Two things in March?!

Yes indeed, friends.  I had two adventures in March.  This means I need to add to my list!!  We'll see how that goes.

Towards the end of March, when the weather was far more spring-like than it is right now....in the middle of April, Laura and I went to Summit brewery!  We both hadn't eaten much that day, so Laura, being a nice friend, stopped at McDonald's to pick us up some food to eat on the way there.  We really like the healthy stuff, as you can tell.  We got there and sat in a very empty lunch room style room for a while, and then our educational tour started.  We heard about the history of the brewery, the way they make their beer, and then headed into the back to see some of the equipment and processes.  We also got to see their GIANT beer fridge.  When I say GIANT, I mean it.

After the tour, we were given three samples each.  These samples were more like a normal amount of beer I would drink in one sitting, so I was glad we had eaten some food!  I bought myself a souvenir pint glass, tried three different beers, found out I'm still not a fan of stouts, and had a blast!

Thanks Laura for taking me on this tour!  :D

Here are a few pictures from our adventure

Stylish glasses

The first of our drinks...

...and the last of our drinks, in the sun, on the patio.

Updated List!

1.  Take a lesson in down-hill skiing.

2.  Attend a wine tasting event.

3.  Go to a roller derby.

4.  Take a swing dancing class.

5.  Get my nose pierced.

6.  Take a long bike ride through Minnesota.

7.  Take a decorating/baking class.

8.  Go to the top of the Foshay.

9.  Go trap shooting or to a shooting range...

and actually shoot a gun.

10.  Go on a brewery tour.

11.  Go sailing on Lake Calhoun.

12.  Pick up an instrument.

aka: Play it each day for a month.

Roses, and Fondant, and Decorating Oh My!

My love for sweet things pushed me to take this class, and my love for Wizard of Oz inspired the title of this post.  Oh how great when two of my loves come together! :)

Today I decided to take a cupcake decorating class.  Mr.  Jon Belleau gathered some tools of the trade, gave a few demonstrations of how to use the different tools, and then off we went!  We spent some time practicing making shells, leaves, borders, and roses on parchment paper.  We also got to create a few designs out of fondant, which is really fun for decorating!  Then we were off to the big leagues of decorating cupcakes.

This pushed me for one big reason:  I like to be good at things I do, and I'm not very good at decorating with frosting.  However, it was so worth it to allow others to help me learn, and to become more comfortable with something that I've always wanted to try my hand at!

Here are a few pictures from the day.  Some are from Annie, some are from me. :)

Our master chef and teacher for the day.

I made a rose out of frosting!

My two favorite from my personal collection.

The delicious cupcakes I decorated!



Updated List!
1.  Take a lesson in down hill skiing.
2.  Attend a wine tasting event.
3.  Go to a roller derby.
4.  Take a swing dancing class.
5.  Get my nose pierced.
6.  Take a long bike ride through MN.
7.  Learn to decorate cupcakes/take a baking class.
8.  Go to the top of the Foshay.
9.  Go trap shooting or to a shooting range...
and actually shoot a gun.
10.  Go on a brewery tour.
11.  Go sailing on Lake Calhoun.
12.  Pick up an instrument.  aka:  play it each day for a month.

"Hey, I just got this new nose stud...."

"....Wanna be my new arm stud??"  I'll have to try that soon. :)

So the adventures continue!  This time with a hole being put into my right nostril.  We went to Saint Sabrina's in Uptown.  CLICK HERE for their website. I highly recommend them!

My roommate, Emily, and I decided to both check this off of our respective lists together.  We decided that after 2nd service on Sunday was a good time, and proceeded to spend far too long eating lunch with friends which meant that we had to postpone our piercings until today.  So we had lots of time to get extra nervous. Awesome.

When I got there, I was, of course, very early. Sat in my car reading, feeling a bit nervous.  Walked in, tried to act cool, but inside I was freaking out. I'm really good at pretending I'm not freaking out when I actually am.

Then we got to pick out jewelry and meet our piercer.  He was really nice, laid-back, helped us to feel way less nervous.  In the end, I got what I wanted.  A piece of shiny jewelry on my nose.  When I say this in so many alternative ways it makes it sound so much cooler.  I meant c'mon....hole in my right nostril > nose piercing.

Each time I have one of these adventures, I am challenging myself in some way.  Most of the time, it's about being confident regardless of where I am, and especially in the unknown or unfamiliar.  Which is really hard.  Especially when I know that I don't really "fit" in a certain place (like this piercing/tattoo place...).  It's worth the uneasiness every time.

Now I just need to remember not to play with it for a while...

Here's my nose ring!

Updated list!

1.  Take a lesson in down-hill skiing.

2.  Attend a wine tasting event.

3.  Go to a roller derby.

4.  Take a swing dancing class.

5.  Get my nose pierced.

6.  Take a long bike ride through MN.

7.  Go on a date.

8.  Go to the top of the Foshay.

9.  Go trap shooting or to a shooting range...

and actually shoot a gun.

10.  Go on a brewery tour.

11.  Go sailing on Lake Calhoun.

12.  Pick up an instrument.  aka:  play it each day for a month.

Unexpected Adventures of my Birthday Week :)

Well, I knew this would happen.  Unexpected adventures.  Here's the thing....I'm really good at planning and getting myself psyched up for something that's on my schedule.  I'm also really bad at going with the flow, and doing things that are not on my schedule.  Especially when they are new things, or "adventures" as I'm choosing to call them.

This week has been full of people singing to me in public (which I don't choose on my own.  ever.), people celebrating me (which is always hard for me to accept), and in general lots of joy!

Today, I did two things that I never thought I'd do but because of my goal of, basically, getting over myself, I tried them!

Numero Uno:  I ate a Spicy Tuna Roll.  That's sushi.  I LOVE sushi.  I do NOT LOVE spicy things.  Alas, I ate this little bugger, and it was spicy and weird, and it was great.  Then the entire section of the restaurant sang to me.  Two in one!

Numero Dos:  I participated in the Birthday Dance at Social Dance Studio.  As one of the birthday folk.  This is partially due to my AWESOME friends who encourage me so well!  This means I swing danced with strangers, in front of a crowd, messed up my dancing, in front of a crowd, and all in all had a great time.  Here's a picture of some random people swing dancing.

What a fun time having some random adventures! :)

Reflecting

In the past week I've had a lot of time to reflect on my goals for the year, my life, relationships, etc.  I'm even more excited about going on adventures this year than I was in the past few weeks!  :)  I'm incredibly thankful for all the people in my life who are celebrating alongside me for my birthday this week, and for all the people who are encouraging me in my choice to seek out adventure in my life and to enjoy the life I've been given!

I've also been thinking about a few things on my list, and I've decided to update it.  So here's the updated version of my list of things to do this year.  I'm aiming for a bit more adventure...I think I can handle it....:/

Here's my list!!

1.  Take a lesson in down-hill skiing.

2.  Attend a wine tasting event.

3.  Go to a roller derby.

4.  Take a swing dancing class.

5.  Get my nose pierced.

6.  Take a long bike ride through MN.

7.  Go on a date.

8.  Go to the top of the Foshay.

9.  Go trap shooting or to a shooting range...

and actually shoot a gun.

10.  Go on a brewery tour.

11.  Go sailing on Lake Calhoun.

12.  Pick up an instrument.  aka:  play it each day for a month.

Down Hill....

...Skiing...falling...laughing...looking like a fool...enjoying every moment of it.

Today marks my first day down hill skiing.  And I had the best instructor I could ask for.  He's the best for two reasons:

1.  He knows what he's talking about.  

2.  He already harasses me on a daily basis,

so nothing is going to change after making a fool of myself. 

So here's how it went down.  Or rather, how I went down.  A hill.  :)

I started off by finding some snow pants to help protect me.  I felt like a little kid on the playground wearing these big, puffy pants, but it made falling a lot less painful!  I tried on different jackets, different under-layers, found gloves I thought might work, and searched for my earmuffs.  (And still forgot my knee brace.  Of all the things to forget.  I'm paying for that mistake as I type.)

I got to the hill far too early, sat in my car, ate a dinner of left overs from lunch that included hummus and carrots and a candy cane.  I changed stations on the radio every 10 seconds, called my mom, texted people.....anything to make me feel less nervous!  Finally, it was time for me to go into the lodge.  Luckily, I didn't have to stand awkwardly for very long, since Dan walked up shortly after I got in there.  Whew!

Got my skis, figured out the trickiest pair of shoes I will ever wear, and headed to the hill.

We started off with basics, then started by going about half-way up the hill to practice turns.  Little did I know part of learning these things meant that I was being told to do things that would most definitely make me fall.  I figured that out pretty quickly though.  By bruising my hipbone.  If only I had more natural cushioning...wait....no, nevermind.

Anyway, I practiced, and then got to go down the hill a few times before my lesson was over.  Definitely worth it!  Bruises, joint pain, tired muscles, and all.

This is Dan, my ski instructor!

And this is Dan and Dave in a really great video...

One down, 11 to go...

1.  Take a lesson in down-hill skiing.

2.  Attend a wine tasting event.

3.  See a fashion show.

4.  Take a swing dancing class.

5.  Get my nose pierced.

6.  Take a long bike ride through MN.

7.  Go on a date.

8.  Go to the top of the Foshay.

9.  Try a fun new hairstyle/haircut.

10.  Go on a brewery tour.

11.  Do a complete art project.

12.  Pick up an instrument.  aka:  play it each day for a month.

I'm turning 25!...?

That's right, friends!  I'm turning 25 this month.  I know it shouldn't seem like such a big deal, but for some reason the age of 25 has always held some sort of unspoken importance to it.  It has always meant maturity, really being an adult, and making decisions on my own.  It has always meant that I can stay up late and get up early, and work where I want, and do what I love.  I have a bunch of maturing to do, but I definitely work where I want and do what I love, so I think I'm on the right track?! :)

Well, since this year of my life is quickly approaching, and I've always held it in such high esteem, I'd like to at least attempt to have my 25th year live up to all the hype that I'm probably wholly responsible for.  Or maybe it's not all my fault....can't you rent cars at 25 or something like that?

Anyway, I'd like to do something each month that fits into one of the following categories:  something I've never done before, something I've always wanted to do, or something that pushes me outside of my comfort zone.  My goal this year is to push myself to be confident, to try new things courageously, and to enjoy the things that God has given me.  This means being uncomfortable, doing things that I love, and allowing others to encourage me in those adventures!

I've made a list of 12 things that I will be doing throughout this year.  One each month.  I have a few backups in case I end up doing more than one of these in a month.  I will update each month as I do these things on the list.  When I complete a task it will be crossed out.  Which means it will satisfy my personality trait of loving to make lists simply because I can cross out the things on the list!

Here's my list!!

1.  Take a lesson in down-hill skiing.

2.  Attend a wine tasting event.

3.  See a fashion show.

4.  Take a swing dancing class.

5.  Get my nose pierced.

6.  Take a long bike ride through MN.

7.  Go on a date.

8.  Go to the top of the Foshay.

9.  Try a fun new hairstyle/haircut.

10.  Go on a brewery tour.

11.  Do a complete art project.

12.  Pick up an instrument.  aka:  play it each day for a month.

I'm open for suggestions, so give me some ideas in the comments, and maybe your ideas will make the updated list! :)