Winter Woahs - Week in Photos

I'm so over the weather in Minneapolis these days. Even more than that, I'm over everyone complaining about the weather...

Yes, we all agree, Mother Nature could use some mood-stabilizing meds. Enough already!

Despite still having the "winter weather woahs", I've been doing my best to keep a plucky spirit. Here is my week in photos!

The hubby had a weather related run-in with a guard rail.

My old, fat, cranky cat seems to think my head is a pillow.

Finally! A beautiful day to enjoy a Twins game at the AWESOME Target Field with amazing friends!

Catching up on the latest in the local craft beer scene with my April/May issue of The Growler.

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! Do you have any big plans?

You Broke the Cake

Here is what I know...

Teenage boys are loud. One teenage boy jumping up and down is the equivalent to a stampede of buffalo. Teenage boys know everything, so don't bother to correct them. You are obviously wrong.

I also know that one teenage boy jumping up and down shouting, "Ha! I was right! I was right! You've been owned!" and trying to chest bump your face will break your cake.

Yes, the cake is broken.

I was super excited to try this recipe I had found on Pinterest. I got out my almond flour, ran to the store to pick up carrot baby food, and opened up my new bag of vanilla whey protein powder.

It was going to be amazing!

My friend Janet was here, and she was all amazed because she had never made a cake from scratch.

I was all excited to show her how awesome a scratch bundt cake would turn out.

The stage was set. The cake was place in the oven, and 30 minutes later, it was done!

I took it out and set it on the stove top to cool. Being a carrot cake and all, it had a lot of wet ingredients. I wanted it to cool and set before I flipped it out of the pan.

And then it happened - the Noah Herd of suburban Minnesota stampeded through my kitchen and broke my cake.

Not one to let a good thing go, we began to pick at its remains...

Your take-away? Sequester your teenage son if you plan to make a delicious cake. You'll thank me.

Daily Life in Pictures

Photos are an important part of life. As I was growing up, photos captured significant moments and memories. In the age of technology, photos are far more disposable than the photos of our childhood.

But, technology also lets us catalog little snippets of time that may not have been deem "photo-worthy" in out youth. It's kind of awesome how eliminating something like the cost of developing a roll of film makes us more prone to just capturing a moment - regardless of its long-term significance.

I don't know about you, but I am an Instagram junkie. If you haven't used Instagram, all I have to say to you is WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!? If you do - let's connect! You can find me here!

Here are some of the moments I have captured since the beginning of the year...

 Not too long ago, my husband and I went out for the opening of a new brewery tap room in Northeast Minneapolis. I'm a huge craft beer fan, so this was my idea of a great date night!

 My Great Dane and my daughter's kitten are BFFs. 

It's not uncommon to find them snuggling up together in my bed.

 Or in the dog's bed.

 A local coffee company gives out free drinks on your birthday! Free latte = LOVE!

 My husband and I love to eat. Often times, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs... 

It's hard to pick one thing from a great brunch menu!!

 This darn kitten has stolen my heart. 

(Shhh! Don't tell my daughter!)

 Don't let her cuteness fool you, though. She really is quite the terrorist.

 I'm a sucker for sushi... 

Even if it means dining alone at the bar during happy hour.

What are some of your favorite in-the-moment shots?

If you're on Instagram, leave a link in the comments so I can follow you!!

I'm Here!

I know what you're thinking - "What!?! A new post at OPC? I thought Kristin fell off of the edge of the Earth!"

You're right. Kind of...

I came very close to the edge of the Earth, but I've maintained my balance and haven't yet succumbed to the depths.

I haven't been around this space much for the last year or so. I've missed it. It was once the first place I came to share my stories and for companionship. But sometimes life just happens.

As many of you know, I got married, I moved, and I've been in school. Although I've kept my plate full, blogging is rarely far from my mind.

My hope is to get back into this space, for for a bit I have been wondering on some exciting stuff, and hope to have a new blog home before the end of the summer. Until then, I am working on an editorial calendar for this space, so you can expect to see some new content here, and then come along for the ride once I make the move!

Until then, I am excited to reconnect my bloggy friends and catch up where we left off!

Movies That Make Christmas

Christmas means something a little different to everyone. There are traditions and norms that people anticipate every year. Setting up the Christmas tree, baking Christmas cookies, selecting the perfect photo for the annual Christmas card...

I've always been kind of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas trees. Don't get me wrong - they're beautiful; I just have all kinds of anxiety with setting it up. I freak out if the ornaments aren't appropriately spaced. It's a pain in the ass to get out all of the supplies. And frankly, packing it up at the end of the season sucks.

I love Christmas baking. Sadly, I have never been able to perfect my Grandma's cut out cookies. I'm secretly let down every year.

Don't even get me started on Christmas cards... It's not the actual card or the idea of sending them... I just have a very difficult time actually getting them in the mail. (This problem isn't exclusive to Christmas cards. There is a reason my husband and I decided he would be responsible for getting the bills in the mail.)

Movies, however, are a big tradition in our home. The kids and I have always been able to bond over movies. There are a 5 movies that we watch every December, together. As they've gotten older, we appreciate this time and these movies... And I appreciate that they "get it" better every year.

So what are these magical movies that strengthen our family bond?

In no particular order -

A Christmas Story - 1983

Who doesn't love this 40's tale of a little boy who wants a Red Rider BB gun? Not to mention, it's a perfect depiction of the pure dysfunction that has always plagued the American family... Like every American classic, this film is riddled with with quotes that have permeated American culture. My favorite is one that has been tossed around by my brother and me since childhood... "Fra-gee-lay... It must be Italian."

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - 1989 This is another favorite from childhood. I get great joy from hearing my kids laugh hysterically over something that my brother and I would be in stitches over when we were kids. Clark Griswold is probably the most iconic dad in American film and television history. (Yeah, I said it. Bill Cosby's got nuthin' on Clark!) To this day, I almost pee my pants when Clark says to Eddie, "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?" I mean really, who hasn't felt that way about a family member at Christmas?

Elf - 2003 This is one that I hope my kids share with their kids when they're my age. Buddy the Elf. Ridiculous. Foolish. Juvenile. Every year, this movie revives my Christmas cheer. (Obviously because they sing out loud for all to hear.) And, secretly, it has made me suspect my daughter is an elf. "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."

The Polar Express - 2004 I was skeptical of this one, but in elementary school, my kids would have a Polar Express day right before winter break. I had to know what was so great... I found it mesmerizing and enchanting, and it made me remember what it was like to believe. One of my favorite quotes of all time is from this movie, "Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things are things we can't see."

Love Actually - 2003 This is my very favorite movie of all time, not just Christmas. The love stories are sweet. The relationships are real. And it helped me believe in love again during a very dark time in life. It taught me, "Life is full of interruptions and complications." a lesson I learned over and over again over the last decade. 
What are your traditions? Your norms? What makes Christmas Christmas for you?

**click the image to buy the movie from Amazon.com**

I'm a Delinquent...Firmoo Eye Glasses Review

Let me first start by saying that I am a raging delinquent. I should have told you about this weeks ago!

In September, I received a brand new pair of purple glasses. I ordered said fabulous glasses from the super cool and crazy easy to navigate Firmoo.com.

Firmoo has hundreds of frames for men and women at crazy affordable prices! The site allows you to upload a photo of yourself so you can virtually "try on" frames that tickle your fancy. Then, when you find a pair you like, you can enter in your prescription, and voila! You're on your way to ordering a great looking pair of specs for a fraction of the cost!

In a short week, my glasses arrived at my door with a case, cleaning cloth, and a small repair kit. The only down fall I have experienced is the glasses weren't fit to my face/ears. I would imagine any optical store would be able to adjust them for me; I'm just to lazy to find out.

Firmoo offers a free first pair to new customers, and right now they're offering free shipping on orders over $39! (Did I just use the word free twice in one sentence? Sweet!)

***I received a free pair of glasses from Firmoo in exchange for this post...but you can get your own free glasses - no strings attached - by visiting Firmoo for yourself!***

Post-It Note Tuesday ~ Rant

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Happy Tuesday!

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