packers

The Green Bay Packers have won more championships -- 12 -- than any other team in National Football League history. They have also won three Superbowl titles and will hopefully be winning another one this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. GO PACK GO!

owls :)

heres some cuties to make you smile :)

Niece

Meet Briella, my niece. Even though I live seven hours away from everyone I still continue to have really good relationships with all of my family. She is 15 months old and as cute as a button J She has also put a dent in my checking account because when I walk into baby Gap they know me by name. I can’t wait till she’s older, the clothes are much cuter, and doing things with her when she actually can say my name will be more fun. I do miss not being able to be there for certain things but I’m sure someday she will understand.

mama mia.

My mom, for those of you who really know me you probably know that we have not always had the best relationship. In high school we didn’t always see eye to eye but as I have moved away and came to college things totally did a 180. I talk to her almost every day and she has become quite the texter, we e mail and have just become a lot closer. I have really learned to appreciate her and the things she does, some may say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, it really does. I really enjoy our relationship and being able to tell her things and joke around. I don’t come home very often but when I do it’s always a good time whether it’s shopping, letting her facebook creep, the occasion Michael Jackson dance offs, or making fun of the neighbors pig. She has really supported me through showing and has become quite the fahsionista. I know that she will be there no matter what I do even if that means moving away, she may even come visit, even though that will consist of bringing the dogs. I consider her one of my close friends and think that everyone should be able to be both friends and a parent with their child. We may not always agree but I wouldn’t change ya for the world. Love love.

Lambeau, Packer, Lexus

I unfortunately don't have any good pictures on my computer

Meet Lambeau, Packer, and Lexus our three golden retrievers. There’s not much to say about them besides there three little peas in a pod. Lambeau and Packer are two years apart and are full brothers, while Lexus is her own breed, literally, she’s crazy. They spend their days laying on there hidea couch in the garage or running through the woods. They spend their evenings by the fire place or curled up on my parent’s leather furniture. Basically doing whatever they please. They are my mother’s favorite children, ask anyone. We have had several batches of puppies which is always fun, and yes mother I know what you’re thinking. I miss them like crazy when I’m at school and even though my roommate has a dog it’s just the same.

Lexus

kiss kiss, love love

Cousins are the first friends most people ever have as children. No one will ever understand your crazy family like your cousins. No one knows this better than me and Kelly, my cousin. She is one of my best friends and someone who I tell more to than a normal person should. We have so many inside jokes, the average person would not understand anything we are talking about, and we like it that way. She’s the first one I tell when something good or bad has happened and by just saying one word she knows what I’m talking about. The reason this is a day late is because I spent all day yesterday trying to figure out how I could put what she means to me into words and I hope I’m doing an ok job. I don’t think I would have gotten through high school or going through college without her. Between the drama, roommates, boys, and grades she is always there pushing me to be my best or just listen to me vent about the crazy things in my life. She doesn’t judge and has helped me through the most difficult times. I spend every spring break in California visiting her and wouldn’t have it any other way. She is also my number one care package sender, other family members take note. Her family is like my second family and who wouldn’t want a cousin as a best friend. I could go on for days about how much Kelly means to me and partly who I am today is because of her but I will keep it short and sweet by saying, Love Love K.

sarah JESSICA parker

Meet Sarah Jessica Parker, fashionista, or at least on Sex and the City. Having once sat on a couch for 3 days straight watching every episode and a movie my cousin, Kelly, I would have to say I’m in love. As we speak actually I am watching SATC. For those of you who don’t know Sarah is the main character and the show is about her and her three girlfriends living in New York trying to find love. As a bonus I got all the seasons for Christmas J thanks mom. Anyone who hasn’t watched it should. It almost makes you want to pack up and move to New York, if only I could afford the $500 shoes and $1,000 outfits they were to walk down the street ;)

igloo

I am living in an igloo. NO joke, with temperatures being -30's for the high and lows in the -40's it’s an igloo. There are drifts taller than my car and it has been snowing for about 23 days in a row. Yes, I chose to live here but my goodness could we get one day of sun? On the plus side, on Tuesday it is supposed to be above 0 wohoo!!

Horses

I have been showing and around horses my whole life. I wouldn’t have it any other way and honestly don’t know anything else except summers consisting of being outside in the 100 degree weather with long sleeves on. Starting in WWHSA and moving onto Pinto and Paint I have been having the time of my life and collecting some bragging rights along the way. I will never forget my first horse Fairlight or my fist show horse Norman who has taught me everything I know and  is irreplaceable. Norman couldn’t last forever though as I wanted to move on to more challenging things so, I introduce you to the new line up for 2011.

My trusty steed Dirti Little Rumer aka "Rumer" we have been there, done that, and I wouldn’t change her for the world. She is there for me good day or bad and always knows how to make me smile. She spends her days relaxing and only having to compete in the western events which I’m pretty sure she loves.

Meet Absolootly Obvious aka "Allen" yes, Allen. He is my semi new hunt seat horse with long legs and a big heart. He loves to please and has come a long way in the short year I have owned him. We compete in the English and Showmanship events.

And then there was Portia, the smallest and newest member of the family. She stands about 33 inches tall and shouldn’t get much bigger :) She’s my dad’s favorite and has a mind of her own. She will make her big debut this summer in hopefully the halter events and it should be a very interesting show season with three horses to take care of.

GRIZZLYS

 I finally did it. I got a NEW JOB!!!!! Goodbye hugos..... hellllooooo Grizzly’s :)
Since I know there is not one in Winona I will explain, it is pretty much a little classier than an Applebee’s. They serve steak, seafood, and your basic hamburgers and fries. I will be a server once I learn the ropes and hopefully make millions or at least the gas money to get there. No, it is not in Crookston let’s get serious here people, it’s in Grand Forks, ND which is about a 30 minute drive which won’t be too bad. So, if any of you are in the GF area stop on in for some good food and great service ;)

flamingo

Friends, family, furball, fondue, fortune cookie, future, fondant, and flamingo’s were just some ideas given to me for today. With some serious business riding on flamingos they have been the chosen idea, yes ladies and gentlemen today is all about the flamingo. Some fun facts, they can range from 3 – 5 feet tall and also are known to live in Africa, Asia, North America, Central America, South America, and Europe. Pink being one of my favorite colors, is ironic because the flamingo is pink only based on what it eats such as, algae, diatoms, and small crustaceans. They can reach speeds of 37 miles per hour while flying to new locations and can fly up to 300 miles. During the day flamingos preen using their bills and spreading oil from a gland near the base of their tail through their feathers. They spend 15 to 30% of the day preening. They live in groups called colonies and they will not nest unless they have other flamingos around them. They have very few predators making them live up to 20 to 30 years. They rest by standing on one leg. The “knee” of the flamingo is actually an ankle joint and the lower leg bends forward. Males and female also look very familiar, however the Andean flamingo has yellow legs and feet. That’s about all I got for today, but I hope everyone enjoyed the fun facts, especially Kelly ;)

evolved

Over the past two and a half years I have evolved into what I think is a much more mature and sure of herself kind of girl then I was before. By packing up and moving seven hours away I didn’t really have a choice, having struggled in high school I knew college would be a challenge. Paying for food and everything else I learned how to budget and handle my money. This year I took an even bigger leap and decided to move off campus and pay rent. So far, so good, I have had to buckle down and work for what I want which in turn I think has made me a better person. If I want something I try my hardest to work to get it, which isn’t always a bad thing. By evolving into this person, it makes me excited to see what the future will bring such as, graduation (some day), marriage, a family maybe even…time will only tell.

dad

A dad is usually a role model, an advice giver, and someone you know will always be there, my relationship with my dad is no different. My dad has been my number one fan for as long as I can remember and has been to every horse show for the past ten years. Why everyone else had a show mom I had a show dad, through the good times and bad he was always there for me. He taught me how to have good sportsmanship whether I got first or last, and to always congratulate the other person no matter what the circumstances are. He has supported me in every decision I have ever made, good and bad, and he is someone I tell everything to. I couldn’t imagine my life without him and feel for some who don’t have the kind of relationship that I do. You only get one set of parents, and I wouldn’t change mine for the world.

Chase on the Lake

Tim and I decided we would get away for a weekend and go ice fishing, which led us to Chase on the Lake. The most beautiful hotel I have ever seen with a touch of history.  Opening in 1915 with twenty rooms in Walker, MN, called the Spencer Hotel. The Chase on the lake hotel was to start being built in 1918 in place of the Spencer. The original plan was for 100 rooms with a dining room facing the lake that seated 75 people at one time. The Chases took out the first mortgage of $500.00 at 8% interest with the First National Bank of Walker on March 1, 1922. The complete project cost for the Hotel reached an astounding $150,000. Since then the Hotel has had some MAJOR remodeling, and is now known as one of the top 5 hotels in Minnesota. Equipped with a bowling alley, restaurant, wii room, and lake side shores it is ideal for any Minnesotan looking for a vacation. We had a great time and can't wait to go back; I would recommend this to anyone.

Babe the big blue ox

On our way home this weekend we passed through Bemidji, MN, a medium sized town in northern Minnesota. With much to see we decided to drive downtown and there he was, Babe. For those of you who don’t know who he is let me tell you. Babe was Paul Bunyan's right hand man, and a great helper. For those of you who don’t know who Paul Bunyan is well, there’s Google, because we are nowhere near the P's. Babe did anything from help haul things to eat anything in sight he’s part of a little American history's "tall tales" and can be seen from far far away. His favorite season is summer and he is about 77 years old. So, here he is lady and gentleman, Babe, the big blue ox.

A family.

Amy, Ann, Adam, my siblings. Although I am the youngest and yes, the only one without a name starting with an A we are family and no one can ever change that. We have had our moments where we hate each other and don’t get along but in the end were family. My sister Amy is 32 married with two boys, Caleb and Aiden, along with many pets running around. My sister Ann who I also consider one of my best friends is 30, married, with a little girl named Briella and another little boy on the way. My brother Adam works at sprint and lives in Winona, we went out for new years together and had an interesting time to say the least. I consider myself very close to my family and wouldn’t know what to do without them. Holidays are my favorite time of year, simply because I get to see them, and spend time with them. We may not say it very often but, I love you guys.

a,b,c....

I am starting a challenge. I am going to blog everyday for the next 26 days, using every letter of the alphabet. Stay tuned this might get interesting.

back to reality

It’s the first day of spring semester here in the tundra and it just wouldn’t be Crookston without waking up to more snow. Yup, more snow. Even in college students, I think, get excited for the first day of school, and not only because most classes last about 5 minutes. Seeing old friends that you haven’t seen in a month and getting to try out your new Christmas presents is always a plus. I even went through the trouble of drying my hair for such a day. So, as I unpack for the next two weeks because I seem to bring everything I own whenever I go somewhere and Stella enjoys her freedom again, I hope all of you are reflecting on a great holiday season and the people who you love, that you got to spend it with.

"I guess that's why they call it sin city..."

Vegas for your 21st birthday, crazy. Well, crazy is what I experienced for four short days. I turned 21 on December 28th, 2010 and celebrated the way I have planned for 2 years. No I did not get hammered drunk and get married in a shady chapel as some of you may think but, we were tempted. We did however walk around looking for the famous hangover spots.   I had my first legal drink at midnight which you can’t do in Minnesota and continued to drink my strawberry margaritas the rest of the day. If anyone is reading this and loves me so much they want to buy me a present (mom &dad) a margarita maker would be super! Anyways it was a trip I will never forget with the people I love the most. It was definitely worth the wait and it still hasn’t hit me that I can buy for myself :) We experienced a few different things in Vegas including, being broke, rollercoaster’s on top of over 100 story buildings, and I learned I am deathly afraid of heights. The escalators outside were scaring me. But, all in all we survived I believe we all came back with a little money thanks to the fish game, and we made some great memories that we will never forget.

Our hotel, The Luxor