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25 Random Things About Me:

1. I am the only person in my family with naturally blonde hair and green eyes (everyone else has brown eyes and brown hair).    Proof I once had blonde hair (and yes we were like 19 here):

2. I have one sister who died in a car accident in 2002. 

3. I don't want to have children, and I get REALLY annoyed when people bug me about it because I really don't think its any of their business.   And if you say "its different when they're your own" - you lie.    These are my kidlets:

4. I've been to Maui 3 times, Las Vegas twice, New Orleans once, Lake Tahoe once, Denver once, and California once. 

NOLA

Tahoe

5. I use to bite my nails but I haven't for about 6 months now.

6. I hate doctors, yet I work for two surgeons.  

7. I love costume dramas and period pieces.   Shocker right?

8. I am allergic to cats. 

9. My nickname at work is "Queen".   No lie.   Here's my Christmas ornament I have at work:

10. I use to get ear infections all the time as a child. 

11. My streak of not throwing up for 12 years finally ended ON my 29th birthday.... and not because I was drinking either.

12. I've never been so drunk I couldn't remember anything that happened. 

13. All the walls in my house are painted - none of them are white. 

14. I LOVE HALLOWEEN and only wish my friends and family loved it as much as me!   They're coming around - they at least enjoy my Halloween parties.

15. My husband is a twin. 

16. I haven't eaten fast food in over 18 months (except Subway or Chipotle).

17. I lost 75 lbs in a year.

18. I have one crooked toe on each foot. 

19. I always sleep on the same side of the bed no matter where we are (home, hotel, mom's, etc.). 

20. I've had the same pillow since I was a kid.  

21. I go to the chiropactor regularly.   

22. My first concert was Reba McIntyre (before she was famous) at the Mayo Civic a LOOOONG time ago.   My last concert was CAKE in May.

23. I saw the movie "Titanic" four times in the theater. 

24. I first "met" Lucas online back in 1999 when we were 17.   He came to my junior prom (which was 2 hours away from his hometown) with one of my friends and that was that.  :-)

25. I've never been on a roller coaster.


Tell me a random fact about you!

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Wordless Wednesday

An ode to Summer (via my favorite Google images) since it seems to be here to stay this time.... I think.

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CSA Week 3: Lettuce, Radishes, Green Onions, Chard, Arugula, Scapes (garlic basically), Summer Squash, Basil, Parsley, and Sweet William Flowers.

Some of you have asked what a CSA is.  A CSA is Community-Shared Agriculture.  Basically, you buy a "subscription" from a local farmer just like you buy a subscription to a magazine.  But instead of receiving a magazine each week, you receive a "share" of fresh, locally grown or raised fruit and/or vegetables. Some farmers also offer CSA subscriptions for farm-fresh eggs, and/or meats as well. 


Our farmer is Farmer Kate!  Her farm is in Prairie Farm, WI.  

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I had to actually look up when the next full moon is - sadly not til July 15th.  Sheesh!  After today I could have sworn it was tomorrow.

We get our next CSA tomorrow - on the list: Garlic scapes (these are the flower stems from the garlic. Use like fresh garlic), arugula, lettuce, green onions, a few small summer squash, small bunch radishes, chard, and a bunch of sweet williams on the side.  I'm not going to lie - I don't even know what some of that stuff is....  Google is my friend.   Apparently "Sweet William" is a plant.... not the Duke of Cambridge..... 

Sweet William:

Prince William:

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It was PRIDE in Minneapolis this weekend.  My hope is one day ALL of my friends will be treated as equals no matter who they choose to love.   :-)   Let's start with the stupid ass marriage amendment in November 2012.....  equal rights for all, please!

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Busy day today!  I got my hair done this morning - Lucas cleaned the house while I was gone.   What a sweetie.  :-)  Then we took the dogs to the vet, got dog food, came home, dropped off said dogs, went to a movie, came back home (helloooo the sun is out now), took a dog for a walk, ate dinner and now we're watching Iron Man 2.  Holy hannah.

So we went to Super 8 - really good movie!  The kids in the movie, none of which I was familiar with, were all super good actors!   It was a really entertaining movie and I would definitely recommend it!


Speaking of Iron Man 2, Sam Rockwell is in it - I'd never really heard of this dude as an actor before until we watched "Conviction" last weekend - the last 3 movies (Conviction, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Iron Man 2) we've watched IN A ROW, he's been in!  Weird.  Random.  Huh......

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Tonight's recipe experiment was Margherita Pizza (recipe here:  Margherita Pizza).  NOM NOM NOM!  It was really good!  Will definitely make it again!

I made it on whole wheat pitas.  Recipe includes fresh garlic, fresh basil, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.  I mean, how can that NOT be good?!

Ready for the oven.

And after:  Yummmoooooo..... 

Onto Five Question Friday:

1. What is your current favorite tv show?

I have a billion - we've talked about this before.  Mad Men, Dexter, True Blood, Weeds, and Nurse Jackie are my current faves.

2. What's the worst haircut you ever got?

Like many people in the 90's I had a mullet with a perm.  Swear.to.God.

3. What was something that you did as a child that you thought you were so cool for doing?

Wearing Girbaud jeans in 6th grade.  Yep, I thought for 2 seconds I was one of the "popular kids".  Kinda glad now I really wasn't. :)

4. Do you have any GREAT frugal family fun tips?

Thursdays are free at the Walker Art Center.  :-)  Lame I know.

5. Would you drive across country if you had the money to fly?

I would do it if I had the TIME - I would love to just get in the car and drive and explore, that that takes TIME and money.  :)

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I tried a new recipe tonight - Panzanella.  OMG.  YUM!  And easy.

What do you need?

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onion, Fresh Basil.  Chop everything but the basil and toss together.  I put the basil leaves in whole.  Add olive oil, salt and pepper.  Let sit for a bit.  

Cube bread (the traditional recipe calls for "day old bread") - I bought a loaf from Trader Joe's on Tuesday.  Toss in olive oil, salt and pepper and bake for about 10 min.   As Lucas said "You're making croutons."  Kinda.  

Put the bread on top of the veggies and enjoy.  Fresh, flavorful and soooo good!  We served it up with salmon patties tonight.

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Wordless Wednesday - random pictures from Lucas' cell phone.

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CSA Week 2!

CSA Week 2: Lettuce (Red Leaf, Butter Leaf, Romaine, & Arugula), Radishes, Green Onions, Spinach, Fresh Garlic, and Parsley.

We're turning into vampire repelling rabbits.....

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133 days til Halloween..... 110 days til Zombie Pub Crawl.  

I know, I'm a freak.  

Shush.

Time to get thinking about costumes....

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Happy Father's Day to my pops!  My dad isn't exactly the get dressed up for Halloween type, but these photos show he'll do about anything for me.  :-)  Love ya Dad!  MWAH!

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Everyone staying dry?  So.much.rain.  

Today we went to the Wabasha Street Caves.  I'd never been but always wanted to check them out.  They were pretty interesting and are actually man made caves.  They do weddings and swing dance nights too.  I want to go back this fall and take the haunted tour.  :-)  We went with my friend Lynda and her two kidlets, Izzy and Lynk.

I went on a baking frenzy this afternoon (hello, its raining - nothing else going on!).  I had rhubarb from our CSA to use up so I made strawberry rhubarb muffins and strawberry rhubarb crisp.  Lucas approved.

  

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Happy (5 Question) Friday!  

1. What is your favorite summer time activity?

Sitting on my deck eating dinner and sipping wine.   Oh, and not having to wear a coat.  :)

2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale?

I usually buy what's on sale or cheapest.  Luckily I don't have any allergies or sensitivity to detergents.  I find it ridonkulous that people pay $15-$20 for brand name detergent!

3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer?

Grilled turkey burgers with grilled veggies and fresh fruit.  I just like eating fresh things after spending all winter eating hot dish (or casserole for the non midwesterners!)

4. Do you have any talents?

I can plan a party like no one's business.

5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why?

Hmm.... I'm not sure.  Maybe politics or economics - not that I *want* to be an expert in either, but sometimes it would be nice to know a little more about them when I'm at a table where its the topic of conversation.

A Few of my Favorite Things:

I bought two new dresses from the same shop I got my Mad Men party dress from!  I better find a wedding to go to or a nice restaurant.  AND of course I'll be wearing one to the first annual Mad Men Pub Crawl.  :-) 

And this lovely potion - Bare Escentuals Foundation Primer - I use to be a SmashBox foundation primer fan, but I read a review about this stuff and I looove it.  :-)