The One With Summer

**Read all the way to the bottom for a special giveaway--sponsored by Uhu!

Ok, as most of you know, I don't like Summer. As far as seasons go, Fall is my favorite, followed by Winter. Then comes Summer & very last Spring. Spring just grosses me out. But, I thought that since the weather has been so incredibly nice here, I'd post a list of things I LOVE about Summer. There are some things, believe it or not.

1.) Flip flops. I do wear them in Spring too, but bust 'em out hardcore in Summer.


2.) The fact that it stays lighter much later at night. I love leaving work at 9:30 and the sun has just set. Makes the ride home so nice.


3.) The Steele County Fair & The MN State Fair. Both so much fun.


4.) Cooking on the grill. This, of course, can be done in Spring and Fall too, but there's just something about meat & veggies sizzling on the grill that screams "Summer" to me.


5.) Speaking of veggies: sweet corn on the cob!!! Absolutely love it.



6.) Fresh fruit, like woah! My favorites are cherries, watermelon, nectarines & pineapple. I buy as much as I can.


7.) Having a fire with friends, family & pups. Talking, laughing & telling stories well into the night. We do this A LOT in summer.


8.) Popsicles. Just because.


9.) Taking walks around our town at night with the hubby & pups. It's so peaceful at night when it's not quite dark yet.


10.) Sitting on the deck or on the lake with a good book. Priceless.


Now it's YOUR turn!

Tell me one thing that you like best about summer, and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a basket of Uhu! That's right, Uhu has sent me a whole bunch of their best supplies, and I am giving some away for you guys to play with! For those of you who don't know, Uhu makes tons of glue sticks, glue runners, sticky tac and more. They are the best of the best when it comes to adhesive, and I'm lucky enough to be on their design team! I'll pick a random winner next week, so make sure you leave your comment before July 15th. Thanks for playing, and good luck.

The One Where I Fill It In

1. When I heard about all the celebrities that died last week I was astonished.

2. Advil PM is the best medicine.

3. It's late, but I always try to find time to read before I go to bed.

4. Sometimes I can make up my mind, but not always.

5. My eyes have seen probably more than they should for my age.

6. The wind is blowing strongly.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having a fire with my husband and the pups, tomorrow my plans include watching fireworks in Owatonna and Sunday, I want to sleep, but instead I have to work and go grocery shopping!

The One with Some Randomness

Lots of random thoughts in my head today. First (and most important) LOOK at this picture of Jacob in New Moon! Wow, who's drooling along with me? I've always been Team Edward (and will remain so), but Jacob is WAY hotter than Edward, for sure. Edward has GOT to lose that nasty-ass bouffant haircut. Srsly.



Hmm, what else is going on in my brain? Well, I was at Hobby Lobby on Monday, and they had a bunch of Christmas craft things up already! 2 whole aisle full, in fact! Maybe it's just me, but when it's 80 degrees out, I DO NOT want to be looking at Santa's and reindeer. I mean, I guess it could be Christmas in July, but IT'S NOT EVEN JULY YET!

Girls weekend last weekend was absolutely wonderful. It was so nice to get away from everyone and everything, and Amber's mom is a wonderful host. Their home and property are so incredibly beautiful and serene. Got some shopping in, played games, watched movies, took naps, read & just had wonderful girl time all around. I would share a picture, but I am LAME and didn't take any. Amber has them all on her camera and she will be sharing with me tomorrow.

Here is a link to a "special announcement" from Jon & Kate + 8. Thoughts? I'm pretty sure it's divorce, or maybe no more episodes. Too bad, because I really did love it, before it became a train wreck. Why is it that all the shows I love end or go off of the air? SIGH. I must find something else to watch now.

I am working on a couple of fun knitting projects, including a baby blanket for a blog friend who is pregnant, some kitty toys for a swap I am in, and my super-secret project for my friends. I tried teaching Amber how to knit this weekend, and she picked it up very well! I'm hoping she ends up loving it as much as I do. It's such a soothing hobby.

Hubby and I are planning a cruise vacation for January/February 2010! I'm so incredibly excited, I just can't wait! Our last cruise was for our honeymoon in 2005, and we absolutely loved it! This one will be to Cozumel, Belize, Grand Cayman & Isla Roatan. The perfect place to be when it will be 40 below in MN! We totally have been debating on whether or not to do this, since the economy is so bad, but we decided that we only live once, and we REALLY need to get away for a while. He has been working 2 jobs plus volunteering, and I am still putting in over 40 hours per week at my job. So, we deserve it, and we are thrilled to be able to go.

I haven't been scrapping much this month--things have been too crazy around here. I am scrapping this Friday and the next weekend for 24 hours straight! Woot! Should be exciting, we will see if I can stay awake for the whole thing.

Guess that's it for now, hope everyone's week is going well! :)

The One Where You Get to Learn More About Me Than You Ever Wanted To Know

I got this from a new blog friend. She's super funny, check it out. Also, she likes knitting, the color blue and Diet Coke, so she's gotta be freakin' awesome, right? Right.

Would you rather be serious or be funny?
Funny, for sure.

Whole or skim milk?
2%, but if my husband had it his way we'd drink whole. Yick.

Are you simple or complicated?
Definitely complicated.

Grey or gray?
Gray. I'm not British. Or Greyish.

Color or black & white photos?
Color, I loves it!

Lust or love?
Love.

Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset, it's so romantical.

M&Ms or Skittles?
There is no WAY I'm going to choose between these. It would be like choosing your favorite child.

Rap or rock?
Rock.

Staying up late or waking up early?
I really love staying up late.

TV or radio?
TV.

Eating apples or oranges?
BOTH! I love all fruit.

Being hot or cold?
I would much rather be cold. I hate being Hot!

Sun or moon?
The moon.

Emeralds or rubies?
Sapphires. They are in our wedding bands. I don't care for emeralds or rubies.

Having 10 acquaintances or 1 best friend?
Hmmm. I choose 4 best friends & 10 acquaintances. I've made so many acquaintances in blog-land that I really do love dearly.

Sun or rain?
Rain. I love rainy days.

Vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream?
Vanilla.

Green beans or carrots?
Cooked green beans, and raw carrots. Never, ever cooked carrots. Disgusting.

Low fat or fat free?
Low fat.

What is your biggest fear in the world?
Sick people, spiders & the dark.

Kids or no kids?
No kids, yet! Hopefully soon!

Cat or dog?
Both. We have both & we love both.

Mustard or ketchup?
Ketchup, I suppose. It's more versatile.

Hard cover books or soft cover books?
Soft cover. I have small hands and they just fit so perfectly.

Newspaper or magazine?
Magazine. I have 9 subscriptions right now!

Sandals or sneakers?
Sandals please.

Red car or white car?
White, I guess, but I am not happy about it.

Happy & poor or sad & rich?
If I was rich, I PROMISE you I wouldn't be sad. I would buy myself some happiness. And a new car. And a vacation home. And......

Singing or dancing?
I LOVE to go dancing. I'd do it every weekend if I could. (Oh wait, I used to! Back in the day!)

Hugging or kissing?
Hugging.

Happy or sad?
Happy.

Number of candles that appeared on your last birthday cake?
28. Boo.

I want to live …
in Alaska for atleast a year of my life.

2 doors or 4 (on a car)?
4.

Coffee or ice cream?
Ice Cream.

Bridges or tunnels?
Tunnels. I hate bridges!

One pillow or two?
I have 3. High maintenance much?

Favorite toothpaste?
Aquafresh. It's like a party in my mouth.

Favorite style of food?
Chinese or American. I loves me some orange chicken and cheeseburgers. But not together! Maybe together? I've never tried that!

Favorite alcoholic drink?
Right now it's cranberry + vodka, but I also love a raspberry kamikaze or a fuzzy navel. And X-Rated or UV Blue are both awesome too!

Favorite non-alcoholic drink?
Diet Coke, iced tea or water, in that order.

What I did last night:
Worked, took the dog for a walk, finished 8 chapters of my book & 1 magazine.

I love:
My husband, my family, my friends, my life.

I hate:
People who don't watch their children (in public), slow drivers, teenagers.

Current clothes:
Capri pajama pants, flip flops & a t-shirt. Yes I am at work. Are you jealous?

Current mood:
Excited for girls weekend tomorrow!

Current music playing:
None. I'd really love some good Jack Johnson right about now.

Current Hair:
Pony tail, needs to be dyed and possibly cut here pretty quick.

Current annoyance:
If you know me, I'm pretty sure you know what it is. It involves, well, you know.

Current smell:
Dressing on the salad I'm eating.

Current thing I should be doing:
Some sort of work, I guess.

Current desktop picture:
The mountains of Alaska. Sigh. I WILL go back someday...

Current favorite music:
Classic Rock/Alternative

Current book:
The Refuge by Sue Henry

Current movie in or near the DVD player:
Hmmm, just my work-out DVD. But I was most recently watching Friends, Season 1, Disk 2.

Current refreshment:
Diet Coke, of course.

The One with 45 Things

I got this here, and just had to share. These are things I wish I could remember, no-I NEED to remember, on a day to day basis. This is real life.

{45 Things}
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion, Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone and everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give it time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift

The One In Sioux Falls

I love my family so much. As a kid growing up, we didn't have much family. I can count my side of the family on my two hands, and we never even saw them except about once every few years. Now, my husband's father (my FIL) is the oldest of 16 kids, so my husband's extended family is huge! There are so many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. It's so amazing. They are all so loving, caring and fun to be around. I always dreamed of having a huge family with reunions, weddings, etc, and I am so incredibly blessed to have married into this family. With that being sad, we do only get together about once per year. It's really hard because everyone is all spread out and we all have our own families now too. So, this last weekend was a wedding & we travelled to Sioux Falls, SD. First of all, no offense to anyone who reads this blog that is from Sioux Falls, but Oh.My.Gosh. That town is scary. I mean, I live in the sticks, surrounded by hicks and it is NOTHING like this place. The customer service is a joke. The traffic is crazy. I honestly couldn't wait to leave--the whole town just gave me a bad vibe. But, we still had a great time dancing, drinking, sitting in the sun, talking and laughing. I love them all so much and just wish we got to see each other more often. Here are a few pictures from the day:





The weather was perfect, sunny, clear & warm. I even got sunburned a bit while sitting out at the park. The ceremony was perfect: beautiful and short--just the way they should be! Then it was time to get down to the important parts, the party!
All too soon the party was over, but in typical Erwin fashion, we headed back to the hotel for the afterparty. My cousin, Michael had a suite with a hot tub, so we partied there until after 4 in the morning. Good times.



I guess we were contemplating the intricacies of the VFW bathrooms...?



Having toooooo much fun! Matthew can't even look at the camera, and I look half asleep. Hilarious!



How many people can you really fit in a hot tub???



There's a LOT of love going on in this picture.


We went out to brunch the next morning at the Flying J truckstop and then all headed our separate ways. Hopefully we won't have to wait until next year to hang out; our Aunt Linda & Uncle Allen are going to be moving to Rochester as soon as they can sell their house in Kentucky! Woo hoo! Know anyone looking for a wonderfully priced house in KY? Check out this link.

I also wanted to share some LO's I've done lately. This one is a 2 page LO I did for the design team at RSC.



And this one is also for the design team; kind of an "all about me" page. I've never done one of these before, and I've also never done an 8.5 x 11 either, so this was REALLY stepping out of the box for me, but I love how it turned out.



Other than that, not much new. Trying to enjoy summer, I've been reading a lot and doing some knitting. I really should post some knitting content one of these days, shouldn't I? Maybe next time. Hope everyone is having a good summer, so far!

The One Where I Have NOT Dropped Off the Face of the Earth

Sorry! I've been a terrible blogger. Things have been going on in my life that are just not conducive to blogging. However, I am going away for a 4-day weekend to South Dakota to a family reunion/wedding with my husband's family. I am very much looking forward to this, and am also very much hoping to blog next week. Thanks for staying around! June is gonna be awesome, because I'm gonna have a special giveaway on my blog that's sponsored by Uhu, so you won't want to miss it! Until next week....