Mama Mia

April 29th, 1959 my mom was born. Just want to wish her a most happy day! I love my mom dearly, even though we have had our rough patches, it has always been the two of us as a team. My dad died when I was a wee babe, and it was just the two of us for a while. I don't remember those days very well, but I have always felt a special bond with her that can't be broken no matter how much we used to fight, or how far away we are from each other. My mom has taught me so much from:
1. how tobe a germphob/ hypochondriac  diagnose most diseases
2.ski (one of my most prized skills)
3.not be a sissy-she always pushed me to not be a baby, sort of suck it up and do it...I can't explain it
4. be an excellent traveler
5. learn to go to st george more times than any person should in their life.
6. Be accepting to others no matter how different they are.
7. Be nice to everyone and include them. She hated catty girls and drama, and she did a great job to keep that out of me.
8. That health is a priority, good diet and exercise is essential.
9. That her name is written on my forehead, and that represent her when I am out. (this was her usual speech before a birthday pary or slumber party to try and keep me from being too crazy).
10. Vacuuming can be theraputic, and a scrubbing a toilet can brighten any day.
11. That keeping close to Christ, will always bring happiness. No matter how hard life gets he will always be your constant, and that you can always turn to him.

3 generations

Ski day

Central Park

Lunch in NYC

Now my mom didn't teach me how to cook, or give me excellent fashion tips, like telling me that it is NOT ok to wear socks with doc martin sandals, but I love her all the same. To another 53+years Rae Bud! Love you!

Plates

plater [ˈpleɪtə]

n

1. a person or thing that plates

2. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Horse Racing) Horse racing

a.  a mediocre horse entered chiefly for minor races

b.  a blacksmith who shoes racehorses with the special type of light shoe used for racing

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

yeah we have a pretty cool last name if you ask me. 

Most Unanticipated Friday

Weekends from now to the end of the semester aren't really awaited with much excitement. Friday and Saturday just means I have a whole day to sit in the library slaving away at papers, memorizing billions of images, and reading. Glad I get to teach a lesson this Sunday in Gospel principles too.  There better be a new episode of SNL or I am going to cry.
Cheers to the freakin weekend?

 Sorry Joey for leaving you all alone at home, but I can't study around so many distractions like you can.

Happy National Pretzel Day!

I forgot to post about my trip to chicago last weekend...probably because I forgot to take any pictures. I was too busy following my professor around and having my own personal tour guide! It was AMAZING. Best way to go through an art museum if you ask me.

The UW Art History Department usually takes a bus down to Chicago's art institute once a semester for a "field trip". It is basically a free bus ride to Chicago though. Once you get there you are on your own, you don't even have to go to the museum if you don't want to, but I'm a nerd and that was all I wanted to do. I am embarrassed to say this, but I even turned down going to Zara with a bunch of girls...NERD ALERT.

I stayed with my modern art professor who was with a couple older ladies and a girl in high school. The older ladies spoke french (one from Belgium and the other from France) and they were so tiny and adorable! The younger girl was a foreign exchange student from Italy and her name was Francesca. She became my bestie for the day. The five of us trekked all of the modern galleries, had duck confit for lunch, and toured the Millennium park gardens before getting back on the bus to get back to Madison. Easy to say I had a cultural feast last week.

Our reflection in the bean with Francesa and Professor Buenger

Middle of the bean.

It was such a perfect day for a wedding in the city! So gorgeous!

The trip was great fun, and We were exhausted after walking ALL DAY LONG. Francesca and I slept the whole way back, became FB buddies and now I have a little Italian friend! I am glad I found her to hang out with because my other friend ended up getting food poisoning so I wasn't going to have any buddies on the trip, since Joey didn't want to go either (party poopers).

 To celebrate National Pretzel Day Joey and I went to the mall to have an Auntie Anne's pretzel. I got the garlic, and he got cinnamon sugar. Joey couldn't finish his because it was "too sweet". I didn't know such words could come out of his mouth haha. No pics of the pretzels tonight though I forgot my camera, and I have a bunch of zits on my face right now so don't really feel like sharing that (thanks stress).

That awkward moment when art comes to life.

I love Franz Marc

While sitting in German expressionism lecture today I tucked my hair behind my hear to feel something strange. It felt like a scab? booger.? uhhhh....I remove the unidentified object and put it on my notebook. It wasn't a scab. It wasn't a booger. It was alive. A freaking bug of some sort was in my hair! He was wiggling around on my notebook while I held back everything in me not to have a total freak out while in lecture. I stabbed this little black thing with my pen until I knew for sure it was dead. Then I slid it onto my arm rest so I could examine it when the lights came back on (art history classes are in the dark fyi). I had to make sure it wasn't a tic or anything. Now in a state of paranoia that something creepy is crawling on me/ that I was bit by some venomous bug no one has heard of and I only have a few hours left to live.

Again I love Franz Marc

It is sort of Ironic that this situation happened while my professor was lecturing about this piece. Fate of the Animals. Didn't hear a word she said about the painting, but I felt the apocalyptic emotion of the piece while discovering what was inhabiting on me and its fateful end from my pen.

Good Listen

Break it Yourself has been out for a little bit, but it is still pretty new. Joey introduced me to Andrew Bird when we were dating. He is probably our favorite musician ever. Mr. Bird is LEGIT. If you haven't listened to him before get his stuff he's great. I am loving this album. He will be in Chicago in May, and I am crossing my fingers that we can go!

Speaking of Chicago I can't wait for this week to be over because I am going to Chi town with the art history department to go to the art institute! pics to follow fo sho.

a not so average easter

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter! This year went a bit differently than it usually goes, but it was still nice. I got up early to study for a big test that I had today (blahhhhhh). Joey got sick this weekend, so I was nice and let him sleep. I went to church, and left early so I could get back to studying. Isn't this an amazing Easter so far? Well after I came home I got some breakfast going for the two of us. I made some resurrection rolls (yummy delish!)

they taste like cinnamon rolls but not as sweet :)

and our favorite Whole Foods black forest bacon. We swear by it. I don't know if it is only in the midwest you can get it or all Whole Foods has them, but it is seriously the best thing you will put in your mouth.

I know you can just hear it sizzle. When you cook it until it is super crunchy it just melts in your mouth!

After Breakfast Joey suprised us with easter baskets! So proud of him I didn't even have to ask for one haha. I got a cake pop kit, some cadberry creme eggs, and pink easter socks (which I gave myself lol). Joey even got a basket for Gertie and Ethel to share! Gertie got some bones and a toy, and Ethel got some Fancy Feast haha...Ethel likes to eat.

I got joey a very maritime outfit, but I failed on his pant size so I have to return it. I will make him model it though when I get the right size. Don't judge that I still don't know my husbands pant size! I also filled his 5gallon plastic storage box  Easter basket with peeps, lil debbie oatmeal cream pies and starburst sour jelly beans. Very successful in our loot from the Easter bunny.

I spent the rest of the afternoon attempting to be studying before I met up with my friend Colleen. She was my first friend that I made in Madison, and was definitely the one I am closest to. Even though she is ten years older than me we totally clicked. She is so fun and we always have a good time together. We met working at Gigi's, and I remember the day she started that I wanted to be friends with her.  She unfortunately is moving to Georgia, and this was our last day to be able to hang out before she flew down south. Her husband is already down there so she was spending Easter all alone. We made plans to have dinner since she had to show her house until the late afternoon. Instead of your typical Easter brunch we had an Easter dinner at the Avenue Bar

....just the two of us since Joey still wasn't feeling well. We both had pot roast with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and a whole lot of gravy! Talk about a wonderful Easter dinner!

blondies

We took our last picture together, and weirdly enough I didn't cry! It still doesn't feel like she is moving away. Maybe I have become numb to separations living away from friends and family, or I am just in denial. Who knows. Well I need to get back to the grind of homework. Slacking over spring break has not done me any favors. Time to read about mucous plugs!

If you put a cute shirt over that muffin top it doesn't make you a cupcake.

Hey guys! I will cut to the chase and say that I have a pretty fun announcement to make. I am now employed at J.Crew! It happened really fast, and I am super excited! I have been working at Gigi's cupcakes since October of 2010. It has been really fun, but I have been itching for some change. I applied to Anthropologie, but it didn't work out-didn't even get called back but whatev-. I have been wanting to work at a clothing store for a while because I am really wanting a discount. I also have been wanting to get away from working with food. I went to the mall on wedensday got an application, filled it out, had Joey print out my resume, turned in app, and scheduled an interview. Thursday had the interview, Friday got the job!

I wish our store facade looked like this!

I know that retail can be hell, but the girls at this J.Crew all seem like a lot of fun. The store is super SMALL compared to any J.Crew I have been to which could be good or bad I dunno yet. I start next week so wish me luck! I am fantasizing that my life will all of a sudden start looking like this since I am going to be dressing the part ;)

 I am going to miss everyone at Gigi's way too much so I agreed to "be on call" for them during wedding season. Have a great Easter tomorrow don't eat too many peeps bleh.

Fortunate Fool

I love holidays! Even the small ones. Just ask Joey I get way too excited when a holiday comes up. I can't wait until we have money a house so I can decorate like crazy for all the holidays! April Fool's is always a fun day to do silly things, and pull hilarious pranks. I'm disappointed to say that I didn't pull any pranks on Joey this year. But I did make a fooling dinner! 

 I made a meatloaf "cake" which was just meatloaf baked in old tuna cans (great for mini cakes-grandma white's secret trick!), then I layered them and "frosted" them with mashed potatoes. Used peas for sprinkles and piped with a small star tip for fancy decoration.

check out Joey's amazing "cake" cutting skills!

Dessert was a "tv dinner" which were really cupcakes! I got the idea from my Hello Cupcake book my Nana got for me. It was delicious and reminded me of something of one of my BFF's mom would do. She always does fun things April Fool's/any holiday/ birthday. Alana you ROCK. 

fried chicken, mashed potatoes, peas & carrots, & chocolate pudding! oh wait nope just cupcakes!

One of my old friends from working at the Brick Oven is hilarious, and she did April Fool's day right! Check out Whitney to see some of her pranks.

 I have been on the search for an apartment to live in for fall semester, and have found a couple prospects! I met with one girl who is great, but her apartment is too far away from campus. The apartment that I am really hoping to get into is in a super cute neighborhood on the "near east side". I have always wanted to live in this part of Madison, and the house is right by a park and the lake! It is a 5 bedroom with only 2 girls in it so far. They are grad students, and seem pretty fun for what FB stalking has shown me. We are meeting next week after spring break, but aparantly they think I will be a good match because "I had them at cupcakes". I am finding it pays off to work at a cupcake place in more ways than just contributing to my ever enlarging arse.

Hope you guys are enjoying having to be in school or at work because I still have 4 more days of spring break! Not to rub it in or anything ;)