Wrist Management

(the way you would think Adam and I's wrists would look based on our complaints)

I've been having some wrist pain and elbow numbness the last few weeks so I might have to cut back my computer usage, which is unfortunate because it's my job..... I've been using Adam's wrist splint and wrist rest (made that up-- but the mouse pad thing that goes near your computer mouse that has a raised part to it? never mind too confusing to explain.) I hope it helps because if not, there is no hope for our kids' wrists. Both of Adam's wrists have given him trouble. He had surgery two years ago for his left wrist and just went to the doctor for his right on on Monday. I hope we can get it figured out because you don't realize how much wrist strength plays into so many activities (cooking, cleaning, working, playing sports, typing on the computer... okay I'm done, you get it.) Anyways, we're fine and we're not complaining... just wondering what in the world two twenty-something year olds are doing with wrist trouble. Any prayers you want to say for us, we'd love. 

Curling

This is the last week of curling for us because we aren't in the playoffs. boo! It's been really fun though.

Example A
Mexican themed night last week (must I give any other examples)

(our team minus one girl who fractured her pelvis skiing )

I've had a lot of fun learning more about the sport. I hope to get involved in something else active with Adam. Maybe we'll get some bikes or I'll learn how to skate, water ski, dance, or sail, or maybe just run in a race. Who knows, the city offers so many possibilities. Now if it would just warm up!

7 quick lists

1. I realized the other day that I have a hidden prejudice against March. Every birthday that has come across my calendar, I have thought, "Oh I thought their birthday was in February or April." I guess subconsciously I refuse to believe anyone was born in March which a weird thing to think in the first place.

2. I have been very absent-minded lately.
 For example: 
 a. I missed my exit to work because I zoned out and just forgot to get over. I didn't realize until after I was passed my exit.
 b. I sent a package to my two nieces that do in fact have birthdays in March ( I did remember those) but after taping up the package, I found the card. (and you may notice, I forgot how to spell Autumn?)

c. Maybe the worst of the examples and maybe a little TMI but I got to church and realized I didn't have a bra on????? I am a girl- that's a numero uno of clothing items. Something I shouldn't have to think about. I have no idea how that happened.


3. Adam and I got to check in on this little cutie this past weekend for a friend of ours who was out of town. It was really fun ;) She was very playful and happy that we came over.

4. I've been doing little design projects lately for various people. Here is what I have been working on.

Early stages of a church logo (the idea is that the people of the church lead people to the cross-- hence the compass with the cross being central):

 a Fantasy Football logo (the guy's last name is giuffre (sounds like joe-free) so he took the golden gopher's name and logo and had me tweak it so he could be the golden giuffers (joe-fers)

My blog obviously.

and the Provost Report for IWU (where I used to work)- This was a report that had a lot of information but was still desired to look academic. I tried to make it clean, professional but still have a little fun factor.

Every since, I saw sites like Katie Daisy, I've been vibing on hand lettering-- fun types of handwriting. I want to get better but it's fun so far.


5. Yesterday was the first day of spring but up here in the North, Winter is clinging on for dear life. Remember back when, I told winter to bring it on? That was in soft oh so mild January. Well, I lied winter. I don't want you to bring it on. February brought snow showers and March is bringing on the low temperature. We're in the teens for the foreseeable future with wind chills dipping into the negatives. boo! I want Spring right about now. I'm not complaining... I just want to see things growing. Spring is my favorite part of the year and I could see that being mushed together with summer. Oh well!

6. Adam and I have been going for the newlywed nine (yes, it's a real thing but no, we're not doing it on purpose) so I pulled the trigger and order turbofire. It's expensive but this is a 20 wk workout schedule with 12 different workouts to spice it up. I have never felt so in shape. I did it last year with my roommate and loved it. They are hard workouts and you often feel stupid doing the moves but it's good. You're working hard and aren't bored sitting on a stationary bike, elliptical, or running on the treadmill (this is all our little apt workout room has and I am bored to death when I "workout"). It's supposed to come in soon and I am pumped!


7. Speaking of something coming in soon, our couch is being delivered in a few short weeks! Now we can have people sit on real things vs. soccer mom chairs. We're so excited, we're going to have a couch warming party hehe

Happy Thursday. Hope it's Spring where you live.

New Design

I'm in the midst of giving my blog a facelift. I am a designer for pete's sake and haven't really changed the look or at least the header of my blog since I started it 4 years ago. That is a disgrace. So I'm in the midst of changing it...

Hope you guys had a great weekend. I had a lame weekend in the fun department but a very productive weekend so I feel very relaxed and lot lighter in my step. I got done a big freelance project last week and basically finished 4 more small projects. It felt like finals week last week with all I had to do and now I feel the sweet release of the end of that pretend semester. Not mad!

I had to teach sunday school yesterday to the two sisters (only two teens at church on Sundays-- there are 5 on Wednesday #smallchurchproblems). It was pretty awkward last time so I wasn't going to have any of that. Side note: The Pastor had asked Adam to be the head of the greeter crew on Sunday mornings and had shared his vision of having warm food to give a welcoming smell to the church and a yummy surprise for the congregation and guests. Back to my story: So I decided to have "sunday school" in the kitchen and had the girls help me finish up pioneer woman's cinnamon rolls. These are by no means healthy but they are yummy. We ran a little late but it was so fun to come down into the lobby and have everyone together, eating, and greeting each other. It was really good fellowship and made our church seem more alive and welcoming. I hope we can do it more often. I think the Pastor was really happy to see part of his vision come to pass.

Oh John and & Jess had their baby last wednesday. A beautiful little boy who apparently has red hair. How very irish of him?

Sorry for the shirtless brother but how cute is that baby?

Also it's my niece's, Autumn, 13th birthday. She's officially a teenager..... Right, Johanna? I think I'm right and if so then that is crazy!!! I cannot believe that Johanna now has 2 teenagers in her house! So crazy!

Hope you guys have a good Monday!

Guest Blogger

You guys always hear my rants and raves so I thought you'd like to hear from someone else. Without  further adieu, I give you:

ADAM:

I would like to thank the powers at be running this blog for the wonderful opportunity to say hello to all of you readers in the blogosphere. I have never actually blogged before so I am honored to be selected for such a prestigious readership. To all of you who do not know, I am married to the everyday writer, Dottie. 

Life is going pretty well up here in Milwaukee...I would be lying if I told you that I wasn't over winter, but all in all I cannot complain. We are still supposed to get some snow here in the near future, and considering a year ago this week I was playing golf in Kentucky with my buddy Joe from Marquette, that makes me a lil' sad. 

I have been keeping busy with the end of curling season, class at Marquette, and painting. I am a part of a men's curling league on Monday nights, which gives Dottie some time away from me. Our team is still in the hunt for a championship. Cannot complain about that. On Thursday night, Dottie has been doing great at learning curling! It is going to awesome to watch the winter olympics in Sochi, Russia...CNBC/MSNBC always shows curling all day!

I know Dottie has uploaded a few of my paintings over the past few months, but I have the honor of bringing you the world premiere of my new creation. You will notice that my Chicago theme has continued to carry over into my work (for those of who don't know me very well, I am not a serious painter. I just come up with fun ideas and hope it works within my limited skill set). I painted my own version of the Chicago El system that overlays a version of my neighborhood map. Hope you guys like it!

My next quest will most likely be a matching version of my Chicago skyline painting, but I will move about 90 miles north to Milwaukee. 

I am getting very excited for March Madness! The Big East tournament has started, and if you are thinking about it today...Go Marquette! The NCAA tournament is the best 3 weeks of the sports year. It is always awesome, and I cannot wait for it to get going.

I am probably going to keep this pretty short as we are watching Kate Beckinsale in Underworld right now. Nothing better than a Scy-Fi midweek flick. I will try not to be a stranger on this blog, and I will try to have a more exciting blog post in the future! Have a great day!

You say tomato, we say Wolf Peach

We went with some friends to a new restaurant called Wolf Peach on Saturday. I took this paragraph from their site because i thought it was so interesting where they got their name

   

The story begins in 1519, when Hernán Cortés came ashore to the Costa Rican gardens of Montezuma and           discovered what we now know as the tomato. He took the seeds back to Europe where they were ornamental curiosities, but not eaten. Throughout northern Europe, the tomato was considered to be poisonous. The wealthy dined on pewter; the acid in tomatoes reacted with the metal resulting in lead poisoning and death. Poor people ate from plates made of wood and were unaffected, so tomatoes became a poor man’s food. German folklore associates this nightshade plant with witches and werewolves, coining a scientific name which literally translates to “Wolf Peach”.

The style of the restaurant was fun too because the idea is to each get different meals and then share them among everyone. It was a really cool restaurant but I don't think I'm hipster enough to enjoy the food. We had good things but were nervous to try some of the things because we didn't even know what they were. We had fun though.

Joe, Ericka, Me (obvs.), Adam and Alli with part of the Crazy 8's. Their team dominated.

Then we went to a roller derby and had a lot of fun. Made me want to be a skater girl (except I can't skate to save my life) and have have a cool name like Psycho Ward or This means WARd.

The leagues in Milwaukee use a flat track instead of a banked track (which is a little different from the movie Whip It which is about roller derby). At first, we had no idea what was going on but we sort of got the idea. It's 5 vs 5. Three blockers (they basically box out the other team to prevent them from getting past) , one Jammer (they wear a helmet with a star on it and try to get through the Pack (both teams) to score points), and one pivot (they wear a striped helmet and can switch with the Jammer during the Jam (match) if the Jammer can't get through the pack for some reason). The first Jammer out of the pack is called the lead Jammer and controls when the match ends by repeatedly placing their hands on their hips. Once they get through the pack, the jammers have to catch back up to the pack and they score points by how many opposing players they pass. Some Jams last the full two-minutes and some last only a few seconds. It all matters on how the Jam plays out and the strategy of the game. I thought it was very interesting and it wasn't as violent as people make it out to be. Fouls are called and there really isn't a lot of hard contact. Physical contact, yes, extreme physical contact, not really. There were 2 bouts (games) and we had a blast. Hope we go back sometime.

Last Week

So last week was pretty busy for me. I went to a networking event last Tuesday night and met a lot of freelancers who also work for Kohl's which was really fun. Now I know a couple more people at Kohl's and they all sit near me. Then on Wednesday Night, I went to a presentation on the software I use everyday (Adobe products) with some other designers from my church. It was really fun. There are so many things I don't know about those programs so it's very interesting to learn more.

I hit a roadblock with winter this week so I was thankful that on Thursday instead of Curling we went went with some friends to the local botanical gardens for Music Under the Glass. It was an event apparently all winter and we happen to catch one of the last ones. We were among flowers listening to Irish music and watching little kids have fun and dance along. It was really cute and fun.

This was my new friend that I made. She showed me the trains that were traveling among the flowers.

Ahh. I can't believe it's already Friday. This week has been crazy busy. I have had something every night this week which is unusual for me. So sorry that the blog was the thing to suffer. I hope to be better about it next week.

I hope that you guys have a fantastic weekend!

P.S. Random Fact: Jack Hanna is coming to Milwaukee tonight and embarrassingly so, I wish was going. He is my childhood hero. My brother and I had 2 Jack Hanna videos that we watched religiously together because we loved animals so much. I was once on a college trip to NYC and we got to go to The Letterman Show for free but because of the size of our group had to split up and go on separate days. The day before I went, the other part of our group went and guess who was there. Yep, Jack Hanna and NO.ONE.KNEW.WHO.HE.WAS. (insert sigh here). I was so bummed. As for tonight, the tickets are too expensive to go by myself (Adam is not interested in the slightest) and it's kind of last minute since I just discovered he would be here last night. But one day... one day I will go.

Our Weekend

Adam's parents came in on Saturday and we had a blast. When they first got to our apartment, it felt a little like show and tell. We were running around from room to room showing them anything and everything. We showed them our collage, Adam's paintings, my dresser, and anything else we were proud of. Then we went Antique-ing in a local neighborhood and "got lost" in a 3 floor, 37,000 sq foot antiques store. It was awesome.

hehe also a fun sign for me ;) (get it?)

Then the boys went to the golf show and the girls looked at wedding photos and talked. It was very chill and fun. Then we went out to dinner at a local German place. It was pretty good. It was our first dinner with his parent's as a married couple and we were having good conversation so Adam kept saying it was just 4 adults having dinner. It was funny and true. We feel a little more like adults now that we're married and a little more settled.

Adam's maternal grandpa is 100% German, which is weird because his last name is Gardziella. But he grew up speaking German and Adam called his great-grandparents Opa and Omi. It was fun to hear stories from Adam's mom about her grandma and the dishes she used to make. We all got different dishes and split them which was a lot of fun. I also got to hear about Michelle and Doug's first date. They went to a 3D showing of "The Creature of the Black Lagoon" and then talked in a park for multiple hours. I teased about the "talking" for that many hours and that's when his dad confessed that Michelle had made comment about boys assuming they're going to get a kiss on the first date and that he had in fact received not one but multiple kisses on the first date. After 25 years, he was still proud of that fact. I was laughing so hard.

 We ate some dessert after dinner (They had brought us chocolate cake from the same place we got it for our wedding. So yummy!) and then the rents had to head back to the big city. It was so fun to spend the day with them.

Yesterday we had small group after church and our small group leader, Kendra, had a birthday. Look at how big that cake was!!! It was crazy!

Lucky for me, I got to split it with some one else because it was just a lot of cake haha

Oh yeah, I sold my dress on Saturday to a sweet girl who is going to Moody Bible Institute and her and her fiance want to be missionaries. It was so fun and such a blessing to help someone out like that and to get some cash and space back in our apartment. She also bought most of my wedding stuff. So fun! So happy to have our den back. 

It's Friday, Friday...

via

Adam's parents are coming to visit us tomorrow and I'm really excited. It's fun to have people visit. I have no idea what we'll be doing but I think it will be fun. Other than that, we don't have set plans. We may have a double date tonight and I may catch some coffee with a new friend on Sunday but I'm not sure hehe Either way, today is Friday and I am excited for the weekend. One week of work down. Whoot! Whoot!