clips.

To start off this post, I just want to give everybody a visual of what my sweetheart's (cory) so-called 'money clip' looks like:

Got it? So, after teasing him for nearly 12 months, I decided Christmas was the perfect opportunity to upgrade his wallet from an every day paper clip to a big boy money clip. I mean, how sweet am I, right? I know. I looked and looked at the money clips that were surrounded by cuff links and wallets. I found the perfect one that was slender and little, just like a paper clip. I knew he didn't like anything big and bulky. I figured the one I found would be perfect! When it was time for him to open it, this is what he found:

He smiled with a somewhat confused expression. I started saying something, but his words caught my attention. He said "Oh yeah, because my tie was sticking out the other night.." and mumbled "Nice. Thanks!" or something of the sort being ever so sweet while pretending to really like it. I looked at him like he was a unicorn and said "What?? It's a money clip!" And he just laughed right in my face [thanks], assuring me it was a tie clip. Also informed me that he would never let me forget this one. Might even have to tell a little story at our  wedding someday. [what wedding, sweetie?] I am convinced it could still be used as a money clip. Now I just have to convince him of that. I only have one defense in the matter and that is my entire family – mom, dad, & sister – all saw this stupid tie clip and not one of them said it wasn't a money clip. So, I'm not the only airhead. O well, that is fine, he can continue using a paper clip as a money clip then. And I can continue to tease him about it for another 12 months. :)

'tis the season.

The other night Cory said he had to go downstairs to wrap my present (notice it is not plural). He said he just had one and it was big and heavy... oh boy. So I had to hide in the room so I couldn't see him. While I waiting patiently in the room I could hear him walk quickly from the kitchen to the stairs with heavy feet (as if the "thing" was heavy) and even a grunt. ((great actor)) He was down in the basement for a good hour at least when he came up with an armful of gifts. One gift, my ass! So with a shit eatin' grin on his face he put them all under the tree. Of course I was smiling with delight when I followed him in order to shake each and every one like I was seven. Every one sounded like it was a puzzle or perhaps broken. Several "pieces" jingled (like zoey & lucy ears.. inside humor) around inside. What on earth!? Then I came across this one:

A perfectly wrapped little box with a perfect bow. A bow that he made. Out of ribbon. I don't even know how to make a bow out of ribbon! Impressing me again, I tell ya. His mom taught him well. It took him a few days to finally teach me how to do the same thing. He didn't want to give up the secret to his hidden talent, but then one night when he had had plenty of beers, he decided it'd be okay. Even in front of his male friends. (I think they were secretly impressed as well.)

Here's the Christmas masterpiece equipped with all this year's gifts underneath:

And a close up of some of my creative wrappings:

And of course the little teeny tiny baby, who is only 42 pounds and 2 1/2 years old. A post wouldn't be the same without a photo of her in it. She will be celebrating her 3rd Christmas with the Klegstad family this year. She is pumped.

All of you may be wondering what on earth my gifts were and why they were "jingling". All the pieces inside the boxes were shotgun shells. So, so creative he is. But like I said to him last night, what's he going to do next year? Now I know his little secret!

Check back for a post involving a gift I gave Cory. He's not going to ever let me forget this one...

the finished product.

The new tree stand (sturdy enough to hold a 10 footer) has solved our tippy-tree nightmare. Thank the Lord. After redecorating for the third time (with no help...... p.s. thanks core!), here's what we (I) got!

I love this:

We have gifts too!

Before Cory did his wrapping duties...

(the ones he wrapped look better than mine)

Scrooge-Lucy wasn't obeying our commands to sit in front of the tree real well, but I managed to get one pretty good shot of her..

Cory as an ornament:

The real life Cory:

the tree from hell.

You're not going to freaking believe it. The tree just does not want to look pretty for us this holiday season. Or it just wants me to have to redecorate it as many times as possible. I. Don't. Know. It was doing fine. Standing tall for at least a day after the first ordeal. Last night we got home from a nice evening of sushi-eating and Best Buy. I went into our bedroom to change and Lucy followed, begging for my attention. Cory was looking stuff up on the computer and talking to his mom on the phone when suddenly there was a crash. At first I thought it was the garland on the fireplace which kinda bummed me out because it was a pain in the ass to get up there with the lights in the first place. Never once, in that split second, did I think about the stupid tree. Cory and I both bolted to the living room to see it. A royal christmassy mess... again. Ornaments, lights, pine needles, glass, water, and even sap all over the floor.

Look at how ugly it is.

I picked up all the fallen ornaments and put them in Lucy's toy bin.

The lights look like crap.

And we even had broken ornaments this time.

We didn't bother redecorating last night. The good news is, I laughed through the disappointment and frustration. Now I am pretty certain the first fall wasn't caused my Lucy. We plan to get a new tree stand and will redecorate for the third time. Maybe we'll just buy a pretty fake tree next year.

oh christmas tree. oh christmas tree.

Like i promised.. some photos of the tree.

Cory figuring out the stand..

and, of course, lucy not far from the action.

The tree all decorated for the second time.

This was a weird angle. I'll post better ones later.

Practicing for our "family" Christmas card photo.

My two favorite things..

And another practice shot of all of us.

The real Christmas card photos are a surprise.

stupid tree.

This is my first Christmas with Cory so I wanted to start sort of a new "tradition". (Aside from our new "Black Friday Gift" tradition Cory came up with.) I don't remember the last time I had a real Christmas tree so what better time to start, but now. We thought about cutting down our own, but opted for the easier route by driving a mile down the road to purchase a pre-cut one. It didn't take us long to decide on one as we froze our butts off in the middle of the pretend forest. We got it loaded up in the truck and brought it home. Cory did the whole plastic bag thing in the garage while I cleared away it's new home in the living room. In it came. It didn't take me long to begin the decorating. I couldn't even wait for Cory to return home to help. I perfectly placed 500 lights around the thing and then moved on to the ornaments. Lucy confirmed her cat-like antics once again by doing everything to show interest in the stupid tree. Like crawling under it and around it, sniffing, and chewing on the fallen needles. I'm surprised she didn't test her climbing abilities while she was at it. 

We learned that we are real-tree-rookies before bed that night when we discovered the tree already drank all it's water out of the stand. Bone dry. And again the next morning. Jeez, how much water can it possibly consume? It's a tree. But we kept up with it, Cory watering it when he leaves in the morning, and I checking it and topping it off before I leave. And again after work and before bed. We wouldn't want the sap to form over the cut creating a seal from the water. (I did my research.)

The tree wasn't up to par and needed more ornaments so we headed over to Cory's mom's to raid her unused ornaments again last night. I was quite excited about putting more on the tree to achieve the final product and was proud of my decorating, not to mention having a real-live-tree this year! 

We pulled in the garage. Cory slipped and almost fell so he got mad at the car and slammed the door so that it knew. So then I was irritated. We both walked into the house with our arms full of all the decorations for the almighty tree... only to see that it was no longer standing tall in it's place. No, it was laying down in the middle of the living room. Pretty, sparkly pink and green and blue ornaments everywhere. Pine needles. Lights. My beautifully decorated tree was ruined. Immediately Lucy was to blame. She wagged her tail as if nothing had happened, just excited as ever when we get home. She quickly learned it was not fun and games when she was put outside in the snow for awhile. I was so mad. The last thing I wanted to do was redecorate the entire thing after placing each bulb in it's specific place for hours before. After being crabola about it for awhile, I did it alllllllll over again. Only took a couple hours. As mad as I will be if I come home to the same scene again tonight, I don't think I should do anything other than laugh. 

(Photos of the tree to come.)

rachy + brett

My good friend and old roommate, Rachel, tied the knot on Saturday and I had the honor of being one of her bridesmaids. This was only my second time as a bridesmaid so for me it's still exciting and fun! I think it probably gets to be a drag if you are a bridesmaid seven times in one summer. :) The pace I'm at is perfect and I will most likely only get to be a bridesmaid in 2-3 more weddings... which I am looking forward to!

First up, the beautiful bride and I...

Cory, Me, Beth, and Shawn...

Core & I...

(does it look like I have a second head?? damn lady.)

Bridesmaids: Beth, Lindsay, and I...

Bridesmaids (minus two) with the bride at the groom's dinner...

(Lindsay, me, Rachy, Melissa, & Beth)

a spectacular birthday.

My 26th birthday definitely did not disappoint. I did almost everything I planned, waking up at 8 am.. Stopped at Caribou Coffee for a free birthday drink to enjoy while getting my hair done. In fact, my day was full of savings. A free coffee, 20% off my hair color, a free manicure, free lunch (thanks core!), a J.Crew scarf I thought was $30 turned out to be $20, and a free #9 sushi roll during dinner. After dinner, it was off to the Jason Mraz concert. We arrived at the Myth only to see a line that was literally wrapped around the building. Instead of standing in that line, we met up with some others at Acapulco. Oh yeah, free birthday shot which I had one sip of after seeing that it was florescent green. Barf! By the time we got back to the Myth, the line had disappeared. The place was jam packed. We hung out with some friends back by one of the bars...

Since we couldn't see the concert, we settled upstairs in the back by the bathrooms. One of the only open areas in which we took advantage of by making it our own personal dance floor. I really don't think I've ever had more fun at a concert. And we definitely gave the concert-goers, who sat on little couches and couldn't see anything but the backs of hundreds of people, some entertainment to go along with the outstanding singing by Jason Mraz.

Our view of the concert was a flat screen TV...

I managed to work my way up to the railing to get a couple photos of the actual Jason Mraz, live, not on TV:

But this is mostly what we saw:

my last day of twenty-five.

Didn't I just wake up to the song "Sixteen Candles" blaring from the stereo [thanks dad] the morning of my sixteenth birthday? It feels like it. Now – it's ten years later. I can hardly believe that I can start a sentence with the phrase "I remember twenty years ago when...". Twenty years ago!? Yes, it is true, tomorrow I will cross over into my late 20s. As weird as it seems to already be close to 30 years old, I couldn't be happier. It drives me bananas when people get all emotional about getting older and don't even want to leave their house on the day they should be celebrating. What ever happened to just being happy you are still on this earth and living the life you have? Growing older is part of it. Grow up, people. :)

I am excited for my birthday, for once. I can't remember the last birthday I really enjoyed. Last year it fell eight days after a horrible accident that took away someone special, the year before that I had to be the DD, and the year before that I almost got dumped. Yes, really. This year will be different. To start out, I am lucky enough to have a boss that, out of the kindness of his heart, told me I didn't have to work on my birthday. How awesome is that!? So tomorrow I have a full day planned for my own personal enjoyment. I am going to sleep in a tish.. 7? 8? Then be up to St. Paul to get my hair done, have a romantic (?) birthday lunch with the greatest thing to ever happen to me (core), and do a little shopping before returning home to pack for a weekend trip home-home. And, if I  have time, will watch P.S. I love you. By this time, Cory will be back from work and we will get ready to head up to our favorite sushi joint to enjoy another birthday meal before attending the Jason Mraz concert! Sounds like a perfect birthday to me!

For fun... After 25 years on this earth...

Best Advice

"Always help your fellow man. Kindness & generosity go a long way. And love with a capital 'L'."

(from my Grandma Klegstad)

Favorite Quotes to live by:

"If you want to be happy, be."

-Leo Tolstoy

"The world is a book and those who do not travel ready only a page."

-St. Augustine

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

-Leo Buscaglia

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed in the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

"Happiness is never having to stop and think if you are."

I've Learned:

"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain."

-George Eiot

"Relationships are difficult, time-consuming, baffling, and sometimes heartbreaking. They're also what make life worth living."

-Martha Beck

My Biggest Downfalls:

1. I somehow am always late.

2. I am forgetful.

Absolute Favorites:

(people not included)

1. Lucy, my vizsla.

2. Coldplay.

3. Scarves.

4. Dresses.

5. Photography+Design.

Happy Birthday to me tomorrow!! :)

even more ideas!

This year my wish list consists of not only a few ideas, but lots and lots! The more ideas of things I want, the better, right!? Here are the new additions...

Bull Dog Keyfob

coach.com

Style #92358

$38.00

Coach Ergo Pleated Leather Capacity Wristlet

(My #1 choice out of this and the two below)

coach.com

Style #41507

Color: Brass/Magenta

$98

Graphic OP Art Wristlet

coach.com

Style #41995

Color: Brass/Gray

$58.00

Lurex Capacity Wristlet

coach.com

Style #42037

Color: Silver/Plum

$98.00

2009 Date Book

paper-source.com

Color: Pool (but I think it's sold out) or Persimmon (pink)

$29.50

Harajuku Lovers Fragrance

sephora.com

Item #1118330 or 1118280

$25 or $45

Velour Furry Hoodie

victoriassecret.com

Size Small

Color: Lux Grey

$78.00

Mukluk

victoriassecret.com

Size M

Color: Moonlight or Close Knit Grey or Stripey Blue

$34.50

Moccasins

victoriassecret.com

Size 7.5

Color: Comfy Brown

$49.50

Ruffle Scarf

gap.com

Color: Alabaster or Vineyard or Scottish Mosh

$24.50

W Baker Jacket

thenorthface.com

Size XS

Color: Black

$279.00

a new boot.

On Saturday my sis and I had a bite to eat at Cafe Latte and in line behind us was a very fashionable chick— wearing the boots below. Well, being the kind of girls my sister and I are, we just had to ask her where she got them because they were close to perfection. Totally serious. She informed us that they are from Nordstroms and that she thinks they are on sale. Oooooo, the temptation! So, I looked them up online and sure enough, they certainly are on sale– 40% off even! With that, here are the new boots on my wish list. Love them.

Steve Madden "Intyce" Boot

Cognac Leather

(nordstroms.com)

Size 7.5

$119.90

(originally $199)

a different lens.

On my first list I had a lens that I knew I probably wouldn't get as a gift.. so over the weekend I went to National Camera Exchange to try out some lenses, including the one on the original list. Unfortunately they didn't have that one in stock, but I was able to try a different one that is very similar – The Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM. And for a fraction of the price as the other, it seems like the obvious choice! It was a great lens that would be a nice addition to my collection! So, new to my list (replacing the other lens), is the one below...

National Camera Exchange

Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM

$369.99

more fun stuff.

Shoes!!

(and a scarf)

Shoes I would absolutely LOVE to have (all three of them!) but know I won't be buying anytime soon. O well, it's fun to dream! Maybe I can find something similar for cheaper than what they are at J.Crew (and they're even on sale!). 

Aren't they pretty?