Wedding Overload

So no. I didn't forget all of you, my projects or this blog. I just got a little carried away with WEDDING PLANNING! We have been working diligently on the backyard in starting a raised-bed vegetable garden, re-landscaping the backyard (moving and splitting plants) and breaking ground on the humps. Oof-dah!

Hang tight for the updates. I hope to have them up by the weekend.

As the reasoning for the wedding overload? We decided to get married this year so we are hitting the gas all the way to alter! The date is October 13, 2012, at Willow Pond B&B and Events in Weyauwega, WI. We also decided to stay on a tight budget and go as green as possible with the ceremony and reception at the same venue. Yay for eco-friendly events! So spread the word: the Anderson green wedding! The reception will be held in a little red barn. How Wisconsin is that?!

For wedding details and blog check us out at MaureenAndMax.com! There will be a lot of updates on there.

2012 Vegetable Garden: The Redux

This year I really wanted to get a head start on my organic vegetable garden that I sort of failed at early last year. I started seed way to late in the season and then cooked them out in the sun one day. So I ended up going back and buying mature plants and giving it another go. Some things like lettuce and broccoli I ended up growing way too much of. Other things like my tomatoes and green pepper plants proved not so "fruitful" get it, since they are technically fruits... ok enough of the bad jokes. To my defense, that was my first garden and I feel I bit off more than I could chew with gardening and home remodeling. Too much, too fast, too soon.

I saved all my plastic pots and seed starting trays from last year (reuse!). Last month, I went out and bought all the seeds for the plants I wanted this year. After reading the times for planting in zone 5, I had to start the tomato and pepper plants inside before the season began. They recommended 6-8 weeks before planting in the ground.

I used Stein's seed starting mix and filled just a section of the tray. I don't plan on having a huge garden with just Max and me. Maybe later when we have some babinos.

According to the seed packaging directions, I made a 1/4" hole with my finger for the seeds. Sometimes they were a little deeper, so sue me.

Carefully I added a couple of seeds to each section. I am over planting plants this year just in case some fail or bugs get them I can hopefully have some harvest. You just never know.

Using our super awesome kitchen sink sprayer, I simulated some rain and lightly watered the seeds.

Ahh, a good drink.

I placed the clear cover lid on for added warmth and protect to the seeds.

Then placed them in their new home, a small indoor greenhouse I picked up on clearance for $30.

Grow little friends! This year we are going to try to make some raised beds for vegetables to help prevent some of the weeds (and my back) from killing. We shall see. The yard is definitely the priority though after our New Year's House Resolutions.

We saw the new movie, The Lorax, and I was completely brought back to my childhood days. I remember now that was the main reason I started buying books on saving the planet because I watched Dr. Suess's The Lorax in elementary school a lot. It was one of those videos the school owned that they would put on if the teacher needed a space filler or they needed to entertain us before a speaker. I cried as a child every time the animals had to go away. Cried again this time too. I loved how they showed how to make things better, which the original story did not. Either way, good work Suess, you worked on me! I guess I was an "UNLESS".

The Engagement

Forget my joke in the last post, it finally happened.

Max popped the question!

On Saturday, March 10th, 2012, he asked me to be more than his house remodeling companion, but his wife. I know you are all asking, "What's the story?"! So here it goes...

We have been having an unseasonable warm winter that continued to March. Sixty degree days in the beginning of March mean us house bound Wisconsinites get to venture back outdoors. We headed up to the cabin the night before to have a little alone time that we really needed. That morning, I woke up early and made a breakfast casserole and we enjoyed the sun.

After our food had settled, we went on a morning jog together around part of the lake. We been both consciously trying to workout more and get back in shape. It was a gorgeous morning for it too. Only a few clouds and lots of wind.

Since there was still patches of snow on the ground and the lake was still frozen, there wasn't much to do at the cabin so we headed into nearby Waupaca, WI, to bum around the town. Max was being very patient with me and let me go into all the antique and gift stores I wanted. From this moment on, I knew something was up. We joked and called it "terrific lady day" like they said on The League. I was really enjoying "terrific lady day". I picked up a very cool vintage 1966 Standard Oil street map of Milwaukee for $3 at Ingeborg's Cupboard Antiques and Collectables. Very Mad Men Esque of me. Wall art, yes!

We then headed back to the cabin to have a couple of beers and start dinner (steaks we had picked up from local Wautoma meat store, Stoneridge). I sat by the campfire, which was not actually lit, enjoying sitting in the sun. Max said he had to go to the bathroom and would be right back out. A few minutes later, he came out with his beer and a book. He then asked me to go for a walk to sit down by the swing just below the house. Being in the shade, I was less than thrilled to move out of the sunlight. Seeing a book, also made me get a little down since that usually meant he is going to zone out and not talk.

We get to the swing and he said, here read the first chapter. I look and its a copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. A book I have read years ago. Anyone who really knows me, knows I don't read much, so me reading all the Harry Potter books was a big deal. I also love all the movies. So I begin to read.
*note: grammar has been changed

"The Adventures of Maureen
As told by
Max Anderson

We all know how the Harry Potter stories go. They go on to sell a bunch of copies of the books and create a string of hit movies. But instead in this chapter, we get to learn about someone much more important than that "Harry" guy. It's a story that's much more important than Hogwarts, wizarding, and even that little guy we call "Lurk".

This is a story of how one of the greatest things happened for the lives of two people. It all happened many years ago, during the Brewers Opening Day, where Maureen was having fun in the big city of Milwaukee.

Maureen went out to a club to meet a friend downtown. When Maureen got to the club, she realized that her friend was being mean to hear and she thought "to hell with this guy, I'll go to talk to someone else." That's where Max came into the story. Max came up and said "Hi", he proceeded to talk to Maureen for the night where he later took her home since she was really tired. But as Max drove away that night, he couldn't help but think that there was something about that girl.

About one month later Maureen and Max go out for their first date at Oakland Trattoria where they have their first dinner together and then go to a movie. Max would never forget that night, it was the first night he had a date with the girl of his dreams. It was also the first time he ever had a girl suggest that they go to watch the Jackass movie. He knew that night that girl was something special........

After a few dates, Maureen said "I love you". It was big news to Max, but he knew he was able to say "I love you" back and mean it.

Eventually, Max graduated college and he had to get a job, that meant he had to leave Maureen and that made him very sad. He cried when he left since he didn't want to give up the greatest person in his life. He knew that he needed to find a job so he went far far way and he didn't speak to Maureen for a long time. It was a decision that he would regret for the rest of his life.

But thankfully, after a long time, Max came back to Milwaukee and he was able to see Maureen again. H will never forget the smile on her face after not seeing her for so many years, but he knew that he was glad to be back home.

After some time Maureen and Max got together and decided to move in together. They moved out of the big dirty city of Milwaukee and eventually bought a house, moved into it and started fixing the place up. They decided to call that house home.

But there was something that was bothering Max. There was something that was incomplete in his life and that he couldn't put his finger on. There was one more thing he needed in his life that he just couldn't do himself. It was if there was a question that he needed answered but he couldn't answer it himself....."

He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I, of course, said YES!

My ring is a blue diamond with white accent diamond stones. About .75 carat total for your ring buffs.

Max said he chose the Chamber of Secrets since the book was going to have it's own secret. He joked it would be a little morbid to put it in the Deathly Hallows since so many people die. I told him, well people still died in that book. R.I.P. Moaning Myrtle.

Overall, a very surprisingly awesome and romantic proposal I didn't think my man had in him. Love knowing he's still full of surprises.

Let the wedding planning begin!

What's your engagement stories? Did it involve a book or a "terrific lady day"? Are you a creepy Harry Potter fan?

When Two Become One

This is a beautiful story of when two separate beings are joined forever in a life of happiness. Sorry, I know that might sound like we got engaged. Don't worry. I'm still optimistic on that one, but I'm talking about plants. Yes plants. Bamboo to be exact.

Late last summer, my sister held a bridal shower for one of her friends with an Asian theme. She gave away little bamboo plants as a party favor. Well not everyone showed up to the party and she had a few left over. Being a great sister, she offered me a few to get rid of them. Having no plants at all in our home yet, so not feng shui of us, I more than happily accepted them.

And thus they lived on my kitchen windowsill for many many months. One perished very soon after it was brought home so I wanted to let the other two grow a little stronger before I replanted them. They finally were ready to have a new home.

Using a $0.49 ORÄDD potted plant from IKEA and $1 accent rocks from Dollar Tree we began the re potting process.

First the water was gently poured out to prevent the rocks from spilling out in the sink and down the drain.

Then, holding the stem of the plant, I poured the small rocks in the pot.

Here is a shot of the fragile roots. They are sort of a reddish brown color.

Creating a small hole for the roots with my finger, I then replanted each of the plants. I wiggled my finger around to make sure there was plenty of room for the roots to not disturb them.

After the roots were covered again, I added the accent rocks on top of them. The smaller rocks on bottom give the roots somewhere to go.

Then using filtered water from our Brita, I gave my friends a little drink. I use filtered water as city tap water tends to have more things added like chlorine and fluoride. It may not be perfect, but it definitely helps. More about bamboo care here.

Now the two are married and nesting in their new home in our guest bedroom/office. Such a nice couple. So much love.

What sorts of house plants do you have? We are definitely looking to add more. Maybe a succulent next? The plant care has to be low to minimal. We I tend to forget to water them.