The St. Paul Winter Carnival

by Meredith

The St. Paul Winter Carnival is a tradition that has been around since 1886 when citizens of the Minnesota tundra wanted to plan something fun during the dead of winter.  It's always held in our state capital during the last week of January/ first week in February and runs for 12 days.  This year it runs January 26 through February 6.

The celebration entertains thousands of people from Minnesota and beyond - revealing man-made ice sculptures, an ice skating rink, ice bar, stage for music, fireworks, multiple parades, a coronation selecting each year's large royal court and more - all within a few blocks of each other.  Definitely a must see if you're here this time of year.  Last week I strolled through Rice Park and took some pictures of them working on the ice sculptures and gearing up for the first big weekend.

Betsy Johnson

by Meredith

I love my new Betsey Johnson handbag, I picked it up for winter.  I've really gotten into her items lately.  If you're style is quirky, fun and chic too, you'll like her stuff.  Check it out for yourself.

Anthropologie Knock Off Bobby Pins

by Meredith

I love a good knock off and this one is awesome.  Anthropology's stuff is wonderful, but pricy and if you know me you know I adore fashionable bobby pins.  The blogger at Little Miss Momma came up with a great way of making your own.  If you like what you see, check out the link below for more.

Houndstooth

by Meredith

This is what I'm loving this week: the light brown houndstooth  dress pants I just picked up.  The mysterious pattern you may have been wearing this whole time has a name, Houndswooth.(houndstooth check, hound's tooth, dogstooth, dogtooth, dog's tooth)  This textile pattern is characterized by broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes, often in black and white, although other colors are used.  It originated made of wool cloth of the Scottish Lowlands, but not is used in many other materials and was created by a woman in New York City De Pinna, when she included the houndstooth checks along with gun club checks and Scotch plaids as part of its 1933 men's suits collection.

Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit & Fasching

by Meredith

I'm gearing up for my 26th birthday next month and have been trying to think of something fun to do.  I decided this year I would embrace my German heritage and go to my new favorite bar, Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit (aka Gasthofs) especially after learning that the Friday after my birthday they are celebrating the German holiday Fasching, a German Mardi Gras style celebration.  Apparently back in the day women could not join in for fun at the pubs and one day just decided to dress up as men and join in.  This holiday has become known as Fasching.  I haven't decided if I'll participate in the costume contest.

Crème Brûlée

by Meredith

Crème Brûlée is a delicious custard dessert that usually I only order when out to eat.  However, recently for a dinner party I made it myself.  It turned out perfect.  I used the kitchen torch my mom had and picked up a box kit from my local grocery store.  This made it easy.  If you like custard, pudding or caramel, I suggest you give it a try.

Sparkles and Resolutions

by Meredith

This New Year's I'm making a resolution that I am going to stick to - stop picking or biting off my nails!  I used a gift card for a spa retreat the other day which included a manicure and I'm always so embarrassed to have them worked on.  However - no more!  I'm putting it on the blog and it will hold me to it.  I'll keep you updated on my progress.  Regardless of what my nails looked like, I picked a fun color.  I tried OPI shatter polish for the first time.  This is Serena Williams Glam Slam Spark De Triomphe & White Shatter.  Beautiful.

Lutsen

by Meredith

Every January my friends and I take a snowboard/ski trip to Lutsen, Minnesota.  I love it there and have been meaning to visit during the warm months.  Lutsen and Grand Marais (about 25 miles north of Lutsen) sit right along the Lake Superior border and have that quaint, small town feel.  The scenery and people are fantastic - this is easily one of the most beautiful areas in Minnesota.

Lutsen Mountains are considered to be the mountains of Minnesota.  They are larger than any other ski resort I've been too in the Midwest - having four large mountains: Moose Mountain, Mystery Mountain, Eagle Mountain and Ullr Mountain.

{Lake Superior behind us, riding up to the top of Moose Mountain}

{Gondolas that go between Moose Mountain and Eagle Mountain}

{A top Eagle Mountain looking on to Lake Superior}

Happy New Year

by Meredith

Happy New Year 2012.  I want to wish you so many things this coming year - I hope you are loved, I hope you feel joy, I hope your life is filled with peace, may you always have good health, seek success and have a little luck along the way.

This year I learned that there are many things in my life I cannot control, even if I try with all my might.  I feel like I've been seeking this independence, this control, for so long and now I know all I have control over is myself, and not even that is possible 100 percent of the time.  For better or worst, this hard lesson has taught me that this is ok and to appreciate the present and what people are able to give me of themselves right now.  I realize I cannot plan everything out, and even if I do, that doesn't mean it will play out just as I thought.  I hope you are able to look back on 2011 and see if you've changed at all, grown in a way you didn't realize you would, and that you see it has made you a better person.