Wait, what?

The movers come in three days and Bryant and I have been keeping busy with various crafts and hobbies to prepare for this occasion. We went shopping to buy supplies for the crafts, sat down and created them, started a new project last night and we are almost done with it! We made coasters and are creating a ma---- wait, did you just say the movers come in three (3) days???

WHAT?!

Yeah, welcome to Hannah's brain. I am sure you might be thinking that we have the good life where the movers come pack everything up and whisk it away all in two days leaving time to make crafty things (which we actually do live the good life)... but what we actually do NOT have is time to be making crafts. I am so out of touch with the reality that we are going to be living in a hotel for the next 2+ months starting SUNDAY that I actually convinced Bryant we could make a cork board map of England in our spare time instead of packing. If you're wondering, that is the project we are almost done with and yes, it's really cute and yes, I sponged the design idea from Design*Sponge even though it has deviated significantly from the initial idea. :)

Photos to come...

I will however share photos of the first said project: coasters! I had fun with this one, although completing it outdoors would have probably better, considering the spray glue and spray paint. Bryant joined in on the fun about halfway through and I was reminded of how much more fun I have when I have some help and a pal to watch progress in the making.

First we started with tiles. $.54 each from Dick Blick art store.

We used lace purchased at JoAnn Fabric for $3.69/yd and a can of spray glue also from Blick for about $4.

Next I sprayed the lace with glue, let it air dry for about 30 seconds to make it tacky and I placed it on the tile, or in this case, 2 pieces. I made sure there weren't any wrinkles in the lace and it helped to not tuck the excess under the tile for its removal afterwards.

I sprayed the tile with gold spray paint, totally unevenly, mind you, and it still turned out really well. You  can reuse the same piece of lace for another tile because the paint dries quickly on the lace. Lifting it off the tile after painting was a breeze and it should be done about a minute after painting.

The next day, we cut out squares of cork (you can get a small roll of cork for about $4), spray glued them to the back and set a heavy object on top to let the glue set strongly.

Thanks for the inspiration, Martha!

You can find Martha's full instructions here. The fact that she made it look so easy was why I felt like I could do it. Not that I am complaining, but this sort of thing is harder than it looks. Sure it was "easy," but you have to collect the supplies, get the knack for spray painting evenly, and prevent gluing your fingers together & putting a thin layer of gold on your table. Actually, I probably shouldn't be admitting to this because the more I think about the trouble I had, the more like a 10-year-old I feel. :) I don't mind, though because it was fun and I love my coasters!

Doesn't it kind of remind you of photogram art? I love the classy/romantic lace with the modern and practical style of presenting it! 

Next time on "Words with a Couple of Ditties" we'll be even closer to our move and journey to ENGLAND! Stay tuned!

Minnesota State Fair 2011

We love the Minnesota State Fair! I think it's a safe bet that we were really excited to go this year more than any other because we knew we wouldn't be able to go again for another three years. We pulled out all the stops in our excitement: chose two days we were going to go, downloaded the iPhone app, scoped out the new foods, and bought our admission tickets in advance.

That iPhone app helped make this the best State Fair yet. it gave us our GPS location and told us what foods were nearby and we could even filter foods from the bargain book and the new 2011 food options. We didn't even have to plot out a course for activities or their timing throughout the day because a handy schedule of all of the events were conveniently organized at our fingertips.

The first day we met up with my parents, my aunt, my sister Sarah, and my brother Caleb. It was on Saturday, August 27 and Bryant, Sarah and I got there at 7:30am and B and I ended up being there for 14 hours. We were a little of tired at the end of that day. :)

We took several snapshots of the food and fun things we saw so I'll show you some here!

DAY ONE

Bryant and I took the city bus and met Sarah there at 7:30 for breakfast because the SF bus routes begin at 8am. We had always wanted to have breakfast at the fair! Here is Sarah with the blue ribbon bargain book that gave us some good deals. We had pancakes and coffee at the Lunch Box.

Before we went to the Lunch Box Sarah and I were pumped to try the new Breakfast Lollipop at Axel's. It was a sausage patty dipped in corn meal, fried and finished off with syrup. It was yummy.

The 27th was 4H day! We got to see kids show their animals and the most adorable prize went to all the kids showing their rabbits! It was so cute!

OK, the lambs look funny when they're in their "pajamas" for the evening so I had to get a picture of this one. He sure took a liking to Bryant. :)

This was lunch time. I had a new food-- a Pretzel-wrapped hot dog. It was pretty good! A bit salty for my taste, but that is the best part of going to the fair with a fun group--you all get to taste the stuff and share! Sarah was eating cheese curds here (classic!) 

Deep-fried candy bars are not new to us, but we still revel in their amazingness. These workers in the booth were from Iowa and were fun to talk to. The fried oreos are my fave.

Sarah needed to try a new kind so she got the fried snickers bar.

I love how we were on the hunt for dessert right after our lunch. A big part of the fair for us really is experiencing food so we were all pumped that Caleb wanted to get deep-fried cheese cake. Caleb was so excited he took a bite before I had time to snap a photo.

Up on Machinery Hill was the GIANT SING ALONG! This was a super fun idea! We loved getting up there and singing songs we really didn't know (I'd like to Teach the World to Sing).

Dinner time! This is my Aunt Ellen who joined us that afternoon. We all went to the Texas Steak House on Machinery Hill and Ellen had the potato-curl-wrapped foot-long hot-dog (or something like that) while wearing a really clever hat from Gander Mountain. I had a phenomenal bargain-book meal: Texas Dinner on a Stick! (I thought this was original until I realized it was just a kebab...see the below story about a deep fried pie) but hey, it's the state fair! So it's BETTER! Seriously, though... the dry rub on the steak... and the tender potatoes... and the sweet bell peppers... oh my gosh my mouth is watering...

DAY TWO

Just Bryant and me. This was our day to get everything we missed the first day. Beginning with: deep fried apple pie. Also thought to be a deliciously original idea... until you get it and realize it isn't original idea at all and McDonald's has been serving these 2/$.99 for years. BUT NOT AT THE STATE FAIR with CINNAMON ICE CREAM! It really was a treat, despite that realization......... okwhatsnext????

I'll tell you what's next! My mom bought two tickets for roasted corn on Saturday but only used one, so we got a free ear of the sweetest corn I've ever tasted. Bryant was pretty excited too. :)

A lot went on between the last photo and this one, but I don't have photos of all of it. However, this was certainly delicious documentation of a new food ala stick MNSF 2011: deep fried cookie dough! It was ooey gooey amazeballs of cookie dough.

In honor of George Michal Bluth and Arrested Development we bought a chocolate-covered banana (with a coupon from the bargain book). There's always money in the banana stand.

Finally, I got a fun t-shirt to remember the best state fair yet, also purchased with a coupon. "I Like You" was the best vendor at the fair, in my opinion. Fun, unique, and local! I wore this shirt yesterday. :)

Other favorites, not caught on camera:

- People Watching (entertainment in itself!)

- Learning about farms, animals, and agriculture. The milking demonstration was so fascinating! 

- Participating in all the traditions. Sweet Martha's Cookies, the 2:00 parade & Miracle of Birth Center

- The old fashioned photo booth

- Ye Old Mill (first time!)

9/11 ... 10 years later

I know there are thousands out there blogging about 9/11 today as it's the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. I am not sure why but I woke up this morning compelled to watch the coverage of the new memorial and to remember that day. It was moving to see and hear all of the names of those who died and to see the people affected by it all. I went through the rest of the day not thinking much about it until I got home from meeting with a friend.

I randomly turned on the TV to see if it had a setting in the menu to change over to PAL signal from NTSC and for some reason kept it on while I worked on the computer. I happened to notice not long after it began that CBS was playing a really amazing documentary on 9/11/01. I am almost positive I am the only one in the United States who has never seen it, too, because I guess it's pretty famous. I had never seen any of the footage that Jules and Gedeon Naudet accidentally caught that day. I may have seen video of the planes fly into the buildings before but actually seeing the few seconds of life of the firemen of Ladder 1 before the first airplane hit the WTC towers. It was a very powerful video.

If you have never seen it before, do yourself a favor and buy the video from iTunes here or watch clips at CBS' website here. It'll help you "Never Forget" and appreciate the heros of the United States. I am reminded that even though we are moving to England, I will always love my country and be proud to be an American.

PS - I promise to share our fun times at the MN State Fair and our trip to Washington over Labor Day Weekend soon! Only 2 more weeks before we move! (Also, if you are wondering, our TV doesn't do PAL. Boo.)

I-OH-WAY

...is also known as Iowa. It is a great place. Especially when you get free antiques from the in-laws and the State Fair is going on (And you get in for half price). :)

Exhibit One:
Barnwood from the Terrell Farm.

Exhibit Two:
Antique table from said Farm.

Exhibit Three:
Iowa State fair for $5 admission.

Exhibit Three point Five:
Porkchop on a stick.

This profitable weekend has created challenges with its grand exhibits of awesomeness:
1: Build amazing headboard out of barnwood.
2: Clean and spruce up antique table (think: years of mice dwelling).
3: Have even MORE fun at the Minnesota State Fair.
3.5: Try to not become a porkchop as result of State Fairs.

More to come on these challenges/projects! The top of the desk has already been shined up to look so sparkly new, so stay tuned!

Unexpected Good Stuff.

Yesterday afternoon when Bryant got off work we sat around the house doing nothing very constructive. I did manage to look through thousands of photos and swoon over our wedding day all over again (you can too, right here) but stuff like that usually doesn't count as being productive.

Before the afternoon moved into evening we forced ourselves out of the apartment and walked to a yard sale (bust), drove to a lampshade shop (closed--bust), walked to an antique store (expensive--bu$t), and then to Dairy Queen (major success!). Because Bryant works today we went to Bethlehem Baptist in downtown Minneapolis for church where John Piper was at the pulpit after 7 weeks of writing leave/vacation. I don't think Bryant and I have seen him preach since before we started dating in 2009, so it was nice to hear truth spoken through him again while sitting next to my spouse.

After church I am pretty sure we sat in the air-conditioned car for a good 20 minutes before deciding what do to for dinner. A few weeks ago Bryant won a contest through Facebook from South of Canada where he received a $25 gift card for the Loop Bar so we figured that since we were in Mpls we might as well head over there. This took such a long time to decide because although I love the Twin Cities, I don't like its night life. I was fearful that a Saturday night around the North Loop would be loud, cramped, and uncomfortable. Setting my premonitions aside, we decided to go anyway. Surprisingly, we got to sit outside at sidewalk seating where it was quieter and warmer (yeah, totally freezing inside) and the food was super yummy! We splurged and each got a locally-brewed beer. We enjoyed those while watching people walk by and we even saw Mark Rosen with his family--Minnesota celebrity sighting!

All of these unexpected good things happened to us and to top it all off we learned that our gift card was actually worth $65 instead of $25! It sounds like we have to return to the Loop before we leave! When we learned that Bryant just sat back with a grin on his face and said, "Gosh, sometimes I just feel so... lucky." Unexpected good stuff is awesome. :)

Wedding Photos!

The moment we have been waiting for had arrived on Tuesday night: Our wedding photos were posted!! Since then I have been dying to sit down and look through all 3,501 of them. I actually still have yet to get through them all, but I am close and I managed to put together a few collages of some of our favorites:

I couldn't be any more in love with how the day turned out. The flowers, the whole look, the photo booth (UnBooth)  and my adorable bridesmaids were just a few parts of what made it so great!

The butterfly combs were lent to me by my mother, and the necklace was my MorMor's string of pearls.

The Boys. I am so glad our photographer captured the boutonnieres. I love fiddlehead ferns! Each yellow tie was different and custom-made by a shop I found on Etsy.

It may be strange, but my favorite photo of all 3,501 is the bottom right of this set. I love to look at that face he makes when I go in for a smootch. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have such a wonderful man to kiss for the rest of my life!

If you want to see more of our favorites, we have created an album on our wedding photo Flickr site. We added a bunch today and I have more tweaking to do yet, but until then, enjoy the creme de la creme!

Acknowledgements:
Photography - Clewell Photography
Location - Minnetonka Orchards
Ceremony/Reception Flowers - Armstrong Design
Bouquets/Boutonnieres - My pal, Kate. :)
Custom Neckties - Tux and Tulle
Gown/Dresses/Tuxes- The Wedding Shoppe, Inc.

July is almost over!

Today is the "We've been married for 2-months" day! Wow, time has certainly gone by quickly. I cannot believe that July is almost over. We have so many things yet to do, people to see, places to visit! This may sound kind of depressing, but we have kind of created a "bucket list" of things to do before we move.

See Family in WI
See Family in IA
Go to a Twins Game in MN
Go to a Brewers Game in WI
Fly to Seattle to see Dave Matthews Band in Concert
Visit my sister in Washington state
Go to Wisconsin Dells
Make a headboard for our bed
Go to the MN State Fair
Visit Friends in Cook one more time
Visit a dozen other friends we will miss a TON

Not to mention all of the necessary things that have to get done before we leave:

Apply for a visa
Arrange a contract with the movers
Close cell phone account
Cancel internet (and other) services
Sell two cars
Forward our mail
Clean and store my wedding gown

... and we leave in less than two months! I am not overwhelmed (yet) but just looking at the long list of things, and I know this is not exhaustive, does make me a bit sad. A trip to the Dells and a DIY headboard is probably not going to happen.

We continue to have fun and take each day as it comes. Tonight we utilized a free appetizer from Buca di Beppo for joining their eClub! We got the cheesy bread florentine which normally costs $12.95 and we also received a free lunch-sized slice of lasagna for National Lasagna Day! All of that with the small pasta dish means TONS of leftovers for the next two meals, as Bryant showcased here:

In other news, the ceiling in the sunroom is all fixed! The painter was in last week and fixed her right up:

 

The weather is still really warm and we are excited to see my little sister this weekend! Garage Sale shopping? Mall of America? Como Zoo? So many possibilities (that aren't even on the bucket list!)