Let it begin!

I am so ready for a weekend away with my hubby!! There's nothing I love more than going places and experiencing new things with my best buddy. Whom, by the way, I've been married to for FIVE YEARS! Yup, today is our fifth anniversary. It's a little hard to wrap my mind around. We've actually been together for 9 years in total when you count in the time we were dating and engaged. While I don't think our lives are exactly what I pictured when I walked down the aisle, I really couldn't be happier. I feel blessed every day to be happy and content. :)

Today our vet clinic is open but Dr. Olson is out of the office. So that means I'm here to answer the phones and sell an occasional bag of dog food or box of flea prevention. I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty boring. But it helps to know that the second I get home we're loading up the car and heading to Texas!! Our plan is to drive as far as we can get tonight, crash at a hotel somewhere, then get up tomorrow morning and drive the rest of the way, going straight to the waterpark. It's like a 9-hour drive in total so I'm glad we're going to break it up a bit.

I'm pretty psyched about Schlitterbahn. No, I'm not excited about wearing my swimsuit, although it's fairly cute...on the hanger. ;) But I've really just decided to have a good time and not be self-conscious. People aren't going to be looking at me, they're going to be too busy having fun slippin' and slidin'. So phooey on caring about that. It did occur to me, however, that I haven't been swimming in almost 10 years. Yikes. Will I even remember how?!? The last time I swam was the summer Jeremy and I met. My parents took us all (me, my sis + both our boyfriends, now husbands) to Florida and we swam both in the hotel pool and in the ocean. I can't believe that's really the last time I've been in the water. How pathetic to let my poor body image keep me from doing something that I enjoy so much. Well I'm putting that on hold this weekend and I'm gonna live it up, baby!!

Looks like a fun place. It's absolutely HUGE!! We're spending both Saturday and Sunday there in hopes to ride everything and take it all in. They have all kinds of slides and wave pools and river-thingies to float in. Plus they have water-coasters where you actually go up and down in your tube. I guess water jets you up each little hill? I'm looking forward to trying those, since I've seen them on the Travel Channel a few times. :)

Then on Monday when we drive home, of COURSE we have to make a pit-stop at IKEA! Hello, it's right on the way! It's a no-brainer. I want a new lamp for the living room...you know, to replace one of the few objects we have left that isn't from IKEA. *haha* (We've got the one that is presently sitting in our living room at Wal-Mart when we got married. It was way cheap and it's getting kinda rickety.)

Happy Memorial weekend, everyone! Hope you all get to enjoy it!

Reason #568...

...that I have the best husband in the world. Hands-down. I know I've said it before, but it's true. Here is my most recent proof:

1. Thursday night as he was packing for his trip, he gave me a card that said (basically) "I'm so lucky to have a wife that will let me do things like this, but even luckier to have a wife I would rather do all those things with." Awww. 

2. Friday morning when I went to my car to leave for work, I found a card from him on my seat.  This one told me to make sure the boys (aka: Moj, Wrigs & Cubs) gave me lot's of lovin' so I don't forget what it's like to adored while he is gone. Double awwww.

3. This morning when talking to Jeremy on the phone, he hinted that I should look in the drawer next to my bed. And what did I find? Another card - this one featured Hoops & Yoyo, whom I LOVE. (They are ridiculously silly and noisy - just like ME!)

I can only assume that I might have another card waiting for me tomorrow. I mean, I don't know that for sure, but reviewing the facts it seems promising. :) HE'S SO SWEET!!! I love that he put the advance thought into it

One thing is for sure, though, I couldn't handle being married to a man that travels a lot. I was so worried last night until I heard he had landed safely. His flight was scheduled to leave around 6pm, right around the same time some really severe weather was coming in the area. I looked at the radar and I'll be darned if it didn't look like a red carpet of tornadoes and thunderstorms had been laid out directly between here and Chicago. Admittedly, I got a bit panicky. In the end, his flight was delayed till about 9:30pm. Poor guy, stuck in the boring ol' Wichita airport for over 4 hours. But he got there safely and even drove to his hotel without falling asleep (my other worry *haha*).  And today he went to a Cubs game in some beautiful weather (although he DID get sunburned since his wife wasn't there to put sunblock on him *sigh*) and is really enjoying himself.

I had a good day as well. I finally bit the bullet and went swimsuit shopping. I figured that since our waterpark trip is next weekend, I should probably see what I could find. Though I won't be modeling in a catalog anytime soon, I did find a tankini combination that didn't make me feel like a total cow. I've got a ridiculously nasty bruise on my thigh right now, which glows so nicely against my paper white skin. Ugh. I hope it goes away. (Now if I could just get myself to remember that my desk at work is LOW and stop trying to stand up before scooting my chair out, I'd stop getting these lovely bruises all the time.) I also found a pair of jeans and some capris. Hallelujah! They weren't a smaller size or anything exciting like that, but I really needed them. 

After my shopping spree, I went and got my piggies polished. Jeremy got me a gift certificate as a Congratulations for my new job and I just hadn't gotten around to using it. Again, with our trip next weekend, I thought it was a good time to have pretty feet. I even splurged and had the lady add the extra little flower with a rhinestone in the center! They are SO cute!! (I would take a picture to show you, but Jeremy took the camera with him. *phooey*) I'm not sure how long the rhinestone will actually stay on but it sure made my day! *haha*

Give-n-Take

My husband is abandoning me. *sniff* But just for the weekend. He is going to Chicago! There's some Bears expo/convention thing that he's always wanted to go to, where he'll get to meet coaches and players and do other Bears stuff...and now he gets to go. He's also going to a Cubs game while he's there.

I have mixed feelings about this. Part of me is really sad that he's going to go experience Chicago for the first time without me. (It's hard for me to let him experience ANYTHING without me. *haha* Let alone a city that I've always wanted to visit!) Won't it be lonely? Won't he be looking around thinking "Wow, this would be a lot more fun if I had someone to share it with." (Yes, I am egotistical enough to think I'd make the trip better by being there. *hehe* Come on, he LOVES me!! *grin*) I'm also nervous about him going all by himself. I know he's a responsible, trustworthy guy, but I've got that weird feeling that he'd be a lot safer if I was there to look out for him. What if he gets lost? What if he wrecks his rental car? What if he decides never to come back? Ok, that last one is ridiculous, I know that. But it definitely COULDN'T HAPPEN if I was there!! ;)

But I'm also really excited for him to get to go. He's a lifetime fan of both the Bears and the Cubs but has never gotten to go to Chicago. And it just wasn't possible for me to go right now, what with a brand new job and all. Plus, I don't really want to spend my first time in Chicago inside a Bears expo, whatever that even is. I want to experience other parts of the city...so maybe we can plan a trip there sometime when both of us can go. I WOULD be more interested in going to a Bears game rather than the Cubs, too.

It'll be good for him to have some vacation from everything. His adventurous heart longs for more excitement than Wichita has to offer, I'm afraid, so I don't begrudge him some traveling. He's been so sweet and understanding of my desire (and need) to be near my family. I know he never thought we'd be in this city this long. Coming from a po'dunk town in Ohio, I know he thought of Wichita as a springboard to bigger and better places. But alas, he went and fell in love with li'l ol' hometown, stuck-in-the-prairie me. And now he's stuck. *haha* So if he needs to stretch his wings from time to time (I know he's wanting to go on a backpacking trip later this Summer) then I simply can't deny him that.

PLUS, it gives me great leverage for things that I want. Like, hmmm, I dunno, tickets to WICKED!!! Just found out that it's coming to town in October! The actual Broadway company tour!! I saw a billboard on my way home earlier this week and LITERALLY screamed "Oh my gosh!" to absolutely no one right there in my car. Tickets don't go on sale till August and the prices are REDONKULOUS. But we're going. I've decided it. I wanted to see it so bad when we were in New York City but it was completely sold out. I have the soundtrack memorized - shouldn't I be allowed to finally know the story and see the show that goes with the music? I think so.

And Jeremy didn't say no. How did I get so lucky to have such a great guy? We were having game night with another couple and the subject came up of the show and the tickets and all that. Jeremy said, "Ask me if there's any possible way that I wouldn't take my wife to that?" Meaning he'll do whatever it takes for me to go. Awwww.... :) So even though I said his trip to Chicago is leverage, I don't even need to use it. He's the bestest hubby in the whole wide, wide world. :) I really am blessed to have him. I never have to fight or struggle to make sure I'm treated fairly or taken care of. He's always a step ahead, thinking of me. I think we're pretty good with the whole "give and take" part of our relationship. I know a lot of women that have to go behind their husband's back to get things they want, or they won't let him do the things he wants to do. I'm so glad it's not that way with Jeremy and I. He comes home from golfing and thanks me for "letting" him go because he hears that the other guys are getting crap from their wives about it. But I never do, because I know he's not going to golf us onto a poor farm, or neglect me because of his hobbies. Maybe it's just this easy because we don't have any kids to balance yet.

But I like it. :)

BEST-WEEKEND-EVER!

I have had just an absolutely fantastic weekend. I hope you've all felt even 1/4 as blessed, because I've just been riding on a cloud for the past three days.  Life is GEWD. :^)

So obviously, getting my new job kicked things off on a high note. Thanks for all of your kind congratulations and warm wishes. I really am so excited about it...my stomach is all twisted in knots of anticipation, just like a kid on Christmas Eve. I start tomorrow morning! Did I mention that? (I'll break all the details of the job down in a later post.)

But after that I got to spend 14+ hours scrapbooking with some HILARIOUS and fun women whom I enjoy very much. Get Scrappy was a blast. We laughed and gabbed laughed and sang...and I actually got quite a few (by my standards) pages done for my NYC album. Plus the event raised a ton of mullah for the cause (I'll let you know what the official number was as soon as Mary posts it).  

Having never been, I really didn't know what to expect. But I have to tell you that this is an IMPRESSIVE event! I'm so proud to say I'm friends with the masterminds that put this thing together. God bless them for all their hard work, cause it really is like a SIX-ring circus! They've got contests going on and drawings for door prizes, plus raffles and live & silent auctions. (OOOH the silent auctions! I participated in my first bidding war. It was completely exhilarating. *haha* There's not much SILENT about it!) Then there's an extensive "sale table" which is really more like 10 tables, full of goodies that have been donated. 

I don't have pictures of my pages yet...and I'm sure I'll have more from the event to share as my friends share them with me. :) But here's what I have so far (I didn't take enough - I was too busy having fun! *haha*)

All the tables had cute little centerpieces on them, like these pinwheels they MADE. How adorable are they? 

A great group of gals I'm lucky to know and still be in touch with, even though we don't have the pleasure of working together anymore. (Mary and Linda are in the pink t-shirts, they're the amazing founders and organizers of this event.)

Toni & her sweet daughter Haley, with Nikki.

My "Sandy Dandy" and her grandson Christopher that came along Friday evening. He was being a little stinker and wouldn't look at me for the picture. :)

Our out of town guest Michelle and her daughter Samantha. I had the pleasure of sitting at a table with these two yahoo's. *wink wink* We laughed and broke out into song so much that the whole room was usually staring at our table. They were just jealous. ;) Why is "my table" always the loudest everywhere I go? I just can't figure it out. *haha*

And guess what! I won a contest! Yup, my wonderful scrapbooking comrades voted for my page so I won a gift certificate to Scrap Funattic! Hmmm, wonder if I'll ever be able to find a way to use that? *hehe* Too bad I had already made a trip out there with Michelle and Samantha a little before the contest ended. Oh well, I'll just have to go back. I have a full punch card to redeem, anyways.  (I'll post a close-up of the page later.)

So that in itself adds up to a darn wonderful weekend, right? Well just wait. When I got home last night, Jeremy's car was in the driveway so I couldn't pull in. He came out to meet me and help me carry my stuff in and I was like, "Why are you parked in the driveway?" and he said, "Cause you can't pull in the garage tonight." "Why not?" Then he showed me - there were lengths and lengths of trim lying on the garage floor. He had been spontaneously motivated to finish the trim on the main floor!! (For newer readers, you can read all about our flooring project that's been on pause for over three months: HERE and HERE. My house has been sitting in a state of unrest since Thanksgiving weekend...and I've got "BEFORE" photos with no "AFTER." It's been fairly frustrating.) He'd gone and borrowed a friend's saw, bought & cut all the trim and was painting it so it could be installed. So by the end of today (or maybe tomorrow) it should be FINISHED! And then I can finally push my furniture into place, unbox the books and stuff that have been sitting on my landing for all this time and bring the "extra" furniture back up from the basement! *huge sigh of relief* I'm so excited. It's going to look awesome. You won't even believe the difference. 

Anywho, so that's been my amazing weekend. Just too, too good! I am one happy girl. Now, diet/exercise wise I have been the total opposite of good. I haven't been to the gym in three days and I've had candy, Mexican feasts and a Shamrock Shake (they won't be around much longer, y'know.) I've chalked it up to celebrating, and am actually quite ready to get back to normal tomorrow. (Although "normal" won't really be that normal anymore, since I'll be starting a new routine. But you know what I mean.) 

I've got a headache...THIS BIG!

I think I've already established that stairs are not a friend of mine. (Exhibit A and Exhibit B) But today I found a whole new way to make them dangerous.

I was vacuuming the upper flight of stairs with the hose attachment. We live in a tri-level so there's a mini flight going up and another leading to the basement. I had just finished the upper level and was making my way downward.  Well the vacuum was sitting at the top of the stairs and I was hunched over, vigorously combing and brushing (because, as previously mentioned, my dogs shed and it ain't particularly easy to vacuum up their delightful assortment of hair). I initially had planned on moving the vacuum to the bottom of the stairs once I was midway through.  But I was so engrossed in the hair removal that I lost track of how far I'd gone.

Then all of the sudden....BAM! The entire 15lb vacuum (yes, I weighed it) came crashing down on top of my head. OUCH. I sprang to my feet and shouted "OOW! OWOWOWOWOW!!!" so that my sleeping husband would hear me and come to my rescue. (Poor guy, but honestly he needed to get up anyway.) My head was throbbing like mad and I think my vision was even a little blurry...but that was probably just because of the tears in my eyes. *pout*  In what seemed like ages later, Jeremy popped out of the bedroom with a "Wha'? What happened??"

"I pulled the vacuum down onto my head!"

"Huh?"

"I PULLED THE VACUUM ONTO MY HEAD!!!"

"How did you do that??"

*overdramatic pulling motions* "I PULLED...THE VACUUM...DOWN...ONTO MY HEAD!"

He was so groggy, he really didn't get it. "How was your head lower than the vacuum?" *sigh* So I positioned the vacuum back at the top of the stairs and showed him exactly how it happened. His loving, gentle, caring response?

"Well that was retarded! Why were you doing it like that?" 

Thanks babe. Thanks a ton. That's really what I needed to hear right now. That kind of thing really should have been reserved for AT LEAST an hour or so later...or for me to say myself. *haha* Well he quickly realized the error of his ways (probably because of the piercing glare I gave him through my tears) and came and hugged me and apologized. Then we both kinda laughed...and he went and showered and came out in his "I Love My Wife" t-shirt. He's so cute. *haha*

I don't think I need to tell you that I have a massive headache and a goose egg about the size of my nose on the back of my head. They really should put a warning on the back of vacuums. (That way sane people like my husband would look at it and say, "Well that's stupid! Who the heck would do it like THAT?")

Confessions of a Shopaholic

It was ironic that we went to see this movie while on a trip that revolved completely around shopping (and eating! Don't forget the food. *haha*). Like I said yesterday, it was a cute movie. I think Isla Fisher is just about the cutest thing ever. (I think I must have a thing for red-heads. You now, Amy Adams? Love her too.)  The entire time I was watching her I was thinking, "Hmmm...maybe I should try red again." But then I remember what a disaster that was last time I did that and it changes my mind.

It was funny to watch it after just coming from Macy's with a bag of clothes. I found myself dissecting my own behavior to see if I was a shopaholic too. I really don't think I am. For one thing, I just don't get into name brands. I really don't understand it. I'm not attracted to a purse or sweater based on who designed it. If it's just a basic black polo, I'm gonna buy it based on fit and price, not based on what the label says. (I say this because I bought a black polo at Macy's that was on clearance. Hmmm...now I can't even remember who makes it!) 

I was mentioning this to my husband as we left...probably trying to show him how lucky he is to be married to a woman with such great self-control. Well then he had to go open his big mouth and say, "But you have favorite scrapbook brands, right?" *gulp* "Like that brand that was half-off at that scrapbook store...you got really excited, remember?" Oh yeah, I remembered. He was SO totally right! Clothing brands might mean nothing to me, but there are certain scrapbook brands that really make my world go round. But I argued anyway. "Well it's just because those brands have designers that I...eeeh....yeah." I wasn't helping myself.  "Oh, designers that you like huh? Is that what you were going to say?" *haha* "Yeah yeah yeah...you got me, OK?"   But I still hold to the fact that I won't buy something JUST because it's made by a certain company or designer. I only buy it if I like it. Unfortunately, I almost always like it. ;)

So onto the goodies!!  I would like to preface this section by saying everything I purchased on this trip was on sale. Every single thing. So there. *haha*

First, the stuff I got at Scrapbooks Too.

Here's the FancyPants stuff I came away with. I know, you thought there'd be more, right? Well I did exhibit some self-control. These are felt-shape packages...I was so excited to see them! I have the girly pack and have really enjoyed it, so I picked up the boy one with buttons to match (for Jack pages!) and the Christmas set.

New Easter stuff from Reminisce. Loved that bunny!

I've been wanting these templates for quite a while, so when I saw them 30% off I jumped on it! (Gotta love the hotel carpet...)

And now what I got at Archiver's....

I love sales!! I'd been wanting the paper pack (on the left) from Cosmo Cricket for a while. It's called "Jack's World" and it will be absolutely perfect for pictures of the kiddos (or even my pups, for that matter.) And who can resist a set of Autumn Leaves stamps for 75% off?!? Wow!

This collection of goodies is from My Mind's Eye. It's their newest line and I'm in love with it!  I spent probably 20 minutes around that display, picking and choosing and putting things back and then picking them up again. I wanted it ALL but clearly couldn't have it all. So here's what I ended up with.

Has anyone been to Old Navy recently? I don't know if I just have spring fever really badly or what but walking into that store was like a big breath of fresh air! Oh the colors! I just wanted to scoop them up in a big pile and wallow in them. *haha* I would have bought out the whole stinkin' store...if more things had fit properly. But I did leave with enough to make me feel fresh and happy. (Have I mentioned that there's no sales tax on clothing in Minneapolis?!? What a thrill! Sale items with NO tax!!) My favorites are the sweaters with the dragonfly and sparrow on them.

Speaking of fun spring colors, look at these measuring cups I got at Urban Outfitters. (Which is a really cool store...but I didn't feel that I was quite cool enough to shop there. *haha*) I thought these were the cutest things ever.

And finally, here's the new rug we picked up at IKEA...and Cubby doing his best impression of a Price is Right model. 

Mall Madness

(I'm sorry I left you all hanging! Truth is, I probably could have fit everything into one long run-on post...but I thought this would make it easier to read. AND I was way too tired to type anymore last night! *haha*)

Day 2 continued...

The Mall of America is awe-some. I love it! We arrived after our IKEA breakfast and found a parking spot in one of the TWO monstrous parking garages. Oh, I should mention that Jeremy and I are rather neurotic when it comes to mall-walking.  Under no circumstances is there any meandering allowed. We pick a direction to walk in and stick with it, making sure we see every single thing along our way. So we were worried that this huge mall might have absolutely no organization and would leave us zig zagging around in bewilderment. Turns out, it's really well organized in a big 'ol square and we had no trouble making our way around. :) What a relief huh? I'm sure you were worried. ;)

What's amazing is that every single section and level of the Mall feels and looks different. The colors, the design...everything makes you feel like you're in a new mall around every corner. 

The MOA was hosting a Knitting and Crochet Convention on the main level. It was packed!  Lot's of ladies crowded around kitting demo's and make-n-takes, plus a huge gathering in the main circle where they were listening to speakers. 

I thought it was all a little silly...until I found out they had just recently done this same thing for scrapbooking! WHA'?!? Oh my gosh, that would've been SO fun!! Not for Jeremy, but I would have had a cow! *haha*  Speaking of scrapbooking and having a cow...the Archiver's inside the MOA is huge! It's bigger than any free-standing Archiver's I've ever seen.

In retrospect, I wish I would have taken pictures INSIDE the store! But I was too busy walking around in a scrapbook stupor, filling up my basket. *haha*  The people there were so, so, so nice. I wanted to put on an apron and jump behind the counter with them. 

The best thing about the MOA is the variety of stores you won't see anywhere else. 

The "Life is Good" store. I love their products, especially the ones with the little yellow dog!  And they were having a sale! (I think everyone was having a sale this weekend!)

The QVC store! (Which really didn't have squat but it looked so cool from the outside.)

The American Girl store. Two stories high, with all the same features as the one we saw in NYC.

Old Navy! Ok so we have those here, but this one was two stories high! :)

Lego Land was a kid's paradise! They even had buckets and tables full of legos for kids to build with right there. (Jeremy and I speculated as to how many of those tiny blocks "disappear" every day. *haha*)

For lunch we ate at Famous Dave's, one of about a dozen full-size restaurants inside the mall. There are also two full-sized food courts! Craziness. And the rest of day one at the mall involved lot's and lot's and lot's of walking. And whenever we changed levels, we took the stairs. Just trying to make up for all the calories I was taking in. *haha*

That evening we went to see "International," or whatever that stupid bank movie with Clive Owen is called. I didn't like it, can you tell? But I just can't stand Clive Owen period, so that might have blurred my view.

Day 3

Wish I could tell you I got up and worked out again that morning, but I didn't. :(  After walking the entire MOA the day before, plus being out late with the movie, I was ZONKED. Sorry to disappoint. I went once, OK?! Geez get off my back. *haha* Ok so I feel a little guilty. ;)

We had breakfast at the hotel and then headed back to the MOA. This time we parked on the opposite side and started with a visit to the aquarium! Yes, the aquarium! It's underneath the mall! Bizarre. 

We took the Behind-the-Scenes tour, so we got to see the lab (where they were dissecting a baby stingray that had died recently - NASTY!) and the top of the tanks (looking down at the sharks swimming around was pretty freaky, they seemed closer somehow). We also got to see the kitchen, where they keep the "fish food." Here's our tour guide showing us one of the "larger portions." 

The majority of the aquarium is a tunnel which you ride through on a moving pathway. It's kept really clean and clear, so it's practically like being underwater. The sharks and fish got SO close on the other side of that glass. 

This aquarium has the largest shark exhibit in the world. Get a load of some of these beasties...

This guy is called a Guitar Shark. I don't think I'd ever seen one before.

I haven't at all mentioned the amusement park in the center of the MOA. We had originally planned on riding one or two on this day after the aquarium, but Jeremy wanted to do the "Underwater Rollercoaster" simulation thing at the aquarium and it made me SooOOOoooOOoooo motionsick (or would that be seasick? *haha*) that I totally didn't feel like riding anything else. But I'll still show you some pictures, because it's a really cool area. It used to be Camp Snoopy, but it's recently been made over as Nickelodeon Universe. I kept thinking that my niece would LOVE all the familiar characters! 

What's really cool is that because the center of the mall is lit mainly by skylights, at night it seems to get much darker. Which allows all the rides to be illuminated! It really adds to the atmosphere and makes you feel like you're at a carnival or something.

Macy's was having a President's Day sale so we spent some time there. And then we passed New York & Company and saw they were having a $5.99 sale! Holy moly! I got a sweater, a tank top and a long sleeve shirt for just $5.99 each! I couldn't believe it. :)

Since Jeremy had chosen our movie the previous nigh and it turned out to be not-so-hot, he took me to see a late matinee of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" in the mall theater. It's completely girly and silly and cheesy, but I really liked it. :)

Our last stop in the MOA was the mini-golf course. We love putt-putt and never pass up an opportunity to play. (Even though I'm really quite terrible.) It was a nice little course, too!

And then we decided we needed to get back to the hotel, considering we had to figure out how to pack all of our purchases into the very little space we had left in our luggage. Plus, our flight was at 6am the next morning, which required us to be up and gone before 4am to get our rental car returned and to our gate on time. (HENCE, why I was so tired yesterday. "Yeah, hence!" *hehe*) 

So that's it for now. :) If you would like to see all the trip photos, feel free to visit my two Facebook albums (you don't have to be my friend on Facebook to view.)

Part One

Part Two

Mini-Vacation in Minneapolis

Hello blogland! Did ya miss me? I hope everyone really enjoyed their Valentine's Day and President's Day weekend!  We had a nice little trip to Minneapolis with lot's of shopping, sightseeing and *eek* eating. Yes...there was cheesecake. There was movie theater popcorn. There were nachos. I didn't even try to hold back. But we'll get to that in a minute.

I'm gonna break this trip down into three posts: First, what we did away from the Mall of America, then everything Mall related...and finally I'll post about all my goodies I came home with. Here we go!

Day One

Our first stop in Minneapolis was The Cheesecake Factory. How is it that I've been to this place twice in the two months I've supposedly been dieting? Somehow that just doesn't add up. *haha* I had my usual Banana Cream and Jeremy got brave and tried his very first piece of cheesecake EVER. He got a peanut butter/candy/chocolate/somethin' or other flavor. He said it was "ok," but didn't like the parts of it that had "too much cheesecake" in it. Silly boy! I just don't know what's wrong with him!  The nice folks sitting next to us offered to take our picture when they saw I had my camera with me. 

From there we drove to REI which was nearby. Ever since we went camping in the Fall of 2007, we've loved REI. They've got way more than just camping stuff and we both love their clothes. I didn't find anything this time but Jeremy got a couple of shirts. 

Next it was off to their LSS (that's "Local Scrapbook Store," meaning not a chain store like Archiver's.) We had found this store's address online...but look what we saw when we arrived! They were having a HUGE sale!!!

Every.Single.Thing. in the store was on sale! What a treat. And my heart literally skipped a beat when I got inside and saw THIS SIGN:

If you're not a scrapbooker, this doesn't mean anything to you. (Actually, you could be a scrapbooker and this still might not mean anything to you. *haha*) Fancy Pants is an awesome scrapbook company that makes some of the neatest stuff out there. They're quickly climbing to the top of my favorite companies list. I know, now you're really wanting to see what I got. But you're gonna have to wait till tomorrow! :)

By then it was time to check into our hotel. We stayed at The Crowne Plaza in Bloomington, which is basically Minneapolis but just right outside I guess. What an exciting surprise! Since we booked it through Priceline.com, we weren't sure exactly what to expect. But when we got there we found out we had gotten a HECK of a deal! It was such a nice hotel! 

Silly hubby + our rental car & the hotel

The slick, glowing check-in counter

The lobby, bar and cool firepit

Beyond just the normal shampoo and soap bars, we had these goodies sitting on our bed when we arrived: an eyemask, earplugs, lavender linen spray and a relaxation CD.

We decided to head downtown that evening and take a look at their "Skyway." Basically, they've got indoor walkways that connect the entire area so you never have to walk out in the cold. (Oh, did I mention it was really, really cold there? Yeah. BRR!) 

Well everything downtown looked really cool, but much to our disappointment everything was closed! At 6pm on a Saturday night! VALENTINE'S DAY, for Pete's sake! So we walked around in the empty hallways for a while and then decided to call it a night. Dinner was at Boston Market, one of my favorite places on earth. We used to have them here but they're long gone. :( Yeah, I could've eaten healthy there but I had, had, HAD to have the mac&cheese. It was downright heavenly. :)

Day Two

Well as you probably remember, I had every intention of working out while we were on vacation. And I'm psyched to tell you that I DID! Let me tell ya, God really blessed me with that gym. Every worry I'd had beforehand was provided for!

What if they have crappy machines? 

Far from it! In fact, the elliptical machines they had were the same kind I use at my gym, except an upgraded version! And they had TV's attached, too. Spiffy!

How am I gonna get enough water?

I drink A LOT of water in my daily life, especially when I'm working out. So I was a little worried as to where I was going to find all the H20 I needed. Lo & behold, they had a neato water cooler right there in the gym. Thank you Lord!

So I got in a whole hour. It was kinda exhilarating!  At first I was alone, but by the time I was done, every machine was being used, as well as the weight set. It was exciting, all of us there in pursuit of our fitness goals together. :) I even pushed my way through some terrible indigestion, which I'm sure I owed to all the naughty crap I'd eaten the day before. :^/

Guess what's located right across the street from the Mall Of America? Our beloved IKEA! :)  So we went there for breakfast and to take a quick peek around. Little did we know, they were offering FREE breakfast all weekend in honor of the holidays! That drew an unbelievable crowd. I've never seen an IKEA that busy! What's funny is that the breakfast is normally still only 99¢, so why was everyone so downright excited about getting it free? *haha* 

While walking around the store we spotted a display room that had paired OUR couch with OUR rug. I took that as validation that it must look good together. *haha* (It's not our exact couch...we have the version without the sectional attachment. But it's definitely cousins with this couch.)

To be continued...

Mall of America fun!