Birthday Recap

The best day of the year has come and gone. And this year it was a GREAT one.

Everything started with my dream to send people clean water through my charity:water campaign. We're almost halfway to my $240 goal - and we've already ensured that 4 people will get clean water. I've extended the end date for donations to December, so you still have time to send clean water!

The day before my birthday, I got two bouquets of flowers - one from my mother-in-law and one from my great friend, Kristen (the other Kristen L!). Fresh flowers are one of my favorite things, so they really started the week off right.

I worked during the day on my birthday, then came home to an incredible meal prepared by my husband. Filet mignon wrapped in bacon, twice baked potatoes (my fave!), Asian green beans (to die for!), and a cupcake from Kowalskis... oh and an amazing bottle of red wine (how could I forget that?!). He also surprised me with a dozen red roses and a beautiful necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs. Pictures will be coming soon!

On Friday, my sister-in-law, Kelly, planned a great Real Housewives-themed girls' night party. We got to choose which housewife to be for the night, played a housewife-themed game, ate some great snacks, and watched episodes from the show. I didn't realize how obsessed I've become with that show until people started asking questions... and I knew every answer. (What can I say? Bravo's the only cable channel we get!) It was so fun to celebrate with some of my favorite ladies!

Finally, on Sunday night, we went over to my in-laws house for the traditional birthday dinner. Usually the birthday person gets to choose the menu, but I left it up to my parents-in-law... and they did great! We had beef tenderloin with an incredible red wine reduction sauce, asparagus and goat cheese risotto, a great salad, and.... cheesecake!!! (Oh, and another great bottle of red wine!)

So, to say my birthday was a success is definitely an understatement. Cards from family who don't live in a 15-mile radius really sealed the deal (I LOVE getting snail mail. Jordan says I'm obsessed with checking the mailbox every day!).

To everyone who helped me celebrate, thanks. You are all so special to me and I couldn't be more grateful for the friends and family I've been blessed with.

Last Week

I was working on a post last Sunday, but got a little distracted when this happened:

 

Just a small oven fire. No big deal, right? I was in the midst of baking 8 pans (yes, I said pans) of sweet rolls (find the recipe here). I started out with cinnamon, then got bored with them and made some caramel rolls. Apparently someone neglected to tell me that if the caramel gets hot enough and if the pan is too shallow, caramel will spill over into the bottom of your oven and burn. And burn it did. Luckily, the rolls were salvaged (and real tasty!), so as soon as I took them out of the oven, I locked the door and hit "self clean". Poor life decision, let me tell you. The caramel in the bottom went up in flames in a matter of minutes. Luckily I caught it early. I turned off the self clean option and watched the flames wither away. The bottom of our oven is now black... but it still works! Now we just have to figure out how to clean it without using the self-clean-burn-it-up technique.

{warning these rolls are jam-packed with calories and not for the faint of heart. they are deadly.}

A couple days after our near-death experience, I came home for lunch to find this guy hanging out on our driveway:

Did someone forget to tell me I actually live in Florida - not the chilly state of Minnesota? I immediately called Jordan and told him to rush home. I was worried this critter would find a way into our house and I just couldn't deal with the thought of that. He arrived 5 minutes later and chased the little guy around until he picked him up and plopped him into one of our unused flower pots. (Yes, he touched him. Yes, I gagged.)

We did some quick googling and discovered he was a tiger salamander, not completely uncommon in Minnesota. I snapped a few pictures of Jordan and his buddy, then we set him free in the marsh that is the end of our street.

I guess you could say I've had a productive, strange, entertaining week. Did I tell you the same day that I found the salamander, there was also a HUGE turtle stranded in the road at the intersection by our house? At first I thought I was seeing things, but then a man turned on his hazard lights and hopped out to take a good look at the turtle. It was real. Weird, I tell you, weird.

Some inspiration for a new season

{found here}

::engage::

Engage groups are in the first stages of registration at our church. What are Engage groups, you might ask? Simply put, they're small groups that meet each week (in my case) and get to know each other and God a little better. I've had the honor of participating in lots of small groups over the years, and I'm excited about the one I'm leading this semester. Let me tell you why:

1. It's all about ladies, and I think girl time is precious.
2. Quality time with women in their 20s-30s.
3. Real, live accountability.
4. Insecurity.
5. God's grace.

The last two might sound confusing. I chose Beth Moore's book, So Long, Insecurity and I couldn't be more excited to go through it with a group of ladies. As women, we face all types of insecurity - "our battle against advertising's siren call for unattainable physical perfection; the habit of making a man's love the ultimate validation; and the worldly definition of success as money, power, and status." The book delves into these insecurities and shows us God's grace through them all. I'm excited to learn, along with the ladies in the group, how to dig myself out of my insecure rut.

Small groups offer an unbeatable experience - they're the way God intended for us to live: in community. If you live in the Woodbury area, I hope you consider signing up for one (and, if you're a lady in her 20s-30s, I'm a little biased to mine!). :-) Check out registration here.

Here Goes Nothin...

It seems like I've been waiting for this September for a long time. Not because it's my birthday (although you can read about that here), but because I'm starting to teach piano lessons! I've had two students signed up since May, and I've now gained four more, so I'm starting with six students next week!

I taught piano while I was in high school, didn't have time or resources to continue in college, and now I'm finally ready to start again (thanks to a piano from my parents and a flexible work schedule that allows me some free afternoons). My goal is to eventually have a full-time piano studio, and this is a great start.

The only tricky thing that comes with this new development is going to be finding a free night of the week to spend with my man. Any tips for great time management? I know we'll have Friday and Saturday nights free, but we'll be busy with one thing or another Monday through Thursday. I think we'll just have to get creative... I'd love any input!

Anthropologie is calling my name tonight. I'm so excited to go with a GIRL (sorry, Jordan) and have some quality time there. :-)

charity:water

I love birthdays. I get teased for counting down to my birthday... so I've cut it back a bit (from months to days...although I'm always counting down in my head!). What is it that's so fun to me? I'm not sure. There's something about celebrating another year and all the things to come that gets me every year. I've always loved gifts. I look forward to seeing how creative and thoughtful people are. I always enjoy putting together a good wishlist.

For me, this September 22nd is going to be different.

A couple years ago, I heard about an organization called charity:water. They are building wells around the world to supply clean drinking water to the 1 billion people who don't have it. Nearly 80% of diseases are related to unsafe water and a basic lack of sanitation. This organization is changing that. 100% of the money donated to charity:water goes directly to their water projects. Four years ago this September, charity:water asked people to give up their birthday and ask people to donate money instead of buy them gifts. This year, I'm joining them.

As I posted previously, this year I can't think of anything I need. Sure, there are lots of things I want, but nothing that's a must. I'm excited to give back for my birthday this year.

$20 supplies clean water to one person for 20 years.

$250 supplies clean water for two families of six.

$5,000 supplies clean water for one community of 250 people.

I hope you'll join me this year. Check out my campaign page here.