We hung a camera from a branch of a tree and took pictures of ourselves.

Really. We did. And then we put the good ones on our wedding website.

Here are the ones that did not make the cut.

HGTV should hire me.

Not really.

But, thanks to my deep devotion to the Fond du Lac rummage sales, I have scored so many little treasures for the new (and beautiful!) apartment Ryan and I found! Most of them look like they had been tossed in a cellar to house spiders for a few decades before the owner decided to drag them to the end of their driveway and get rid of them...but that's ok with Ryan and I. Because:

1. We'll take anything. We need something to put in this new place. We have nothing. NOthing.
2. We are having a blast giving them each a new and happy makeover.
3. Ryan finally has an excuse to go in my dad's shop and use his power tools.

So far we've scrounged up 3 end tables, a wicker trunk, 2 adorable little chairs, and one bookshelf. They're not perfect and they definitely don't all match, but I love that each one has been lovingly redone with our little home-to-be in mind.

I found this sad, cob-webby little guy for one dollar.

We have plans to put him in our bedroom, but I still have a coat of varnish to go until he's finished. I'm excited to have a photoshoot with all of our finished projects and post them!

A picnic date and Bastille Days.

Little sweetheart Ryan took me out on a date last weekend. He packed a picnic lunch of sandwiches and strawberries, and tucked it away in our favorite cooler. (That little cooler means so much to us. We bought it before a roadtrip, and it was the first thing we ever purchased "together" with the intentions of sharing it forever. Ah, love.) We had plans to dine at the lake, but the seriously steamy temps had drawn everybody from Milwaukee there already, and there was absolutely no place to park. So we drove up the hill, spread out at the park, and watched old men play lawn bowling.
Then we booked it to Bastille Days to see the MSOE Eiffel Tower, share a beer, and watch some juggling before the storms rolled in. Happy day.

M.F.E.O.

On Saturday Ryan and I celebrated the anniversary of our engagement. We kept wondering if it was actually something worthy of celebrating, since we would both rather be married by now. But, we're not ones to pass up an opportunity to spend a summery Saturday together, so celebrate we did! We didn't fit in all the activities we wanted to, and we didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked, but we managed to squeeze plenty of fun and lovey dovey-ness into one afternoon. It helps that we like each other so much.

I love lamp.

Yesterday I bought a lamp (on clearance!) at TJ Maxx.

And I love it.

And while I was looking at this here blog . . .

. . . I saw my lamp.

Holler.

i'll take one of each, thank you.

Tea towels from To Dry For

I want I want I want.

Especially the Russian dolls.

Don't forget, fiance.

<3

The day Ryan and I ran through Target with a gun.

We registered!

And it was fun.

ryan snaps pictures

whether

i'm 

ready

or

not.

Grab some tissues, people.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/baby-hears-for-the-first-time/20uzabs0

You will cry.

skype is nice...

but it isn't as nice as seeing this cute man's face in person.

i miss Ryan.

Tasty Tuesday.

I plan on learning how to cook all the things Ryan loves to eat.

And gosh darn it, the boy loves his Cheesy Gordita Crunches

from the Taco Bell.


So.
Behold.

The Homemade Cheesy Gordita Crunch

with spicy Baja Sauce.

Sounds fancy, no?

It's really not.

 Spicy Baja Sauce

1/4 green pepper, diced

1 small onion, diced

1 cup mayo

1 tbsp vinegar

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

ground black pepper to taste

Mix all the ingredients together, and chill in refrigerator for 2-3 hours to let flavors blend. About one tablespoon of the sauce is sufficient for one gordita. 

Ta da!