One Year Ago Today

We are just a handful of hours shy our one-year anniversary. Some things have changed, but a lot has stayed the same.

He still snores like a velociraptor, I still hog the bed.
He's still not very handy (but he tries), I still don't like to help.
He still travels too much, I still get crabby about it.
He still says we have 4 dogs, I still say its 3 1/2.

But what matters the most is the love and memories we've shared and continue to. And that on this day, one year ago, we were surrounded by some of the most wonderful people in our lives.

And we had one hell of a party!

Hold onto your hats, big things are in store for year two.

The next thing I knew it was October!

I don't even know if anyone stops by this place anymore it's been neglected so long. For all like 4 of you who previously read my musings, I thought I'd attempt to recap the last 3 or 4 months for you.

Everyone warned me that the time would FLY by but I just don't know where it all went. It seems like just yesterday it was spring, I was running, I had free time, things were mellow and good.

Then June hit.

It's probably a lot more fun if I show you were I've been....

The chaos all kicked off with Ragnar Chicago Relay. Well worth the lack of sleep and sore muscles. I've made some truly amazing running friends. xoxo!

Then my BFF came to visit from NYC and we made our annual pilgrimage to Summerfest, complete with tickets to see Britney Spears!

W and I then moved our kitchen mini-remodel full steam ahead! Those flower tiles HAD to go.

Note: No actual before pictures were taken because the kitchen was SUCH a disaster. Ugly, messy, and in disrepair. Shudder...

Flowers GONE! But drab cabinets and weird green walls remain...

Nothing a fresh coat of paint on the walls and cabinets can't fix!

(I'm trying to track down a picture of the other half of the kitchen....you know, where the cabinets are...)

Kitchen remodel finished, complete with custom bench designed and upholstered by yours truly, chalkboard paint wall, and a new spice cabinet!

Now if only the new floor and counter fairy would swing by Claire St.

The weekend remodels were intermixed with working events like the Robbie Ventura Gran Fondo

And Centurion Wisconsin.

Which was immediately followed, of course, but Trek World!

I found time to sneak in another race and joined the Pavement Pirates last minute for the Ragnar Great River Relay.

Where I earned my "Make it a Double" medal for doing both Chicago and GR in one season. Huzzah!!

Before I knew it I was off to Vegas for Interbike 2011.

I mean really, who doesn't want to spend 7 days in Vegas the week before getting married...

All the house cleaning and home reno was not for naught though as we hosted our rehearsal dinner in our bcakyard on our fabulous patio.

Then we said some vows...

...took some pictures....

...and had a party!

Followed almost immediately by hopping on a jetplane and heading to Kona to work the Ironman World Championship.

And yes, I was close enough to snap a pic of Chrissie crossing the finish line and regaining her title. OMG.

Don't worry, I had a chance to enjoy a Hawaiian sunset or two.

I realize so much of this is worthy of posts all their own, and I promise to do just that, but not now. I'm almost out of time on my lunch hour, and, well, I am still trying to get caught up from the last few weeks.

Wordless Wednesday

Something old, something new, something borrow, something blue.
AND a set of toasting glasses from my BFF.


Makes the debacle that was my family bridal shower all worth while.


- Blogging from my iPad

Too much frosting, and other unrelated things...

Where to start...

For the most part I am seriously lacking the bridal gene. I just am. I'm not going to cry over dresses or flowers or center pieces. I don't really want to deal with caterers or djs. Traditions, while some have been known to make me tear up a bit at other weddings, don't hold any special place in my heart. I may have even suggested we elope to NYC City Hall before jet-setting to Europe or some tropical island. So when I was faced with going to a bridal show, I was less than excited. That's a little too high of concentration of estrogen and bridezillas for me. Shudder. But the fact of the matter is that we still needed to find the names of bakeries and find a dj for the event, so Wyatt and I went. Yes Wyatt not only went, but he suggested we go. Like woah.

The Rolling Pin Bake Shop

Their Lemon Poppyseed cupcake was BY FAR the best of the day!

What was the outcome? A sugar high like never before and a case of frosting induced nausea. That's right, we power tasted every bakery in the joint, and got the flock out of there. I had enough buttercream to swear off cake for life (or at least a month or so), but we did find one or two joints worth setting up an official tasting with. And I learned A LOT of what I don't like. Disco balls, bows, Christmas lights, and rotating plexi-glass displays. It's all a little too 1980's for me.

Speaking of the buttercream induced nausea, I broke down and had half a Sierra Mist at the show. I was doing soooo good. No Soda, specifically Diet Coke, for a whole. And out of desperation not to toss my cookies in public I resorted to white soda to settle my stomach. I had decided that I was ok with this and that it didn't caught against my 30 Before 30 month of no soda (which started January 9th if you were curious) but then yesterday I found myself fighting back chunks at work and succumb to Sierra Mist AGAIN. I feel like such a failure!! If my choices are purging in public of having a soda, I have to admit I will ALWAYS go the soda. There are just some things I am not willing to do. Yuck.

Does this mean I have to start over? I legitimately have not had a drop of Diet Coke in over a week now. That should count for something....

In other 30 Before 30 news, I had my January yoga workshop this past weekend. I was suppose to spend Friday evening, all day Saturday and all day Sunday at the workshop, but giving my still healing state I opted out of Saturday. I think it was the right decision because I was hella sore after Friday evening, not to mention Sunday. But I learned some super cool stuff about prana and energy, and postural compensations and corrections. I find myself wanting to incorporate these things not only into my practice, but every day. But like any new habit, it takes conscious effort to make it happen, and that is not always easy or pleasant at first.

There are so many ramble-y things I could mention. Katie vs Landlord, Landlord 0, Katie 3 #FTW!!! Or how I am diving head first into one of the more stressful weeks of the years this week, but that's probably not approved blog content. OR the laundry list of DIY home improvements I desperately want to accomplish, um, like yesterday. But at the moment I am hungry and distracted, so I'll have to save all that for another day!

Top 10 of 2010

2010 had it's lows, and by lows I mean ass-kicking, gut-wrenching, super-duper-sucking lows, but it also had it's highs. It's true that what goes down must come back up, er, however that cliche saying goes.

But before I look to 2011 and share my thoughts and goals for the new year, I thought I should post the obligatory Top 10 of 2010 post. If not for your perusal and enjoyment, than to remind myself that 2010 wasn't too shabby.

Without further ado, in chronological order.....the Top 10 of 2010!

10. On March 15th 2010 we brought home all 10lbs of furry, tail-wagging, butt-wiggling joy, Ladybug! She's been part of our family for almost a year now, and despite the time or 10 that Wyatt threaten to give her back, she has been a love!

9. The beginning of April took me to DC for work, which in itself is nothing to write home about. But when your BFF takes the bus down from NYC to meet you for the afternoon, attention must paid! Not only did the BFF make a cameo appearance, but we had the chance to hang out with a few college friends and see the sites with locals.

8. June brought surgery for me, and mountain bike racing for the guys. Not even crutches could keep me from tagging along as the official "in case of emergency" contact and cheering section.

7. Once off crutches Wyatt and I embraced the mini-break, and took long weekends to the Twin Cities and the Windy City. 4-star hotels, restaurants, shows like the Blue Man Group, and leisurely strolls along the lakefront and river, it was fabulous to break up the summer with a trip here and there.

6. Biking! The few months of nice weather we have here in Madison would not be complete without biking. We are now the proud owners of an Xtracycle Free Radical (awesome!!). It served as my chariot while I was on crutches, and later in the season it was out grocery-getting, picinic-going, farmer's market-going station wagon.

Did I mention the Pinglespeed got some mileage too?!? Woot!

5. Arguably the most memorable moment of the year, and number 1 in my heart for 2010, on September 11th 2010 Wyatt closed down an entire state park to propose to me.

September 2011 we will be Mr & Mrs!!

Sigh.

Tear.

Squeeee!!

4. Later in September we headed down to Vegas for Interbike for work, followed by a few days of vacation and debauchery. And the cherry on top? My BFF joined us! Wyatt had his hands full keep track of not one, but two Vegas virgins.

The Palm, Cirque du Soliel, Peep Show, 3 Tiffany's locations, Ceaser's Palace, craps, the Playboy Club, and oh so much more!

3. Early November had me heading to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater...and as it was Wyatt's birthday, I brought him along. While I worked the event (booo), Wyatt's days were filled with sleeping in, long walks on the beach, seashell collecting, and general relaxation. In the evenings we did have the chance to meet up with another coworker of ours, see some friends and eat some delicious food. All in all, not a bad lil work trip.

2. November 20th we celebrated our engagement with our closest friends by throwing a little shindig at the local brew pub. Wings, cupcakes, beer, wonderful company, and an embarrassing toast made for a memorable and wonderful evening.

1. Every year we make it our mission to make it to at least one Badger game. Being a UW alum, these games are very near and dear to me. This year we were at the season closer, where the Badgers officially tied as Big 10 Champs and sealed the deal on a trip to Pasedena.

Storming the field was a must!

So there you have it, the Top 10 of 2010. Now that it's been posted I can officially close the 2010 chapter and focus on 2011.