5.22.2013

Summer Bucket List 2013

Last summer, Trevor and I had a bucket list of everything we wanted to do during the summer. {here's last year's list and here's the recap} It was fun to work on it together and find opportunities to complete our bucket list activities  This summer is no different - we have lots of ideas of things to do and want to have them written down so we can easily access the list when we look at each other and say "So, what do you want to do today?"


-- Visit Kelley Country Creamery in FDL (look how many ice cream flavors they offer here!!!)

-- Madison Farmer's Market (link)

-- Drive in movie

-- Paint guest room dresser

-- Redo guest room bookcase

-- Door County wine tour (link)

-- Take a motorcycle ride to Lake Michigan

-- Visit Trempealeau, WI (link)

-- Enjoy a concert in the park (offered once a week in our city)

-- Put down the technology and spend time together: talking walks, bike rides, cuddling on the couch, eating dinner, etc.


Do you have a summer bucket list? What's on it?


5.21.2013

Currently

I feel like it's been far too long since I've done a light-hearted fun post and since we all know Tuesday is the hardest day of the week to get through, today's a good day to share our current obsessions.

So, currently, I'm obsessed with:

- Researching my family history. My love of genealogy is nothing new but I'm loving how easy it is to use ancestry.com to keep everything organized!

- Summer dresses. It's like a sickness how much I love summer dresses! I'm currently loving this beauty from LOFT. If I could wear it every day, I would. 


- Summer.
Seriously, Wisconsin summers are gorgeous, aren't they?!

- A vacation. Seriously, Jamaica is calling my name again.
On our honeymoon in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

- Veterans, but especially elderly ones. So many of my patients at work are veterans from WWII or Korean War and they have such wisdom to share. Their stories never fail to touch my heart, I swear.

What are you currently obsessing over?


5.20.2013

Project: Do You #11


Please note that this is a link up that focuses on individual self discovery goals. The goals you see below were set by me and for me only. If you choose to link up with us, please create your own goals to work toward and to update us on. If you are unfamiliar with Project: Do You, check out this post that introduces the project before proceeding.

#2 - Work out on a regular basis. The YMCA membership has been great but so far we've only used it for cardio. I'd love to start using some of their weight machines and getting back into swimming. I mentioned two weeks ago that I had signed up for classes but life hasn't allowed me to get to any of the classes I signed up for yet! This Wednesday it will happen, I swear.

#3 - Run a 5K. My mom and I walked a 5K about a week ago. It was cold and wet and cold. Did I mention it was cold? Even though the weather sucked, we had a great time and finished strong. I walked in honor of my Oma who was still fighting leukemia at that point. It was my first organized race/walk and I had a great time. I can't wait for The Color Run coming up in August!

#9 - Travel more. My mom and I are getting geared up for our trip to Chicago! Thanks to my good blog friend, Steph, we have lists of places to eat, drink, and shop while we're there. It's going to be a quick 3-day, 2-night trip but I am so looking forward to it! Pictures and stories to come, I promise.

#15 - See a Broadway show. This is happening while we're in Chicago. Book of Mormon, here we come! I've heard great things - plus, we have phenomenal seats, so I can't wait!

And that's all - it's been a low key couple of weeks. Last week was spent studying for finals {Turns out I got an A in biochemistry, so take note, College of Nursing!} and mourning the death of my Oma. It was more about time spent with family than working on my goals list. I hope to have more crossed off next time I update in two weeks!

How are your personal goals coming along?


5.16.2013

sadness in my heart

It's been a couple of days since I've update you on the happenings around here... and you're going to have to wait a little while longer for anything with much content, and I'm sorry about that.

Why my lack of posting? At first it was because it's finals week and I have a killer biochem exam to take tomorrow morning so I've been focusing on that. But then we got a text message in the middle of the night on Monday morning. My Oma passed away. And hearing news like that doesn't exactly inspire me to hop on Blogger and type up a handful of posts. So instead, you got silence... until I could figure out what I wanted to say that would do her justice.


She was a beautiful soul. Born and married in Germany, she and my Opa come to Wisconsin right before my dad was born. They raised their family here, began a handful of their own businesses, and enjoyed life. Then I came along. And after me, two grandsons.

We're a small family - only nine of us total, including spouses - but that doesn't mean my Oma was loved any less. In fact, she was special to me in a way that none of my other family members are.

You see, when I was younger, I felt out of place and like I didn't belong. My little brother looked exactly like my mom did as a kid and you could see my mom's dad and my mom's brother in him. When you looked at him you could tell he belonged to my mom's family. On the other hand, I didn't have features that gave me the same sense of belonging. I didn't look like my mom OR my dad.
Once I hit my teen years and started growing into my body a bit more, I realized that I was becoming my Oma. I always wondered why both of my parents were taller than me and I got stuck being short. Turns out I got my height from Oma. And my build. And my boobs. And my round face. And some of my facial features.
We were looking at old photos of hers from Germany and I kept seeing resemblances of me in photos. Every time I'd ask who it was in the photo, it was my Oma. That experience gave me such a sense of belonging and only brought me closer to her. We would giggle about our commonalities during the weekly phone call I made to her and it was a wonderful feeling of knowing where I came from - very comforting.

She had been sick with leukemia for years leading up to this, but that doesn't mean her death weighs any less on my heart. She will be missed dearly.


I hope you understand why You.And.Me.Are.We has been quiet this week and I hope you will return when my posts return to normal in a few days. While I usually work on blog posts on the weekend, this weekend will be filled with memorial services, family, and love. My posts will return next week with happier content, and I hope you'll be back then, too.

Until then...


5.13.2013

A Month's Worth of Free or Cheap Dates for You & Your Spouse

Trevor and I try to keep things fresh. You know, we try not to get in the habit of throwing on sweats as soon as we get home and plopping down in front of the TV barely noticing each other for the remainder of the evening.

Of course, there are nights that that happens. Usually after a particularly rough day at work for me or a long day of hard intellectual hurdles for Trevor.  But nights like that are few and far between because we make a point of mixing things up!

I know we can't be the only couple who has struggled to find ideas for new and exciting date night activities so we've compiled a list for you {30 ideas to exact - one for every day of the month}... and even better, most of them are low-cost or NO-cost!


1.) Create playlists for each other {don't let your spouse see what you're putting on it!} and take turns playing your chosen songs for both of you to listen to. Share a bottle of wine, and you're good! Don't forget to turn the lights down and enjoy a slow dance.

2) Similar to the idea above, make a playlist that is the soundtrack of your life together. Include songs from your past {when you first met & your first dance song} and any songs that represent your future {for us it would be songs that represent our future family and growing old together}. Share your hopes and dreams for the coming years!

3) Break out a deck of cards and play Go-Fish, poker, or any other game. Spice things up with a gamble of kisses or even items of clothing. Strip poker, anyone?

4) Go on a scavenger hunt. Google and Pinterest are full of lists for you to print off. Otherwise, make your own and enjoy!

5) Choose a recipe you've never made before out of a cookbook you own or from the internet. Try something you wouldn't otherwise pick! Go grocery shopping for the ingredients together, then come home, roll up your sleeves and get to work!

6) Go to a thrift store or a dollar store with $5 each. You have 10 minutes to pick out the best gift or outfit for the other person within your budget. Get creative!

7) Cloud watch.

8) Test drive cars. Even better? Test drive your dream car!

9) Pack a picnic basket and head outside to stargaze after dark. Bring a flashlight, a star chart and try to find as many constellations as you can!

10) Create a small buffet of desserts. Take turns blindfolding and feeding each other. No peeking!

11) Attend local open houses and start a "dream home" list based on what you see.

12) Even if you aren't looking for a new pet, visit an animal shelter. Your heart will melt when you see your spouse fawn over cute puppies.

13) Volunteer together. 

14) Get outside and go on a hike together! Bring a few snacks and stop halfway for an impromptu picnic.

15) Have a snowball fight! The winner gets to pick his/her reward: 100 kisses or a foot rub.

16) Check out two copies of the same book from the library. Read each chapter together and discuss - it's a book club for two!

17) Did you know the Dollar Tree has puzzles? You'll love a low-key night at home with your favorite TV show and a new puzzle. It'll only set you back a buck!

18) Work out together. Maybe you'll go on a run, maybe you'll do an at-home video, or maybe you'll lift some weights at the gym. Any way you choose, get those post-workout endorphins flowing!

19) Be tourists in your town or state. Don't forget your camera!

20) Get all dolled up {heels, tie, your good underwear!} and go out for ice cream.

21) Teach each other something. Maybe you're good at soccer and he's good at video games. You each get an hour to teach the other all of your tips and tricks.

22) Climb the tallest tree you can find! Teamwork, baby, teamwork!

23) Have a dance party! Remember the dorm life when your whole floor would break into song and dance instead of studying? Oh, that was only me? Get your dance on and - BONUS for a dance party with your spouse: a little dirty dancing never hurt!

24) Make wishes together and throw pennies in fountains. 

25) Go to your local bookstore and pick out books for each other. First round, pick a book the other would love. Meet up and share your finds. Second round, pick a book about something you think the other would like to learn about. Meet up and share your finds. Third round, pick a book about something you like to do together. Meet up and share!

26) Just take an evening walk together and tell each other about your day. 

27) Ask each other these questions. When it's your turn to talk, talk. When it's your turn to listen, listen.

28) Search for local festivals. Usually you can find free music, cheap food, and lots of fun!

29) Check out your nearest zoo or aquarium. 

And, if all else fails

30) Stay in, light candles, get naked, and cuddle up in bed. 

Now - get out there and get your date on!

What's your idea of a night with your spouse?


5.11.2013

Blog Button Design Battle

BreAnna from Peacoats & Plaid has started a Blog Button Design Battle and mine was picked to be part of Round 1! Scroll down and you'll see ten different blog buttons... just click on your favorite to vote for it. Don't forget I'm #10!


Welcome to Round 1 of the Blog Button Design Battle. This week's participants include:

April from Hearts on Guard
Ashley from Wannabe Green
Kelly from The No Drama Mama
Chels from Red Velvet Rooster
Kayla from Kouponing Kayla
Joanne from Creative Mess
Hollie from Blog-o-hollic
Krystal from My Life of Travels and Adventures
Rebecca from Caravan Sonnet
Sara from You.And.Me.Are.We

Vote for your favorite and most eye-catching button by clicking on the thumbnail below. Make sure you're voting solely on eye appeal. You can only vote once, so make it count.



check this out!


5.10.2013

Friday Letters


Dear work, please stop calling me and asking me to pick up shifts. I get that you're understaffed but it's finals week and I'd love to pass biochemistry - your guilt-tripping isn't helping! Dear Trevor, thank you for being such a wonderful husband. I'm so excited for you to return to the working world in a week but I sure am going to miss coming home to clean dishes every day. Dear Mom, I'm blessed that I can spend Mother's Day weekend with you walking an American Cancer Society 5K in honor of our loved ones. You are truly my hero and you've set such a great example. I love you to the moon and back and can only strive to one day be an amazing mother to my little ones like you have been to our family. Dear weather, these 40-degree days suck. Bring back the 70s. I won't even say please and thank you because it's almost the middle of May and I'm sick of your antics. My manners have run out, just like my patience. Dear nursing school, I'm not going to have any fingernails left at the rate we're going here. I'm so ready to find out what my future holds! Dear readers, thanks for being patient as I've only been able to post a couple times this week. School will be over soon and I hope to be re-inspired and full of things to share with you!

Happy weekend! What do you have planned?

check this out!


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