We're crossing out T's and dotting our I's now that we're getting down to the final month of preparations. Don't forget about two of your own deadlines - if you haven't RSVP'd or booked your room at Stoney Creek Inn, time is winding down. Please be sure to RSVP by this Friday, July 2nd (or risk getting a call from me or Amanda!) - e-mail the bride-to-be at amanda.n.schneider@gmail.com or call her at (319) 471-3940. You also have until Friday, July 9th to book a room at Stoney Creek in our reserved block of rooms - call (608) 781-3060.
We're very much looking forward to the big day, and having many of you join in the celebration. I'll keep you posted with any pertinent information as time gets even closer. See you soon!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Hooray for summer!
I've been on "summer break" for a little over two weeks now, yet this is still only my second day off... I was in class (summer session for my teaching license) for six days and am also back working at Cherry Hills Country club, so I haven't exactly had much time to decompress after school let out (I'll write a reflection on this past year in a later blog).
Hopefully everyone has received their invitations by now - don't forget to call or e-mail us your response when you get a chance. We've had this nagging feeling that we've been forgetting something or leaving someone off our list - Excel spreadsheets are only as good as the information you put in them! As time gets closer (only six more weeks!) we keep wishing we would have hired a wedding planner. We're down to the nitty gritty now: music, programs, decorations, transportation etc. This weekend we're actually back in Wisconsin for the wedding of a friend of Amanda. Maybe we'll bring a pen and pad of paper to take notes and make sure we're not missing anything in our preparations :)
We're also getting our second set of engagement pictures done on Monday in "The Cities" (Minneapolis) before we fly back home. Amanda's friend Megan will be doing our wedding pictures and she has offered to do an engagement shoot too. I hope we won't come across as narcissistic when people come to our house for the first time and all we have up for decorations is pictures of ourselves!
Well, we're going to watch a local baseball game tonight - Amanda's brothers, Tim and Dan, are playing for Sparta Miller. "Take me out to the ball game..."
Hopefully everyone has received their invitations by now - don't forget to call or e-mail us your response when you get a chance. We've had this nagging feeling that we've been forgetting something or leaving someone off our list - Excel spreadsheets are only as good as the information you put in them! As time gets closer (only six more weeks!) we keep wishing we would have hired a wedding planner. We're down to the nitty gritty now: music, programs, decorations, transportation etc. This weekend we're actually back in Wisconsin for the wedding of a friend of Amanda. Maybe we'll bring a pen and pad of paper to take notes and make sure we're not missing anything in our preparations :)
We're also getting our second set of engagement pictures done on Monday in "The Cities" (Minneapolis) before we fly back home. Amanda's friend Megan will be doing our wedding pictures and she has offered to do an engagement shoot too. I hope we won't come across as narcissistic when people come to our house for the first time and all we have up for decorations is pictures of ourselves!
Well, we're going to watch a local baseball game tonight - Amanda's brothers, Tim and Dan, are playing for Sparta Miller. "Take me out to the ball game..."
Monday, May 17, 2010
Invitations on the way!
Be looking in the mail in the next week or two for your invitations! Amanda was back in Wisconsin this past weekend and was working hard to make sure they get sent out asap. She was also able to enjoy some time with her college friends for a day at the spa and a bridal shower on Sunday.
Keep in mind if you are booking a flight that there is an airport in La Crosse, WI (LSE), but it's often very pricey to get there. The closest major airport is Minneapolis (MSP), and it is about 2 and a half hours from La Crosse.
Also, we do have a block of rooms reserved at Stoney Creek, but there are several other hotels nearby as well. If you're reserving a room at Stoney Creek online, be sure that you are reserving a room in the Onalaska location (there are several other Stoney Creeks in the Midwest).
Keep in mind if you are booking a flight that there is an airport in La Crosse, WI (LSE), but it's often very pricey to get there. The closest major airport is Minneapolis (MSP), and it is about 2 and a half hours from La Crosse.
Also, we do have a block of rooms reserved at Stoney Creek, but there are several other hotels nearby as well. If you're reserving a room at Stoney Creek online, be sure that you are reserving a room in the Onalaska location (there are several other Stoney Creeks in the Midwest).
Friday, May 14, 2010
Our new diet...
I've hinted at our new diet in the past few posts, and I think I've held you in suspension for long enough.
I should preface my description of this diet with a disclaimer: First, I am neither an expert nor a scientist, and therefore my description of the diet and its inherent benefits may not sufficiently or accurately represent its intricate nature. Furthermore, I am not a paleontologist, and the beliefs indirectly expressed by the framework of this diet are not indicative of my personal beliefs.
We began this diet* shortly after scoffing at a friend of mine, Rob, for consuming copious amounts of bacon and other red meats while visiting us in Denver over Spring Break. Well, after a significant amount of research we realized the value in his diet and have since discarded “conventional wisdom”, replacing it with what is known as Paleolithic Nutrition. Essentially, we eat only what a caveman would have eaten some 10,000 years ago. So we eat plenty of grass-fed beef direct from farmer John (that’s his name, honestly!), as well as bacon (mmm…) and other products that are high in natural saturated fats. The reason being, fat is what our body needs in order to remain satiated throughout the day. By avoiding all processed foods and anything containing sugar (especially the worst of them all – high fructose corn syrup), we are able to regulate our bodies’ insulin levels and therefore decrease the cycle of hunger so frequently experienced by the typical “western diet.”
This is where the critic chimes in and says, “Dude, what about your high cholesterol? All this saturated fat is going to give you a heart attack!”… To which I reply, “Wrong!” First of all, there is no scientific evidence that high cholesterol is linked to cardiovascular disease. The conventional wisdom which tells us that high cholesterol is a risk for heart disease is fed to us by the same industry that is lining its own pockets with the sale of drugs that, while they keep your cholesterol level (measured by an obscure formula) down, don’t actually prevent your chance of heart attack. Cholesterol, I have learned, is actually necessary – it binds to the walls of the artery to heal the lesions caused by inflammation which is so rampant among Americans due to our diet of processed foods. Cut out inflammation and you significantly decrease your risk for heart disease. I could go on about this for hours, suffice to say I have stopped my statin intake and monitored my diet so as to decrease inflammation.
Now, I know this will sound strange (and may even offend some agricultural types out there), but we have also cut out all wheat and corn based products. This is where my lack of scientific expertise becomes evident… anyway, I’ll give it a shot. Starches and grains inhibit our body’s ability to absorb nutrients, and so by giving up grains we will be better able to process the foods we eat and benefit from their nutrients. I feel a little awkward ordering a burger without the bun, but it’s a small price to pay for long term health!
We do still eat vegetables and some fruit – although even some naturally occurring fruit will contain large amounts of sugar which we try to shy away from. We also just started getting whole milk delivered to us the old fashioned way – dropped off at our door every week! Did I mention the fact that I eat loads of bacon yet (reason enough to give the diet, ahem, lifestyle change, a try!)?
Anyway, I could go on, but I feel like I’ve already lost half of my loyal readers (what, maybe 3 or 4?), so I’ll pull the chord for now. If you have any questions about any of this or if you want to write me and tell me how crazy I am, please do so. Otherwise, to check out any of the real science on any of what I rambled on about, check out the following two sites:
www.marksdailyapple.com
www.paleonu.com
* Diet should instead read, “Lifestyle change” since diets are almost always short lived and this is a more permanent shift in our way of eating and living.
I should preface my description of this diet with a disclaimer: First, I am neither an expert nor a scientist, and therefore my description of the diet and its inherent benefits may not sufficiently or accurately represent its intricate nature. Furthermore, I am not a paleontologist, and the beliefs indirectly expressed by the framework of this diet are not indicative of my personal beliefs.
We began this diet* shortly after scoffing at a friend of mine, Rob, for consuming copious amounts of bacon and other red meats while visiting us in Denver over Spring Break. Well, after a significant amount of research we realized the value in his diet and have since discarded “conventional wisdom”, replacing it with what is known as Paleolithic Nutrition. Essentially, we eat only what a caveman would have eaten some 10,000 years ago. So we eat plenty of grass-fed beef direct from farmer John (that’s his name, honestly!), as well as bacon (mmm…) and other products that are high in natural saturated fats. The reason being, fat is what our body needs in order to remain satiated throughout the day. By avoiding all processed foods and anything containing sugar (especially the worst of them all – high fructose corn syrup), we are able to regulate our bodies’ insulin levels and therefore decrease the cycle of hunger so frequently experienced by the typical “western diet.”
This is where the critic chimes in and says, “Dude, what about your high cholesterol? All this saturated fat is going to give you a heart attack!”… To which I reply, “Wrong!” First of all, there is no scientific evidence that high cholesterol is linked to cardiovascular disease. The conventional wisdom which tells us that high cholesterol is a risk for heart disease is fed to us by the same industry that is lining its own pockets with the sale of drugs that, while they keep your cholesterol level (measured by an obscure formula) down, don’t actually prevent your chance of heart attack. Cholesterol, I have learned, is actually necessary – it binds to the walls of the artery to heal the lesions caused by inflammation which is so rampant among Americans due to our diet of processed foods. Cut out inflammation and you significantly decrease your risk for heart disease. I could go on about this for hours, suffice to say I have stopped my statin intake and monitored my diet so as to decrease inflammation.
Now, I know this will sound strange (and may even offend some agricultural types out there), but we have also cut out all wheat and corn based products. This is where my lack of scientific expertise becomes evident… anyway, I’ll give it a shot. Starches and grains inhibit our body’s ability to absorb nutrients, and so by giving up grains we will be better able to process the foods we eat and benefit from their nutrients. I feel a little awkward ordering a burger without the bun, but it’s a small price to pay for long term health!
We do still eat vegetables and some fruit – although even some naturally occurring fruit will contain large amounts of sugar which we try to shy away from. We also just started getting whole milk delivered to us the old fashioned way – dropped off at our door every week! Did I mention the fact that I eat loads of bacon yet (reason enough to give the diet, ahem, lifestyle change, a try!)?
Anyway, I could go on, but I feel like I’ve already lost half of my loyal readers (what, maybe 3 or 4?), so I’ll pull the chord for now. If you have any questions about any of this or if you want to write me and tell me how crazy I am, please do so. Otherwise, to check out any of the real science on any of what I rambled on about, check out the following two sites:
www.marksdailyapple.com
www.paleonu.com
* Diet should instead read, “Lifestyle change” since diets are almost always short lived and this is a more permanent shift in our way of eating and living.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Weekend Getaway
For Amanda's birthday I decided to surprise her with a weekend getaway. Well, she knew we were going up into the mountains, but not much more than that (she had to at least know how to pack!).
I found a really cute Bed & Breakfast in a tourist town on the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Forest. It's a beautiful setting, right on a lake - too bad the weather was so cloudy that we couldn't ever really get great views of the surroundings. Apparently, this time between winter and summer is their off season, aka "mud season". We quickly found out why, as all the snow was melting and creating a soupy mess.
Anyway, the main surprise was going to be taking her to the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort for a good soak... (Note to self for future reference: plan more than just the clothes needed for an event such as this). She was pleasantly surprised by the idea; however I hadn't planned anything beyond taking a couple swim suits for her. I hadn't taken flip-flops, or lotion, or any other necessities, and didn't even have quarters to be able to rent a locker. I rented a private pool first thinking that would be nice... wrong! The water was filthy, the walls were grimy, the air was stifling, and it was just a little overwhelming. Thankfully, things got better when we went to the outside pools - they were much cleaner, and it was quite pleasant - snow was lightly falling on occasion and yet it was quite warm sitting in the sun. We both even managed to get a little burnt on our shoulders after a couple hours.
Over-all this has been a very enjoyable mini-vacation. We did break our diet with the amazing dinner and dessert last night (cheesecake was a weakness for her, crème brulée for me!), but it was worth it! Today we're heading back to reality, but stopping in Winter Park at a market on the way to stock up on organics and other scrumptious primal foods :)
I found a really cute Bed & Breakfast in a tourist town on the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Forest. It's a beautiful setting, right on a lake - too bad the weather was so cloudy that we couldn't ever really get great views of the surroundings. Apparently, this time between winter and summer is their off season, aka "mud season". We quickly found out why, as all the snow was melting and creating a soupy mess.
Anyway, the main surprise was going to be taking her to the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort for a good soak... (Note to self for future reference: plan more than just the clothes needed for an event such as this). She was pleasantly surprised by the idea; however I hadn't planned anything beyond taking a couple swim suits for her. I hadn't taken flip-flops, or lotion, or any other necessities, and didn't even have quarters to be able to rent a locker. I rented a private pool first thinking that would be nice... wrong! The water was filthy, the walls were grimy, the air was stifling, and it was just a little overwhelming. Thankfully, things got better when we went to the outside pools - they were much cleaner, and it was quite pleasant - snow was lightly falling on occasion and yet it was quite warm sitting in the sun. We both even managed to get a little burnt on our shoulders after a couple hours.
Over-all this has been a very enjoyable mini-vacation. We did break our diet with the amazing dinner and dessert last night (cheesecake was a weakness for her, crème brulée for me!), but it was worth it! Today we're heading back to reality, but stopping in Winter Park at a market on the way to stock up on organics and other scrumptious primal foods :)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
3 months and counting...
There's just a little over three months now until the wedding. Sometimes it seems like way behind on planning, other times it seems like we're ahead of the game. We go in spurts, really.
Hana (one of Amanda's bridesmaids, friend from U of Iowa) was in town this weekend and she was helping us with the music - she brought two burned cds with everything from Lady GaGa to, well... other things that will make you want to dance (even if you're Dutch and you know you full well have no rhythm!).
Amanda enjoyed her first three day weekend in quite a while. She's been working for over a year at an assisted living community on Saturdays (in addition to her 9-5 job at the University of Colorado) and this was one of the few weekends she took off to spend some quality time with her friend. Between planning the wedding, working and sleeping she hasn't had much time for anything else... except researching the new diet we're on and cooking meals that will keep me around longer! (More on this diet in another post)
At any rate, she's enjoyed some well deserved rest. And next weekend I'll be taking her away from her job again up into the mountains, weather permitting, for a little birthday adventure :)
Hana (one of Amanda's bridesmaids, friend from U of Iowa) was in town this weekend and she was helping us with the music - she brought two burned cds with everything from Lady GaGa to, well... other things that will make you want to dance (even if you're Dutch and you know you full well have no rhythm!).
Amanda enjoyed her first three day weekend in quite a while. She's been working for over a year at an assisted living community on Saturdays (in addition to her 9-5 job at the University of Colorado) and this was one of the few weekends she took off to spend some quality time with her friend. Between planning the wedding, working and sleeping she hasn't had much time for anything else... except researching the new diet we're on and cooking meals that will keep me around longer! (More on this diet in another post)
At any rate, she's enjoyed some well deserved rest. And next weekend I'll be taking her away from her job again up into the mountains, weather permitting, for a little birthday adventure :)
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Date Night
Our typical Friday night lately has consisted of watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Last night we had every intention of returning home from our date night to watch the show, but our artistic side got the better of us... or maybe it was our lack thereof which led to a three hour painting extravaganza!
We went to a craft shop called Color Me Mine where you can paint clay pottery of many shapes and sizes. Amanda painted a plate while I decorated a vase, which was obviously hand selected by Amanda, with the less than subtle hint that something needs to go inside it! Anyway, despite our collective grumblings about a lack of creativity we managed to produce two pieces that we were moderately proud of. Now we have to wait a week before we can pick them up, to allow time for them to fire and glaze them. Soon enough we'll have some decorative pieces to match our blank walls...
At any rate, our outing was very much worth the cost of missing our weekly program. Now I'll have to surprise her with flowers soon... conveniently, her birthday is less than two weeks away :)
We went to a craft shop called Color Me Mine where you can paint clay pottery of many shapes and sizes. Amanda painted a plate while I decorated a vase, which was obviously hand selected by Amanda, with the less than subtle hint that something needs to go inside it! Anyway, despite our collective grumblings about a lack of creativity we managed to produce two pieces that we were moderately proud of. Now we have to wait a week before we can pick them up, to allow time for them to fire and glaze them. Soon enough we'll have some decorative pieces to match our blank walls...
At any rate, our outing was very much worth the cost of missing our weekly program. Now I'll have to surprise her with flowers soon... conveniently, her birthday is less than two weeks away :)
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