Money Can't Buy Happiness...

But it can buy other things :)  Something everyone told me before moving was how expensive California was in every aspect.  In case you're interested, here are a few things I've spent money on in the past couple weeks if you'd care to compare.

Movie ticket to Harry Potter:  $12.50
One gallon of gas: $3.79
Skinny grande iced carmel latte w/ a smidge of hazelnut: $3.55 (one point away from a gold card!)
Gala apples: $1.79 lb
Sara Lee 100% whole wheat bread: $4.29
Toll Road: $2.75 (although unlike Chicago they actually keep the roads up here!)
Typically renting a place by myself would cost around $1100.  I found myself a much better deal ;)
A full day at the beach: $6 for parking
Pageant of the Masters (I'll write about this fantastic event in a later post!) A deal at $15 (wowzers!)
Pinkberry: $4.25
Season pass to Disneyland: $30/month (this hasn't been purchased but it is being contemplated!)

More or less I can fill my day with lots of fun things to do for minimal cost.  This is called getting creative.  When it is a constant 75 degrees outside with a light breeze and sunny, you can make anything work!

Trip West

My mom and I had a memorable trip out west!
Our behinds will forever be molded to our seats... :)

I went from a house in Iowa to a one bedroom apartment in Madison to whatever could fit in my Civic.
Thanks to my dads packing prowess, I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome :)


Denver, CO

Colorado Rockies

Vail, CO

Arches National Park.  Moab, UT

Utah

                      

We paid Celine a little visit in Las Vegas and she repaid us by putting on a phenomenal show!

Downtown Disney, Anaheim, CA

We met up with my uncle Bruce in Laguna Beach!

I moved to California...

That is all.

Oh yeah, and I'll start blogging again tomorrow ;)

Guilty Pleasures

I have a confession.  In my life time is a commodity.  That's not the confession, just a statement.  When I'm grocery shopping I purposely go to the longest line so I can read the latest on who's dating, expecting and who wore what to the most recent awards show.  I haven't brought myself to actually buy the mags yet, I just read as fast as I can while I'm patiently waiting to check out.  It's my own secret treat.

Go Pack Go!

I'm admittedly not a huge football fan, but I'll watch the game if that's what everyone else is doing.  Even then I would call myself a Bears fan first and foremost.  That being said, last night was a riot cheering for the Packers in Packer land.  A great day to call myself a Wisconsinite ;)  Any reason is a good reason to celebrate!

Uninspired

One whole month.  Totally uninspired to write anything of substance... or anything at all.

There was a blizzard here last night.  16 inches with huge snow drifts.  It honestly didn't seem too terrible for being "the worst storm in the past 12 years".  It lacked the ice that can make winter dreadful.  So 2010 ended with my life in a blizzardy mess spinning out of control.  I began picking up the pieces at the beginning of the year and its been tough but good.  I'll share more later.  Lets just say spring is coming people.  Spring is coming...

Blustery

Downtown Madison during one of our many blizzards

Cloud Cult playing at the Majestic.  There were artists painting on stage during the whole concert!