A Week of Gratitude

This past week was one of emotions and laughs and tears... I am so grateful for my pal Steph's Link Up this week for "Gratitude" as it reminds me to post about my week but also get my thoughts written down about the amazingly good and tough things that crop up in life.

 

 

1. I love how Brady has now made Griffin a cuddle bug. It was Brady's goal and here at 6 months, I think it worked. I am so grateful for my husband and being a good "dog dad" as I know that will translate to an amazing dad in the future!

 

2. NKOTB! I was lucky enough to attend the "Package Tour" concert with some girlfriends and had my mind - blown! I have never been to a "boy band" show before... When my ears stopped bleeding from the deafening sound of middle-aged drunk women screaming, I was able to really enjoy myself with an AWESOME open by Boyz To Men, a boring "intermission" by 98 Degrees and a ROCK STAR - sex pot - dance fest from NKOTB. Great memories!

 

3. We took at Sunday day trip to WI to see Brady's parents, and I just love this capture of Griffy and "Granpa" - so sweet.

 

4. Hanging out with one of my best's Louise and she showed me her bouquet - which is mine that she caught at our wedding and my garter which her then boyfriend Matt caught too... now they are engaged! :) I guess maybe our wedding was good luck for these two love birds!!

 

 

5. This is a daily gratitude every week, but my Sis-in-Law got some amazing pro photos taken of my gorgeous nephews (source: Heather Hanson Photography) THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! I love all of these boys so much and am so grateful to have them in my life.

 

 

 

 

 6. On Monday, it was an absolute perfect night and we took our pups to Minihaha Falls Dog Park, which is off-leash and many acres of FUN for the dogs. Griffin and Dash got to meet their cousin/new bestie Olivia, a little bulldog/cattle dog mix that my best friend Kinzie recently adopted. She got Olivia from the same rescue we got Griffy :) Second Hand Hounds is SO amazing! Check them out here: www.secondhandhounds.org

 

7. This is hard to write, but my god dad and uncle Mike is sadly not winning his battle with a rare form of Lukemia. A couple months ago, you may remember my post about the unbeliveable bag's set he hand made Brady and I for our wedding. (here). Well, over the 4th of July, we received some hard news that all of the options are not going to save his life.

When life give you lemons stomps on your heart, you have to think of the gratefulness in the fact in my case, I was lucky enough to have the chance to say goodbye. Many people in life do not get that opportunity.

On Saturday, my family went to my aunt and uncle's house and had a "Tree Party" - We planted a 20ft Maple in their front yard for my Uncle Mikey, played bags on all of the sets he made us cousins, had his favorite food, and got to see him one last time and hug him, kiss him and tell him everything we always or never said. I am blessed with an amazing God Dad and Uncle - and I have to be grateful always and forever for that.

 

8. Last night, I got to hang out with my little man, Jack. My nephew is literally one of my best friends. He is smart, and funny and sweet and beautiful and caring. He also happens to own a pretty rad scooter helmet and probably has better musical taste and knowledge than me... and he's 7.

 

9. Finally, this is me, trying to impress my husband with my mad practice with my camping skills. We are venturing out this weekend on a hike-to, no bathrooms, tent camping experience. This is his happy place... and I will attempt to not be a baby :) I am more of a "glamping" gal myself, but here goes nothin... I will report back after this weekend!

 

Speaking of family, mine is amazing. Here's a cool one of us Wilson cousins 20+ years later! Taken last Xmas.

 

 



It's MAH Birthday!!

Happy Monday to everyone! I am at work, which sucks, cuz it's my birthday today! I am still struggling from a FUN but crazy wedding weekend with a LOT of driving, but I am still excited for my birthday!

Here is a little gem of me at Perkins at 3am after the wedding.. Steph captured it well. I am weird.

 

 

 

Tonight we are hanging out with a few friends to go to my favorite Mexican joint, Pancho Villa. They have amazing food AND it just so happens two for one's on margs and beers! :) I am also quite positive that I get to drink for free on my birthday! This restaurant is right by our condo and is so much fun in the summer (whereever that is) to sit on the patio with the pups too!

 

Backing up to this past weekend, WHAT a blast! The Duluth wedding was a little chilly but SO beautiful and fun. I definitely can see why my husband loves Duluth and his HUGE "UMD" crew reminded me that nope, I am not in college anymore so Perkins at 3am WILL make you feel still like death in the morning... hehe.

 

Here are some of my favs from this weekend!

 

 

1. Silver Lake - my happy place at my cabin. We dropped the pups off with my parents and I woke up Saturday morning to some sunshine. So I enjoyed a cup of coffee on my dock. I love this mug too!

2. HELLO Duluth! - This is the view from our hotel room. I haven't been to Duluth in YEARS since I dated Brady the first time in high school. It was sunny out here but still only 50 degrees. Notice the (our guess) the Canadians at the pool... crazy...

3. Brady and I got into town and went to Little Angies in Canal Park for lunch and some yummy margaritas to set the base for the crazy evening.

4. My partner in crime, Steph, and I getting jacked up for the wedding.

5. Steph's photo cred. I loved this shot of the ceremony at the Glensheen Mansion (note: You cannot chew gum inside..haha.

6. My hottie husband and I at the wedding

7. Such a unique and beautiful layout for the ceremony. Congrats Mike and Jess!!!

8. LOVE these ladies! We had so much fun together!

9. This was the start of the madness at dinner when my husband may or may not have spilt candle wax all over his suit and his friends attempted to help him "clean up." Insert your own joke here...

PS - I had to add this little GEM of a video that Steph took of me prior to the wedding but not prior to a few beers in the hotel room... whoopsies! :)

 

 

 

 

(#2) Top Gun Pedal Pub

 

 

Hey Justin! Thanks for being born and turning 30. Thanks for having an awesome wife who plans a surprise 30th Birthday party on a pedal pub. And for making it Top Gun-themed.

That rocked my socks!

 

 

AND!! I just completed #2 on my "30 before 30" list! Yahoo!

 

 

This was definitely in the "DANGER ZONE" for TOO much fun! So, I will just try and post some of my favorite photos from this hilarious 2-hour experience.

 

 

 

Top 5 Fav Moments:

1. Our driver, Destiny, was AWESOME ("D-Box" -- not "Chow-Box", J!!)

 

 

 

2. Justin, when you came into the apt and saw us... Priceless confusion. :)

 

 

3. The hilarity that was my husband, including his fast peddling when we all stopped and the fact that he told me later there was a "mystery shot" that happened. Loved when I saw this photo. Yes, yes there was.

 

 

 

4. Just this entire group in general.

 

 

The fact that our "outfits" were so random (Thank you Brian)

 

And that we had so FUNNY laughs!

 

 

5. The fact that it was noon on a Saturday and we were the CRAZIEST group of wackos in St Paul!

 

 

 

 

Steph... I think we mastered the "thumbs up" shot... (She was the best bartender EVER, and yes, I am wearing a helmet!)

 

 

 

 

 

 There are about 300 more photos of this whole wacka-doodle day! Loved it! Can't wait to hire D-Box and the Pedal Pub Twin Cities for my next party... Hmm... Now I just need a good theme!

 

 



What I'm Loving Wednesday!

 

I like this Link Up. Here are few things I am loving about today!

 

1. Yesterday, I posted about a Zach Sobiech and his inpirational story (here) - Well, I just found out his song, "Clouds," just surpassed Justin Timberlake, Macklemore, Pink and Daft Punk to be

 #1 on iTunes!!!

That is just SO cool. A story about him here

 

 

I am also loving that it's almost Memorial Day Weekend which means a LOT of fun things:

 

2.  I am taking my parents and my 7 year old nephew to a Michael Jackson Tribute Show tomorrow evening at a local theatre. Jack is OBSESSED with MJ. He knows more dance moves and songs than I do at this point. I am so excited for him to love it. Here is a promo for this show:

 

 

3. It's my friends' Steph, Kinzie, Justin AND Caroline's birthday this week!!

LOVE YOU ALL - Can't wait to celebrate with you :)

 

 

4. I get to FINALLY go to my cabin and even if the weather is shit, I will be with my family for raking, drinking, and games!!

(Photo taken from my yard at my cabin. Silver Lake is heaven.)

 

5. My final thing I am LOVING right now are my GOOFY puppy children.

This is Griffin "wearing" my Havianas.

And

Dashel with a bone hiding in his mouth. Making sure noone could take it.

 

 

Happy Friday! Letters and Jams

Steph at Insert Classy Here - You have the best link ups. Thanks for being so cool and letting me be your shadow. :) Love you and our awesome HH last night. Your mom is AWESOME!

Dear Griffin - aka GriffyPants. I love you little man. You are 17 weeks today. And 33 lbs. And you were SUPER annoying this morning when you were terrorizing your brother, the yard, me, my couch... BUT I seriously am in love with you. You are growing up SO fast. from 6lbs to 33lbs in 11 weeks pal. WOW!

 

 

 

Dear Dashel - Thank you for being the most patient and amazing first born puppy. I love you more and more each day and your ability to be the gentle giant with your hyper little brother is unbelievable. You are my lazy 100lb lap dog and make me smile when I wake up with you spawled across the bed.

 

 

 

 

Dear Emily, Cory and baby Cohen - Thank you for making my Wednesday evening PERFECT! I love you guys and this little man gives me baby fever! Thanks for being awe-inspiring parents and amazing friends. Cohen - I love that you were wearing the "Locally Grown" onesie we bought you little monkey man. You are precious and I can't wait to watch you grow up!

 

 

Oh and you and your Daddy are ADORABLE!

 

 

 

Dear Jack - You are an awesome nephew bud! I miss you a LOT. I am so excited to see you tomorrow and also for our Michael Jackson theatre show datenight next Thursday! I love that you are my mini-me and had so much fun in Harry Potter World. I can't wait to go myself and take you with me!

 

 

 

Dear Kline Nissan - I love you guys. As a customer, I am so happy I bought my car from you guys. And as a partner for business and marketing, you guys are a DREAM client! I am glad our business meetings accomplish very little business and we end up laughing the whole time! And your approach to "pet customer service" makes me happy!!

 



 

 

Dear Minnesota - I am proud of you this week. The passing of this marriage law is SO awesome! Thanks for being a state with people and people running the show that I can be proud of! Oh, and the weather has been better too!

 

 

(Source)

 

 

 

 

And not to forget, my FAVORITE thing about Fridays - - Time for my daily JAM! This pumps me UP and is my favorite song for the traffic I will inevidably be stuck in after work today. :)

 

 

 



 

 

 

Rave Run and other Weekend Happenin's

I haven't had time to catch up and post since a VERY fun and busy weekend. So I will try to do that here...

Ps - It's 8 months today that Brady and I got married!

 WOW! Pretty much every month on the 15th I forget to post anything so I am glad I rememebered today. I married an amazing man and I am SO PROUD to call him my best friend and my husband!!

This past weekend was a BLAST!

Friday night - I participated in my first real "race"! It was exciting and pretty good time. My friends being there made it though, as the Rave Run was pretty unorganized. I am a little sad it wasn't the full "5k" but I am SO stoked to know I can definitely accomplish a longer race in the future.

The rest of our fun and busy weekend FLEW by! Lots of fun friend time and family time for Mother's Day! Took my parents to Pizza Luce - their first time ever! So yummy and fun!

On Saturday evening, Brady and I went to Anthony Bourdain "No Guts No Glory' show at the State Theatre! He is SUCH a bad ass and it was awesome to get a unfiltered 2 hour story time with him :) 

my 10.5 month old nephew Karson trying to figure out this whole "walking thing"

On Monday, I bought my FIRST real "commuter" bike - a Trek 7.3 Fx hybrid. I feel like KINDA a big deal now... Already got two rides in :) 

EXCITING!! 

AND the best part? It's SUMMERtime in MN! I am loving this warm and even hot weather! No complaints from me!! :) Bring on the heat!