School days

I hate to see summer slowly coming to an end. I get knots in my stomach just thinking about winter and Christmas (YUCK)! (If you don't know, I am not a big fan of cold weather or the winter season). I use to love that time of year but for some reason I have started to hate it. I think it might be because it gets dark so early, I feel like I am working the night shift or something. I am also not a huge fan of thanksgiving and Christmas because it is usually when I gain "my winter weight", not this year though, you can suck it WINTER!!!!! ;) I keep telling Brett that we should look into either moving to Cali. or going away in the winter, maybe a winter home in San Fransisco???? I love that idea. It can be cold there too but at least the sun is shining. Anyway, I may have to seek some professional help this year, I don't think Brett wants to live with someone who is unhappy through a whole season ;) Not sure I have seasonal depression but it has to be something like that. If you have any ideas on why I should love those aspects of winter, please feel free to share. Any positive thoughts??

I guess the one positive thing I can think about as far as summer coming to a close is: SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!!! I wish I could still get school supplies. ;) Oh how I love the trapper keepers (by the way this trapper keeper is on ebay going for 20 bones) and and fun folders with boy bands on them ;) I remember when my mom lets me get ever sharps (mechanical pencils) I LOVED THOSE!! It was so much better than normal pencials. I also loved my protractor and reinforcers too. Can't say that I have used reinforcers since middle school. ;) Maybe I will go get some and start using them. I can think of several times when I have needed them at work. I have a lot of binders in the line of work that I do, not so many trapper keeper though, dang!!

Anyway, this is just a shout out to all you kids out there going back to school (since I am sure so many of them read my blog). Happy school shopping and hope you had a good summer!!!

Look alike

That is right, Posh Spice made fruit pizza in my kitchen this weekend!!! She came and went shopping with me, let her dog play with mine, went to the farmers market and even came to my birthday cook out that night!!! ;) Actually, this is my older sister Carrie in her new sunglasses from Forever 21, my new favorite place to get accessories. I was telling Carrie all day that she looked like Posh with that haircut and those glasses, what do you guys think? ;)

Saturday was wonderful!!! I woke up early and my sister hung out just like old times, it was wonderful. While Carrie was making this fruit pizza, she was talking like she was on a cooking show in a British accent, we use to play cooking show when we were younger with all the left over’s when we were doing dishes after a meal. We had so much fun!!! We also hit a wonderful fabric store where I picked out some fabric for Carrie to make me a purse; I can’t wait to see how it turns out. We then went out to the Legends mall, which I have to admit, I kind love. We had lunch with my Mom and I introduced them both to Forever 21. This might be one of the best moments of the day because I told them I just wanted to go in for a second, thinking they would hate this store. They both ended up buying more than I did. I was cracking me up!!!!

Then Saturday night we headed to my great girlfriends house for our annual cook out and to celebrate my birthday. Some of you may remember I blogged about this last year. It is so fun a causal. Callie, my little sister, grilled all the meat and everyone else brought something and then I made Mojitos. We love to get together and sit by the fire and just be together. Be sure to check out my flickr pics of the party.

Carrie, thanks for coming all the way from Seward, Nebraska to come to my party. My friends and I had so much fun hanging out with you!!!!

Back in the game

I know several of you are dying to hear how my birthday went with Mr. Brett Wiese this year. As some of you may recall, Brett kinda dropped the ball last year as he told me on the morning of my birthday that he had a conference for work that he had to go to later that night. I thought he was kidding me but he wasn’t and at 6pm that night he took off for the rest of the night. No birthday dinner, nothing. I ended up going to Foo’s (which was wonderful and fun by the way) with some girl friends but it was totally a sympathy birthday, they had no choice but to take me because they felt sorry for me ;) Brett also gave me an ice-cream maker, which I really wanted, but I saw it before he gave it to me so it was not a surprise at all and I love being surprised!!! I have not really forgiven Brett since last year so this was the year to make it up to me ;) I was not sure if he was going to be able to pull it off but I would say he did an exceptional job this year.

I woke up to a fun birthday card and a clue of what my present was:

- Clue One: I could not really wrap this present

Then when I got in my car to go to work another clue was on my steering wheel:

- Clue Two: This gift is not something that you specially asked for

After I received some beautiful flowers from Brett at work. I headed out to lunch I found a clue was taped to the window of my car:

- Clue Three: There has been songs written and movies produced about this gift

I started to put the clues together and I really started to think maybe he was taking me somewhere for my birthday, maybe Omaha, Oklahoma, New York City or Chicago. Yet, I thought it was not in the budget (if any of you know Brett, you know he likes to stick to the budget ;) and even if it was a trip he was just going to tell me that he was going to take me somewhere and then I would end up planning the whole trip. I don’t mind planning trips but lately I have been kinda burnt out on planning personal things since I do it all day at work.

Just before leaving for dinner I got the fourth clue:

- Clue four: Some famous people like this gift, especially Oprah.

I was almost 100% sure I figured it out by now but still kinda worried I was going to be just a bit disappointed when I found out I was going to have to book everything and know how much everything cost, which never makes it fun to travel.

After reading clue four, Brett took me out to dinner at my new favorite restaurant, 1924 Main. This restaurant reminded me of this fun place we went in San Francisco, it was really hip and the food was out of this world good. Brett had even made reservations, which he knows I adore. I am not sure how it started but I really don’t enjoy going to franchise restaurants (mainly, Cheesecake factory, PF Changs and Applebee’s, YUCK). I always prefer to support the smaller local places that are really happy you came in to eat there. 1924 Main was the perfect place for a nice birthday dinner.

Just before we ordered, Brett said: “Vikk, I think I am going to skip the last clue because I think you may be catching on to me”. He handing me an envelope and inside was a confirmation for two airline tickets to Chicago and a four star Hotel reservation that was located in the heart of Chicago. I got teary eyed and was so excited!!! As I started to thank Brett, he started telling me what he has planned for each day, even where we were going to eat and fun places we were going to visit. I was and am THRILLED!!! Any one who knows me well knows I love weekend trips and I love getting out of Kansas. I went to Chicago in January and it was one of the best trips. I can’t wait to go again when it is warm and we can do a bit more and to go with Brett, how fun!!! We leave on Aug 30th (which is our 4 year anniversary) and I can’t wait!!!

Brett, thank you so much, you are defiantly off the hook ;) Love you.

P.s.
I have to mention my second favorite gift so far, it is a blanket that my girl friends Kerry and Sarah got me, I have been snuggling in from the moment I got it, and I love it!!! Thanks Ladies.

One year older

So this morning I woke up and realized I was 26 years of age!!! Wow, I really can't believe I am closer to 30 than 20. It seems like just yesterday that I turned 21 years old. Well, I don't really remember it all that well as all my "friends" wanted to buy me a drink. ;) Most of you know I don't drink too often (I prefer to eat my calories) and I really didn't drink before I was 21 so I was kinda a light weight to say the least.

When I was 21 I thought I would be so far in life by the time I was 26 years old. I thought I would have two kids by now, driving a mini van and maybe 50 pounds heavier ;) Just kidding, but I did think I would be making more money and purhaps be some of those things in the last sentence. Turns out, being 26 is not so bad as I get to hang out with my best friend Brett all the time and don't have any screaming babies just yet,.I drive a pimping Nissian Altima and I just just dropped a couple pant sizes so I am loving life ;) I thought about being kinda down about turning 26 but I really couldn't see why. I mean, I think I am feeling better about life this year than I did last year. I have great friends and family who love me so much, I have a great spouse who I think is stinking hot, I still have a job, I have the cutest beagle known to man kind and my house is like 900 square feet but I love it and it is my home. Life is good ;) I truly feel so blessed for everything that I have, event the rough times I am thankful for.

Thank you all for your birthday emails, phone calls and even flowers. I love you all!!!!

And I am back

So the vacation has concluded. Thought I would share some pics from our time off, to see more you can go to my flickr account later tomorrow and I should have them loaded. I would have to say the top three things about my time off were:

1.) Hanging out with Brett that is usually a blast so I was not too surprised at that. It was great to laugh about inside jokes and just do our own thing. We had a great time laying out by the pool, eating some Okie Joes and even seeing Transformers (I loved it by the way)

2.) Winning third in my age group on the 5k race on Saturday. Pretty fun to run in 5k’s where there is not as much competition ;) I love the medal I got and I really want to wear it out and about but I thought I better cool it.

3.) Going to the farm and seeing it decked out for the 4th Party. I wish I would have taken more pics but I can tell you the meat that my Dad cooked was out of this world and it was great to catch up with old friends.

Now on to another week packed full of hanging out with friends and celebrating my 26th birthday. Tonight some good girl friends are taking a couple of us July Birthday girls to McCormick and Schmick’s for some dessert. MMMM, what shall I have??? J Something chocolate I am thinking.

T minus two hours and 5 minutes

Starting in 2hours and 5 minutes, I am one vacation baby!!!!!! Man, there is no better feeling then working like a horse on events for months and then taking a nice breather. Brett is also taking off work, we are like two little kids getting excited about late night slumber parties, fireworks, eating some good grub, hanging out by the pool and just being together. As some of you know, Independence Day is my second favorite holiday next to Easter so I am excited for this time off this week. We have all kinds of fun things lined up to do starting with a Royals game tonight, fireworks display in Shawnee Mission Park, some Okie Joes, time with friends, pool time and Sabetha!!!

We will be heading up to the farm on Friday for a family party and I am almost positive it is going to be one of the greatest celebrations around. I can’t wait to see how great that farmhouse is going to look with big flag bunting!!!

Brett and I are going to start the day by running the annual 5k in Sabetha, which is called the “ Firecracker Run”. It is my favorite 5k to do because it is a pretty easy course and all the people know you and they sit outside their homes to watch and say hi. My favorite part is that they serve sausage and pancakes after the race is over ;) Nothing like running for 30 minutes and washing that down with some grease and syrup ;) No thanks on that but I will be eating great later that night as my Dad will be cooking a lot of pork and all of his family are bringing food and they are wonderful cooks. I hope to be blogging about this on Monday.

Happy 4th of July to you all!!!

p.s. 7/11 is just around the corner ;) the big 2 6. Not sure yet if brett is going to take me to Culvers for the special day, maybe I should try something else ;) Any ideas ;)

oh please trash man

This is what the trash man gets to deal with today. Do you think he will take all of this? I hope so. I am pretty sure we are the talk of the block this morning with this much trash on our front lawn.

This past weekend we tore out all our old insulation because it was not put in correctly about 20 years ago. We were freezing in the winter and dying in the summer. Our good friends helped us take it out and put it in a total of 35 large trash bags. Then Brett and I blew 44 bags of insulation in our attic. I'd like to think we are saving lots of money by doing this but we will just have to see on next months bill.

It was a lot of work but it is done and hopefully when I go home for lunch today the trash bags will be gone and I can start to ease the memories of being in a hot attic full of dust and darkness from my mind. A little shout out to Jack and Mindy for helping us out, you guys are the best!!!

Smores

I have been wishing these last few weeks that I would have become a teacher. I don’t know if I could spend the whole day with kids (especially teenagers since I HATE them), do lesson plans, wear apple and school bus pins on my sweater vests, deal with kids that pee their pants and don’t blow their own noses but I do know that I could take the summers off in a second. Here is a shout out to all you teachers out there that are taking the summer off instead of working. Don’t even worry about the money (we all know teachers do not get paid near enough) just relax, soak up the sun and eat lots of Popsicles and smores!!!!

I love the summers. The cookouts, the pool, ice cream, Lighting bugs, green grass and trees, summer mornings on the porch, walks with the dog. I LOVE IT ALL. Lately I have loved my new fire pit that I got. I also have a chiminea that I got last year for my birthday but I found that it did not put off as much heat as I wanted to and it was not good for cooking smores which is the main purpose of having a fire ;) Brett built our first fire in the pit last weekend and we each had way to many smores!!! It was so good and so fun. I think this is on the agenda tonight around 8pm, if any of you would like to come over for smores, just stop on by, we will be outside!!!!

Motorcylce Daddy

Is it Tuesday already? I meant to blog about this on Saturday but was too busy having a great time and here we are on Tuesday at the end of the day. Saturday I started my day by seeing my father off on a cycle ride benefit. It was pretty fun to see my Dad in his entire motorcycle garb showing off his hot bike ;) My brother Abe painted this cycle so it is really special for my dad to ride it around and get compliments on it. I even think it is pretty cool and I am not really into the fire graphics on motorcycles, I am more into skeletons and naked women on motorcycles but that is just me. J

My Dad had four sisters and no brothers so it is amazing he is not more metro sexual ;) ** Side note: Dad, I will explain what metro sexual means some other time. It was fun to see Dad, Joe (dad’s neighbor who is really dad’s brother separated at birth) and my uncle Jim have fun just being Guys and trying to fit in with all these Motorcycle guys and girls (yikes, those girls are kinda scary, I really did fit in with my little dress and red shoes ;).

It was a great way to start my Saturday and I was so happy I got to see him off.

Walking the Hill

I can’t believe it has been four years since I have graduated from college, I still try to use my KUID to get discounts and sometimes I feel like I could walk on campus again and nobody would be able to tell that I was not a student. MMMM, pretty sure my “none hip” clothes would give me away. I guess I could always go get a minnie skirt, some burks, and tights and pull it off, what do you think?

Anyway, this Sunday my baby sister, Callie, is going to walk the hill. This will be the last of the Strahm girls that will walk the hill and I am so proud ;) I am sure my dad is too. Callie is the baby of five kids and it is hard to think about her getting a job and being on her own. It actually makes me a little sick to my stomach that she is all grown up. I have so many memories of her singing in the car with me, slumber parties, NYC trip and just hanging out on the farm. She is one of my best friends and I can’t love on her enough! Apparently other people can’t love her enough either. I am planning a celebration picnic for Sunday, there are going to be 55 people there!!! Holy crap, they are all coming from out of town too, I think it just goes to show that people love her as much as I do and they would drive two hours to congratulate her and hopefully give her some cash ;)

Just a few words before I start crying ;)
Callie, I love you so much and I am so proud of you for working hard and getting your degree. You really are such a blessing in my life and I can’t imagine life with out you. You have the greatest heart, you are always up for an adventure and I feel like I can really learn so much from you. I pray that you will find a great job, find a hottie husband and have one stinking good life!! You deserve it! Love you.

CONGRATS CALLIE!!!!!

Breakfast in Bed

Mother’s day is Sunday and all the gushy Hallmark Card and Jewelry store commercials are taking over TV right now. This morning as I was eating my bowl of oatmeal and three egg whites (I have this every single morning because Brett makes it for me, yummy!) I saw a commercial showing a father helping his kids make breakfast in bed for the mom for mother’s day.

I love breakfast food but I HATE the idea of eating in my bed first thing in the morning. Who in the world thought of breakfast in bed? I think it is the dumbest idea ever. Oh yes, I love waking up and before I have a chance to realize where I am, I am smothered by little kids and a big tray of food. No thanks! I told Brett that I never want breakfast in bed. I would prefer to be woken up gently and told that breakfast will be served in 1 hour so I have time to sleep a little bit more, get up maybe take a shower and build up an appetite. Then walking in the kitchen to see a spread of French toast with warm syrup, poached eggs, powerdered doughnuts, Sausage patties, fruit and OJ. That is right, I want it all and I want it on the table with a fresh batch of flowers (no red roses please).

It would be a nice touch to have the kitchen already cleaned up as well. That is the other bummer about breakfast in bed. Your family brings you the food in bed all pretty on a tray but then when you get up to come to the kitchen to get your coffee, you see the mess that your family has left for you. Again, no thanks. I would love to hear some pros to breakfast in bed because I could not think of one unless you like:
- Sleeping in your crumbs from the toast that was on the tray
- Trying to hold a tray on your bed when kids are in your bed watching you eat the food they helped Daddy make
- Maybe you are a starving manic the moment you wake up and you prefer to shovel food down 5 seconds after getting up
- Your bedroom to smell like sausage

I love the idea of Breakfast but not in bed, whoever thought of that: Stupid points.

Oh, I love this picture that I found, this mom looks thrilled ;)

Gearing up

Well, I am not sure what I have gotten myself into but I registered today to do the 3-day walk for breast cancer, which is walking 60 miles over a three-day weekend. The good thing is at least we get to walk and not run but I have a feeling we will be power walking it since the friend I am going with loves to beat everyone even when it is not a race, hee hee. Just kidding Kim. I have to say I am a little nervous about getting blisters and smelling lots of B.O. since we are camping the whole time and I am sure showers are optional since it is like a portable shower in semi’s. There are lots of things that I think will be challenging but it should be a great experience and it is for a wonderful cause. If any of you would like to join our team and fly to sunny San Diego with us in November feel free to sign up!

So many of you have already given money to support me and I can’t thank you enough. If you are interested in helping me raise the money I need to raise in order to do the 3-day walk, I would truly be grateful. Here is the link to my personal page where you can give. Thank you all so much and let the training begin!

http://www.the3day.org/sandiego07/vikkiewiese

Tada!!!

Ok so here is the moment you have all been waiting for, or maybe just a few of you ;)

My hairdresser said I will need to wash it a couple times to really get the color I am looking for but I think I am going to love it!!!

Oh what?

You missed me??? Really?? It has been 20 days since I last blogged. I planned it that way, thought you could all use a break from my blog ;)

April was a crazy month, I don't remember much of it since I had an event like every other day and I was consumed by work! Today, I thought I would just post a blog about nothing but this:

I'mmmmmmm Baaaackkkkkkk!!! ;)

Ok, I need some ideas of blog post because my life has been kinda boring as far as good stories. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know.



Oh, I will be blogging about this on Friday. I am dying my hair dark, no more blonde highlights for me. I am thinking this dark:



What do you think??? ;)

A weekend at the farm

Well, it is Thursday and I am just now blogging about my adventures on the farm this past week. Brett, Debo and I headed up to Sabetha, KS. The weekend consisted of lots of family, lots of food and lots of fun! I think some people think when I talk about the farm, they think it is this old farm house and in the middle of no where but really it is more like staying at a bed and breakfast ;) There is plenty of space and just 5 minutes away is some small town shopping.

Our house is over 100 years old but my Dad has done a lot of work on it so it is really a pretty house. He also had treats of every ones pillow just like you get at a hotel but it was not a little mint, it was Reese's Butter cup eggs (my favorite) and like a three pound dove Chocolate bunny!! We had real beef all weekend, I hardly ever eat red meat so it was great!!

I feel like every time I go back to the farm I try something I have never tried and this time it was driving a 4 wheeler which I thought I would hate. Turns out, it was a blast. Brett was a little more daring than I was. I don't need to go fast or take jumps to get a thrill although my Dad did take me on a few jumps and I ended up kinda loving it. You can check out more pics of Brett on my flickr account .

Anyway, Easter is over and that is a little sad but my next favorite holiday is right around the corner, July 4th!!!!

Peace out!

Almost the last

Of things you still might not know about me:


I have (accidentally) injected myself with a pig needle (syringe used to vaccinate my dad's hogs) right in the ars. I have also sat down on a knife and I have the scar to prove it, any takers??

Until my freshman year of college i thought laptop computers were called "labtop's" (since they're used in labs)

I get a sick enjoyment out of seeing a car crash

I would not/do not swerve for cats in the road (sorry to my cat loving friends, oh wait, I don't have any, hee hee)

I have my hunter's safety license but can't shoot a target if it were right in front of me.

didn't like purple until now

Lately doing dishing has been a bit more enjoyable. Spring is here and I am loving it. I had to take a picture of the pretty bush outside my kitchen window. I have never loved purple so much. (I still don't like wildcat purple, sorry friends) As I was doing dishes I looked out and saw this:

As I was admiring this bush I took another picture with my hot lawn boy in it, Man he is cute!!! Where did that fine thing come from??? Wait a minute, that is Brett!!!!! Sweet, my life ROCKS!!!! ;)

Could there be any more you know know????

About me:

I have seen three tornado’s in my lifetime.

I was my high school mascot for one football season, the bluejay.

I was home schooled for less than a month.

I broke my leg in the first grade and didn’t have enough balance to use crutches so I had to use a walker for 6 weeks. I still don’t have that great of balance.

I want to learn to dance like a machine! You know, like pre crazy Britney, yes, I want to be able to dance like that.

Lazy? No time? ROELAND P!

So, you might all look at this picture and think I got it online somewhere after goggling “White trash” Nope, I took this picture from my front door, that is right. Johnson County is way over rated!! (I will save that topic for another blog) I have seen more than a couple houses that still have their Christmas lights up.

Jan 21st: maybe I can understand. Feb 21st: You are really pushing it but I still don’t think you are lazy; maybe you just don’t have time?? Marcy 21st: You are stinking lazy!!! Get out there and take your Christmas decorations down!! If you want to leave the trees up, fine, but at least hang some sparkly Easter eggs on it or something.

I have often thought about going in the middle of the night and pulling some of the lights out but I just can get the guts to do it. Any volunteers??? I might even pay you or make you a yummy dessert!

Anyway, I have noticed that my blog is mostly venting about things I can’t stand, sorry about that. I am not really that negative of a person but I guess when something irritates me, it really irritates me. I would hope that most people would be irritated to see Christmas lights up every stinking day and night in March. Maybe if I was a bigger fan of Christmas time I would like it but I am an Easter girl myself. Bring out the bunnies and pastels!!! I love it.

In conclusion:

Dear Person that is to lazy to take your Christmas lights down,

I love the little baby Jesus as much as the next person but it is time to move on and think about him rising again from the tomb instead of him being born. Please take down your Christmas decorations, I will even come over and help you out if you want.

Happy Easter,
Vikkie

More about little ole me

What else didn't you know??

I have perfect vision but my hearing is not all that great

Easter is my favorite holiday, I like it more than Christmas and thanksgiving combine.

I am a certified nurses aid and use to work in a nursing home

I sleep with matches by my bedside in fear of the deadly gas sleeping next to me (oh, oops, was that something you didn’t know about Brett, that is not what this post is about) hee hee!

I am pretty good at running a chain saw but at the same time I can paint my nails like the best of them.

If I could pick one food to eat all week it would be: POTATOES!!!! I LOVE EM!!!!

I have had my whole arm up to my elbow in a pig's va- j- j.