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Friday, August 21, 2015

Fab Friday Faves 8.21.15

Happy Friday my friends!  I had a very busy weekend this week and then finally got some down time for most of this week.  It was kind of nice to be at home and get some stuff done, but at the same time, not being distracted was quite hard on me.  I spent the weekend with the lovely Kim and Kristen, some visitors from home.  Kim was my university room mate and Kristen is her sister.  They were here for a girls long weekend and they so kindly invited me along on their adventures Friday and Saturday.  Saturday night, Josh and I went out with one of his college friends Ryan, and his girlfriend along with some of his former coworkers and their wives.  They were all fantastic but unfortunately I had a migraine and was really tired so I was a total buzzkill.  We did go to Colicchio and Sons, a super fancy restaurant that I have wanted to hit up for a long time and it was amazing.  Sunday, Josh and I went out to Bear Mountain, a lovely Park only about an hour north along the Hudson.  It was about 100F so our plans of doing some hiking got changed to brunch and a walk around the lake.  Like I said, the week was quiet, I made sure to get out really early everyday for a run/walk/photo session so that I didn't have to go out in the sweltering heat to get some fitness in.  Yesterday I gave blood and hung out in the nice climate controlled mall for a couple hours.

Also Happy 250 blog post anniversary to me!!

Anyway, everyone have a great weekend!  Check back Monday for part two of my Saskatchewan blog and enjoy my Friday Five!







1. Like I said, my friends Kim and Kristen were in town for the weekend and they invited me along for a food tour in the West Village.  We tried some delicious food and it was so nice to catch up and have some faces from home while I was not the happiest camper.  Thanks ladies!

2. Sunday Josh and I headed up to Bear Mountain.  We enjoyed one of the best brunch buffets I have ever been to and got to enjoy a little piece of nature.

3. Yesterday I donated blood.  It had been a long time, actually my first time in the US, partially because I have gotten two tattoos in the last two years and partially because its just something that slipped my mind.  I had an ad pop up on my Facebook the other day (see they really do work!) offering Mets tickets to anyone that came out so I thought I may as well.  I didn't have the best experience (the staff was great, I just got a little woozy)but I feel pretty good about my good deed for the day.  I did a "Double Red" as they called it.  They actually take less blood but they get 2 donations technically because the blood gets taken out, separated in a machine then they pump everything except the red blood cells back in to you.  Kinda weird and it took longer but it makes it so you only donate every four months instead of two.

4. My very first South Hill Designs necklace came in the mail from my mom this week.  It was a summer special and I love the sea glass green around the rim along with the ocean style charms.  I have wanted one for quite some time and I love it!  Remember, if you want your own, my mom sells them along with their whole line of gorgeous jewelry.  Cindy's South Hill Designs Site.

5. I found this so cool anchor marquee yesterday at Kohls.  I have had my eye out for items that I know I want for our house when we get it (more specifically our pool cabana bar) and this was one of them.  It was in clearance, down from $69.99 to 22.43!  I was somewhat worried that it wouldn't work, but I got home and tried it out and obviously it does.  I'm in love!  There is also a seahorse one that I'm seriously considering going back for.  Just a side note, I spent $43 at Kohl's today and saved $106.  Man I love that place!

Today I'm linking up with:

Jennie @The Diary of a Real Housewife
Lauren @ Style Elixir
Tif @ Bright on a Budget
Nicole @ Adventures of a Wild Sunflower
Amy @ {The Farmer's Wife}
April @ A. Liz Adventures

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Summer in SK '15 pt. One

This summer I planned my annual summer trip back to Saskatchewan for the month of July, but with an added bonus of Josh being able to join me for a week.  This would be his first time back to Sask in over three years.  Crazy right?  We had planned to have a cat sitter come every day to check on Jinx and Smudge for that week, but unfortunately, Jinx ended up getting very sick a couple weeks before we had planned to leave, so we booked him in to come along with us too.  It turned out to be a good thing, he was so happy being able to be outside and chase birds and bugs for his last month with us on earth.  Smudge stayed home and had the pet sitter come in once a day and she did amazing.  Sandra raved so much about how amazing she was that I was sure she was going to take her home! So on June 27th the three of us headed out to Saskatchewan.  We need up arriving shortly afternoon which was fantastic.  This was one of the first things that we saw when we left the airport.. Welcome to SK!


We got to the farm a couple hours later and were greeted by the cat army.



Right away we let Jinx test out the great outdoors for the first time in about three years and right away he was in love and such a happy boy!  He sure loves grass, but at the start his tummy did not.  Luckily he got used to it.


Right away, my parents put us to work on the farm.  Well actually mostly Josh, but I helped too.  They were getting new grain bins so we had to build the bottoms and rake the gravel and pack them down.  Not so much fun, but it felt good to help.  This is a bin being lowered on to the base.


An old plane in one of our farmyards.


Major cat attack when we opened the door in the mornings.


After a few days of work we decided to take a short family day trip out to the Beechy Sandcastles and Sunken Hill.  Check out my whole blog about it here.  We had a great day and I have bugging my parents to take me here for the last few years so it made me shut up!







Back at the farm, some of the kittens (hardly still kittens) having lunch.


New gold buddy Jinx, we had to do some golf practice to prepare for the game on the weekend.


Jinx and Smudges Mom.


I volunteered Josh to play Slo-Pitch at Clearwater Lake the weekend he was there with Miranda and her team.  It was great to hang out and see some friends.



And of course, we went to White Bear for wings.  I went a couple more times after Josh left too.


Sunday was a very early morning of some golf.  Only Josh and Jimmy played, Mom, Jesse and I just drove the carts.  It was also FREEZING cold, it really messed with my cute wardrobe.




Out for a drive to one of the farms later that day we saw a mama dear that obviously had a baby hidden in the bushes.


a decent blooming Canola field.


The day before Josh left was our day to move out the The Landing to camp.  I was sad Josh only got to enjoy it for one night but it was really nice to be down there and have a campfire and relax.  I spent the entire next month there.


So gorgeous!


The day came to drop Josh at the airport.  We were all sad to see him leave but he had to get back to work :(  It was just mom and I that went to drop him off so of course we had to go to the mall for some shopping.  I had to get my Kernels popcorn... it is one of my have to go stops because we don't have them or a chain like it at all in the US.  It was also so cold that I bought this super cute sweater.  Too bad right?  haha


The next day was get settled day at the Landing.  I had a tropical drink and my guns out!


Checking things out, this is his "what is that thing moving over there?" look.


Mom and Melissa had a hair appt in Elrose later in the week so Jim and I tagged along and wandered around the booming town of Elrose.  I snapped a couple pictures and then we headed to Rosetown to visit Grandma Evelyn who had just been admitted into the hospital for Pneumonia.



Of course there were a few trips to Swift Current, on this one I found a giant toonie.  How Canadian.


Here are some Canadian foods I found.  I of course had to get the Poutine chips which unfortunately turned out to be pretty awful.  And it takes a lot for me to say a chip is awful .


This at Boston Pizza.  I didn't get it but someday I will.I also had to have a Caesar.  BPs has some of the best ones ever and they are way better than their American counterpart, the Bloody Mary.



McDonald's is even on the Canadian bandwagon with a Maple Bacon Poutine.  I did eventually try to order this but they were out.  Not impressed but their regular poutine is still awesome.


Once the first week couple weeks had quieted down , I really did spend most of my time down at the river.  this was a country cover band that came to perform one evening.   They played some great classic country hits.


Some random pictures I took.




While I was there, Kyle Agencies, the local insurance agency had a customer appreciation party with an amazing Beatles cover band.  They were so great and the entire town had a blast.  And were drunk.



Back at the Landing visiting with Grandma Jean who was luckily able to come spend at least a day with us a week.



Later in the day we went to check out the Dog Agility demonstrations that were being held at the Landing, very cool, some amazing dogs.



This was the first real storm to roll through while I as there.  We all know I love that!  Some places got quite a storm but we seemed to isa a large part of the rain.





Mr. giant Dragonfly.  Pretty sure Jinx eventually caught him.


Jinx and I.  This ended up being our last picture together :(..


Our next trip to Rosetown to visit Grandma Evelyn, we ended up getting one heck of a storm.


Poutine at the Clubhouse at the Landing on National Fry Day!  So good!



Mom decided she did not want to do anything for her birthday, so I have no pictures of her birthday, but I got her these Pandora Mother/Daughter charms.


Never seen the Brown Eyed Susan's like this...



Banana truck.  I just got a kick out of it.


Another gorgeous Landing picture.


Farm life, the whole family gets involved.  Ticker hauling grain.


Michelle came out for a visit and for a couple nights of camping.  Mom and I decided we would show her the area and take her out to the Rabbit Hill Tea House and B&B.  Such an amazing place really in the middle of the bald prairie.  Check out my full blog on that, here.






Just as we went to leave, we got a major storm and had quite a time getting down the huge valley to get home, but mom's pro driving a 4x4 made it.



So this is the end of part one of my trip to SK.  I thought I would throw this pic of my brother wrapped up like a burrito in there because he will love that.  Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!