Vikings Draft Party

As big of Vikings fans as M and I claim to be, we've never gone to the official draft party.  That is, until this year. Last Thursday, we went to Mall of America Field, ahem, the Metrodome, and went to the draft party.  It was free for all season ticket holders and anyone could go for as cheap as $10.  M opted for us to be VIP so he paid extra for us to have a table by the stage.

This was the first time the draft was held at the Metrodome.  Prior to this year, it's always been at Winter Park.  When we walked in, we were greeted by a cheerleader and given a map of the events and a Miller Lite scratch off card.  This is the point where we got to walk through the ship.  You know, the same ship that the Vikings run through when being announced on game day.  I found this to be pretty exciting.

There were multiple activities going on like a rock climbing wall, a Vikings store, beer and food stands, tossing around the football, a stadium booth, autograph zone, auctions, drawings, etc. We ran into our friends Sean and Beth pretty much right away when we got there. We talked with them for a bit before venturing to our final location, The Red Zone.  

We entered into The Red Zone, checked in and we received a folder full of stuff.  We received a coupon for a free tailgate meal and free water and pop all evening.  We found our assigned table and sat while KFAN broadcasted from the stage in front of us.  KFAN had special guest Chris Doleman on air and the SKOL line entertained us for a couple of songs. 

Chris Doleman and Dan Barreiro

We received autographs from Carl Eller and Joe Webb.  

Adrian Peterson visited on air with Paul Allen on KFAN.

I have to say, I did feel kinda cool being in VIP while everyone else looked in from the outside of the area.

The Vikings had 3rd pick in the draft but traded down with the Browns and switched spots from 3rd to 4th. That move got us an extra 3 draft picks and  Roger Goodell announcing, "With the fourth pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings select....Matt Kalil, tackle, USC."  The fans were on their feet cheering and happy with that choice.

Remember that scratch off ticket we received when we got there?  M's was a winner and he collected a big glass mug that said Vikings Draft Party on it.  

I had so much fun at the party and it really got me excited for the season. Thank you Michael for VIP and Skol Vikes! 

Makeup Makes Me Happy

Sometimes it pays to talk about the things that interest me on this blog.  An advertising agency contacted me and sent the following goodies to me because I talk about makeup and beauty items.  I was more than surprised when I received all this stuff including items from Smashbox, Bath & Body Works, Sally Hansen, Burt's Bees, John Frieda and a few other brands that are new to me.  Yay for beauty!

Alpha Together Again

It had been since January since the Alphabet Gang got together and even then, it wasn't the full group, just like this time.  We were missing our A, Aaron, because he wasn't feeling good, but sometimes you need to be with just the girls too and it was definitely fun catching up.

We met at Pepito's in South Minneapolis last Thursday.  This place has been a favorite of mine for years and due to diet changes, I do not frequent there often so it was nice to get my favorite menu item, Lupitas. 

I'm hoping we get a date scheduled for May and I hope it's warm enough for patio weather.

Deanna, Catha, Me, Carrie---Beth took the picture and she told me right away it wasn't a picture night for her!

Patriot's Tavern

This past Wednesday, we took my Grandpa to Patriot's Tavern in Stillwater.  I've been wanting to try this place for so long.  M and I went there on Independence Day (get it, Patriot's Tavern?) but they were closed.  I had high hopes for this place and it was even more awesome that I had a Groupon deal for it as well.

Things didn't go as planned.  To start off the bad night, our server didn't even come to greet us for five minutes. Then he took our drink order and was already walking away before M had finished ordering his drink.  It took another handful of minutes to get our drinks but we weren't ready to order.  Again, another big delay for the server to come back.

We finally ordered and my grandpa ordered a cheeseburger.  The server rudely said, "what kind?"  My grandpa said, "a cheeseburger" not knowing what he meant.  He again rudely said, "what kind of cheese? I guess I should be more clear in what I'm asking for."  Despite that last part of the sentence, he still had a tone and definitely no patience.  I should also state that the place is very small and when we arrived, there weren't that many people in there.  The place did start to fill up though as the time passed.  I ordered and then M ordered his meal, omitting both greens and mayo from the burger.

The order came out and of course, M's had greens and mayo on it.  He told the person who brought it out, who wasn't our server, that that wasn't what he ordered and what it wasn't supposed to have on it.  They came back two minutes later with greens removed and mayo scraped off.  Now, maybe that would be good enough for some of you but I think it's poor.  If someone doesn't like mayo, do you think they want a bun that still has a thin layer of mayo on it?  The burger is ruined because someone cannot either take directions or follow directions.  The burger sat there on the edge of the table because M had lost his appetite and it wasn't for another 10 minutes before the server came over to check on us for the first time since receiving our food.  He asked what the deal was and pretended to be pissed when he found out they scraped off the mayo from the bun.  I'm sure they do it all the time.  If you are a picky eater, scraping stuff off doesn't cut it. Imagine the condiment you hate the worst on your bun and having them scrape it off and bring it back out to eat.  It's still there and at that point, there's no use trying to take it back again because who knows what they'll do to your burger then.  

Our server later showed us the ticket he put in to the cooks and it did show the server got the order correct and it was the cook's error.  I guess he still wanted to try and get a good tip out of this experience.  Never once did the server apologize for the mistake.

We received our bill and of course he had taken off the burger and the $3 additional charge for fries also was removed as when you enter in a burger in the system and then fries, they get grouped together as the server explained therefore it was a "bonus" that we received the fries for free as he stated.  Only then, did he apologize for the issues we had.  After taking off M's food, we barely made the minimum amount needed to use the Groupon so the bill ended up being cheap.

I was so excited to come here and now I know I'll never be back.  The whole place and experience has left a horrible feeling for us.  You win some and you lose some.  At Patriot's Tavern, we lost but at least I was still with my grandpa and my honey.

Eco-Dinner Part II

Tanya and I loved Ecopolitan so much last month that we decided we are going to go there monthly until we either experience the whole menu or get sick of it.

We went there again last Tuesday.  Instead of both of us ordering the same thing like last time, we ordered different items.  I had the chili cheese burrito but if you look at it, it's nothing like a chili cheese burrito since it has to be vegan, raw, organic and gluten free to even be served at Ecopolitan.  I thought it was really good and I loved the collard leaf it was wrapped in.  It was so sturdy!

Tanya had the Rawvioli, which wasn't her favorite and I tried it and it wasn't mine either.  It had a very distinct ginger-marinara sauce that overpowered the whole meal.  

The first time we came here, we said we would for sure try dessert but Tanya didn't want to so I ended up ordering a cookie, which I believe was orange-pistachio flavored and I think it was some sort of date sauce all over it.  Looks unappealing but it was good. 

Until next month, Ecopolitan!

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day to you.  

A big thanks to my model for allowing me to make him look kinda silly carrying a globe circa 1980's just so I could put it here for your enjoyment.  I knew that globe that I've been holding on to since elementary school would come in handy one of these days! (Actually, I've kept it all these years because it's interesting to see all the countries that are still on there with different names than what they exist as today, like the USSR and different parts of Eastern Europe.  

Michael didn't just come out in the yard to hold the globe for me.  He was actually out there to plant his hops that he's going to grow for use in his own home brews.  He's growing both Cascade and Chinook hops.  They shouldn't grow much, if at all this year but next year they should take off and then it's hard to keep them from not growing like wildfire.  We're hoping the critters in the backyard don't get them but we'll see.

New growth on the trees

Words with Friends

Last Saturday night, M and I went over to Chris and Tanya's house to visit.  Everyone's schedules are whacked so we don't get to do it very often but we'd been planing this day for over a month.

We were greeted in a super excited manner but the best bulldog in the world, Cosmo and a little more of a shy greeting from Asher.  I hadn't seen Asher in person since Chris and I went to the Twins game with him at the very end of September.  He's turning one in June and looks just like his mama.

M brought over some of his coveted beers and we shared bottles together so we could try a little of everything.  I bowed out only after a few small glasses and switched to water.  We ate a bunch of relatively healthy foods since all of us are on a diet or watching how we eat in some way or another.  We had meatless meatballs, carrots, celery, hummus, guacamole, salsa and different kinds of grain crackers.

We always have fun hanging out with each other.  We stayed until almost 3:30 am when this picture was taken.

Everyone Can Have One!

No more need to work out.  Developing your abs was never so easy.

Promotion

Last month, I had my annual review at work and I was promoted.  Let's pretend that my job title is Wickity Wickity Wack.  Now, after my promotion my title is Senior Wickity Wickity Wack.

I will still stay in my current department but I will play a larger role in training others, presentations as well as being a mentor and example to others.  I've already felt the stress of my new duties though.  There are three new people starting in my department starting this past Monday until the end of the month and I'm a big part of training them.  Unfortunately I can't get to my daily work and I'm having to come in on weekends.  I know it's temporary and it's a busy time of year for us but I'm getting a little burned out.  I know it sounds like I'm complaining but I'm trying my best to stay positive and as stress-free as possibly can!  I'm truly excited to have been promoted to this title.  This is something I had been striving for!

My new business card:

Ok, the only thing real about that business card is the picture. That's really where I work...the building shown in the back at least.  

  

Birchbox- April

First off, THANK YOU so much for the blog love I received in yesterday's post.  I really needed to know you guys are out there reading and it keeps me going.

Moving on, I received my Birchbox for April in the mail last week and I was disappointed.  I know I keep rambling about how I plan on cancelling if the next month is bad but I think I just want to make it a year and then I'll probably cancel.

This month's box included, get this, laundry detergent.  Ok, the little drops look cute and convenient but I want beauty products, not household products.  If I didn't get a mini Zoya in the color Lotus (which I almost bought at one time), I would have been even more disappointed. The box also included a sample of Taylor Swift's perfume, which isn't too bad but not very exciting and an organic moisturizer and a hair mask. I don't know how this equates to at least $10 worth of product. Let's get it right for next month, Birchbox!

Blog Love

I'm feeling a little....insecure.  I haven't had many blog comments for a while and I need my blog self-esteem boosted a bit.  I have a couple of people that are habitual commenters, which I super duper appreciate but do me a quick favor and leave a comment telling me hello so I know you're still reading.  Come out, lurkers.

Thank you!

Easter

The Easter Bunny stopped by our house and Michael must have been a good boy because he received two baskets and definitely skipped on the candy and went straight for the beer.  The Easter Bunny told me that he didn't get to the store in time and was going to do it the next day but I think the Easter Bunny forgot or wanted me to forget because I haven't seen a basket yet.

Easter is most often at my aunt's house in Wisconsin.  I love it when it's there because they live on a hobby farm and it seems so natural to incorporate animals and Spring and Easter.

Colton loved Sasha the horse

Easter was good as always with good food and my mom's side of the family.  The weather was chilly and especially windy but when it was sunny, it wasn't too bad. I actually remembered to take photos of people this time!

Lift Bridge Tour

Last Saturday was a rainy day for most of the day and while it sounded appealing to laze around and do nothing, we got up and went to tour Lift Bridge Brewery.

Lift Bridge is located in Stillwater in a building.  They had a tap room in the front with a bar and benches and even a popcorn machine.  We listened to one of the owners, Jim, talk about the history of the brewery since it's inception in 2008 while we were poured one of the samples of the day.

The tour continued into the other area where all the action happens and another 3 samples were poured for us.  I liked all of the beers I tasted from there, which is kind of odd because I'm not a big beer person.  M has me taste a lot of his beers for just a sip and just by doing that, I've started to like some of them.  Here comes the beer gut.

Michael and one owner, Jim

This was our fourth consecutive monthly beer tour and I have to say it was my favorite.  I bought a shirt and M bought a growler, a pint glass and two jar glasses.

Beers sampled:

• Farm Girl Saison
• Chestnut Hill Nut Brown Ale
• Crosscut Pale Ale
• Spring Fling Ale