Ouch!

Due to my achin' achilles my exercise routine has been diminished from running my 4.5 mile route to walking it. Then after my hike this weekend I took what I thought would be another step backward as I decided to stay off my aching achilles altogether (exercise-wise) for a week and instead take on the cardio-pilates challenge that I encountered at my local Target Store. Now, I know many already think I am a fool, but this proved it, because after days one and two of cardio-pilates all I can say is this was NOT a step backward! Followed by, "OUCH!!" Everytime I move...in any direction...at any speed...I am reminded that I was a fool to think that cardio-pilates wouldn't stack up. Now...I'm not saying I burn as many calories, or that the cardio is nearly as intene as my walking/running, but all I know is that my stomach and even my legs are using muscles that I had forgotten I had...and that can't be a bad thing! Plus, hopefully in the meantime my achilles is starting to become my friend again.

Tidbits

Some pix from here and there...and there and here...in no particular order whatsoever

The final kitchen shot--never put one up of the new tile, but here it is lookin' oh so pretty!

Gampy and Alix taking a dip off the pontoon in the middle of Sturgeon lake on the 4th of July

Look at that catch!

Our friend Mike turns 35 and takes a moment to kiss his lovely lady!

Alix taking a turn at playing with baby Sawyer at Mikes B-day bash...isn't he a cutie?! You can't see her, but so is she :)

Park it right over here.

Well, what weekend wouldn't be complete with some time in the Park?! On saturday we hit PARKview Cafe for a little breakfast (see review on the sidebar), then moseyed our way over the state fair grounds to browse the antique show (why did I thinkt that'd be fun?!) and then hiked the day away in Afton State PARK.


I always forget how beautiful the state parks are around here and everytime I leave I promise myself I'll visit more often, but for some reason I never do. Anyway, afton was quite lovelybut somehow this time it didn't quite stack up to the pictures in my mind. Perhaps it was my cranky attitude, or the hot sun beating down on us once we left the woodsy area...or maybe it was my crazy achilles which drew my mind away from the enjoyment of the surroundings, or steve's squeaky shoe...but whatever it was it left me longing for something more. Don't get me wrong. It was beautiful, and the fields of wild blackberries brought a smile (or a pucker, dependig on how carefully you chose) to our eyes! So, another day I promise to go back and find the missing piece of the puzzle that left me longing for something more.


Steve in front of our breakfast spot of the week~Parkview Cafe

Right next to the Parkview Cafe was this place--perfect for Steve...how do we get him in?!

Kristin Enjoying a few fresh blackberries at Afton

Steve doing the same?

YUM!!

I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait!!

Well, Steve is probably thinking this entry is about me waiting for him to come home from San Diego...but it's not ;) (although I am looking forward to that!) It's about our wedding pictures...which we get next week!!! I am so excited to see how they turned out and relive the amazing evening--most of which was such a whirlwind that I barely remember it. So, be sure to check back next Wed or Thurs to see some of the ones I deem worthy of public viewing! Everyone cross your fingers that they turned out well--we all know I am not the most photogenic...as my mom once said (as only a mom can), "I don't know what happened, you looked so cute when we took it." (mom, don't get mad...it's funny ;)

School Supplies

I don't usually post more than once in a day, but today was school supply shopping day. My dear daughter takes after me and gets very excited about such things--clean notebooks, unsharpened pencils, a fresh bottle of glue...wonderful stuff ;) Today though, she cracked me up. Apparently these days, when you get to 5th grade, your accessories (meaning pencil sharpener, pens--you only get 2 in 5th grade, eraser, etc.) must all MATCH...what?! Who does that?! Apparently my child does, and it all revolves around the "home" in which they'll be living...if the pencil bag is brown and blue apparently everything else must be brown or blue...I tried asking why you couldn't use coordinating colors as well, such as pink, but I just got a "moooom"[insert disgusted, you'll never understand, how can you be so lame to even ask, tone.] Anyway, I gave up trying to understand and figured as long as things weren't costing any more that it was really none of my concern. And then a few minutes passed and I thought...hmmmm, maybe it's not such a bad/crazy idea--coordinating products--my classroom would look very trendy...watch out world the Bellus(-Penz) ladies are on the loose...

Dreadful heat...thoughts

I walk/run about 4 time a week (mostly walk these days...then try to run, just to see that my achilles still hurts and then end up walking). I always take the same route and listen to MPR Mid-morning...it's really my only intellectual stimulation. Sadly most of my life I'm an underknowledged (see...is that even a word?!) individual. So today, the heat made me suffer a bit on my walk and the talk on mid-mornign was about CEO's...yes, they make too much...blah, blah, blah...what's there really to discuss on that front (nothing in my eyes) ...So to get my mind off the heat I started to think about something my sister was talking about the other day. She teaches highschool and I think the story goes that at the end of one school year (after their senior speeches when they told stories about their lives as teenagers--their struggles/insecurities/etc) she gave them a little talk and told them that she wished they could see themselves how others saw them...I'm guessing she meant--funny, athletic, intellectual, etc. So today I started to think about how we see ourselves as adults...now being more mature (hopefully) do we have the knowledge to see ourselves as others see us? And if not, at this age do we see ourselves in a brighter, or more dim, light than others see us? Do we see ourselves as we want to be? Do we see ourselves as we used to be, refusing to see ourselves how we have changed? I guess you don't really know the answers to any of these questions unless you know what others think about you...and very rarely do we really tell people, especially the negatives. But I think we could learn a lot by taking a moment to at least reflect on who we strive to be and whether our actions truly match that outcome. Anwyay, enough thinking for one day...I am a sweaty mess (that damn heat sucked the life out of me...and apparently all the sweat!) and now it's time to get back to reality and hit the HGTV :)

Dream

This weekend was spent once again being busy...from Highland fest Friday night where we got to watch Dave Mordal from the last comic standing bomb on the stage, to viewing the fun art, to watching steve chow down on cheese curds, footlong hotdog, gyro and mini donuts (plus whatever he snuck in when he wasn't in our sight ;) To Ann Reed concert on Saturday night with Amy (more to come on that.) To a nice get together with Steve's friends Joel and Jamie (and their little one Taylor...Tori got to stay with grandma and grandpa)on Sunday night. A whirlwind of fun for all!

Speaking of Ann Reed...if you don't know her work, I'll just say that she is a liberal minded lady with a folky kind of music. The venue (Riverview Cafe) was a small intimate one and yes, it was filled with a lot of lesbians (as Ann is one herself), but I found her music to be filled with messages that really spoke to the heart and transcended era as well as race and sexual orientation. As a matter of fact all of her inspirational music got me started thinking a lot about my dreams and the mark that I'd like to leave on the world. So, for the sake of putting it in print, I am going to share my dream. I hope that some day when I strike it big... in teaching (LOL :)... you will all remind me of what I am about to share and push me to make it a reality.

MY DREAM...after Alix was born I found that one of my biggest challenges with daycare. It is EXPENSIVE! For a single mom working with a small income (even as a college educated professional I was making measly money in my Catholic school job...and seeing as they booted me--more or less--when I was pregnant I was forced to lose my benefits and be dealing with paying for health ins. as well--as many pregnant women do) I soon realized that even with the daycare aid I was getting (yes, a educated working professional on welfare), paying for the care I needed was a huge challenge. Luckily, I had support and guidance of my family...as well as the opportunity to find a higher paying job in the public schools. So, you are asking--What is the dream already?!?! So...here it is...Affordable Daycare! Well, I wish I could actually make that happen, but unfortunately I don't think I have it in me to become a politician, so my dream is a little more specific...I would like to buy a home in the inner city, spruce it up, and then staff it with volunteers--made up of retired (or past) teachers. I would then offer affordable daycare to low income single moms who are interested in, or already attending, programs to better their lives. We would be able to offer the expertise of teaching.... in teaching these children everything they need to be ready to attend school, in teaching their parents (tutoring) as they are working towards an education that will better their lives, and in educating the community-- that when you take away the burden of trying to find affordable child care people are willing...and really WANT TO...help themselves up and create a better life for themselves and their child(ren). I know it's more complicated than what I make it out to be here, but I believe it is very realistic. Caring people, a place in a location that would be accessible to these families, and a lot of Love is all it would really take. Even if it could only reach 10 families it would be a step in the right direction...a step to a better life...a life full of opportunity. That is it... that is my dream--a day care staffed by teachers for single moms who want to get an education that will lift their family up. Perhaps someday it won't merely be a dream.


Enjoy your week everyone! Steve is off to San Diego until Friday, so Alix and I will be here alone :( eating Leann Chin and leaving the house a mess ;) By the way... Yesterday was our one month mark of being married! How time flies!! Steve brought me a beautiful purple hydrangea (just like at the wedding) to celebrate (he's so sweet!)...I feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life (and not just b/c he gave me a flower, but b/c he is the most caring man I have ever met!)

Como Zoo--Girls Day Out!

You have been waiting...I'm sure ;) Here are the pix from our adventure to Como Zoo!!



Alix hammin' it up for the camera...as usual

Enjoying the carousel

Never too old to have a little old fashioned fun!

They were just pretty...

Good Ol' Sparky showing off for the crowd.

Recovering...

This week brings recovering from all the weekend fun! Alix and I headed to Como zoo for a day of girl fun Friday afternoon. Even at the age of 10 and 34 Como Zoo still rocks! We saw the animals, watched Sparky, rode on the carousel and enjoyed each other's company (pictures to follow soon...I know you are all dying to see them ;) Friday brought us downtown for the sommerfest concerts in Peavey Plaza. We sat in the grass and listened to the likes of The Hopefuls, who were amusing. It was a beautiful night to spend outside. Before heading down to the concert we grabbed a bite to eat at Palomino and wrapped the evening up there as well with another drink before going home...Saturday brought one of my favorite restaurants, some of my favorite people, and 2 of my favorite foods. We got to Chino Latino at opening so we could get a good seat near the patio and it was worth it--a beautiful day, made more beautiful with good friends, and all topped off with Paella and Sangria galore (YUM!). Luckily Steve and I had gone bike riding that morning so I had some extra calories to play with (albeit not enough for gorging like I did ;) Sunday brought a chance to have a little breakfast with the Penz parents. It had been since the wedding that we had last gotten together--much too long! Soon to follow was another great group of people and a fun celebration for our friend Mike's 35th birthday party...are we getting old or what?! Steve will turn 35 in a couple of weeks too...and then it's not long before it's my turn...where does the time go? Makes you start to wonder if you'll really have the chance to do all those things you hope to do in life...I guess it's time to get busy livin'! Now, I sit here watching it rain outside while feeling very happy for the quiet days that make my summer--life is so good that all I can do is smile and wonder if it can get any better than it is right now. For once life seems like it is all falling into place...I'm sure I'll be jolted back into reality soon enough, but for now I'll just smile and thank my lucky stars that life has worked out the way it has!

photobooth mischief

Here are a couple of my favs of us from our photobooth at the wedding...what a trip it was to see everyone and their messages on the whiteboards...too fun! I'm not sure why the one of Steve and I is so small, but probably for the better seeing as I am not ms. photogenic.

What to write about now?

So, life has pretty much returned to normal, but now I'm wondering what in the world do I write about. My sister said that my entry on Sangria proved the point that our lives are really just too boring to have anything interesting to share that others care about. Somehow, I think that's ok. So, from now on you will probably have to read incessant babble about the lame things I do on a daily basis and about what my weird little mind thinks about them. To start you off...

For some reason I haven't been too good about making paragraphs on this thing...I will learn the trick soon, until then good luck deciphering my everchanging topics :)

No matter how much of a grammar nazi I pretend to be (is that politically incorrect?!) I must say that all rules regarding grammar and spelling go out the window on this thing. I do my best to type quickly so that my lil one can get on her darned webkins website or so that I can make dinner (ha!) Anyway, don't expect all my me's to be I's and all my goods to be wells...but I will try (for my mommy who I know it bothers so much) and because my daddy learned me well and I don't want him to be embarrassed.

Steve and I went biking on the 4th of July. It was the first time out on my road bike in over a year and it felt really good (well, my achilles didn't, but the rest of me did.) I miss being on my bike! Towards the end of the ride we ended up at M'haha Falls and so we decided to stop and have a little snack at Sea Salt. I'd heard they have great, fresh seafood and it was a GORGEOUS day to sit outside and enjoy. We had to wait a while, but sitting outside on a beautiful day made the wait part of the fun. However, when they brought out my food, I was very surprised to see little legs on my shrimpy. Why would they leave these on? It was all I could do to pull them off before eating the little guy. From there it only got worse as I found what I figure to be a little poo still left in it...it was all fish from that point on. Speaking of which....the grilled tilapia tacos were pretty yummy! I recommend the spot for it's scenic beauty, but you'd probably have to be a bigger seafood junkie than me (who doesn't even really like anything other than fish) to get the full flavor of the place...oh yeah, and if you go on a holiday or weekend afternoon, be ready for a line :)