my wisconsin winter wonderland!

...there's never really such a thing as bad weather in northcentral wisconsin :) just different types of GREAT weather to embrace! we've had a pretty mild winter so far this year, so it's only natural to take advantage of the hoodie-appropriate temperatures - here, it's anything above zero degrees farenheit, lols - and enjoy the cool crisp air under the bright blue skies! yes, today was definitely a treat considering it has been nothing short of a gloomy season!

snowshoeing, just another way to get outdoors and inhale! i am truly blessed to be surrounded by such awesomeness year round. there's just something so humbling about the untouched wilderness that pulls at my spirit! :) it's not lucky people who are grateful, but grateful people who are lucky. om.

a long weekend at the cabin on the lake..!

...yet another fabulous and fun weekend with my favorite people up north! during this long labor day weekend, it was really nice to enjoy some r&r, fun on the water and cold beers (with a side of LAKE) under the northwoods sun in lac du flambeau, wisconsin! i really do love unplugging and enjoying the company of great friends; there may be no wifi, but i find a better connection. :)

happy july 4th!

what an awesome holiday weekend spent on the lake. the weather was absolutely perfect to spend outdoors and enjoyed under the sun in westcentral wisconsin. not to mention, it was definitely a great bonding experience with my niece and i was glad i could expose her to a little of my world... and i have the amazing judd who hosted "the best weekend ever," to thank for it all. :)

the icing on the cake, though? my 16 year old niece caught her first fish - and even had the opportunity to enjoy more off the dock during down time. although nothing substantial, this auntie is still proud and hoping another fishergirl was born! yep.

from fishing to tubing, waterskiing to cliff jumping and kneeboarding to kayaking - we had an absolute blast! thanks again, judd, i do wholeheartedly appreciate your patience and time in having us over and keeping us more than entertained the entire stay... even amidst your already very busy weekend hosting other guests, preparing for the pontoon parade, and throwing your j4th party! good times with good people :) there's nothing better. well, maybe catching big toothy creatures too! haha, jk.

summer weddings...

congratulations to the newlyweds... desirae and garrett! <3  it was the perfect day to have an outdoor wedding in central wisconsin against the big eau pleine resevoir as your backdrop! i loved everything about it and had a great time reconnecting with old friends and making new ones! wishing you both and the girls nothing, but the absolute best! thank you for including me in on your special day. it was beautiful!

camping in musky country, us of a!

i absolutely love the great outdoors and anything associated with it! :) over the weekend, we went up to the northwoods in vilas county and hunted muskies... and i couldn't have asked for a sweeter more amazing person to have explored and go lake hopping with! j, you are such a trooper!!! what awesome memories!

a fisherwoman is hooked! ;D

while my friend cher and i were hiking rib mountain on a random saturday, she got a text from her boyfriend instructing her to go get them fishing poles and lures because he was going to take her out! obviously, neither of them fish... but this has been something she's been wanting to do for a long time now and it was finally happening! happy belated mother's day to her!

after we wrapped up our walk, and ice cream stop in between, i went with her to gander mountain to buy her fishing license and pick out a couple basic setups sufficient for general fishing to get them started. and somewhere, somehow... i was invited along to "show them the ways." yeah, playing 3rd wheel is not new to me, haha, jk.

that afternoon... with the canoe strapped on the truck and my tacklebox all equipped for a variety of species and ready to go, we were on our way to a secret spot someone had recently told her boyfriend about! once we got there, i insisted on a few practice casts from shore - i wasn't about to get into a canoe with 2 people, one of which has never casted before, haha - and i'm sure glad i did! can you say, DANGER!? lols, jk.

once we were finally in the water... cher was the first to get a strike! (followed by 2 more!) it was quite funny... with the first fish, she glanced at us and nonchalantly said "i think i have one..?" while her boyfriend and i instantaneously exclaimed "...then set the hook!" not realizing she had no idea what that meant. but she still managed to boat the fish! what an exciting feeling it was for her!

although it was a small pike, the look on her face was priceless! moments like these are definitely my favorites... and just like that, a new fisherwoman is hooked! ;D

finally making waves - spring is here!

the homies and i... out on the water for the first time this season, just in time for the walleye opener! and it's only just begun! not only that, but where else can you bet on sighting bald eagles? i heart the northwoods, oh yes i do! ;D

just another random thursday!

as some of you may know, i try to head up north a few times a month to see my dear friend chef larry raymond - aka sweet baby ray of the popular sweet baby ray's bbq sauce - with my homie doc and more often than not he'll prepare a breakfast or lunch for our visits. as if they aren't always something spectacular, this week's was definitely a treat!

what's hot, sweet and wet!? our italian beef sandwhiches straight from the one and only JOHNNY'S..! and we didn't even have to go to chicago or wait in line. it's nice to have friends who have friends! haha. thanks, chef! ;D

i was pretty stoked when he mentioned it for lunch because i had literally just watched anthony bourdain's "the layover," in chicago, where johnny's italian hot beef was a main feature and definite must eat! and it just so happened that chef just had a friend visit from chicago who brought him up some, along with the infamous au jus. mmm! definitely delicious and worth all the hype!

(fun fact: chef's friend who visited was "santa," the same santa during all the macy's christmas day parades you see on television! hah.)

however, i do have to say my favorite part of these visits would have to be the company while enjoying the northwoods unplugging next to the lake for a few hours each week. like the signage in his cottage, "if you're lucky enough to live by the lake, you're lucky enough." ;D yes, i'm a lucky girl with great people i'm grateful to call friends. i'm definitely looking forward to some fishing this season!

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!