gone hunting!

if you didn't know it by now, it's a safe assumption to say i am a jack of all trades... but master at none, yet! haha, jk.

after receiving a .22LR, 20 gauge shotgun and .243 rifle last christmas - and then being gifted a scope for our 1 year anniversary this past january, i decided it was about time for me to complete my hunter's safety and finally get into hunting... so i immediately signed up and successfully crossed that off my bucket list earlier this spring!

not having ever hunted in the past, my current setups were the perfect little arsenal to prepare me for everything from small game to ducks and deer... until i'm able to develop an affinity for one over the other, or, god forbid, none! haha, jk.

after lots of target practice and honing my shot skills, accurately sighting my scope and getting comfortable with my pieces in general in preparation for rifle season, i finally got the opportunity to go on a hunt this year and put my time in the trees... and i absolutely love it.

like hunting muskies, it's definitely not a sport for everyone. when it comes to deer hunting, there's quite a bit involved. on top of that, and just in general, it requires a lot of patience, persistence and manual work before/after - but the rush and payoff after a successful bout is definitely unparallelled and makes it all worthwhile! and another opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors is just a bonus!

i'm definitely looking forward to getting into this more moving forward and have the great sportsmen in my life to thank for being such supportive advocates and resources! it's these positive experiences and well-equipped opportunities i'm truly grateful for, and the ones i will carry with me for the rest of my life! ;D

p.s. i'm fully aware this may paint me out to be a redneck, but trust me when i say i'm the furthest from that! lols.

happy hmong new year!

earlier this year, after i had hosted a babyshower game in which the hmong new year planning commitee's master of ceremony was also present, my public speaking skills must've impressed because i was approached and invited to co-emcee the hmong new year in an effort to involve a younger presence in a highly visible role.

now, if you know me personally you'd either think one of 2 [polar opposite] things: either, i'm the perfect candidate for the responsibility or i'm the worse person for the job! haha. being center stage during the hmong new year is nothing new to me. i was a traditional hmong dancer since i was 8 years old and performed regularly at any and all hmong new years in the area for many years, as well as competed in regional competitions in similar environments. with that experience, i was equipped with a high level working knowledge of the logistics involved in making sure the weekend program ran as smoothly as it could... so in theory, i was pretty confident. but then again, when am i not? ;P jk.

yet, even though i've never had an issue with nerves in regard to public speaking... i am what you call a wallflower. therefore, to be presented as a female emcee within the parameters of a traditionally male-dominated cultural event of this caliber where i couldn't be my naturally dorky self was definitely out of my character, and with that challenge in mind, it tipped the scale and i gracefully accepted. lols!

between emceeing the weekend celebration and trying to minimize the behind the scenes fiascos while keeping my public cool, here are some of the shots i was able to capture. if you've never attended a hmong new year, i'd encourage you to go if the opportunity ever presents itself. they're always open to the public and filled with cultural entertainment, food and shopping. at the very least, you'd be supporting the local threads in the tapestry of your community and acquire another new experience!

birthday dinner with the girlfriends!

several girlfriends' birthdays fell closely together at the end of this month, so we decided to celebrate them all over a nice dinner at our local back when cafe.

friends really are the sisters you get to choose and although i can't believe it's been 15 years, i'm looking forward to so many more years with you all!

as i was going through the menu of calamari and lambchops, i couldn't help but notice the ribs featured; special shout out to my dear friend chef larry raymond, the man behind sweet baby ray's bbq sauce! <3 i couldn't not try it!

enjoyed a great evening over laughs with the best ribs in town and libations before a fun night out downtown with some of the best friends a gal could ask for! happy birthday, ladies... love you all to the stars and beyond!

a weekend adventure in lac du flambeau!

autumn in northcentral wisconsin is definitely one of my favorite times and places to breathe in during the year! the cool and crisp temperatures, changing colors of the landscape and silent sound of the seasons clicking… there really isn’t anything more peaceful.

the crystal clear lakes and bald eagle sightings are just other treasures in our beautiful state that the average resident takes for granted. i'm blessed to live a life i love!

another halfmoon pick-up bass fishing tournament!

ope has held the central wisconsin hmong bass fishing tournament for almost a decade now, but this here was just a pick-up tournament for some of the local guys in central wisconsin. like last year, it was held on the mosinee flowage... truly a hidden gem of a fishery.

it proved to be a tough day for everyone, and in the end ope and john took it with big fish... and their 1st place bag totalled 15+ lbs, while 2nd and 3rd came in at under 5 lbs each. nonetheless, the level of camaraderie and support is part of what this experience is all about and everyone had fun out on the water. overall another successful tournament. good job, guys!

it's a hmong-inspired babyshower!

congratulations s&k! what a fabulous hmong-inspired babyshower welcoming baby boy bentley! from the prizes of framed prints (by our homegrown artist, lor lauj) to the sivceeb details and choice of decor throughout the event... everything, from the smallest details was executed perfectly and it couldn't have been a funner time! i love you guys! can't wait to meet baby!