A NYE Challenge that was "Sew" Easy!

Jan. 20:
Okay, here it is, the first update since I made my official New Years Challenge to try something new once every two weeks.
I need to start by saying that I've also decided that my parents should participate along with me, since I'm living with them, they might as well expand thier horizons!

So, let's start with dad....he qualifies by trying dessert pizza for the first time. (crazy I know, but he's pretty traditional when it comes to food!)

Moving onto mom: She rocked Wii fit! (especially the hulla hoop game - LOL!) Watch out Super Mario Brothers - You're next!

As for me: I openend the sewing machine I got 3 years ago for Christmas for the first time and (without a pattern) made a few aprons!
I should probably explain that I wanted to get one for mom's birthday (which is today), but couldn't find one I liked AND could afford (still unemployed!) So, I turned to the web for ideas thinking I could create one out of something I had here at home.

The handkerchief apron was my first atempt, and, although it looks pretty sassy in the photo, I wasn't overall pleased with it. So, I dug through drawers of mom's old fabric pieces and used an apron I got for Christmas to model the next two creations after. It only took me 5 hours to make them but I think they turned out fabulous!
The floral apron ended up being mom's birthday gift.
Check out the pictures below!

Until next week...
~Sharon

Attempt #1: Apron using 2 handkerchiefs and gossgrain ribbon

Attempt #2 - Now were cook'n!

Mom and I in the aprons!

New Year's Challenge - Part 2

Last year about this time, I found myself in some very unhappy situations and working through a time of unemployment....surprise, surprise, I seem to be in that same spot again at the beginning of 2012, with the exception that instead of being in scenic Leavenworth, I'm in Jackson, MN! Oh well, at least I have family and friends close!

That being said, last year, to help cheer me up and get me out of my funk, my cousin proposed a challenge to do one new thing a week for 16 weeks...... As it turned out, I did a whole bunch of new things, and not just for 16 weeks, but for all summer long. In the end, it was the best New Year's Challenge ever and I ended up having a ton of fun and experiencing a lot more than I may have otherwise. That being said, I want to continue the challenge for 2012! (albeit a few modifications....) This year, I challenge myself to do or try one thing I've never tried/done before once every two weeks and then blog about it! This could prove to be somewhat of a challenge, as I've lived around here for half my life, but we'll see. Even a half effort will result in good things, I'm sure of it!

Since we are into the 2nd week of January already, I should catch you up on what I've done so far:

Week 1: Jan 1-7th: Mom and I made scarves out of old t-shirts! We got the ideas from my new favorite website: Pintrest! I made three and they turned out great! (Sorry - no pictures, guess you'll have to take my word for it!)

Week 2: Jan 8-14th: I'm working part time at Reed & Brinkman Accounting downtown Jackson. (okay, basically I just help mom out doing her grunt work during tax season. But hey, I need the money and the hours are flexible!) So, for the first time in my life I have used a plethora of computer programs and tax software to print tax forms I've never heard of before! 941s, 1099s.......and the list goes on! (Again, no pictures....but this is pretty boring stuff, so really, I'm doing you a favor here!)

Can't wait to see what's next.....

~Sharon

2012: New Year's Eve

The perfect way to ring in the new year, is spending the evening with good friends, food, and having a lot of laughs!
This year, the party was hosted by Aaron and Amanda Strommer in Hugo, MN. We had a "rainbow" themed party - meaning eveyone was to wear a specific color of the rainbow and then bring food to match. It turned out to be a lot of fun and it was wonderful to catch up with some of my friends whom I haven't seen in several years! All-in-all, a great way to start the new year!
~Sharon

Top 10 of 2011

Sharon's Top 10 of 2011!

As a scrapbooker, I collect and compile memories. It's always fun to look back through old photo albums and scrapbooks that I've made in the past and it's especially fun at the end of the year to remember the best parts from the prior 12 months. (Which was somewhat easy, as I'm busy scrapbooking those memories now!)

So, I thought I would share my favorite moments with the photos below (in no particular order.)

Enjoy -

Sharon

My little sister gets Married! (September 3) 

I learn to Cross County Ski and love it so much that I brought a pair back to MN with me!

I spent at least one day a week for most of the winter at Steven's Pass in WA working on my snowboarding skills!

I was given the opportunity to manage and buy for The Mercantile/Gift Shop at The Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth, WA! What a fabulous job!

White Water Kayaking! I still can't believe I was crazy enough to do this!

What would the top 10 be, without including some of my wonderful friends from Leavenworth, WA!

Zac Brow Concert in Minneapolis with my favorite concert buddy - Jenn! What a great way to say "welcome back!"
It was a great concert and I'm looking forward to our next one!

I got my first puppy at the end of October - meet Huxley!

Rock Climbing lessons in Leavenworth (September)

My Dad returned home in June from a yr-long deployment to Afghanistan!



Christmas at the Wimmers

Merry Christmas everyone! (yeah, I know, I'm posting this about a month late, just keep reading, it will be okay....)

I wanted to share this photo with you, as it was taken with my Aunt Brenda's Camera the weekend we were in Mapleton, IA, for the Wimmer Christmas. Each year we all bring food to share, or special treats. This year was no different, as Lance brought smoked Oysters and Hoot Wine from Huron's Hutterite Colonies near Huron, SD.
After a fabulous Christmas dinner, we decided to break open the home-made "grape" wine and have a Christmas toast. At first smell, it was pretty awful, but as long as you don't breath while you drink, it tasted great. Anyway, here we are before sampling the wine!

~Sharon

Jackson's Lighted Parade

December -

Since I'm in town for the foreseeable future, I might as well take part in some community activities - such as the lighted parade and fireworks held downtown Jackson during the Christmas season. This year, it was held on the first Sat. in December, and wouldn't you know, it started snowing! Which made for a beautiful setting! Check out the pictures below.

~Sharon

Yes, only in the Midwest does Santa's sleigh get pulled by a tractor!

Huxley

Meet my new best guy: Huxley! He's a 7lb Bernedoodle puppy! (1/2 Bernese Mountain Dog and 1/2 poodle - a new dog hybrid that will get to about 70 lbs, be lazy and lovable and best of all - non-shedding!)

Aunt Leah and cousin Gavin bought him this snazzy sweater so he can keep warm with the weather gets cold!

He's been busy making new friends everywhere he goes - from Pet Smart for a bath, to all the neighbors down the street!
House training has been going good as well - he's a very smart puppy! So far, his favorite game is to fetch my slippers!
However, dad is his favorite buddy - probably because he gets treats and played with a lot!

~Sharon

Jusin & Ashton's Wedding

Jusin (my cousin) and Ashton's wedding, held October 15th in Denison, IA:

My family, at the reception!

Leavenworth Friends

Some photos of me and my favorite girls in Leavenworth on one of my last nights out before moving back to Minnesota!Miss you ladies and thanks for the great memories!

Amanda and Len's Wedding: 9/3/11

The Bride - showing up for pre-ceremony pictures at Fort Belmont in Jackson, MN

Lance, with the girls, Katherine, Mindy and Lindsay

Lance and I!

All of the guys, goofing around with the old-time tools for the photo-shoot

It's the girls' turn to goof around....

Amanda and Len's first dance!

Gavin and I hanging out at the reception.

Leah and I

Father/Daughter Dance

The wedding party, line dancing to Boot Scoot'n Boogie!

Manda Jo's Bachelorette Party

August 27-28th

As Maid of Honor for my sister's wedding it was my job to plan a rock'n bachelorette party for her, a job I took very seriously and started planning sometime in May. The details, were kept strictly confidential, with the exception of dad, whom I would tell about my plans and ask for advice. (Hey, he was in Afghanistan at the time, who could he tell?)  The girls were told the barest of details in the invite, only where to meet, what time and what to wear (which was based on a cowgirl theme).

Curious yet? Check out the pictures below and see what we did:

The Theme: Cowgirls: " A bunch of girls, look'n for a good time, break'n hearts, turn'n heads and look'n so fine."

The adventure began at 9:30 am. We met at Grandma and Grandpa Kuehl's house in Mapleton, and started with a toast before loading the 15 passenger van and heading off to our fist destination. Mom was our designated driver.

Here we are, with the van. We're just waiting for two gals before heading out!

I had to sit on a tiny work stool in the middle of the isle the whole day so I could conduct the games and activities as we drove.

Mom, the designated driver... off we go!

Our first stop, was Lucky Lanes in Denison, IA, where we completed a game of Crazy Cowgirl Bowling complete with "An Electric Slide" frame and a "Sexy dance move" frame! Prizes were awarded for best and worst bowlers!
After bowling, we were picked up and taken out to a local park where we noshed on pizza, cookies & bars. We also made sure to hydrate with beers & cowboy lemonades!

On the way to our next stop, Amanda opened her gifts. Since this is a PG rated blog, this is the only photo I am able to post!

Our third stop of the day was Dale Valley Vinyards in Stuart, IA. Here we listened to a blue grass band and sampled all of the local wines! De-licious! As you can see, the winery's tasting room was a converted old school house.

Stop #4: Dance-A-Cross in West Des Moines, IA, for line dance lessons! Here we learned 4 different line dances that we will all hopefully remember and can do at the wedding next weekend!
Phew....I'm getting a bit tired. Next stop - The hotel for a short rest and change of clothes before continuing our adventure!



Dinner was down-home-cook'n without the work. We dinned at The Machine Shed at The Living History Farms in West Des Moines. We had steak tips, pork, baby red potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, rolls, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something. It was super delish and oh, so much food! We were also spoiled with awesome cocktails, like my bacon bloody mary!

Amanda, practicing up for the next stop....

Buck's Bar in West Des Moines. Not only did we get to ride a mechanical bull, but Amanda was given a free t-shirt, bottle of Boone's Farm wine, we had a campaign toast and didn't have to pay cover - Yee Haw!



Katherine's turn on the bull!

Cowgirl Up Mindy!

Amanda, arrested for bad dance moves! JK - Love ya Sis!

Book Em' Danno!

Even Mom was thrown behind bars!

Public Intox!



But, Amanda could spring us all from the clink by spinning the Wheel 'O Shots! Jager Bomb! Thanks for taking one for the team Manda!

Last stop of the evening - Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar! For oldies, sing-alongs, and much more!

On Sunday, the only stop was for coffee before heading back to Mapleton. I ended up with a migraine headache that morning and because of it, was the only one who got sick! LOL!
Overall - a great bachelorette party!
Can't wait to see everyone again at the wedding!

~Sharon