Timberwolves Birthday

Monday was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it was also the day that M and I went to our first Timberwolves game for this season.  We try to go at least once a year.  Despite it being birthday week for me, we were going for M's birthday which was earlier this month.  I bought tickets before they went on sale to the public and we had a fabulous time.  For one night, we were La-Di-Da, hifalutin, hoity toity and high society....or at least that's the way we felt.

We decided to go to the game two hours before it started.  We rolled up to the front of Target Center on First Avenue and dropped off my Lexus dirty, rusty Nissan Sentra with the valet.  He kindly asked us what time would be best for us to pick up our car so he could have it staged for us.  10 pm was answer.  Impression Analysis: Neat!

We walked into the Target Center and looked to where we were to go.  Off to the side we saw a special entrance called the Lexus Courtside Club.  We floated over there, had our tickets scanned and walked through to the special area.  Impression Analysis: Cool!

We check in at the Lexus counter, get our Lexus wristbands and are given a key for our Lexus locker to put all of our belongings in. Impression Analysis: Fancy!

After dropping our belongings in our personal locker, we are escorted through the NBA City restaurant to a special roped-off section in the back area where only Lexus people can go.  We are offered an all you can eat buffet as well as unlimited free beer, wine, pop or water.  Impression Analysis: We're famous!

We eat a little and enjoy our libations and then through a door to the entrance to the Target Center to watch some practice.  Impression Analysis: Are we really supposed to be walking in right onto the floor?  Heck yeah we are!

We find our padded leather Lexus seats, (the same exact type of seat the Timberwolves are also sitting in) which are courtside, on the floor. We're row 4 of 4, on the aisle with in-seat service for food and beer. Impression Analysis: OMG!

Timberwolves practice is taking place at the basket right in front of us and we're snapping a ton of pictures from our seat area.  Impression Analysis:  Is it legal to be this close?

We rub elbows with some local TV and radio personalities...Sid Hartman, Meatsauce from KFAN, Paul Allen, Mike Max, oh and owner of the Timberwolves and Lynx, Glen Taylor (net worth: ~ 2 billion)  Impression Analysis: Yep, we're famous.  

The game is about to start and introductions and warm ups are coming up.  Impression Analysis: We still get to see a game after all this?

The Timberwolves play the Sacramento Kings.  We are so close players look like their looking directly at you and you can see all their visual queues and even the sweat dripping off of them.  Impression Analysis: !!

It's halftime and we walk around a little bit to come back to our seats with a paper detailing all stats from the 1st half of the game.  We received texts from our friends Chris and Tanya who are watching the game, pausing TV and taking pictures of us on the TV.  Impression Analysis:  We're definitely famous.  

Final score:  Timberwolves 99, Kings 86.  Impression Analysis: Wolves win!

We waited a little bit for our car to be ready and then pick up our car and go to Pizza Luce for beer and pizza.

Once we got to Pizza Luce, they had a reserved table waiting for us.  Ok, not really but for whatever reason, it said "Reserved" at our table.  Within minutes of sitting down, I hear M say, "Nice game, man.", followed by a "Thanks".  It was Derrick Williams from the Timberwolves walking by.  Not even five minutes later, I'm faced towards the door and my eyes are fixated in that direction.  M keeps asking me, what are you looking at?  I reply with "nothing" trying to be cool.  M goes to the bathroom and looks back at what I'm looking at and walks away but comes back three seconds later to say, "Is that Kevin Love?"  Yep!  Two T-wolves sightings at Pizza Luce after the game.  Impression analysis:  We are way cooler than we already know.

Tuesday morning:  

We have the day off from work but wake up remembering last night and how it was a perfect, fun night.  Impression analysis:  We're far from famous today but once in a blue moon it's fun to pretend you are.  

Happy Birthday Michael!

Hockey Jamboree

I must admit, I've never seen my eight year old nephew play hockey.  He's been skating since he was four and has been on a team since he was six.  I finally got to see him play this past Saturday alongside his parents, brothers Colton and Hunter and sister Emily.  Keith and his team participated in a hockey jamboree for the Winter Carnival.  He plays for South St. Paul and his team played against Tartan.  They play for 45 minutes and don't keep score.  Considering this was held outside, 45 minutes was just about the amount time that you'd want to stay outside before going inside.  The weather was probably in the high 20's, low 30's and it started to snow at a pretty good pace for part of the game.  Keith wears number 13 and he's a pretty good skater.  I will be going to his games a little more often now.

Attention Scarf Wearers!

This post might appeal to all the lovelies that wear scarves as part of their outfits.  As you probably know, I love scarves and I thought posting a video that (quickly) details 25 ways to tie a scarf would be helpful for some of you.  For all of those that see scarves out there and wasn't sure how to achieve that look, here you go!

Birchbox- December and January

I forgot to post about my December Birchbox and my January Birchbox arrived last week so I thought I'd show them at the same time.  If you remember, Birchbox is a service you subscribe to for a $10 monthly fee in which you receive a box full of goodies, mostly deluxe samples of higher-end beauty products.  I wasn't that impressed with my December box as has been the case with most boxes I've received but that element of surprise and getting a package in the mail has apparently been worth it to me since last May.  I really liked my January box which also included a full size product, which I love.  So, I'm not ready to cancel yet.  Maybe I'll get another fun box next month for Valentine's Day.

December:

January:

Goodbye Christmas Tree, Hello New Memories

I didn't get a chance to take the tree down until a week ago.  There's a couple of things I wanted to mention about this past Christmas and ornaments that I sort of forgot to talk about.  

First, Michael and I did our first ornament exchange this year.  I suggested it and to my surprise, M was on board right away.  We exchanged our ornaments in early December and I took a picture of our first ornaments from each other while I was taking down the tree.

M gave me a Mistletoad and I gave him a piece of bacon.  I would say that equates to a successful first year in our book.

Lastly, on Christmas Eve, my Gramma's birthday, my Aunt Terri had a special Christmas tree decorated with all the ornaments that were my Gramma's.  Towards the end of the night, anyone who wanted to take some ornaments could so it was mostly the girls that gathered around and picked and plucked the ornaments they wanted. Most of us had a shoe box or two of ornaments that we will now remember as Gramma's when we put up our trees in the future.

Dinner with Grandpa- Week 1

The first dinner with my grandpa for 2012 took place Wednesday, January 4th.  His birthday was Friday the 6th (he turned 77) so I considered this his birthday dinner.  We went to DeMori's which is pretty close to his house.  This was the second time I had been there and I thought it was really great and our server was awesome.  For my grandpa's birthday present, I used all the pictures that I took of us this year on our dinner dates and had a hard cover book made.  Unfortunately, when I went to pick up the book at the place I ordered from, they put all the pictures the other way so you would have to read the book from right to left, from finish to start.  Asinine.  I called the place to fix it but it hasn't been fixed yet so he hasn't received it yet.  Anyway, here's the message I put on what is supposed to be the front page:

2011 wasn't the best for us but we can't change the events that are a part of life.  What we can do is enjoy all the moments thereafter and appreciate those that are still around us.  I appreciate you, Grandpa.  I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to spend a lot of time with you and I will continue to look forward to our dinner dates and family events in the future.  Even when something unfortunate happens, there is always something good that comes from it.  Happy Birthday Grandpa!

New Year's Resolutions- 2012

I'm finally getting a chance to write down my resolutions.  Here we go...

• Blog Makeover:  I've hated the look of my blog for a very long time and I only do enough changes to satisfy me for about a minute but I don't really enjoy updating it anymore.  I need find to a better, more permanent solution to make it aesthetically pleasing to everyone.
• Health:  Always a generic statement for me but because it encompasses so much, I prefer to keep it that way.  I've been mostly eating a certain way since last September and I'd like to continue with that lifestyle with a few planned cheats here and there.  I NEED to exercise.  I hate it but I have to suck it up and just do it.  
• Not Weigh Myself:  That's right, you heard me.  After I just posted about how I want to continue to eat right and exercise, the plan is not to weigh myself.  Why?  Because me stepping on the scale equates to more unhappiness than bliss.  I want to be happy.  Just because I don't want to weigh myself doesn't mean I get a pass to slack off.  As long as I'm doing what I should be doing to attain healthy goals, I will be content.  This will probably be the hardest resolution I make, therefore I will peek in periodically to see where I'm at.  Periodically = Maybe quarterly.  This is something different for me considering that I weigh every.single.day.
• Facebook:  I'm mostly that voyeur who peeks in on Facebook and says Happy Birthday to you if I happen to get on there on your birthday.  Since it is social media, I've decided I want to be more social on there.  Look for more status's, likes and comments from me this year.  
• See a Broadway Play:  I'd like to see a Broadway play here in Minneapolis this year.  I've seen at least a couple but it's been so long and I've passed on many I've wanted to see before.  This is the year.  Now I'm sure I need to find a partner to come with me because I'm not sure Michael will be on board with this.
• Birthday Cards: I've already screwed up a little on this one since there's a few birthdays the first week of January that I know of (I did send one for my grandpa though!) but I'm hoping to send out birthday cards to everyone I have an address for and know their birthday.  Maybe you'll get one from me this year.  If you don't, please try and not to cry.  It's nothing personal.  
• Dinners with my Sister:  Jamie and I have made this pact before but have not carried through with it.  We said it again and it's our goal to go out to dinner with each other one time per month.  No kids or partners, just sisters.  
• Organization!:  I love to be organized and I love the actual act of organizing.  I did a purge of personal items on January 2nd and I'll be dropping them off at Savers soon.  My computer/craft room/closet (I know, weird) is looking the best and cleanest it's been since I've lived here.   I also already organized my Gmail account and all the emails I've saved since 2006.  That was a great feeling to be completely organized with labels and deleting all emails I don't need anymore.  M and I also went through a closet/cubby space under the stairs and got rid of a bunch of stuff, mostly because it's going to become a beer cellar for him but nonetheless, it's still getting rid of junk!  Now I just need M to get going on his stuff with a lot of help from me.  

Did you make any resolutions this year?  Have you broken them yet?  

Year In Review- 2011

Here's a Year in Review of 2011 with one just photo from each month.  No explanations or captions, just photos from events that stood out this year.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

New Year's Day- Vikings Style

Did you spend your New Year's Day hungover or were you up and at 'em?  We went to the see the last Vikings game of the year.  Due to us being up late the night before, we didn't tailgate.  We were able to park at a meter very close to the dome for free though since they don't enforce meters on holidays.  We played the Chicago Bears and I thought we were going to win because the Bears aren't that good without some of their key players as well as the fact that it would have meant a higher draft pick for the Vikings.  They did lose though, 17-13 which secured the Vikings a 3rd pick in the draft.  Now let's see what they can do with that pick.  There were a lot of open seats scattered throughout and lots of Bears fans too.  Bears fans are truly some of the worst fans I know.  They have more attitude than most other team's fans.

The MOST EXCITING part of the game was that Jared Allen had 18.5 sacks for the year going into this game.  The NFL record is 22.5.  Most would think you wouldn't have a chance to get 4 sacks in one game but on rare occasions, it happens.  Unfortunately, Jared fell just a half of a sack short of tying the record or one sack short of breaking the record.  He got 3.5 sack for this game and ended up surpassing the Vikings sack record (21) that was previously held by Chris Doleman, who was on the sidelines to congratulate Jared Allen on his accomplishment.

It was also potentially the last time the Vikings will play in the Metrodome since their lease has now expired and they are homeless.  Who knows what will happen with that situation.  Anyway, M said that maybe I should take one last picture of the dome in case it is our last time here for a game.  While I was taking the picture, the crowd erupted.  I, by accident, got a photo of Jared Allen's 22nd sack.  Unfortunately, you can't see much of what's going on but just know that's what it is.  If you zoom in, it's a perfect picture of him in action.

Another event that happened on Sunday was the retirement of tight end Jimmy Kleinsasser.  He's been on the team for 13 years, his whole football career.  He's seen the ups and downs of the team since 1999 and now he can retire healthy and uninjured at an age 10 days younger than me.  He's a great guy on and off the field.  Good luck Jimmy!

Finally, we took our last picture of us in our purple and gold gear for the year.  As much as love football, I'm always excited at the end of the season as I am at the beginning in August.  I'll of course watch the playoffs but I'm ready to focus on other things, especially after our 3-13 season!

Last Year's Resolutions

Before I can write about this year's resolutions, let's check in how I did for last year's resolutions.

• Be healthy.  This is my resolution every day and I'm always conscious about it, whether I am living healthy or not on that very day.  This is a big generalization so here are some examples of what I'd like to do within this resolution.

1. Eat less processed foods
2. Cook and eat more at home
3. Get more calcium
4. Eat organic when I feel necessary and can afford it
5. Exercise more
6. Meditate

UPDATE: I succeeded on number 1 and 2 but that's about it, however I KNOW my insides and numbers like cholesterol and triglycerides and blood pressure are lower. I lost 14 lbs from Sept-Dec with just some eating changes. Grade: C+

• Floss my teeth.  I had this as a resolution two years ago and I did fantastic and then I stopped doing it regularly.  I've picked this habit up again late this year but I still want to try and do it every time I brush my teeth.  I don't know why so many people can't stick to flossing their teeth.  Do you floss?  Actually I know why it's not just an easy task.  It's because I had braces and I still have a permanent retainer cemented to the bottom front six teeth and in order to floss those teeth, I have to use a plastic thingamajig that threads the floss and then you feed it through your bottom front teeth and then floss underneath the retainer. Not a big deal but just one extra step when it's already hard enough to pull out the floss.  I must floss somewhat often though because my cat is conditioned to the sound of me pulling out the floss.  He comes right up onto the bathroom sink and watches me floss because afterwards he knows he gets to play with the floss.  

UPDATE: I started off great for months, then quit, started up again and then quit.  Grade: C-

• Write hand written notes and letters.  The art and appeal of sitting down and actually writing a note or letter and sending/giving it to someone is disappearing. Maybe you'll be one of the people I send letters to this year.  I'll probably go to a store like Bibelot, Electric Fetus or Patina and pick up some unique or eclectic note cards or stationary.  I hate even responding to emails or texts but I think I can do this one.

UPDATE: I did write letters to people but especially sent more handmade cards.  Grade: A-

• Get a facial.  I've never had one and have always wanted one and I will buy myself one because I feel like I deserve it. I also want to get two pedicures this year and get my eyebrows waxed more often, at least four times this year and hopefully I can just pluck in between visits and be consistent instead of having eyebrows that resemble caterpillars. 

UPDATE: I did not get a facial but I did get one pedicure and one eyebrow waxing.  Grade: D

• Buy fresh flowers.  I read a blog of a girl who made a resolution last year to purchase fresh flowers on a weekly basis.  She accomplished her goal except for a couple of weeks throughout the year.  I would not be able to have such pretty bouquets of flowers at my house because my cats are too curious and then either eat and chew on the flowers or just knock down the vase so it will have to be at my desk at work. I'd like to do this at least once a month.

UPDATE: I never bought fresh flowers for my desk.  Grade: F

• Continually organizing the house and personal items. I'm good at this but I think I still have way too much stuff.  I don't want to go as far as committing to be a minimalist but I think I want to steer towards that idea.  M and I were successful already this year by going through one of our rooms in the house and going through some of M's old clothing and items.  In just an hour's worth of time, we were able to fill three large lawn bags full of clothes and items which two of the bags we brought to the Goodwill on New Year's Day and one of the bags is going to Plato's closet to drop off and try and get some money for all the name brand clothes M had.  We're both excited to go through the rest of the house in the same manner and get rid of stuff we don't use or need.  I did get a good start on my own items last year by putting them in my sister's garage sale.  I now know that I do not miss any of that stuff, nor am I afraid to hold onto stuff just for the sake of keeping it.  We probably sound like hoarders or pack rats but we're really not.  I'm a very organized person and M just isn't good at getting rid of stuff because he doesn't make it a priority.  

UPDATE:  I am constantly organizing and getting rid of stuff.  Grade: A

• Read more books.  I enjoy reading but I don't do enough research to find out who's a good author or what books are popular right now.  I would like to read some of the classic books as I can't even think of one classic book I've read in my life.  I've read mostly non-fiction over the last handful of years and I want to stray away from that and read more fiction. 

UPDATE:  I did read more books this year than probably I've read in any other year but I'd still love to read more.  Grade: A

• Blog more.  I enjoy blogging but I don't always have the time.  I want my blog to not only document my life and the daily activities but I also want to write more and discuss topics and just write about things...and hopefully you'll comment on those things.

UPDATE: I did blog more than I have in any other year.  Grade: A

• Focus on debt.  I have debt like most people but I would like to focus on it more.  I had made some good headway with paying down some credit cards in 2010 but I had some unexpected out of pocket medical bills this summer as well as some car trouble so it negated some of my financial progress. I will do a 2011 budget and stick to it the best I can. 

UPDATE:  Oh, I focused on debt alright...like racking up more of it.  Bad me.  I'm a little more in debt than last year but considering how much I did pay down, that's not good.  Grade: D

• Be the best person I can be. I don't know how many of you consider yourself a good person but I consider myself to be a very good person.  I volunteer my time and money to different causes, I donate blood regularly, I'm a good friend, sister, daughter, employee and partner but there is always room for improvement for all of us.  We can all be better and we should strive to do so. 

UPDATE: I do toot my own horn on this one because I really do feel like I'm a good person and am very generous and thoughtful to others.  Grade: A-

So as you can see, I wasn't very successful, however that won't stop me from having resolutions for this year. Stay tuned.

New Year's Eve

M and I went bowling Saturday morning to test out my new bowling ball.  I'm happy to break 100 but my first game I bowled a 146 and my second game a 127.  I'm guessing my new ball has a lot to do with that.  My average has been 108 for the past couple of months and now it's 124.  

When M was coming down the stairs at our house, this is the shirt he came down with as a joke.  I told him he had to wear it to bowling.

My ball's debut

We cleaned the kitchen after we got home, took a quick little power nap and then got ready to go out to dinner.  M took me to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.  It is by far my favorite steak restaurant.  After a very nice dinner, we headed back home to celebrate with just the two of us as we most often do on New Year's Eve.

We broke out a little bit of our favorite champagne, turned on some music and hung out with the cats. 

Ok, we actually missed the countdown to midnight.  M went upstairs shortly before midnight to check on something and I was hanging out in the living room.  When I looked at the clock, it as 12:01 am.  M didn't come downstairs until 12:07 so we decided to ring in the new year at 12:10 am.  Oops.  I stayed up until 3 am and M stayed up until 4 am.  Quality champagne = No hangover in the morning. 

Check out the video of our yard before we went to dinner:

And after!

I hope you had a great New Year's Eve and start to 2012.