a few of my faves

I always thought that the twin cities had much more to offer than the more well known places ever since I started dating B, I have learned first hand that that is true.

These are just a few of my favorite places so far from the past few months:

- the expansive Canterbury horse racing track

- the streets of the Minnesota state fair {biggest fair I've ever been to}

- the many bays that lake Minnetonka has to offer
- Brit's Pub with lawn bowling on the roof
- the one-square-mile city of Excelsior, a unique blend of old and new with it's antique shops, a theater, restaurants, a B&B inn, one of our favorite coffee places: Dunn Bros Coffee
- the breathtaking Minnehaha waterfalls

Our latest adventure took place a few weekends ago when we explored the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. This expansive land features: "more than 1,000 acres of magnificent gardens, model landscapes, and natural areas-from woodlands and wetlands to prairie-with extensive collections of northern-hardy plants."{quote taken right from their website because I couldn't have said it any better}. I couldn't help but share a few of my favorite pictures from that amazing September day.

what I am lovin in september

It's a few days late but here are a few either old or new things I've gotten to try this month and fallin in love with.

Essie Nail Polish in Big Splender
This is a perfect color for the season and right on with the trends for fall. It's a pretty raspberry dark pink, too bad I can't wear nail polish to work.
photo source: here

Cinnamon Toast Crunch
I don't think I could pick a favorite cereal, but this is definitely on my top list. There's nothing better then a nice big bowl of this amazing cereal while watching the sun rise and light up the sky.
photo source: here

Bath & Body Works Candle in Leaves
Fall is full of delightful scents, and you wanna know my new favorite? You guessed it, the Leaves candle by B&B. It may smell good in the jar, but it's even better when the scent fills up your house with ingredients like: toasted cinnamon, golden nectar, mulled cider, freshly harvested berries.
photo source: here

Cortland Apples
Never thought that I'd like any apple better then honey crisp, but one of my girlfriends led me to the discovery of Cortlands which are crisp and tart at a apple orchard we visited on Friday. I've made applesauce, apple crisp, apple cider, what else can I make with all these apples?
photo source: my photo

Maurices Dark Brown Moccasins
A few years ago when these became popular I vowed that I would never buy them. Not really sure why, but I was convinced they weren't for me. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I found them at Maurices and I changed my mind once I felt jsut how comfortable they really are.
photo source: here

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
I know I've said this many times before, but it really doesn't get any better than this. If you are fans like me, give the new Salted Carmel Mocha a try, you will never be the same!
photo source: here

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Soft Plum
Another amazing product by Marbelline strikes my favorite list. It's the perfect fall plum color.
photo source: here

The O.C.
It's so Brian's fault for this one. He got me hooked and now I cant' give it up. It just brings back so many good memories. And I got season 1 & 2 for 1/2 the normal price and they shipped them straight to my house.
photo source: here

Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
There's a reason why I've never put a top nail polish coat on here before: they weren't ever any good until I discovered this one. I tend to paint my nails and then realize that there are about 10 things on my 'to-do list' so this is perfect for me. It dries your existing paint and makes it nice and shinny, seriously Sally Hansen how do you do it?
photo source: here

it's finally friday

 If you want to see the source of my Friday fill-ins, check out Lauren and join the Friday club!

1.  My current obsession is the O.C. It's a blast from my past, in my high school days.

2.  Chocolate makes me happy.

3.  My greatest strength is in my Savior. He is my ultimate rock.

4.  Stress, self-doubt, and thinking I'm not good enough are my greatest weaknesses.

5.  My life is amazing. My life is nothing where I thought it would be, but that's a good thing. The plans I had for my life have been pushed aside and a much better life than I could have ever expected has come along. I feel extremely blessed.

6.  In high school I was so happy. I think I took life for granted thinking things like "could life be any more stressful" or "I can't wait to be older with a real job". I was blissful ignorant, but weren't we all in high school?

7.  When I'm super tired I get a little loopy. It must run in my family cuz my aunt and mother are the same way.

a whole new world

 Of course it couldn't be a true graduation without the traditional/cheesy parent shot.

This past week certainly has been a monumental one. I not only graduated with my associates degree as a medical assistant {on Thursday}, but I started my new job {yesterday}.My parents/grandparents threw me and my sister a graduation party. Even though my sister won't be graduating till December, it's not too often that we get to see my grandparents from Cali so we had a combined celebration.

My new job has been an overwhelming amount of change and new experiences, but I am just taking baby steps and thriving off the new energy. While there is so much information flowing around me, all I have to remember is that I will eventually know what I'm doing so why stress about it. Why stress about something that I know will just take time and some hard work.

I know that the only way I've made it through these past few weeks and the only way I'll make it through these next few weeks is believing these 2 things:
 1) everything will work out for the best
 2) trust in the Lord because he has a plan for everything

I also got to cross out 2 items from my own personal bucket list this week {graduating from globe as a MA & graduating from college with honors}, but there are still so many more.

My goal for this next year: to accomplish half a dozen of those aspirations. Let's see what these next months hold....

lets fill in some blanks

Hop on over to Lauren over at the little things we do, to see the inspiration for this weeks fill in the blank Friday.

1.  You should always take time to pray. Prayer is one of the most powerful things there is.

2.  Laughter make(s) the world a happier place to be.

3.  I can hardly wait for the holidays. Winter holidays are my favorite!

4.  Saturday is my favorite day of the week.

5.  Something totally dumb and ridiculous that I love are my tv shows {that start back up in the fall}, guilty as charged.

6.  If I could, I would travel the world and see the amazing sights that I've always dreamed about.

7.  I rather like eating breakfast food for supper.

big news

At roughly 1:45 yesterday I went to the clinic to take a drug test. Normally this isn't a task that I would enjoy, but for me it was a blessing that I couldn't be more happy about. You see, the test was for a drug screening because I got a JOB!! I real 8-5 job. I went for an interview, they called my references, considered their options, and asked how I want my name spelled on my name tag. Through the shaking and the sweat that was pouring down forehead I excitedly accepted the position as a MA {medical assistant} at Marshfield clinic. I start in 1 + 1/2 weeks {the 26th} and I couldn't be more excited. I was completely convinced that I wouldn't get a job this soon and telling myself that it might take a few months before I find a position. I never expected that the Lord would bless me with this type of job, and even before I graduate.

I feel like the sky is the limit, just like this picture of mine that I took over this past season. School has been a challenging process, but it's so exciting to see the hard work pay off and to be starting my career {or "big girl job" as my cousin calls it}. I can not thank you all enough for the love and encouragement that you all have given me, whether through my blog or in person. It truly means the world to me.

changing of the seasons

Just as summer is slipping through our fingers the next season seems to be embracing us with open arms. Even though it's not technically autum till the 23rd, I can already see the effects of this season as it washes over us:

-football is back on tv
-the trees are starting to change colors
-apples are in season and ready to be turned into pies, cider, caramel apples
-I'm starting to pull some of my winter clothes from storage
-it's getting cooler at night
-jeans and sweatshirts feel great again, instead of the farthest thing from my mind
-scarves and mittens don't seem too far off anymore
-we will soon be craving hot tea and soup

Brian and I celebrated one of our favorite seasons by taking our 1st trip to an apple orchard and wine fest. I think we'll have to make this a tradition of ours. We did a little wine tasting, apple picking and later made an apple crisp, with a little whippy it was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I love the idea of starting our own traditions each season. There are so many memories that we have already created, I can't wait to see what's in store for us next.

exposed and nervous with a touch of excitement

Some of you may be wondering, "I thought you didn't want to tell anyone about this?" and yes, this was my thinking till about 2 pm this afternoon, untill I came home and started preparing for my first real interview.

I've been on interviews before, but this is different. My 1st ever interview was for a grocery store where most everyone interviewing around me were wearing jeans and looked relaxed {I of course, was in a skirt and shaking like a leaf in the wind}. My second interview consisted of kicking back on the flood, of the day care where I currently work, talking to my future manager as if we were friends already.

I've had a few others since then, but this is my first real interview, for my first real full-time, 40 hour a week, structured, 3 weeks of vacation per year, job. To say that I have a few butterflies is an understatement, because did I mention this position is in the department and place that I have been hoping for: Pediatrics department in the Marshfield clinic, in Eau Claire.

I originally thought I'd keep it to myself and avoid disappointment, but what is this blog for anyway? Is it always going to be about the happy aspects of life? Is it always going to be about the things that are 100% certain in life? No, this is not a blog through rose covered glasses, this is the real me, exposed and nervous with a touch of excitement. I'm not expecting to get this amazing job right out of the gate, but it's a great opportunity to be able to even interview for what I am aiming for in my new career.

So at 4:25 tomorrow I will be walking down that long hallway. That long hallway I take every day, but instead of taking a right at the department where I'm interning I will continue on {in this outfit} to my interview.

I just hope I don't trip in my heels {I've been known to do that from time to time}.

inspired

It's shaping up around here as I hit the craft room with ribbon, stamps, and my head filled with ideas. I decided to start at the basics for getting back to my crafting ways. So I started off with something that I can dive into and right back out {due to all of my many interruptions lately} in a number of minutes. Card making seemed to be my answer as I had just been to an amazing card party hosted by B's mom. I was inspired and it fit pretty darn well because my birthday was right around the corner and I could see thank you cards in my near future.

There are so many projects running through my mind that I'm attempting to produce, I can't wait to see what's next!

fill in the blank friday

The always lovely Lauren is here to fill our Fridays with a few unfinished thoughts.

1.   One thing that is completely superfluous, but that I could never give up is the amount of movies I own and the tv shows that I watch.

2. Being the center of attention makes me feel awkward.

3.  I can't imagine life without, LOVE.

4. Ritz bits and cheez-its are my favorite snack. 

5.  Lately I've been totally in the crafting mood with almost no time for it. It always seems to strike me when I really have no time in my day.

6.  If at first you don't succeed, never give up. The Lord has a plan and everything will work out for the best.

7.  Fall is overwhelmingly amazing. I love nothing more than the changing of the seasons and fall is pure bliss in my eyes. Apple picking, scarves, changing of the leaves, sweatshirts and jeans, cuddling up with a book, pumpkins and gourds, making soup, cuddling up with a loved one.