Recap of Thanksgiving Weekend...

Our trip back to North Dakota was a success and extremely fun. It was filled with many activities and lots and lots of shopping. Here is a little recap of what we did on each day.

Wednesday- We took our 5 hour drive home to Warren, MN. We relaxed at my parents home for the night.

Thursday- I drove Tom to Grand Forks, ND so he was able to spend Thanksgiving with his dads sister's family, Gail. However, I did not stay I took a 45 minute drive back to Warren to spend the day with my family. We looked over and over through the Black Friday Flyers to find all the deals. At the end of the night I had quite a list of deals that my family wanted me to get for them. I head back to East Grand Forks, MN to stay at my brothers home, so I could get up bright and early for Black Friday shopping.

Friday- The day started at 3:30 A.M. and hit the 1st store at 4 A.M., which was Sears. Next stop was Best Buy, Target, and then Scheels. I was done shopping around 8 A.M. The lines were long, the people were crazy, but for the deals I received, was well worth it.  I met up with Tom's family around 9 AM for a few more stores. Then we headed to Fargo to meet up with Tom's mom sides of the family at a C'mon Inn. The family tradition for his side of the family is for all the boys that are 21 year of age and older to go out around town and have some fun. As Tom celebrated his first year with the men, I sat back with his sister and cousins and relaxed. 

Saturday- Tom woke up little on the rough side, however by the afternoon he was feeling himself again.  In the afternoon I met up with my mom and grandma and did some more shopping. Lets just say I wasn't in a good mood to be with the crowds once again. However, my mom needed a few ideas for my dad and brother for Christmas, so I tried to be a good sport and go with the flow. I was very shopped out by the time I got back to the hotel and was happy to relax in the hot tub. Later that night Tom's family rented out a great room and we celebrated Tom's cousin Bella's 1st birthday and his grandparents wedding anniversary. The night was filled with poker, games, laughing, food, swimming, and relaxing in the hot tub. 

Sunday- We took our long drive back. Our eyes were heavy, our bodies were sluggish, and with a few extra stops on the way back we made it back to Duluth. When we got back not much got accomplished. We had lots of books to open, homework to start, and words to be typed. However, we accomplished watching a movie, got Tom's X-box situated for repair, and a few chapter read in our books. Then it was lights out to a good and unforgettable weekend. 

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Weekend!

(I forgot to take pictures this weekend

and I'm a little bummed!)

Happy Thanksgiving

Today, is Thanksgiving and reminds me of all the blessings that around in my life. It reminds me of those who are less fortunate or unable to be with family and friends due to unfortunate circumstances. Also, makes me think of our troops over seas, homeless, orphans, and the familys in need that they have a place to go and celebtrate the Holiday of Thanksgiving.  For these people, I pray and thank God each and every day for all that He has done and provided in my life. I hope everyone has a spectacular day with their familys!

I'm grateful for my mom, for hosting

Thanksgiving Dinner and her

amazing cooking skills!

Nothing says it better...

than this quote from Hannah Montana, "You can learn to fly and you can chase your dreams, you can laugh and cry, but you'll always find your way back home." 

This long awaited Thanksgiving break is what Tom and I have been looking forward to. A reason to escape from the keyboard, reality, and indulge ourselves with food, family, and smell of home sweet home. A reason to leave the piles upon piles of papers, homework, essays, unanswered emails, and textbooks. In the back of our minds we are still thinking of the loads of work we will come home to, but today is the day we're taking our five hour drive to North Dakota to see our family's. The car is packed with suitcases, the beloved fuzzys, snacks, drinks, Sudoku, I-pod, and my Twilight series on audio. 

I'm grateful for objects and coffee that keep me

entertained and awake on my long drives home.

World Wide Web...

Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines...

Lately life has been on the crazy side for us. I have been sending out application left and right and waiting for that long awaited letter to arrive in my mailbox...

As for Tom...

He has been super busy getting his med school applications in, working in the Biochemistry lab, and being a full time student. Currently he is in the second stage of his applications and has been stressed to the max with over 50 essays that need to be in by the end of this month. His applications are for University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, University of Madison, and University of Illinois. I will have to admit thanks to modern day technology we are able to lay in bed, with our favorite pj's on, a cup of hot taseful cocoa for him and cup of hot delightful cup of coffee for me and plug away at the keyboard. He has also experienced a little technical difficulties this past week with his Xbox, it stopped working on him. If you know Tom at all you would know this is his mini get away at nights and on the weekends. (If you missed the  post of Tom's video game addiction you can click here.)  I relate his video game addictions like that mini vacation you take when you indulge your mind into a good book and loose all sense of time and thoughts of your real life. Furthermore, don't kid yourself Tom has gotten his video game addiction through his old computer games:) 

I'm grateful for the world wide, so

this process can move faster

instead of waiting for snail mail
to arrive.

Life’s more Divine with a "Fuzzy"…

You can look high and low, in your favorite store, elegant boutiques, but I bet you can’t find a blanket that is as perfect for you as a “Fuzzy”. Tom's mom makes these so called "Fuzzy's" and they are the best! If you ever capture Tom and I in our prime time lazy days you will see a mound of fuzzys wrapped around our entire bodies, from head to toe. Here a story behind how I received my “Fuzzy” and let me add it took quite a fight to receive one.

Every since Tom and I have been seeing each other, he has had his two green "fuzzys" on his bed, that are the BEST blankets in the world. Whenever I would go and see him, I would cuddle myself right in those two blankets and quite honestly, had a hard time-sharing. The feeling of warmth, softness, and the smell of his scent were so soothing that I didn’t ever want to leave. When it was time to say good-bye, I would tippy toe very quietly make my way past his computer chair with an armful of "Fuzzys". However, I always got caught and tackled back on the bed. He would embrace his arms around the "Fuzzy" and say, “I don’t think so”. Who said it wasn’t worth a shot again for some extra laughs and giggles before the night was over, but persistently they were taken away. 

Periodically Tom would be generous and let me borrow one for the night. He caught on real quick, and found It was hard for him to get it back once he released them from his grip. I would hide them high and low in my townhouse, so he wouldn't find it. However, one night we were watching a movie and had the "fuzzys" wrapped all around us and I was rubbing my fingers and thumb around a particular corner. He freaked and desperately asked for an explanation on why I was "ruining" his "fuzzy". I explained to him that it was something I have always done ever sense I was a baby and find myself doing it as a comfort thing. I don't notice when I do it, and I apologize and promise not to do it again. 

Well... that was a bad thing to promise and I found myself doing it more often then not. Lets just say the borrowing of the "fuzzy" was down to a minimum. 

 As the days and nights grew closer to Christmas he would consistently ask me what I would like for a Christmas gift. My response was always “A FUZZY!”However it wasn't that easy to receive one. He always told me “They are a family tradition and you can’t get one until we have dated for at least two years.” It just didn't seem fair because all his previous girlfriends had received them for Christmas gifts. He always told me after they received their Fuzzy for a Christmas gift, things turned for the worse in their relationship. He persistently told me that he didn't want that to happen to our relationship and that I need to wait.  We decided to open our presents after Christmas during our break from school. He brought me up to his bedroom blind folded; I was a bit confused, but enjoyed the anticipation of a surprise. There was a little box on his bed that he told me to open…

SO I DID…

AND GUESS WHAT…

I RECEIVED…

UMD BULLDOG SWEATPANTS!

Ah thanks babe!

The reason behind these is because

I always stole his and

He would get super

Frustrated with

them disappearing.

Then I was taken into a smaller

Bedroom across the hall, he

Told me to open the closet,

I PROCEDED…

I OPENED IT…

HOWEVER I WAS COMPLETY

OBLIVOUS

TO THE FACT

THAT THERE WAS

A TON

OF...

"FUZZY’S" TO PICK FROM!!!

YEP I GOT MY VERY

OWN PINK "FUZZY"!

My very own "Fuzzy!"I will admit

my "Fuzzy" has lots of character do

to the extra dirty and worn out

corner :)

A reason why he didn't want me borrowing his

"fuzzy" anymore is because the corners get ruined.

This green "Fuzzy" is the magical

one that I fell in love with

and always wanted to 

steal.

He is super happy that he no longer

has to share his!

You may think this is just an ordinary blanket in your eyes but

in my eyes I see...

My "Fuzzy" with a lot of Character now that it's almost a year old.

  It's the first thing I grab when I have had stressful day. 

When I have happy or sad tears running down my face it's the one that catches them.

It gives me warmth when I'm cuddling on the coach, reading a book, 

or when i need extra comfort sitting by a campfire. It also comforts me

when I feel under the weather with a nasty cold, or feel homesick for my

family. It has been many places and states throughout this year including a plane ride

down and back from Florida. It makes me feel secure late at night when I'm home

alone in this big yellow house. It's the one thing I fall asleep to cuddled against

my face, and without it I would have a hard time falling asleep at night.

 With all this added to it there is no other blanket 

that could replace my baby blanket than a homemade blanket called a "Fuzzy"

I'm grateful for my "Fuzzy" during these

Autumn days and throughout

the bitter cold 

winter.

New Moon...

I have mentioned earlier that I have currently been reading the Twilight Saga. They fulfilled my time this summer during those lazy days on the beach, rainy cold summer days and on those cold brisk autumn days.

Today, Tom and I finally got to go see the movie New Moon. It has been almost impossible to get a ticket for this movie in Duluth. Every show time throughout the day has been sold out between the two movie theaters. We thought last night at 10 PM would be a good time to see this movie; however, by the time we got through the parade traffic, found a parking spot, and when we got to the front of the line.....the sign went up saying SOLD OUT! I was super bummed. All week, I was waiting for the chance to see New Moon on the big screen.

So we thought this afternoon at 1:15 would be another good time that wouldn't be so crowded. So we took our chances and drove down there. We stood in line for a few minutes hopefully they would still have two tickets just for us and ...they did! We got our popcorn, pop, and a few snacks and made our way into the movie. As we walked down the long hallway, making our way closer and closer to the big screen, looked around the corner, only to see a FULL crowd. We slowly made our way up the stairs and found two open seats. They were perfect.  All I was hoping for was for our necks not to be in excruciating pain when we walked out.

I was very happy to see that the movie was extremely well put together. It was much better than the first Twilight movie.

Thankful for my Tree...

(I need to pick up more lights for the top

I ran out, but it still looks good for my first tree)

Today I smile! I'm thankful that my tree is up and

my house is decorated for Christmas!

Having a tree just makes it feel more like

the Christmas Season, even though

there is no snow on the ground. Also helps me

accomplish getting my Christmas Shopping done

before December 1st!

 In Addition, I picked up the ingredients to start

baking my Christmas goodies!

Always Something To Be Thankful For...

After yesterdays post I started thinking about the good things in life. I know it's hard on a rainy day...you want to shut the world out and just be left alone but don't run out on your faith...because sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand...and what you've been up there searching for forever is in your hands. This just brings to mind that Thanksgiving is just coming up around the corner and there are so many things I'm grateful for in my life. There are big and small, but I will keep it short. I have mentioned before some of the small things I’m thankful for, if you missed that post you can click here.

I made a list:
I’m thankful for…

• Tom, my dearest friend

• My Mom – for being my best friend

• My Dad- for his unconditional love and wisdom

• My brother Tyler- For being there to make me laugh during those rough times and for getting me through the first couple weeks of adjusting to college life.

• My Family- Their never ending love

• Tom’s Family- an amazing group of people that I’m so happy to have them in my life 

• Friends- for giving me those belly hurting laughs

• God- for his unending love

• My home- A place were your imagination and creativity runs wild, dreams come true, there are fairylands, and fantasy’s. The meals are homemade, delightful, scrumptious, and out of this world amazing. Where laughing, dancing, and singing are part of everyday routines. Animals are barking, purring, and neighing. It’s a place were I call Home Sweet Home.

• My rental home- Even though its not my own it’s still a comfortable and a home away from home. It’s a place were I can come home to and relax, put the feet up, grab a blanket, and devour myself in a good book. I also have great roommates to share this environment with.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day...

Have you ever had a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day like Alexander (a childhood book)? You are upset, agitated, confused, and just ready to pull at your hair. One of those days where you would rather just climb into cave and hibernate for a while, until things are back to normal. Lately, it seems like that black cloud keeps hanging over my head. Everyday I check the mail, envelopes and letters keep coming addressed with my name, and I open them with worry and excitement. However, the same words are said over and over again, “Congratulations you have been accepted to the Pre Dental Hygiene program and have been put on our waiting list. We look forward to seeing you soon to start some of your Pre dental classes”. OR “Congratulations you have been accepted to the Pre Dental Assistant program and have been put on our waiting list”. Every time I read these letters my heartaches, its a feeling of rejection, and wish one day my prayers will be answered by receiving the letter I’m hoping for. “Congratulations you are accepted”! In addition to my aching heart, I have found a place that I visit quite often to relieve that dreadful news and stress. It’s a place were your mind can wonder, think, dream and hope. It’s a place were the wind blows, the sound of water runs freely, and a place where I feel some simplicity and peace.

It's a waterfall that’s close to my rental home. Where it feels like your outside the city limits and feels like the country; however, its directly smack dab in the center of town. The noises from runners, joggers, and the casual walkers, leaves rustled and blown, the water gushing down the slopes and yet you still feel that peace of being along. 

I sit on a random rock and take it all in. My mind starts racing an that occasional tear will run down my cheek, but then I start thinking on the bright-side. College is a chapter in your life that is diminutive, quickly passed, and often times it comes and goes in a blink of an eye. I'm in no hurry to close this chapter in my life. College is only a short time of your life and these past three years have been amazing. I however, get to enjoy this time, take a few extra classes, and enjoy the last years of being a kid before I get my "Big Girl Job". Its a time were I can cherish sleeping in, get super excited for having morning class canceled, and a time where I can enjoy those good belly laughs with my college friends. After you get your degree your friends get their "Big Jobs", and quickly you realize that your once close friends are moving away. It wont be as easy to just run up the steps of our place to say "Hey". You will play countless games of phone tag instead.

In conclusion to all of this I have come to terms that these extra few semesters of college are maybe okay. I'm only twenty years old, I am still young, and these next few years are stepping-stones to my dream. I'm patiently waiting for replies on a handful of schools. For many of you who don't know, but the dental hygiene program is extremely competitive and the "waiting game" is very common... So as of now I'm currently playing the waiting game..

I have posted a few photos that were taken on our hiking trip. If you missed that post you can click here This is the exact place I come to for that feeling of comfort, peace, and simplicity during those rough days of any kind. (You can click on any photo to get its full detail) 

All these pictures capture the perfect images. I know this winter

it will be hard to get there because of the bitter cold

northern Minnesota winter. However, I'm glad 

I can look back at these and still have the perfect place,

placed into my mind again and again. 

Home Sweet Home

I currently went home to visit my family

so I'll be back at updating

my blog on Sunday or Monday!

I'm going to began my Christmas Shopping this weekend, so

I can done shopping before December 1st! That is

my goal this year so I can enjoy my Christmas with

a little less stress! Also, that way I will have more

time to study for finals and bake some

Christmas Goodies!!!

Have a Great Weekend!

A Day Well Spent Hiking...

On Saturday, Tom and I enjoyed hiking in Chester Creek. It was another way for us to enjoy the glorious weather in November. The sun was shining high in the sky,  just a handful of clouds, and we started off on our adventure in jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts!  Throughout our adventurous day we explored waterfalls, wild berries, a variety of trees, many outstanding sites, views of Lake Superior, and the falling of many beautifully colored leaves. Everything was going superb, climbing from rock to rock across the creek until....my camera decided to take a dip to cool off. It quickly ended the fun, I whipped out the battery and memory card, as Tom hurried over to help me out. If you have ever been on an adventure with Tom, he sure can turn your frown upside down, and continue on the fun filled adventure like nothing happened. Thats another reason why he is Simply Amazing...

(You can click on any of the 

photos to make them bigger, so you

can see them in full detail)

You make me so happy Tom, this picture captures

every moment of this hiking trip. Thanks for another

unforgettable adventure.

:)

Tom captured all the photographs for 

this trip.

One of my favorite photos from the trip.

A picture of a crashing waterfall.

Another photo of the many waterfalls we hiked along.

Shows how strong the current was in just

a little part of the creek.

How the current can be so strong

but yet so still...

Enjoying the sunny day.

The end of the hike. We look a little tired, cheeks are a little flushed,

and a good three hours well spent!

After 24 hours in a container of white rice, my camera, survived the water! I was very eerie putting back the battery and memory card, but turned it on and it worked like new! Yay! If you happen to drop your phone or camera into water, immediately take out the battery and memory card, and let it sit in a container of rice or bread for 24 hours. It will pull all the water out and It should work like new. Handy little trick I got from the Today Show, used it multiple times, and Its worked every time. :)

Life is good...

This weekend, Tom and I really enjoyed getting out of the house on these glorious first days of November. Friday night we decided to hit up a local restaurant, Fitgers Brewhouse, for some homemade delicious root beer.  We had a half hour to forty five minute wait before we would be able to receive our table, so we decided to walk around the building and visit some of their unique locally owned stores.  Some of the stores that we visited that night were Trail Fitgers (A outdoors store), The Bookstore at Fitgers (sold many unique games and books), Brewhouse Beer Store (A place where you can purchase their homemade beer, root beer, and buy some souvenir), Fitgers Brewery Museum (see the beer distillers and the process they go through to make it), and Jakes Lake Place (Life is Good Store). 

The one that brought deliberation to write this posting was the Life is Good Store. Walking around the store and looking at all their merchandise made me think about this month of November. You may ask “why”? This month we celebrate Thanksgiving and all the things we are thankful for in our life. 

Many things pass us by in the midst of our crazy lifestyles and we take many things for granted. Just looking over my past years, Yeah, I’ve made mistakes throughout my life, but I feel if it wasn't for those mistakes I would not be were I am today. With those mistakes, I faced dilemmas, taken the wrong paths, disapproved of my parents guidelines, caused mischief, but in the end have become a better person because of my parents and the love they had for me to strive. 

Think of all the things that we are so lucky to encounter in our lifestyles, but yet often times people forget to count their blessings and choose to find fault in their mind and soul.  Life is good in many ways, and I have so much to be thankful for this season. I want to mention that the small things in life, like receiving a kiss on the forehead after a rough day, getting woke up with a text saying "I love you, have a great day, babe", and having sweet surprises, like the good old snail mail from my mom, makes you look at those small things and smile. After our dining out we decided to put in the Disney movie Enchanted (one out of many of our favorites), make some homemade popcorn off the stove, and cuddle in for the night, and enjoy each others company. This is just another example of how small things, like a outing, turns into an immeasurable smile on my face. I hope with reading this that you have thought of those things in your life that are small, but without them life would be different and somewhat boring. I leave you with a quote that has put this post in a pocket size definition. 

 Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever...-- Isak Dinese

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAR

HOPE YOU HAVE A SPECTACULAR DAY!

My To Do list...

Things to accomplish this weekend...

• Go hiking in the Chester Creek Trials with Tom.
  
• Finish putting up my house's indoor window insulators. 
• Mow the lawn for one last time before winter hits!
• Read a few chapters in my Eclipse book (Twilight's 3rd book of the saga)
• Accomplish some homework
• Hanging out with Tom's parents Sunday afternoon. :)
• Maybe even break out the Christmas decorations!

Early Stages of Fall in Duluth, MN

                                 

The beautiful town of Duluth, MN has been a little on the gloomy side. For the past 2 weeks it's been raining everyday, with just a couple days of sunshine. This weather sure has put a damper on getting around the town to see the colorful leaves. I have snapped of few way back in September thinking that the leaves would get even brighter and more colorful by the middle of October, but i was wrong. I waited to long and only got to capture the early stages of Fall. As you can see a lot of the trees are still green in my pictures.

 Looking down the street

on my way to school

one day and thought

it was a perfect

glimpse of

fall.

                              

This is a view from the top of

the hill looking down

at Lake Superior!

 

SO PRETTY!

Tune in tomorrow to get a glimpse of a bitter cold, wet, rainy fall in Duluth, MN!