the minnesota girl

things that make me ridiculously happy.

2012-01-24T22:05:00.001-06:00

1// an impromptu trip to the cities with a few of my favorite people to go to the timberwolves game.

2// having an interview for a hosting job, and being told by an insider that i've basically got the job. yay!
3// netflix. (literally has kept me sane during this brief stint of unemployment.)
4// chocolate milk.
5// luke getting his first grad school acceptance letter. we may be living in louisiana by the end of the year!
6// acceptance letters mean millions of kisses, keep 'em coming.
7// did i mention chocolate milk?
8// changing in to sweatpants after a long day.
9// giving my cookbooks dog-eared pages while planning out a weeks worth of meals.
10// lifetime movies. yeah, i know. so sue me.

xox, eden

i need a job.

2012-01-21T14:21:00.001-06:00

yes, i've been looking.

but until i get one, i spend my days doing laundry, dishes,

and watching the united states of tara.

this show is awesome.

i can't stop pushing "watch next episode" on netflix.

that is all.

xox, eden

we spent the weekend on the farm.

2012-01-16T18:13:00.001-06:00

luke and i spent saturday night in tracy, mn.

look it up. it's a tiny tiny town in southern mn.

luke's extended family makes up about 40% of the population.

no...seriously.

they're the epitome of minnesota nice

i swear i'm gonna need flash cards to help me remember all of their names.

i have three cousins...yes, three.

luke has approximately ~~3 million~~ 30.

this is gonna take practice.

however, we managed to gain two ushers and a flower girl on our trip.

go us.

xox, eden

wedding update.

2012-01-14T11:24:00.001-06:00

for the past week, luke and i have been in major wedding mode. i've accomplished so much that it makes me feel much better about getting absolutely nothing done in the past 6 months. i've come to the conclusion that all of the wedding planning books and checklists just stress me out even more. i'm the type of person who can only focus on the task at hand, and so far, it's been working out for us.

in the past week, we've registered at three different locations (though i'm sure that they could use some rearranging/changing), met with various photographers (and booked one!), met with a dj (who we loved, and will probably book), chose our menwear and bridesmaids dresses, and we've started looking into honeymoon destinations. all in a weeks work! i'm getting more and more excited, and it's actually starting to sink in that in less than 5 months i'll be married! try to wipe this smile off. i dare you.

i've also been doing a lot of pinning (duh). here are some of my latest favorites.

1// 2// 3// 4// 5// 6// 7//

xox, eden

i'm working on my housewife skills.

2012-01-10T20:20:00.000-06:00

...and so far, i'm failing miserably. he's taken over dinner for the past two nights. yes, ladies and gents...TWO nights. i love him so much. he even toasts the buns. when you find yourself a man that will make you juicy burgers TWO nights in a row...marry him.

that is all.

xox, eden

current obsession: red lips

2012-01-09T18:22:00.000-06:00

one of my new year's resolutions was to step out of my comfort zone when it comes to style. something that i've completely fallen in love with is red lipcolor. i've tried various brands and various colors; some good some bad. the two listed below have become my absolute favorite. i can't take them off! (no literally, you'll need some make-up remover - but, hey, if that means i'm not going to have to reapply a million times i'm game.) and what's even better? they're both under $10.

revlon colorburst lipstick in true red: this lipstick is GREAT. it is very red, but with a hint of pink and it goes with just about anything. i like it because it feels silky smooth, but i didn't find myself reapplying several times throughout the day like i did with ulta brand - don't get me wrong ulta is bomb-diggity, but their lipstick isn't. i'm a drug-store price kind of girl, and this stick isn't too spendy.

covergirl outlast all day lipcolor in ever red-dy: this stuff is my all-time favorite. the color is a little bit darker than the revlon lipstick, which i love, and while it's not a true lipstick, it lasts FOREVER and will not smudge. (luke is a fan of this stuff because i don't leave kissy marks on his face - hehe) the moisturizing layer that you apply after the lip color is awesome too. it leaves your lips smooth, and smells of vanilla. it doesn't get better than that.

what are your favorite brands/colors of lipcolor?

xox, eden

wedding shoes.

2012-01-06T20:20:00.000-06:00

i picked out my wedding shoes.

they're pretty much cinderella shoes.

and i love them.

sparkle sparkle, little shoes.

xox, eden

bettering myself.

2012-01-02T19:24:00.003-06:00

i've been attempting to write this post now for the past 3 or 4 days. the main thing that's been holding me back is the fact that for the past few years resolutions have meant absolutely nothing. i've made them, stuck with them for a while, and eventually failed them. so a small part of me thinks that this year will be no different.

then i said to myself, "self, what the hell kind of thinking is that?!" if i never set goals, i will never achieve the things that i want to achieve, and things will stay exactly the same as they are. i will not have that. so this got me thinking about goals i can make that are achievable. i of course will always be a dreamer, but as far as goals and resolutions, in order for me to stick with them, they need to be achievable. baby steps if you will. i drew a lot of inspiration from a few of my favorite blogs including sometimes sweet and the daybook.

so here are a few goals/baby steps i'm going to take in 2012 to make me a better version of myself.

1// i'm going to take care of my health. this includes taking steps to weed out my unhealthy habits. the first i've taken is to eliminate pop and soda from my life. it is hard, but i know it is probably one of my most unhealthy habits. i'm taking a bit of a "this not that" attitude, and finding substitutes that satisfy instead of deprive. if there is one thing i've learned about myself, it's that depriving myself of the things i love will just make me fall off of the wagon faster. i'm also going to begin working out again. i'm not going to set any major goals of times a week or what activity i'll do, i'm just going to start getting off of my butt. i've got a wedding in five months! i want to be healthy and happy for it!

2// i want to expand my blog to include outfit posts. now i am in no way a fashionista or one bit stylish, but i think it will be a great way for me to start playing with style and figure out what my style is. i also feel that if i start getting dressed and ready for the day that i will feel more ready for the day. so many days i've spent in my pajamas or sweats and an old tshirt, and i get barely anything done. i need to motivate myself so that i can have productive days.

3// find a stinkin' job. after quitting my job last october to focus on student teaching, i've since run out of funds. while i'd love to spend my days crafting for the wedding and other things on our wedding to-do list, it's time i start making some moolah. luke can't be the only one bringing home the bacon!

4// plan this wedding! we have several vendors to meet with and crafting up the wazoo. thank god for bridesmaids that i can guilt into helping. ;)

5// start making weekly meal plans. this is something that luke and i are going to work on together. danielle's post (linked above) has a lot of good information about how to meal plan. it's a must read! this will give us a chance to plan healthy meals, and save us a ton of money!

i have several other goals in mind, but for now i'll start with this. hold me accountable, please? :)

xox, eden

i should have been a cowgirl.

2012-01-01T20:26:00.000-06:00

horseback riding is by far my favorite thing to do in colorado. i have always loved horses, and i'm pretty sure that i was probably a cowgirl in a past life. i asked luke if we can have a ranch someday, and unfortunately he said no. so our semi-annual horseback riding trips will just have to do. colorado really is the perfect place to horseback ride. the terrain isn't super flat and the landscape is beautiful, especially up in estes park. this trip was much more interesting than past ones because my horse c.j. had some serious attitude. she was quite sassy, and was not fond of the guide's horse, who she tried to kick twice while i was on her back. freeeeeeeaky. i won't lie...i felt a little bad ass.

such a perfect way to spend the first day of the new year! i'll be back later with a little post of resolutions!

xox, eden

p.s. if you have horses, i would like to be your best friend. ok, thanks!

goodbye 2011 // hello 2012!

2011-12-31T18:02:00.000-06:00

one thing that i've absolutely loved since i started this blog is the chance to look back on each year and sum it all up. it makes me feel so blessed for the amazing opportunities i've had, and gives me a chance to be thankful for all of my experiences, both good and bad.

this year has been a wonderful, hectic, and stressful year. mixed feelings, much? i have several beautiful memories of this year, and some very sad memories from this year. i look back at all of them, and can see that they've all shaped me. i dealt with the loss of my grandfather, the stresses of student teaching, and entered the awkward "out of college, but unemployed" phase of my life. however, i also graduated from college (whoa!), moved in with my fiance, realized that despite the stress i really do want to be a teacher, and continued to plan for the happiest day of my life, which falls in the upcoming year, when i marry the man i love. let's just say that i am very ready to say goodbye to 2011.

with 2012 just around the corner, i can honestly say that i think it is going to be the best year yet. i get to marry my luke and make a huge move to start our life together! this is so nerve-wracking, and yet it's the most exciting thing i've ever had to look forward to.

so, here's to the memories of 2011, and to the new ones to be made in 2012 (the year i become a mrs.)!

happy new year! be safe, and have fun!

xox, eden

wedding update // engagement pictures

2011-12-28T20:34:00.000-06:00

luke and i were able to do a quick photoshoot with my momma. i've been drooling over several winter engagement shoot photos on pinterest, so it was really exciting to have a few taken today. she just got a fancy new camera, and we had a blast testing it out. we ended up with quite a few photos that i loved. here are a few of my favorites!

xox, eden

sisters got style.

2011-12-27T12:45:00.001-06:00

(outfit details: sunglasses: target, sweater: vintage/one of grandpa's, leggings: target, socks: F21, boots: steve madden)

this is my sister, haley, and she's got crazy cool style. she throws on a vintage sweater, a pair of leggings, some tall socks, and combat boots, and yet somehow she looks professionally styled.

we're having a lazy day today, and will probably spend a good chunk of the day organizing our wedding to-do list. we're hoping to get a lot done while were here in colorado. wish us luck!

xox, eden

denver city hall lights.

2011-12-26T22:32:00.000-06:00

i can hardly believe that christmas has already come and gone! the holiday season flew by so fast. i received so many amazing gifts, and have enjoyed every minute spent with my family. i'm also so happy to have luke here in colorado for over a week. we've already started making a list of things we'd like to do while we're here (including horseback riding on thursday)! today we did a little bit of shopping (holiday tradition to stock up on christmas lights for next year), and headed into downtown denver to go to my favorite mexican restaurant, the blue bonnet. if you're ever in denver, i would definitely recommend it. after dinner, we took a drive over to denver city hall to look at the holiday lights that they put up. it was a perfect touch, and i'm so happy we were able to see them despite christmas being over!

hope your holidays are warm and bright! what was your favorite present you received/gave?

xox, eden

have yourself a merry little christmas.

2011-12-25T12:27:00.002-06:00

i just wanted to drop in and wish those of you who celebrate it a very merry christmas!

i hope you find yourself surrounded by loved ones,

sipping on egg nog or cider or hot cocoa,

and eating lots of yummy food.

don't forget the true reason for the season!

xox, eden

*photo via pinterest

merry christmas eve!

2011-12-24T18:42:00.000-06:00

(outfit details: sunglasses: target, scarf: scheels, coat: forever21, jeans: target, boots: nine west)

today was absolutely beautiful. words cannot honestly express how happy that i am to be home in colorado with my family. today we did our usual christmas eve tradition of shopping for stocking stuffers, and had lunch at famous dave's (not our usual tradition). we're spending the evening watching movies, and opening some presents!

tomorrow will be another relaxing day, and in the evening luke with arrive! i cannot wait to see him. pathetic? i hope not. :)

merry christmas everyone!

xox, eden

let your heart be light.

2011-12-23T23:07:00.000-06:00

this week has been absolutely wonderful, and so full of christmas cheer.
we spent the majority of today at my uncle's new house, and had christmas with them.
we decorated the tree (they just moved in!), ate more delicious food, and exchanged gifts.
it's always so great to see them because i so rarely get a chance to.
i grew up with a very small extended family (one uncle & three cousins; my dad is an only child), so we were always very close-knit. i wouldn't have it any other way.
my cousins are great, and my littlest one (john) is one of the most animated kids i've ever met.
we had a great day, and it was fabulous to see everyone during such a wonderful time of year.
as we were leaving their neighborhood this evening, we spotted the house shown in the last photo.
it was just decked out in christmas lights! such a perfect thing to see to end our day.

i can't believe christmas eve is tomorrow!!

xox, eden

a beautiful snowy day in colorado.

2011-12-22T20:30:00.000-06:00

i woke up to a beautiful blanket of snow on the ground.
being that we had zero snow in minnesota, it was so wonderful to arrive and find out that we'd be getting some here!
my dad and i went out and shoveled the neighbor's driveway, and later she brought over coffee cake to say thanks.
that is what i want someday; to live in a neighborhood where neighbor's help each other out.
it really brings out the christmas spirit.
we spent most of the day wrapping gifts, baking, and watching the snow fall.
i ate way too much cookie dough and chocolate. oops.
i've been playing around with my mom's (now mine) nikon d40x, and boy, do i still have so much to learn.

happy holidays! stay warm! drive safe if you have as much snow as we do! and drink lots of hot cocoa!

xox, eden

p.s. isn't my sister a goofball?

i'm marrying the grinch.

2011-12-21T22:28:00.000-06:00

apparently early november is too early for christmas music, movies, decor, etc.
apparently you're not supposed to be able to say that you've already seen most of the hallmark christmas movies twice ~~this year~~.

he says i made him this way.
it's my fault.

get used to it, cutie. i'm not stopping anytime soon.

love you mr. grinch.

xox, eden

the college graduate.

2011-12-21T17:26:00.005-06:00

it's official! i'm a college graduate! the ceremony was on sunday, and despite the long (& boring) commencement ceremony, i'm glad that i walked. it made it feel so much more real. i'm hoping to get my name on a few substitute teacher lists in the local districts, and do that until luke graduates in the spring. it's a little hard to believe that i've been in college for four and a half years already! i even graduated cum laude (though the bookstore messed up and wouldn't sell me my red cords). my awesome parents gifted me an iPad for graduation. let's just say it hasn't left my side in three days. i'm obsessed.

speaking of iPads, does anyone know of any must-have iPad apps? i've found a few, but which ones are worth spending money on? or the best free apps?

hope everyone is having an excellent week! we arrived in denver early this morning and spent the afternoon taking long naps and snuggling with the pups. tomorrow is christmas baking day with my mom and sister. we're super excited (though i'm going to have a hard time limiting my sweets intake tomorrow.) haha.

4 days until christmas!

xox, eden

wedding inspiration: more engagement shoot ideas

2011-12-18T20:14:00.000-06:00

i recently found these images on pinterest, and when i clicked through the link, i just couldn't get enough of this engagement shoot. the couple is absolutely adorable, and i am obsessed with the idea of wrapping christmas lights around each other. too over done? who cares. :) oh, and i couldn't help but to include the adorable pups. haley sheffield has some great talent!

xox, eden

photos via haley sheffield

i've been a busy little bee.

2011-12-16T19:46:00.001-06:00

such a busy week i've had! i've finally turned in every last thing for school, and am so ready to graduate on sunday! my parents and sister have been in town, so i've been having the best time ever just hanging out with them. we had breakfast this morning at a little cafe in my mom's hometown. they serve the best pancakes i've ever had, and offered free refills on hot cocoa. (omg my life is complete). now i'm relaxing with luke and my sister watching beauty in the beast.

so this is where i've been, since i have very obviously not been here. :)

hope everyone is having an amazing holiday season!
posts will be more regular soon!

xox, eden

dear joe webb,

2011-12-11T21:42:00.000-06:00

i think i love you.
today you ran your little booty off until the end of that game when that mean lion facemasked the sh*t out of you. (pardon my language, but refs, really?!)

i will always love my vikings. even if we have a bad year ~~or 10.~~
you had an awesome comeback today, and almost beat a half decent team.

on a sidenote, ndamukong suh, you're an idiot. i don't really like you at all.

love,
a forever vikings fan

p.s. detroit fans, it's ok. can we still be friends?

photo via

just an observation i made about a certain celebrity's eyebrows.

2011-12-10T19:03:00.001-06:00

don't get me wrong, i know megan fox isn't a great actor, and can come off as kind of a jezabel/hussy (yes, i do talk like i'm eighty years old. i also use the words davenport and oleo), but her eyebrows are PERFECT. i want them, and i want them now. someone tell me how. also, doesn't she look fabulous in this picture?

my dad will be here in a few short hours. cannot wait to see him! ♥

i have nothing else too interesting to write about. so, that is all.

i'm on my second cup of coffee for this evening.
bring on the jitters.
luke's gonna get so annoyed.
xox, eden

p.s. super troopers will always be my favorite.
the snozberries taste like snozberries!

busy week.

2011-12-07T18:57:00.000-06:00

just dropping in to tell you all that it is a lot of work to become a teacher.

i am completely exhausted, but with only 5 days left in the classroom i cannot complain.

the students that i've gotten to know have filled my heart with so much warmth.

they make all of the stress and tears and sleepless nights all worth it.

today was my last day teaching my lessons, and tomorrow my cooperating teacher will take over.

thank goodness.

now i can focus on the stacks and stacks of grading i have,

and finish writing up my assessment for my teacher.

think happy thoughts.

i'm almost there.

in just a few short weeks, i'll be doing this with my family.

i can't wait for some time to relax, and enjoy the season!

in the meantime, i got my early christmas present from luke. i'm so in love with it!

xox, eden

photo from christmas two years ago in colorado

top 10 favorite holiday films.

2011-12-04T21:03:00.000-06:00

because it's the holiday season, i decided to compile a list of my all-time favorite holiday movies. i know there are a ton of them that i didn't add, but here are my very favorites. i won't lie, it's december 4th, and i've probably watched over half of them already. here goes!

1. it's a wonderful life. there isn't much that i need to say about this one. it's a given. this time period holds a special place in my heart, and the special meaning behind this movie is perfect for getting you in the christmas spirit. if you haven't seen this one you must.

2. grumpy old men. i've been watching this movie every year since i was a little kid. because this movie is supposed to be based in minnesota, so many people remind me of people in my life, and what minnesota is like in the winter. specifically, jack lemmon's character's father reminds me so much of my grandpa jim. for me, this is a must watch, not only for the christmas season, but all winter!

3. the grinch who stole christmas (old & new). though the old version brings back many memories of being a child, the new version is equally amazing. they both have qualities that make me feel particularly festive. i especially love the soundtrack to the new movie!

4. the holiday. i know this one isn't a classic, but i just love this movie! cameron diaz, jack black, kate winslet, and jude law are amazing in this film. it makes you appreciate the things that are right in front of you. plus, the soundtrack is incredible (well duh..it's hans zimmer). i could watch this one over and over.

5. the santa clause. hilarious. heart-warming. enough said. i own the trilogy on dvd.

6. elf. i don't think there is a single person who can say this movie didn't rock their world. will ferrell is hilarious, and this movie is filled with christmas one liners for everyone. it became an instant holiday tradition for me.

7. rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. this movie was my absolute favorite growing up. i have a great love for bumble the abominable snowman (i even have an ornament), and this movie is perfect for curling up on the couch with loved ones and hot cocoa.

8. holiday inn. this movie reminds me of my mom. she loves this one, and i don't think i really ever saw this movie until just a few years ago. (mom, i think this is the movie i was taking out of the dvd player when i electrocuted it to death...oops.) but i absolutely love this one. the hair, the story, the set...it's all beautiful. plus, the men weren't half bad to look at back then either.

9. home alone. classic. that's all i will say.

10. the polar express. this will certainly be a movie that i show my children every year someday. it's adorable and magical and fun. makes me miss believing in santa claus.

now that i've listed my top ten favorite christmas movies, what are some of yours? do we share some favorites? did i miss any great holiday films? link up if you do a similar post! ♥

xox, eden

the time we attempted to build a gingerbread house.

2011-12-03T20:12:00.001-06:00

despite luke's serious grinchy-ness this year (due mostly to the fact that i started listening to christmas music mid ~~october~~ november and he's sick of it) i bought one of those pre-made gingerbread house kits, and forced him to take part. we decided that we're a pretty awesome gingerbread building team. he frosts, i cover in candy, he frosts, i cover in candy, he frosts, i sneak a piece of candy and continue to cover in candy. it worked well. very efficient gingerbread house building skills, though our quality was less than perfect. it was very messy as you can tell by the large amounts of frosting oozing out the back of the decorating bag all over luke's hand. my favorite part was the little gingerbread man that came with. super freaking cute. <3

overall, a great holiday date night.
now we're watching it's a wonderful life. my favorite.
he's being very cooperative.
i love this man.

xox, eden

Sparkle Sparkle!

2011-12-02T18:40:00.001-06:00

obsessed with sparkly things as of lately. especially these adorable ASOS peter pan collars. now anything can be sparkly. sparkles make the world go round i've decided. i've been seeing it EVERYWHERE! literally! here are a few of my favorites as of lately! do you have anything shiny on your christmas list this year? <3

xox, eden

p.s. TGIF!!

it's almost here!

2011-11-30T21:03:00.001-06:00

december is a mere 3 hours away here in minnesota. i couldn't be more exciting. this december is truly promising to be one of the most magical ones i've experienced in a long time. there are so many things to look forward to, and i find myself counting down to numerous things on a daily basis. so since i didn't have anything interesting to talk about (other than the fact that i had to video tape myself teaching yesterday and today. i asked my cooperating teacher if that's what i really sound like. he said yes. i apologized to my afternoon classes for having to hear it everyday, but enough about that), i decided to make a list of some of the countdowns i think about everyday. <3

9 days until the christmas production at luke's church.
14 days until my last day of student teaching. (bittersweet feeling)
15 days until i my family gets to minnesota. (o.m.g. yay!)
16 days until my megan gets back from student teaching in texas. (i hope she has a southern drawl...hehe)
18 days until i graduate from college. (holy cow college went fast...now i'm an adult?)
21 days until we fly out to colorado for christmas.
24 days until christmas eve.
25 days until christmas (and picking luke up at the airport! yay!)
31 days until new year's eve.

could a month be any more magical?

what are you looking forward to this month?

xox, eden

photo via tumblr (original source unkown)

P.S. STILL HAVE TWO DAYS TO ENTER MY SHABBY APPLE DRESS GIVEAWAY!

a perfect evening.

2011-11-29T21:16:00.000-06:00

this is what is currently directly in front of me.
luke just got done making me the most delicious chicken for dinner.
he's so wonderful.
i don't even mind the fact that he's sitting much too close to the television,
or that he convinced me to give him his christmas present so early (skyrim/the game he's playing).
i don't mind that he's a t-shirt and jeans kind of guy,
or that he'd rather wear dirty tennis shoes than dress shoes.
i love that he's smart and i admire how hard he works at everything,
and i love that he puts up with my quirks. (sometimes i think he even likes them)
i think back to when we first started dating, four years ago,
i would have never said some of the things that i now say.
i would have never been caught dead without my make up on.
i'd shave my legs on a daily basis, rather then now which has become a ~~monthly~~ weekly basis.
i love how he talks to himself when he's playing his video games.
i love how he gets slightly embarrassed when i point it out.
i think it's cute that when he's playing games he asks me to come sit by him.

i'm not quite sure where i'd be without him in my life,
and frankly i don't really want to know.

i'm perfectly content with sitting on the couch blogging while watching him get excited about his new video game.

this is us. this is real, and i wouldn't change it for the world.

i love you, luke william.

xox, eden

christmas wishlist.

2011-11-27T19:49:00.001-06:00

does anyone else agree with me on the fact that long weekends are never long enough? we had such a great weekend with family and friends, experimenting with hosting thanksgiving, and eating far too much unhealthy food. time to head to the gym...gotta make sure i fit in my wedding dress. haha.

anywho! my mother has been harassing me (in the nicest way possible) for a christmas list, so it forced me to come up with a list of ideas. i actually struggled writing a list because for once there wasn't one thing that i was just dying to have. for example, last year it was a smart phone. so i came up with a few things that i'd like. here are my top four choices.

1. THEIT Bossi Bag. i am 100% head over heels in love with this camera bag. it's fashion forward, and can easily be used as a purse as well. my second choice is by JoTotes, who also makes fabulous and stylish camera bags.

2. a blazer. they are classic & versatile, and can be dressed up or down. i found this fabulous one at forever 21. (can't go wrong there!)

3. black riding boots. i've been on the hunt for black riding boots for what seems like years (and pretty much has been!) loving these ones from LuLu's. they'll work great for teaching in the winter months, but can pretty much be put with any outfit possible. plus they're vegan leather, which is always a plus.

4. last but not least, tights. i want an abundance of tights. pink tights. red tights. yellow tights. black tights. green tights. white tights. etc. :)

what do you have on your christmas wishlists?

xox, eden

p.s. don't forget to enter to win my giveaway! one lucky winner will win a dress from shabby apple!

giveaway: Shabby Apple dress! CLOSED

2011-11-26T14:24:00.009-06:00

shabby apple is an amazing online boutique that sells women's vintage-inspired dresses, skirts, tops, & accessories!
shabby apple is giving away the waimea dress from their south pacific line. (an $86.00 value!)
it would be perfect for the upcoming vacation/cruise season,
or layered with tights and a sweater for the holidays!
you could even give it as a gift!
i will be very envious of whoever wins this adorable little number.

requirements for entry: (U.S. residents only. sorry!)
1. follow minnesota girl on GFC (on the left sidebar)
2. "like" shabby apple on facebook

*leave one comment with your name and a way to contact you, along with stating that you follow minnesota girl, and "like" shabby apple.

for extra entries:
1. follow minnesota girl on bloglovin'.
2. blog about this giveaway!
3. tweet about this giveaway!

*post each of your extra entries in separate comments with links to post/tweet.

must enter by friday, december 2nd. winner will be announced on december 3rd.
good luck!!

xox, eden

AND THE WINNER IS...

congrats leigh! i'll be in contact with you soon! <3

i successfully hosted my first thanksgiving.

2011-11-26T09:58:00.001-06:00

i learned that the greatest thing about hosting thanksgiving is that you can always change into a dress that allows you to cram more pie into your mouth if your first outfit choice doesn't. i also learned that i will never again roast a turkey. that is eternally luke's job. thanksgiving was way easier as a vegetarian, that is for sure.

we had such a great evening hanging out with our friends, and it was so great to see the howells! we've missed them so much! everyone brought delicious foods and drinks. we had wine and played games. i am so blessed to have so many amazing friends in my life.

today is going to be very low key for me. i'll clean up from dinner last night, and hopefully get a few lessons planned for this upcoming week. less than three weeks left!

hope your thanksgiving weekend is going fabulous!

xox, eden

i love thanksgiving.

2011-11-24T21:46:00.001-06:00

luke and i had such a great day with his family. we were able to see his sister, who has been in north dakota for college again, and we ate ate ate! we had grilled turkey (yes! they make it on the grill and it is oh so good), stuffing, cranberries, luke's aunt's delicious salad that i look forward to every year, rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, and two very delicious pies. :)

let's hope that my tummy digests everything for tomorrow's eating fiasco.
luke and i invited 12 or so friends over for a holiday dinner.
i'm cooking my first turkey.
i'm scared,
and intimidated.
mostly by the giblets and neck that i'm supposedly going to pull out.
eww.

i hope all of you had an amazing day to sit back and be thankful for all of the beautiful things in this life.

xox, eden

thanksgiving.

2011-11-24T08:04:00.000-06:00

i am so thankful for so many things. here are just a few.

my families for always being there. (missing my CO one right now)

luke for making me feel like i can be and do anything.

food for filling my belling.

our home for keeping us safe and warm.

this blog for helping me meet so many fabulous people.

the macy's thanksgiving day parade for bring back so many childhood memories.

my students for making my heart so warm and full, and making all my hard work feel worth it.

our troops for keeping us safe everyday.

that hot pot of coffee in the kitchen.

i hope you and your family have an amazing thanksgiving. eat a ton! i know i'm going to!

xox, eden

photo via rifle paper co.

one year ago today...

2011-11-23T20:41:00.001-06:00

(this is an old picture of us, but i still love it. it makes me smile.)
luke asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.
he made me the happiest girl alive.
i love you, luke william.
i cannot believe that i found you, and that you are the one that i'm going to share all of my memories with.
i couldn't ask for anything better.
june 2nd, 2012 will be an amazing day.

xox, eden

no freakin' way!

2011-11-21T19:48:00.003-06:00

are you kidding me?
this is the cutest stinkin' idea ever.
i showed luke. he said, "no way."
i say, "absofreakinlutely!"
we are so getting these, and we will wear them.
even if luke says we'll look like idiots.

i say let people stare.
they're gonna be mad crazy jealous of our smittens.

xox, eden

photo via smittens.

10 cheap and fun holiday date ideas!

2011-11-20T21:19:00.002-06:00

1// bundle up and go for a walk in the snow, and then snuggle up on the couch with hot cider together.
2// bake holiday goodies together.
3// go to a local bookstore, and surprise each other with a new book. the fun part is picking a book for each other. it kind of shows how well you know one another.
4// invite another couple (or just other friends) over for adult hot cocoa.
5// play a board game. our personal favorite is bananagrams. thanks to the howell's for introducing us to this date night idea! (and for mailing us our very own bananagrams!)
6// have crepe night! it's such an easy recipe, and you can really mix things up with toppings. my favorite is nutella and bananas (big surprise there). luke's favorite is nutella in lesser amounts. he think i'm a little crazy. i'll pretend he thinks it's cute.
7// curl up on the couch, and read together. sometimes just being near each other is the best part. you could even read the books you got for each other. (see #3)
8// volunteer together. luke and i haven't done this recently, but it's something that i've definitely been looking into. local food drives, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters can always use the extra help. plus, it's a perfect way to remember the true christmas spirit.
9// hop in the car once the sun goes down (which these days is at 5 o'clock!) and drive around to look at the holiday lights! bring a thermos of your choice of hot drink OR even better egg nog (sans rum of course).
10// go sledding, have a snowball fight, or build a snowman. the two of you can reminisce about sledding as kids, while making new memories. yep...i'm a sap. :)

what are some of your favorite holiday/winter date night ideas?

xox, eden

photo via tumblr.

luke won't stop making fun of me for being so excited about our first snowfall!

2011-11-19T17:38:00.000-06:00

today we received our first dumping of snow! i am so stinkin' excited. i've been whining and complaining for over a week about how i'm all in the christmas spirit, but we haven't got any snow. well, we finally do! i'm so happy! luke, despite being less than excited, went on a walk with me this evening to take in all of our new white, fluffy snow!

well, i'm off to see breaking dawn with my girlies. <3

hope you had a great saturday like ours!

xox, eden

some of my favorite blogs as of lately...

2011-11-18T20:03:00.001-06:00

1// virginie's cinema has been one of my favorites for a while now. she's so sweet, and adorable to boot! her style is fabulous, and her blog is always a fun read! i'm especially loving her recent post on must-have boots! so appropriate for a minnesota girl like myself!

2// i've been reading cakies for only about a week now, but i can't stop. rubyellen's family is one of the cutest by far, and her recent post of her daughter's first official school photo is hilarious. definitly a funny read!

3// the girl never gets older is another blog i've been following for a while. if i had the time/wasn't as lazy as i am, i would get all dolled up like her every day. she wears the most amazing vintage/rockabilly/pin-up inspired outfits. a true modern-day pin-up girl!

4// last, but certainly not least, selective potential. i find so much inspiration from tieka's style because she too lives in the northernmost part of the country (michigan). her fall and winter outfits are to die for, and i love reading about her adventures in michigan. makes me want to adventure in my own state more often :)

be sure to check them all out!

what have been some of your favorite blog reads as of lately?

xox, eden

christmas cheer.

2011-11-18T19:48:00.003-06:00

as previously stated, christmas cheer came very early for luke and i. i created a list of some of my favorite holidays songs that i've had on repeat! (the ones available on project playlist of course)

what are some of your favorite holiday albums/songs/artists?

xox, eden

p.s. we're supposed to get our first "big" snowfall tomorrow, and i'm SO excited!

oh, november.

2011-11-15T19:45:00.002-06:00

this month has just been flying by! i cannot believe that thanksgiving is already next week. i'm looking forward to so many things, and i just feel so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. who knew that such a terrible few weeks can leave you with such a happy outlook on life and the future. i am a mere 33 days away from college graduation (not that anyone is counting), and the holidays are so near!

as i wrote in a previous post, i may have already put up our christmas tree, started listening to christmas music, and hung a few sparkly snowflakes around the apartment. holiday cheer is coming super early this year for us, and i love it!

here are a few things i'm looking forward to in the next month♥:

1// seeing all of luke's family next week on thanksgiving, including my future sister-in-laws who've been away at college. miss you girls!
2// eating a ton of delicious holiday food. i'm thinking of making dessert to bring to dinner. any suggestions?
3// when the local radio stations switch to christmas music.
4// my family coming to minnesota for my college graduation on december 18th.
5// going back to colorado with my family for christmas, and continuing many of our newer christmas traditions!
6// baking holiday goodies with my mom and sister.
7// playing video games with my dad. :)
8// and probably my favorite, on christmas evening i'll be driving to the airport to pick up luke, who is also coming out to colorado for a week. we've never been together on christmas day before, so we're really excited! thanks mom and dad for buying our plane tickets! love you!

xox, eden

photo from bede design.

so cruel.

2011-11-14T20:32:00.001-06:00

for them to release such an incredible trailer, and have the movie release date still be 6 months away.

xox, eden

p.s. i think i finally found a design/layout that i like for my blog!

oops.

2011-11-13T19:34:00.000-06:00

so maybe i've been listening to christmas tunes all weekend.

and maybe i accidentally took our christmas tree out of its box...

...and fluffed it

...and put lights on it

...and ornaments

and maybe i've already finished 2 quarts of egg nog since it's been in grocery stores.

and so what if after we put up the tree i popped in elf.

maybe i'm watching it right now as i write this.

so what?

i love the holidays.

and i'm gonna pretend the holidays have begun even if no one else is.

[though i hope i'm not the only one!]

here's to only 5 more weeks until graduation, and to a fresh week!

xox, eden

little letters.

2011-11-12T19:08:00.000-06:00

dear boxed up christmas tree,
please stop tempting me. i know you wanna come out, but i am forcing myself to wait until thanksgiving.
i promise i'll make you EXTRA pretty when you get put up to make up for it.

dear luke,
thanks for the christmas tree and extra strands of lights.
you are the greatest, but you already knew that. ;)

dear minnesota,
your nickname is minneSNOWta. please live up to that nickname soon.

dear kitchen,
after spending hours cleaning you today, i would really like for you to try to stay clean.

dear hallmark,
your christmas movie marathons are really not helping me avoid christmas tree temptation.
i'll enjoy you anyways.

love, eden

this commercial made me cry.

2011-11-06T19:39:00.002-06:00

reminds me of grandpa.

miss you gramps.
i'm sure they have '57 bel airs in heaven.

xox

scenes from the weekend.

2011-11-06T17:20:00.002-06:00

1. luke's delicious sandwich concoction. 2. yeah...i broke out the christmas sweaters. 3. vader :) 4. lesson planning with a few blogging breaks in between.

luke and i had a very relaxing weekend back at his parent's house (we've been doing that a lot lately). it's always nice when we can sit back and just hang out for a few days, especially with loved ones! we honestly did a whole lot of nothing! (ok, i think luke accomplished a lot of homework...so maybe just i did nothing) this morning we went to church with luke's parents and met with one of the pastors that we have been considering to ask to officiate our wedding. we're really hoping everything works out, and he'll be able to! we're so excited! it feels like we've finally accomplished something else as far as wedding preparation. this week will be a busy one for me, as i'm in my second week of teaching full-time at school. this week i have a project planned so it will be a lot of guided research for the students. hopefully they have fun with it, and let's hope that this week there are a few less tears than in previous weeks due to stress.

here's to a fresh week!

xox eden

feeling much better today.

2011-11-03T18:29:00.002-05:00

i'm feeling a whole lot better today.

thank you so much for the sweet comments yesterday.

it was certainly not one of my best.

after many vent sessions today with my fellow teacher candidates, i am feeling much better.

rest assured, my stresses and anger have nothing to do with my aspirations of being a teacher.

let's just say it has more to do with my surroundings and context in which i am teaching.

i'm going to try to remain positive, do my best to teach my kiddos, and get through the next 6-weeks.

i cannot believe i'm a mere 6ish weeks from being a college graduate. wowza.

now, back to lesson planning. :)

xox, eden

today was a bawl your eyes out kind of day.

2011-11-02T20:27:00.000-05:00

i have been so down lately. student teaching is far more stressful then ever imaginable. in order to protect myself and the school in which i'm teaching at, i won't go into much detail. to sum things up i feel:

unorganized

unappreciated

disrespected

professionally unsupported

angry

unhappy

and i have a headache from crying all afternoon.

i'm going to bed early.

xox, eden

ps. luke, i know you don't read my blog often, but i want you to know that i love you so much and i'm so lucky to have you in my life. thank you for holding me while i cried all afternoon. you're hugs are the best hugs.

oh, peeta mellark!

2011-11-01T20:17:00.003-05:00

I. CAN'T. BREATHE.

i'm too excited!

peeta, if you were real, i would make you mine. seriously.

i love you.

call me.

see more posters here.

p.s. to all of you gale lovers out there...*sticks out tongue*

just kidding, let's be friends.

***i should add that i've only read the first book...so no spoilers, please!!

halloween party!

2011-10-29T21:58:00.002-05:00

last night was our friends' annual halloween party, and we had just as much fun as always.

luke and i kept our costumes cheap this year, but i think they still worked out great.

my costume was actually just a dress that i had received as a gift, but it ended up being far too short for me to wear so i just threw some spandex on underneath for a cheap and easy sailor costume. i bought the hats at a local halloween store for $5, and added a little gold anchor to them with puffy paint.

easy peasy.

i like easy peasy.

what did you/are you dressing up as this year?

xox eden

not gonna lie...

2011-10-27T21:46:00.001-05:00

i have nothing interesting to write about today. i finished prepping luke and my halloween costumes for a halloween party we're going to tomorrow night. i'm pretty excited because they are our cheapest costumes by far ever. what up cheapass?! i'm pumped.

ok, i'm gonna go watch thor. i just bought it. LOVE this movie. i also like to pretend i'm natalie portman in the movie because thor is like your stereotypical scandanavian minnesotan...and i like it.

please don't tell luke. ;)

ok, good night.

xox eden

i knew there was a reason i love this boy...

2011-10-26T22:05:00.001-05:00

he brought home the BIG nutella.
love you luke. you're the best. even if you do play silly online games with your friends and ignore me.
also, please come tuck me in already. i've been waiting for like 10 minutes.

xox your very-greatful-for-the-big-nutella fiance.

ps. my dad cracked another joke about my nutella obsession. he told me that the big one should last me for AT LEAST 4 pieces of toast. funny man.

pps. nutella came up in the classroom today (don't ask me how) and my students asked me what my favorite thing to put it on was...i answered "a spoon." i'm pretty sure it's changed their entire view of me. suddenly, i'm all rebellious. that's right...ms. mckee eats nutella with a spoon.

please allow me this one rant...

2011-10-24T16:15:00.000-05:00

for those of you just itching to jump on the fur collar/stole bandwagon PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE buy faux fur. you have no idea the awful things that animals raised for fur go through. many are electrocuted and skinned while they are still alive, and there is no way for you to ever know if your fur came from a fur farm. who cares if it is vintage, it is sick sick sick stuff.

here are some awfully adorable FAUX fur collars. one. two. three.

i've been feeling rather hypocritical as of lately. as some of you know, i became a vegetarian around this time last year. my love for animals is so huge. i wish i could save every single one from the suffering that humans put them through. unfortunately, i failed this summer and started eating meat again. i have still cut back a significant amount, and try to buy free range as often as possible.

to those of you who made it as vegetarians, kudos to you.

thank you for allowing me this one rant. i know the collars are cute. but faux fur is cuter. :)

xox

here's to happiness.

2011-10-23T22:11:00.000-05:00

(via)

1// fresh apples straight from the orchard.
2// having a makeshift dinner with what few groceries we have, but doing so together.
3// listening to luke obsess over his fantasy football team. (because it's so important)
4// going to see paranormal activity with my favorite girls. (so scary!)
5// sweating to death during said scary movie, but refusing to pull your head out of your sweatshirt.
6// uploading a picture of your nutella-covered toast, and having your dad comment to tell you that the jar is supposed to last longer than one serving. ;)
7// sharing a large movie theatre popcorn with one other person...and finishing it.
8// sitting down on the couch after you just speed cleaned the apartment.
9// homemade pumpkin pie milkshakes.
10// kisses during commercial breaks of each football game. :)

sometimes it's the little things that count. :)

xox eden

p.s. i hope everyone else had a fabulous weekend! here's to a fabulous upcoming week! <3

I know it's early, but...

2011-10-22T20:11:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to pre-order the She and Him christmas album for a while now, and today I finally went ahead and ordered it. I am beyond excited. I'll be the first to admit I haven't been the biggest fan of all of their music, but Zooey has such a great voice for Christmas music as well all know from watching Elf over and over and over again. I might start listening to it as soon as it shows up. Shh.

Any other good Christmas tunes I should be on the hunt for so I'm ready for the season?

pumpkin carving date night!

2011-10-21T10:19:00.001-05:00

Yesterday afternoon, Luke and I drove back to Big Lake to his parent's home. We spent the remainder of the day hanging with his mom, and their black lab, Vader. We had chicken breasts (so yummy!) and fresh baked squash (also yum!) for dinner. Thanks, Ann! After dinner his parents had to leave for a church meeting. We layed out newspaper on the living room floor, popped in Horrible Bosses, and carved our pumpkins. We saved the seeds, and are planning on drying and baking them soon! It was a basically perfect date night. <3

Have you carved jack-o-lanterns yet? Link up if you have! I'd love to see!

xox, eden

evil biscuits.

2011-10-20T10:44:00.002-05:00

one morning there was a boy and a girl. they really wanted to have biscuits and gravy because boy makes the best biscuits and gravy from scratch. so the girl woke up bright and early to make a grocery store run for the few missing ingredients. the boy worked very hard to make the biscuits and the gravy. they spooned up their biscuits and their large spoonfuls of gravy and sat on the couch with their coffee. they looked at each other, eager with anticipation.

they took their first bite together. they looked at each other, and their happiness quickly turned to disgust. boy had accidentally read teaspoons as tablespoons and added far too much salt.

what was supposed to be the best biscuit eating morning turned to a morning of eggs and toast.

{ok, and the girl might have eaten every bit of gravy on the plate. shh! don't judge.}

let's hope the rest of the day is just as hilarious as this morning. :)

long weekend for me!

2011-10-19T20:56:00.000-05:00

here in mn, the school systems have a three-day week that allows teachers to spend time at conferences on thursday and friday if they so choose. lucky for me, i'm not legally a teacher yet, so it's a 4-day weekend for me! i'm hoping to spend the next few days hanging out with luke and maybe getting my craft on. i've got a few home decor ideas in mind, and might even have a few diy projects to show next week.

i've also been trying to come up with something creative for a halloween costume. anyone have any great ideas? i'm open to any ideas!!

xox, eden

today was a good day.

2011-10-17T19:36:00.003-05:00

for the first time in a very long time, monday, yes monday, was a good day.

monday was a good day for many reasons:

(1) my students were fabulous today...and when i say fabulous i mean fan-freaking-tastic! even my few students who on past occasions have flat out refused to do work were completely on task today. seriously put a huge grin on my face.
(2) one of my students told me that coming to talk to me at the end of the day always made her feel a little bit better. i almost cried. she's such a sweet girl, and i just want her to know that life is so much bigger than middle school.
(3) my momma booked my flight to go home in colorado for christmas! i couldn't be more excited. two whole weeks with all of the people i love the most.
(4) i started adding random junk to the "donation box." we're going to de-clutter. i think luke is finally coming to terms with the fact that he doesn't need that t-shirt that he hasn't worn in all the time we've been dating. (over 4 years) i'm quite pleased with the heaping pile that needs to be dropped off at goodwill in the next few days.
(5) i have the most amazing fiance in the entire world. no explanation necessary.
(6) i'm now allowing sponsors on my page, and they're free with a button swap! email me at edenmarie44(at)yahoo(dot)com!!

xox, eden

p.s. i hope your monday was just as fabulous as mine! :)

trip to the apple orchard!

2011-10-16T18:16:00.002-05:00

this has been such a relaxing and fun weekend. friday i spent with luke on our weekly date night (though last week we were able to have two..yeeeah!). we went out to five guys and then snuggled and watched tv. on saturday, i was extremely lazy. i sat on the couch most of the day catching up on all of my tv shows, and even got a few lessons planned for the upcoming week. i'm quite pumped that this week will only be a three-day week, leaving me with a four-day weekend next week! :)

today, i went with my best friends (and three of my six bridesmaids) to the apple orchard. this has become an annual tradition. you can read about past years here. we had such a fun time, and for the first time in three years the weather was almost perfect. though the wind was quite bitter, it still beats the snow/rain from two years ago and the 80 degree weather last year. it feels like fall! we filled up on apples, cider, and mochas. such a perfect sunday.

what did you do this weekend?

xox, eden

dear luke,

2011-10-15T16:47:00.000-05:00

there are about a million things that i love about you.

i especially love that you don't get mad at me for being literally insane.

and keep cool when i raise my voice.

and put up with my dirty clothes being everywhere.

and that you don't get mad at me when i rearrange your books to look more aesthetically pleasing.

(i'm sorry about that)

and thanks for making me food. i like it when you do that.

luke caught me writing this, and would like me to point out that he is not naked. {duh}

he just likes to kick back shirtless when he gets off of work.

he's cute.

yet another reason i love you.

xox, eden

happy belated birthday sista!

2011-10-15T09:39:00.002-05:00

yesterday was my amazing sister's 19th birthday. i can't believe she's in college (or that i'm graduating in less than two months). when did we get so old?! anywho, i love you so much, haley. i'm so proud of you, and i miss you every single day. why do you think i've been hinting to luke that he should go to univ. of colorado in boulder every day? ;) hope your big day was incredible!

love you lil' sister. ♥

xox, eden

teacher style.

2011-10-14T16:34:00.000-05:00

i had originally planned on having this feature appear much more often on the blog, but turns out..teaching is a LOT of work. who knew? my favorite part about wearing it to school was the kids calling my shoes "grandma shoes" or "peter pan shoes." sweet kids. ;)

(please ignore HUGE pile of dirty clothes behind me...keepin' it real, y'all.)

home inspiration: maps + globes.

2011-10-13T16:28:00.001-05:00

in the past few days i've been daydreaming about the day when luke and i own a home, and when i can spend my days decorating it...making it our home. lately, i've been finding tons of inspiration from maps and globes. funny thing is, luke has already started collecting vintage maps. he loves them. it's just another thing luke and i can love together. here are a few amazing images i've come across via the internet/pinterest.

(via)

my favorite things about october.

2011-10-10T19:25:00.000-05:00

1// fall scented candles in all shapes and sizes.
2// horror movie marathons with the girls.
3// trips to the apple orchard/pumpkin patch with my best friends.
4// fall walks with the lover boy.
5// pumpkin spice lattes and coffee with pumpkin creamer.
6// ghost adventures marathons on travel chanel.
7// celebrating my awesome sister's birthday. :) love you butt!

i can't believe we're already 10 days into october! time is going so fast!

<3 what are your favorite things to do in october?

xox, eden

rainy day.

2011-10-10T17:22:00.000-05:00

today has been one of those days.

you know, the kind where you try so hard to be in a great mood but you just can't.

it all started with one of my morning classes. the class with all of the behavior issues. the one with the kids that will flat out tell you they are bored, or stand up and shout, "I GOTTA TAKE A PISS," and storm out of the room. the kids that tell me they're about to, and i quote, "slap a b***h" or remind me for the umpteenth time that i don't know what i'm doing, when in fact i'm pretty sure i do. let me remind you, these are seventh graders. i'm fairly certain that i still secretly played with barbies when i was in seventh grade...shh don't tell anyone. and to top off all of the behavior issues in that class, my university supervisor was there to observe me. talk about sweating to death. the entire class period i was thinking how terrible my classroom management skills were. in the end, he told me that i did very well with the cards that i was dealt in that class.

the rest of the day went ok, and i was glad to come to my afternoon classes that tend to listen to me better.

...and just like me better overall. i think...i hope.

to make a bad day even worse, i went to pick up my car tabs, which have been expired for months. long story short, i renewed them months ago. they never came in the mail. i called about it. they said they shipped them to my old address. i updated my address, and was told to go pick them up at the dmv. then was told by the lady at the dmv that i had to pay $11 because i updated my address. the man on the phone never told me this. so i was charged $11 for "duplicate" tabs even though they messed up my address and i never received them. woohoo. *insert sarcastic comment*

lastly, after watching ellen, i caught a clip of a news segment and found out that one of the sped teachers that i worked with in my last field experience was shot and killed. he was such a wonderful teacher. the kids loved him. not to mention he was just a good man over all. he loved the outdoors, and had such a strong faith. he will surely be missed by many.

let's hope tomorrow is better.

xox, eden

p.s. life is short. you never know when it could end. tell your loved ones that you love them.

under the weather.

2011-10-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

(don't mine the pile of nasty kleenexes in the background...eww)

i went to bed with a stuffy nose and body aches.

i woke up with a stuffy nose, body aches, a headache, and a sore throat.

did i mention i sound like a manlier version of myself?

well, i do.

so, i stayed home sick from school.

perfect day for catching up on reading my favorite blogs, sipping coffee, and golden girls reruns.

what are your favorite sick day activities?

xox, eden

p.s. dad, if mom reads this to you, could you fly to minnesota and make me a hot toddy? please, and thank you. ;)

grandma's sewing machine.

2011-10-05T19:15:00.001-05:00

after sitting alone in my grandpa's basement for years after my grandma's death, her sewing machine has finally found a new home, my home! i couldn't be happier or more honored to inherit such a special piece of my grandma. she loved sewing, and i'm hoping to pick up where she left off.

ok, so not right where she left off because i'm quite rusty...if you can even call it that.

i'm so excited to get started, though i'm thinking it may be a while because of how busy i am with student teaching. (i'm currently working on a lesson plan about minnesota's native/european fur trade of the 1700s and 1800s. not that any of you care) i can' wait to start sewing skirts and napkins and curtains! i've been "pinning" away on pinterest, looking specifically for beginner sewing projects.

did i mention the machine is a perfect retro, light-blue shade?

well she is.

♥

wish me luck!

xox, eden

autumn fashion wishlist.

2011-10-04T19:07:00.002-05:00

fall wishlist by edenmarie44 featuring loop scarves

Button dress, $55
Button up shirt, $88
Wrap coat, $174
Red hosiery, $15
Chelsea Crew tan oxford, $60
Original Neoprene - Dark olive - Hunter Boots, £85
Ray-Ban Glasses - Collection Optical - RB5226 | Official Ray-Ban Web...

things i'd buy if i had a money tree.

anyone know where i can find such a tree?
xox, eden

my new favorite hair product.

2011-10-03T16:13:00.000-05:00

the first thing i noticed about my new do was that i was having to wash my hair everyday, which i would really rather not do. being the broke college girl that i am, i decided to peruse the shelves of my local target. for only $4 i couldn't pass up giving tresemme's fresh start dry shampoo a try. i had heard great things about all of these expensive dry shampoos that, once again being a broke college kid i just cannot afford, that i decided to give it a try. i am so glad that i did. i can now wash my hair every other day just like before without having nasty, oily, greasy bangs. after all, middle schoolers like to comment on things like that...and my teeth...and my hair...and how most of my dress pants are gray...among a million other things.

gotta love 'em. ♥

xox, eden

ps. tresemme has no idea who i am and i am not being paid to endorse this product. remember i'm just a broke minnesotan girl.

nature walkin'.

2011-10-02T12:39:00.005-05:00

luke and i have been having a very pleasant weekend thus far, with the exception of course being my ten hour shift yesterday. last night after i got off work, i drove to big lake to luke's parents house. they're out of town and luke's been dog sitting for the weekend. we stayed the night, and woke up this morning to blue skies and a perfect fall day. we decided to take advantage of the beautiful hiking trails around us and went for about a mile long hike with vader, his parent's spunky 2-year old black lab. this is by far one of my favorite things about minnesota. i feel so bad for those of you who live in states that don't experience autumn. the colors, the temperatures, and even the smell of fall are so incredible. i will surely miss minnesota falls when we move next year.

on a side note, speaking of my ten hour shift, it was my second to last shift. i put in my two week notice earlier this week after having a disagreement about scheduling and interferences with my student teaching. so, i decided it was time to move on. i've worked there for 3 years, and absolutely love the people i work with. i'm a little sad to leave, but am very pleased that i will be able to focus on my teaching and getting my minnesota licensure ready for substitute teaching next semester.

wish me luck!

xox, eden

here's to happiness.

2011-09-27T20:52:00.000-05:00

after reading naomi's post on appreciating the things in life that make us happy, i decided that a great way for me to remember the good things in life would be to do the same thing. :)

here is a list of 10 things that have made me happy as of late:
1. the leaves have started changing to bright reds, yellows, and oranges.
2. pumpkin lattes...enough said.
3. snuggling under quilts at night.
4. when luke wakes up at 7am just to spend a few minutes with me before i leave for school.
5. zooey deschanel's new show "new girl." hilarious and adorable.
6. getting to know my students better. i almost know all 150 of their names!
7. finally getting used to waking up at 5:30am.
8. the cooler weather means cardigans everyday!
9. laughing my butt off while watching bridesmaids with my girlies.
10. knowing that a little over 9 months from now i will be a mrs.

xox, eden

ps. what has been making you happy!?

recent life in pictures.

2011-09-26T16:31:00.000-05:00

1. pizza date with luke at our favorite local pizza place, sammy's.

2. bowling with my family when they were here for my grandpa's funeral. such a fun time with the people i love.

3. Taking it all in while my kiddos were at lunch. It's getting better.

ups & downs.

2011-09-21T20:17:00.003-05:00

my stress levels have been at an all-time high lately. with my recent death of my grandpa, the man that i've looked up to since childhood, and beginning my career, september has been the busiest and most complicated month i've had in a long time.

saturday was my grandpa's memorial service. it was the hardest day of my life. i hand wrote the blog post that i wrote to my grandpa and read it aloud at his service. it took all of my being to not fall apart. thank god for my mom and sister who were standing right beside me. not only was it hard because of the loss of my grandpa, but being at his funeral brought back many of the memories of losing my grandma. as my mother stated in her letter to my grandpa, they were the only babysitters my sister and i ever knew. two of the greatest people i've ever known...gone. just being at my grandpa's house and knowing that it would all have to go away, the thousands of childhood memories that i had with my grandma and grandpa in that house, in that yard, in the garage, down the street by the river, at the neighbors.' toys we had played with years ago were still sitting where we left them.

being around my family that weekend, especially my cousins, brought back even more flashbacks. we're all growing up. we don't play tag anymore, or make forts in the front yard, or play house, or dress-up...we're all boring now. the things we used to do when grandpa was around are gone too.

i miss you grandpa, and i'm going to be just like you. i'm going to always find time to smile and joke around and make people laugh. i'm going to do everything i can to make you proud.

this brings me to stressor number 2...teaching. i was so excited to start student teaching. sure, i knew it was going to be a lot of work, but i knew i could handle it.

oh. my. god. i was so wrong.

7th graders are mean to the max. the girls are catty. the boys talk too much. and neither of them care what you have to say. at least that is what i thought after week one in my classroom. things have gotten substantially better, but i still semi-question my judgement when it comes to the career i've chosen.

you know, the one where i'll be basically making minimum wage for the number of hours teachers put in. the one that i'll be sacrificing all my time for, and will probably still have to have a second job in the summer to get by. the one that will have me working until i'm 90 because i won't make enough to retire...yeah...that one.

so even after all of this second-guessing, i am so excited to have my own classroom someday.

i'm not a fan of sharing one, but for my sake i won't get into that on here. OCD over here.

So, teaching + losing loved ones = the most stressful month of my life.

but i know grandpa's watching over me. giving me strength to go to school everyday and hear students say things like "ms. mckee, what's with all the white today?" or "i'm not going to do my homework." i know they'll appreciate me someday. :)

i do it everyday for you, grandpa. your old timer misses you so much, and thinks of you everyday.
♥ eden

p.s. i should mention that i do have some of the most evil children on the planet in my classes, but i also have some of the sweetest smartest ones too. no school is a utopia. ;)

the first days of school...

2011-09-04T22:15:00.000-05:00

...are fast approaching and i couldn't be more excited about it! i can't wait to meet the rest of my kiddos, (i met some of them at open house this past wednesday) and i especially cannot wait to start teaching. i have the greatest cooperating teacher, and i feel like i'm going to learn a ton from him this semester. i'll be teaching 7th grade u.s. history...6 sections of it to be exact....in a row. it'll make for long afternoons, but i'm ready. so to prepare, i've been writing lessons, pre-tests, and reading up on my classroom management literature. i think i'm set! :)

tomorrow, i work 9-5 and then am getting my hair did. yay for dark hair and bangs again! i'll post pictures soon!

xox, eden

recipe: sugar cookie peach pie

2011-09-02T22:27:00.002-05:00

You MUST try this recipe that I found. When Luke and I came back from Colorado, we brought with us an entire crate of fresh and organic Colorado peaches! At first we just ate them, they were delicious and juicy and sweet, and I couldn't have possible imagined ever baking them or using them in recipes. Then after my 13th peach I changed my mind and decided it was time to find some yummy recipes. The first one I made was Pioneer Woman's Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce, which was so sinful that I probably should have said a prayer, and managed to only lasted 2 days in our household...which consists of two people. This was the next recipe I decide to try because...you know, we had like a million peaches left, and it was fabulous! I've never really been a fan of pie crusts. I was the kid that ate the pie filling and then got yelled at for leaving the crust...well with THIS pie the crust is a sugar cookie. Needlesstosay....I ate the pie crust. It was really yummy, too. Give it a try!

crust
1 (16.5 ounce) package sugar cookie dough
1/2 cup all purpose flour

filling
4 1/2 cups sliced peaches
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
3 Tablespoons packed light brown sugar
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon dark rum

Peel and slice the peaches. Measure out 4 1/2 cups. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the cookie dough and flour until combined. Press it out into a 9 inch pie plate. The sugar cookie crust should be about 1/4 inch thick.
Put the peaches in the sugar cookie pie crust. Place the crust in the refrigerator.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium low heat. Add in the flour and mix to form a paste.
Then add in the sugar and mix to combine.
Pour in the dark rum and stir. Increase the heat to medium and cook for about 3 minutes.

Take the pie out of the refrigerator and pour the sugar rum mixture over the peaches. Spread it out.

Bake the pie at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Then put foil over the edges of the crust and bake for another 10-15 minutes
The total baking time is 50-55 minutes. If your pie doesn’t look done, continue baking for 10 more minutes.
Cool completely on a cooling rack.
Enjoy!

in my dream reality...

2011-09-01T22:33:00.001-05:00

(via)

...i can pull off this hair-do. in actual reality i cannot, but boy do i wish i could.

it's such a classic, bombshell, pin-up look.

happy september!

2011-09-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

via

i'm so excited that fall is finally on its way! there are so many things i love about fall. fall means pumpkin spice lattes, apple orchard visits, pumpkin home scents, scarves, sweaters and cardigans, getting to know my little kiddos in all of my classes, changing leaves, cooler weather, halloween, and the list goes on and on. so, here's to fall! i'm beyond excited!

are you? what is fall like in your hometown?

xox, eden

wedding inspiration: engagement shoot ideas

2011-08-29T21:16:00.000-05:00

i know some of you are probably dreading the return of fall and eventually winter, but i just can't wait! and the more i think about the return of cold here in minnesota the more i want to take winter/christmas engagement photos. after perusing pinterest, i have found so much inspiration. i absolutely love this first shoot here by emily steffen photography. it is seriously SO minnesotan, and so perfect for luke and i.

all photos via Emily Steffen Photography

cozy blankets ♥

via pinterest

this perfect winter outfit!

via pinterest

this cozy entry way is super inspiring as well! i love the toboggen, boots, and coats. it all looks so cozy.

via pinterest

are any of you looking forward to fall/winter? dreading it?

xox, eden

the great minnesota get together!

2011-08-28T19:15:00.001-05:00

yesterday, i went with megan and her family to the minnesota state fair.
i haven't been there in a few years, but it was great to go again!
i ate far too much food, most of which was deep fried.
i may or may not had 2 pronto pups, 2 beers, cheese curds, roasted corn-on-the-cob, an apple cider freeze, a giant cup of keg root beer, french fries, onion rings, and some hawaiian noodles.

hey...no judging.
my stomach hates me today.
TMI? sorry.

needlesstosay, it was a much needed distraction from recent events.

do any of you have state/county fairs?
are they as ridiculous as the MN fair? (ie. corn judging, seed art, a million things on a stick?)

xox, eden

his hair may have been silver...

2011-08-26T22:59:00.000-05:00

...but his heart was surely made of gold.

i can't believe that i'll never be able to hold his hand again,

or hear him call me his "old timer."

we'll never be able to talk about classic cars,

or reminisce about the old times while watching old home videos.

i miss your flannel shirts and the lawn chairs you store in the back of your truck for just in case.

i miss playing in greg's childhood tree house outback and watching you grill burgers.

i miss your winter beard and helping you shovel the driveway after huge snowstorms.

i miss picking peas straight out of the garden, and eating them with you right then and there.

you always made everything okay.

grandpa, i will always love you, and i miss you everyday.

i should have called more often when i had the chance because now all i want to do is hear your voice.

you are the greatest grandfather in the world.

i am so proud to know that you're such a huge part of me,

and that you'll always be a part of me.

i will think of you everyday, for the rest of my life, until i see you again.

teacher style.

2011-08-22T14:30:00.000-05:00

next week i start attending teacher workshops and and the following week i meet all of my students for student teaching. i'm beyond excited, not only to meet the kiddos and get back into the classroom, but also to start working on my professional style. i live in sweatpants, yoga pants, and tshirts, and i have a ~~nasty~~ uniform for my retail job. i am super excited! i've already started building my wardrobe. anywho, i think i'm going to start doing a weekly teacher style outfit post. i'll have to figure out photography later, but for now. here's a sneak preview into my teacher style!

{top: ELLE for Kohls; skirt: Leifsdottir for Anthropologie}

a few last colorado hiking pictures.

2011-08-22T10:12:00.000-05:00

while luke and i were in colorado, we took a little hiking trip in boulder up the flatiron mountains. i absolutely love everything about these trails...minus the treacherous first stretch...seriously. uphill non-freakin'-stop.

...yeah, i hiked a boulder field...no biggie.

...ok, so i had to take a 10 5 minute break afterwards.

the views on the way up were seriously so beautiful. here's the view of the university of colorado (where my sister is going to school!)

then we got lost, and some how ended up here...instead of at the top of the mountain. wtf.

i guess it was kind of a happy accident because it was beautiful where we ended up.

my sister is a very talented sneaky photog. she always captures great candids of luke and i. :)

xox, eden

wedding inspiration: pinterest edition

2011-08-18T10:43:00.000-05:00

i've been lacking in the wedding department lately and feel like a little inspiration might get me back on a roll. not that you all don't already know this, but pinterest has been the most helpful way to save images i find on the numerous wedding blogs i follow. seriously.

so, here are a few images i've been finding inspiration in as of lately.

via Be True

via The Glitter Guide

via The Knot

via Style Me Pretty

via Wedding Bee Pro

xox, eden

ps. what are some of your favorite wedding blogs?

garden of the gods

2011-08-11T09:58:00.001-05:00

the other day, after spending a few hours at the hospital with my grandpa, we were able to spend some time at the garden of the gods in colorado springs. there some beautiful views, and we were there during the cooler part of the day. mind you, cool meaning upper 80s. i took about a million pictures, but here are a few of my favorites.

the kissing camels. ♥

whenever i go to colorado, i attempt to fit in. see picture below. despite my denver broncos tee, my lovely fiance was decked out from head to to in minnesota gear. nerd. ;)

seriously, the most beautiful views.

the balanced rock.

checking out.

2011-08-06T22:35:00.000-05:00

posts probably won't be very frequent for the next week or so. it has been a rather depressing week. it started out with luke and i having to say goodbye to two of our best friends who are moving to georgia. we're going to miss them a ton, but we're super excited for them to start their newlywed life. i also received a call from my dad telling me that my grandpa is not doing so well. this has hit me really hard. i'm so close to my grandpa.

so this is why i will be checking out for a few days.

luke and i are leaving to drive out to colorado tomorrow to see my family and my grandpa.

hope all of you are having a good weekend. send happy thoughts!

xox, eden

up north.

2011-07-31T20:26:00.001-05:00

since we were little, my family and i have been going up north. for those of you that aren't minnesotan, going "up north" is something very near and dear to the hearts of minnesotans. we head up to cabins or campsites, and spend time on the lakes (this is the land of 10,000 lakes after all) and make memories. my godfather owns a cabin on lake wabedo in longville. we've been going there for as long as i can remember. we spend time on the lake, with friends and family, and enjoying the local shops in town. it's such a special part of my childhood, and i couldn't be happier that we still have the opportunity to head up there.

do any of you have a special place that you've been going since you were little?

xox, eden

hello hello!

2011-07-30T22:46:00.000-05:00

hello, little blog!

i've been super busy lately. just fyi.

ya know, enjoying the sunshine, workin' on my tan, and spending time with friends and family.

oh..and today i worked.

we got back from the my godfather's cabin yesterday.

it feels ok to be home, but i definitely didn't want to leave.

the picture from above is of the beautiful view we had, and one of the few beautiful sunsets we enjoyed.

this is just one of the many reasons why i love minnesota.

i'm working on some bigger posts with more pictures from my time spent up at the cabin, but i figured this would at least hold you over.

hope your weekend is going beautifully!

xox, eden

current obsession: the hunger games series

2011-07-25T22:35:00.000-05:00

i finished the first book in a little over two days.

i'm now flying through the second.

if you haven't picked up this series,

well...

you're crazy.

this is the first series of books that i have been able to really get hooked on in a VERY long time.

the story is set in this crazy dystopian world, and i CAN'T STOP!

i'm gonna go read now.

k, bye.

xox, eden

cabin times with friends.

2011-07-25T17:39:00.001-05:00

this weekend was the annual cabin trip with all of my friends.

it is by far the weekend that i look the most forward to all summer.

it's the one weekend during the summer that we spend acting like children, despite the fact that we are all so near to being real grown-ups.

i wouldn't change it for the world.

i am seriously blessed with the best friends.

we had a great time. the weekend was spent drinking beer, playing games, and swimming in the lake.

this week, my mom and sister are flying in from colorado.

we're going to spend the week up at a family friend's cabin.

we haven't done it in years!

ahh, i love summer.

xox, eden

wedding planning update.

2011-07-20T19:33:00.000-05:00

we've finally set a date and booked our venues!

on june 2nd, 2012, i will officially become a MRS!

i couldn't be more excited.

our wedding ceremony will be held in luke's parents beautiful front yard.

it is very wooded, and will give us the rustic and romantic feel that we want...

...ok, that i want.

as a backup, we've rented a chapel incase the weather gods decide to mess with me.

we're really hoping they don't.

funny story though, the chapel was my childhood church before they built a new and improved building.

so at least our backup isn't so bad.

(source)

for our reception we've rented a local golf club.

the building is really nice, and there are a ton of picture-taking backdrops.

(source)

we're beyond excited.

our next step is to narrow down a photographer.

i've been drooling over a couple for quite sometime.

xox, eden

ps. for those of you who are married, what are things i should be looking out for when picking a photographer? advice is always welcome!

river walkin'.

2011-07-20T12:08:00.000-05:00

saint cloud is filled with beautiful paths.
luke and i can't get enough of them.
we especially love that they follow the mississippi river.
can't get enough of summer, but this week we've been spending most of our time in the AC.
i read an article that said that the amazon forest was the only place in the world more humid than mn.
DIS-GUS-TING.
seriously, you walk outside, and your skin is instantly dewy, your sunnies fog up, and despite the fact that it's 90-something degrees...the heat index is around 120. eww.

so while there are beautiful outdoor spaces in our town...we're just happy we have AC.

xox, eden

attn: android users who drool over instagram!

2011-07-19T20:15:00.000-05:00

so, maybe i'm the last person to hear about mytubo, but for those of you that have androids and just wish you had access to instagram...i've found the answer! mytubo is an app just like instagram for androids. there are a ton of effects to use on your photos, and you set up an account just like instagram.

i'm just so excited! :)

if you have mytubo look me up! my username is edenmarie44

xox, eden

dinner in a biergarten.

2011-07-13T12:43:00.000-05:00

on monday, luke and i drove down to minneapolis to enjoy some german food at one of our favorite german restaurants, black forest inn. for those of you that don't know, luke and i love our german food...and a good hefeweizen. we enjoyed a wonderful meal, and the company of good friends, including our friend helena from belgium. it was the first time we've seen her since high school! she was a foreign exchange student our senior year. such a wonderful time. :)

have any of you been to any good traditional german restaurants?

xox, eden

walker sculpture garden.

2011-07-09T22:11:00.000-05:00

woke up yesterday to find out that katy perry has a case of food poisoning, and our much anticipated concert was to postponed to august 23. the girls and i were more than disappointed and now found ourselves with a day filled with no plans. so, we took a day trip to minneapolis to spend sometime at the walker art center. for those of you that aren't from minnesota it's the place with the cherry on the spoon. we wandered around the gardens, went into a antique shop with some crazy legit, but expensive, historical goods. yes, thank you. i am 100% aware that i'm a nerd.

no, seriously. i already know.

we then walked around the mall of america, where i purchased one hot ass betty page t-shirt from the coolest flipping store i've ever been in.

all-in-all it was a successful day with my girls. a much needed day. :)

xox, eden

pictures from the week.

2011-07-03T19:28:00.000-05:00

one. chapel for the wedding! (separate post on this exciting news later!)

two. black bean and yam burritos. so delicious.

three. totem pole at antique shop. thought it was amusing.

four. beautiful mn farm land. love the landscape.

five. sent home early from work to enjoy a few hours at the beach with a coworker. such a pleasant surprise. :)

i have been having an absolutely amazing weekend, despite my work schedule. friday was spent by the pool with close friends. yesterday, i worked from 1 to 9, but spent the evening watching weeds with luke. today, i was sent home early because it was so slow, and spent the afternoon with one of my coworkers at a local beach. tomorrow is a similar work shift, with an evening filled with food, friends, fireworks, and $1.99 sparklers. :) pretty perfect weekend if you ask me.

how's your fourth of july weekend going?

xox, eden

happy birthday gramps!

2011-07-03T12:59:00.001-05:00

you are the greatest role model anyone could ask for. you're funny, charming, intelligent, and you love with all of your being. thank you for always being there for me. you're my hero. you've taught me so many things. some of my greatest childhood memories are of the time i spent with you and grandma.

without you:
- i wouldn't know the greatness that is GMC and Chevrolet. (but thanks for loving me even though i'm a ford lover)
- i wouldn't know how to ride a bike.
- i wouldn't be so obsessed with eating pea pods fresh from the garden. YUM!
- i wouldn't understand the importance of a beautiful lawn.
- i wouldn't know that humor really does cure pain.
- i wouldn't have ever experienced the fun of tipping over a snowmobile on purpose.
- i wouldn't have the extensive knowledge of vintage cars. believe me...i still use this knowledge to impress people.
- i wouldn't have the world's greatest nickname. (old timer)

...but most of all, i wouldn't know how to love and care with all of my heart and soul. you're a great man.

i love you, grandpa bob. :)

xox, the old timer

have a great weekend everyone!

2011-07-02T11:03:00.001-05:00

(source)

happy fourth of july weekend!

i hope everyone has a safe and fun time.

the weather here in mn is BEAUTIFUL.

unfortunately, i get to be inside at work for a total of 25 hours in 3 days.

but no worries, i'll make it to fireworks on monday!

xox, eden

it's about damn time!

2011-06-29T10:26:00.000-05:00

after weeks of cold and rainy days, the sun and warmth of summer has finally reached minnesota! i can't wait to spend the afternoon outside. i've been working a lot lately, and don't get me wrong, i need the cash flow, but definitely cringe when i look out the windows and see a beautiful day, while i'm stuck inside.

...but today i have work off! luke and i are going to do a quick kettleworx sesh (seriously the best workout EVER!) and then are headed back to big lake for the day to hang out with his family. we might even get the boat out on the lake. LOVE.

sorry to keep it so short, but I GOTTA GET OUTSIDE. :)

xox, eden

the future.

2011-06-22T19:31:00.002-05:00

(source)

this week has given me a lot of time to think about the future. luke and i have had this discussion many times throughout the past year, and have yet to come to a conclusion about what our future holds. we know two things for sure: luke is going to grad school (where is the question) and that i am going to get a job as a teacher (how and where are the questions). i am so proud of luke and how much he has accomplished in his educational career. he is by far the smartest person i know, and i know he will have no problems getting into a school with a good program. this scares the crap out of me. he's applying at schools across the united states, from california to new york to pennsylvania to illinois, and more. up until recently, i've been nothing but excited about this. i mean seriously...we're getting out of minnesota, the only place we've known as home for our entire lives.

the reason i've had so much time to think is because luke has been in chicago with his family. he made appointments to meet with two different colleges about their grad programs, and from what he's told me over the phone, he loves it there. i really wish i was there so i could be getting excited about it. if you think about it, our big move would be only like a year from the end of summer, if not sooner. it just gets closer and closer, and now i'm starting to panic because when people ask me what we're doing after we graduate i have nothing concrete to tell them...just, "luke's going to grad school. so, where ever that takes us." i would just like to make it clear that i have no problem going where he needs to go. my career, while semi-inflexible, is definitely more flexible then his. it's what married people do for each other. :)

needless to say, while i am nervous, i think my most recent realization is that i am so excited for what the future holds for us...because it is our future. the one we're going to share, and talk about, and grow old together during. there are not words to describe how excited i am to experience it...

...no matter where it takes us. (hehe...us. i like the sound of that)

i love you, luke.

& miss you. you can come home now.

xox, eden