spring cleaning!

...because i can load more than a washer and dryer! hah.

the weather in northcentral wisconsin has been reminiscent of spring this past week; before i get ahead of myself though, it's wisconsin and i am positive we have many more cold snowy days before the april showers decide to stay for good!

for now though, the snow is melting, brown grass surfacing, and open water season has even begun! while the boats are beginning to stack up below the local dams for the walleye bite in these neck of the woods... sights of toms strutting are already being reported too! and hearing this gets me excited! ;D t's only natural that in preparation for the upcoming season, i spent the evening cleaning for the spring hunt!

best auntie, ever! haha.

after we cleaned out an under utilized workspace behind the garage... my niece and i got inspired and decided to spend a day styling it into a cozy hangout for her and her friends. needless to say, after a day of successful thrifting, it turned out AWESOME! ;D she loves it and therefore i'm the happiest auntie in the world right now! <3

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: black chickens

once you go black, you don't go back... she said!

did you know there was such a thing as black chicken? and i don’t mean as in dark feathers... but black skin, bones and even internal organs. there are actually several black chicken breeds in the world, especially in asia, but the most popular of all has to be the chinese silkie.

silkies are beautiful birds, covered in fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk, but underneath all that fluff they are far less attractive. their skin is a dark-bluish color, the flesh is dark beige and the bones and some internal organs are pitch black. although in the western world silkie chickens are sold mainly for ornamental purposes, in countries like china they are considered a super food and are appreciated for their deep, gammy flavor. called “wu gu ji” or “black-boned chicken”, the silkie has been prized for its medicinal value ever since the seventh or eighth century. chinese women consume it after they have given birth to get a boost of energy, but it’s also said to have a positive effect on the yin, blood, lungs and stomach.

anyhow... my girlfriend was amazed i've never had it before (let alone even heard of it before now) and was on a mission to change that! ;D she even cooked it the traditional way over an open fire pit while we grilled jumbo shrimp appetizers on skewers - and it turned out to be an awesome dinner! thank you!

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!

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!

concert on the square!

i've developed an affinity for outdoor music festivals, so our town's summer "concert on the square" series is an event i always look forward to enjoying with my girlfriends in the heart of our downtown! the entire city block is jammed packed with picnic blankets, lawn chairs and people... out well before the show to stake their claim of prime realty and enjoy an evening of entertainment under the summer sky! it's always a good time!

a bridal shower, fit for a starr!

what a lovely bridal shower for e, one of the kindest souls i've been blessed to cross paths with! the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and her mom - a fellow kindred spirit - did a beautiful job putting together the amazing spread. it's no secret i'm a fan of anything that includes homemade healthy treats and live plants as party favors - so thank you for including me in on this special occasion! i'm definitely looking forward to the upcoming wedding! bless your hearts.

wisconsin river gangsters!

being out on the water is one of my favorite places to be. the serenity, the beauty - and the excitement when boating a toothy creature! :) this is one thing i admire most about the boyfriend - his sense of appreciation for simplicity... wait, who am i kidding? homeboy just wants to fish! LOL, jk.

a retreat up north... home away from home.

what a wonderful weekend "cabinning" up north to celebrate the birthdays of my soul sisters! there's absolutely nothing better than a weekend filled with laughter, great food, lots of libations and taking in the natural beauty wisconsin's northern-most point has to offer :) happy birthday L, G and S! <3

a typical date with the bestie.

in the midst of our busy lives and relationships, my best friend and i try to get together at least once a week... whether it's to cook up our favorite foods to appease the day's cravings, run errands together, or just to do absolutely nothing but lounge around - it's always good for the soul and an even healthier outlet for our kindred spirits!

today, our day off was synced and since the boyfriend let me sleep in, i woke up refreshed and motivated. ambitious as i was, i decided to bring out the infamous picnic basket that's been hibernating since last fall and surprise her with a lunch date before our planned museum trip to check out the origami exhibit on this beautiful spring day!

mission; accomplished! we enjoyed it at my favorite spot that boasts one of the most incredible views in our quaint city... and it was definitely the perfect beginning to what would be a very good and productive day and evening! friends truly are the shelter from life's rainy days.