take me out to the ball game!

Minnesota is a sports fan's paradise. There are so many passionate fanatics in this state; from hockey to football, baseball to basketball, we love it all! Unfortunately, the Minnesota Twins aren't having the best season ever. Okay, it's a TERRIBLE season, but that never deters a true fan from sticking to their guns and cheering for the best team in baseball! Last Monday I had the pleasure of taking in my last ball game of the season at the capital of Twins Territory: Target Field. My parents have been longtime season ticket holders of the Twins, and take in games just about every week. We figured it would be fun to do one last Twins outing before I became fully exposed to all the idiotic White Sox fandom in Chicago. (It you're not aware, Minnesota and Chicago hate each other, so this should be interesting, lol) 

Target Field is brand spanking new (this is the second season it's open) and probably the most gorgeous stadium in baseball. (And that's not just me being biased, several publications and people agree) It's made with Minnesota limestone, metals from the iron range and just about every other material comes from Minnesota too! It's also the greenest, most eco-friendly stadium in the country! Unfortunately, the Twins kept their losing streak alive, but it was still a wonderful time!

Believe it or not, the Twins have experienced the most success of any team in baseball over the last 10 years!

Gate 34, in honor of one of the most famous Twins of all time: Kirby Puckett, who died of a massive hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 45.

If you can get over the dirty iPad screen, it's super fun to get live stats, pitch counts and even an exact view of the strike zone when the ball crosses the plate on the MLB app for iPad!

Joe Mauer (3 time American League batting champ, 3 time Golden Glove winner and 2009 American League MVP) might as well be a rock star in Minnesota. He's definitely the most eligible bachelor!

TC the Bear, the most loveable mascot in baseball, dancing in center field.

Sooo.......... why did we trade him to Cleveland 3 days later?

The best website ever is DidtheTwinsWin.com. For a long time it was updated with either "Twins Win!" or "No," but we think the person in charge just got sick of updating it. This, however, is just too funny.

home is where the heart is

Thanks to my foot injury, work and soon classes in Chicago, I haven’t had much time to do just go out and have fun… till today! I love being back home! The homesickness never kicked in in Chicago, (yet) but I’m starting to think going home once and a awhile will be viewed as a real treat! There’s just so many things I love about MSP, but I’m super excited to see what Chicago has in store for me. Today I was up around 10, did some window shopping with my mom (I found a super cute throw blanket at the Galleria in Edina), then had lunch with some old friends at Yum. I chilled out by the pool at my parents’ house till 5:30, then went out for drinks and dinner with some MORE old friends at Black Sheep Pizza then Library. We topped it off with a viewing of The Help at the Mall of America, which was the cutest, loveliest movie I’ve seen in a super long time! It was a great day, and I’m so happy that things are going better after the last couple weeks of suckiness. Above, the ensemble I wore today, with a super high messy bun on the top of my head! I’ve pretty much stopped using my crutches now against doctors’ orders. I’ve figured out how to limp around without them, even if I look silly. I’d rather deal with weird looks than those clunky things!

final days of august part 2

In Duluth, Minnesota, the greatest place you can be is Canal Park, where you can get Hawaiian shave ice, horse carriage rides, lots of places to shop and eat and the most beautiful harbor views! Here's part 2!

Enger Tower is on the very top of Duluth's infamous hills. From the top, you get the most spectacular views of Duluth there are. Trivia: The former king of Sweden commissioned it and the current king is returning this fall to check it out!

The Duluth trip was one of the things I really needed. After a tough week, it was a great beginning to a new week! I'm already ready to go back!

final days of august

It's been too long! I've been at my cabin and bouncing around for the past week and I've unfortunately been waaay too preoccupied to update blogger! I'm back now with some photos of Duluth from last weekend! One of John's co-workers had a beautiful wedding back in my home state of Minnesota, and I jumped at the chance to join him and come home early! Unfortunately, John's grandmother died and he had to leave early, but it was a great few days nonetheless! Above is the famous Duluth lift bridge; the only one of it's kind in the world!

Beautiful sunset views over Duluth Harbor on Lake Superior.

Cheesy little sailor statues at a Duluth tourist shop.

Little figurines at the Duluth Art Fair in Canal Park.

Grandma's is absolutely legendary in Duluth! A great place for lunch on their 2nd level deck with views of Lake Superior and the lift bridge.

here come the hawks!

Today was my first day at my second job in legal services at the United Center for the Chicago Blackhawks! I held the same position for the Minnesota Wild for four years prior, so there isn’t much difference between locations, but it was still fun getting back in the groove nonetheless! Above is my choice for dressing, which is pretty much a basic look I worked at Minnesota all the time. A skirt, flowy shirt and heels (they are mandatory in Chicago, as well as Minnesota, which made for an interesting and slightly painful time with my crutches/foot) are the basic uniform of all female employees in the front offices. It’s very fun to dress up for this job and dress down for my job at Anthro! Tomorrow I work at Anthro in the morning and the United Center in the evening, followed by drinks with John! Then Saturday his co-workers’ wedding in the burbs. This weekend is sure to be a great one

apartment shopping

…..Or should a say apartment hobbling? Today was a ton of fun, except for “crutching” everywhere, but I’ll get used to it soon. I worked today from 10-3, then met Christine for a late lunch at Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen, a Chicago favorite for everyone from Michael Jordan to Al Capone. After a couple roast beef sandwiches, we wandered around the shopping districts in Chicago, ending back at my lovely Anthropologie. Finds from our apartment shopping trip include: Assorted vintage plates and bowls, a couple serving bowls, a silverware set, a couple vases and paintings, a vintage bikini from 1940 to be framed and hung up in the bathroom, shower curtains, little knick knacks like a glass bird and a few candles, a few suitcases to be stacked one on top of another in replacement for a table and a few bouquets of fresh flowers. Overall, it was a successful day! 

Above is the outfit I wore on our little outing! I love the Tucker printed blouse more than words can express, and with my new “disability” the Diane Von Furstenberg flats were a life saver! I’m definitely going to start doing more posts on what I’ve been wearing. I’ve had this bizarre habit since I was 15 of documenting every piece of jewelry and clothing I own in binders for reference/ideas. Knowing the exact name of every piece is slightly neurotic and OCD, but man, it makes making these collages easy :)