Friday Fragments #8 (or is it 12?)....
*Started the Couch to 5K on Wednesday night. My plan is to run Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It was BLAZING hot on Tuesday with 75% humidity. Newsflash: girlfriend isn't running in 75% humidity. But I got my arse up off the couch on Wednesday night and did day 1. I walked more than I ran, but I got up and out and for that I'm proud of myself.

*The 3-day is just around the corner. I talked with my van co-pilot, Angi the other day. I'm warning you...if Angi hijacks my blog, do not, under any circumstances believe what she tells you. This may or may not include a story about me...at a fraternity house...drinking trashcan punch (read: everclear alcohol)...and passing out in the men's bathroom. LIES.....ALL LIES.

*I feel bad because a classmate is making an $800 donation to our class reunion fund. In my hurry to answer e-mails I didn't even say "thank you!"....I asked how she was, that we were excited to see her and to make the check out to the class reunion account. I feel like a schmoe! I will be writing her a personal thank you note once that check comes in. *sigh*

*I love the show Iron Chef. The original Iron Chef. Chairman Kaga has the coolest shirts! Check it out! And is it just me or does he look a little like Michael Jackson?

*I love it when students feel that I need to do their work for them. Newsflash: you are responsible for your education, regardless of how frustrated you are with the classes, the professors or the policies.

*I'm not a "bed sheet snob" but we got some 350 thread-count sheets for free with the purchase of our bed. I'm sold. They are so darn soft!! I'm keeping my eye on the clearance racks for cheap sheets with a high thread-count.


Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday (kinda).....
20th High School Reunion? Already?

Feedback Needed.....
Last week I sent out my invitations for the reception. While I would have liked to have invited everyone on my facebook page, high school graduation class, camp acquaintance, and the like, we did have to limit our invitations.

This is what happens when your mother-in-law is one of nine, your father-in-law is one of 5, and your mom is also one of five.

Like usual, when invitations go out, you hear feedback about your invitations. "These are so cute" or "This is so you" or "They're just lovely!" I anticipated that when they went out. But what I didn't anticipate were the number of compliments regarding doing this as a business.

So. I got to thinking.
Would people buy this?
Here is what mine looked like in case you're wondering....

Specifically--I'm thinking of doing a "kit".
I know that there are DIY invitation kits out there. Most are ones you run through your printer and then stuff into an envelope and send it off.

But this kit would be more trendy and handcrafted.

What do you think?
If you were getting married, would you buy a DIY kit like this?
Or would you suck it up and cut out all this stuff yourself?

Where I Make a List of Random Thoughts....
Here is what's on my mind as we head into the weekend....

1. Based on me knowing better, and some of your helpful suggestions, I am getting fitted for running shoes. If I have learned anything from the 3-day....get fitted. There is an awesome shoe place in Minneapolis: Marathon Sports. They don't make us girls who have a little more "junk in the trunk" feel bad about getting fitted for shoes. I love their store.

2. I entered Pioneer Woman's photography assignment for water. Here is what I entered.

Not as cool as some of the other water pics, but I love the water droplets.

Maybe I need to tell her, "Hey...remember me? I'm the one who chatted up your blog to the Mall Cops producers..."

3. After reading endless manuals and handouts for my new job I have come to a conclusion. I will not, regardless of how much you paid me, earn my PhD. If I have to use a dictionary to look up words about writing a dissertation, perhaps I'm not ready to write one myself.

4. I am on a first name basis with the afternoon tellers at Wells Fargo in downtown Minneapolis. I've been there 3 days this week to deposit checks for my high school reunion (I'm on the committee). The teller at the bank yesterday said, "Oh wow....how'd you get suckered into this?"

5. The 3-day is around the corner. I predict it will be hot. And muggy. And people won't drink their gatoraide. And then they'll get in my van because they won't feel well. And then they'll get sick and throw up in my van.

HEAR THIS ALL 3-DAY WALKERS: Drink your gatoraide.

And if you have to throw up....don't ride in the Monopoly themed van. Thank you.

Have a good weekend, everyone! I'm dragging the Big Guy to a movie that may or may not include animated toys and have the number "3" in the title.

Before I Change My Mind....
The honeymoon is over.

I've gained the "happy couple 10", which is a first cousin to the "freshman 15".

Yep. I made a mistake and before the wedding, I stopped going to Weight Watchers. I was burned out with it, frankly. I thought I looked OK in my dress. I was happy.But the other day I stepped on the scale and didn't like what I saw.

In fact, I stepped off, and got back on again
(apparently I thought I could "trick" the scale...)

I know what I need to do.
But I also know what I'm not doing.
What I'm not doing is exercising.

So....tonight I decided to download the podcasts for the Couch to 5K program.
Yes.
I'm going to start running.

Lord have mercy on my soul.

The View From Here #2....

Dear US Post Office,

I know that you are concerned about the decline in the use of the US Postal System. But I promise you, after sending out over 130 invitations to our wedding reception today, there will be plenty to keep the post office workers busy.

Just promise me you won't be raising the postage stamp price anytime soon. The last thing I need is to pay "postage due" on 130 postcards.

Love,
Kelley

The View From Here...

This weekend, I had many views.
The view from the Herzog's Barry Farm, where I went berry picking with our friends…

Check out these berries!

The view from my camping chair on Star Lake….

See that island out there? Here's the island up close. Oh. I didn't go out to the island. I took the photo from my camping chair. Pretty cool, eh?

There is, of course, the view of watching two grown men drain the water out of a paddle boat.

In the evening, right before dinner, the humidity shot up and wow. Was it ever HOT. But soon a front moved through and it cooled off.

Of course, here's the view from the deck of the cabin, watching the birds feed on our friend's bird feeder.

The view from here? I think it's pretty darn good!

Bits and Pieces....
*Today is my last day in my current position at the university I work at. Monday, rather than working with students who are earning their MBA degree, I'm going to be working with students who are earning their PhD's. Nervous doesn't even begin to describe it. When I think of PhD I think of bright, articulate people. I also picture their brains like a walking thesaurus. I don't like big words. Good thing I have a dictionary at my desk.

*Because I'm moving from one floor to another, I have to pack up my stuff. Sadly, I haven't been given any boxes yet to do said move. I'm a little worried that won't happen and Monday I'll be in limbo. I don't like being in limbo.

*I am doing my best right now to make a good solid effort to eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies each day and limit the junk.

We won't talk about the 4-5 brownies I ate from the 9x13 pan I brought into work yesterday.
they were small.

*I made these last weekend for our BBQ at Tracy's. You must make them. They're divine.

Spiced Walnuts
2 cups walnuts
2 T chopped rosemary
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1 t brown sugar
1/4 t salt
1 T olive oil

Heat oven to 350. Roast nuts for 10 minutes.
In a large bowl combine spices. Add the roasted nuts. Add oil. Toss.

Eat. Enjoy.
Thank me later.

My 4th of July--in pictures....
Since I had a 4 day weekend (back to work tomorrow!), I had plans to spend some time with the Big Guy, but also just "do stuff". I had a list of things I wanted to do and here is the proof!

Spend some time with my husband (we did everything together this weekend). We went to lunch at Punch Pizza.




Go to Costco. Nothing says Costco like a bulk box of cheese pretzels!


Have a BBQ with friends. Thanks Tracy for having us over!

Cook out on the grill & have corn on the cob!

Enjoy an ice-tea from Caribou. The Big Guy had an iced mocha.

And of course....reflect on being an American. Our founding fathers said it best.....

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I hope you had a great 4th of July!

My 4th of July Weekend To-Do List....
I officially have a long weekend. I haven't had a day off since the wedding, so I'm excited to have a little time off!

This weekend I plan too....

*Go to Costco
*See at least two movies, one of which will be Toy Story (I'd say Eclipse but there is no way I'll get the Big Guy to go)
*Have a BBQ with friends
*See fireworks
*Cook out on the grill at some point this weekend, if not all weekend.
*Have corn on the cob
*Enjoy some sort of dessert
*Enjoy one of the new iced teas from Caribou
*Work on reception invitations
*Watch crappy TV, possibly including Beverly Hills 90210 (the original show)
*Spend time with my husband
*Reflect on what it means to be an American and live in such a great country.

What are your plans this weekend?
Enjoy the 4th!