Valentine's Weekend

First of all, let us have a moment of silence for Matthew Crawley.

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Even though I predicted his death a few episodes ago, I was really hoping, for the first time ever, that I was wrong.  I was lucky enough to have avoided the blogs and spoilers from the UK, but there was enough foreshadowing that I wasn't entirely surprised, though still so sad.  I felt like I should have been dressed in crepe and in mourning all day today...

In happier news, it was Valentine's Day.  I do love holidays.  Not to buy into their commercialism (we personally don't do anything elaborate for Valentine's) but because they are a fun way to break up routine.

I made Tyson I <3 U brownies on Wednesday night.  Served on a heart plate. 

Speaking of hearts, I also rocked my new heart blouse on V-Day.  I am nothing if not festive.

I even ate heart (and kiss)-shaped chocolates.  Growing up, my dad would hide these chocolate candies all over the house for me...under my pillow, in my backpack, in my shoes, my coat pockets...they could be so well hidden that I would usually find them well into March.  Living away from home means it's much simpler; I receive a package with the candies bundled inside, though it's admittedly much less fun.

Pictured: Day-After-Valentine's-Day-Flowers.  I think that Tyson has learned to never make that mistake again.  

Friday night we got to take in the Minnesota-Wisconsin hockey game here in Mad-town.  It was a fantastic game, the teams played excellent hockey, and Minnesota won 3-2.  So basically it was everything you could want in a hockey game.  Besides the crazy Wisconsinites yelling "SIEVE" at every.  single.  player.  Listen UW-Madison, I get that it's somehow a tradition and all, but it only makes sense if you're yelling it at the goalie.  And only when he makes a mistake.  And besides all that, it's totally annoying.

Sunday night I hosted a Downton party for the season finale.  Drink of the evening was the Pimm's Cup.  I had to *sacrifice* on Saturday and test a couple of concoctions to make sure I had the proportions right.  Someone had to do it.  I finally settled on my own version of the recipe (below), since every recipe I seemed to find was slightly different from all the others.

I also made these stuffed mushrooms, which people go absolutely crazy for.  I love these little guys.

(shannon's version of the) pimm's cup

Some versions only used ginger ale.  Others only used lemonade.  Others used a combination plus a bunch of other things.  This is like the lazy-person's Pimm's Cup.  It's the best of both worlds with the least amount of work.  

1.5 oz. Pimm's No. 1
4 oz. ginger ale
2 oz. sparkling lemonade (like Limonata)
lemon and/or lime wedges

Add Pimm's, ginger ale, and lemonade to glass, stir.  Add ice.  Garnish with lemon and/or lime wedge.

Now that's the kind of cocktail I can get into making.

Spring Clothes and Sunday Breakfast

I lied.  I realized that I actually love spring clothes.  This happens every year: I go crazy shopping in January because the sales are so good and then I go to the store the following week and all of the spring clothes are out and I'm all like "OMG THE COLORS!"  And then I remember that I thought I just liked fall/winter clothes but I actually love spring clothes, too.  And I think this repeats with every season.  Also with home things-Target has some seriously cute, colorful new home items, which makes me want to re-do everything in our apartment and start over.  This also happens at least once a season.  I would love to be able to re-design everything as the mood strikes...new furniture, new colors, new accessories, new dishes...

Everyone needs a hobby, right?

Despite my preoccupation with spring clothes, I do love my new heart shirt.  And I'm just cheesy enough to be ridiculously excited to wear it for Valentine's Day.

{I spy with my little eye a scorched pancake.  It still tasted good.}

This past weekend included making blueberry pancakes and eggs on Sunday.  Because we didn't have to do anything or be anywhere.  And because blueberry pancakes and eggs are delicious.  It also has nothing to do with anything I was just saying above, but that's okay.

Birthday Weekend Extravaganza

Hubby ditched me for 10 days to go to Germany for a conference.

Over my birthday.

Luckily, he planned a fantastic birthday surprise to make up for it.  It's almost like he's romantic or something.

Thursday:  Before he left, I got to open my birthday card (my birthday wasn't until Sunday).  Inside the card were 4 different sheets of paper, labeled Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, one to open each day over my birthday weekend.  They were also expertly folded and taped shut, so, alas, there was no chance of peeking. Unless I cheated, which was tempting, but I didn't do.

Friday:  The best gift of the whole weekend.  A spa package appointment set up on my birthday for a massage, facial, and foot treatment.  Friday night I also got to hang out with some girlfriends for a night of pizza and wine, and even some baby-holding time.

Saturday:  Swedish Fish in the glove compartment. Saturday night was the best night of the whole weekend. Two of my girlfriends came over to hang out for a bit while I got ready, and then we met up with some more friends at one of my favorite restaurants in Madison, Eno Vino.  Then the same two friends and I went out afterwards for more drinks, and ended up having one of the best conversations ever for like 3+ hours.  It was awesome.  The best "church" always ends up happening at a bar, instead of in a building with a steeple on a Sunday. Funny how that works.

Sunday:  My birthday!  I got chocolates from my favorite chocolatier in Madison.   Sunday night I went to church (the non-bar kind) and had a bunch of people over for pizza and beer and to watch Downton Abbey.  I was kind of nervous, because you never know if people are actually as in to a show as you are, or if they just sort of kind of like it and have seen it once or twice before.  Thankfully everyone was as obsessed as I was, and there was no talking during the show, or someone might have gotten shived.

Monday:  Flowers delivered to me at work!

Tuesday:  I woke up all "what beautiful and fantastical surprise do I get to open this morning?"  And then life was all "NOTHING" because all of the festivities were over.  And then I didn't want to get out of bed. 

Disclaimer:  I never want to get out of bed in the morning.

But now Hubby is on his way home, and I get to go pick him up from the airport in just two short hours.  And hopefully there is another surprise waiting for me in his suitcase from Germany....

Weekend Happenings

Right now is my favorite time of the whole entire year to shop for clothes.  The stores go crazy with their post-Christmas sales, scrambling to turn over a lot of product to make room for bring in their spring lines.  This is totally and completely the reason that I have approximately 1,248,097 times more fall/winter clothes than spring/summer ones.  Also because I like fall/winter clothes more than spring/summer ones.  And that Christmas and my birthday are both in the winter.  So, anyway, it's most of the reason.

Hubby and I went to the mall on Friday night to celebrate these sales.  I refuse to go on the weekends (too busy/crazy/crowded), and will only go later at night or on a weekday, if I get the chance.  I scooped up the two skirts above and a gorgeous leopard-print silk top from J.Crew all for about $50.00.  Win.  One of my main requirements are that the clothes are something I can still wear now through the cooler part of the spring, (i.e. nothing too blinged out that screams "New Year's Eve" or "Christmas"), because I'm too impatient to purchase something that I can't wear for a whole entire year.  I also bought a sweater and flannel shirt from Target the weekend before, and boots ($30.00!) while we were still in Sioux City.  That's more goodness than I've purchased for myself in the previous three months combined.  I love it.

Besides that hubby and I mostly hung out and played our new obsession, Rummikub.  We played it on New Year's Eve at a friend's party and both immediately loved it - surprising for me since it's partly a numbers game.  

We both actually went to Target, separately, at different times, last Thursday, and both purchased the game to surprise the other....when I walked in the door with Rummikub in a Target bag in my hand and another one sitting on our kitchen table, I was definitely surprised...

Oh, and we also checked out the new Ale Asylum.  Very cool.  

Oh, and hockey is back!  So it was a good weekend.

Christmas and a Wedding

Happy 2013!

It's hard to believe that we are already back from our 9-day trip to the Twin Cities and Sioux City, and that my 11-day "vacation" ends with going back to work tomorrow.  Tomorrow.  These days are never long enough.

Christmas Eve we enjoyed Thanksgiving food.  Since dad had his quintuple bypass not long before Thanksgiving, he wasn't able to enjoy it this year.  So we celebrated it all over again.  But with Christmas dishes.

When I was younger, my favorite part about mom's Christmas china was the little teddy bear just waiting under the tree.  He's still my favorite part, actually.

We toasted with some cranberry mimosas (cranberry juice and champagne), which were simple and festive. And delicious.  And served in a gold-rimmed glass, which were collector's items in the '90's for about $2.99 from Arby's.  Yup, you read that right.  We don't want to get too classy, here.

Is this not the most beautiful plate of food you have ever seen?  Just looking at it sparks cravings that won't be satisfied for another 10 months...

After enjoying Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family, we headed off for Sioux City to spend time with Tyson's family.  This year we were able to double up on our fun for the trip, since one of Tyson's cousins got married the Saturday after Christmas.

 The church was beautiful since it was still decorated for Christmas, and was too perfect in coordinating with their red, white, and blue wedding (for her military husband).  

I got to help out by making the centerpieces for the reception.  To keep the budget low and everything simple, I filled different clear vases with babies breath.  So simple, but so pretty.  And perfect for a winter wedding, since the tiny white flowers reminded me of the snow outside.  The taller vases (I don't have any good photos of them) have the addition of some curly willow.  Then I tied on a heart with their initials ("e + a") around the vase with some string.  Simple, but still personal and elegant.

I feel like I should have some reflections on 2012, or large aspiring goals to write about for the new year, but I really don't.  2012 meant losing jobs, losing a cousin, starting a new job, planting the seeds for a new business, and my dad's surgery.  I'm mostly excited to put 2012 to bed.  But 2012 taught me the importance of rest, and free time, and taking time to do things I enjoy, simply because I enjoy them.  I feel like 2012 was my time of rest and taking a little bit of a break, and that now 2013 is calling me to get back out.  I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to get out and actually do quite yet.  Right now that's just a minor detail.