

2009-02-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

Anthony surprised me on Friday. We had reservations at Chino Latino at 9:00 PM, so we were killing time at his house. He pulled out the Mad Gab game and I was sort of playing and half watching TV. He made a card so he could say "Will You Marry Me". I didn't think he was serious and I stared at him and asked "Did you REALLY just say that?" Then, he got on one knee and pulled out a gorgeous round solitaire diamond ring (pictures eventually). And I said "Well, yes!"

He recorded the whole thing and I'll probably post that soon too. Get ready for this blog to turn into Wedding Central:)

I love him to death and it just keeps getting better.

Happy Birthday Mom

2009-02-12T07:34:00.000-08:00

It was my beautiful Mum's birthday on Tuesday. I tried to embroider something in time but, I sent her some tulips for the occasion instead.

She has recently started a new blog, Bemidji Bits where she promotes civic engagement. She is very passionate about the Bemidji Community, local politics, economic development, local artists and all the things that make Northern Minnesota wonderful. I scanned some old pictures from home over Christmas and here she and my Dad are on their wedding day. Can you see why I have such a huge smile?

Spring Awakening

2009-01-30T07:50:00.000-08:00

LUUURVED it. Teen angst-y, post-modern pop-punk-rock music, set in 1890s. I'm pretty sure it's not sold out and it's here until Sunday - Go see it! (Student Rush tickets are $20 with a valid ID.)

Not only were the acting and singing great, but the on-stage band was highly entertaining, as well. The conductor (band leader in jeans and a flat cap) was SO into every song. It made me happy.

Erica and I met up at Rock Bottom Brewery before the show for some yummy supper and pomegranate cosmopolitans. We followed that with a cocktail at the show. I'm a big fan of the Orpheum's venue for it's beauty, cheap seat views and the OK to take your drink to your seat. Next time I see this show, I'd be interested in sitting on the stage. There are no scene changes and the cast sits among you.

Best quote about Domino and the recession

2009-01-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Domino is dead! Stupid, stupid recession, argh we hate you!!

Bunnyshop Twitter

Agreed.

A little ditty about the Governor's Budget Recommendations

2009-01-29T11:06:00.000-08:00

A fellow co-worker modified the lyrics from the Wizard of Oz and I thought they were too funny. P.S. "Yellow Jackets" are the Senate versions of bills, the matching "Green Jackets" are heard in the House of Representatives. They're named for their colored top sheets.

We're Off To See The Wizard
(Follow the Yellow Brick Road )

Follow the Yellow Jackets. Follow the Yellow Jackets.
Follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow the Yellow Jackets.
Follow the Yellow Jack, Follow the Yellow Jack,
Follow the Yellow Jackets.

We're off to fix the Budget, The Horrible Budget of ours.
You'll find its not so full of GLEE! With every Fee You’d ever see!
If ever a time to tax there was. THIS Budget needs it now because,
Because, because, because, because, because.
Because if we don’t we’ll….um …be full of fuzz?? (what the hell else rhymes with because?)
We're off to fix the Budget, The Horrible Budget of ours.

I kept him anonymous, but if he reads this and would like to be identified, I'll update it. He also noted that the editing process was not done on state time using taxpayer resources, just so you know.

Another magazine that I subscribe to bites the dust

2009-01-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

And it was one of my favorites, too. Domino, published by Conde Nast, will close up shop after March '09. I'm hoping that they will fulfill my subscription with Vogue or W and not Architectural Digest.

I'm a little worried that Lucky is in line for the same fate. I renewed my subscription with them yesterday in response to a (seemingly desperate) $10/year offer.

(I've wanted that "For Like Ever" poster since I received this edition in the mail in 2007)

Inauguration!

2009-01-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

Photo: Elise Amendola, Associated Press for the Star Tribune

This morning I woke up to the country radio station celebrating Bush's departure by playing Bush Bloopers. Later they played an excerpt of Obama's convention speech immediately followed by Dixie Chick's "I Hope". I was singing along at the top of my lungs. Pretty much the best start to the day I could have asked for.

I put on my cute new J.Crew clearance dress and a flag pin and I'm ready for a new administration!

As a side note, I don't think I have ever heard the Dixie Chick's most recent album on that station (after Clear Channel banned them). I love you Morning Show and I should have called-in and told you so.

Excuses, excuses

2009-01-15T10:23:00.000-08:00

Last week, my favorite, hold-it-all, purple purse from Forever 21 broke. Guess it wasn't forever. I haven't found a replacement that is able to carry my essentials, my less-than-essentials and shoes to work yet. Thus, I forgot my camera cable again.

I would really like to show you some pretty pictures from Anthony's and my date on Saturday night. We went to late happy hour at Kincaid's in Bloomington and I got some nice, low-light shots of him drinking and talking with their awesome liquor bottle wall in the background. We hadn't really had a fun date like that in a while and it felt like a throwback to when we first started dating. Way fun with yummy food and awesome cocktails.

You should also see the amazing desserts that Anthony's sister made for their Dad's birthday on Sunday. Fantastically thin and delicate almond cookies layered with pistachio and pecan cream, and raspberries. Served with lemon and raspberry curd. So awesome. We all had two servings and gobbled up what was left.

But you'll have to wait until I remember to bring it. Or turn my computer on at home. In the mean time, look at Anna Maria Horner's new Good Folks fabrics! Makes me want to make lots of quilts and pillows and monogrammed hoops.

Sup.

2009-01-14T13:48:00.001-08:00

Hi, so...I've pretty much been ignoring the blog lately. Sorry.

I'm excited to start thinking about Valentine's and here are a few of my favorites (that I plan to copy for cheap:)

luchador del amor by La Familia Green

Stitched Heart on Paper Stripes Valentine by The Petite Press

Dreamy Dreamy by The Great Lakes

Mr. Bird Has a Heart for You Valentine Card by Katie Jo Johnson

I Love You Cards by Julia Juliette

Kissing Booth Poster by Roll and Tumble Press

You Rock Valentine by Marzipan

I Love You by Samantha Hahn