At the end of May, Ryan and I traveled to North Carolina via car for a fun road trip around that beautiful state! I had never been there before, so I wanted to see everything that i could while we were there. It was a jam-packed trip with lots of great time together and a couple visits with some college friends! We saw some historical sights, ate some great food, drank some great beer, swam in the ocean, and heard some great music! Here's a photo recap!
Highlights: -100 Questions to Ask Your Spouse (which we did during the longer car rides) -The Ocean!! -Excellent seafood -Seeing great friends -Visiting more new breweries! -The scenery...North Carolina (and the drive to and from) was just beautiful If we go back to North Carolina, I think we'd fly, get there sooner and spend an entire week in the Outer-banks. Renting a house across the street from the ocean was the most wonderful thing ever! We had a fridge stocked with food and drinks and we'd just grab some items for the beach and walk over. We could walk back to the house for the bathroom and refills and then head right back. We only spent two nights there and I could have easily spent the whole week there. Next time...
I have really been enjoying getting closer to my local friends. I have some of the best friends in the world, but many of them live at least two hours away, and sometimes, that really sucks! Luckily, Stephanie, Lindsey, and Emily (my sister) live here, but sometimes our schedules don't allow for much needed girl's nights. I've also found great, loving, and fun friends in Jess and Ali for when a girls night out (or in) is a priority. Between all of those ladies, and a few good friends from work, I've got the support I need locally for the time in between when I see my friends that live farther away. This past spring/summer, we've had some great fun together; here's a few pics:
This recipe came straight out of an advertisement from BlueCross BlueShield, and it's pretty great! More importantly, it's pretty darn easy. This was my first attempt at risotto and I think I'll be making it again!
East Risotto with Bacon and Peas
1 onion, finely chopped
1 cup risotto (Arborio) rice
6 slices thichk-cut bacon, cooked and chopped
32 ounces (4 cups) hot vegetable stock
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup frozen peas
Heat olive oil in a pan, add the onion and fry until lightly browned (about 7 minutes). Add the bacon and fry about 5 minutes, until it starts to crisp. Add the rice and stock, and bring to boil. Stir well, reduce heat and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes until the rice is almost tender. Stir in the peas, add a little salt and pepper and cook 3 minutes, until the peas are cooked. Serve sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Serves 4.
The thought of even attempting a "summer recap" post is overwhelming! I've been MIA since the end of March and I want to catch up on everything I missed. But let's be real, if I am going to continue this on a semi-regular basis going forward, I can't commit to such overwhelming posts. I need to keep it simple. But I do feel an obligation, if only to myself, to keep this blog going. So I'm going to do a series of quick little catch-ups of some of the highlights (and maybe some low-lights) of the past few months.
Preview of things to look forward (or really, backwards) to:
As I approach my days of substitute teaching, I will have more time on my hands for reading again! Here are the books that have made it to my reading list for now:
Audio book version - to finish before Labor Day in my car rides to work.
Really looking forward to this one, for book club.
Cannot wait to read this J.K. Rowling adult mystery novel :)
Another Girl Power Book Club read for the near future!
I am a Heather Gudenkauf fan, so I'm looking forward to this book.
Any book suggestions I should add to my future list?
I got to spend this weekend with some of the beautiful women in my life. I really had a great time, nothing beats bonding time with family and old friends.
Saturday, my aunts, mom, cousin, and sister met up at the Ramada Inn in Galena and drank wine out of red solo cups before heading downtown for shopping! We shopped, drank, and ate our way through Galena!
Galena is such a cute town, I can't believe I've never wandered main street and gone shopping there before! We ate dinner at Vinny Vanuchi's before heading back to the hotel for hot tub time. :)
On Sunday morning, I parted ways from my family to head up to my high school friend, Alli's, baby shower. I got to see their new house for the first time, but was even more excited to see the mama-to-be!
She was stunning, but definitely ready for baby to come. We don't know if it's a boy or a girl, and I can't wait to meet the little guy/girl! :)
It's not like this a new revelation, but something I've been thinking about lately is how imperfect my life is. I'm not a perfect wife, friend, daughter, or sister. My marriage isn't perfect. My job isn't perfect. My house, my finances, my clothes, my body...none of these things are perfect. But you know what, I can choose to make those things perfect for me. The expectations I had for my life may have been unrealistic, or maybe they're still good goals to work towards, just on a different timeline. I feel like I still have to strive every single day to be happy with myself and where I'm at in my life. But one thing that I am certain of is that, over the years, I let a little bit of myself go in hopes of becoming a "better" person/wife/friend. So recently, while jamming to my Katy Perry album, I stumbled upon her song, "Love Me." I am in love with this song and as cheesy at it sounds, it really is helping me get back in touch with myself and trying to find the woman that Ryan fell in love with and that my friends know from when they first met me.
Love Me - Katy Perry
I lost myself in fear of losing you
I wish I didn't do, but I did
I lost my own, my own identity
Forgot that you picked me, for me
But now, I don't negotiate with insecurities
They always seem to get the best of me
I found I had to love myself, the way I want you to...
Love me, no more second guessing
No, there's no more questioning
I'll be the one defining who I'm gonna be
No concealing feelings, or changing seasonally
I'm gonna love myself, the way I want you to love me
Sometimes I wish my skin was a costume
That I could just unzip, and strip
But who I am is who I'm meant to be
And it's who you are in love, in love with
So now, I don't negotiate with insecurities
You're gonna have to take a back seat
I know I have to love myself, the way I want you to...
Love me, no more second guessing
No, there's no more questioning
I'll be the one defining who I'm gonna be
No concealing feelings, or changing seasonally
I'm gonna love myself, the way I want you to love me
No more standing in my own way
Let's get deeper, let's get closer
No more standing in my own way
(I want you to love me)
No more standing in my own way
Let's get deeper, let's get closer
No more standing in my own way
(I want you to love me)
No more second guessing
No, there's no more questioning
I'll be the one defining who I'm gonna be
No concealing my feelings, or changing seasonally
I'm gonna love myself, the way I want you to love me
Friday night was finally time for fish fry!! Ali and I went to St. Alphonsus and apparently got there early enough to beat the lines, though we had a hell of a time finding a place to sit!
We went back to Ali's for a bit to finish getting ready and hang out with her cool animals. Then we headed to the Daiquiri Factory for some samplers before going to RIBCO (Rock Island Brewing Company).
Ali's boyfriend, Zach, is in a band that was playing that night, so I was really excited to hear them for the first time. The bonus of the night was that Theresa came too and I was really excited to see her since she is moving back to Georgia in a couple weeks. :(
The Bromigos (the band) had a great show and I had a great time. Another extra bonus, I had my eye on the Cyclones game the whole time and WE WON!!
Saturday, I spent most of the day at home. I went to the gym in the morning and hung out and watched basketball most of the day. Ryan and I went to the Mallards hockey game that night and then grabbed a beer at Bent River.
Peter being weird.
We were ridiculously early to the game.
On Sunday, I went to Church (it's been too long!) and then we hurried to get some grocery shopping done before heading to my parent's house for the Cyclones game. It was an odd ending to the game, but CYCLONES WIN! We're heading to the Sweet Sixteen. Please enjoy this video of Fred Hoiberg (the coach) celebrating the win. :)
It is becoming an annual tradition to participate in the St. Patrick's Day 5K. Of course, the first year I did it, it was 70 degrees outside and Brooke and I were in T-Shirts!
Of course, the past two years have NOT brought us the same Irish luck! BUT, we start the day the same...with a drink! This year was chilly, so Ali and I got some coffee and topped it off with some Irish Creme. That warmed us up before the race.
Applying tattoos!
About to finish, with an impressive time of 48:00 after stopping to use the restroom! :)
Cheers to another successful St. Patrick's celebration! I enjoy traditions, so I think the 5k will be a must for me each year. I like getting outside, it reminds me spring is around the corner. And I love spending time with friends doing silly things in the mornings instead of just at night! :)
For as long as I can remember, "You Are Mine" has always been one of my favorite hymns to sing at Church. When I was younger, I think I just liked it because it was so beautiful, but now that I'm older and can really appreciate the lyrics, I love it because of the message. It's based on the bible verse, Isaiah 41:10 that I posted at the bottom of one of my posts a couple weeks back.
I will come to you in the silence
I will lift you from all your fear
You will hear My voice
I claim you as My choice
Be still, and know I am near
I am hope for all who are hopeless
I am eyes for all who long to see
In the shadows of the night,
I will be your light
Come and rest in Me
Chorus:
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow Me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine
I am strength for all the despairing
Healing for the ones who dwell in shame
All the blind will see, the lame will all run free
And all will know My name
Chorus:
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow Me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine
I am the Word that leads all to freedom
I am the peace the world cannot give
I will call your name, embracing all your pain
Stand up, now, walk, and live
Chorus:
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow Me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine
I was going to add the YouTube video, but there are several versions of it available. It's really beautiful, you should listen to it sometime! :)
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