the sun in this photo does not reflect the amount of sun that minnesota is currently experiencing, which is none

Where are you Spring?

green eggs and ham

Click on photos for more!

i vote earth

Currently participating in Earth Hour 2009 in St. Paul, Minnesota.



earthhour voteearth minnesota usa

earth hour

I care about our Earth.
I care about Polar Bears.
I care about Wolves.
I care about Climate Change.
I care about Action.

I am turning off my lights starting at 8:30 pm tomorrow for one hour.

Just one hour!

Join me and millions of other people around the World. How cool is that?!

We can make our voices heard about Climate Change.

cannot move my legs

Okay, so I have sorta been hibernating.
We haven't seen sun all week in Minnesota and it is depressing.

Wednesday I joined LA Fitness. I have been getting pretty comfortable eating ice cream and watching reality television these last few months. Or several months.

Damn you extra fat around my belly, thighs, and butt.

I had a complimentary workout with a trainer included in my joining fee so yesterday morning I met with Joel. We talked about my goals and took my BMI. I cried. Twice. He asked how hard I wanted to work and I said a nine. After we started the work out I wished I had said a two. My legs were weak in the knees, I was red in the face and sweating, I wanted to just take a nap and eat Kemps chocolate chip ice cream. I told Joel I felt drunk. And then I leaned on him. He held me up during squats - and I was just standing on the ground!

Of course he wanted me to sign up for a trainer, but I had to be honest with him - "It was hard enough for me to join in the first place and I don't have a job and we don't have anymore money. I know that I just cried in front of you and leaned on you...seriously, thank you for the last hour of my life -- you were really great."

This morning I realized that I CANNOT MOVE MY LEGS. I am in a lot of pain. Inactivity will do that to a person.

Regardless, when I noticed a bit of sun this morning I knew that I had to get out of the depths of despair and hibernation and move my legs. So Judy and I went to the dog park.

While there I moved slow. Very slow. I lost my phone when I reached in my pocket for the ball. Unfortunately, I figured out I lost my phone after I had hiked for another 20 minutes. I back tracked my route and enlisted a stranger to help me. Judy was caked in mud and jumping on this nice man. Finally, we found my phone. Thank goodness it is hot pink.

I walked to my car and I had a $35 parking ticket.

Then I went to DQ and got a blizzard.

Kids are funny.

citizens of the interweb

Currently experimenting with Twitter.

Notice sidebar.

Updated my Blogger layout.

Notice archives.

Joined a few groups on Flickr and submitted some photos.

Got some new visitors to my Flickr - which is cool.

Stumbled upon Qik, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore.

Hello!

Currently staying in touch with the citizens of the Interweb.


And celebrities.

410 northfield

What can I say?

I like to clean.
I do.

I love the satisfaction that results from removing dust, dirt, grim, sticky residue, and smudges.

Over the years I have developed a few special techniques. Like, using pumice stones to remove rust stains on toilets and Q-tips and rubbing alcohol on sticky surfaces and little in-between spaces.


Our friend Amanda was going to be out of her house ALL day yesterday and I knew it was my opportunity to make my move.

I recruited Paige.
I took some notes and drew up a game plan.
I gathered all my rags, vacuums, and cleaning supplies.



This was going to be a big surprise for Amanda!!! We were so excited!

We worked so hard the whole day and were totally exhausted by the end. It was so worth it though because I couldn't think of a more deserving friend than Amanda.


Deep Cleaning Amanda's House from Anne Ingman on Vimeo.

To be honest their house was not that dirty -- but having an almost two year old, priorities shift and Amanda has been wanting to deep clean but just hasn't had the time. Paige and I had the time, so we knew it was time to clean!

am i irish now

Mary came up for dinner last night and she brought us some treats and this little Irish flag that she made! She is always so thoughtful.

When Jake and I first started dating I had no idea how important their Irish heritage was to them -- until I came over on St. Patrick's Day and their milk was green.


Wait! Now that I am an Ingman....does that mean I am Irish now?!

breezy house

It is days like today that I feel so damn lucky to be free!

Free from the walls of an office.
Free from the hours of a work day.
Free to sit in my porch with my robe on at 10 am or go on a walk at 2:30 this afternoon.

The windows and doors are open at my house and it is breezy.

judy judy judy

i create my life

What do I want to do in my life?

I do know for sure that I want to be happy and spontaneous and compassionate and thoughtful and kind and creative. And that I love people. I love meeting strangers and having conversations. And I love chit chat.

How do I use what I know to create things in my life?


Well, for starters I have been reading this book called, The Secret, and it is changing how I think.

It says - I create what happens to me. I attract what I want in my life. I control my thoughts and feelings.

But sometimes I get nervous and scared. I push things to the side. I hide under blankets. I procrastinate.

But NOT today!

So blog readers, Internet, world, I am putting this energy out there because I create my life.

I want to be a photographer!
I want to be a wedding photographer!

What happens next?

I know for sure that I will create it.

what i do on a cold march afternoon

Yesterday afternoon, after walking around the house a few times, okay okay a little bored, I pulled out the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies. I tend to gravitate toward baking when there is nothing else pressing my schedule. Before the glorious wonders of wedding registries, I used to make these cookies by hand! It was definitely more of a workout. Now, I just pull out my Cuisinart Food Processor and whip up these puppies in no time flat. And they are delicious. Sometimes, just for a moment, I think that I could just eat all the 'raw' dough and it would be just fine and I would be happy...but then I realize that would be CRAZY.

reader anne

Ummmmm, HELLO!

I just got a legitimate shout out on dooce.com today in the Daily Style section.

Yup, that's me. Reader Anne. I AM READER ANNE!!!!!

Hello millions of Internet people!

poinsettia

Back in December I bought two Poinsettia's from IKEA for $7.99 each. They are still thriving and I have hardly watered them.

But I think it might be time to get rid of them.

I mean I have tulips in vases for goodness sake!

Today at breakfast, I asked Paige if I should get rid of them.
She turned to me and said, "It might be time Anne, it IS March!"


Maybe I should put them in the basement and see if they last until next December?
At least I would be saving $16 dollars.

And in this economy, that is a fortune.

sunday brunch

Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you are right.

Henry Ford (1863-1947)

you say ugly, i say yard

And so the melting begins - only to reveal mud, long lost balls, and soggy dog poo.

he doesn't normally wear a tie to work

This has been quite the week for me, I mean Jake.

He has had a meeting everyday and has had to leave the house for hours at a time.

I think I may have gotten used to us being together almost every moment of the day when I said to him last night, "This is the worst week of my life!"

Today is the most important meeting -- which means no jeans or Patagonia fleeces.

I think he looks fantastic and I told him so.

I say, "I had the most delicious nap today. And I think it was because you were not here."

Jake says, "Yeah, I do seem to stress you out just by existing."

avery loves trucks

Avery loves trucks. He really really does.

Awhile ago Paige and I had to 'watch' Avery for about a minute and a half while Amanda brought stuff to her car and warmed it up.

In that minute and a half we introduced Avery to the wonders of You Tube.

Once he realized that at ANY moment of ANY day he could just point to the computer and say 'truck' and magically videos of trucks appeared --- well, his little life changed! Avery is a smart cookie.

For over two weeks Amanda and Matt had to hide their computer from Avery because he was relentless!

Whoops!

I hear he is back to watching patiently outside for a truck to pass.

Ahhhhhh, the good old days!


Avery Loves Trucks from Anne Ingman on Vimeo.