10 Days and Counting...

While I'd like to think that I'm wildly independent and more than capable to be away from friends and family for extended periods of time. I have finally reached the point where I am more than excited to go home for Winter Break! In 10 days I will gladly bundle up and board a plane back to the frozen Midwest for a two week break from the craziness known as my life. I'm ready to have margaritas with Mother (the house better be stocked when I get home) and sit on the kitchen counter talking to Dad about anything and everything, or just the same stories we laugh at time and time again. And of course, I am eager to spend some much needed time with the best friend in one of my favorite cities! While I'm not a fan of the cold in any way, shape, or form, I will try to soak in every moment while I'm in Minnesota cause I'm not sure the next time I will be back. The semester has been incredible and I have learned a lot, but for my sanity, I need to get away from this hotel. So Minnesota, get ready, cause I'm coming home!

White Leather, Red Laces

It's nearly baseball season and there is no where I would rather be than here....

Twins Territory

But of course, I am in Boone, North Carolina. I didn't really become obsessed with baseball until college. It must have been the 1/2 price general admission and the dollar dogs that got me. But it is seriously one of my favorite sports. Maybe because it shouts loud and clear "SUMMER". It could also be the sound of a packed stadium on a afternoon game, it's flat beer that only tastes good when sitting in a ball stadium, it's being able to people watch the entire game and never miss a thing. It is also becoming friends with the people sitting next to you...even if only for 9 innings! And if you're lucky - a few extra! It definitely is the 7th inning stretch and the kiss cam. Or possibly that one time you and your friends got the last few tickets for the home opener sitting in obstructed view seating and you started the slow clap!

Gosh...I LOVE THIS SPORT! Thankfully, just through the mountains about 40 miles is Elizabethtown where the Twins have their farm team. PTL! You better believe I am going to catch a game or two. But for now, I daydream about being with friends on a warm evening enjoying America's past-time. Thank goodness it is Baseball season!

Day with Dibbs!

Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends. -- Cindy Lew

This week I got to spend a day with my good friend Sarah Dibbern (Dibbs). This hang out time was greatly anticipated since I had only seen said lady once since the end of May. During our time apart, Sarah carefully constructed a list of things that her and I would be doing during my time here in MN.

Dibbs with "the list"

With the list in mind, we set out on our little day of adventure. First, we set off to do some shopping. She introduced me to a store named Charming Charlie. LOVE! It's this incredible jewelry store where the jewelry is all separated by color with all the handbags, belts, and other necessary accessories to match. Heaven on Earth I tell ya! After some more shopping, a run in with another great friend from college, and forcing Sarah to humor me and take some goofy pictures...

Yay Sarah!

...we were off to go ice skating in St. Paul. Yippee! As a child, I always had dreams of being a figure skater. On the lake behind our home, we would always clear off a spot to go skating. And while my brothers were off snowmobiling or making snow forts, I was busy daydreaming about skating for Olympic Gold with the likes of Kristy Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan. So, needless to say, I was so excited to relive my childhood dreams.

 However, it had been quite some time since I had been on ice skates and although at one time I was very sure of myself on skates, I was certain this ice skating experience was going to be a shaky one at best. We went to the outdoor rink by the Landmark Center and for only $2 it was a pretty great way to spend the afternoon.

Landmark Center in St Paul, MN

Story time: While waiting in line to rent our skates, Sarah spots this guy that she had a crush on all summer. I, not knowing who the fella was, asked her to point him out to me so I could be on the look out. "The one with the black hat and coat, over there by his family." "Okay. Got it." I was thinking that a little rendezvous on a skating rink made for a pretty great story, a "Meet Cute" if you will. (for more details on a "meet cute", watch the movie The Holiday) Sarah, on the other hand, was not having it. She did all that she could to try and stay away from this guy. I threatened her that I was going to shout her name every time he skated by me, but after she pleaded with me that I keep my mouth shut, I respected her wishes. Later on when we decided to retire for the evening - fall-free I will have you know - we were about to walk out of the warming house when... dun dun dun...her crush appears! FINALLY! He greeted her with a sincere enthusiasm, and I merely stood back and observed. But the one thing I finally noticed was that the guy she was talking to WAS NOT the guy I thought she pointed out. This entire time I thought her crush was some other guy in a black hat and coat skating around with his family. Wing-man fail! Sorry Sarah! But after a nice little chat with her crush, Sarah and I left to round off our evening with a nice dinner.

All in all it was a great day with Miss Dibbern and I am thankful for the time I got to spend with her. Dibbs, remember you are always welcome to come visit me in North Carolina. Love you!

Happy Holidays

Officially survived another holiday season. The evidence of it being a grand one is proven in the necessity of a good workout or ten. And of course, Minnesota delivered another white Christmas without fail. However, as grand as it may have been, I would be lying if I said I wasn't glad it was over. Now don't call me a grinch, but I haven't been the biggest fan of Christmas for quite some time. Big supporter of the meaning and purpose of Christmas, but for so many years it meant encountering family members I didn't have such an exciting past with. Christmas for me is usually survived with the continual consumption of wine.

My holiday survival kit

And now with both my older brothers married, Christmas is changing even more. But there were some great things that took place this Christmas. My little niece Abby celebrated her first Christmas. Why it is so entertaining to watch little kids open up Christmas gifts, I don't know, but it is. And why we even get little kids gifts to begin with is beyond me. They are so enamored by wrapping paper alone!

Abby's First Christmas

By far my favorite part of the holiday is watching Christmas movies with the fam. Elf is a must. And, I introduced my parents to It's a Wonderful Life this year. Can't believe we all hadn't seen it until this year. SLACKERS! Now it's time to look forward to the New Year and celebrating that with another wedding. Woot woot! Well, from snowy Minnesota, Merry Christmas!

White Wedding

December 11th, 2010 was the date of two major events in MN: a blizzard and my brother's wedding. Not sure the bride and groom really wanted those two things to occur simultaneously, but nonetheless they did. I flew into MN around midnight Thursday night only to kick off wedding events just a few hours later. After a much needed trip to get manicures and pedicures, we were off for the rehearsal and the grooms dinner. Who knew walking down the isle would require so much practice?! It's probably for people like me who struggle with pacing and would just rather run down the isle. (slow learner, party of one!) So after some detailed instructions on when to pause, where to stand, where to look, when to fix the brides train, when to turn, when to walk off stage (without tripping on your dress) it was time to eat.

Under the overwhelming sense of excitement, there was a lingering sense of stress. A lot of people would be traveling a distance to get to the wedding and with the impending doom of a poorly timed MN blizzard, we were all left to pray and keep our fingers crossed that it wouldn't effect the "big day" too badly.

Next morning: we wake up to the fury that is mother nature. There is snow... everywhere. And the relentless wind -much like what it is in the mountains - comes at you horizontally. The morning includes a slow, white-knuckled drive to the hair salon (who cares that it was only a mile away; I forgot how to drive in that stuff) running through snow drifts higher than the protection of my newly purchased boots (darn it!) a momentary hiatus in the hairdressers chair getting a million bobby pins stuck into my head with an entire can of hairspray unloaded onto my product-free hair and then we are off to the church!  Beyond the shivers from the cold, smiles were in abundance. The bride was gorgeous. The groom was nervous. And then came the pictures...lots of pictures! But before you know it, we are getting set for kick off, no -go time, hmm... the big event?! Maybe.  The ceremony was personal and filled with laughter. A couple excited "I Do's" later and I have a new sister! Yippee!

The new Mr. and Mrs. :)

After braving a few pictures out in the snow (bad idea but at least the snow matched the wedding colors) we were off to the reception...a.k.a time to get our groove on! I don't think the bride ever left the dance floor!! All in all it was a great celebration. And even though the weather was horrible, so many people came to wish Trent and Liz well.

So here is to Trent and Liz: Trent, I am so happy for you! You found an incredible person to share life with. Love you. Liz, I knew before you and Trent started dating that someday you would be my sister. Thank you for loving my brother the way you do. You're incredible! :) Welcome to the family!

Going "Home"

I don't know what I think of when I talk about "home" anymore. Technically, I guess you could say that I'm "home" now being back in MN. I'm at the house I grew up in. I see all the marks on my bedroom door when I tried to figure out how tall I was when I was growing up. Under my bed there are three plastic storage bins filled with pictures, old homework assignments, all the articles from my hometown newspaper where I happened to be mentioned. I still know how to walk up the wooden stairs that lead up to my bedroom so that they won't make any noise and wake my parents up. Everything is just the same. But it feels so different. And I can't help but feel a little bit like a guest.

(when did the place I grew up in and considered home become just "my parent's place"?)

For the last four months, I have been calling Boone my home. Even though when I first moved down there I was dead set on just being in Boone long enough for school and when I was finished, I was headed back to MN to stay for good. At that time, MN was "home" and there wasn't anywhere else that could take that title. But now, something else has. And I am okay with that. Also, I know that a year and a half from now, I will be leaving the place I now call "home" and will be finding a new "home". With confidence I can say, I won't be coming back to MN. (hey with all the snow and freezing cold we have now, who would blame me?)The world is at my fingertips, I might as well go explore it. Here I come world! (said with a triumphantly raised fist) And...if my next home is half as great as my current home, well, then I am in for a treat! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MN. Minnesota is absolutely amazing during the summer. And if you happen to be obsessed with bodies of water like myself, MN is right up your alley.

But what I am finally realizing is that "home" isn't a specific place. Now...I'll stop myself from saying the whole "home is where the heart is" bit because I have never been too fond of throwing up in my mouth. However, I see the truth behind it.

The moments I feel most as home is when I am with the people I love the most. The people who challenge me to become a better person. The people who love me and my goofy self. The people who continually to reaffirm that I have some of the best friends in the world and that I am one truly blessed individual. People I love = home.

Which is probably why I have felt most at home in South Africa, Chicago and now Boone. (don't worry...MN makes the list, too!)

So in reality, home is where YOU are!

Artwork by: Valentina Ramos

A Warm Welcome

Tonight, I got to be the person running through the airport to give someone a hug. It has been over four months since I have been home and other than a few Skype calls with my parents and an impromptu flight out by the BFF, I haven't seen anyone from home. So when I saw my mom waiting over by baggage claim I couldn't help myself but run over to her! And then two other "bffls" (best friends for life) Jorgen and Kelly came to welcome me back to the land of frozen tundra as well! It was great! I had this goofy grin stuck on my face that wouldn't go away. Meh...whatever. I'm over it.

But the best part and one of the reasons why I love the airport so much was seeing a young man, dressed up in his service uniform walk toward baggage claim and then seeing his little brother with an adorable home-made sign run towards him and give him the biggest hug! PRECIOUS! There is nothing better than a warm welcome home! Speaking of home...it is weird to be back in MN. Too many MN license plates here. Which yes, I know. I'm the person in Boone that will always point out when I see a MN license plate. But now there are just too many. I have lots of thoughts about this whole "home" thing. But we'll get to that later. Stay tuned.