The BEST Year in Review

Wow!!! It is already time for a full year review and I am actually happy to be putting this busy year to an end. So many big events in 2012 have been very exciting, but had quite a bit of stress. Not to say 2013 will be stress free, we can just hope with the wedding and house buying out of the way that we can just enjoy a simple life now! Now to a quick recap of the year....

January- We returned to CA from our Christmas break and MDK hit the road with some work travel to the east coast. He returned and we hosted his dad and stepmom. We ventured into San Fran and enjoyed seeing the sights together!

Febuaury- A very busy month of soaking in the last weeks of California sun. We traveled south to visit family that flew in to Huntington Beach. We loved getting to explore that end of the state. My mom and older sister visited us next. We drove them out to the Sierra foothills and enjoyed wine tasting and shopping. Our final visitor was EEH who was on his way back to MN from a trip to Asia. We enjoyed San Fran then headed to Napa. It was the only way to end our CA adventure. So many great memories from February!

March- We're back in WI! It happened so fast...for me that is. MDK and his dad made the drive which is quite a bit slower than my flight. We reunited and took residence in my sister's basement. We were glad they took us in as we sorted out our next move. Little did we know it wouldn't take long for us to feel the moving bug again.

April- We found it!! It was Easter Sunday and we were writing an offer on a house. The house hunting process is nothing like the reality shows on HGTV make it out to be. But, we had learned a lot in a short time and we found the one we wanted. Look at that SOLD sign!

May- April showers bring May flowers...but for me it was wedding showers! I celebrated my upcoming nuptials almost every weekend in May. It was awesome and I am so thankful for the family and friends that helped make my bridal experience complete.

June- BLISS!!!!! I don't think I can use enough exclamation points :) June was our month and probably, definitely my favorite month of the year. Not only the mushy wedding stuff, but the honeymoon to Aruba was so relaxing. Then the house which felt so grown up and scary! Yes, their was stress and tears all for good reason. I love reflecting on our busy June and the great start of our married lives.

July- We spent much of July settling into life back in Minneapolis. We took on a few house projects that involved painting and changing out every light fixture. Thank goodness we have helpful family that take payment in the form of food and beer!

August- The official house warming party was mid-August. We can thank our awesome realtor and friend ACS for helping make the party a success (she sponsored the drinks!). I also started traveling for work this time out to Towson, MD.

September- My other favorite month was full of events! We flew south to visit DJC and KMC for Labor Day weekend. Holy cow was it hot in the GA/AL area that weekend. We celebrated a wedding, then my 26th birthday, and ventured to a Gopher game.

October- Mr. EAT turned 1...already! It was fun to celebrate with him and then enjoyed a night out for my old sister's birthday. MDK turned the big 26 on the 20th and we celebrated with a little tour of some local taprooms. We celebrated Halloween with friends and I spent a week working from home due to cancelled flight thanks to Hurricane Sandy.

November- We supported some more Gopher athletics heading to another football game and a hockey game too. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and had fun weekends out with friends.

December- We celebrated with friends for our first holiday party in the new house. Shortly after we hit the road for our 2012 Christmas tour! We flew out to PA for my company Christmas party and a long weekend. We spent 3 days in MN/WI for Christmas and then flew south again! The pic below is from Panama City Beach. We plan to celebrate the New Year with great friends and cheers to one hell of a year!

Things to look forward to in 2013!

- A new job! I put my suitcase away and I am starting a new position back in Mpls. I am going to bus to work instead of fly!
- Hopefully adding another cat to our family!
- Celebrating our 1st anniversary!!
- House projects and exploring our neighborhood more
- Welcoming DJC and KMC (bentley & gus) back to Mpls in the fall
- And enjoying upcoming weddings and multiple baby arrivals!

Have a Nice Day!
LMK

A Year Ago Today!

 

 

On 11/1/11 MDK asked me to be his bride and lucky Valentina got the ring! We celebrated at our apartment that night and spread the exciting news the next day. I love to remember that night and how excited we both were. It is hard to imagine that was a year ago and how far we have come since that fun night. I couldn't have survied our busy and stressful year without MDK by my side. I loved getting to be the bride, but now I get to be the wife for life!



“Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.”- R. Browning

 

Have a Nice Day!

LMK

 

 

Liebster Award

Vanessa at Here Comes the Human nominated the blog for the Liebster Award, so I am sort of particpating! I wanted to list the 11 things and answer the questions, so you will find the fun below.

 

 

For bloggers who have less than 200 followers

 

The Rules:
Each person must post 11 things about themselves
Answer the questions that the nominator set for you
Create 11 questions for the people you nominate (skip)
Chose 11 people and link them to your post (skip)
Go to their page and tell them (skip)
No tag backs! :)


My 11 Facts
1) I travel for work and it becomes so routine that I recognize the TSA people at both airports.
2) I have been on a reading kick lately- 4 books in 2 months...that never happens.
3) I absolutely hate being cold.
4) Popcorn (specifically Pop Secret- Homestyle) is one of my favorite snacks.
5) I was told about 2 years ago that I danced like a mom...this was after taking a hip-hop dance class. All I can say is I tried to get help!
6) I am not a good commuter and try to avoid driving/road trips whenever possible.
7) I was convinced I could never use a phone without a keyboard...sorry BlackBerry.
8) Because of my job I will have to file income taxes in 5 states this year...gross.
9) I love mail! Receiving it (minus the junk) and sending it.
10) 3 years ago, I nervously let my sister set me up with her coworker's son and now we are married. CRAZY!
11) I love having parties and entertaining all of our friends and family even though I go into a little panic right before everyone arrives.

Vanessa's Questions:
1.  Where is your happy place?
Warm and snuggled up in my bed at home- can't beat it!
2.  You have the change to meet one celebrity...who would it be?
Beyonce...I think she is awesome and keeps out of the gossip pages.
3.  What would you call yourself if you could choose your own name?
In 2nd grade during Name Change day...I changed my name to Mary. I have since realized that I   like my name so I would keep it!
4.  If you could be given any gift, what would it be?
I would like some money as a gift and spend it wisely of course.
5.  What is the most embarrassing CD/Album you have ever owned and do you still have it?
I am pretty sure I had an Aaron Carter CD as it was the first concert I went to and I do not still have it...thank goodness.
6.  What's your favorite band of all time?
I am musically challenged, but I currently like Train the most.
7.  You're in the car....what's your jam? 
I am a radio listener, so whatever is on I will sing along.
8.  If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
I think so :)
9.  What was your favorite game to play as a child?
I liked to play Clue or Pay Day when we would pretend camp in our backyard.
10.  Do you have any toys or games from your childhood that you are passing to your own children?  If you don't have kids, do you have anything saved for when you do?
My parents recently returned all of my  childhood stuff that was stored at their house. I haven't looked through it yet, but I would guess that if I found anything really awesome I might keep it.
11.  Would you rather have the power to be invisible or to read minds?
This is a very hard question....but, I am going with read minds. I think it would be more interesting.

Have a Nice Day!
LMK

PS- Happy Halloween :)