Summer Days

Now that spring has finally arrived (fingers crossed hoping we won't get the snow that's supposed to come tonight and tomorrow) I cannot hardly wait for summer! Besides fall, summer is one of my favorite seasons. I love the warm weather and all the activities and adventures that come along with it. Here are some things I am looking forward to...

…cheering my man on at softball games

…breathtaking sun sets

…running 5k's with my ladies
…tank tops and shorts

…late night bonfires

…weekends up north
…tanned skin with a freckled face
…Ice cream at all my favorite ice cream shops

…days at the beach soaking up the sun

…kayak trips around the lake
…wedding hair season

…running and working out outdoors

…BBQ's 

…yard games and playing outside
…thunderstorms
…the Minnesota State Fair

…warmer weather

…hangouts with friends late into the night

…Monticello's Riverfest 

…fireworks

…gardening

…fresh eating and fresh salsa

…farmer's market

…wake-boarding

…eating dinner outside
…Laura and Audrey visiting from Japan

I could go on and on. I am definitely looking forward to summer and all that summer 2013 has to offer. What are some of your favorite things to do in the summer? 

Sunsets

sun-set
noun

1.     the setting or descent of the sun below the horizon in the evening.
2.     the time when the sun sets.
3.     the daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon in the west as a result of Earth's rotation.

Sunsets are one of my favorite things of summer and fall. The way the Lord creatively paints the sky in breathtakingly beautiful colors is always different and new every time. It seriously stirs my affections for Christ and makes me stand in awe of what His mighty hand can do and create. Every time I am lucky enough to see one of His gorgeous sunset displays, I try to capture as much of the beauty as I can. I like to look at the photos, especially in winter when beautiful sunsets are few and far between. Every time I look at the photos, I'm in awe all over again and the pictures don't even do the sunsets justice! Here are some sunsets I was lucky enough to capture this past summer and fall. May they stir your affections for Christ the same way they stir mine. 

In Vadnais Heights, MN at one of Andrew's softball games earlier in summer. No filter 

Up north in Deerwood, MN. Instagram filter

Up north in Deerwood, MN. No filter

Up North in Nashwauk, MN for a friend's funeral. No filter

Up north in Deerwood, MN. No filter

In Hawaii at Ko'Olina Beach when I took a trip there in May.

In Hills, MN at a friend's wedding. Filter

Up north in Deerwood, MN. No filter

In Hills, MN at a friend's wedding. Purple filter

In Edwards, IL at Kickapoo Creek Winery at a friend's wedding. No filter

In Minneapolis, MN at Lake Harriet. No filter

In Minneapolis, MN out a random apartment window while we were cleaning in our building. No filter

In St. Paul, MN at the MN State Fair round 3. Filter

In St. Paul, MN at the MN State Fair round 2. No Filter

This ladies and gents is my all time favorite sunset EVER! I had to save the best for last. Taken in Little Canada, MN at one of Andrew's softball games in early summer. The sky seriously looked like a rainbow. It was beautiful! No filter

Sebastian Joe's

The other day Andrew and I were able to have a double date with some newly married friends (Cody and Sarah) at one of the ice cream places on my list, Sebastian Joe's. I had already been to Sebastian Joe's, but it's not official until I document it and compare it within the same time frame as the other places. (The night Andrew proposed to me, almost two years ago now, after I had excitedly said yes, he told me the night was not over because we needed to get dessert still. When we pulled up to Sebastian Joe's to park, I saw a big group of our friends and family sitting outside awaiting our arrival. He planned a surprise engagement party for me where we could get ICE CREAM! Love that!)

Anyways, even though the weather wasn't exactly hot the other day, I can always go for ice cream. We met Cody and Sarah at the Sebastian Joe's location in Linden Hills instead of the one on Nicollet Ave so there weren't quite as many flavors to choose from, but the experience was just as good! Sebastian Joe's has been offering homemade ice cream for almost three decades. The one on Nicollet Avenue offers at least 22 different flavors where the one in Linden Hills has 12 flavors to choose from. The flavors can change hourly depending on how popular they are and how fast they go. Sebastian Joe's is known for it's uniquely named ice cream flavors, so samples are welcomed if you're not quite sure what the flavor is. Some of their popular flavors include Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Oreo, Pavarotti (a combination of banana, caramel and chocolate chips), and the aptly named Nicollet Avenue Pot Hole (chocolate ice cream blended with fudge, truffles, heath bars, and sea salt). Among their many flavors of homemade ice creams and sorbets, they home-make their waffle cones as well. You can't go wrong trying one of their dipped cones in flavors like coconut, almond, Butterfinger, Heath Bar, chocolate, and one of their most popular: chocolate with sprinkles. Some other tasty treats they offer include: ice cream sandwiches, Oreo and Turtle ice cream pies, and Brr Bars (Oreo ice cream dipped in Swiss chocolate).

I tried their Oreo ice cream in a sugar cone - one of their best selling flavors. Sarah tried the Coconut Cream Pie flavor, and Cody got a pint of the Raspberry Chocolate Chip - another best seller. Andrew decided to just have water for the night. He didn't feel like having an ice cream cone in sweatshirt weather. I thought my choice of the Oreo ice cream was fantastic! It really hit the spot. I have never had Oreo ice cream as good as what Sebastian Joe's has to offer. Sarah loved her Coconut Cream Pie cone, and Cody thought the Raspberry Chocolate Chip was good as well. He almost ate the whole pint… Sarah helped him with the last few bites. Once we were done enjoying our yummy treats, we continued conversation while playing a friendly competitive game of cards. Cody and Sarah taught us a game called three up, three down. It was really fun! Sarah and I could not beat the boys though! We'll have to have a re-match very soon! Thanks for sharing a wonderful evening with us guys!

My Oreo ice cream cone

Me and Sarah enjoying our cones

Playing three up, three down

So far I'd have to say that Sebastian Joe's is in first place over Conny's Creamy Cone (read about that here) and HomeTown Creamery (read about that here) in their ice cream and in their relaxing atmosphere. I'd definitely recommend Sebastian Joe's to anyone who has not yet tried it!

1. Adele's Frozen Custard in Excelsior

2. Conny's Creamy Cone in St. Paul

3. Edina Creamery in Edina

4. Grand Ole Creamery in St. Paul

5. HomeTown Creamery in North St. Paul

6. Izzy's Ice Cream in St. Paul

7. Pumphouse Creamery in Minneapolis

8. Sebastian Joe's in Minneapolis

9. Crema Cafe in Minneapolis

A Road Trip to Illinois

This past weekend we had the privilege to road trip down to Peoria, Illinois to see some good friends and celebrate the marriage of Tyler and Breanna! On Friday morning at 5:45am, I packed up the last of my cold medicines (my cold was still lingering a bit) and our friend TJ picked Andrew and me up outside our apartment building. We were on the road by 6am sharp. After taking a minor wrong turn and ending up in White Bear going West instead of going East, we were on our way headed in the right direction. I was able to sleep a lot on the way there which was nice to catch up on my sleep after not sleeping much from having my cold. The trip was about an eight hour journey, but it felt like it breezed by. Before I knew it we were pulling into Normal, Illinois where we would stay with our good friend Noah (who moved there after graduating college) and a handful of other friends who had made the eight hour journey.

A few hours after arriving we were on the road again to Peoria, Illinois for the Hetland wedding. The wedding was held at Kickapoo Winery, and it was one of the most beautiful locations I've seen for a wedding. The ceremony was held in an open air barn and they could not have been blessed with any better weather. It was sunny, yet it wasn't too hot and there was a nice breeze blowing through the barn. The vineyard was just to the left of the barn so you could look out and see all the vines. It was gorgeous. What a perfect place to exchange vows and proclaim your love for each other.

My handsome date

Ladies, meet TJ.

A beautiful sunset… One of my favorite things!

We failed at getting the Sunset in the background

The dinner and dance were held inside the Kickapoo Winery building. They had a perfect sized ballroom for dinner and dancing. After a fabulous dinner and a yummy cupcake dessert, we danced the night away and entertained ourselves with the photo booth (Yes, there was a photo booth! And yes, I took multiple pictures… again!). The DJ for the dance was fantastic playing just the right music at the right time with a lot of upbeat tunes, but still a few slow songs thrown in there. By the time we made it back to Noah's that night we were all exhausted.

My handsome date and I trying out the photo booth props

Noah and Andrew

Noah, Andrew, TJ

I found a dead chicken

Me and Sarah with Andrew creeping in the background.

Me, Sarah, and Gaby

Me, Sarah, Bobbo, and Gaby

Andrew acting like a clown

Bre and Tyler decided to have a photo booth at their wedding instead of a guest book. The idea was for everyone to take a photo or two (or four in my case) to document in a fun way that you were at the wedding. 

Andrew and Me

Photo courtesy of The Guest Booth

Sarah, me and Gaby

Our message to the bride 

Photo courtesy of The Guest Booth

Back Row L-R: Andrew, TJ, Cody, Gaby, Bobbo, Noah

Front Row L-R: Me, Wade, Sarah, 

Bottom Two: Schuey and Kent

Photo courtesy of The Guest Booth

Boys in Back: Schuey, Tyler, Wade, Noah

Girls: Me and Sarah

Photo courtesy of The Guest Booth

Back Row L-R: Wade, Cody, Andrew, Bobbo, Cody, Schuey

Front Row L-R: TJ and Noah

Photo courtesy of The Guest Booth

The next day we slept in a bit before packing everything up to head home.  On our way home we stopped in Peoria, Illinois (where Bre, the bride, grew up) and enjoyed some yummy food, pool volleyball, bags, and gigantic blow-up bouncy castle. What a fantastic way to end the road trip. I wished we could have stayed one more night and just hung out with everyone, but we were thankful we were even able to go. On the way home I basically read the entire way. I had brought a really good book and got completely sucked in. It helped the eight hour drive home go by fast! We saw an interesting car on the way home too…

Bre and Tyler thank you so much for allowing us to share your special day with you! You two have a beautiful story that I can't wait to see play out year after year! We're praying for many blessings on your new marriage. May you always keep Christ the center. 

This was our ninth wedding this summer… three more to go!