New cooking toy

John and I have been trying to eat more veggies and fruit... Not so much "dieting" just trying to eat healthier. Along with Kettlebell... we are both losing weight.

Today... Something we bought for John for his smoothies and protein shakes... Has quickly turned into my new toy! No sick minds... It's a blender! A Vitamix blender!!!

We watched the instructional video... And... It. Was. Amazing!!! You can make appys, soups (cold or hot!), salsas, sauces... Omg.. It's amazing!

It came with some cookbook too! I already have my eye on several pasta sauces, a spinach artichoke dip, Mac n cheese and gazpacho recipe!

Tomorrow I'm making a Tomatillo salsa! And there are so many other possibilities!

Tonight, I made a homemade basil pesto! No preservatives... All real food... Yuuuum!

More recipes and stories to come!

Helping Pets

Hey everyone! http://challenge.aspcapro.org/shelter/Kent%20County%20Animal%20Shelter Vote daily! It is a challenge that Rachael Ray is giving $100,000 to an animal shelter and Grand Rapids is one of them! :) Think of your four legged friends! VOTE Daily April 5th-16th :) Kent County Animal Shelter would use any awarded funds to support and grow existing programs that promote spay and neuter, responsible pet ownership and increase placement and reclaim of stray and unwanted pets in our community.

10 years!

On 3.29.12 we celebrated our dating anniversary. We aren't big celebrators of Valentines Day... This is our Valentines Day :)

I wear the same shirt and sweater that I did on our first date... If the weather is nice I can wear the black capris too... :)

We gave each other cards... Worked out.. tanned and went to Twisted Rooster. Perfect night with my love!

Sunday Funday

I'm in love with how productive and fun Sundays are! Not to mention a 75 degree day in March!

This past Sunday, John worked a little in the morning and I sat with the dogs... Drank coffee.. Read magazines and caught up on some shows on the DVR. We put away all our laundry and then had a super packed day!

First, we dropped off some donations at Goodwill! (yes Con the whoooole bag made it there!) We went to brunch at my favorite restaurant, Graydon's Crossing, went tanning and to a hot tub for an hour and a half!

But wait, there's more! Hubby took me to Target. To me Target is one of the happiest places on Earth! I got some new work out shirts, pants and some little things for around the house. We took the dogs on a walk and then...

... we got ready and went downtown Grand Rapids... Stopped by Founders (missed our friends cuz it was too busy there!). We went to 25 Bar and Kitchen for the first time. Split a small pizza and had drinks before the concert.

Yes, we went to concert too!! We saw Arctic Monkeys and the headliner was the Black Keys! And.. It.. Was. Awesome!

Perfect day with my loves!

March Madness

For the past 4 years I have been going to BWW on the first Friday of March Madness.... Not to mention 70 degree weather and flip flops/sandals!

It is so much fun to hang out and watch 3-4 games at once and cheer for teams that you would never cheer for... So it doesn't bust your bracket!

This year, so far has had the best upsets... In one day... Duke, Michigan, and Missouri all lost to the little engines that could! (Lehigh, Ohio (not Ohio State), and Norfolk State!!!

My best bracket is still in the top 99th percentile on espn.com's tournament challenge... Could win some money... My elite 8 has 7 still in it :).

This is also the NCAA college wrestling weekend! I ask for a tv for myself for wrestling, and promptly get made fun of... Within minutes... I hear.. "who is watching wrestling?". Oh... It's Caroline we make fun of you for it every year! - but I went to Iowa... Wrestling is a part of me! :)

It's all a part of the Madness!

Congrats to the Men's Iowa bball team who made it to the NIT! (lost second round game to the Ducks).

Super Congrats to Iowa wrestling! 3rd place! Matt McDonough gold, Montell Marion and Derek St John silver and Tony Ramos bronze! I'm so proud!

Spring Break

I always take the Thursday and Friday off for March Madness... But this time I took the whole week off and my sister and niece came for their spring break!

We relaxed, watched bad tv and good tv (Jericho) and had nightly cocktails :). It was in the 60s and 70s all week so we were outside.. Did bubbles..practiced trick or treating... Watched Iowa beat Dayton in the opening round of the NIT! All in all we had fun and relaxed!

During the days we went to the apple orchard, shopping, went on walks and had a great time! We also had a lot of yummy food... And I love how cuddly my Savanny gets when/after eating... She starts hugging and kissing.. Freaking adorable!

I miss spring break! Totally doing it again next year! :)

A farm birthday

It's so hard to believe but my niece is already 3! We celebrated Madison's birthday this past weekend. It was a farm theme as she like farms :).

Kids just really continue to surprise me. She can carry on a full conversation and really is hilarious. They say the funniest things.

Here are some pictures of the celebration: