New Years in Galena

Justin and I were really fortunate to be able to take some time off work after Christmas through New Years! We planned a little trip to see his family in Wisconsin (I can't believe I didn't take more pictures!), plus I'd get to finally spend some time with my bestie, Marta - It's been way too long!

We drove into Gratiot to spend a few days with the fam before spending the weekend in Galena. We celebrated Levi's birthday and I relaxed the most I had in months. Augh, so nice! We ate Casey's pizza (apparently, legendary) and exchanged Christmas gifts.. Lukus gave me some incredible white appetizer plates for me to use for all of my parties, plus some other sweet gifts! It was so nice of his parents to move some things around in the basement to make it even cozier for us to stay. They arranged a new little room for us and a hangout area for all the "kids" to hang once it started getting late.

Jamming and freestyling with Levi. He even let me name all of his songs!

Later in the week, we spent an afternoon in New Glarus, WI with Justin's bros and Marta! Lunch at the NG Hotel and exploring Little Switzerland's bakery, cheese shop and meat shop. What a fun day!

Like a 'kid in a sweet shop' - haha

And then the snow began to fall..

Headed to the NG Brewery, crammed in the back of the Element

Our condo for New Year's weekend - Marta hooked us up with! The old Galena High School, overlooking downtown Galena

Two amazing things: Skrillex & Egg Rolls

Only 3,000 steps to climb to get to Main Street

Live music and hanging with friends at Embe

Thennn the sock-mittens came out..

Getting ready to say 'goodbye'

Hangin' with G before we headed back to his parent's house

Say, Whaat?!

xo

Greatest Hits of 2011

2011 was pretty great! I definitely didn't blog as much as I wanted to, but oh well! Here's a few of our favorite mems for the year (and I have to say, I think March was my fave!)!

January

• Marta came to visit Greenville for the second time in 3 months! We celebrated New Years with friends and Justin's brothers - one of the best I have ever had!
• Our little man, Romeo, turned 2 years old.
• I had to rush Justin to the Emergency Room for severe stomach pains. The ER was a total nightmare and we still don't know what in the world happened.

February

• I threw my first “hired” party! Our good friend, Josh, asked me to design a party for his wife, Theresea's, birthday. She loves pigs so much, so I went with a pig-inspired theme. She was so surprised!

March

• I helped my friend, Jody, throw a huge Rockstar-Glam Birthday Bash - Oh yes, costumes included. 
• Marta visited again! She came to celebrate Justin and my birthdays with a huge beach-inspired party for J and a trip to Charleston!
• We took a short trip to Asheville.. Justin got his first tattoo!
• We went on an amazing roadtrip to West Palm Beach, FL with friends, Josh and Theresa.. Lots of great memories and more birthday celebrations!
• I celebrated my 27th birthday, which Justin surprised me with an incredible party (which he decorated all by himself!) filled with our best friends. 
• Justin's birthday gift to me was also a huge surprise.. our new puppy, Coco Chanel!
• I was hired by another friend to design a bridal shower inspired by Anthropologie
• I designed and hosted a jungle-themed baby shower for my good friend, Tiffany

April

• We traveled to Virginia to see Justin's brother, extended family and his immediate fam, who drove down from Wisconsin. We had an packed weekend, including juggling our 2 pups and catching up with relatives we hadn't seen in a long time!

May

• We celebrated Easter by hosting a colorful, little lunch party with Justin's bros. Unfortunately, Justin was super sick and missed out.
• Justin had to have an unexpected surgery, and was hospitalized for 5 days. Not a fun memory.
• Jody and I hosted a fun oriental-inspired cookout. The food was to DIE for. 
• We saw Sleigh Bells in Asheville and ran into our friends, Gina & Curtis. Incredible show.
• We finally told our friends that we were planning to move. Wow, it was definitely more difficult than I imagined. 
• I hosted a small Mexican dinner party for our close friends. Dinner was awesome, until towards the end - Romeo decided to have massive, explosive diarrhea. 

June

• We said 'goodbye' to many of our dear friends - including our Shepherding Group - which we were welcomed by a gorgeous farewell party on our last night with the group
• We threw our own farewell party and an emotional last few nights in Greenville
• We endured a handful of days of nonstop packing for the big move. Cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning with my sister, her fiance (now hubby) and our closest friends
• We moved from South Carolina to Minnesota, journeying with 2 vehicles, a giant moving truck and 2 very needy pups
• Summer began and we lived it up before finally finding some jobs.. We saw Foster the People, late nights watching movies, hottubbing, a Father's Day Jazz Party and silly memories at the Drive-In
• I began freelancing for Chanel again! It felt so good to be back with my all-time favorite cosmetic line
• My good friend, Jade, got married! I was honored to be a part of her big day as her Personal Attendant

July

• We rocked out with my parents at a Black Keys show - our birthday gifts from them
• Celebrated the 4th watching fireworks overlooking our beautiful MN Boat Club venue where we had our MN Wedding Reception in 2008
• My friend, Ash, offered me a free ticket to see Britney Spears live! We had fantastic seats and sang our little hearts out!
• I hosted (with some help from Jade!) a garden-inspired baby shower for my good friend, Mulder and her unborn twins. The whole experience was insane and amazing at the same time! {Photos}
• Our planned "family camping trip" quickly shifted to an indoor weekend after some rough weather {Photos}

August

• Vanessa and I hosted a Cuban-inspired bachelorette/bridal shower dinner party for our little sister, Lanae. All the work put into it was so worth it! {Photos}
• I designed and helped host a second bridal shower for Lanae, inspired by lemons
• I was offered a job as the Business Manager for the Minneapolis Macy's Chanel counter.. Definitely one of my dream jobs (aside from my career in therapy)
• After couple years, we finally were able to go to the MN State Fair and stuff our faces with handfuls of greasy food

September

• My dear high school friend, Laura, got hitched - I was honored to do makeup and be a part of her special day! On the same day, in all of the craziness, Coco went into her first heat. Talk about bad timing.. 
• Mulder finally had her babies! I finally met them despite all of the chaos with my new job, and we celebrated her birthday 
• My little sister got married! I was honored to do almost all of the decor for the wedding/reception And yes, I cried like a little baby. 

October

• Justin and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary
• We took advantage of some time off work and traveled to southern Wisconsin to visit his family and Marta
• My little blog turned 2 years old!
• I helped with decor for Lanae and Jordan's Spooky Halloween Party

November

• We celebrated a Gold + Aqua Thanksgiving with my family for the first time ever. I threw the party decor together on a budget of $2.99! We girls laughed our heads off as we rushed around, serving food and maneuvered through the messiest kitchen in the world!
• I left my job at Macy's for an incredible opportunity to work in therapy again (plus, paid grad school tuition!)

December

• I publicized my new Starter Site "alannaandes.com", kicking off my plans to create a business in party design and planning
• Lanae (my sister) and her hubby got a new pup! Little Bernie is the cutest little Boston!
• I started my new job at the MN Autism Center School - So far, I love it!
• I helped my mom throw an Italian-inspired Christmas dinner party on Christmas Eve! It was such a fabulous night and the food was delish!
• We traveled to Wisconsin to celebrate a belated Christmas with Justin's family and ring in the New Year in Galena with Marta & Justin's brothers! 
• Our little peanut, Coco Chanel turned 1 year old! I love her to pieces and I really can't believe how big she is!

Miscellaneous Photos from 2011

Why Hello There, 2011!

Since We've Moved

Jordan & Lanae's Wedding Setup and Rehearsal

Jordan & Lanae's Wedding Day

Coco Chanel

July 2011

Hello, Wisco (Visit + Anniversary)!

Since the move, J and I have been slam-busy with so much happening that we haven't had a chance to visit good ol' Wisconsin.. until now! It's been way too long since we've seen his family, so it was really great to be able to throw this one together at the last minute. Thanks to Macy's, I was finally given a couple days off in a row (in a ROW!) to celebrate our 3-year anniversary, so we decided to take advantage of my freedom and spend it in Wisconsin. We made the 6 hour drive, pup-free and it was definitely a great little weekend!

Highlights:

• Rocking out to dubstep the car with my hubby and rolling into Gratiot late (and I mean late!)
• Examining Lukus' 4000 DVD collection and choosing 20 for ourselves (Thanks again, Lukus!!)
• Waking Alyssa up in the morning and looking at her collection of owl accessories
• Laughing our heads off watching funny music videos with the brothers.. I-I-I-I work out!
• A cheese-filled lunch at Culver's

• 1$ Psychology and Therapy books from the Library
• Stocking up on good cheese and 2 gorgeous, aqua bird cages at Swiss Colony
• Playing with a 3-legged kitten, feeding some cows and seeing the old trailer where I met Justin for the first time 8 years ago (ghetto-looking, yes, but it was different back then!)

• Playing a hefty game of Dominoes
• Enjoying my father-in-law's message at church and visiting with family friends 
• Birthday celebration for Justin's Dad
• Alyssa teaching me to paint and tattoo my nails with newspaper

• Spending an afternoon with Marta, laughing at old voicemails and blackberry videos
• Giving Georgia a "little girl makeover" and feeling awful when she hated it

• A sweet, rainy anniversary dinner at Vinny Vanucci's in Galena
• Channel-surfing, sipping champagne and being silly at our hotel

• Spending lunch and the afternoon with Marta at her boutique

• Exploring Galena, munching on gourmet popcorn and finding some fun little treasures on Main Street

• Dropping by Justin's old high school to see his sister and Dad
• Visiting Justin's old Platteville house and a few antique and cheese shops on our little drive home

xo