Catching Up

Hmm well looks like I still can’t get a grip on this blogging thing! I promise I really do enjoy it, I just can’t find a schedule that quite works for me. With that being said, it has been a little different around here. We are actually in the middle of looking for a house to rent! We love our apartment but the location is less than stellar, and we’d love to have a yard for Murphy to play and run and be on his own in. Our lease isn’t up until March but we found a guy that likes our apartment…so now we’re scrambling.

In a perfect world I would love more time to research places and areas that we’d like to live in, but we don’t live in a perfect world so we’re doing the best we can. I’m hoping to have a couple blog posts up this week (a wedding one, Murphy-related & a recipe) but if we end up oh you know, having to move then that will obviously change. Thanks for sticking around!

Cafe Hollander

I planned a date night last week for Ryan & I. We don’t go out to eat often and we have a running list (in actuality working on this list) of places we’d like to check out while we live in Milwaukee.

We’re now making it a point to have a date night at least once a month, whether it be out to eat, an activity or cooking at home. Date nights helps break up the week with something fun to look forward to (and away from the kids dog!).

Cafe Hollander has two different locations but I wanted to go to the location in downtown Wauwatosa. They have a great patio and we want to soak up what we have left of the nice weather before this happens:

I looked at the menu before we went there because I’m a nerd super cool. Everything looked so good though! It was still really hard to decide.

First we decided on an appetizer. I honestly could have been happy getting any of them. The Goat Cheese Bruschetta sounded uh AMAZING, but we ended up getting the Margherita Flatbread. It was so-so sooo I believe next time I’d try the Bruschetta.

For dinner, I decided on the Grilled Portobello Sandwich which was really out of the norm for me. I’ve never eaten a mushroom as a sandwich but for some reason it sounded so good. I’m trying to branch out at restaurants (and eat a little healthier) and figured that was a perfect happy medium of the two.

 

 

 

 

 

With a side of sweet potato fries. Yum.

This sandwich was so delicious. And kept me full for a long time! Strangely, it kind of tasted like a burger, but without the weighing down feeling. I will definitely be trying these at other restaurants (and at Cafe Hollander again!).

Devil’s Lake

What a weekend!

Let’s start at the beginning.

Ryan’s parents came up Friday evening to spend the weekend with us. This is the first time they’ve been here since we first moved in so it was nice to have them as visitors.

We knew we wanted to take them to a Milwaukee restaurant that we’ve never been to and definitely wanted to make it a place that has a good fish fry (since it was a Friday and all and here in Wisconsin they are all about the fish frys.)

A couple of my co-workers told me about Brocach which is an Irish inspired restaurant that is downtown.

Source

I made reservations, but there was no need. We decided to sit on the patio that was upstairs. I love when restaurants have a patio, let alone a rooftop patio!

I ordered the Sangria for a drink (we all ordered drinks to celebrate Ryan & I’s engagement). I typically don’t order Sangria but the waitress recommended it and it did not disappoint.

Ryan & I

We all ordered the fish fry combo w/ haddock, fries & curry cole slaw. I thought it was decent but I preferred Lakefront Brewery’s fish fry (Ryan says he preferred Brocach).

After dinner we headed home to the apartment to catch up on life.

Saturday we had plans of heading to Devil’s Lake to do a hike. It seemed like it was going to rain for a bit, but it cleared out so we headed out!

As we were driving along I read two bridal magazines that a co-worker lent me…and I think I decided on a color scheme! I’ll do a separate post for that update.

Driving along, all of the sudden we heard the Garmin say “Board Ferry.”

Uh, what?! Ferry?!

We had no idea we had to board a ferry so we were quite shocked.

We hiked all around Devil’s Lake after eating some lunch (turkey, ham cheese sandwiches, clementines & various chips and trail mixes).

This was Murphy’s first time in open water (or really any water besides getting a bath) and he was quite the entertainment.

We continued on our hike all around the lake. It was an easy hike, not too strenuous but Murphy has never really been on a hike so he was started to feel pooped.

Therefore, I had to hold up his water for him.

Treats!

Chillin’

Lick.

After our hike was done we headed back home and crashed.

Sunday was spent going to church, heading to The Gingerbread House for brunch (ohmygosh I need to go back here soon so I can take pictures and blog about it. Sodeliciousholycow.)

We’re hoping to be able to get back to Devil’s Lake soon! It was a fun trip and nice to get away for a bit.

Running Around

Morning friends!

These past few days have been crazy! Sorry I haven’t had a chance to blog about it :). This morning I’ve been running around cleaning up the house because Ryan’s parents are coming to visit! This is the first time they’ve been here since we’ve moved in and we’ve been planning different Milwaukee things to do this weekend.

Tonight we’ll do a fish fry, Saturday either a hike or a museum (if it rains) and Sunday we’ll go to church & have brunch. This is their first time meeting this beast as well:

Should be interesting!

I’ve got some blog ideas I’m wanting to implement soon, so please know that I realize my blog is kinda so-so right now.

Gotta go!

Also take a look at my guest post at Your Nutritionista about Exercising in a New City!

My Apologies

My apologies amigas…

I know I promised a post this evening and, well I just can’t do it. I’m literally so exhausted and Murphy is all up in my face and will not leave me alone to let me even type on my laptop.

eu 90q2jocwd92 (Yup, that’s what Murphy says as we speak)

Anywho, I will try to get up a post tomorrow about Ryan & I’s date night! It’s a good one 🙂

Nighty night!

Dessert Recipe Suggestions?

Morning folks!

Yesterday was crazy! Work was busy, worked out, walked the beast (aka Murph) made dinner and finally caught up with an old friend. I didn’t stop moving/talking until 9:30!

Random, but I’m really starting to feel myself getting used to working out, in a good way. Once I go 2 days without really working out, I start to feel lethargic and just antsy to get to the gym again! It’s definitely a good feeling and hopefully it will stay.

Another random note, but Ryan’s parents are coming up this weekend to visit. We’re trying to think of plans of things to do here in Milwaukee and we’ve got a couple ideas. Definitely a Fish Fry on Friday (very typical here) and maybe a hike on Saturday during the day. We’re also making dinner for them on Saturday and I need a dessert idea! I’m not really thinking brownies or cookies will do…but maybe a pie? Cobbler? Dessert bar? I don’t know! So you tell me…what’s your favorite dessert to make for your parents?

P.S. Be on the look out for a restaurant review tonight!

Weekend Look Back

This past weekend was nice & relaxing. We didn’t have much on the agenda and that was A-Okay with me. I need a rejuvenating weekend every once in a while.

Friday night Ryan subbed in a softball game so I was on my own for awhile. I love going to the gym on Fridays after work because usually no one else likes to go and I get the place allll to myself.

After my workout I came home and walked Murphy. He’s definitely showing he’s in his teen years. Spoiled brat doesn’t even begin to describe him.

After that I was really indecisive for dinner. Go out and get something? Eggs? Soup? It was getting to a point where I was gonna chew my arm off, similar to how Murphy chews on his leg, so I decided to make falafel.

Yeah, I have no idea where the urge came from. I’ve never even had falafel, let alone make it.

No picture because like I told you, I was super hungry. After that we lounged around and didn’t do much.

Saturday was cleaning day! Ryan’s parents are coming up this coming weekend so we wanted to give the apartment a good scrub down.

Then I spend the rest of the evening with these two knuckleheads:

Here’s to starting a new week! (With keeping up with the goals too!)

Wedding Photographer

Oh, the wedding photographer. The next big purchase item on our list. We have a date, a venue, our bridal party and next is the photographer. I know plenty of girls probably would go get the dress as the first purchase, but my logical self wanted to get all of the tasks that requires someone else to be there or depending on whether or not something would be available. In my mind, I figure my dress will always be there so I will get to it when I get to it.

The photographer is probably the 3rd most important aspect of our wedding. The first being, well…US GETTING MARRIED. The second being a reception that would please us and our guests.

I know a lot of people want their photographer to be the best, but we especially do because our theme is somewhat photography related.

This idea came to me in the middle of the night.

No, seriously…I was sleeping and woke up and thought of it!

My first idea was a simple Save the Date similar to this one:

 Source

I loved this idea! So cute & simple and a way that I can make a fool of myself in a picture. John & Sherry, not that I know them I just follow their blog Young House Love religiously, created these themselves so I figured I could make them too (and cut down on the ever-growing budget).

I actually thought of  stole this idea way before we decided on a photography theme. Now it just makes sense!

With that idea in place, it suddenly hit me (aka while I was dead asleep) that a photography theme would be perfect for us. We both really love photography, though we are majorly amateurs, we still love capturing all of our fun moments with our friends and family. I’m always the person in my group of friends snapping pictures so it definitely fits our personalities.

Senior night, May 2010

Ryan & I at an OAR concert at Red Rocks in Colorado, Summer 2010

Reunion in Chicago, Summer 2011

Once we decided on this theme, I really wanted to find the perfect photographer. My friend (and bridesmaid!) Kim suggested a couple, and I fell in love with one.

Jules Wiegand.

Take a look at her photos. They are gorgeous.

And even though she’s from Louisville and our wedding is in Wisconsin, she travels!

Nothing is official yet, but fingers crossed that by the end of this week we will have our deposit down and I can check something else off the list!

Now for that dress I need to get…oh boy. Help?

Gold’s Gym: Day 1

Morning!

I had a reaaaally good workout last night! For some reason I’m really diggin’ the evening workouts. I just can’t seem to get up in the morning. I would much rather prefer to workout then to get it over with, but I figure as long as I’m doing it then I’m happy!

Currently I have two gym memberships. A Snap Fitness one, which I bought on Groupon for $10 for 3 months. Uh, yeah…STEAL! And now a Gold’s Gym is moving into an old grocery store so they’re memberships are running $20/month for unlimited classes, unlimited gym use and a pool! They are still renovating though so the current place of working out is major ghetto. I needed to get my membership card though so Ryan and I went there after we got home from work.

• 25 min elliptical
• 12 min stair stepper machine
• 3 sets of 12 on lat pull machine
• 3 sets of 12 on bicep curl machine
• 3 sets of 12 on row machine

After that we came home and made buffalo chicken quesadillas. Mmm.

Currently this face is sitting on me so I must go:

He looks innocent, but don’t be fooled.

P.S. Look forward to a wedding update tonight!

Peanut Sauce Stir Fry

I kind of always forget about stir-frys. It’s not that I don’t like them. Nope that’s not it at all. I just always think they take a long time.

What you mean I have to like…make rice? And chicken? And veggies? And then put it all together?!

Yeah I know. Obviously my brain turns it into a 3 hour long process when it really only takes 20 minutes tops.

This was an easy recipe that was quickly thrown together and eaten in 30 minutes. So delicious that I made extra so I could take some for lunch!

Peanut Sauce Stir Fry

Serves 4

• 2 small pork tenderloins
• 1 cup of snap peas
• 2 cups of rice
• 2.5 cups of veggies (I used a frozen blend)
• 3 tbsp peanut sauce (or any type of sauce you desire)

Boil rice, cook veggies & tenderloins, pour sauce over and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here’s your daily Murph: