Exciting and life changing news for the Leopards!

So I have not posted on my blog in a long time.  But for the past few weeks, the only thing that I have really wanted to talk about, I could not or would not.  I am so excited to share that Ryan and I are blessed to be pregnant with our first child.  I am 10 weeks pregnant and due January 22, 2012!  We have no idea what we are having yet and won't know until we are about 20 weeks along.  But we were able to have an ultrasound 3 weeks ago, and we were able to see our little peanut.  Peanut had a heart beat of 148pm.  

Ryan and I are so excited to be starting our "human" family, as we already have "furry" babies.  Ryan has most certainly become a protective husband, and worries about everything.  This pregnancy is not without worries though.  I am a type 2 diabetic, and I was put on insulin at 4 weeks pregnant.  I had to take myself off a medication when I knew I was pregnant.  So I just pray that we have a healthy baby and it does not have any problems because of me.  

So, here my new journey in life begins.  Life is forever changed and I am so looking forward to everything it has to offer!  

Love, 

Stephanie

Day 26.... A childhood memory

So I am skipping day 25 and I will do it tomorrow.  I do not want to walk downstairs (yes I am being lazy) and I need to, to do Day 25.  So day 26 here we go.

I have a VERY good memory, always have and I hope I always will.  Ask my mom, I remember things, and she has said that she is amazed that I know this or that.  I can tell her where and when we have done something, bought this or that, etc, etc. 

My first memory was probably 1982, when I was 2 years old.  Yes, you read that right, 2.  (Like I said I have a good memory).  We were living in our town house in Woodbury, MN.  We were in the kitchen eating dinner, when my brother and our father left.  I finished my dinner (spaghetti), my mom washed my face and we hopped in the car.   I think/remember we got into a neighbors car, and we drove to the end of our neighborhood.  At the end of our neighborhood a bunch of people were rolling up a hot air balloon.  It was one of those balloons that was multi colored stripped balloon.  So this just goes to show that even at 2 years old, we humans retain things.

What is your first memory?

~Stephanie~

Day 21, Day 22 and Day 24...catching up

 Day 21...  Something you know you do differently than most people.
Interesting post.  Something that I do differently than most people.  Gosh the first thing that popped into my head was...being honest.  I try to always be honest and open with people (those that I know!).  With this open and honesty I try to be considerate of everyone and try to think of their feelings.  But if you ask my opinion you are going to get it.  If you ask me my thoughts on a subject, you are going to get them. 

I am not one to sugar coat things.  Because of this, you know that I will be upfront and again honest.  I agree with the phrase...honesty is the best policy.

Day 22... A website
There are a lot of websites that I love or visit frequently.

Facebook I am a facebook junky.  I am always on there.  But it is a great way to stay updated on family and friends lives.  I have had the pleasure of "meeting" family on facebook who I might not ever gotten to.  I have family all over the country and facebook has given me the opportunity to get to know them.

Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority This is the sorority that I joined in college at Minnesota State University-Mankato. I put this down as a website that I love because I love my sorority and I have been very involved lately as I have been an advisor to a chapter here at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.  Working with the ladies here at the local chapter has given me the opportunity to be involved with the sorority that I love and to be honest gives me something to do outside of the home. 

Day 24.....A movie nobody would expect you to love
There are some boy movies that I really really enjoy.

Transformers, what a great movie.  There is love, there is action, there is something for everyone.

X-Men series.  All I can say is I have loved all four of the movies, and I am looking forward to the next one coming out!









So the weather has finally turned in MN/WI.  We have some sun, we have some warmth.  This evening we are grilling out on our new grill!  I expect that we will grill out a couple of times a week (if I can talk Ryan into it, he has to do the grilling!)  Yesterday we got our new patio furniture.  I am excited to have that.   I love eating out in the summer time (Ryan not so much oh well) so I expect for myself to spend some time out on my patio, enjoying our new furniture and our grill!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.  Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there and especially my mom!  You are a great mother, always thinking of others before yourself.  So thank you for being a great mother!

Have a great weekend everyone!

~Stephanie~

Walmart in China...

So I found this website from another blog that I read.  I do not think I will be going to Walmart in China anytime soon.  (Not that I am going to China anytime soon!).  LOL.  But what a difference our two countries are, what can be sold, what is sold.  Standards. Etc. 

Walmarts in Chinda

Day 19 and Day 20

Day 19.... Talent of mine
I do not have any so called talents.  There are some people that can really cook, play the piano, they can quilt.  I enjoy doing some of those things, cooking, baking, knitting but it would not be a talent of mine.  So after sitting here thinking, I have thought of this.....the ability to follow a recipe  to cook a meal.  That is unfortunately all that I could think of.  :(  But cooking is something that I do enjoy, I love my new kitchen, it is better then any apartment kitchen that I have had.  I have lots of counter top space, a center island.  Prep area is not a problem, or hasn't been yet.

Day 20....Hobby of mine
Hobby, many things.  I love reading.  I am not a certain type of book person, I like them all.  I love true crime stories, autobiographies, romance, mystery, everything and all.  My favorite book of all times would have to be To Kill a Mockingbird.  I remember reading this book in high school and really enjoying it.  I think that all adults need to read the book, A child called IT.  This is by far one of the saddest stories I have ever read.  It is about this child who is so abused, and he over comes it and becomes this productive member of society.  He is an adult with kids of his own.  Very good! 

Movies, I love watching movies.  Going to the movies, buying movies.  Again, any kind of movie.  I like them all, comedy, scary, romance, mystery, sci-fi.  It just has to interest me.  I own a lot of movies.  I reading a book before the movie comes out.  Most of the time, the book is way better.  But a lot of the time, if I have LOVED the book, I LOVE  the movie.  Perfect examples, Harry Potters', Twilight.  I loved loved loved those series, and I love the movies. 

Another hobby, I enjoy knitting.  I am not very good at it, it takes me forever to do it, but I enjoy it. 

~Stephanie~

Day 17 and Day 18

Day 17...An art piece.  

I had the pleasure of taking a trip with my mom last year.  Last January (yes we are a little bit nutty) we went to Chicago.  One of the things that we both loved and enjoyed doing was the Art Institute of Chicago.  It was amazing to me to be in one place with things that have so much history.  One of my favorite pieces was

It is amazing to think that this painting is made up of dots.  I highly reccommend that if you can, take a trip to Chicago and spend the whole day at the Art Institute.  Was amazing!!!

Day 18... A time when you felt passionate and alive.  

Wow this one is hard.  There are many days that I felt passionate and alive.  Not to be cliche but my wedding day would be one off those days.  But even before that, the day that Ryan and I decided that we would get married.  Being the take charge kind of person I am, I took my proposal into my own hands.  Ryan is very quiet (if you don't know him personally).  Ryan and I were hanging out one night, and I basically asked him to marry me.  Yes, I asked him!  Knowing that I took charge, because I loved him, wanted to be with him, start a family with him, it was a great day!  

Another great day, my college graduation.  College was an adventure for me.  I started my freshman year at University of Wisconsin-Superior.  UWS is a very small school for a college.  Undergrads is probably under 2,000 students.  UWS was a great started school, but half way through the school year, I knew that this was not for me, I wanted and needed something a little bit bigger.  I applied to Mankato State University-now Minnesota State University-Mankato.  At 15,000 undergrads,  this was the school I was looking for.  My Junior year I joined my sorority and this was such a great decision for me.  I was given and still am given many great opportunities.  I worked my butt off the last few years of school, and was able to make the Deans List my last semester on campus.  Other people that may not seem like a big deal, but it was to me.  I was always below the GPA needed, but that semester I made it.  But not only did I make the Deans List, when I graduated my cumulative GPA was above 3.0.  So my graduation from college I felt passionate about life and alive!  That was just such a great weekend and something that won't be forgotten!  I am the first person on both sides of my family (mother and father's side) to graduate from a 4 year university with a BS degree!  This is most certainly something that I am proud of!

~Stephanie~

The day that I felt passionate and alive...our wedding day.  

~Ryan~

On another note, it is May 2nd today, and it is freezing here in the Midwest.  I am wondering when Spring is going to be here.  I have never been one to beg for Spring/Summer, but this year I feel like I am.  After the winter we had (2 blizzards with over 17 inches of snow each), lots and lots of snow for the season and a very cold winter over all.  Wonders if it has ever snowed on my birthday before (May 5th)?  I don't remember it, but it might have. 

Day 15... A person you admire

So the obvious answer to this question would be my mom.  She is a great mom and a fantastic person.  I do admire her, but I also admire this person.  

Anne Frank.  She is very much an inspiration of human spirit.  I remember reading a play in 7th grade based on Anne Franks life, living in the attic, trying to be a normal teenager yet not being able to.  

Honestly, I don't think much needs to be said about this remarkable person!

~Stephanie~

Day 14....A vacation you would like to take

A vacation that I would like to take would be a once in a lifetime trip to Europe.  I would love to go to Paris.  

 

 Who wouldn't want to go to Paris, visit the Eiffel Tower.  I would like to go, visit tiny little shops, visit that museum.  After Paris, I would go to London. 

In London I would go meet Prince William and his new wife Princess Katherine.  I know wishful thinking!

After seeing Paris, France and London, I would go to Germany.  

For those that do not know, I am probably over 50% German.  On my biological Father's side of the family, I am only a 3 Generation "American".  Which to me is amazing.  My Grand Parents, my Father (and his siblings) and then my cousins and I were born here.  My maiden name-Spath is very German.  I wonder who we are related to, if we are part of some great family.  I tried doing research on a website, but it was a little to hard for me.  Another German fact of my family, my brother Christopher was born on the US military base in Bitburg German.  When he was 18 he had to declare if he wanted to be a German citizen or a US citizen.  Kinda interesting.  

There are many places I would like to go to in United States.  But for me those are way more achievable then going overseas.  I would love to go to San Fransisco, New York, the east coast (maybe Maine) stay in a tiny village, eat seafood all day long!  I want to get back to Florida and go to Disney World again!  I loved Colorado so beautiful there.  I would love to go to Yellowstone National Park.  I had always wanted to go to Chicago, and I was able to last year.  My mom and I are hoping that we will be able to go back soon!  I love to travel.  I love going somewhere new, doing something different!  I would also like to go visit family I haven't seen forever, or family that I have never seen!  Too many wants, not enough time or money right now.  Maybe in 30 years I can!!!!

~Stephanie~ 

Day 13...A guilty pleasure

I have a few guilty pleasure.

I love TV.  Really I do.  I probably do watch too much of it, but there are a lot of shows that I really like.  TV brings to me to a guilty pleasure...Reality TV.  Reality shows like Real World Road Rules  Challenges.  I like Sixteen and Pregnant, Teen Mom, Sister Wives.  My latest reality show, American Idol.  I have loved this season.  I love the people they have had, I love the judges now.  I have never watched a season before, but this season, I have not missed one episode.

My gossip magazines.  Every week, I buy one or two.  I try and not buy them (waste of money) but most weeks I do.  

Facebook.  Facebook is a way for me to spend some mindless time doing nothing.  I get to be nosy in people's lives, see what they are doing  .  But is it really being nosy if they put it out there?  I think not.  

So these are a few of my guilty pleasures. 

~Stephanie~

Smoking.  But he is trying to quit.  Quitting is hard though, and it is something that he has done since he was 18.  So smoking is Ryan's guilty pleasure.  

~Ryan~

Day 11...A photo of you taken recently and Day 12....A song played at your wedding

So Day 10 is being put on hold.  With Christopher living with us, I haven't finished unpacking everything.  All of my photos are in the room he currently occupies.  So on to the next.

 

 

Day 11.  A photo of you taken recently

This was actually just taken on Saturday.  This was the formal for my sorority for the chapter at University of Wisconsin River Falls that I am advising.  

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding(or was played).

This would be probably easy to do.  We had no music played at our wedding.  Our wedding was very very small, so we had formal reception with music.  If I had to pick a song that I would have wanted played it would be....

 

 

Siblings

So in a few days, my brother is moving out of my house and back into his own apartment.  The month with him has flown by fast.  When he moved in for the time being, I knew it would not be a few days but a few weeks.  Being prepared ahead of time has made this transition easier I believe.  But with Christopher being on the verge of moving again, I sit here thinking of he and I growing up together, literally and figuratively.  

Christopher and I are either 3 or 4 years apart depending on the time of the year.  Chris and I were always together when we were very young.  We shared a room together, took baths together, played together.  A funny story of he and I.  When my mom married my step dad, Chris and I had to share a room together in the house we moved into.  This was no big deal for us at all, because we came from an apartment where we shared a room.  But after a while, it was decided that Chris and our step brother would share a room and I would get my own room.  That lasted maybe a day.  I wanted to be back with Chris, Chris wanted our step-brother out, me back and our step-brother wanted his room back.  LOL.  But then the years came and who wants to be bothered by their little sister.  So it was not cool to play with me anymore and then we have years and years not teenage fighting.  Sorry mom!

After college, Chris and I lived in an apartment together for a couple of years.  Living in an apartment with your brother, not always fun!  But it worked and we survived.  Chris was there when I started to date my now husband.   He saw me grow from a single girl in the city (Can I be like Charlotte form Sex in the City?) single, living a fabulous life but finds her true love.  Anyways, so he was there to see my life change.  I moved out and moved in with Ryan and we were married the next year.  

Christopher is now on another phase of his life.  He is working full time for a company he likes and doing a job he likes!  His new apartment is smaller, but very homey!  I would like to see him go back to school, get a degree in something, find a nice lady friend, get married and start a family.  Chris if you are reading this, it is not too late, get started! LOL.  

Being sibling who grew up together, there are similar things we like and do not like.  But there are things that are similar that has nothing to do with how we were raised, who raised us, the home, etc.  Chris and I have similar foods that we do not like.  He wonders if we are genetically pre-set on what to like and what not too.  Chris and I both hate cherries, coconut and watermelon.  We do not like them, don't make us eat them, don't try! We differ on one big one though.  I hate olives and guess who really likes them, yep Chris.  

So, to close for the night.  I found a quote I liked.

To the outside world we all grow old.  But not to brothers and sisters.  We know each other as we always were.  We know each other's hearts.  We share private family jokes.  We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  We live outside the touch of time.  ~Clara Ortega

Good night all!  

~Stephanie~

It has been a while.....sorry

So I was reminded the other day from my mother that it has been too long since my last post.  My last post was right after we moved in and right before.....I got very sick.  I got some cold/flu thing and it was not fun.  I was sick for about 3 weeks, and I am now finally starting to really feel better.  I thought I had escaped being sick this year, but then it hit at the last minute.  So now that I am feeling better I am not going to bed at 8 and I am doing things.  Enough about being sick.  

So while driving home I discovered I have a new favorite thing I get to see every day.  For those of you who don't know MN/WI or the area I live in, I live in the country (sort-a).  Living in River Fall, WI; I live in town, but this is a country town.  We are a small town of 12,560 ( I looked at the sign driving home tonight) but I wonder how many of those people are college kids and how many are year round residents.  If you were to drive maybe 1 mile from my house, you would have left "city" and gotten to country.  Ok, so back to my new favorite thing.  Driving to and from work I drive past A LOT of farms.  And when I say a lot, I mean it.  We are in dairy country here.  So I love looking at all the animals around me on a daily basis.  Horses, chickens, sheep, cows, wild turkeys, etc. etc. etc.  But I have discovered that I love seeing all the...........

Baby cows!  They are so cute!  I saw one running today and it just made me laugh.  So It is the simple things in life that make me smile.  A baby calf running.

So besides moving into our first home and me getting really sick, we have a house quest for the time being.  My brother moved into our home a few weeks ago due to unforseen circumstances.  We are hoping to get him back on his feet and into his own place soon.  He applied for an apartment last week and here is hoping!  He is being a good house guest though.  He is picking up his dishes, putting clean dishes away, vacuuming, etc.  Funny thing is he never did that when he and I lived together in an apartment.  The first week he was here, he cooked dinner, and had it ready the minute I walked in the door (he was off of work that day), I told him I could get use to that.  Man it was nice.  Most of the time I cook dinner when I get home and then clean the dishes.  As I am typing, I am multitasking; cooking dinner and typing my blog!  Because of this circumstance with him, it has opened his eyes, and my families (Ryan and my mom) that family is who you can always count on!  Friends are great, and some friends are like family, but push come to shove family will always be there to help out.  A while ago, Chris had told my mom that I was his best friend, mom responded, you should be nicer to her(me).  LOL.  While besides the hubby (because he is my best friend) Christopher and my mom and my sister Kerry are my best friends.  I have great friends but I know Ryan, my mom, Chris and Kerry will always be there!

I think I will leave on that note.  Appreciate those who are there for you and love them like tomorrow is not a given!  Happy Tuesday all!

New house and just life this week

So Ryan and I moved into our new house last week.  Last week was a busy and stressful to say the least.  I was not able to take full days off of work (it is a busy time of the month, rents, move ins and etc).  So I took 1/2 days on Thursday and Friday.  Friday was the actual moving day.  For this move, we hired movers to move us.  We packed everything, they just did the physical moving.  We paid a good chunk of money, but it was worth it!  I worked my butt off over the weekend to get everything unpacked, and I was able to do it.  The only stuff really to unpack is my 2nd bedroom stuff (books and remainder of my clothes that I don't know where to put).  All in all, glad to be moved and settled in.


Today is Ryan's 31st  birthday.  I think this birthday has been a little hard for him for some reason.  He keeps talking about being middle aged.  Hmmm, I don't think we are middle aged yet.  We are about to enjoy some DQ cake.  


So for the time being that is about it.  Thanks for reading!

Day 10-A photo taken of you over 10 years ago

I think that I was a month old in this picture, with my big brother.  This was when he liked me! LOL.

I love, love, love this picture of my grandpa and me.  He passed away when I was really young, so the few memories I have of him are really special.  This picture is up on my fridge.

This is my first school picture.  Yep that is no front teeth!  LOL. 

Blog on hold until next week!

I am having to put my blog on hold until next week.  With moving this week, I didn't blog even the end of last week.  So I will pick up early next week when my life gets back to normal, when we are not painting, packing and cleaning.  Thanks for reading my blog and see you next week!!!!

~Stephanie~

Day 9.... A photo you took

I took these outside of our apartment, I think last summer.  Makes me long for summer and a "great" summer storm!  Those are the best.

~Stephanie~

Day 8......A Thank You Letter To Someone Who Changed Your Life

Dear Mom:

     Thank you for giving me life.   Thank you for always putting Christopher and I first, even though you didn't always have too.  Thank you for caring enough about me to allow me to be the person I want to be.  We may not always see eye to eye, but in the end we always will be mom and daughter!  You not only were mom, you were dad too.  Sometimes I am sure it was hard, the teenagers I would never go back too!  So thank you for being the best mom out there, the best mother in law anybody could ask for!!!!  Ryan and I love you very much and we will always appreciate everything you do for us!!!!

Love, Stephanie

PS. We need to take more family pictures.  This is all I could find is from the wedding 3 1/2 years ago.

Day 7....5 Things I could not live without

I would like to think that this would be an easy answer for me.  There are important things to me.

1st-My best friend (the hubby)
2nd-Family
3rd-The pets in my life.  Maxwell and Oreo, my 2 cute cats, Elliot my mom's dog (really my dog too!) and even Bert and Ernie (my brother Christopher's cats)

4th-My health
5th-A great book to read

And a superficial 6th-Facebook.  I really do enjoy going on there, getting to know long distance relatives, long lost friend and those that I see or talk to every day too (mom!)

~Stephanie~

So my adventure for the day was going to the MN Wild's Hockey game tonight.  I had won tickets at my work holiday party.  Ryan and I were going to go, but he works so dang early and we knew we would not be home till later this evening.  He would have gone with me, but I knew he did not really want to.  So I ended up taking our niece (his niece, mine by marriage) with me.  It was her first ever hockey game and we had a great time. 

The wild ending up winning 4-1!!!!  So it was a great night, Cassie and I had a great time! 

Day 6........A Moment you wish you could relive

There are a lot of days that I would love to relive or do over again.  High school graduation.  Just because I made a step from living at home with my mom to the next step in my life...independence.  My college graduation.  I am the 1st person from my family (father's side and my mom's side) to graduate from a 4 year university.  That is an awesome thought for me, that I did it and I was the 1st.  

My wedding day or days'.  Both wedding days.  Ryan and I were married at the courthouse on Friday October 5th, 2007. We did an official courthouse wedding because I did not want to spend the $200 or more to have someone come and marry us.  So we went to the courthouse with our parents, my brother and a couple of friends.  The next day Saturday October 6, 2007 we had our "wedding".  I remember it being a very rainy and very humid day (in October, not normal).  The rain stopped about 12:00pm noon that day.   We had a beautiful day, with our friends and family.  My brother was my man of honor and Jason (Ryan's cousin and best friend) was is best man.  Dalton (another good/best friend of Ryan) "married" us.  Since we had been married the day before, we thought that was a great way to include him in our special day.  

 Ryan and I

 The 3 men in my life, Christopher (my brother), the hubby and Jason (the best man and best friend)

 My mom and I

 My mom, brother and I.

Another great day in my life was getting reconnected to my sister.  My brother and I grew up here in MN/WI.  But we have a half(but she is just my sister) sister who was born, raised and has always lived in Pittsburgh.  We were never connected growing up, she is a little older then my brother and I, family issues, and the likes.  We grew up knowing of our sister Kerry, but did not have any connection.  But with the power of internet, December 2009 she found my brother and I on facebook.  March 2010 I flew to Pittsburgh alone to meet my sister, brother in law, niece and nephew.   What an awesome experience.  It is funny because even though we are 10 years apart in age, grew up in seperate homes, 800 miles apart, we are very similar.  We look alike, we act or do things alike.  

My sister and I March 2010.

But the day that I have to say that I would love to do again, just to experience would be my first date with the hubby.  We had a really great first date.  It lasted like 8 hours or something.  Ryan planned a great first date.  A movie, bowling and then hanging out on the boardwalk in Stillwater, MN.  Our first date was October 2, 2005 (my brother's birthday).  If you know Ryan personally, he is a very quiet, not talkative person.  But he was very talkative that night and is most nights at home.  It was the beginning of our life together.  I knew that night that something was different with this boy and something was different between he and I that I had not seen before.  Now if you ask Ryan about it, he'll deny it, but I know he would agree with me :)  So that is the day that I would relive.  The butterflies in my stomach and all!

~Stephanie~

I don't wish to relive a day, I always just look forward to the next day.  (Meaning, I am too tired to think about this,  and don't want to answer today)

~Ryan~

So I have been stuck inside of our apartment for day #2.  It is still snowing outside, the parking lot was a mess until an hour ago or so.  The side roads have not been touched.  So tonight I guess it is chillaxin, watching some TV.  I thinking I may go bake a cake first though.  So I hope you all have a great evening, stay warm and stay safe if you are here in MN/WI.

Day 5....A Favorite Quote

When I think of a favorite quote, one that always comes to mind is.......

Don't let someone tell you that your dreams are too BIG or too SMALL, as they are YOUR DREAMS!

I remember this from a movie that I saw.  And I really just liked it.  Because how can someone tell you what you want to do in life is stupid, dumb, not worth your time, etc.  Other people may not agree with my decisions, but they are my decisions.  The same goes for you and your dreams.

I also love....Don't let people with small minds ruin what you want to do in life.  

Small minds are those that create hatred for example.   

~Stephanie~

On a separate note, it is Sunday evening.  It has been snowing like crazy all day long.  The news cast have been calling for 10 to 15 inches of snow.  

The view from the main door to my apartment building.

With this snow fall, we will have the snowest winter EVER since it has been recorded.  December 2010 was the 3rd snowest winter ever.  

 This was during the snow storm, this is some of the most snow I had ever seen. 12/11/2010

 This is the day after the snow had stopped.  The parking lot where I live, was a nightmare.  That is a pile of snow the plows had just left in the parking lot. 12/12/2010

This was Ryan's car after it had stopped snowing, it took us an hour to dig his car out. 12/12/2010

With all this snow this year, I am so over winter.  I am typically fine up until January or so.  By now, I am so ready for Spring and ready for some nice warm, and rainy season.  When we woke up this morning the snow was suppose to have been started.  Looking out the window, it had not started yet.  So I decided to get up, shower and go to Target.  There is something about being stuck indoors when you know you can't or should not be going out.  It is a whole other thing when you chose not venturing out for the day. 

Tomorrow is Presidents' Day, and my company has given us the day off (as our floater holiday).  I am glad to be done and not have to worry about driving in this stuff.  But I do worry about what my parking lot (where I work, I manage a smaller apartment complex) is going to look like.  

Tomorrow night I am getting together with some of my sorority sisters.  I was picked to volunteer with my sorority's chapter at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.  I am very excited to be able to help this chapter.  I think I have a lot to offer them, and it is a great opportunity for me to get involved with my sorority again.  In college I was always doing something with my sorority sisters.  Hanging out with them, meetings, socials, events, this or that.  Volunteering with the local chapter at UWRF lets me join in the fun.

I hope all in MN/WI are staying warm and safe tonight.  Drive safe if you are going to work tomorrow.  

~Stephanie~

Day 4....A favorite TV Show

The best thing to happen to TV is DVRs'.  I love my DVR.  I do not like watching live TV anymore.  Nothing like skipping through all the commercials, and just being able to watch the show you want to.  With the DVR, I can record shows when I am not home, when I am watching something else.  Every week there are a lot of shows that I watch.  Probably too much TV.  

But if I had to pick my favorite TV show, it would have to be Law and Order -SVU or Army Wives.  I love both of those shows and look forward  to new episodes.  Law and Order is a darker show, but good.  Army Wives is a fun show that I just like the characters and the show plots.  



Do you like my favorite shows?  Have you ever watched them?

~Stephanie~

Married with Children is my favorite show.  It is an old show, but funny!

~Ryan~

Day 3-A favorite Book

If there is something that I like just as much as movies (for entertainment) it is books.  I struggled when I was younger with reading, so in some ways it is surprising that I like books and reading as much as I do.  

Growing up I loved the BabySitters Club.  I still have all of my books from that series.  I still  have all my books from growing up, due to my mom telling me not to get rid of them.  

As an adult, I love it all.  I love the romance books, the suspense books, true crime books, cook books, on and on and on.  I remember once when I was in college I was reading the book The Pact by Jodi Picoult.  I was so involved in this books that I stayed up until like 5 am just to finish reading it (after reading all day long).  

If I am reading a true crime books, I will finish the books and end up googling who the book was about to see if I can find out more.  I am a researcher.  I also like reading maybe not true crime but just stories about true life, real people.  People are so interesting and there are some many people out there that makes the world go round.  

If a book is going to be a movie, I like to read the book before the movie.  If I LOVED the book, I typically like the movie too (even if others think its awful).  I think it is because I like the characters so much, and I just end up liking the movies.  I loved the book Twilight, and I ended up loving the movie.  (See movies, there I go again!  Talking about movies)  I know that Water for Elephants is coming to the theaters this Spring, so I raced to finish that book (which I did last week).  

So now back to the basis of this post, my favorite book.  Just like music, and movies how does one pick just one book.  I have many that I love.  But when someone asks me this questions, my first response is........To Kill  a Mockingbird.  I read this in high school, and just loved it.  If you haven't ever read it, you need to.   Here I go with movies again, but the movie is really good too!  

Do you have a favorite book that people would be surprised about?

~Stephanie~

No favorite books for me, as I shake my head.  LOL. 

~Ryan~

Day 2-A Favorite Movie

So how is someone suppose to pick one favorite movie.  Me, the person who owns like 500 movies is suppose to pick just one. Just to show how many movies I have, here is a picture of me in front of my movie stand and another one of the boxes that contain my movies.  That is 9 boxes, maybe a box  or two is other livingroom stuff, but that is my movie collection.

My love for movies started at a young age.  I remember going to the movie theater for one of the Star Wars movies.  I was young, maybe 2 or 3.  So I don't think it is far to ask me to pick just one, so being the movie fan that I am, I am gonna choose a few.

1st, my All time Favorite Christmas Move is........


2nd, my go to movie.....Dirty Dancing I have seen this movie a thousand times, and it never gets old!



Favorite 80's flick, a tie between Sixteen Candles and St. Elmo's Fire.  Both great movies!






But I always go back to two movies from my childhood.
ET. Who doesn't love ET.  He is so cute, Drew is too cute at 5 years old.  Overall just a great movie!



Or The Goonies.  Again, who doesn't love The Goonies.  Who didn't want to be down in the caves, searching for the ship with Mikey and his friends.  If you haven't seen The Goonies, and you are around my age, you were a deprived child!  LOL. 



There are sooo many more movies that I could list, but these are the ones that I love to watch, my feel good movies.  Are you a movie fan like me, what are you favorites???

~Stephanie~



Indiana Jones movies are my favorite.


~Ryan~

Day 1-A favorite song

How do you pick one favorite song?  Wow, there are a lot of songs that I LOVE.  So how do you narrow the list down to one?  For example I have a favorite Christmas Song, a favorite country song, a favorite R & B song, etc, etc, etc.  If you look at my Ipod there is everything from country to rap to classical music.  So my thought this evening then is, what is my current ringtone on my cell phone.  It is the great great song --Have a little faith in my by John Hiatt.



I started to love this song in the movie (imagine that a movie!) Phenomenon with John Travolta.  So today, my favorite song is Have a little faith in me. 

~Stephanie~

30 days of...Do you really know the Leopards??!!??

So with this new blog thing, I was on my friend Jessica's page.  She took this idea from her sister in law (I think) and I just really liked it.  I think this will be a great way for me to get bloggin and find things to start with.  So today 2-16-2011 I will start with Day 1, and do this "get to know me" challenge!  Thanks for reading!!!

Day 1: A favorite song.

Day 2: A favorite movie.

Day 3: A favorite book.

Day 4: A favorite television program.

Day 5: A favorite quote.

Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive.

Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without.

Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.

Day 9: A photo you took.

Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago.

Day 11: A photo of you taken recently.

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding(or was played).

Day 13: A guilty pleasure.

Day 14: A vacation you would like to take.

Day 15: A person you admire.

Day 16: A song that makes you cry.

Day 17: An art piece.

Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive.

Day 19: A talent of yours.

Day 20: A hobby of yours.

Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people.

Day 22: A website.

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered.

Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love.

Day 25: A recipe.

Day 26: A childhood memory.

Day 27: A physical feature you love.

Day 28: A scar you have and it's story.

Day 29: Hopes, dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days. 

Day 30: A motto or philosophy.

New Challenges, New Adventures

At the suggestion of my mom, I am starting my blog. If you know me, I am a talker. So I am hoping that this bloggin thing is easy for me!

Ryan and I are about to begin a new chapter in our life, home ownership! Ryan and I bough a 5 year old 2 bedroom 2 bathroom townhouse in River Falls, WI. We were not really looking to buy a home at this time, but it was a great deal and it got us out of living in an apartment. Now apartment life is not bad ( I work for an apartment community as a living) but it will be great to have our own place! Currently our home has a renter in there, but she will be moving out the end of this month. Once she moves out, we will begin the painting and move in right away.

So this week is busy at work. We are doing apartment inspections (checking smoke detectors, housekeeping, safety hazards, etc). I am never really amazed how gross people are. Some of these apartments are just NASTY! After a busy work week, this week I am in for a busy weekend. We need to pack and pack some more. I only have 2 more weekends before we move. And the following weekend is going to be nuts!

Alright, so I think I am gonna finish my first post, figure this all out and figure out what I am gonna blog about every week! Night all!