Weekend Recap: October 24-26

Despite a gloomy drive on Friday, we ended up with some pretty rockin' weather for our annual fall weekend away!  Our weekend extended to two nights this year with my family renting a cabin "up north" the night before we were planning to go up with Ryan's family.  

We drove up to Marquette, Iowa on Friday afternoon with Emily and arrived at our amazing cabin with some daylight to spare!  Mom took some great pics while we still had light, then we moved inside for games and a steak dinner.  We ended the night with a fire and great conversation...it was wonderful.

On Saturday morning, Dad made a great breakfast and then Ryan and I headed out the door to meet his family for our annual outing!  Ryan spent the day fishing and I spent the day shopping with my mother-in-law and Ryan's godmother, Colleen.  We got to spend a little more time with my mom and sister too! :)

Saturday night, Ryan and I grabbed some dinner at Eddie's Irish Pub...even though the food ended up being great, we waited about an hour for it, so we didn't do much else Saturday night besides just relax.

Sunday morning, we ate some breakfast, stopped at Stark's to stock up on liquor (seriously, the best prices), and then grabbed a Bloody Mary with Ryan's momma before heading home.

As always, our weekend was wonderful and I am so grateful for my family and the beautiful country that we live in.  Life is good, we have it good, and I have so many things to be thankful for.  I am one lucky gal.

Weekend Recap - Fall and Thrifting

The weekend actually started with a scary movie night with Jess and Ashley!  It was a lot of fun getting together with girl friends and staying in for a change.  We only got around to two movies of the three because we didn't think we'd be mentally prepared for the third one, Insidious. :) We watched Candyman and The Strangers.  Ashley and I remembered thinking Candyman was really terrifying as kids, but not so much anymore.  It was super bloody though, I didn't remember that...my poor sensitive stomach, lol.  The Strangers was definitely still creepy as ever!  My aunt was also in town and watched The Stangers with us.  When the movie was over, we say around for a little bit talking about real life ghost stories and weird stuff, it was good.


In the morning, I woke up at 5:15 to get ready for our McGregor/Prairie Du Chein trip.  Early, I know, but totally worth it.  Wouldn't want to cut our day of antiquing short!  Long story short, the guys went fishing while us ladies shopped :) I scored some great deals which I'll share at the end.


On Sunday, Ryan and I hit up the apple orchard and liquor store.  Liquor is much cheaper in Wisconsin!  We ate lunch at this classic burger stand, Pete's, and then shopped a little more in McGregor.  We watched the Green Bay game with Ryan's mom at this bar that made fantastic bloody mary's.

Eagle sitting on top of a dead deer at the pumpkin patch.

Pete's burger

With my mother-in-law, Go Bears!

CHEAP liquor!!

Ok, so I mentioned I did some shopping right?  I took pictures of everything we bought that weekend, I'll put the prices so you can be jealous of the deals I found :)

Pyrex, with the lid, talked down to $9

Dip mixes, only $1 each

Nordicware bar pan with lid, $12

Dress pants,$3.95, camel scarf $4,
Sunglasses $7.95, bracelet $5

From left to right, all of these are handles:
$13.50, $19.99, $20.99

New Glarus Sampler pack, you can only get this
beer in Wisconsin, $15.99

PUMPKINS!!! $5 TOTAL! (obviously my best score)

Local winery wine $10, Cheese curds $4.50, Honeycrisp apples $7

And So They Said "I Do"

This past weekend, which I extended by a couple of a days by taking Friday and Monday off, was packed full of excitement!  It all started when I got off work on Thursday and ends right now as I get ready to return to work this morning.

Thursday Highlights

-Emily and I stopped for a delicious drink at River House

-We attended the Reba concert!

-Enjoyed some unheard of bands: Eden's Edge and Steel Magnolia

-Arrived home to friends!

-Played some games, watched some videos, went to bed way too late

Friday Highlights

-Morning walk & talk with Ashley

-Mani/Pedi with bride-to-be and friends!

-Beautiful drive up to Galena

-Catching up with long-distance friends

-Realizing how beautiful Nick & Em's wedding setting would be

-A delicious meal at the DeSoto hotel

-Getting to bed earlier than Thursday night

Saturday Highlights

-Early morning workout, despite forgetting tennis shoes

-Running errands/decorating/hanging out with Tessa, the other Personal Attendant

-Soaking in the sun on a warm, autumn day

-Witnessed the marriage of two of my best friends

-Candy Buffet

-Dancing for many hours to the reception's end at midnight

-After party on the deck

 

Sunday Highlights

-No hangover, some kind of miracle

-Being a part of the gift opening

-Brunch at a delicious diner, it was just what we needed

-Quick car ride home

-Seeing the kitties

-Going to the movie Drive, it was really good

-Realizing I didn't have to get up and go to work the next day

Monday Highlights

-Sleeping in!

-Ashley coming over

-Game of Thrones mini-marathon

-Making homemade jalapeno poppers, mmmm

-Making Pad Thai for supper

-Bierstube for football

I'm glad it's already Tuesday, but wish I had today off like my husband.  But honestly, I need to get back to a little routine in my life! Anyone want to be my workout partner and get me off my butt?

Fall. Is. The. Best.

Fall brings happiness to me, in many many ways!  I love sweatshirt weather and crispy, local apples.  I love watching football...and playing fantasy football :)  I can't get enough of red, yellow, orange, brown, pink, and dark green leaves on trees and on the ground.  I love the smell of fire-pits burning leaves and twigs and pumpkin becomes my food/seasoning/drink of choice for a couple of months.


To celebrate fall arriving, Ryan and I went on a hike up at Maquoketa Caves State Park last Saturday.  Unfortunately, all caves in Iowa have been closed temporarily, but the park and trails are still beautiful!  I was so glad we had a free weekend to get up there before I gets too chilly, which seems like it won't happen since it's like 80 degrees this week!

I got to see some fallen leaves and some trees changing colors! Plus, it was a beautiful day, it was such a good 2.5 hour hike :)  After our hike, we met my parents and little bro at Bluff Lake, which I had NEVER been to before.  It's a total family style restaurant with all you can eat fish, coleslaw, and fries.  You get there and put your name on a list and wait for like an hour (or more I've heard).  Luckily, it was so gorgeous outside we just chilled on the deck by the lake with a pitcher of beer, it was fabulous.  Oddly, we ran into Stephanie and Kyle there too, who had driven up from Davenport like us for some fish!  It was a fun experience, with good cheap food and I can't wait to go back again.

What a great fall day!  Things I am looking forward to this fabulous fall week/weekend:

1. Reba concert tonight with my sister!

2. Andy and Ashley are coming to stay with us tonight.

3. Mani/pedi tomorrow morning with friends

4. To Galena to participate in the wedding weekend of our dear friends Nick & Emily

5. Exploring Galena and Dubuque on Sunday

6. Taking Monday off to relax!!!