Wednesday, December 31, 2008

FONDUES AND FONDON'TS

On Tuesday we had a FONDUE party! It was a lot of fun and we thought we would share with everyone the FONDO's and FONDONT'S of fondue.

FONDONT: Steal the steak someone else fondue'd right off of their plate, right in front of their eyes!
FONDON'T: Get into a fondue fork fight with your friend (unless she just stole steak from your plate)

FONDO: Have FUN! Fondue is for EVERYONE!


FONDON'T: Leave the shrimp in for too long, it will get really crispy and hard to chew.


FONDO: Eat chocolate fondue on the stairway where the dog can't get you!


FONDON'T: Take away the chocolate fondue so no one else can reach it!

FONDO: Drink the delicious wine with your fondue!
FONDON'T: Drink the sweet and sour sauce!
FONDO: Enjoy fondue with friends and family!
FONDON'T: Sleep through the fondue partyFONDO: Grab a fondue fork and join in!

FONDON'T: Let the fondue oil splatter you


FONDON'T: Sample the poundcake before the chocolate fondue has been prepared.

FONDO: Kiss someone if you drop anything in the fondue pot

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Livin' the Montana life

Here we are in Red Lodge!! I finally arrived after enduring the WORST plane experience of my life. It started on the 4.5 hour flight from Raleigh to Salt Lake City. I was in the very back of the plane stuck next to a mom and her two year old son who had to sit on her lap the entire time. He kept kicking me or touching me every few seconds, cried at least six times and pushed the volume button on my inflight movie several times almost causing me early hearing loss. In Salt Lake I thought I had time to grab a Starbucks so I ordered my favorite Peppermint Mocha Twist, paid and then realized I had ten minutes until take off. I ran to the gate a short way away to make sure I had time to wait for my drink and discovered they were closing the gate doors in one minute. I had to abandon my drink and found I was sitting directly in front of two young boys who enjoyed singing annoying Christmas songs and kicking the seat.

FINALLY we landed and Kate and Anna picked me up from the airport, they were REALLY excited to see me and even brought presents! Kate was so excited about the presents that in every picture we took she made sure the gift bag was prominently displayed. Finally their waiting paid off and I arrived!




As we waited for my luggage we caught up on everything we had missed in each other’s lives over the past six months…it took about 3 minutes so we had to stand around in silence for the next 35 minutes until my bag came.
We got in the car, there was barely any room for me with all the luggage but I managed to squeeze in, and I got to open my presents!!!!! I got Ritter Sport chocolate from Germany, lip gloss, beauty face masks and mascara from Kate (is she trying to tell me something?? I think she just wants to borrow it from me later) and Kate’s mom made me mittens and a scarf!

Then we swung by Burger King so Kate could check out who was working, she desperately wanted to relive our last day in Germany that was spent with her ogling men at the BK in the Berlin Airport while Anna and I fended them off. We did find one but since we were going through the drive-thru there wasn’t enough time for a number exchange. He gazed longingly at her as we drove off.


However, not all was lost, when we stopped to get gas we found these Montana truck drivers STARING at us! And they wouldn’t stop! Seriously, they let anyone drive in this state. Gas is only $1.37 here!

Then we drove to Red Lodge, Anna educated us on the latest “hip hop” music and were greeted by Jim, Mary and the Olson’s new puppy, Charlie! He is so cute, we are currently trying to get him to go up the stairs but he is afraid because of the open spaces between them.
(The following pictures of Charlie are from this past summer):

I hadn’t seen the completed cabin yet and it looks amazing! It is so different from two years ago when all we had were cots to sleep on and a toaster. After a dinner of chili and watching the satellite TV, Kate and I hit the town and stopped by our favorite bar, the Snow Creek, and saw some old friends. Tonight we are having a fabulous FONDUE PARTY so I’ll take pictures of that and the cabin tonight and put them up next time.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

I'm off!

I had a great time in Chapel Hill, I saw lots of friends, hung out with the family, saw a zillion movies (my favorites were Slumdog Millionaire, Benjamin Button and Twilight), got an iTouch, some clothes, etc and had lots of fun overall. Tomorrow at the break of dawn I am flying to Billings where I will be greated by the beautiful Anna and Kate (who will probably be trying to pick up airport employees like at the Berlin Airport, watch out Burger King janitors!) We will be going to the coffee shop in Red Lodge as often as possible to blog and post pictures of our time there so keep posted!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Watch out Red Lodge!

I am headed back to Red Lodge, Montana with Kate and Anna for New Years 2009! Kate will be back for the break from Germany and Anna will be on break from St. Olaf. We celebratedNew Years 2007 there with our other friend, Lizza (who will be actressing in LA this year so can't make it). This will be my fourth visit and every time we go we have a crazy time and meet some pretty memorable people. Since I'll be reunited with my original blog-buddies (Kate and Anna who blogged with me in Germany), we will be sure to have some great entries!

(Me, Kate and Lizza Dec 31st, 2006):

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Chapel Hill Vacay

Thanksgiving break was exactly what I needed. I got in around 4pm on Wednesday, saw my parents, and then went to my highschool to lurk around. Well it wasn't that creepy, I was there to watch an alumni soccer game (which the alumni lost big time). I saw some old friends and non-friends then headed to downtown Chapel Hill for some of the Carolina (basketball) game, some really big beers and then a quaint little bar called Hell.

Big beers:

In "Hell":
On Turkey day my dad bbq'd the bird on the grill, one of my favorite meals, and my mom made all the other dishes. I, of course, "helped" make the pie. Then my mom and I went to see Twilight, the blockbuster vampire movie. It was soooo good, I think I need to see it again (anyone?). On Friday I went shopping with my mom and then out again with the old crew. What made the night extra fun? I think it was the 60 degree weather and no need to wear a coat anywhere!


Saturday I tried to catch up on some work but mostly caught up on the DVR and Sunday after a few coffee dates I hit the road (or the airport) and arrived safely back in snowy Madison, Wisconsin. The vacay was perfect and I can't wait to go back in a few weeks when I DON'T have to worry about homework, not that I worried about it enough this time around.

I think I could easily move back to Chapel Hill, this is especially true when I face the beginning of winter here in Madison. However winter does bring some exciting things such as the Madison Symphony Orchestra's Christmas concert (last night), classy Christmas parties (tonight), bad Christmas sweater parties (next weekend) and celebrating the end of the County Health Report with coworkers (drinking at the boss's house).

Below are some pics from pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving:

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Today.

I leave for Chapel Hill on Wednesday and baking two pumpkin pies for pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving tonight:

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Go America

My friend Kelly hosted a fabulous "Chili for Change" party on election night last Tuesday. She taught me to make vegetarian chili (which was DELICIOUS) and we wore our very American outfits. She even managed to rustle up the lone republican in Madison to watch the election results with. I think it is important to represent all viewpoints (even if they are wrong) and more importantly to have someone to harass when they lose.


In line for life Changing Chili:

Pro-American outfits, representing all parties:

Practicing our reactions if McCain won (notice lone republican in background):

But we didn't have to! Reaction to Obama's victory (I think the Chili actually worked! We'll have to make it again in 2012):





Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Halloweeeeeen!

Snow White about to drink an Appletini given to her by some old woman! NOOOOOOOOOO (Yes I thought this and telling everyone about my "seven short boyfriends" was pretty hilarious)

As promised I've put up some pictures from Halloween weekend. On Friday night Mali and I went to our friend's big Halloween bash. I went as Snow White and she went as a Snowman. Everyone thought our costumes were very cute and clever (little did they know that mine was actually made for a 5 year old and I had to cut it to pieces and then strategically pin it together again so it would fit). There were some great costumes that night and everyone was brought together by a giant dance party in the basement.

Snow White:
Snowman:

One of my favorite costumes of the night:With Indiana Jones
Our wonderful hosts of the evening, Reggae girl and Scarecrow:
On Saturday I ran the 5K and caught up on some sleep, then on Saturday evening we donned the costumes again to hit the town. We hung out with Tigger, a green M&M, a chef, a hillbilly, Team America World Police and so many others.
On Sunday I voted early and Tuesday celebrated the victorious election at a 'Chili for Change' party where we cheered while watching CNN, laughed while watching Fox News and nearly overdosed on a delicious homemade American apple pie :)

Monday, November 3, 2008

Disaster averted

I voted early so this video will no longer be featured on the news November 5th:

http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/index.html?nid=I8GrYTWy8g7AI0b2GevJADQ3ODM5MTU-&referred_by=10352369-kYtPI0x


I hope everyone gets out and VOTES!!!!

**Also stay tuned for great Halloween pics**

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Trot

Saturday morning I finished the 5K Turkey Trot without stopping to walk (yes I consider this a huge accomplishment)! It was a beautiful day and I ran the race with 3 friends/co-workers. There were little kids (10 or 12 year olds) who were racing ahead of us the whole time. We found this annoying and so sprinted for the last .1 miles of the race to beat as many of them as possible, I think we passed 4 or 5. We later concluded that these kids weren't actually in better shape than we were, it was just that while we had been up late the night before carbo loading on beer they had been chowing down on candy and so had more sugar to burn.

Me and my biggest fan, Kelly:
Completing mile 1!!!! Woohoo!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Most important blog post ever.

I just signed up for my first ever 5K run today. It's called the Turkey Trot and takes place in 2 weeks. About 4 of my officemates, past and present, have also signed up to do it. I'm nervous because I never run, I am even more nervous because I don't have those fancy spandex running leggings. What if I freeze my legs off!? Maybe I will go buy some.

I also need to decide what to be for Halloween. Last year I was pregnant Britney Spears. (In this picture I had just run into a group of five people who went together as Britney in different stages of her life, luckily they didn't have a "pregnant" one so I joined them!):

Monday, October 13, 2008

Balloon attack

I haven't been posting much lately, but not for lack of topics. Recently things at school, work and my incredibly interesting and non-stop social life have been keeping me pretty busy (well at least two of the three). This weekend Diana made the trip to Madison! We had fun seeing each other and I had even more fun being attacked by some balloons for a good 20 minutes.