heating up!

ohhh, "affordable healthcare." what disappointing news today! I am less than thrilled with the Supreme Court ruling, however I will leave it at that. and... this isn't russia. is this russia? (name that movie!)

just wanted to share a bit of positive news - take a peek at the line up for highs forecasted in Minneapolis for the next week!

This makes me SO HAPPY! Even if I'm not outside, at the beach or pool or whatever, I am still LOVING this weather. something about hot (and even humid!) weather reminds me of being a kid - and those are always my favorite memories. my house does not have air conditioning, just a handful of fans (most of which are probably as old as yours truly). Poor James. he is not as big a fan as I am of the heat, however he sure is a trooper. he's still offering to grill up our dinners each night - i would be one sweaty mess standing at the grill in this weather!

I think it's time to start thinking about fun Independence Day celebrations/festivities. I already have sparklers and red/white/blue glow sticks, so i feel pretty confident in the direction I'm headed. hopefully 7/4/12 will involve plenty of sunshine, me on/in/near a large body of water, and my family and friends (and said party favors!). 

i hope everyone has a great Thursday and a fast Friday! the weekend is nearly upon us!

rock and roll!

tardy, tardy!

oops, i've been neglecting my little blog! just been busy, i guess... so what's new? yesterday I started working out to my Jillian Michaels "Ripped in 30" DVD again - I'm very happy about that! If you're looking for a home workout DVD, i definitely recommend this one. there are 4 different (representative of 4 weeks, new workout/week) workouts on the disc that are comprised of 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs (3 circuits of this pattern). After doing Jillian for about 3 weeks the first time i started, i absolutely noticed a difference in my strength AND there were visible improvements as well. My booty seemed to defy gravity a little bit (which is a HUGE accomplishment!), and my core and back were more toned (abs were not brag-worthy, but there were improvements. anyone who knows me knows that I don't have great abs! I love me some sugar [ahem, and beer!] too much to have nice abs!), as were my arms and shoulders. My legs really toned up, however I think a lot of that has to do with my daily running - as they still are quite toned. 

James and I have been pretty disciplined with our morning running, which is great. on days he takes off of running, i take my 6+ mile route, otherwise we usually just stick to our 5 miles, which is pretty good. i LOVE having my workout done for the day by the time i get to work! although now that I'm doing Jillian, i will either have to get up 30 mins earlier (haha, NOT crappening!) to do it before I run, OR do it right away when I get home from work. It's kind of a drag to do it after work sometimes, but let's be real here - getting up by 5 AM to workout is maybe, just maybe, a tad too much for me.

last night i made some deeelish banana bread - a brand new recipe i found. it's very healthy and quite hearty and of course has great banana flava-flaaaave. instead of oil, butter, and sugar, I used flaxseed, chia seed (gel), egg whites, and sugar-free maple syrup. it turned out to be moist, dense bread. it's a darker color (i think due to the flax, chia seed and whole wheat flour) than my usual recipe but i don't care. would you? can't see what color it is when it is in your tummy, anyway! so anyway, i love it and like i said it's very healthy and has a great amount of fiber. i'll try to find the recipe and post. because i know you're interested. (wahh wahhhhh!)

speaking of tasty treats, I owe some pictures! here are a few snap shots of my favorite new tasty, healthy (weeee!) dessert.... Arctic Zero!

YES. It's for reals. try it! I don't ever want to eat the whole thing at once (need some for later/emergency!), but you definitely can if you want. it's not ice cream, not icy, not sherbert....it's hard to describe what it is other than delicious and frozen. I've had NO tummy aches after eating it, which is very important to me. I don't know how they make it, but I don't really care at this point. it's the closest thing to dreamy ice cream that I've found (RIP, "OatsCream") so I'm sticking with it. I buy it at Lund's and have yet to find it at another grocery store - not even Kowalski's. it's about $5 or so a pint and they have a few different flavors that so far are great - Vanilla Maple is my favorite, with Chocolate Mint in a close second. James had the Coffee and was a big fan of it, and we also have had the Cookies and Cream and Chocolate Peanut Butter. I think the last one we have to try is Pumpkin Spice. YUM.

Here are a couple more photos from the weekend. Saturday night on our way home from St. Paul, we stopped at the Blue Door Pub for some grub... James ordered "The Jiffy," which is a monstrous hamburger with bacon, the usual fixin's, and....think JIFFY.... yes, PEANUT BUTTER! yes. ......done making that "yuk!" face? I hope so because it was actually VERY tasty! YUMMY!! Can't speak much for how healthy it is (not!), but I can tell you that you won't leave hungry and you'll definitely meet your protein needs for the day! 

While we were waiting for our table, a pair of couples (yah, so that's four people) sitting in the waiting area near us starting chatting...chatting led to them displaying their artistic abilities with chalk... and this is what they made! 

How sweet!

Sunday we lounged around at Lake Calhoun for a couple hours then headed back to St. Paul. Later in the evening we dropped in on the River's Edge Music Festival, where we saw my favorites, the Flaming Lips, and then moseyed on over to the headliner, Dave Matthews Band. It was a fun night and a gorgeous sunset. Here's a pic we snapped after the Flaming Lips played "Do You Realize" (google it - its the best song ever! or at least one of the best!).

Do you realizzzzze....

So now it's back to work...this week is supposed to be quite toasty - today we should hit about 95! wahoo! I LOVE THIS WEATHER! 

That's all for now - I have other things to share, but I'll save them for next time.

Make today count!

Jenelle

Tooosday!

rootin' tootin' tuesday is here!

that means the weekend is on its way. ha, you think i'm kidding, don't you!? I am always looking forward to the weekend. always. I love my job and my monday through thursday/friday, but seriously - i'm all about Friday night (relaxation) and Saturday (FUN in the SUN).

yesterday was a good day - great to be back in my routine and at work, it was a gorgeously sweaty day and James and i even scored a great 6.8 mile run in 90 degree weather. it was glorious. Unfortunately dearest Chimmy (nickname for James, courtesy of my clever momma) lost his super fast sunglasses he uses specifically for running (i think the brand is Bolle... ever heard of it? me neither!). So anyway, that was sad.

after our run and disappointing search for said shades, we fired up the grill for some dinner - he had a filet and I had a mahi steak. yes, mine was better, na-nah na-nah nahh-nah! we also grilled some zucchini and squash and I made him some yummy pistachio pudding for dessert! trust me, if you've never had pistachio pudding, you must, must try it! so wonderful! I just made the 5 minute mix and munch kind where you add 2 cups of cold milk and whisk your heart out... it sets in the fridge in 5 minutes or less and tastes like a dream. it's sugar free and when i make it for myself i use my unsweetened almond Silk brand milk... it's not as thick, but just as tasty with only 70 calories (derived from the milk - a little tiny bit more because of the mix, of course). let's  just say i don't feel guilty after crushing half a box for dessert...and the remaining half for a bedtime snack. :) speaking of guiltless desserts, I have a good one for you to post on my next entry. you won't be disappointed!! (like that teaser? now you feel like you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't check back tomorrow!)

i wanted to ask you all again for your generosity in thoughts, prayers, energy, vibes, smiles, nods, high fives, and anythings you're willing to do in the name of my Uncle John pulling through this unfortunate situation. basically we've set our sights on a miracle for him and are doing all we can to make it happen. he still has not woken from his 2nd surgery (sunday), but he's managed to have a steady flow of visitors and well wishes. here are a couple pics of him, in case you feel that your positive energy can best be directed by envisioning him and his family:

John and his wife (my Godmother) Mary

with his grandson Walker

please do your best to send him some love spirits sometime today and any day you can! on behalf of my family and his, i thank you in advance. THANK YOU. We love our uncle John. (plus, he used to call me Butch when I was just a wee chubby lass. see, he even has a great sense of humor! what's not to love!)

just because we're semi-on topic, here's an adorable and silly pic of Olivia "driving" the BMW last night after she and my parents went to visit John... silly girl, trying to take my spot in the driver's seat! (i love how her hat is kind of propped on her head in that dorky little 80's way... so cute!)

I'd like to take this time and space on the interwebs to give a shout-out to my boyfriend James, who's been wonderfully supportive of the Schwenkbeck and Weller families as of late. he hasn't missed a beat and has been at our side since this whole event blossomed last wednesday. we love you James! on a lesser note (but maybe equally impressive) he's also managed to bring my lawn from "meh" to "mahhhhvelous!" i told him yesterday that this is the best my lawn has ever looked while i've owned it, which is five years. what a feat! thank you, james! i love it! I cannot wait to lay out in the yard and have you fetch me pitchers of refreshing lemonade (maybe spiked?!). ha, jokes!! I thoroughly enjoy watching you care for the lawn while seriously busting a sweat... I think our neighbors do too... and I am always happy to bring you a cold beer whenever you need it. 

James! James! He's my man! If he can't do it, no one can!

i think that's all i've got to toot about today. i think we're grilling for dinner again, so hopefully i can find some veggies to throw in the mix as well... maybe i'll whip up the spaghetti squash, even? i'm pretty sure i already know what we'll have for dessert.... which you'll have to check up on, tomorrow! hmmm!

have a wild night!

PS- did you hear that Marisa Miller is pregnant? hot mama!

week in Wisconsin, weekend update

ooops. just when I think I'm going to be all bloggy mcbloggerson, I up and run off to northern Wisconsin for the week.... and forget to pack my interweb connection! must have slipped my mind.

ok, so that's not exactly what happened. but can i be blamed? why sit and try to type a blog about a beautiful view overlooking the lake? or fun times at the campfire? or drum playing at 2 AM? no, i can't be bothered with such blogtivity when there are actual THINGS to be done and experienced. I'd rather have fun DOING life than just wasting time writing about it, and missing out on the things that count (yes, Kitten Ball is a VERY important life experience and takes much priority over anything to do with being "on line").

so there you have it - I was in Wisco last week with my boss's family for a giant family reunion - complete with koozies! we went boating, played tennis, went fishing, practiced our Katniss skills, made s'mores, jumped off high dives into the lake... pretty much did everything and anything under the sun! the highlight, you ask? probably canoeing down the Brule River. the weather was perfect, the water was swift, and my paddle partner was wonderful! Thanks, Oklahoma Jim, for steering us down the river safely!

getting my Katniss on!

Tiffany, me and Jill at the bonfire

James fishing for trout

after the week in Wisco, James and I saw "Prometheus" in 3D. Pretty good movie - i was a little surprised to see a space ship in the opening scene, as I thought this was a movie similar to "Immortals" or "300." BOY, was i WRONG! even so, it was still a good movie and worth seeing in 3D. I really wanted to see "Snow White and the Huntsman" (even though I'm less than impressed with Kristen Stewart), but James preferred the Prometheus. thumbs up, if you like to be entertained. next time though, I get to pick the flick!

Sunday was Father's Day! Happy belated Father's Day to all the daddys of the world... we spent the majority of the day in the hospital, but I'm still thankful (probably more than ever!) for my dearest daddy-o and the other dads who've been a positive influence on my life. My dear, sweet uncle John went into the hospital last week and after and MRI, has had TWO brain surgeries. TWO. we're still waiting to hear how he's doing (yesterday was the second one), but we are very optimistic. long story short, he had a lemon sized tumor (initially believed to be cancerous) in his brain and they were unable to remove it last week... hence the second op yesterday. his wife, daughter, son in law, and grandson were waiting to "see Poppa" all day, along with my sisters, niece, bro in law, parents, and boyf (James). it was a sad way to spend a day, and Father's Day of all days, however I am thankful we could ALL be there for John. I hope all of our positive thoughts and prayers and energy payed off and continue to do so. John is an amazing person and cannot leave us yet! He's experienced more of the Weller Girls lives than any other man (aside from my dad!), and obviously still has MANY more experiences to share with his own immediate family. WE LOVE YOU UNCLE JOHN!! So please wake up and begin a miraculous recovery! :) I wish it were that simple. I will be sure to include more information on the case of Uncle John as it develops. Please be generous with your thoughts and prayers for him and his family! 

Last week was certainly a whirlwind of emotions, energy, thoughts and activity! one fun thing I have taken from the last 7 days is semi-exciting and much more of a "lighter" topic... I learned how to fish-tail braid!! 30 years into my life and homegirl can FINALLY fishtail a head of hair! even my own! Thanks to Jill for telling me how to do it, and thanks to my sis Jessica for letting my try it for the first time (i repeat, FIRST TIME) on her locks. I'll include a pic - just keep in mine this was my first attempt. :)

Jessica's fishtail

(Obviously I took a lot more away from the last 7 days than just a new hair style, but I am trying to keep things a litter less heavy right now!)

ok, that's it for now. I hope everyone out there had a great week and weekend. my next seven days look hot and steamy, just how i like 'em! Mpls should hit a humid 90 today and again a couple more times this week... then, POOF! It's the weekend again! Not sure what my plans are yet - River's Edge Music Fest? Boating? I am up for almost anything that involves being outside in the sun and FUN! (AND in a swimsuit!)

happy monday!

Let's DO this.

Here we go, day one.

Unfortunately, I did not hit the ground running today. Ooops, slept through the alarm?! Such a rarity. I blame the three fans (thanks, James) and the incredible sound of air rushing through the window into the boudoir - who knew moving air could be so LOUD. Loud enough to muffle the alarm - and ruin my 5:45 AM run around the lakes. Looks like we will have to tackle some miles, post work today! Now that is my idea of a happy hour!

So today is Friday and I am so happy for the weekend, naturally. is it bad that i've been stalking the weekend weather since Monday morning? is it bad if I stalk the weekend weather every Monday morning? Anyone else do this?

Before I go much further, a quick note or twelve about myself. Adult sized kid, ginger (red hair don't care! yes I'm shouting), eternally novice runner, quirky, bratty (hmmm - name of blog? anyone?), Buckeye fan/alum, sister/daughter/chick... what else.... I like to bake (notice I did not claim to be "good" at baking), be creative, create hybrid words, goof off, bust a sweat, vacation, day dream, hang out with my family, friends and boy toy... oh, and I want a dog. In a nutshell, that's a quick run down on my basics.

What's the point of me adding to the blog-smog of the world? No point, really. It's just one of those things where everyone is doing it, so I guess I better keep up with "everyone." kind of like why i went to college. ha, joking.....sort of. Really, I am blogging because I think my life is really extraordinary and I want to show everyone how awesome my every-day happenings and thoughts are, and this is the best form of social media I can use - 140 (or is it 160?) characters on Twitter is simply NOT enough, and Facebook is so yesterday (thank you, IPO flop). ha, I am kidding, again. I really am starting this blog because sometimes i have the craziest thoughts or things happen, and i just want to see if they're as amusing, ridiculous or strange to anyone else other than me. Sometimes I bitch about things I shouldn't and sometimes I like to give props to things that are deserving - so why not slap it all in a blog (that probably no one will read)?!! Plus, it feels good to let things out sometimes so it's kinda of like a venting blog, positive/negative/awesome. Please don't expect proper grammar and punctuation and other things we learned by fourth grade. this isn't a place for perfection (notice how i randomly lower/upper case my "i" and sentence starts? yeah - shit like that. I'm wild, what can i say!).

So far, I like this. At least more than I thought I would! Do you? Don't answer. In a way, I feel like as I type I'm actually storytelling to an imaginary friend. I have a lot (LOT) of experience with imaginary friends! (Insert your 'point and laugh,' here!) I had many great real-life playmates (umm, not THOSE playmates! ohh, Hugh!) growing up, but I also loved my friends who lived in my closet. Yes, that's Shylet, Violet, Kylet (which happens to be my kid sister's middle name, thanks to my imagination! and parents), Mylet, Pylet, Tylet, Rylet, etc.... I think you get the picture. Ohhh, the things we (I) did together! Maybe more on that later...or, never. We'll see.

Anyway, that's about it. Maybe I'll figure out how to post pics and other craytrol (this is one of my hybrid words! crazy + control = craytrol.... as in this is crazy/out of control, it's craytrol!) things and this will be a snazzy blog. Or maybe this will be my first and last post. Hopefully not last, though... don't you want to know how I came up with "BrattyShack?" Maybe next entry. If you're good.

Have a wild weekend!
J.

oh, hi. oh! here I am.