Iowa trip through cell phone pictures

I just realized I still haven't blogged about our last Iowa trip, and I'm sure no one else cares about that- but since I started this blog to remember, and to document our lives that's what I'm going to do :) There's are just some iphone pictures, I'm pretty sure I have a bunch on my camera as well, but we will see if I get to those! 

 ^A high school friend got married (two did actually, a week apart!)^

 ^We were finally in Iowa for the state fair! This hasn't happened in years!^

 ^They had the coolest petting/feeding zoo, i mean zebras and kangaroos? ^

^And ridiculous food like fried cheese curds..which I consumed at 9 AM^

 ^Tindra discovered her love of Iowa sweet corn^

 ^And taught her cousin how to climb stairs. Which her aunt may not have been thrilled about^

 ^Jasper enjoyed jam session in grammy's basement^

 ^And Tindra learned how to eat with a fork^

 ^Lots and lots of cousin time is the best!^

 ^One of my favorite days was spent with friends who live in Norway but also were in Iowa visitng family. For lunch we had crab rangoon pizza! Amazing. Also, loaded baked potato pizza^

 ^He's a rather tall dude (the Norwegian)^

 ^Lots of quality time with grammy is the BEST^

 ^And Tindra got to go to her first Nadas show!^

 ^Another friends wedding!^

 ^High school (and jr high!) besties!^

Friday!

One of my faves Molly nominated for the Sunshine Award so of course I had to play along!

The Sunshine award rules are as follows:

1. Include the sunshine award icon in your post (above)

2. Link to the person who nominated you

3. Answer 10 questions about yourself

4. Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award

5. Link your nominees and let them know they've been nominated  

Here are Molly's questions!   What is your favorite thing about your significant other? Oh gosh, I don't even know where to start because honestly there's quite a few things, obviously or I wouldn't have married and had two kids with him ;) But one of my favorite things, how hard he works for this family. He's so dependable. And I know that no matter what he will do everything for his family. And he will succeed. Because he's successful in pretty much everything he sets out to do. 
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? A zoo keeper. I kid you not. In fact I still sort of want to be one. And a lawyer. I was a political science major with the plans of going to law school, but life got in the way. So my love of exotic animals and arguing make sense here huh ;) We had some exotic animals growing up (a cougar, yes in the house, two wolves, a parrot, a cappuchin monkey when we lived in bali, plus the normal stuff like dogs, cats and ferrets) helped fuel that I'm sure! 

It's 5 o'clock somewhere. What's your cocktail of choice? Amaretto sour,sangria, anything with southern comfort or  a white Russian.. Or just a glass of coooold white wine. 
What is your proudest moment in life? The moment I saw each of my children for the first time. 
Have you had your first "I am my mother" moment? If so, what was it? Oooh yes. I find myself thinking I am my mother frequently. Like whenever I use my 'stern' voice and middle name Jasper. "Jasper Andrew you have the count of three to get your shoes on..One..Two..." I also see myself a lot in Jasper. Which means I'm in for trouble. Let's just say he's got the arguing skills to be the lawyer I was supposed to.
Where is your favorite place to shop? I hope I don't have to just leave one place for this one! I love H&M, Gap, Target, J Crew, Madewell, Hazel and Olive and recently have been Loving Stitch Fix and have yet to return an item they have sent me. I haven't had a lot of time for mall shopping in months so online or target when I'm running through there (because come on, I always make time for target) is where I've been getting things lately!
If you won $100,000,000 what is the first thing you would you do with it? Easy. Europe trip with my family! And shop lots and lots while there! 
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Stockholm, Sweden. Or maybe Goteborg, Sweden. Or maybe Switzerland even though I have  yet to even visit. Or London would do also. 
What is the best and worst gift you have ever gotten? Best.. are all from Drew, he's a good shopper for me! An ipad this past birthday was a good one! Or my 50mm lens last Christmas which really helped my love of photography grow! And worst, I seriously can't even think of one. I don't think I've ever been given a bad gift! 
What is your favorite current fashion trend? Boots! And leggings! Printed leggings! And chambray shirts! So glad those are back. I could live in a chambray shirt and leggings and boots every day.
And I nominate
Erica; To the Sea Chelsea, Sunny with a chance of Sprinkles Maria; Micha + Me Kym, Travel-Babbles aaaand apparently that's it because nap time is already over for the day! I tag anyone else that wants to answer the above questions as well!
Happy Friday! Here's to another Ikea trip for us, more unpacking/organizing and REAL fall weather!! Anyone else have equally exciting weekend plans?

Campus Book Rentals

Any of my readers still in college? If so this post is for you! I remember heading to the book store for my first semester of college at University of Northern Iowa (go Panthers!) and how excited I was to get all of my supplies and books. I can even remember what my classes were that first semester. Speech, a drama class, rock climbing (no books needed for this one!) a health class that was required and went along with the rock climbing (HUGE heavy book required) international politics and world civilization ( a history class that came with a list of like 5 books you needed to buy.) After spending the hour or so finding all my books and heading to check out I remember being shocked when I saw the register. $350+ for some books! Yikes. But what can ya do, I needed the books obviously! They tell you you can sell the books back at the end of the semester and get a lot of your money back, sounds good huh? Until you realize that they want to give you $7 for the book you just bought 4 months ago (and lets face it, barely even opened) for $65. Not a very good deal. I kept most of the text books I bought. Not because I needed them. But more out of stubbornness.  When I got an email explaining Campus Book Rentals my first thought was "why did I not know about this 8 years ago?" I could have saved myself So much money! But lucky for you I'm passing this information on to you guys!  Campus Book Rentals is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. You get to rent the books you need for your college classes for a fraction of the price you would spend to buy them! Brilliant! Some of the perks: free shipping both ways save 40-90% off bookstore prices you CAN highlite in the text books flexible renting periods (big bonus for some of those shorter month long classes! they donate to Operation Smile with every text book rented So by renting books, you get your books needed for way cheaper, and get to help children born with facial deformities. Sounds like a pretty win win situation to me!  They also have a program RentBack that sounds pretty amazing, where you get to rent your books you already own back to other students, and every time your books get rented you get paid! Wonder if they have a need for 8 year old international politics books..I have several of those.   Let me know if you have any questions about these programs and I'll try to get them answered for ya! This is a sponsored post but all opinions and my own! 

Photography lately.

So I've done some photography session lately, and I'm Really really loving it! It started as some friends just seeing pictures I had taken of the kiddos and posted on FB and them asking to their kids pictures, and then they told some friends and that's where we are right now! I'd love for it to turn into a career eventually (ah I have a hard time even admitting that out loud, putting myself out there!) but for now I'm having so much fun with it, and making a little money on the side! Which is a fun bonus, since photography as a hobby is expensive! Drew just ordered me a new lens that should arrive on Thursday and I'm ridiculously excited about that and about seeing how my photography improves with that and over time! Here are a few pictures of some of the shoots I've done!

I've got a few more shoots scheduled over the next couple of weeks, can't wait to practice and shoot with my new lens!
So if you are local and looking to get some pictures taken, I'm Really affordable ;)