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| Kate: 21 Months |
We took Kate to Busy Barns Adventure Farm in Ft. Atkinson, WI in early October and we all had a wonderful time! The farm features a variety of animals (goats, llamas, bunnies, pigs, horses, etc.) that kids can feed and pet, a corn maze, tire tunnels, hayrides, a pumpkin patch–even an afternoon puppet show! One of Kate’s favorite things was playing in this large corn-filled bin. So much fun!
2. This $3 plate:
My friend Beth and I attended the Madison Food & Wine Show, and we sprung a little extra to get these plastic plates at admission that not only held all the delicious cheeses, desserts, and spreads we enjoyed–but also a wine glass! Granted, it was rare that we ever had a need to set our wine glasses down, but there were a few times when it was critical…for example: when we were doing shots. Another time? Drunk-hugging friends and neighbors. Yet another advantage of the $3 plate? I discovered that it held my glass of wine steady enough that I could take a drink from it just by tipping my plate–a bet discovery that earned me $1 from some guy I’d never met before in my life a friend.
3. My first hot stone massage.
G and I celebrated our 8-year wedding anniversary in October and he surprised me by booking my very first hot stone massage! I typically find massages hugely functional (to get the knots and kinks worked out), but not very relaxing; however, I really enjoyed the hot stone variety! I found the lightly weighted pressure of the stones (as well as their heat) to be relaxing. I also really liked that the massage is done almost exclusively using the stones so I was being rubbed with a flat, smooth surface, versus thumbs being dug into my skin. My masseuse was still able to provide plenty of pressure to get the knots worked out, but it had a different feeling from traditional massages. I really enjoyed it and hope to do it again someday!
4. The Madison Mud Run.
My final adventure in the month of October was participating in the Madison Mud Run–a five-mile trail run with 16 obstacles along the way just to keep things interesting. The race was Halloween weekend and our team (comprised of my friend Beth and her neighbors) dressed up as zombies for the event. This was my first mud run and I knew I was in for one hell of a morning when our first obstacle was to jump into A SWAMP that came up to my fricking chest, wade through it, climb out the other side…and then keep running. Other obstacles along the way included army crawling through dark tunnels, climbing rope nets, a giant slip-and-slide loaded with soap suds, a balance beam, and a 52′ long inflatable obstacle course with barriers, walls, and a giant slide. The most challenging (and my personal favorite) was scaling a 6′ wall using nothing but your own strength to get up and over it. I was the only girl I saw who could do it! The race ended with an army crawl through a pit of (disgusting!) mud that was maybe 20-30 yards long, and then finally–soaking wet and covered in mud–we crossed the finish line. It was a crazy fun experience and something I’d definitely do again!
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| Our team of zombies before the Madison Mud Run (L to R: Jess, Todd, Kara, Shannon, Beth and me). |
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| After! |
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| Beth & Me. Is our makeup running? |
5. This stop sign on my way to work that was recently decorated with a little pumpkin and the question, “Do you dream?”
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| I know it’s vandalism, but dammit it makes me smile. |
Honorable October mentions: candy corn/peanuts/m&m snack mix, pumpkin beer, and my much anticipated, highly coveted, weekly Starbucks pumpkin spice latte.
Wow! Good looks, mud in hallowen. I like your looks guys.
Oh, your honorable mentions are all BIG favorites of mine with the addition of anything pumpkin with cream cheese frosting! And my pumpkin spice latte addiction is getting bad (sometimes twice a week…) but hey, I only have a few more weeks to enjoy this delicacy!
I have a small set of those wine plates from Pottery Barn?…they are great for parties.
You’re posting October items……on November 11th? What has happened to your blog? I am really curious. You used to post about many interesting topics…..hair, handbags, decorating, shoes, and yes, some activities (not a mud marathon). It seems you’ve really let yourself go, at least that’s the perception here. As if there’s nothing really to blog about?
Hey anonymous — STFU. Do you pay to read this blog? “Interesting blog topics” could never surpass quality time with your child and husband.
How the hell is someone that is raising a genuinely happy and gifted child, running half marathons, hosting parties, traveling with friends, cooking home made meals, supporting the community in her professional and personal time equate to “someone who has let herself go.”
Seriously, go to hell. (btw, I’ve given D a thorough demonstration on how to track anonymous comments, dumbass)
@”Anonymous” – Jealous, much? At least that’s the perception here. Pitiful.
@D- Kate is so beautiful! You rocked that mud. And I have the redneck version of those plates that holds Solo cups instead of wine glasses!
Well said Allison & Beth. To me, a blog is someone sharing her life with us. I appreciate that life changes, evolves, & gets better with time! As the saying goes – those that matter don’t mind, and those that mind DON’T MATTER. D, you just keep on keepin’ on. To know you – in person and by blog – is to love you!
Daang girl you made that mud run yo’ bitch! Rock on with ya bad self!! I love your energy for life, D. You have such an AMAZING family. Kate is just a little doll as usual. We took SB to a big pumpkin patch and she loved the corn box, too! Her school even has a little corn box set up in an empty kiddy pool on the playground!
And for you, Anonymous, you need to lay off the haterade.
Allison, take it easy, LOL. Comments are personal opinions and if the blog owner doesn’t like them, then just delete them. My real name is Christina, that might help you track me better. Are you going to call the internet police because I prefer her blog the way it used to be? Your anger is out of control, I’d work on that. It sounds like you’re out of control with the cussing and name calling….but call it jealousy, haterade, etc. It’s an opinion…..which you’re going to get when you have a blog. Get a thicker skin.
@Nicole–As much as I love my pumpkin spice latte, I have to admit I’m looking forward to replacing it with the peppermint mocha latte as soon as Thanksgiving’s over. Hello holidays! <3
@Anne Marie–What a great hostess item to have! I should check those out. They’d make a great housewarming gift, too!
@Anonymous–I’m busy living my life and that doesn’t always leave me with ample time to write about it. I’m sorry that leaves you lacking for entertainment, however there are literally thousands of other blogs out there that cover the topics you seem to be most interested in. In the meantime, I’ll continue writing about whatever I’d like.
@Allison, Beth, mWa, & Kent–Thank you for always having my back. I am lucky to have such great friends in my life!
Kent–An empty kiddie pool filled with corn? Brilliant. I think I know now what to put on Kate’s Christmas list! LOL!
Oh dear, Christina – you did come of pretty strong with your snarky ass comment. Allison, Beth and I are all defending D because we are her friends and we get pretty pissed when people disrespect her. To accuse her of letting herself go is perhaps the dumbest shit I’ve ever read – like ever…ever. Your opinion is wrong my dear. And I also think you are smoking crack and perhaps have no reading comprehension skills. Blah
Aaahhhhh…..so you’re all friends. Obviously not random, anonymous readers of this blog. So of course you won’t agree with me, therefore you’re not really credible. I admire your friendship and devotion, but being called a dumb ass makes you look a bit immature. Hmmm….I haven’t tried crack, either. Yet another immature comment. I mean really, do you expect sunshine and roses for every comment? And D? Yes, your blog totally leaves me void of entertainment. I’ll take my comments on outta here and go visit other, more interesting blogs.
“Christina” — for someone that hates this blog so much you sure are interested in returning to it and the comments?
I don’t think anything is more immature than being anonymous internet bully and finding ‘hair, handbags, decorating, shoes’ the defining topics of a woman.
On a happier note D — I just had the most amazing idea: an empty kiddy pool full of candy corn and peanuts! THAT is something I can get behind.
I heart you Allison!
There’s a stop sign near my work (in Verona) that has “HAMMER TIME” under it. Not as cute as yours, but it cracks me up every time I leave work in that direction.