Lately....

1) relaxing at the public pool on my day off last week after a very productive morning!

2) I made lots of pesto with basil from my moms garden! I put it in little Dixie cups and freeze it. It makes a delicious quick pasta!

3/4) more pool time!:) this time in my parents back yard! My favorite place to be in the summer! It wouldn't be nearly as fun without some of my nieces and nephews! Isn't she a beauty?! Follow along @ranelson1

Other things lately......

Lots of working boring I know! Day dreaming about my long four day weekend coming up and how fun it's going to be! Playing the piano, oh oh and the best thing I've done lately....Organize my closet and went through all of my clothes and purged! It felt so good to get it done! It's so refreshing to go into a nice clean organized closet!

What have you been up to lately? Go link up with Heather and Rachel!

Snapshots from Duluth #2

Some more beautiful shots from our fun day trip to Duluth!

Sunday Currently vol. {16}

Sitting pool side with my sister sipping a mojito! This is going to be a quick post because the refreshing pool is calling our names!

Reading: Jane Austen's Northanger Abby! It's the first Jane Austen book I've read! I love all of the movies, so it was high time I read one if her books!

Writing: lists. I have never been much of a list maker but lately I've been forgetting to do things! Now I always have a notebook on my table with lists in it!

Feeling: productive! I've been getting so much done lately I am living it! It always feels so good to get those things done that have been waiting to be done for a long time! 

Thankful: for my brother the computer wiz who is fixing my computer!!!! YAY! He's pretty much awesome!

Cooking: so many recipes with fresh produce from my moms garden!! I love augest and all the harvesting!

Anticipating: seeing pride and prejudice at the Guthrie theatre with my mom next weekend! I bought the tickets for her back in July for her birthday, I'm so glad it's only a week away finally!

Surprise: my aunt and uncle just showed up on our deck to swim!!!

                      My sister and I!

So toodles people we're jumping in the pool! Thanks for reading! 

Linked up with Lauren!

Love,

Rachel

Snapshots from Duluth #1

At the end of my weeks vacation back in July I went up to Duluth with my sister brother in law and their three kids! I absolutely love Duluth it's so beautiful! We left pretty early in the morning and on our way up we took a little detour when we got into Duluth because we wanted to go over a huge bridge! It was a great detour because we found a delicious coffee house and bakery! 

The interesting art going down to the coffee house.

Raspberry jalapeño jam! The yummiest jam I've ever tasted! This bakery had delicious bagels too!

Tiramisu also delicious!  

They had sweet pottery inside too.

The honey latte was amazing! Not too sweet like most coffee houses seem to make it.

It was inside a cool old building with lots of character! It didn't even have AC! I am not sure how the bakers do it! It was really warm inside!

I want to go back! Next time I'll get lots of bagels and jam to bring home!

Rachel

Life's little moments lately

Today is absolutely wonderful because I spur the moment got the day off of work! Huge YAY! I have very high hopes for getting a lot done today!

Some of the things I've been up to lately....

Most evenings lately have been in this comfy chair reading Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. It's one of hers that I have never heard of! I thought I knew all of her books but I guess not! I am really enjoying reading it!

I've been using my Mugs cup a lot lately wishing I were still in green lake!

This past weekend we had a 5K memorial run for one of my cousins who passed away at the age of 16 this past February! It was a beautiful day for a run and I believe around three hundred people showed up for the event! In our little hometown of Rose Creek population 394! WOW!

I never thought i would ever do a run with my brother and BIL who used to give me a hard time about exercising all of the time! Man I love my family! I have a whole new found appreciation and love for them since the passing of two of my cousins. Life is truly a gift, cherish it!

A delicious breakfast my Mom made for us Sunday morning! Breakfast is my favorite meal!

My first time making homemade French bread! One of my mothers many delicious bread recipes! I love this one because it can rise in the refrigerator for up to four days!

I finally made it to the farmers market! The honey is delicious, I had it in my coffee this morning! 

I am linked up with Heather from Honee Bee and Rachel @ Postcards from Rachel and there Lately link up! (Sorry I couldn't do a link from my phone....my computer is still down)

Have a wonderful day!

Rachel

Random fun facts......

My computer died! well half died on me, it turns on but it gives me a black screen after the login screen. Thank goodness for an iPhone! Except I just got Leap Year in the mail and now I can't even watch it! Because crazy me doesn't own a tv! I guess I'd rather spend my money on other things. Like....

-my nice over priced apartment. Yes I have an over priced apartment and love it and don't feel bad about it. 

- I do buy those over $100 pairs of jeans because well I like them, they fit well and they last a long time! I have such a hard time finding jeans that fit well! Most of the cheap ones hardly cover my butt and are not comfortable and I don't end up wearing them if I do buy them. So I figure I might as well spend more and actually wear them:) like these super cute AG's!

- my perfect day is spending my time with my sister! I love her to pieces! And I am missing her, it's been two weeks since we've seen each other! 

- on that point I could never move far away from family! I would miss them way too much! I enjoy my time on my own but I love being able to go home and see and spend time with them! I couldn't imagine not seeing my nieces and nephews as often as I do. I know I've said this before but I'll say it again I love being an auntie! It's the best gift my siblings have ever given me:)

- the herbs that I planted...died. Turns out I didn't inherit my mothers green thumb. Hopefully I will have better luck one day when I can have a real garden! There's nothing like fresh from the garden.

- I only like to eat organic foods. I'm not rigid about it, i go out to eat and I eat junk food sometimes:) I absolutely think that it's worth the extra buck to buy the organic that isn't full of chemicals! I have noticed a flavor difference too. Especially in berries, after I started buying only organic berries, and then having a non organic berry I realized that the regular berries don't taste like berries at all they taste like chemicals! Not to mention how much better organic is for you! 

- my biggest pet peeve is when people say one thing and do another! Or they don't follow through on something that they said. I like action not a bunch of meaningless words. 

- I'm forward. I often hear from my coworkers. "Wow Rachel why don't you tell us how you really feel next time!" Ha ha 

That actually ended up a lot longer than I had anticipated. Oh well those are some random facts about me!

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend!

Rachel

Snapshots from the lake house

This past weekend as some of you know was spent at my best friends grandmothers lake home! It's another one of our traditions of when we get together! We have been seeing each other so much lately I'm not going to know what to do when we have to go more than a month without seeing each other! The nice long weekend was mostly spent out on the lake in the pontoon! Sipping gin and tonics eating snacks goofing off, and playing in the water! 

Our first morning we got up for an early morning run! The lake was beautiful!

                          Maggie!

One of the yummiest burgers I've ever had! It had an over easy egg on it! You have to try it some time! It helps if you are really hungry because its really filling!

Us being silly:) you can imagine what happened next!

I love hanging out with these awesome friends! The laughs hardly ever stop! We have some pretty good conversations too like normal people;)

I didn't want this lovely morning on the porch to end!

More friends! Yay

We were able to spend a couple mornings at our favorite coffee house Mugs! Maggie's brother and I got a good start on planning our trip to Europe! 

Such beautiful people inside and out! I had a wonderful time with these ladies!

The amazing Milky Way ice cream! we had to go back the next day for another it was so good! 

I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends in my life! I can't wait for next years adventures at the lake house!

Rachel

The Sunday currently vol {15}

Currently enjoying my long weekend at the lake house! It's a rainy day, so we're about to play some cards and sip coffee! We briefly went to our favorite coffee house "Mugs" after church this morning! If you you were a reader last year you'll remember how much we love that place! 

I love that we are so normal:)

Currently

Reading: Blogs! I have found a few more recently that I am really enjoying! And studying for my trip to Europe!

Writing: lots of blog posts lately! I am impressing myself! Sometimes it just feels really good to write my thoughts down! 

Thinking: About the homily we had this morning. Father made a reference to Mother Teresa; someone once asked her how do you have such clarity? She answered I have never had clarity. But what I do have is trust! WOW! Here I am praying for clarity in my life, and all I need to have is trust. Trust in The Lord! So simple!

Sipping: A delicious honey latte from Mugs:)

Waring: My favorite red AG pants from Anthropologie a bright yellow gingham shirt and a navy jacky cardigan! I feel kinda preppy!

Enjoying: This amazing weekend with Maggie and her siblings! We are having more fun than should be aloud! The giggles are unstoppable I love it! What happens in Wisconsin on the boat stays in Wisconsin and on the boat!:) and my cousins text feed haha!

That's all for now I have to enjoy my last two days at the lake house!

Linked up with Lauren and the Sunday currently! 

Happy Sunday everyone!

Rachel

Mornings

It's a fresh beginning to every day. If only I didn't have to rush them most days. I always have such high hopes that I will be up at five, to the gym, showered and still have time to liesurely sip my coffee with breakfast. That is rarely the case lately it's usually rush through a workout and quickly eat breakfast while I'm getting ready for work. What's happening to me? I am liking my sleep so much more lately! I used to be such an early bird! I have decided that I need to stop fighting it and allow myself to sleep in a little more if I need it. I'll still get all my workouts in at some point in the day. So for now I'm going to listen to my body and give it a little more rest! 

Rachel

Lately!

I've almost made it to my long weekend! Just a few more hours and I'll be on my way!!!

Anticipating

This week I am counting down the three little days of work until I am able to head to a friends lake house for a long weekend! I am so excited! It has become a tradition with my dear friend from Chicago! I am so glad we are good at keeping our traditions each year, those times we know we can count on seeing each other. It's always easier saying good bye when you know the next time you get to see each other! Our time a the lake house is always so much fun and relaxing! There is nothing like being out on the water! I love it! We pack up the coolers in the morning and don't head back until the late evening! The small towns around the area are always fun to stop off in. One of our favorite coffee houses is there too so we of course have to make a visit there! Mmm they have the best honey latte's!

I cannot wait! Only a day and a half more of work! I can do this! 

Rachel

Lately.....many happy birthdays

Lately my life has been all about birthdays and I've loved it! Here are some snapshots from my Mother's, Sister's and Goddaughter's birthdays!


My Mom on her birthday! We had such a wonderful day with family! Swimming, yummy drinks, delicious grilling done by my brothers, late night swimming by candlelight, and lots of bean bags! She really enjoyed her day with everyone! I won't tell you how old she turned she will alreaedy be mad I put this photo up! I would never guess she is the age she is, I hope I age as well as her and that I am as smart as her some day! 

I surprised my sister on her birthday! I was able to get out of work early so I drove up to their home and spent the afternoon and evening with them! It was a really fun afternoon and I love surprising people!

My Goddaughter turned 6! I can hardly believe it! I love being her Auntie we have many giggles together!

She loved the bracelet that my cousin made for her!!!!

It was a marathon of birthday celebrations all week and I loved it!

Linked up with Heather and life lately at Bumble Bee!