7 Kids, 1 Wedding

It’s been officially 10 days since I’ve become Mrs. Woodsman. Our wedding was great, we were only $10 over budget (that will be another entry) and now we’re finally back into full swing of life. I feel like I have so much to share but decided to begin where I got a ton of compliments…KIDS!

I understand that it’s a completely personal preference whether to include kids in a wedding and on a guest list. I come from a big, very close-knit family. My brother and I are the babies of a huge group of first cousins and closer in age to our second cousins. We’re all like siblings and to the younger ones more like aunts and uncles. If I could have included them all I would have.

From the beginning I could only be insanely excited that I was marrying into the Woodsman’s wonderful family AND he was already uncle to 5 of the best kids! Done deal, they were all going to be in our wedding. This meant 3 flower girls (nieces), 2 ring bearers (nephews) and 2 ushers (cousins) all under the age of 11. There were skeptics but we knew that this is our family and we honestly couldn’t think of our wedding without them.

Our flower girls looked so cute and were defiantly stars of the show. So many compliments on how cute they were and I must say my gut of not making them look like mini-brides was win! Anyways, one of them even caught my bouquet! A memory that will forever stick out is while in line waiting to head down the aisle my oldest niece (I just LOVE saying I have nieces and nephews…proud Aunt here!) turned to me and said it was the best day of her life. My heart melted and so did my fear of tripping! One of our nephews, the main ring bearer did a great job of keeping our actual rings safe and looked so handsome in his tux. My cousins who were our ushers owned seating people, from what I hear they seated like it was their job!

Each one of them rose to the occasion and we never had a doubt in our minds that they wouldn’t. They kept the order before the ceremony, got the dancing starting and kept the party going until after midnight. They helped keep us grounded…completely oblivious to the enormous stress of a wedding day. They were there to have the time of their lives and have fun…something we should take a step back and think about.

So thank you…

Kyle, Ethan, Trent, Maya, Olivia, Emma and Jackson!

We love you.

Check out some awesome photos from our wedding taken by friend C. Wade Photography !

Hello Monday!

It’s been awhile. I know, I know, my excuse is that I’m super busy but over the last 2 weeks things in my life have changed and for the much better (and less busy). Here’s a short recap of the major events:

Last week I FINALLY got to take a few days off of work. I spent one day with one of my Maid(s) of Honor Danielle, picking out her dress, and having in general, carefree wonderful day. It was nice to relive the days when I didn’t have to work so much and we’d just hang out all day. It was shopping, nails and catching up, I couldn’t ask for more! I then made a quick trip down to Austin, TX. Down there I surprised my other Maid of Honor, my cousin Heidi. It was great, I hadn’t seen her for 3 years and we needed some time together. While down there I got to catch up with other family, meet some new family members and bask my stressed out body in the sun and warmth.

Although I had to come back to reality and much colder weather, I was ready and felt all warm and tingly when I saw the Woodsman in his pickup pulling up to the arrivals at O’Hare Airport. We’re getting married in less than 4 months and things are going amazingly well…oh yeah, and I had an interview the next morning. The third and last interview that I will (hopefully) ever have; AND I got the job!

I thought, piece of cake, just get through the last few weeks of hell on Earth, and you’re golden. I gave my 2 weeks on Wednesday only to get fired on Friday. WHAT?! FIRED?! Yep, my boss who most of you know is a complete fail at humanity. He once told me when he cut our staff down by 1/3 that “No one leaves here so be happy you still have your job…” that is completely B.S. I left but he was right, he needed the last word and fired me. What a big, badass guy…he really showed me :)

I now have a lot of time to relax and recoup the past years of hell that I’ve gone through working at that place and I couldn’t be happier. Seriously, I needed out and didn’t even owe the guy notice but my morals and good work ethic got the best of me. I’ll be around, catching up on wedding stuff (I have plans to make ALL the attendant gifts and pretty much everything else). I have a box full of feather stuff to get listed and lots of laundry to get through. I’ll keep you posted on what I get done and how things are going.

Times are finally a’changin and I’m willing and ready…

P.S.

I LOVE baseball…GO WHITE SOX!

They Call Me Big Sista?!

“If a kid cannot bring out the true meaning of Christmas, ya gotta be in pretty bad shape.” @Evangelic_Diva

That quote comes directly from a Twitter friend and I just can’t stress how true it is. As with every holiday season I am reminded how lucky I am to have the close friends and family. I am also very thankful for my Little Sister, Cassandra. She’s 14 (almost 15), freshman at a college prep high school and just about the sweetest girl I have ever met. Believe me, I could go on for hours about all the things I admire about her and all the great things she has and will accomplish…but I won’t :) More importantly I feel that it’s important to tell people about my experience with my little Sis and how we got to where we are now.

It was about 3 years ago that I decided to join the program. I was working at my first “real world” job as a graphic designer, and I felt like something was missing. All of my life (thanks to Girl Scouts as well as my mom) I have volunteered. From reading to kids in the cancer unit at Lutheran General to making Christmas decorations with the seniors at Rainbow Hospice, I am no stranger to giving back (and to the heartbreak that goes along with it as well). I had to find something that with my schedule I’d be able to do and after much research I found the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization. What appealed to me was that it’s not a rehabilitation program, it’s more of an assistance program. I’m not acting like a therapist or trying to change a kid. I’m simply there to help nurture and be a good role model to a kid who might not have one.

When I told people about me trying to get into the program, I was surprised about how many negative things people said; mostly about how long it takes to get a match. I wasn’t going anywhere and was in no hurry, so I gathered my references and signed up. After numerous interviews, plenty of questions and 10 months I was finally matched with Cassandra.

Fast forward to now (almost 2 years later)…we’re closer than I ever imagined. I’d like to think of our relationship as one that was meant to be. It hasn’t been the easiest thing, but it’s been very rewarding in so many ways. Being a “Big”/mentor is something that takes a lot of time, and lots of creativity. I’m lucky that my Little is just as easy to please and laid back as I am. Never did I think that sitting on my couch, eating pizza, watching a movie would be one of the highlights of our time together. This also proves what a lot of people miss while in the program. It’s not about the money or fancy things that you take your Little to do, it’s all about the time that you spend together. There have been times that we’ve been driving to an outing or over a meal that we’ve shared the most. It’s those moments that I truly believe that I was meant to do this. She’s no longer a “match” but my family and for that, I’m grateful.

So I guess to sum it up, it’s a wonderful program and I couldn’t be happier with the relationship that I’ve made with my Little. I’d also urge anyone who can put a child they initially don’t know before themselves to become a Big. It might seem like a lot of time to some, but really it’s just another member of your family you want to spend time with.

It’s one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made, and can’t image my life without my sister Cassandra. She makes me proud in every way...just sayin’ is all!

...Commented on your post.

Hello all!
Long time no blog…my apologies! There just isn’t enough hours in the day to work, apply for jobs, have a hobby AND blog. So now I’m trying to catch up here. I promise I’ll be better! Afterall, it’s almost the holidays and I’m going to actually enjoy them this year :)

So, I’m sort of a social networking site whore. I’ll admit it, I check Facebook everyday and I’m always on Twitter (I did cancel MySpace though…creepy!). For me it’s been a great way to keep in touch with family that I don’t get to see often. Everyday I can count on certain cousins (and a few great friends) to cheer me up with a comment or wallpost. I find it funny that if you were to look at my Facebook Wall and my Fanpage it’s mostly made up of my family. I’m so lucky they’re my biggest fans! I keep in touch with family from Wisconsin, Texas and my best friend (she’s also my cousin) almost like they’re here. I’m even in constant contact with a cousin (by marriage) that I’ve never even met before! She seems like an amazing person and just as loving at the rest of our clan.

So I guess this entry really isn’t about much of anything, but I think you get my point if you have family that you deeply love and appreciate that isn’t close enough to hug. Distance does make the heart grow fonder and Facebook makes the distance a little less noticeable on those days where you post a crabby comment and have your wonderful cousins to show you love.

So to all my long distance family that are friends and fans…I miss you dearly and thank you!

What Would The Woodsman Cook?

Woodman's Dinner
Originally uploaded by FlockToghether

I have a woodsman (who I refer to as “The Woodsman”), he is the best and only one I know. He almost never lets me leave for work without breakfast and always puts the seat down. Pretty lucky, huh? He’s the grill and drink master in the summer while I usually cook non-grilling dinner…now that it’s almost winter our cooking dynamic has become much more interesting.

The other night he wanted to cook dinner and take care of the ALL the grocery shopping (like I said before, I’m lucky). He wanted to use up some of abundant amount of wild game we have in our freezer. He decided on duck breast schnitzel, potato pancakes and salad. Easy enough right? I honestly had no idea what to think because 1.) I have never cooked duck or potato pancakes 2.) it was already past 7pm. Needless to say with a little collaboration and a lot of patience in maneuvering in our little kitchen, we made an amazing and unique dinner.

So around 9pm we finally sat down to a duck breast schnitzel with mushroom sauce, potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce, fresh veggies and salad. The duck with sauce was SO good, and it’s definitely going into out normal dinner rotation. Below are the recipes for the duck schnitzel and mushroom sauce.

Duck Breast Schnitzel
2 boneless duck breasts, flattened to 1/8-1/4 inch thickness
Flour
1 egg, lightly beaten
Fine, dry breadcrumbs
Salt & pepper to taste
Butter or Margaring
Dredge duck in flour, and dip in egg. Dredge in breadcrumbs. Salt and pepper to taste. Melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Add duck, and fry until golden brown, turning once. Move to a plate and keep warm (keep what’s leftover in the skillet to make the sauce)
*Taken from Ducks Unlimited Wild Feasts Cookbook

Mushroom Sauce
1/3 c flour
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
3 c sliced white or cremini mushrooms (I used canned)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/3 c chicken stock
1/3 c light sour cream
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp minced fresh garlic

In same skillet, fry mushrooms and garlic until no liquid remains, about 5 min. Add reserved flour mixture; cook, stirring, for 1 min. Stir in stock and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring, until thickened, about 3 min. Stir in sour cream and soy sauce; pour over duck. Sprinkle with parsley.

Enjoy!

Flock Together & The Woodsman

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Dani Fascinator

Waking up to good news is well, great!

This morning I got a call from my pal in Maine. I recently made her a custom flower and feather fascinator for a 40's themed event at Colby College. Aside from the usual chat, she also wanted to tell me about the numerous compliments she got on her hairpiece! I was so excited to hear how many people liked it and asked where she got it (great advertising). She also sent me pictures of how it looked in her hair and she (of course) looked beautiful. Photographers from the Colby newspaper also snapped some pictures of her hair too, I can't wait to see that either!

I also made a bunch of pieces for her peacock Halloween costume, I'm eager to see everything come together for the costume. Just sharing some good news on this lovely Sunday morning!

Thanks Dani!

The Meatload

Turkey, Spinach & Feta Meatloaf
Originally uploaded by FlockToghether

I love dinner. I don’t mean go out (that’s nice on occasion too), but I love to sit down and eat a home cooked dinner. Growing up it was the law of the land that we are home at 6pm to sit down and eat. Dinner was so important to my family growing up; my brother and I always chose to have friends over so we wouldn’t miss that time together. It was never anything fancy, your standard dinner, meat, vegetable, side and salad. My mom always made it a point to make sure that she cooked something for dinner every weeknight. This is a practice that I’ve inherited (or I would have starved to death by now).

I also love email. Sending and receiving…it’s what keeps me going throughout the day. One main person I get emails from is my best friend Heidi (she’s also my cousin so her name might also come up in family entries at some point). She lives in Austin with her family so we email each other about a million times a day. Ok, now to the point…she sends me recipes that went over really wel with her family and are generally really easy to prepare. Recently, she sent me something that has turned into a favorite of both my main squeeze and me.

Chicken, Feta and Spinach Meatloaf. Sounds good, huh? It’s so good I decided to share! I made it my own by changing it slightly but it was very good, and very easy nonetheless. Hope you like it.


Chicken Feta- Spinach Meatloaf

• 3 lbs ground skinless Chicken thighs
• 1cup (approximately) Italian Style Bread crumbs
• 3 Tbs. + /- to taste of Garlic- Pepper mix from Whole Foods
• ½ lb cow feta crumbled
• ½ bag (4 oz) fresh Spinach (cut with pizza cutter)
• 1 egg: lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix chicken, bread crumbs and seasoning. Add Feta and Spinach. Mix well.
Add Egg. Mix well.
13 x 9 x 2 Pan - form into rectangle shape about length of the pan. About 2 inches thick.
Cook uncovered 1 hour and 5 minutes


*I did change this recipe a bit and it turned out great. I halved the recipe, used ground turkey (not chicken), and used frozen spinach (thawed).


As my mom and grandma always said "make it your own". I encourage you to do the same.

A Circle...

When I was younger I gave people "stuff" just as fast as I could make it (no holiday needed). You name it I’d make it; earrings, necklaces, worry dolls, collages, leaves glued to paper…completely custom stuff! The main recipient of my gifts was my grandma, even if she helped me make the crafts, she still accepted and wore it like it was made of gold and diamonds. Simply, she was my biggest fan, and my craft buddy.

Since her passing I’ve gotten a majority of the things back that I’ve made for her. It’s sort of ironic, getting back the things you handmade for someone. You never really think of the life something will see once it’s out of your hands. I of course, held onto to everything but stored them away. This entry is really about the stuff that I got yesterday, nothing that I made but the stuff that was made by my grandma.

It’s been 8 years coming, it was the first time that I’ve been able to go through stuff that was my grandma’s without shedding a single tear or feel like my heart was being burned out of my chest. I finally got to claim what my grandma left behind. Her 90 years of being an artist and crafter was right there in a few boxes.

Aside from the paintings that I'm going to frame and some of the jewelry that I'll keep for myself, I found an amazing amount of very old costume jewelry. My grandma, being the thrifty lady she was re-purposed anything that was broken and obviously never threw anything out. I don't think I can bear to throw any of this stuff out either. I took a bunch of beautiful pieces and amazingly have become very inspired.

Mixing old with new, it's such a obvious concept but really shines for me in this situation. She was proud of everything I ever made her, wasn't it my turn to keep and be proud of all that she did? It's like the whole circle of life thing...but circle of crafts and handmade. Isn't that why we all do it? Not to turn a crazy profit but to share the love and heart that goes into a piece that specifically came from your hand. That's why I made her all those wonderful macaroni necklaces...and that's why I hand make things now.

This may just be the best therapy I never paid for. Whenever I feel her memory fade I'll use her rhinestone pin and make it the focal point of a feather fascinator. I'll re-purpose a cameo pendant she made and put it on a headband. Take what she's created, make it my own and share it with others...the spirit of handmade.