OMG where do we even start with this blog! It has been a month of running around and not breathing! It is personal and business adventures and they are never ending! However this summer has FLEW by and I can't even handle it! Where is my summer?!?!
Well first off here is one of my favorite things to do on the weekends! Cuddle with the puppies! I run around so much that these moments are the ones that you hold dearly to because THIS girl does not get them!
So the middle of June decided to treat me well with a trip to Minneapolis, MN! Before I went I stopped in and had supper at my FAVORITE restaurant in the WORLD! LUCKY 13!!! I cannot express to any of you how much I LOVE that place! My mouth is watering just thinking of it....or it could be from the jalapeno pistachios I am eating but regardless, it is the best thing EVA! Then, on top of having delicious food I got to have GREAT company! Family and friends <3 Just what the doctor ordered! BONDING TIME! Atati (my bro) was leaving for the summer to Washington D.C. to visit his father. So I got to ride with him from Bismarck to Fargo, he just passed his license test that day as well!! So celebration time for him!! <3 And he drove all over the place with my car! What a show off!! To be young again!
Best Friends <3 Love these two so much!!
Cousin pic
I am not sure what is happening....
Photo Bomb! But one of my Favorite pics!
My driver....just call me Miss Daisy
Excited for Lucky's!!
Dropping this kiddo off at the airport! See you in 2 months!
We (CCRI co-workers) planned a trip before I moved and we stuck it through! Minneapolis here we come! We went down on Friday and came back Saturday. It was a great trip and my first time to the stadium. What a beautiful field! I was excited to take a picture in that famous golden glove! I don't have one for you since it was taken on a camera but one day I will get it up for you all to see. While in the cities we got to see that lovely (used to be) co-worker of ours Mr. Matt Edin. He came and picked us up and gave us a ride to uptown for some drinks and food! Matt's driving is NOT what it once was...he has been hit with the big city driving syndrome. That moment you are in the car thinking that you are going to DIE! That type of driving...however we did make it there and back safely! So that was much appreciated. Thanks GQ!!! ;)
The Girls <3
Group Shot...GO TWINS
It's Matt Edin!!
So back to the grind I go after a fun filled weekend. But lets be honest I still had to have some adventure. So I drive by this metal structure ALL the time. I had yet to stop at it but see the thing is I usually drive by myself and I need someone who would snap photos for me. So on our way back from a meeting in Bismarck I convinced the driver (Kim) to stop so we could take pictures at the structure! I mean seriously it was to perfect of an opportunity to fly with the geese! So here are the results of this stop...The first picture is of my co-worker Loann trying to figure out this thing called a "smart" phone LOL, she also accidentally took a video as well! I was laughing so hard. But the effort was sooo appreciated!!
Loann's first picture
Loann told me to fly like the geese...Well obviously I would suck at being a goose I mean look at the poor form!
This picture has to be the most unflattering pic, but it makes me laugh so hard every time I look at it because I was tired of being a goose and decided to celebrate FINALLY stopping at this metal sculpture!
Sunset
Combo of a couple pictures....The one on the left I pretty much mastered the form! This pretty much sums up the adventure! Such great co-workers!
With the rest of the week ahead, I decided to do some crafts and hit up some garage sales. I made these coasters for my desk. I love them! They are not perfect by any means but I just love them to death!
NOW...this is what gets exciting folks! Guess who we found! Barb's Grandma Beatrice! She obviously spent a little much in the sun! Natalee danced with her and rocked her! We were going to purchase her however $60 was a bit much for this beauty!
AND THEN.....DUNN DA DUAHHHH (you know what I mean)......We stopped at this garage sale and you would never believe what I found for ONLY $5!!!!!!! A SHOE BUFFER! Now I know a lot of you are racking through that brain of yours saying "I have a lot of other things I could spend $5 on." However! This is vintage, colorful, and an AWESOME conversation piece! Like let's be real my friends...where else can you adopt a child and buff your shoes! NO WHERE!
And I know you want to ask if I use it in the office! Umm... YEAH! It is right next to my door so everyone can have a little BUFF when they walk in and on their way out if they choose to do so!
BUFFERING!!
After a week of adventures in Dickinson it was back for ABER days! This is like the iconic weekend of the summer! We have so much fun and tons of people come together and over for this adventure! My Aunt Susan and cousin Tara came out. My friends Andrea and Brianna came as well. And then all of the return offenders from last year! We played lawn darts, swam in the pool, grilled out, and did the street dance thing! While playing lawn darts I was stabbed in the leg with a dart! It was something else that is for sure. It went all the way in for those of you who wanted the details! My dad fixed me up with some peroxide and sent me back outside. What a day I tell you!
This was the only picture I took during Aber days....This is my BFF Jared
Ryan and Liz sharing some delicious snack mix that was left outside all night
This beauty queen came over to help clean the yard
This is Alex...Our neighbor who won the Adult Tractor pull! South Side represent!
Ok so back to work for a week then back for RUN OR DYE!! This was the first time I have done anything like this. I like to try stuff at least once. And this was my first and probably my last dye run. It was fun I went and stayed at my friend Katie's apartment. We went out to eat at Paradiso. We quizzed the manager who was all to sweet! He loved talking to us because it was the unusual conversation since we had no complaints or compliments due to just walking in and having conversation among ourselves. He told us about the history of Paradiso and how it got started. For those of you curious Paradiso started in North Dakota and remains only in the ND. There are restaurants in Grand Forks, Fargo, Jamestown, Bismarck, and Minot. Five brothers came over from Iran or Iraq I can't remember which one and all of them started Mexican restaurants. They are in Fargo, St. Cloud, and Minneapolis. And if you didn't already guess it Mexican Village is one of the other restaurants. However that is sold now to someone outside of the family. AND the guy on the commercials and menu lives in Grand Forks! He happened to eat at the Fargo Paradiso a week prior to us being there. Glad I could fill you all in on that! YOU'RE WELCOME :)
Three amigos
Slumber PARTY!!
Anywho...the next morning we got up to do the run! It was FULL of energy and people! I for some reason continually got dyed hard core at every dye station. Everyone else just go a little bit of dye and what not but people just wanted to attack me. So on the last station I took out my pink packet and attacked the people in that dye station. It was funny and the dye throwers thought so also.
BEFORE
AFTER
Katie and I after on our way home!
After the race I headed back to my dads and had a relaxing weekend. I feel like there are so many people to see and I would like to think I could catch up with everyone on my weekends back but it has just proven to be WAY to much! I snuck back to my dads and just relaxed and had a good weekend with the family and the POOL!! AWEEEE my summer love! I can't get enough of that thing!
Sibling Bonding Time! <3 <3 <3
So this is the rest of June in a nutshell! My roommate Tim and I are working well together so far! He is very kind, patient, and must get my humor because he laughs, which I will take as a good thing! I love my landlords and the location I'm in! Dickinson is treating me well.
Again I apologize for taking so long to update but life just gets away from you! I am hoping to see more people throughout my visits when I come back! Life is good and so are the people in it! Thankyou all for the continued prayers, support, and love that is given!
So Much Love,
Nicky
This is one of my new favorite songs to jam to one my way in and out of Dickinson! ENJOY! <3
So my week last week started like any other until I got this!! My friend Justin made me a package and sent it all the way from Washington D.C.!! What an awesome friend! Love him so much! The pictures, lotion, card, photo album, and personalized CD's (my favorite!). Justin just knows how to make a girl feel special!
So since we were leaving early for WI, My co-workers decided to celebrate my birthday the Wednesday before I left. They decorated my office ( I can't show you all the pictures until later since I am not done decorating) :/
Then they treated me to Bonanza for lunch (Chelsie please hold back on your jealousy! And it was pretty good I have to admit!) Kim and I laughed when she suggested it and then my other co-worker Natalee (who was not in on the previous convo) wanted to go there so we went. It was funny....maybe you had to be there!
My Heart shaped chicken breast! Just what I needed SOME LOVE!
Umm who knew my fork was a TREKY! LOL
Thursday we started out on the road for WI. I had the furthest drive of anyone on this trip. :( I drove from Dickinson to Bismarck. Jumped in with Lindsey, Scottie, Rick, and Colby (the pup). Then we ventured to Fargo, dropped Colby off and got Mardee.....LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!!!
1ST LEG OF THE TRIP!!
Mardee giving the camera some leg....we were hanging out in the camper we stayed in! It was a legit situation not going to lie. Loved that thing!
Lindsey with one of the four dogs. They are all the same breed. Loving dogs!!
Scotty, Me, and Mardee at Jolene's softball game! This was on my birthday and it was such a good day!
Scotty's aunt Leeann got me a bottle of Mascoto Champagne and a cool glass with a straw to drink it out of! It was the best thing ever!! So thoughtful! And then Scotty's Aunt Lana made me some brownies!! So sweet! This family just embraced us and took us in as if we were part of the family! Mardee and I couldn't have asked for a better mini vacation and better people to spend it with! I just love them!!!!
They took us up a butte where we got to see all of Lacrosse. There was history about the town and such. So neat!
Then afterward we went to the River. Down at the river three rivers meet the Mississippi, Black, and Lacrosse. I believe.... The picture down below is me standing infront of the area where all the rivers meet. You can take rides on a river boat as well! We didn't get a chance to do this but I will return for that ride!! Dinner and music on a boat.....HECK YES!!!
There was also this garden that was made with different countries in place. There was like one decorated for China, Japan...etc. It was neat to walk through and we found two different plants that Lana liked! One was a fern with a rose/carnation flower at the end! I have never seen such a thing! It was just beautiful and I can't imagine what it looks like two weeks later with some sun and rain!
Ok, I just put this picture up of the Buffalo to set the scene for this story. Mardee brought her camera with us and wanted to take some pictures of whatever she could find. Anywho while we were out there these Buffalo (one pictured below) were down the road from the house we stayed at. So Lindsey, Holly, Mardee, and I all went to the gas station and planned on stopping to take a picture of these on the way back. Mardee jumps out of the pickup and gets right up to the fence and is taking pictures (I stayed in the vehicle the whole time). Mardee started out just taking what she could from the fence and then she wanted to get as close as she could so she starts feeding them with thee DELICIOUS grass on this side of the fence. I know that many of you "ranchers, farmers, intelligent people who know about buffalo" are yelling in your head right about now "NOOOOOO don't do it!" What does Mardee do?!?...She DOES it!! Lindsey and Holly were those people saying no and to get back in the car. Me.... well I was cheering for Mardee!! "get it girl!! You're just fine!" Something along those lines.
Well.... as the feeding progresses Mardee starts to hear a snort from afar and it is the BULL!! He stomps and snorts his way over. Lindsey and Holly proceed to get in the vehicle and start telling Mardee that she needs to get in. Mardee's response "Do you think I could feed him?!" Lindsey is like "Mardee GET IN THE VEHICLE!!" Holly..."umm you probably shouldn't do that." My response "DO IT!!!" So Mardee gives me her camera and I proceeded to capture the moment! The Bull slowly approached the fence and Mardee takes the DELICIOUS grass and makes a nice ball for that beast! I continue to encourage Mardee and take pictures.......Lindsey: "You guys are SO your mother's kids!!" Mardee hands shaking....she reaches out...the bull snorts and then he slowly approaches the fence ...opens that huge jaw of his and grabs that grassball and chomped it like it was Christmas Dinner!! We were all like tense in the car and freaking out!! I wish I had her pictures on here because I have a picture of Mardee running back with her arms in the air and a HUGE victory smile!! We all were screaming in Victory!! It is the coolest picture! Conquering the world one day at a time!! Proud moment for this sister right here!!!
We had Lindsey and Scottie's picnic reception and then the following night we played Apples to Apples with the family! It was just a great time. One thing I don't have a picture of which I am super sad about is this "meat butter." So what is meat butter you ask?!! It is this meat that comes in a roll (kinda like summer sausage type of roll) and they spread it on buttered toast. Now I am not one to judge, and I will usually try anything once....but this woooo I could not!! Bruce even tried feeding me it and it got all over my face....YUCK...and no I did not ask him to feed me!...AND not only do they eat this but it is for breakfast out of all of the meals in a day!! The whole family just loves this stuff! And it isn't really called meat butter...this is something I somehow someway made up and they thought it was just funny! So now its called Meat Butter! This truly was a great weekend and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday!! Thanks WI family!!
I come back from the WI trip and Katie is waiting up for me! Guess what this girl did for me!!! Yup made me cookies!! How awesome is this!! Love this girl....this was such a great surprise to come home too!
Now back to business.....I got this awesome name plate for my desk!! So fancy I know!
A little project I did..on break of course! This is my co-worker Kim showing us her fanny pack! Isn't she such a good model!! No one does it like Kim does it!
Katie and I were watching TV in our last week together (TEARS!!) She looks at me and goes "did you hear that? Me half asleep and deaf to begin with go "No what," She replies "There is a mouse!" So after she unplugs the heater, turns the TV off and goes over to my counter she points to this spot and goes "right here".....Now seriously! How she heard that thing I have NO IDEA! Anyway there WAS a mousey in the housey! OK!! We sent the picture above to her mother (who was at the store) and she brought traps for us to put up! So nice!! And nope there was no mouse caught and they (Charlie and Kris) took all that stuff and threw it so if it was in one of the bags it is gone now! Great parents!!
Below is Katie and I at this carnival thing that came to town. It was a mini one....I just wanted that Lemonade! It took me 3 days to get it! And to be honest it wasn't as good as I was hoping....but at least I got one!
POPCORN 30!!! That is what popcorn time is in our office!! We got this cool little popcorn maker and I make us it at POPCORN 30 time!! So delicious! I just love popcorn and we don't have a Stop-n-Go here in Dickinson so I have to make my own...however ACE-Hardware does make a competitive comparing popcorn to Stop-n-Go!!
Ok so here we are at a fancy restaurant in Dickinson. This was Katie and my's last night together. We went to a Jazz concert thing at the Brick House Grill. Remember those little paper things you made and you would have to pick a number, then you picked a color, and then you opened up one of the corners and it told you what guy was going to be your boyfriend or something of that sort! Anyway they folded their napkins that way, so here I am explaining to Katie how awesome this was!
Like any adventure I go on there is a story about the Brick House! We walked in there and I immediately felt under-dressed. Like it was call and make a reservation fancy! Katie told me that I was making it more fancy than what it actually was but I don't know it was fancy!! Just saying! So we were sitting at our table and this guy in jeans, t shirt and suit jacket walks up and stands right in front of the chair next to me. Thinking he was wanting to sit down at the chair behind me I go "did you need to sit down"....obviously I was confused as to what this man was doing. He looks at me and starts laughing "hahaha yeah let me just sit right here" and then pulls out the chair next to me....Now ....I know what you are all thinking "Nicky just met the man of her dreams and they are getting married".......NO stop that thinking, it's not true I tell you! Then this happened....After pushing the chair back in the guy goes "I'm just kidding" and walks away. Now I sit there WAY confused at what in the world just happened. Katie looks at me red in the face and goes "That's the owner".....YEAH...way to go Nicky!!
This is the front of Bruce's card that literally took me 1/2 a day to do with the paint program! The joke behind this is that Jesse (the face on the Turkey) kept saying this quote one night when we were in WI. They were drinking the Wild Turkey and he would repeat over and over "Did you know that Ben Franklin petitioned to have the Turkey be the National Bird" For those of you who don't know that is Ben Franklin pointing at the paper in the card! Bruce loved the card so it was well worth my time!
Found an old friend at the party...who also happens to be Bruce's friend and Neighbor!! The world just gets smaller and smaller!
My beautiful sister and I at the party! Love her sooooo much!!
All in All I can tell you that my life continues to be one adventure after another! I moved into my apartment this last Saturday and week one is going well! I will update with photos and such next week when I put my clothes away! Right now I can't even walk on one side of my room! I finished my first home assessment and got "this was beautifully done" from my boss!! Such a great feeling!!
Thank you as always for the continued love, support, and prayers!! You all mean so much to me!!
So Much Love,
Nicky
I chose this song for my sister Mardee!! So proud of you and your BULL accomplishment!! haha...YES!
