Here's the Longer Vacation Post.

I hope you have that group of friends.  You know the ones.

The ones that walk into a bar and see a large stuffed cat and shout, "Ladies!  We need to get our picture taken by the cougar!"  None of us actually know if this is, in fact, a cougar or not, but we pretended it was.

The men are happy as long as they have a beer in hand, even if getting dive-bombed by ducks.

Remember last year when we went on our Madeline Island trip?  It's that time again.  This year it wasn't Madeline Island though, it was back up the North Shore with my group of those friends.

Those friends are the ones that don't question your actions.  Like taking pictures of signs, or sitting in the corner knitting.  I didn't knit in a bar, for the record.  Not once.

Good friends can spend long weekends together with no drama.  And all look at a sign that says "the Wood Shed" and all break out in giggles, with no words needing to be spoken.

Friends can fork over cash for a whole bunch of pull-tabs and not even win a measley dollar, and just get over it.  Move on.

When friends know of your Irish lineage, they don't think it's weird for you to take pictures of bar cardboard coasters.

We can enjoy the views together...

And when one of us finds a cute, but unusual looking bug, and feels the need to kiss it, WE DON'T JUDGE.

This is why it's so important to have good friends.

Here's another reason.  When someone comes up with the idea of buying red wigs to wear, nobody even asks why.  You just do it, because you know it will be fun.

I know these ladies will be fine with me posting these pictures on my blog, because they are my FRIENDS. (I hope)

If you want a moment alone to take in all that Lake Superior has to offer, GO FOR IT!

We think nothing of playing Jenga in a bar with a moose.  Why do you ask?

Moooooose madness!

If you want to make a stop to a building you've been by several times but never in, everyone is all over that idea.  (I'm sooo glad we did!  This was a jaw-dropping sight for sure!  Nanabajou Lodge)

Friends warn friends of past experiences that may have effects on digestive systems.  Just sayin. 

While we did spend a little time in a few bars, we also made sure to enjoy nature.  The sky at this moment was so beautiful.

I love having time to do nothing and play with my camera!

If you've never gathered with your friends around a coffee table playing games, with the lake 30 feet away from your picture windows, with beverages poured, and background music being drowned out with laughter, I highly recommend it.

If there is a fireplace with a roaring fire in the room with you, it's a huge bonus.

Vacations are good for you.  Good for the soul.  No schedules.  No expectations.  Just go do what you want.  Right now.  You want a nap?  GO!

Have you ever tried making a chimney on your campfire with an old piece of wood that has a hollow center?  No?  You should.  It's really really cool.

This fire on the beach would have been really really cool even without the chimney pieces though.

"Oh, you are standing on the beach with your camera?  Ok, I think I'll fly right over you then."  Thanks Mr. Eagle!  Also, thanks for not crapping on me.

"What?  You'd like me to turn this way and look over here for a better picture?"  Yes, Mr. Otter.  That would be great!

 

"Did you get a good enough picture yet?  How about an action shot of me eating a fish I just caught?"  Much obliged, kind sir.

It's cool to see that these guys have their group of friends too.  I wonder which one of them will be bringing the red wigs to their vacation weekend??

Last four pictures are courtesy of the coolest brother ever, who is teaching me loads about photography!

Dear friends,  I love each and every one of you.  Thank you for being who you are, letting me be goofy, and being goofy with me.  I am SO lucky to be able to spend time with you, and hope that these past 13 annual trips are just the beginning to the next 50 years that we continue them!  I can't WAIT for next year!! 

Woop Woop!

XOXOX

NH 

My weekend, Instagrammed

Just a brief post of some of the fun stuff we did this weekend on our annual "Lutsen" trip, brought to you by Instagram.  (Not really, I just use them to make my iPhone pics look a little cooler)

In no particular order:

Glasses hanging from the ceiling...

Spooky fog on Lake Superior, behind a spooky tree...

Wine in a Mason jar served at My Sister's Place...

Cocktails and scenery at Lutsen Mountain...

Vintage items (including a creepy red mask!) for sale at a little place I've never stopped at on one of the 3498679848657 times I've travelled this road...

This place rocks.  Almost as much as visiting my real sister.

Old dirty places with juke boxes that only play two songs for $1.00.

One of our favorite stops...

Doesn't get much better...

Pretty windows and architecture...

Beeeeeach time...

Lake Superior boulders with fuzzy tufts of grass...

Me and my lovey enjoying deep fried gizzards (well, HE is...)

When the owners don't arrive for 15 minutes after opening time, we lose our patience and move along to the next place.  Too bad, I really wanted to see the inside of this place!

I took this picture laying in my bed.  Looking out my window.  I could see the sun actually move upward and light up my room.  Surreal!

We had SUCH a great vacation.  I cannot get the pictures from my camera to load to blogger for some reason today, so I'll have to share those in another post.

I wanna go back, RIGHT NOW! I can't wait for next year!

XOXOX

NH

Haiku, Do you?

Things kind of seem to be out of balance with me lately.  I kinda feel like I've been on a roller coaster of emotions with a bunch of crap that's been going on.  I know I'm overly sensitive (always have been) and probably over-react to most things thrown in my direction. 

It's hard to write a blog when you are a little off balance, which is the reason why there haven't been any posts in a week.  I don't want to write about all my woe-is-me troubles, that really are insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but at the same time, I can't be happy and funny all the time.  Sometimes things happen that really piss me off, and are out of my control.  Sometimes I just need to be mad for a while, until I can shake it and get over it.

I don't want to worry anyone - I really am fine.  Just kinda down in a funk right now.  I thought I'd take some time and write some silly Haiku.

PLEASE comment and add your own.  I need some laughs from you all today!

Enjoy...

Chocolate ice cream
You run down my throat so smooth
Stop making me fat.

Some call it nectar
For me? A necessity.
Wake me up, coffee!

Needles, yarn, and wine.
Can't think of anything else
while sitting at work.

Hand sanitizer,
Do you really even work?
I still got a cold.

Rain, rain, go away
Unless you turn to pudding.
Then I will eat you.

Vacation coming!
No thinking too hard; relax.
But I have to cook.

Christmas on the way.
Decorations at Target
Make me want to hurl.

Please share some of your own!!!!!

XOXOX

NH

Inspiration

I haven't exercised in about a week, mainly because I've been fighting off this sinus cold that has taken my whole person, thrown it in the air, shaken it around and plopped me down in the middle of a mud puddle.  And then kicked more mud on me.  I'm feeling plenty of guilt over the dry spell of exercise, let me be the first to tell you.  I went home last night with very good intentions of either walking or bustin my move to Jillian, and then it was raining when I got home, and I had to drive Andy to hockey, and then ROB THOMAS was on The Voice.  I bet he had about 2.7 minutes of airtime in the 2 hour show, but you can bet your bootie I wasn't going to miss it.  So I layed on my bed and played on my phone and wasted away my evening.  It was so worth it to hear him sing two lines of Jessie's Girl. 

So tonight is the night.  My head is lighter today, and my chest isn't burning when I cough anymore.  I will be spending two hours at the dance studio tonight, but I WILL pound it out to Jillian tonight when I get home.  I need everybody that knows me to hold me to it, mkay? 

I think I've mentioned my favorite weight-loss inspiring blog, Mama Laughlin, before.  I found her blog pretty recently, and really love reading it.  She's so real.  A little vulgar sometimes, but not afraid to tell her readers absolutley everything about herself. 

Last night she posted a message on Instagram that said she was going through some personal stuff, and asked for prayers from anyone willing to give them.

It kind of surprised me, because although she shares a ton of stuff, she never indicated that anything was really wrong.

This morning she posted this post on her blog, and it just reminds me how much I admire her, and although she's SMOKIN hot now, she has struggled so hard with confidence and self esteem issues (hello, ME) that have really improved since her weight loss efforts started.  I hope she can quickly get past whatever stuff she's going through right now, and get back to the happy stuff.

I know I need to do this.  I need to be healthy.  I know it will help me become more confident.  And I want to be smokin hot too.   For me, and for the hubs.  Ya know?  I wish it wasn't so hard to stay inspired...

What or who inspires you???

XOXOX

NH

Stuff I saw on my way to work this week.

I still have the old iPhone 3.  The picture quality is less than stellar (isn't stellar a cool word?  I don't get to use it often enough.) and it's very slow, but I try not to complain too much, because it works.  And I can still do some pretty cool stuff with it.  I will be the first to admit that I'm 100% addicted to it, and rely on it way more than I'm sure is healthy.  Even though the picture quality is less than stellar, it is a camera that is ALWAYS with me.  It takes much better pictures than the good camera when it's sitting at home unused.

It is the time of year where I am getting to work at just the right time so I get to see the spectacular sunrise over Lake Superior each morning.  I love it!  So I couldn't help but snap some pictures in the morning a few days this week.  Enjoy!

This is what I get to see on my way down the big hill every morning.

One spot I get to drive over has this super cute little bridge.  The sun peeks through the rungs just right.

Hello!  Couldn't ask for better scenery!  So then, I park my car near this every day.

And I jump in the skywalk and walk walk walk.  Over this street.

Up the escaltor.

Down the hall.

Through another skywalk, where I can see the purdy reflection of the sun off of the buildings.

And then over this street,

And down this hall...

Up the elevator...

and to my floor, where we see this out the front window.  Too bad my desk is behind a door and three walls and 57 cubicles, so I can't look at it all day, but it's probably for the best that I can't.  I'm sure my productivity would be down a bit if I could stare at the lake all day!

Take a minute to enjoy the scenery!!

XOXOX

NH