Monster Dash 2010 Recap

First off, Happy Halloween! I have to admit, I am not really a fan of Halloween. Not really at all. I know I probably should be. I'm all for imagination and pretending and having fun but there is something I find very unnerving (more so than what is intended) about people with masks on, or fake blood, or anything icky like that. (Yes, I am a grown-up and I just used the word 'icky.') (Yes, I am a grown-up and just used the word 'grown-up.')


Yesterday, as part of Halloween weekend, Jason ran the 10 mile Monster Dash in Minneapolis. Since the race is so close to Halloween, many of the runners dress up! I thought that not many people would be dressed up since it's typically difficult to run in a costume (or so I would think... synthetic fabric rubbing in places it should not be? No thank you.) There were MANY runners in costume though and I snapped some photos of my favorites.

A Christmas Tree (he's just a little early... or a lot.) A skeleton (no body fat = fast runner!) And an M&M and a Peanut. This one could be either incredibly cute or incredibly weird... think "you are the peanut to my M&M!" Not sure that is a nice compliment for a guy.

This Twister costume is really cool! You can't tell in the photo but her hat was the spinner! Also, a Whoopie Cushion and some McFries (which is funny since runners are usually, you know, not really into fast food.)

Thing 1 and Thing 2... love the hair. Gumby... imagine a half marathon in this suit! He/she did it! And, of course, beer.

One of my favorite costumes were the numerous people dressed as Waldo from Where's Waldo (the Wikipedia article has a lot of information you never knew you wanted to know about Waldo!) Think of a big crowd of people and a Waldo in the middle of the crowd. SO appropriate!

These people made me think "found him!" to myself all day!

I have to say, I really love supporting Jason and his running. I was able to drop him off and then head over to the 4 mile marker to see him along the way. I was even able to snap a photo! You guys, it's hard to pick someone out of a crowd of 9,000 people when they are all speeding by, even if it's your own husband!

As you can see from the center photo, it was a gorgeous day in the Twin Cities. It was a littel chilly in the early morning but it warmed up quickly. The lake in the center photo is Lake Nakomis which the runners circled twice before running on Minnehaha Parkway to Lake Harriet and the Finish Line. The third photo was taken close to the finish line which was right on the water. SO pretty and a really nice place to hang out and watch everyone finish. We watched a bunch of the 5k runners finish which was a lot of fun. A lot of families running together, more fun costumes, and even runners with their dogs (who all seemed to just want to do it all over again they were so excited!)

And now, with this medal (which, if you'll notice, has a skull on it! Too cool!), Jason has a 5k, a 10k, a 10 mile, and a half marathon (13.1 miles) under his belt. WOO Jason! So so proud of you!

Also, I just wanted to say that at midnight tonight it will be November. Month 11. One month away from December. This is just crazy to me! Wasn't it Labor Day like, last week?

Today I am...

listening: to the TV and the kitty snoring next to me.

eating: I'll tell you what I'm not eating... the chocolate bars I bought for the trick-or-treaters for this weekend... but boy is it hard NOT to!

drinking: too much Diet Coke.

wearing: work clothes, which reminds me... why haven't I changed into my pajama pants yet?

feeling: a bit chilly... it's definitely fall in Minnesota!

thankful: for some decisions I have made lately, some plans in the future, and for time to implement ideas I have in my head (in other words: thankful for lots of good stuff!)

weather: like I said, chilly... but nice since it's a beautiful thing to be able to snuggle under a blanket.

watching: I silly kitty (not the one snoring) run around the house like a crazy kitty (because she is.)

wanting: to release my new blog design to all of you, but it still needs a little tweaking.

needing: to do dishes... ewww.

thinking: about how I can't wait for Jason to come home so we can watch The Big Bang Theory tonight!

enjoying: all of the people I follow on Tumblr.

wondering: every day about everything. ;-)

{I was inspired by Kim of Yellow Songbird to write this post. Maybe I'll make a habit of it... I really enjoyed this little exercise.}

Pumpkin Goodness

Do you like all things pumpkin?

Do you absolutely love this time of year when you can order a pumpkin latte and a piece of pumpkin pie?

How about a little taste of something pumpkin-y plus some yummy chocolate?

Yes, please!

Do yourself a favor and go to Godiva and try one of their Pumpkin Truffles (local peoples, fyi - there are two in the MOA.) They. Are. Delicious. It's like pumpkin pie filling inside that little truffle and it's just wonderful. Plus, look at the uber cute wrappers with the cute little leaf!

No really, go get one. If you like pumpkin-y things, you will not be disappointed.

2010 Christmas Cards from Shutterfly

Have you started thinking about your Holiday Cards yet? I have! I actually think about them all year. I started planning my 2010 Christmas Card around the time I sent out my 2009 Christmas Cards. I love (love!) sending out Christmas cards almost as much as I love receiving them!

Sending a bunch of Christmas cards is a perfect way to give your friends and family a review of your year. It's sometimes hard to keep in touch with everyone, and even when you do you can miss the details of everyone's lives. Your yearly card is a great way to catch everyone up (and to get caught up!) in all those fun moments from the past year. My friends and family may have known that my husband and I moved this year, but they may not know that we bought our first house! This is definitely a detail I love to share! :-)

Holiday cards are also a great way to share photos. The cards I love receiving the most are the ones that include photos. Whether they are cute posed shots that are taken every year, candid photos from throughout the year, or photos taken on a family vacation, they are meaningful and a great way to see how everyone has changed. Every year I see my cousins Christmas photos and think "wow, they are growing up!"

Now, where do you find such a meaningful card to send? You guys may have heard of Shutterfly before, but if you haven't you should know that I have ordered multiple items from them and have never been disappointed! Their prints, photobooks, cards, and other gift items are always great!

They have some really great designs this year for the holidays that you should definitely check out as well! Below are my top three Christmas photo cards, though, you should know that it was very hard to choose just three designs to show you! Definitely check out the rest of their designs on the Shutterfly website!

Counting the Days
I love the alternate colors in this card (not just green and red) and the three photos in a line. You could even use these spots like a photobooth strip to add a little something extra (see last year's card).


Top Ten Moments
I LOVE the idea of including meaningful text on your card. This design reminds me of Letterman's Top 10 List and is a great way to include an overview of your year. Whether you are including a letter with your card or not this definitely adds a lot of meaning!


Pretty Poinsettia Print
This card is actually 5"x5" square. I so love the idea of square, or any atypically sized card to make everything just a little more interesting. (You should know though, that square cards are considered 'irregular' by the Postal Service and cost a bit extra to send.) I personally think it's worth it since I love all things square!


Do you want 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly? Click here to go to Shutterfly for information on how you can get 50 free cards this holiday season, and make sure to select Clever 1000 as the referral source.

This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Christmas Canvas Decor

A while back I applied for a position that required me to create some paper-crafting projects that were not pages. This is where I thrive! :-) I love mini books and gift ideas and, in this case, decorative canvases.

Here is the a Christmas Canvas I made using the new Basic Grey Holiday line called Jovial.

I SO love this line (as I do with most Basic Grey designs). It's full of bright colors and amazing designs. If you haven't seen it yet, definitely check it out.

Also, today is FRIDAY!!! Happy weekend everyone! Any fun plans? How many of my fabulous blogger friends are at Relevant this weekend? How many are at Jen's (PriorFatGirl) One Breath, One Step get together in the Twin Cities? Lots of fun stuff happening (that I really wish I wasn't missing) However, I'm visiting some friends in sunny California instead! WOO! Going to drink some wine, eat copious amounts of cupcakes, and generally have a good time.

I like people who...

... go with the flow
... sign their name with just the first letter of their first name
... reverse emoticons (:
... hug people they have just met
... laugh a lot
... appreciate random things when they happen randomly
... take photos
... create things
... follow their dreams
... drink craft beer
... look forward to the changing of every season
... use phrases like 'oh for cute' and 'awesomesauce'
... email me when they find something that has to do with cupcakes
... are happy
... dance in the rain
... jump in with both feet
... are passionate about things
... blog
... are accepting
... like to travel

If you are any or all of these things, you can probably count on me liking you. :-)

8 years

Today is October 20th.

At about 1:00am EST 8 years ago on October 20th, 2002 I finally told Jason that I was ready to call ourselves "boyfriend and girlfriend." It was kinda a big deal.

We were both 17, seniors in high school, and little did I know just how much that night would mean to us.

I knew then that we were good together but I didn't know just how great it was to have found my best friend. (We dated for a month before we were 'official'... I wanted to be sure and basically tortured Jason by not just jumping in with both feet. Something I likely do too much these days. :-)

Today, 8 years later, nothing makes me happier than splitting a bottle of wine with my best friend on a Friday night and knowing just how lucky I am.

Wishlist Wednesday - Do What You Love Print

Christen Strang creates the greatest prints and other fun things for her Etsy Shop letterhappy. I especially LOVE this print that says "Do what you love, love what you do." This phrase has always spoken volumes to me and it's something I have to remind myself of a lot.


Wouldn't that be nice? To do what you love and love what you do. For those of you who do, we should have coffee and chat. :-)

This print comes in a variety of colors to match whatever room you would hang it in as a reminder every day. I love just the simplicity.

Definitely check out the rest of Christen's designs as well as her blog and twitter.


Wishlist Wednesday posts are meant to introduce my readers to cool products and support creative people that I believe in. All opinions are mine. I am never asked to write about any of these products and I am not compensated for my post. It's all just good stuff I want to share with you. :-) Affiliate links wherever possible.

I Heart Tumblr

Have you heard of tumblr? Do you use it? Do you l-o-v-e it like I do? Oh, how I love tumblr.

The definition of tumblr via Urban Dictionary is:

Tumblelogs are miniblogs — a fast way to share links, photos, and videos without the bells and whistles of a regular blog. Unlike blogs, tumblelogs are frequently used to share the author's creations, discoveries, or experiences while providing little or no commentary.

If blogs are journals, tumblr is a scrapbook.

That is the most perfect definition and exactly how I use tumblr. I browse inspiring people's posts (99% are just photos with credit given to the original poster) and reblog those that I find especially inspiring and 'like' those that I like. Below are just a handful of the photos I have found on tumblr:

Credits (left to right, top to bottom): via christinameisa, via ohhelloyouprettythings, via happythings, via f&$%yeahhappy, via f&$%yeahhappy, remaining are via christinameisa.

Find my tumblr here: sampiette.tumblr.com

Please share yours in the comments so I can follow you! :-)

Celebrate Monday - The Little Things

Just an ordinary task of sewing a button back on a shirt. Appreciating the little things that make our lives ours lately.

Also note the nail polish which I almost never wear -- this is Haute Chocolate by Sally Hansen (#630). So perfectly dark and it just says "fall" to me. :-)


This post is part of a challenge hosted by Simple Scrapper where I post photos celebrating everyday life. Find my other Celebrate Monday posts here.

Miss me? :-)

Did ya miss me? I haven't forgot about de blog! No worries! I've just been busy with fun scrapbooking/photographing stuff!

I'm gearing up for a series of posts about my December Daily Album this year (as well as finishing up/photographing last year's album!) Yes, I hadn't finished last year's album. No stress though because it's really making me that much more excited for this year!

This year's album will be hybrid and include lots of freebies for you! :-) Fun, right?

I've also been busy taking photos for my Picture Fall class. I really LOVE fall and we have had such amazing weather here in Minnesota lately. A-MAZ-ING. It's making for some beautiful photos and lots of opportunity for me to play with my camera.

One last thing... go check out my most recent article on A Little Great! It's all about collecting squished pennies!

Picture Fall Photos

I mentioned at the beginning of the month that I am taking Tracey Clark's Picture Fall class over at Big Picture Classes (formerly Big Picture Scrapbooking.) So far, I'm having a great time! The prompts are very inspiring and the photos in the gallery from the other participants are beautiful. There really are some talented people taking this class!

Below are a few of the photos I have taken so far as part of the class. I'm slowly but surely learning to use my camera and I love it!


I'm enjoying this class so much I'm considering taking the next class by Tracey called "Picture the Holidays." I think it would go great with this year's December Daily album (which I will be going over here soon! Very excited!)

We have a winner!

The randomly chosen winner who will receive a $40 Gift Certificate to Purelydogbeds.com is:


Beth! Who said:

I will be emailing you so that we can get your your prize Beth! :-)

Thanks everyone for entering!

More Photos of Miss Abigail!

Left to right, top to bottom: Just look at those beautiful eyes, Abi and Mommy (Amanda), Abi and Grammie (my MIL), too cute for words, heading home in the car, snuggled up on Mommy.

Adorable, right? I just couldn't resist sharing more photos. She's just so precious and I can't get enough!

One year ago...

It was a year ago today that Jason and I boarded a plane with our kitties and moved from Boston to Minnesota.

Since then:
- We've made new friends
- We've missed friends we left behind
- We've traveled home 3 times
- We've gotten addicted to prime time TV starting at 7:00pm
- We've learned that yes, it really is freaking cold here (you know, in February)
- We know exactly what the term "Minnesota Nice" means and have experienced it first-hand (why can't everyone be this nice?)
- We bought and moved into a house
- We've spent approximately $175 to be able to watch Red Sox games on TV (this does not count the two games we went to here where the Twins played the Red Sox)
- We've had countless friends and family visit us
- Jason ran a half marathon and a 10k!

We've explored and had fun here and always tell people "we knew we would like it, but we didn't know we would like it this much." And that, that is just perfect.

My ultimate family vacation!

Sponsored By:

Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine, Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

Oh dear, how indeed would I choose what the perfect vacation would be? I guess I have to think of what would need to be included for it to be a true vacation. For me that includes both sight-seeing & relaxing. Vacation has to have relaxation or else it's not really a vacation!

So, where would be go that would provide both? I have the perfect idea. And, because I can never make a decision between two awesome things, I choose Italy and Greece.

First up would be Italy. (And, in case you're wondering who would be with me, well, if it were up to me, I would bring everyone I know... especially all my favorite girlfriends. But let's, since I have to be just a little realistic, say it's just me and my husband, Jason.) We would fly into Rome and spend about 4 days there, eating delicious food and enjoying gelato whenever we could. We would explore all of the typical tourist spots; the Pantheon, Vatican City, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and I would exclaim over and over again how you just can't find that much history and beautiful architecture in the US. We would take an afternoon to visit the Trastevere Neighborhood for a more quiet meal and some excellent wine (I've heard that this area of the city is much less go-go-go than the heart of Rome. Jason would like that a lot. :-)

Next up would be a short trip to Venice for some romantic leisure followed by a historic trip to Pompeii (I did a report on it in grade school and have always wanted to see it.)

Next up, Greece. We would stay in Santorini for a few days to experience the culture and beauty. The stark white buildings and amazing views would make me consider how hard it would really be to move there forever. It would be hard to leave and I would vow to go back someday (which is something I do everywhere, every time I travel.)

For the last leg of the trip we would spend our time sipping drinks at Mytros Beach, soaking up the sun and wondering how the last few weeks went by so fast. Relaxing and gearing up for a long flight home we would look through photos, take a few more, and talk about our favorite parts of the trip.

There it is! My ultimate vacation! It's a lot, but that's what 'ultimate' means to me! It would be crazy amazing and a trip of a lifetime. And just perfect!

Don't forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.