And the second half of February

It's hard to believe today is already the last day of the month!!  Where is 2011 going?!?!?!?

Since my last post, the Cats dominated #1 ranked Jayhawks on Valentine's Day.  I spent the evening having a heart shaped pizza with Kelli and watching the game.  It was probably one of my best Valentine Days thus far!

My new camera arrived in the mail and I made a trip to KC to see my kiddos and celebrate Logan's 4th birthday!!  I can't believe how big they're all getting!!!  

 Mr. Gavyn is geting oh-so-close to walking!!!

 Miss Lexy has matured since starting Kindergarten and she now only goes by Alexis!

Brother Andy was trying to get Mr. Gavyn to look at the camera

The birthday boy that looks more like a Cullen with this lighting....
 

Getting a little up close and personal with Alexis.

Isn't he precious?!?!?!?

And the biggest news of that weekend....

Miss Paisley Shae Beckman made her arrival on Sunday afternoon, February 20th!!!  Unfortunately, I don't get to meet her preciousness until April, when I fly to Wichita for Easter.

This past weekend Abby and I hosted a Smashbox Makeup party.  Great food, great friends, and pretty makeovers!

And we also switched out all of my second hand furniture and Kirsten bought new couches and made some pretty pillows!

And, take a look at the picture hanging on the wall.  It's one of the sunset pictures I took while in San Francisco and I turned it in to a canvas print.

Ok, I think I covered most everything.  I also made it to Wade Bowen and Josh Abbott band in concert.  I finally have a few more friends that enjoy and appreciate  Texas Country music, which makes me very very happy!!!

The first half of February

I can't believe we're almost halfway through February already!!  The past two weeks have been jam packed.  We had a huge snow storm the first week of February and it resulted in two days away from the office.  Although, it also resulted in going to work a night shift at the hospital as a 'sitter' for a patient to make sure he didn't commit suicide.

Luckily the snow stopped and the highways cleared and I made it to the airport and my flight took off on time to make it to sunny San Francisco!  That city is a amazing!!  And, I was told that I lucked out with the weather.  We had all sun and no fog.  On Friday night, Payal took me up to Twin Peaks which is a spot that overlooks the entire city.  It was really pretty but a little difficult to get very good pictures.  Afterwards we met up with some of her friends at a club called Cellar.  This place was great!  One room was 80s and 90s music with a video screen to show the music videos.  And in the other room it was all Hip Hop.  It was fantastic!!!  The only thing that I would have enjoyed more, if there was a third room that played country music.

On Saturday we set out and walked about a mile down through Chinatown for some delicious 'egg tarts' which were actually custard tights.  They were warm and delicious.

Eventually we continued our walk to pick up a Tropical Passion Tea Latte from the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and then we walked on to the water to meet up with Faheem for long day of exercise.  We walked from Pier 1 to Pier 41 (1.5 miles) Then rented bikes and biked down along the water, up and down hills, and around the bend with a few stops for photo ops.

We threw up our signs- Faheem is now West Side and I'm still in the Midwest....I don't think he enjoyed this.

We made it to the bridge and stopped for another picture and simultaneously got yelled at by the other bikers.

We made it across the bridge and continued down in to Sausalito for a late lunch and some Ice Cream!

We took the ferry back to the city and we lucked out again because it was right as the sun was setting.  So so gorgeous!

The bike ride was approximately 8.5 miles and the ferry brought us back to Pier 1, so we had to bike back to Pier 41 to return our bikes which added another 1.5 miles.  And then we walked back to Pier 1, another 1.5 miles walking, before getting a cab and heading home.
That night we had a delicious dinner in Little Italy and checked out a bar not too far from the restaurant and eventually decided we were worn out and ready for home.

On Sunday we set out to find the Full House house, but unfortunately, we didn't realize that their house isn't actually in Alamo Square.  But they do have a picnic in the park so at least we got to see that!

 I miss green and blue in nature!!!!

I made it home safely on Sunday night after Midnight and I feel like I haven't had time to breathe since today!  On Monday, I embarked on a new journey of Bikram Yoga.  It's 27 poses in 90 minutes and the room is between 105-110.  Monday night I thought I may pass out.  I was seeing darkness and decided I should sit on the floor.  However, we went back on Wednesday and Friday and it went much better and I enjoyed it!

On Tuesday night, Abby and I went to The Meatloaf Bakery which was delicious.  However, they didn't plan very well so we didn't have many options to choose from.  But the concept is for the meatloaf to look like cupcakes.  They were great.

On Thursday night we had a work happy hour for the new guy that started on the tech team.  He's a K-Stater and his wife is too!!!  It was super to have someone to talk to about Manhattan and Aggieville and Kansas.  I am no longer the lone (Kansas State) Wildcat!

I think I have updated enough for now.  Hopefully the Cats play well tomorrow and we bring back the "Octagon of Doom"!

L is for Luxury

I took my first photography class today and I am still shocked at how much I learned!  A few of the highlights:

1)  The instructor said you should never use your flash, unless of course the event is more important than the actual photo.

2)  You should only use an ISO of 200-400 on average.

3)  Exposure composition makes all the difference.

4)  Indoor lighting can ruin a picture.

5)  You should take every picture in L (Recording Pixels) and Fine (Compression).  L = Luxury

6)  Aperture is the total exposure to light and how big the 'hole' is when taking a photo.  The smaller the aperture, the more in focus the picture will be.

7)  You should use a center-weighted average for light metering.

8)  Six mega pixels suffice, unless you want to blow up a picture to 40x60, then go for 10.

9)  The brand doesn't matter because all cameras are the same, it's all about how you use it.  (Although, I still prefer Canon.)

10)  Natural light and tri-pods are your friend.

Overall, this class was definitely worth it!  And, now I want an SLR camera but I can't decide if I purchase a used/refurbished one for $100 cheaper than a brand new one?!?!?  And do I do it now before San Francisco (in five days)?  Or wait and buy it for London?  Or just wait in general?  Decisions decisions...


PS- I ran 2.6 yesterday and made it to church for the second weekend in a row!  Happy almost February!

Happy Birthday Kansas!!!

I realized recently that after 4th O July, and Christmas, the next best holiday is definitely Kansas' birthday! It takes me back to my days of elementary school and for an entire week we celebrated the different elements/aspects of our beautiful state, Kansas.

I had no idea until I left college and joined the real world with others from around the US, that we are one of the few states that celebrates our state. Blasphemy!!!! Every year growing up we would celebrate the 'birth' of Kansas for an entire week that would culminate with a birthday party with treats for all. It's hard to believe she's already 150 (January 29th, 1861 - and Kansas State University was founded two years later on February 16th, in case you didn't realize)! (She looks so young!)

The art projects were the best. I remember the pictures of buffalos that we decorated with different colors of brown, including coffee grounds to make their darker wool. We colored sunflowers, meadowlarks, and box turtles, Oh My! The week would typically end with a delicious cup of Kansas Dirt (Chocolate pudding and crushed oreos on top) and maybe a showing of Wizard of Oz.

I find it so hard to believe, and a little bit sad, that my friends from other states don't know their state's history. Is Kansas that proud? Is it our education standards? Or is it because I grew up in a small town? Either way, I feel very fortunate to know and celebrate my state's birthday! In the last few years, I have also noticed that KSU tends to play KU on this day as well to really get in to the spirit of Kansas (State). At, least, I can only assume that right?

So here's to you Kansas and my fellow Kansans. Go State!!!

PS - On a (even more) fun note: "Home on the Range" was written by Dr. Brewster Higley at the Higley Cabin, located 5 miles NorthEast of Kensington. And the geographical center of the United States of America is located in Lebanon, KS which is located 30 miles east of Kensington.

PPS - I apologize for the layout. I'm still getting used to this blogging business.

We're heading towards our coldest days of Winter yet...

That's what I heard on the news tonight....awesome.

It's crazy what a difference a week can make. And I'm not even talking about the weather. Although I'm soooo excited for the return of the temps of "Feels Like -10". Just kidding! How awful!!!

Regardless of the weather turning (or, staying) cold and blah, my mood and outlook have increased exponentially! I cannot even explain it but I'm just happy that my usually jovial personality and outlook have returned. I even notice myself replacing every other exclamation point with a period so I'm not a huge creep. Whoopsie!

Anyway, I realized last Friday that I needed an attitude adjustment and no one can do that except for little ol me! There are so many great and happy things in this world. And although I claimed that nothing great was happening in my life, I couldn't be more wrong! I have a nice apartment, a warm bed, and a full closet (and belly - Ha!). My friends and family are loving and supportive and I really can't complain, so I apologize for doing so.

I finally made it back to the treadmill tonight and the endorphins are kicking in already! Here's my pledge to keep it up and to make it to church this weekend, since I didn't make it last week.

Coasting through life

I was talking to a friend today and I realized that it's not that things in my life are going wrong, but it feels like things in my life aren't going right either. I am coasting through life. I realize that only I can make something happen, but what if I don't even know the direction to move in?

Is this just the norm at this stage in our life? I'm five years out of college/in the career world and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up. The majority of my college friends are married. Some of them are either looking or already living in their second home. Some of them are talking about kids or currently pregnant, while others already have two children! I am still single and wasting money by paying rent. I see no reason to buy a place when I don't even know where I want to be.

I love living in Chicago and being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want but I feel like I'm so behind in the game of life, compared to all of my friends. I also realize it's not smart to compare yourself....

So anyway, I'm not sure about the goal for this post, but hey! This is my second post this week! I'm impressed with myself. And the blog title is Milestones and Meltdowns and it appears this is a meltdown! :)

Here's to 2011

Like many other 'bloggers' as myself, I have decided today that 2011 is going to be devoted to a better understanding of myself. My first New Year's resolution to help in this journey is to go to church on a regular basis. Hopefully that means every week, but currently on week two of 2011, I'm 1 for 2. I did find a church down the street (.7 miles) so it's a nice little walk for a Sunday, or Saturday evening if I must. The preist spoke English and gave a decent message today so I think I'm in luck! And, they have multiple mass options on Saturday and Sunday so I really won't have many chances to not make it.

I think writing out feelings and thoughts can also help in this journey, so *hopefully* I will do a better job of writing on here. I would like to get a better understanding of what makes me happy, in terms of my career and how to get there.

The last six months have been a journey in itself. I am getting a better understanding of what I want and need in life as well as what I don't like and what I don't want. I need to learn how to better vocalize these thoughts and feelings so I get where I want to be with my career and love life. Here's to 2011 and whatever may come my way.