101 in 1001 swap

Welcome back!!!  Today I am also posting my 101 in 1001 swap from the fabulous Holly!

And to find out more about the swap read this from Holly's blog.

My partner was Alex!  She is from Washington and sent me some really great things to help me accomplish my 101 in 1001 list (aka Day Zero Project) 

1.  #8 - she sent me some papers I can use to record my family's history and some great websites as well

2.  #12 - she sent me some colorful chalk I can use on the chalkboard wall I make eventually

3.  #70 - A pre-made and pre-addressed postcard for Post Secret

4.  #60 - Stamps for my postcards for my post crossing goal.

Thanks so much Alex! These will for sure help me complete my list!!!

Pumpkin Love

This post is allllll about pumpkins. 

First off is my pumpkin carving adventure.  I haven't done a pumpkin carving in maybe 5 or 7 years so I went traditional.  I did it all myself and I am proud.  :)

This project I got the idea from Julie at Smitten Mintons.  All it took was a $1.00 pumpkin from the patch and gold spray paint.  Total?  Less than $5.00.  My husband (who I like to call the Grouch of Halloween) even said it looked awesome!

This is all you need.

Mid-Project outside (man that stuff stinks!)

Look how pretty & shiny :)

Finally, Pumpkin Seeds.  I was sooooo looking forward to doing this.  I got the recipe here.  However I baked mine for 1 hour and 25 minutes. 


These actually started out as a disaster.  The seeds are supposed to dry overnight but whatever I did they wouldn't dry.  I thought placing napkins on them would help soak up the water.  Well instead I got seeds stuck to the napkins.  I was ready to give up but I wanted these so bad!  The solution?  Put the napkin/seed mixture into to warm water to mostly separate them, then take EVERY seed and pull off the napkin remnants left behind.  Man, was that a pain.  But to tell you the truth...they are so delicious they are worth it!

Covers #30 of Day Zero : Carve a Pumpkin :)

Packers vs Vikings!!!

This past weekend I got the opportunity to go to a Packers versus Vikings game.  Besides the Bears, the Vikings are the Packers biggest rival!  I have been to Lambeau 4 times for games but tickets there are supadupa expensive. So this time I was invited to go to the Metradome in Minneapolis.  (Just so you know this post involves the word "poop")  My husband calls the Metradome the "Poopdome".  If you are familiar with sports stadiums you know Lambeau if one of the best.  The "Poopdome"?  One of the worst.  They want a new stadium so bad that the Vikings may be moving on to a different state.  The dome also has the smallest NFL screens I have ever seen.


Anyways.  Guss, myself, my BCF Katie, her husband, his cousin from Michigan, my cousin Rachel, and her husband all traveled to Minnesota.  We wanted to tailgate but for some reason they only have random designated areas.  The parking areas wouldn't allow it (this is the NFL, come on!!!!) so we ended up parking in a lot for $20 bucks and then walking across the street to a park.  At the park there were other people grilling and drinking.   Of course it rained so we took refuge under some trees in the park (seen below).  I will give the Poopdome two compliments.  It is a dome so we didn't have to sit in the rain, and the people who sold me beer were very friendly.  


It was easily 50% Packer fans so it was a lot of fun!  I was a little nervous at first but then we came out and kicked some major ass.  The Green Bay Packers are now 7-0...the only undefeated team in the league.  


Another little tidbit about the Poopdome is that since the mascot is the Vikings they blow this damn Viking horn when something good happens.  It even annoys me on the TV.  Well my cousin's husband made up something awesome and we all joined in.  To the tune of (yes, i am going to attempt to write this) "dooo-dooooooooo" we would go "scoooooooreboooaarrrrrd!"...yah...it was awesome.  


This part I am not saying I condone (since I did not participate) but my cousin's husband started saying something about the cheerleaders being fat.  They are by no means even close but he was drunk and out of control!  But the funny thing he said was "the cheerleaders are throwing butter in the stands!".  I don't even get it but I think that was hilarious!


Final thought...most of the pictures are blurry.  Blame it on the drunk Packer fans!

 Mason didn't come with but he was in his Packer gear!

 Hiding from the rain

 The poopdome in all its "glory"

We won!  That's Aaron Rodgers doing some interviews.  And to the right of him #8 is Ryan Longwell.  He used to play for the Packers and I actually have his autograph!

This also checks off #38 on my Day Zero Project!!!

Jim Gaffigan

This past Saturday, Guss & I traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota to see one of the funniest people in the world.  Jim Gaffigan.  If you have not listened to him before, I highly recommend it.  Every once in a while he swears or is a little dirty but mostly clean and just plain hilarious.  


We had seen him perform before in Red Wing, Minnesota when I was 3 months pregnant.  It was at a casino which had a buffet, a coffee place, and gambling galore (of course).  While we were at the coffee place I see someone familiar buying some coffee.  It was Jim!!! My husband before we left had put his CD in my purse "just in case".  Well "just in case" happened.  I didn't want to bother him but there was no one else around so we went for it.  We said hi and we love your stuff and we are coming to your show...yada yada.  Well, do you think I could find the CD in the duffel bag I call a purse? Nope.  But I did find a ripped up envelope that he signed for us. Classy.

Jim Gaffigan's autograph

Well this time we did not get to meet him but we got to see his show.  It is mostly all new material so it was soooooooo funny.  My cheeks literally hurt from laughing so much.  The show didn't start till 9:30 and we had a babysitter for Mason, so we went early.  We walked around downtown, ate, then since it was such a beautiful night we sat outside a bar and had a few beers.  It was great!  This trip also checks off one my goals for 101 in 1001! (See a comedian live)

101 in 1001 update

In the past month I have made some progress on my Day Zero Project...So I am making this post an update of all of them so far.


#7 - Get a blog redesign - this has been mentioned numerous times but can't mention it without giving a shout out to Kasey who actually did it!


#16 - Travel to at least 5 different places I've never been (3/5) 
           - Springfield Missouri...we went and spent a whole day shopping (where I found my love for nail polish) and went antiquing 
           - Branson Missouri...the town our whole vacation was based upon.  My parents have a time share there.  It was a nice enough town but it is definitely for the middle age crowd.  Just a lot more shows and stuff than I am into at this point in my life.
           - Kauffman Stadium...home of the Kansas City Royals (see #37 below)

#17 - Eat at 10 new restaurants (2/10)
            - Joe's Crab Shack (seen here)
            - Danna's BBQ...delicious semi-southern BBQ. (in Branson)

#37 - Go to a MLB Game - on Saturday September 17th, we went to a Kansas City Royals game against the Chicago White Sox.  I am a Milwaukee Brewers fan through and through but it was nice to cheer for the home team.  They actually kicked butt and there was lots of cheering, beer, and fireworks.  It was also neat a former player of the Brewers now played for the Royals.  And we had awesome seats! (third base, 5th row)

This player (#2) used to play shortstop for the Brewers

#58 - Write a love letter to my husband - I accomplished the online letter, and now have done the written one.


#91 - Watch 26 movies starting with each letter of the Alphabet (2/26)
        - B: Bridesmaids...(here)
        - F: Funny People...OK movie, but not Adam Sandler's best.  
(this one has me a bit scared...am I actually going to find a movie I want to watch that starts with X? Or Z? Guess I'll find out)


#96 - Visit one new state - Well when we were in Missouri we took the 15 mile trip down to Arkansas.  No offense if someone loves it there but besides my love of Bill Clinton...there was nothing there for me.  So we went for the sake of being there.  


So there is my up-to-date project...I have another post coming soon with some other updates.

A Mini Break

So I am off on my vacation...I have some scheduled posts but I will be taking a break on my !30 Day Bonanza! posts.  Also when I come back I plan to do a complete Blog redo. I have realized that my header gets cut off, and I feel like my posts are too skinny. Now that I am becoming more knowledgeable (just a little), I hope to make it better looking as well.  Plus I have an idea for a link up.  I don't have too many followers yet so maybe this will help, and find some great new blogs along the way!  


Also, since it will be after vacation (where you get to indulge) I'm starting the 'healthy me'.  One of the 101 things I want to accomplish for my Day Zero Project is that I want to lose 40 lbs (waaaayy post-baby weight).  So I will be talking about progress and what I am up to.  I am NOT  runner but I want to get there.

#41 Part 2 and #74

A little update on my Day Zero Project.

#41 is Learn to cook 10 new recipes...I have already done one.

This recipe I got from Gina over at Skinny Taste. 
I forgot to take pictures this time but I have to say it was pretty good.  

My Notes
I was generous with the salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese.  Without it, it was a bit bland but that definitely pepped it up!  I would definitely recommend this for someone and make it again.  I am a beginner with garlic too, so I had to google how to smash and even peel it!  And my hands have smelled like garlic for 3 days now! (and yes I have showered!)


#74 was to find a new hobby.  I feel like I cheated a bit here because I am choosing blogging.  I didn't make that goal with it in mind but the more I think about it...it makes sense.  So there ya go!

#21 Part 1

#21 from my Day Zero Project is read 10 books.  Here is the first one I read...Heaven is for real by Todd Burpo.  I borrowed it from my Grandma after both my sisters had read it and just loved it.  I have to admit that I am a Christian and I believe in God but I am not hugely spiritual.  But I have to say after reading this book, it has pushed me in the right direction.  One of my other goals for my Day Zero Project is to a find a church and now, I'm actually excited and itching to find one.  How can you not believe a 4 year old when he has a story like this?  How would he even know?  If you want to know what I am talking about then read the book!  I read it in one day so it is a quick read!

#41 Part 1

#41 of my Day Zero Project is to try 10 new recipes.  So this is my first one (I actually did another one but it was a total FAIL).  It is from Mr. Food (he is a big deal here...my husband worked at the TV station and had his picture taken with him...and my Grandma K makes at least one of his recipes a week).  It is called Summer Garden Salad and here is the recipe.

First Step

Second Step 

Finished Product!

My notes


I used lemon juice from the bottle instead of fresh squeezed (I'm lazy) and I don't know if my olive oil was extra virgin olive oil but I used it anyways and still tasted great!


I kept it in the fridge overnight and I thought it tasted better the next day because it had soaked in the juices.


Obviously if you don't like veggies then you won't like this! :)

Day Zero Project

So for a while I have wanted to do the "30 before 30" list.  Where you try to accomplish 30 things by the time you turn 30 years old.  But then I discovered the Day Zero Project where you do 101 things in 1001 days.  I figured that was about the same amount of time, AND I am already doing three, yes THREE, 30 Day Blog Challenges so here I am with Day Zero.

My List is here on the Day Zero official website and here on my blog.  I will be blogging about my accomplishments as they happen.  I am excited just to do these.  I know that if I put them out there (even if no one reads this) it would get my ass in gear.