Where has the time gone?!

Well friends, I'd like to begin this post with an apology.  I am apologizing for my recent hiastus, as the end of summer seriously flew by, and the familiar click of my keyboard, as I knocked out another blog, was not heard once during the month of August or most of September.  It's not that I had nothing to write about, in fact, there were plenty of noteworthy moments, but there was not enough time for me to sit down and translate my thoughts into sentences.  I've been to Florida, seen Sir Paul McCartney in concert, and moved a few miles down the road.  Yes, that's right, I am no longer a smalltown girl living in an Uptown world.  I knew it was only a matter of time before my blog title (and spin off of lyrics from one of Journey's greatest hits) would no longer apply.  And that time has come! So, I hope you can understand my recent absence, as I had been occupying the majority of my time packing, contemplating wall colors, and draining my bank account with new home décor and furniture purchases!

Before I dive into the details of our new house, I'm going to backtrack to the end of July.  When I last wrote, I was sharing with you my first experience camping in the Boundary Waters.  Shortly after, Mitch and I boarded a plane to Orlando for the American Society for Horticultural Science's Annual Conference. I was invited to attend and be recognized for winning the "Best Educational Publication for 2013" award.  During my final semester at the U of M, I had co-authored an article with Dr. Neil Anderson, one of my most influential professors, called "Marketing GMO Carnations by Future Floral Designers: Student-designated Policy Formation," which was published in HortTechnology, and selected for this award.  It was an honor to be invited and a privilege to be able to attend! I attended the conference, accepted our award during the opening session, and was able to see my paper on display. 

Since we were already in Orlando, why not spend a day at the most magical place on Earth, too?!  Well, I've been fortunate enough to travel a bit of the world, and despite how much I enjoyed feeling like a kid again, I would not classify Walt Disney World as the most magical of places. I'm more partial to breathtaking landscapes, incredible architecture, and ancient history than the modern day amusement park.  Mitch does however deserve credit for managing to not only get me in line for rides like Splash Mountain and Space Mountian, but also actually getting me to ride on them.  Not my favorite, but at least I can say I've tried.  And, I feel he had to suffer just as much as me when he was chosen to partake in story time with Belle! It was an eventful day, and a magical evening as we sat and watched the fireworks erupting around Cinderella's castle.

Unfortunately, it was a only a short trip then it was back to the real world for us.  We only had about a month left before move in day and I was ready!  If any of you knew me in my younger years, you probably knew that I was a little obsessive when it came to packing.  I would be packed for summer camp (at the great Trout Lake!) at least a month before I needed to be.  I would live out of my suitcase, in my own house, for those few weeks.  I was always just so excited, that I wanted to be ready!  Well, I have gotten a little better since then - partially because I spend over 40 hours a week at work, and I just couldn't force myself to pack every day when I got home. 

Amongst the packing, we still took some time for fun, too.  In the beginning of August, we spent a Saturday night at Target field listening to some of the classics, like Hey Jude, Maybe I'm Amazed, and Eight Days A Week.  At 72 years of age, Sir Paul McCartney still knows how to put on a show.  In fact, it's near the top of my list for live performances.  He played for almost three straight hours, keeping the crowd captivated the entire time.  It was spectacular. 

We made the official move over Labor Day weekend and we both owe a huge thank you to our parents.  If it weren't for them, we might still be moving boxes and furniture!  Not to mention, how great it is to move your stuff into a sparkling clean house.  At one point, my mom was scrubbing away in all of the nooks and crannies with a toothbrush while my dad was outside with a razor blade scraping old paint spatter off our windows - that's dedication! 

It's been a few weeks since we moved, and our place is really starting to feel like a home.  We've crossed quite a few projects off our list including painting the bedrooms, working in the yard, upgrading our furniture, and finishing unpacking.  My organization has taken over, and unfortunately Mitch can't always find where I've 'hidden' things!

We have had beautiful weather too and I have been trying to make the most of it by spending lots of time outside.  I even made a trip to Bachman's (which is even closer to me now) to pick up some plants to create the fall container shown above.  It's my favorite time of year and I am so excited to be able to enjoy it from our new home!   

It's been fun getting settled in, but I am excited to be able to take a break from projects over the next few weeks as we enjoy fall and celebrate the marriages of two beautiful couples.  It's going to be a fun few weeks and I can't wait to report back with all of the excitement!  Until then, enjoy this glorious time of year and remember to take a minute to be thankful for everything in your life.  I've been reminded many times in the last month how thankful I am for everything and everyone who has been and is apart of my life.